WO2002055638A1

WO2002055638A1 - Kindling device for lighting a quantity of combustible materials, such as wood, charcoal or coal

Info

Publication number: WO2002055638A1
Application number: PCT/NL2001/000927
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean Jacques Van Hartesveldt
Original assignee: Jean Jacques Van Hartesveldt
Priority date: 2000-12-27
Filing date: 2001-12-19
Publication date: 2002-07-18
Also published as: NL1016992C2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a kindling device for lighting a quantity of combustible materials, such as wood, charcoal or coal, on a hearth, such as a fireplace or a barbecue, which kindling device comprises a container for accommodating fuel, in particular liquid fuel, such as methylated spirit, which container is covered by a gauze or grating, said gauze or said grating forming the top of the kindling device during use. The kindling device according to the present invention is characterised in that the gauze or the grating of the kindling device is of convex construction in order to provide the kindling device with a convex top.

Description

Kindling device for lighting a quantity of combustible materials, such as wood, charcoal or coal

The invention relates to a kindling device for lighting a quantity of combustible materials, such as wood, charcoal or coal, on a hearth, such as a fireplace or a barbecue, which kindling device comprises a container for accommodating fuel, in particular liquid fuel, such as methylated spirit, which container is covered by a gauze or grating, said gauze or said grating forming the top of the kindling device during use.

In the present invention the word "kindling device" is used to refer to a device with the aid of which lighting of an open fire, a barbecue or a comparable fire location can be facilitated. Where the term "combustible materials" is used in this text this refers to materials such as wood or coal, which, whilst they are combustible, are somewhat difficult to light. Where the word "fuel" is used in this text this refers to a substance that ignites relatively easily, such as, for example, methylated spirit or something similar. A kindling device of the type mentioned in the preamble is disclosed in Canadian

Patent Application CA 2 207 479. According to this Canadian patent application the kindling device is constructed as a rectangular tray that is covered at the top by a flat gauze or grating. The tray contains a non-combustible material, such as, for example, steel wool. Liquid fuel can be poured into the tray containing steel wool before use. The tray is then placed in a barbecue, beneath the grating on which the combustible materials such as charcoal or coal can be placed. The fuel in the tray is then ignited in order, by means of the tray, to cause the combustible materials in the barbecue to ignite. A significant disadvantage of the kindling device according to the said Canadian patent application is that it is possible to work safely and effectively with this kindling device only if the kindling device is used with great care. Firstly, a great deal of care has to be taken with correct positioning of the known kindling device. The liquid fuel that is present in the kindling device can easily flow out of the kindling device tray at the point in time when the tray is placed in the barbecue. The reason for this is that the tray has straight walls, which are not able to prevent the liquid fuel flowing out. A further disadvantage of the known kindling device is that this is constructed with an essentially flat top. Consequently it is necessary that there is always a gap between the top of the known kindling device and the bottom of the combustible materials that have to be lit using the kindling device. If this gap is not present there is then a risk that the combustible materials, such as, for example, coal, will cover the top of the kindling device, so that the effect of the kindling device is lost.

A further disadvantage of the known kindling device is that this can easily be knocked over, for example by a relatively large piece of wood. This means that the known kindling device can also not be used without risk if it is desired to light relatively large pieces of combustible materials using the kindling device.

In view of the above, the aim of the present invention is to provide a kindling device of the type mentioned in the preamble which is safer in use than is the kindling device according to the state of the art and where it is, moreover, possible to place the kindling device amongst the combustible materials which it is desired to ignite using the kindling device.

Said aim is achieved according to the present invention in that the gauze or the grating of the kindling device is of convex construction in order to provide the kindling device with a convex top. A number of effects are achieved by making the top of the kindling device convex.

Firstly, there will be a gap in the kindling device itself between the top of the kindling device and the fuel that is present in the container of the kindling device. This means that even if finely divided combustible materials are placed on top of the kindling device according to the invention there is still sufficient air in the kindling device itself to allow the fuel in the kindling device to ignite sufficiently.

Because the kindling device is of convex construction at the top thereof, it cannot be pushed over if, for example, a piece of wood is allowed to fall onto the top of the kindling device. As a result of the convex top, the piece of wood is not able to exert a moment on the top of the kindling device in order to cause the kindling device to tip. This means that the kindling device according to the invention can be placed both amongst relatively large combustible materials, such as large pieces of wood, and amongst relatively small combustible materials, such as, for example, charcoal dust and that in both cases the kindling device according to the invention can be employed in a safe and effective manner. The fact that the top of the kindling device is of convex construction also has the effect that the flame that is produced by means of the kindling device is relatively stable. In use, the flame will be highest at the highest point of the kindling device, that is to say the flame is highest in the middle of the grating of the kindling device. According to the invention it is furthermore possible that the kindling device has an essentially flat base. The flat base can firstly be used to allow a relatively large part of the kindling device to bear on the substrate. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the base of the kindling device also forms the base of the container for accommodating the fuel. Furthermore, according to the invention it is possible that the base of the kindling device is of circular construction. With this arrangement it is advantageous that the gauze or the grating for covering the container extends essentially as far as the base of the kindling device.

What is achieved as a result of this measure is that the kindling device as a whole has a rounded convex shape from the top to the base thereof. This means that wherever a force is exerted on the surface of the kindling device there is nowhere where it is possible for a moment to be developed in order to cause the kindling device according to the invention to tip.

A further effect of the said measures is that it is possible for the internal wall of the gauze or the grating to abut the wall of the container. That is to say, the internal wall of the part in which the fuel is accommodated has inward-facing walls. If use is made of liquid fuel, this fuel will be able to come into contact with these inward-facing walls at the point in time when the kindling device according to the invention is moved and will be forced back towards the container by these walls. In this way liquid fuel that is accommodated in the container of the kindling device according to the invention is effectively prevented from flowing out of the kindling device. Consequently, the inward-facing walls increase the safety of use of the kindling device according to the invention.

According to the invention it is -furthermore possible that the kindling device contains webs which extend from the gauze or the grating towards the base of the container. The webs must be constructed of such a length that the webs are able to make contact with the fuel that is placed in the container of the kindling device. By means of the webs it is first of all possible for heat to be transported from the grating or the gauze (that will become very hot during use) towards the fuel. As a result of this heat transport, the fuel in the kindling device is heated, so that ignition of the fuel in the kindling device is further stimulated. Furthermore, the webs can guide the flames that are formed by the fuel igniting towards the grating. If the webs are positioned such that they diverge, viewed from the base of the kindling device towards the top, what can be achieved by the presence of the webs is that the flames which are formed in the kindling device are distributed over a wider surface area than would be the case if the webs were not present.

A mark can be made on one or more of the webs. This mark can, for example, indicate the recommended maximum amount of fuel in the kindling device.

According to the invention it is furthermore possible that the grating is constructed as a plate in which essentially parallel slots, arranged alongside one another, are made to delimit adjacent grating parts. The kindling device according to the invention can be constructed with a gauze or a grating. At the point in time when a grating is fitted, it is possible to make this grating by firstly shaping a plate-shaped element into a convex shape. Parallel slots can then be made in this convex shape by removing material from the lid. In this way it is possible to manufacture the grating for the kindling device according to the invention in an inexpensive manner.

Furthermore, according to the invention it is possible that the container of the kindling device is constructed as a tray, the gauze or the grating being fitted detachably on the tray as a lid. It is inevitable that debris collects in the kindling device according to the invention during use. This debris can be in the form of soot, incombustible components that originate from the materials lit using the kindling device, and the like. It is advantageous to construct the kindling device in two parts, the container being constructed as a tray and the gauze or the grating being constructed as a lid, so that the two parts can be separated in order to clean the interior of the kindling device according to the invention.

In an advantageous embodiment the kindling device according to the invention is made of metal. The kindling device according to the invention can, for example, be made of steel.

By making the kindling device according to the invention of metal it is possible to place the kindling device amongst the combustible materials to be lit. After the fire has been extinguished, the ash residues from the combustible materials can then be removed from the kindling device. The kindling device is then immediately ready for re-use. If the kindling device according to the invention is made of steel, it will be possible to keep the production costs thereof low. In addition to the kindling device, the present invention also provides a method for making a gauze or a grating for the kindling device according to the present invention, the method being carried out in such a way that

- a lid with a convex top is formed from a sheet of metal, - cut lines arranged in parallel are made in the convex top of the lid,

- a further transverse cut line is made in parts of the lid that are delimited by two adjacent cut lines, which transverse cut line joins the two adjacent cut lines,

- the parts of the lid that are delimited by two adjacent cut lines and by the transverse cut line are bent over towards the bottom of the lid in order to form the webs which in use extend towards the base of the container.

The present invention will be further explained with reference to the appended figures, in which:

Figure 1 shows a plan view of the kindling device according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a side view, partially in cross-section, of the kindling device according to the invention;

Figure 3 shows a side view of the interior of the kindling device according to the invention, the view being at an angle of 90° with respect to the view according to Figure 2.

A plan view of the kindling device 1 according to the present invention is shown in Figure 1. In Figures 1, 2 and 3 it is shown that the kindling device according to the present invention is made up of a tray, which forms the container for accommodating fuel, on which a detachable lid is fitted. It must be understood that the kindling device according to the invention can also be constructed in one piece. The lid 2 of the kindling device 1 can be seen in plan view in Figure 1. The lid 2 is of convex construction, the convex shape of the lid extending from the top of the kindling device 1 to essentially the base thereof (see

Figure 2). Cut lines 3 which are essentially parallel to one another have been made in the convex lid 2. Viewed from the left of the drawing, the first two cut lines 3 delimit an opening 4 that is present in the top of the lid 2. Furthermore, two webs 5, which extend from the top of the lid 2 to the base thereof, can be seen in this opening 4. The function of these webs will be further explained with reference to Figure 3.

In Figure 1, again taken from the left of the figure, the second and the third cut line 3 delimit a grating part 6. Two adjacent grating parts 6 each delimit an opening 4.

The left-hand half of Figure 2 shows a view of the kindling device 1 according to the invention in cross-section. In this left-hand half the cut lines 3, which delimit, respectively, openings 4 and grating parts 6, can again be seen. Moreover, it can be seen that the webs 5 extend towards the base of the kindling device 1 according to the invention. The tray 10 that forms the container for accommodating fuel in the kindling device according to the invention is also shown in Figure 2. It is possible that the walls of this tray 10 determine the maximum fill height of fuel that can be placed in the kindling device 1 according to the invention. It is also possible that the lid 2 fits tightly on the tray 10 so that the maximum fill height for fuel in the kindling device is above the top rim of the tray 10. It can be seen in Figure 2 that the lid 2 slopes downwards in a rounded shape over the entire width, from the top to the base of the kindling device. That is to say the top surface of the kindling device 1 does not provide any hold for exerting a moment on the kindling device 1 in order to cause it to tip. That is to say that if the kindling device 1 according to the invention is placed amongst relatively large pieces of combustible materials, such as pieces of wood, the risk of the kindling device 1 tipping over is relatively low. Figure 3 again shows a side view of the kindling device 1 according to the present invention. This view according to Figure 3 is shifted through 90° with respect to the view that can be seen on the left in Figure 2. In Figure 3 it is clear that the webs 5 extend essentially to the base of the tray 10. As a result the bottom of the webs 5 will be able to come into contact with fuel that is present in the tray 10. As a result heat can be transported by means of the webs 5 towards the fuel that is present in the tray 10. The ignition of fuel in the tray 10 is facilitated by the supply of this heat. Furthermore, it is possible that these webs 5 provide a relatively broad flame. The webs 5 can guide the flames outwards, so that the flames extend over a relatively large surface area at the top of the kindling device 1 and these flames are able to reach a relatively large portion of the combustible materials, which combustible materials have to be ignited with the aid of the kindling device.

As has already been indicated above in the preamble, the kindling device 1 according to the present invention can advantageously be made of metal. In particular the embodiment in steel makes it possible to produce the kindling device 1 according to the present invention relatively inexpensively. Furthermore, it is pointed out that especially in Figure 2 it can be seen that the cut lines 3 are made in the lid 2 in such a way that the distance between the top of the lines 5 and the adjacent grating parts 6 is essentially constant over the width of the kindling device 1 according to the invention.

Claims

I . Kindling device for lighting a quantity of combustible materials, such as wood, charcoal or coal, on a hearth, such as a fireplace or a barbecue, which kindling device comprises a container for accommodating fuel, in particular liquid fuel, such as methylated spirit, which container is covered by a gauze or grating, said gauze or said grating forming the top of the kindling device during use, characterised in that the gauze or the grating of the kindling device is of convex construction in order to provide the kindling device with a convex top.

2. Kindling device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the kindling device has an essentially flat base.

3. Kindling device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the base of the kindling device is of circular construction.

4. Kindling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the gauze or the grating for covering the container extends essentially as far as the base of the kindling device.

5. Kindling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the internal wall of the gauze or the grating abuts the wall of the container.

6. Kindling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the kindling device contains webs which extend from the gauze or the grating towards the base of the container.

7. Kindling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the grating is constructed as a plate in which essentially parallel slots, arranged alongside one another, are made to delimit adjacent grating parts.

8. Kindling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the kindling device container is constructed as a tray, the gauze or the grating being fitted detachably on the tray as a lid.

9. Kindling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the kindling device is made of metal.

10. Kindling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the kindling device is made of steel.

I I . Method for making a gauze or grating for the kindling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that - a lid with a convex top is formed from a sheet of metal,

- cut lines arranged in parallel are made in the convex top of the lid,