U.S. patent application number 11/270943 was filed with the patent office on 2006-03-30 for charcoal briquet having a grooved surface.
Invention is credited to Kelly M. Burke, Katie K. Chow, Stevan R. Curtiss, Scott Melin, Bob Miller, Donald K. Swatling.
Application Number | 20060064926 11/270943 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46323134 |
Filed Date | 2006-03-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060064926 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Melin; Scott ; et
al. |
March 30, 2006 |
Charcoal briquet having a grooved surface
Abstract
A generally pillow-shaped charcoal briquet having a convex upper
surface and a convex lower surface, wherein at least one of these
surfaces contain an enhanced surface feature comprising one or more
grooves. When two or more grooves are located on one or both convex
surfaces, the grooves are generally parallel to each other and to
two opposing sides of the briquet, and generally perpendicular to
two opposing sides of the briquet. The briquets have improved
ignition characteristics and enhanced burn phase properties.
Inventors: |
Melin; Scott; (Pleasanton,
CA) ; Swatling; Donald K.; (Pleasanton, CA) ;
Burke; Kelly M.; (Pleasanton, CA) ; Miller; Bob;
(Pleasanton, CA) ; Chow; Katie K.; (Pleasanton,
CA) ; Curtiss; Stevan R.; (Pleasanton, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE CLOROX COMPANY
P.O. BOX 24305
OAKLAND
CA
94623-1305
US
|
Family ID: |
46323134 |
Appl. No.: |
11/270943 |
Filed: |
November 9, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
29208910 |
Jul 7, 2004 |
|
|
|
11270943 |
Nov 9, 2005 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
44/550 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02E 50/10 20130101;
Y02E 50/30 20130101; C10L 5/361 20130101; C10L 5/36 20130101; C10L
11/06 20130101; C10L 5/447 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
044/550 |
International
Class: |
C10L 5/00 20060101
C10L005/00 |
Claims
1. A charcoal briquet comprising: a convex upper surface; a convex
lower surface; and a periphery; wherein the upper surface comprises
a plurality of parallel grooves and the lower surface comprises a
plurality of parallel grooves.
2. The charcoal briquet of claim 1 wherein the briquet has three
grooves in the upper surface and three grooves in the lower
surface
3. The charcoal briquet of claim 1 wherein the upper and the lower
surfaces have a generally elliptical periphery having a minor
axis.
4. The charcoal briquet of claim 1 wherein the briquet has two
grooves in the upper surface and two grooves in the lower
surface/
5. A charcoal briquet comprising: a convex upper surface; a convex
lower surface; and a periphery; wherein the upper surface comprises
a plurality of parallel grooves and the lower surface comprises a
plurality of parallel grooves, wherein the periphery is an ellipse
having a major axis and the grooves are parallel to the major
axis.
6. The charcoal briquet of claim 5 wherein the briquet has two
grooves in the upper surface and two grooves in the lower
surface.
7. The charcoal briquet of claim 5 further comprising a generally
square-shaped configuration having opposing sides A and C, and B
and D, wherein the plurality of grooves are approximately parallel
to opposing sides B and D, and approximately perpendicular to
opposing sides A and C.
8. The charcoal briquet of claim 7 wherein the briquet has three
grooves on the upper surface and three grooves on the lower
surface.
9. A charcoal briquet comprising: a generally pillow-shaped
configuration having opposing sides A and C, and B and D; an upper
surface; a lower surface; a periphery; and a first groove and a
second groove on at least one of the upper and the lower surfaces;
wherein the first and second grooves are approximately parallel to
opposing sides B and D, and approximately perpendicular to opposing
sides A and C.
10. The charcoal briquet of claim 9 wherein the upper and the lower
surfaces each have a generally convex shape.
11. The charcoal briquet of claim 9 wherein the first and second
grooves are present on both the upper and the lower surfaces.
12. The charcoal briquet of claim 9 having a generally square
configuration.
13. The charcoal briquet of claim 9 further comprising a third
groove on at least one of the upper and the lower surfaces; wherein
the third groove is approximately parallel to opposing sides B and
D, and approximately perpendicular to opposing sides A and C.
14. The charcoal briquet of claim 13 wherein the first, second and
third grooves are each present on both the upper and the lower
surfaces.
15. The charcoal briquet of claim 9 wherein the upper and the lower
surfaces have a generally elliptical periphery.
16. A charcoal briquet comprising: a generally pillow-shaped
configuration having opposing sides A and C, and B and D; an upper
surface; a lower surface; and a first groove on at least one of the
upper and the lower surfaces; wherein the first groove is
approximately parallel to opposing sides B and D, and approximately
perpendicular to opposing sides A and C.
17. The charcoal briquet of claim 16 wherein the upper and the
lower surfaces each have a generally convex shape.
18. The charcoal briquet of claim 17 wherein the upper and the
lower surfaces have a generally elliptical periphery.
19. The charcoal briquet of claim 16 wherein the first groove is
present on both the upper and lower surfaces.
20. The charcoal briquet of claim 19 further comprising a second
groove generally parallel to the first groove, wherein the second
groove is only present on the lower surface.
21. The charcoal briquet of claim 20 further comprising a third
groove generally parallel to the first and second grooves, wherein
the third groove is only present on the lower surface.
22. The charcoal briquet of claim 16 having a generally square
configuration.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of pending U.S.
application Ser. No. 29/208,910 filed Jul. 7, 2004 which is
incorporated herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to the field of charcoal briquets and
other solid fuel compositions. More particularly, the present
invention relates to pillow-shaped charcoal briquets having
improved surface features that aid in improved random stacking,
lighting and burn phase characteristics.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] There is great consumer interest in using charcoal for
outdoor cooking in which meals can be prepared and served quickly
for individual or large group consumption. Consumers desire cooking
and grilling with charcoal briquets that are easily stackable to
form the traditional starter pile, easily ignitable, maintain a
uniform and efficient combustion that ignites the individual
briquets in the starter pile, and have a sufficiently long burn
period. Similarly, consumers desire to handle dirty charcoal as
little as possible when forming traditional starter piles and the
like.
[0004] Charcoal briquettes are often configured in a generally
pillow-shape. This configuration provides for both reasonable ease
of manufacturing by the supplier, and handling by the consumer.
Pillow-shaped briquets are typically used for cooking on the grill
or the like by using a multiplicity of briquets in a mounded or
conical configuration or stack usually by pouring a multiplicity of
briquets from a bag onto a grill or the like. then lighter fluid is
often added, and followed by igniting the briquets with an ignition
source.
[0005] An "ignition phase" follows, as burning proceeds from the
surface of the briquet, and a gray ash is formed on a significant
portion of the briquet until a majority of the exposed surfaces
have ignited, and burning has progressed inwardly toward the
intended area of the briquets. Thus, completion of the ignition
phase of burning is identified by the formation of visible ash on
the briquet.
[0006] At this point, the briquets are spread out under the grill
or the like, and they continue to burn with intense heat suitable
for cooking and grilling throughout a "burn phase". For maximum
performance of the briquets, it is desirable that the ignition
phase be limited in time so that the briquets may be used for
cooking or grilling without undue delay, such that the duration of
the burn phase is optimized and extended to provide adequate
cooking or grilling time as desired by the consumer intended
use.
[0007] There has been some previous work in the ornamental and
geometrical configuration of charcoal briquets. For example, U.S.
Des. 389,453 to Mitchell et al. describes a charcoal briquet having
a groove generally in the shape of the letter "K", and U.S. Pat.
No. 4,496,366 to Peters describes charcoal having a briquet, or
other geometric configuration, purportedly to achieve desired
lighting and burn characteristics. In another example, U.S. Pat.
No. 6,074,446 to Fujino describes charcoal having a plurality of
air passing portions or grooves in its body purportedly to supply
combustion air inside the charcoal body while burning.
[0008] However, previously known ornamental and geometrically
configured charcoal briquets fail to address enhancing the surface
of pillow-shaped briquets to improve the random, non-mating
stacking ability properties, as well as to improve ignition and
burn phase characteristics. Particularly charcoal briquets used for
home grilling and cooking, wherein the consumer desires charcoal
briquets that require less handling, and that can be readily
ignited to provide maximum heat initially, followed by an improved
burn phase.
[0009] Previously known charcoal briquets intended for rapid
ignition and delivery of intense heat have used combinations of
various configurations and compositions. However, very rapid
delivery of intense heat does not provide an acceptable combustion
response for cooking or grilling purposes. Previous teachings have
failed to configure and texture the surface of a pillow-shaped
charcoal briquet to improve random stacking ability of the briquet,
as well as enhance the ignition and burn phase properties of the
briquet as preferred by consumers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] In accordance with the present invention, an improved
charcoal briquet having a generally pillow-shaped configuration
having an upper surface, a lower surface, a periphery, and enhanced
surface features preferably comprising one or more grooves,
channels, trenches or the like, on one or both surfaces. The
improved charcoal briquets of the present invention have improved
random stacking ability, and enhanced ignition and burn phase
properties, thereby overcoming previously known difficulties.
[0011] More specifically, and in accordance with the present
invention, an improved pillow-shaped charcoal briquet having a
generally convex upper surface, a generally convex lower surface,
and a periphery wherein at least one of the upper or lower surfaces
has located thereon enhanced surface textured features in the form
of at least one groove, channel, trench or the like. When two or
more grooves are present on one or both surfaces, the grooves are
preferably parallel to each other, parallel to two opposing sides
of the briquet, and perpendicular to two other opposing sides of
the briquet. The presence of one or more grooves on or both
surfaces increases the surface area to volume ratio thereby
enabling more of the briquet to be exposed to oxygen.
[0012] These and other objects and advantages are achieved by the
present invention which comprises a generally pillow-shaped
charcoal briquet having an improved surface configuration.
Pillow-shaped charcoal briquets having this unique surface
configuration have enhanced ignition properties and burn phase
characteristics.
[0013] These and other objects and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent from the following description of
the preferred embodiments of the invention, taken together with the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The invention will be described in greater detail with
reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred
embodiments of the invention, and wherein:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pillow-shaped charcoal
briquet embodying the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a right side elevational view of the briquet of
FIG. 1, right and left side elevations being the same;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the briquet of FIG. 1,
front and back elevations being the same;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the briquet of FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a charcoal briquet showing a
second embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 6 is a right side elevational view of the briquet of
FIG. 5, right and left side elevations being the same;
[0021] FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the briquet of FIG. 5,
front and back elevations being the same;
[0022] FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the briquet of FIG. 5;
[0023] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a charcoal briquet showing a
third embodiment of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 10 is a right side elevational view of the briquet of
FIG. 9, right and left side elevations being the same;
[0025] FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of the briquet of FIG.
9, front and back elevations being the same;
[0026] FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the briquet of FIG. 9;
[0027] FIG. 13 is a front elevational view of a charcoal briquet
similar to the briquet of FIG. 3, but having one groove on both the
upper and lower surfaces, front and back elevations being the
same;
[0028] FIG. 14 is a front elevational view of a charcoal briquet
similar to the briquet of FIG. 7, but having two grooves on the
upper and lower surfaces, front and back elevations being the
same;
[0029] FIG. 15 is a front elevational view of a charcoal briquet
similar to the briquet of FIG. 11, but having three grooves on the
upper and lower surfaces, front and back elevations being the
same;
[0030] FIG. 16 is a front elevational view of a charcoal briquet
similar to the briquet of FIG. 3, but having one groove on the
upper and two grooves on the lower surface, front and back
elevations being the same;
[0031] FIG. 17 is a front elevational view of a charcoal briquet
similar to the briquet of FIG. 3, but having one groove on the
upper and three grooves on the lower surface, front and back
elevations being the same; and
[0032] FIG. 18 is a front elevational view of a charcoal briquet
similar to the briquet of FIG. 7, but having two grooves on the
upper and three grooves on the lower surface, front and back
elevations being the same.
[0033] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding
parts throughout the several views. The examples set out herein
illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, in one form, and
such examples are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the
invention in any manner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0034] FIGS. 1-18 depict a grooved pillow-shaped charcoal briquet
of the present invention. Previous charcoal briquets used by
consumers have typically assumed a generally pillow-shape
configuration. However, previous charcoal briquets were not
designed as the charcoal briquets provided herein having enhanced
grooved surface features that provide consumers with a charcoal
briquet having enhanced lighting and burn phase
characteristics.
[0035] FIGS. 1-4 and 13 depict a grooved pillow-shaped briquet 30
having a generally convex upper surface 38, a generally convex
lower surface 36, a generally elliptical periphery 37 when viewed
from the side, and a generally rectangular periphery 35 when viewed
from above or below. FIG. 3 depicts briquet 30 wherein one of these
surfaces, upper surface 38, contains thereon one groove 32. FIG. 13
depicts a front elevational view of briquet 39 wherein both of the
upper 38 and lower surfaces 36 each contain thereon one groove
32.
[0036] FIG. 1 depicts a top plan view of charcoal briquet 30 having
four sides A, B, C and D, connected by four generally rounded
corners 34. Groove 32 runs generally parallel to side B (right
side) and side D (left side), and generally perpendicular to side A
(back) and side C (front). Groove 32 thereby connects front C and
back A of briquet 30 via this channel or trench-like surface
feature that traverses the upper convex surface 38, and increases
the surface area to volume ratio of the briquet enabling more of
the briquet to be exposed to oxygen.
[0037] FIGS. 5-8 and 14 depict a grooved pillow-shaped briquet 40
having a generally convex upper surface 48, a generally convex
lower surface 46, a generally elliptical periphery 47 when viewed
from the side, and a generally rectangular periphery 45 when viewed
from above or below. FIG. 7 depicts briquet 40 wherein one of these
surfaces, upper surface 48, contains thereon two grooves 42. FIG.
14 depicts a front elevational view of briquet 49 wherein both of
the upper 48 and lower surfaces 46 each contain thereon two grooves
42.
[0038] FIG. 8 depicts a top plan view of charcoal briquet 40 having
four sides A, B, C and D, connected by four generally rounded
corners 44. Grooves 42 run generally parallel to side B (right
side) and side D (left side), and generally perpendicular to side A
(back) and side C (front). Grooves 42 thereby connect front C and
the back A of briquet 40 via this channel or trench-like surface
feature that traverses the upper convex surface 48, and increases
the surface area to volume ratio of the briquet enabling more of
the briquet to be exposed to oxygen.
[0039] FIGS. 9-12 and 15 depict a grooved pillow-shaped briquet 50
having a generally convex upper surface 58, a generally convex
lower surface 56, a generally elliptical periphery 57 when viewed
from the side, and a generally rectangular periphery 55 when viewed
from above or below. FIG. 11 depicts briquet 50 wherein one of
these surfaces, upper surface 58, contains thereon three grooves
52. FIG. 15 depicts a front elevational view of briquet 59 wherein
both the upper 58 and lower surfaces 56 each contain thereon three
grooves 52.
[0040] FIG. 12 depicts a top plan view charcoal briquet 50 having
four sides A, B, C and D, connected by four generally rounded
corners 54. Grooves 52 run generally parallel to side B (right
side) and side D (left side), and generally perpendicular to sides
A (back) and side C (front). Grooves 52 thereby connect front C and
back A of briquet 50 via this channel or trench-like surface
feature that traverses the upper convex surface 58, and increases
the surface area to volume ratio of the briquet enabling more of
the briquet to be exposed to oxygen.
[0041] FIG. 16 depicts a front elevational view of a grooved
pillow-shaped briquet 60 having a generally convex upper surface
68, a generally convex lower surface 66, and a generally elliptical
periphery 67 when viewed from the side. Briquet 60 includes upper
surface 68 containing thereon one groove 62, and lower surface 66
containing thereon two grooves 62. Briquet 60, like briquets 30, 40
and 50, has a generally rectangular periphery when viewed from
above or below, and four sides connected by four generally rounded
corners (not shown). Grooves 62 run generally parallel to the right
and left sides of the briquet, and generally perpendicular to the
back and front of the briquet (not shown).
[0042] FIG. 17 depicts a front elevational view of a grooved
pillow-shaped briquet 70 having a generally convex upper surface
78, a generally convex lower surface 76, and a generally elliptical
periphery 77 when viewed from the side. Briquet 70 includes upper
surface 78 containing thereon one groove 72, and lower surface 76
containing thereon three grooves 72. Briquet 70, like briquets 30,
40 and 50, has a generally rectangular periphery when viewed from
above or below, and four sides connected by four generally rounded
corners (not shown). Grooves 72 run generally parallel to the right
and left sides of the briquet, and generally perpendicular to the
back and front of the briquet (not shown).
[0043] It should be understood that the present invention as
depicted in FIGS. 1-18 preferably describes and discloses
pillow-shaped briquets with one, or two or three parallel grooves
on one or both opposite convex surfaces of the briquet. It should
be understood that the present invention can be considered to
relate to briquets having a plurality of grooves on the surface
thereof. However, it should be realized that the greater the number
of grooves, the shallower the individual groove would become. The
depth of the groove is defined by the width-to-depth
proportion.
[0044] Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the present
invention provides a means of providing charcoal briquets having
textured and grooved surface features that result in consumer
desired improved random, no-mating stacking ability, and improved
ignition and burn phase characteristic for use in grilling, cooking
or the like. However, it will be appreciated that the present
invention is useful for designing a surface configuration of
briquets to achieve the specific qualities and properties as
disclosed herein.
[0045] This invention has been described herein in considerable
detail to provide those skilled in the art with information
relevant to apply the novel principles and to construct and use
such specialized components as are required. However, it is to be
understood that the invention can be carried out by different
equipment, materials and devices, and that various modifications,
both as to the equipment and operating procedures, can be
accomplished without departing from the scope of the invention
itself.
* * * * *