Burn barrel cover

Abstract

A method for preventing field fires and a burn barrel cover. In one form, the burn barrel cover is composed of a plurality of hoops and a plurality of cross members that form a net-like surface. The burn barrel cover prevents burning debris from escaping the burn barrel during incineration.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to simple incineration devices, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a cover for a burn barrel.

BACKGROUND

Garbage, especially organic garbage such as leaves, branches, and other similar types of debris pile up over time. Hauling away this garbage is an expensive proposition and difficult. Many people, especially people who live in rural areas, utilize burn barrels to dispose of garbage. Bum barrels are barrel shaped objects to hold garbage for incineration.

Certain types of garbage release noxious fumes during incineration. Release of these noxious fumes indoors is hazardous to health. Bum barrels release noxious fumes outdoors providing a method to safely burn garbage that releases noxious fumes. Burn barrels also prevent the spread of fire through containment.

A burn barrel effectively contains fire within its interior, but the fire can still spread. Commonly, as the garbage burns, burning debris flies out of burn barrels because of differences in air temperature. Often, the debris continues burning after landing on the ground. If the conditions of the surrounding area are sufficiently dry, field fires or brush fires start. Such fires create a potentially dangerous situation.

Thus, needs exist in this area of technology.

SUMMARY

In one form, a burn barrel cover is described. The burn barrel cover includes a first hoop defining a circular opening; a second hoop coupled to the first hoop; a third hoop; a plurality of cross members coupled to the first hoop, wherein the plurality of cross members form a net-like surface across the circular opening defined by the first hoop, and a plurality of connection members each having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of each of the connection members is coupled to the second hoop and the second end of each of the connection members is coupled to a third hoop, the connection members defining a side surface of the burn barrel cover.

A method for preventing field fires is described. The method includes providing a burn barrel, wherein the burn barrel is constructed and arranged to hold garbage for incineration inside the barrel and covering the burn barrel with a cover having a top surface wherein the top surface defines a net-like surface.

In another form, a burn barrel cover is described. A burn barrel cover for covering an opening of a burn barrel comprising a net-like top surface including cross members constructed and arranged to prevent the release of burning debris from the burn barrel; and a side surface running around the perimeter of the top surface constructed and arranged to surround the opening of the burn barrel.

In yet another form, a burn barrel cover for covering the opening of a burn barrel is described. The burn barrel cover includes a first hoop defining a circular opening constructed and arranged to cover the opening of the burn barrel and a plurality of cross members coupled to said first hoop, wherein said plurality of cross members form a net-like surface across the circular opening defined by said first hoop.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a top plan view of a burn barrel cover according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side elevational view of the burn barrel cover of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side elevational view of an alternate embodiment of a burn barrel cover.

FIG. 4 illustrates placing the burn barrel cover of FIG. 1 onto a burn barrel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SELECTED EMBODIMENTS

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any such alterations, modifications, and further applications of the principles of the present invention as illustrated are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

The present application is directed to a cover for a burn barrel. Burn barrels hold and incinerate garbage. Many times, as the garbage incinerates, the garbage flies out of the top of the barrel, lands somewhere and starts a fire. A burn barrel cover having a net-like top surface prevents the burning debris from escaping the barrel.

FIG. 1 illustrates a top plan view of one form of a burn barrel cover 20. The burn barrel cover 20 includes a top surface 21, a first hoop 22 defining the outer perimeter of the burn barrel cover 20, and cross members 24 running perpendicularly transverse to each other along the top surface 21. The cross members 24 retain the burning debris and simultaneously allow heat and smoke to escape the barrel. FIG. 1 illustrates cross members 24 and a first hoop 22 formed of metal and shaped as rods. Other embodiments contemplate cross members 24 and a first hoop 22 formed of alternate fire resistant materials. Moreover, other embodiments contemplate a variety of cross sectional shapes. One example, among others, has cross members 24 and a first hoop 22 with a square shaped cross section. FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment having cross members 24 arranged so the spaces 26 have equal dimensions across the top surface 21. Other embodiments contemplate having spaces 26 with varying dimensions.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment where each of the cross members 24 includes a first end 27 and a second end 28. The cross members 24 join the first hoop 22 along the ends 27, 28 of the cross members around the perimeter of the first hoop 22. Therefore, the cross members 24 form a net-like surface across the opening defined by the first hoop 22. The joining of the cross members 24 and the first hoop 22 occurs along the perimeter of the first hoop 22. FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment using welds to couple the various components of the burn barrel cover 20. In alternate embodiments, the coupling occurs by brazing, interference fit, or other methods readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side elevational view of the burn barrel cover 20. Burn barrel cover 20 further includes a side surface 30. The second hoop 32, the third hoop 34 and the connection members 36 define the side surface 30. The side surface 30 projects outwardly from the first hoop 22 and second hoop 32 towards the third hoop 34. The first hoop 22 is coupled to the second hoop 32. A third hoop 34 lies in a plane parallel to the plane formed by the first hoop 22 and the second hoop 32. The connection members 36 couple the second hoop 32 to the third hoop 34 to completely define the side surface 30. Each connection member 36 includes a first end 38 and a second end 40. The first end 38 attaches to the second hoop 32 and the second end 40 attaches to the third hoop 34. Combining the second hoop 32 and the third hoop 34 using the connection members 36 creates a cylindrical cage like appearance.

FIG. 2 illustrates one form of the side surface 30. One alternate embodiment contemplates a flat sheet of material. Yet another embodiment contemplates a small flange that wraps around the perimeter of the first hoop 22. A further embodiment contemplates a burn barrel cover 20 lacking a side surface 30. Other embodiments contemplate other forms of side surface 30 readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

FIG. 3 illustrates one of these alternative embodiments. The burn barrel cover 20 includes a first hoop 22, a second hoop 32 and a flange 42. The flange 42 substitutes as a side surface 30 in this alternative embodiment. The flange 42 is solid and extends outwardly from the second hoop. The height of the flange 42 is less than the side surface 30 of the FIG. 1 burn barrel cover 20. The flange 42 of the burn barrel cover 20 allows easy placement and removal of the burn barrel cover 20.

FIG. 4 illustrates placing the burn barrel cover 20 of FIG. 1 over a burn barrel 44. FIG. 4 illustrates that the top surface 21 of the burn barrel cover 20 is slightly larger than the opening 46 of the burn barrel 44. Therefore, the side surface 30 of the burn barrel cover 20 will completely surround the opening 46 of the burn barrel 44. Any debris that may attempt to float out of the burn barrel 44 will be caught by the net-like top surface 21 of the burn barrel cover 2, while still allowing heat and smoke to escape.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.

Claims

1. A burn barrel cover comprising: a first hoop defining a circular opening; a second hoop coupled to the first hoop; a third hoop; a plurality of cross members coupled to said first hoop, wherein said plurality of cross members form a net-like surface across the circular opening defined by said first hoop; and a plurality of connection members each having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of each of said connection members is coupled to said second hoop and said second end of each of said connection members is coupled to said third hoop, said connection members defining a side surface of said burn barrel cover.

2. The burn barrel cover of claim 1, wherein said coupling of said first hoop to said second hoop is performed by welding.

3. The burn barrel cover of claim 1, wherein said hoops, connection members, and cross members are composed of metal.

4. The burn barrel cover of claim 1, wherein said coupling of said cross members and said connection members to said hoops is performed by welding.

5. The burn barrel cover of claim 1, wherein said cross members are constructed and arranged to form a net-like surface having uniform opening dimensions.

6. The burn barrel cover of claim 1, wherein said cross members, connection members, and hoops have rounded cross sections.

7. A method for preventing field fires comprising: providing a burn barrel, wherein said burn barrel is constructed and arranged to hold garbage for incineration inside said barrel; and covering said burn barrel with a cover having a top surface, wherein said top surface defines a net-like surface.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said net-like surface defines spaces having substantially identical dimensions.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said cover includes a side surface surrounding the opening of the burn barrel.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said side surface is a flange.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said side surface is composed of members that are disposed substantially perpendicular to the top surface.

12. A burn barrel cover for covering an opening of a burn barrel comprising: a net-like top surface including cross members constructed and arranged to prevent the release of burning debris from the burn barrel; and a side surface running around the perimeter of said top surface constructed and arranged to surround the opening of the burn barrel.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the side surface is formed from a plurality of connection members.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the side surface is a flange that wraps around the perimeter of the top surface.

15. The device of claim 12, wherein the top surface and side surface are composed of fire-resistant materials.

16. The device of claim 12, wherein the cross members are composed of metal.

17. The device of claim 12, wherein the cross members define spaces that are substantially equal in dimension.

18. The device of claim 12, wherein the cross members have a cross-section that is rounded.

19. The device of claim 12, wherein the top surface defines a circular shape.

20. The device of claim 12, wherein the cross members are constructed and arranged substantially perpendicular to one another.

21. A burn barrel cover for covering the opening of a burn barrel comprising: a first hoop defining a circular opening constructed and arranged to cover the opening of the burn barrel; and a plurality of cross members coupled to said first hoop, wherein said plurality of cross members form a net-like surface across the circular opening defined by said first hoop.

22. The burn barrel cover of claim 21 further including: a second hoop coupled to the first hoop; a third hoop; and a plurality of connection members each having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of each of said connection members is coupled to said second hoop and said second end of each of said connection members is coupled to said third hoop, wherein the connection members define a side surface of the burn barrel cover.

23. The burn barrel cover of claim 22, wherein said coupling of said first hoop to said second hoop is performed by welding.

24. The burn barrel cover of claim 22, wherein said hoops, connection members, and cross members are composed of metal.

25. The burn barrel cover of claim 22, wherein said coupling of said cross members and said connection members to said hoops is performed by welding.

26. The burn barrel cover of claim 22, wherein said cross members are constructed and arranged to form a net-like surface having uniform opening dimensions.

27. The burn barrel cover of claim 22, wherein said cross members, connection members, and hoops have rounded cross sections.