Patent Application
20170267940
Grilling foods outdoors is synonymous with fun and warm weather. Grilling allows foods to be cooked in different ways than can be achieved in an oven or on a stove. Moreover, while the backyard barbeque is a relatively ubiquitous event, grilling is popular in a variety of venues such as camping, tailgating, etc. Essentially, wherever people gather to spend time and eat food, grilling is a popular method by which to prepare such food.
There are two common ways in which grilling foods is accomplished. The first is by application of a fuel, such as propane, through a burner system. Propane-based grills and grilling systems are relatively easy to operate in that the source of propane can be engaged and a source of ignition provided and the grill is substantially ready to cook food. The other primary form of grilling uses charcoal briquettes. While more time and preparation is required for the use of charcoal briquettes, some believe that the taste of charcoal-grilled food is superior to that of food prepared over a “gas” grill.
Typically, charcoal-grilling requires the operator to arrange the charcoal briquettes in a pyramid, cone, or other suitable structure and then apply charcoal-lighter fluid to the arranged briquettes. Subsequently, the pyramid or cone of briquettes is ignited using a match or other suitable device and the briquettes will burn until they are relatively uniform coals suitable for cooking food. Once the coals are ready, they are generally arranged in a bed to provide uniform heat for cooking.
One recent innovation, for charcoal-based grilling is the provision of charcoal briquettes that are already infused with charcoal lighting fluid, or some other suitable accelerant. Moreover, these accelerant-infused charcoal briquettes can be purchased in a package, the outside of which is simply lit. As the package burns, the flame transfers to the accelerant-infused briquettes inside.
Prepackaged quantities of accelerant-infused charcoal briquettes provide a number of advantages to users thereof. First, the user need not specifically purchase a quantity of charcoal-lighter fluid, or any other device for igniting the charcoal briquettes, such as a charcoal chimney Thus, the user need only purchase the package of accelerant-infused charcoal briquettes. This also reduces the number of items the user must manage, which is particularly helpful for camping or other excursions.
Commercially-available packages of accelerant-infused charcoal are not without their limitations, however. Specifically, the package is generally in the form of a bag that is placed on its side and ignited from one end. This causes two potential problems. The first problem is that the arrangement of the briquettes is basically the random arrangement of the charcoal briquettes inside the bag when it is placed on its side. Thus, as the bag burns away, the burning briquettes are not in an optimal orientation to further burn effectively to coals. The second problem is that by requiring the outside of the package to be lit, the entire process is subject to environmental conditions. For example, if the weather is windy or raining, it may be difficult to cause a match to light the outside of the package.
Another limitation of current commercially-available packages of accelerant-infused charcoal briquettes is that the package itself generally includes a seal. Since the accelerant is generally formed of a volatile organic compound, such as a mixture of kerosene and naphtha, it is important to create an effective seal such that the accelerant does not evaporate away. However, providing such seal within the bag itself may affect the combustion of such bag. Such effects of combustion can be twofold. First, the bag may not light quickly enough such that all briquettes are ignited at substantially the same time thus ensuring that all briquettes reach their “coal” phase at substantially the same time. Second, the combustion of the bag material itself, with the sealing layer therein, may cause the bag material to form embers that can become airborne as the bag combusts. Such burning embers may float out of the burning charcoal/bag assembly and could potentially ignite areas nearby.
A pre-packaged assembly of accelerant-infused charcoal briquettes is provided. The assembly includes a conical sidewall and a base portion attached to the conical sidewall cooperating with the conical sidewall to form a conical volume. A plurality of accelerant-infused charcoal briquettes are disposed within the conical volume. At least one venting structure is disposed to allow airflow through the assembly.
Embodiments of the present invention generally provide an easy-lighting charcoal assembly for use with pillow-type instant light (e.g. accelerant-infused) barbeque charcoal. Embodiments described herein generally employ a package that maintains the pillow-type instant light charcoal in a conical arrangement. Accordingly, as the packaging burns away, the charcoal retains the highly-desirable conical arrangement such that the charcoal burns more effectively. Additionally, instead of igniting the outside of the charcoal assembly, a match, or other suitable source of ignition, is inserted into a top vent thereof. In this way, ignition of the assembly is easier in environmentally-challenging situations, such as high wind and/or moisture.
As shown in
Embodiments of the present invention can also include providing one or more external features, such as a book 118 of matches attached to or otherwise positioned on the external surface of sidewall 102. Such external features can be held in place by adhesive, or simply by the force applied by external packaging film 120. External packaging film 120 is, in one embodiment, clear. However, it is also contemplated that external packaging 120 may be opaque, or translucent, and may include product labeling, etc. In one embodiment, external packaging 120 is formed of a substantially clear shrink wrap layer that is applied about the entire external surface of the conical sidewall 102 and base 104. Then, heat is applied to the shrink wrap layer such that it substantially conforms to the external surfaces. Further still, packaging 120 is designed to form a vapor-tight seal such that accelerant of the accelerant-infused briquettes does not evaporate.
As can be appreciated, embodiments of the present invention generally provide relatively easy ignition of accelerant-infused charcoal. Additionally, since the conical volume 106 is generally formed by the size of sidewall 102 and base 104, volume 106 is controllable. This allows a consistent amount of charcoal to be provided based upon the size of the sidewall and base 104. While embodiments have been described with respect to a single assembly, it is expressly contemplated that various sizes may be provided for different grilling applications. For example, a small prepackaged assembly may indicate that it is suitable for 150 or less square inches of grilling space, while a medium size may indicate that it is suitable for 150 to 250 square inches of grilling space. Further still, a large size may indicate that it is suitable for 250 to 500 square inches of grilling space. Additionally, as can be appreciated, embodiments described herein generally provide the briquettes in a pre-stacked arrangement. Accordingly, the user need not touch the briquettes in order to form the highly advantageous conical arrangement. As set forth above, the entire assembly can be lit in relatively windy or wet conditions since the match is applied directly to the accelerant-infused charcoal briquettes within the relatively sheltered conical volume 106. This allows the briquettes to light quickly with respect to each other such that they burn together and are ready at a relatively consistent time. Further still, using paper stock, and the materials and techniques described herein, there is little, if any, residue of the packaging material, and as the packaging burns it generally does not cause floating embers. Prototypes that were tested provided charcoal that was ready to spread in eight minutes once the match had been inserted into the top vent.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62309275 | Mar 2016 | US |
