Information
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Patent Grant
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6537063
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Patent Number
6,537,063
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Date Filed
Monday, November 26, 200123 years ago
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Date Issued
Tuesday, March 25, 200321 years ago
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Inventors
-
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Examiners
- Bennett; Henry
- Basichas; Alfred
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 431 320
- 431 321
- 431 322
- 431 323
- 431 324
- 362 161
- 362 163
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International Classifications
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Abstract
A portable lamp assembly which comprises a fuel containing container and a globe therefore, the globe having a plurality of convex reflective surfaces on an inner surface thereof to maximize light output. The globe also functions as a protective member for the fuel containing container when in a stored position for transportation.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a lamp and more particularly, relates to a portable lamp utilizing a liquid fuel.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Liquid fuel burners are known in the art and have been used for a number of years. They are generally considered to be a disposable item and have been used both for providing lighting and for warming foods in chafing dishes and the like. Typically, the burner includes a sealed container in which the fuel is stored and a wick that passes upwardly through the lid of the container. The fuel passes up through the wick and the wick is lit. When the fuel is exhausted, the container is typically discarded and replaced with a new unit.
Most disposable liquid fuel burners are relatively simple in structure and preset in the factory to provide for an optimum flame height by exposing a limited lamp wick above the top of the burner. The wick assembly, intended only for use with the single can, is relatively simple. One disadvantage of many of the disposable liquid fuel burners is the inherent danger in transporting the same. In many instances, it is desirable to transport the liquid fuel burner as, for example, when using the same on camping trips or the like. However, known liquid fuel burners generally are not designed for such use and particularly so when a relatively volatile fuel is utilized.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a disposable liquid fuel burner suitable for lighting purposes and which is compact in nature.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a disposable liquid fuel burner for lighting purposes which is readily transportable.
In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a fuel burning assembly comprising a container designed to contain a fuel and a globe therefore, the container having a container side wall and a container top wall, the container top wall having an opening therein, an externally threaded neck surrounding the opening, the globe comprising a continuous globe side wall sized to fit externally of the container side wall, the globe side wall having an interior face and an exterior face and at least one member extending inwardly from the interior face and being arranged such that the member will rest on an upper portion of the container when the globe is placed over the container whereby the globe may function as a chimney.
The container having the liquid fuel therein, according to the present invention, is formed of a metallic material and is preferably cylindrical in configuration. Located centrally in the upper side wall is an aperture which is designed to receive a wick device. Surrounding the aperture is a neck, the neck preferably having external screw threads formed thereon to receive a cap. The top of the neck is designed to receive the wick assembly which will sit thereon.
The wick assembly includes the wick, which is preferably of a woven material, and a cover member, as previously mentioned, will include a flange which will seat on the top of the wall surrounding the aperture. Centrally of the cover member there will be a raised land portion with a lower portion surrounding the raised land portion. In the center of the raised land portion there will be provided an aperture for the wick to extend therethrough. The lower portion surrounding the raised land portion will include a drain back aperture formed therein such that any fuel thereon will drain back into the container.
In the preferred embodiment, there is also provided an intermediate cover member designed to cover a portion of the wick holder. In particular, the cover member may be designed to fit interiorly of the upstanding wall of the wick retainer and have a portion thereof designed to enclose the wick per se. In so doing, leakage during transportation is prevented.
There is also provided a chimney, the chimney serving two functions. During the transport, the fuel container is designed to fit within the chimney which provides additional protection therefore and also allows for a compact storage of the device. During the use, the chimney is designed to seat on the top of the fuel container and extend above the flame to provide protection for the flame. At the same time, a lower portion extends downwardly about the upper side wall of the container while still permitting a supply of air to the wick. Preferably the chimney is formed of a clear heat resistant material and more preferably of a heat resistant plastic material such as marketed under the trademark Lexan®. To maximize the lighting effect, the chimney is preferably given refractive properties and to this end, may comprise a cylindrical wall having beveled portions on the interior surface thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which:
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a fuel burning assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2
is a side elevational view of the globe portion thereof;
FIG. 3
is a cross sectional view of the fuel container portion thereof,
FIG. 4
is a side elevational view of the globe and fuel container in a storage position;
FIG. 5
is a cross sectional view thereof;
FIG. 6
is a side elevational view showing the fuel container and globe in an operative position; and
FIG. 7
is a perspective view of the wick and cap component of the fuel container.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters thereto, there is illustrated in
FIG. 1
a fuel burning assembly generally designated by reference numeral
10
and which fuel burning assembly is designed to be used for lighting purposes.
Assembly
10
includes a fuel container generally designated by reference numeral
12
and a globe generally designated by reference numeral
14
.
Fuel container
12
comprises a can
16
having a bottom wall
18
, a side wall
20
and a top wall
22
, the hole being formed in a conventional manner. Situated on top wall
22
and formed intrically therewith is a neck
24
having external threads
26
formed thereon.
Turning to
FIG. 7
, there is illustrated a wick assembly which is generally designated by reference numeral
28
. Wick assembly
28
includes an insert
30
sized to fit within neck
24
. Insert
30
includes a side wall
32
having a flange
34
extending outwardly at the upper end thereon and designed to seat on the upper periphery of neck
24
of can
16
. At the lower end of side wall
32
of insert
30
, there is provided an upwardly sloping bottom wall
36
. Located centrally of sloping bottom wall
36
is an inner side wall
38
which extends to an inner top wall
40
having a wick aperture
42
formed therein. Mounted in wick aperture
42
is a wick
44
designed to extend into can
16
and the fuel contained therein.
Formed within sloping bottom wall and located proximate to its point of joinder with side wall
32
are one or more drainage apertures
46
to permit drainage of any fuel back into can
16
. A cap member
48
is sized to fit within insert
30
and to sealingly engage the same.
A cover member
50
includes a top wall
52
and a downwardly depending skirt or side wall
54
having internal threads
56
formed thereon and which internal threads are designed to meet with external threads
26
on neck
24
.
Globe
14
is formed of a transparent material and may be conveniently formed of a transparent plastic material. Globe
14
includes a minor portion
64
having first and second bevel segments
66
and
68
formed therein. Thus, minor portion
64
is generally circular in configuration, both on the interior and exterior surface, except for bevel segments
66
which have a convex configuration on the inner surface thereof.
A major portion
70
of globe
14
has a plurality of equally configured bevel segments
72
formed thereon. Bevel segments
72
are formed on the interior surface of major portion
70
and comprise a plurality of concave configurations.
Separating minor portion
64
and major portion
70
are a plurality of inwardly extending tabs
74
.
In use, the arrangement is such that minor portion
64
of globe
14
will fit over the upper portion of can
16
with tabs
74
sitting on the rim of can
16
. Major portion
70
extends above can
16
and the beveled portions are designed to reflect the maximum amount of light. The arrangement is such that air may flow upwardly between minor portion
64
and can
16
.
For transport purposes, the globe is inverted such that major portion
70
is in the lower position. The distance between tabs
74
and the marginal edge of major portion
70
is substantially equal to the height of can
16
. In this configuration, minor portion
64
will extend above the neck
24
and cover
50
. Globe
14
is also arranged such that there will be frictional engagement between the area of major portion
70
adjacent tabs
74
and the rim of can
16
.
It will be understood that the above described embodiments are for purposes of illustration only and that changes or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
- 1. A fuel burning assembly comprising a container designed to contain a fuel and a globe therefore;said container having a container side wall and a container top wall; said container top wall having an opening therein, an externally threaded neck surrounding said opening; said globe comprising a continuous globe side wall sized to fit externally of said container side wall, said globe side wall having an interior face and an exterior face; and at least one member extending inwardly from said interior face and being arranged such that said member will rest on an upper portion of said container when said globe is placed over said container whereby said globe may function as a chimney.
- 2. The fuel burning assembly of claim 1 further including a wick assembly, said wick assembly including a wick and a wick holder, said wick holder being sized to fit within said opening in said container top wall and to seat on said externally threaded neck.
- 3. The fuel burning assembly of claim 1 wherein both said container side wall and said globe side wall have a generally cylindrical configuration.
- 4. The fuel burning assembly of claim 3 wherein said at least one member extending inwardly from said interior face comprises a plurality of spaced tabs extending inwardly from said interior face.
- 5. The fuel burning assembly of claim 3 wherein said globe side wall is sized and configured such that when said globe is placed over said container, an air space is provided between said container and said globe side wall to permit air flow therethrough.
- 6. The fuel burning assembly of claim 3 wherein said globe side wall has a slightly tapered configuration to snugly retain said container for transportation thereof.
- 7. The fuel burning assembly of claim 3 wherein said globe side wall has a height substantially equal to the height of said container.
- 8. The fuel burning assembly of claim 1 wherein said globe is constructed of a transparent plastic material.
- 9. The fuel burning assembly of claim 3 wherein said inner face of said globe side wall has a plurality of bevels to aid in light reflection.
US Referenced Citations (9)