U.S. patent application number 14/550658 was filed with the patent office on 2015-03-19 for charcoal briquet having a grooved surface.
The applicant listed for this patent is The Clorox Company. Invention is credited to Kelly M. Burke, Katie K. Chow, Stevan R. Curtiss, Scott Melin, Robert Miller, JR., Donald K. Swatling.
Application Number | 20150075064 14/550658 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46323134 |
Filed Date | 2015-03-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150075064 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Melin; Scott ; et
al. |
March 19, 2015 |
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, JR.;
Robert; (Pleasanton, CA) ; Chow; Katie K.;
(Pleasanton, CA) ; Curtiss; Stevan R.;
(Pleasanton, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
The Clorox Company |
Oakland |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
46323134 |
Appl. No.: |
14/550658 |
Filed: |
November 21, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12955736 |
Nov 29, 2010 |
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14550658 |
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11270943 |
Nov 9, 2005 |
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12955736 |
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29208910 |
Jul 7, 2004 |
D517005 |
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11270943 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
44/532 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C10L 11/06 20130101;
Y02E 50/10 20130101; C10L 5/36 20130101; Y02E 50/30 20130101; C10L
5/361 20130101; C10L 5/447 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
44/532 |
International
Class: |
C10L 5/36 20060101
C10L005/36 |
Claims
1. A pillow-shaped charcoal briquet having a total surface area
measurable in square inches and a total volume measureable in cubic
inches, the ratio of said total surface area to said total volume
comprising a value in a range between approximately 13.7 to
approximately 2.16; wherein said briquet further comprises at least
one groove formed in at least one surface thereof; and wherein a
depth of the at least one groove varies as a function of distance
from an external periphery of the briquet.
2. The briquet of claim 1, further comprising an upper surface and
a lower surface, and said at least one groove comprises a plurality
of substantially parallel grooves extending across a majority of
said upper surface; and wherein each of said grooves comprises a
width and a depth, said width comprising a relationship to said
depth
3. The briquet of claim 2, wherein said relationship comprises said
width being substantially equal to said depth over at least a
portion of said groove.
4. The briquet of claim 1, further comprising an upper surface and
lower surface, and said at least one groove comprises a plurality
of grooves disposed across said upper surface and lower surface,
said plurality of grooves aiding combustion by providing air
circulation around said briquet, and between said briquet and at
least another said briquet within a pile of briquets.
5. The briquet of claim 1, further comprising an upper surface and
a lower surface, and said at least one groove comprises at least
two grooves disposed on at least one of said upper surface and said
lower surface, said at least two grooves extending substantially
from one side of a periphery of said briquet to an opposing side of
said periphery for aiding combustion by providing air circulation
around and along at least a portion of said periphery and between
said briquet and at least another said briquette within a pile of
briquets.
6. The briquet of claim 1, further comprising an upper surface, a
lower surface, and a periphery; said periphery defining a plane
whereby said upper surface and said lower surface are substantially
symmetrical with respect thereto; and, said upper surface and said
lower surface each having at least one groove extending
respectively across said upper surface and said lower surface, said
grooves having a depth thereby providing an increased surface area
to volume ratio.
7. The briquet of claim 1, wherein: said at least one groove
comprises a first groove disposed on said upper surface and a
second groove disposed on said lower surface respectively, at least
one of said grooves extending substantially from one side of a
periphery of said briquet to an opposing side of said periphery;
and, said upper surface and said lower surface are configured to
allow close contact between said briquet and one or more adjacent
briquets while said grooves provide air circulation around at least
a portion of said periphery.
8. The briquet of claim 1, wherein said briquet has four sides and
a generally square periphery.
9. A charcoal briquet having a total surface area measurable in
square inches and a total volume measurable in cubic inches, the
ratio of said total surface area to said total volume comprising a
value in a range between approximately 13.7 to approximately 2.16;
wherein said briquet further comprises at least one means for
enhancing the circulation of air around said briquet during
combustion; and wherein said briquet is configured to achieving a
temperature suitable for cooking quickly after ignition and holding
said temperature for an adequate amount of time for cooking
thereafter when disposed relative to a plurality of other similar
briquets and ignited; and wherein said means for enhancing the
circulation enables both (i) said achievement of quick ignition,
and (ii) said adequate amount of time for cooking thereafter.
10. The briquet of claim 9, wherein the prescribed depth is no
deeper than approximately 25% of a maximum depth dimension of the
briquet.
11. The briquet of claim 9, wherein at least of a portion of the
grooves are substantially symmetrical with respect to a horizontal
plane passing through the center of the briquet.
12. The briquet of claim 11, wherein the depth of the grooves
varies as a function of distance from an external periphery of the
briquet.
13. The briquet of claim 12, wherein a width of each of the grooves
at the convex upper surface is greater than a width of the same
groove at said prescribed depth within said briquet.
14. A pillow-shaped charcoal briquet having a convex upper surface,
a convex lower surface, and a plurality of grooves extending across
a majority of both said convex upper surface and said convex lower
surface, said grooves configured to aid combustion by providing air
circulation around said pillow-shaped briquet when said
pillow-shaped briquet is at least partly surrounded by other
similar briquets; wherein said briquet is configured to achieve a
temperature suitable for cooking quickly after ignition and to hold
said temperature for an adequate amount of time for cooking
thereafter when disposed relative to said other similar briquets,
and ignited; and wherein a depth of the grooves varies as a
function of distance from an external periphery of the briquet.
15. The briquet of claim 14, wherein the grooves each have a
maximum prescribed depth that is no deeper than 25% of a maximum
depth dimension of the briquette, yet which is sufficiently deep to
provide said air circulation.
16. The briquet of claim 14, wherein a width of at least a portion
of the grooves is about as wide as said depth.
17. The briquet of claim 14, wherein the depth comprises a
prescribed depth; and wherein a width of each of the grooves at the
convex upper surface is greater than a width of the same groove at
said prescribed depth within said briquet.
18. The briquet of claim 17, wherein said plurality of grooves
enables both (i) said achievement of quick ignition, and (ii) said
adequate amount of time for cooking thereafter.
19. The briquet of claim 18, wherein at least a portion of the
grooves are substantially symmetrical with respect to a horizontal
plane passing through the center of the briquet.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of pending U.S.
application Ser. No. 12/955,736 filed Nov. 29, 2010, which is a
continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/270,943 filed Nov. 9,
2005, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No.
29/208,910 filed Jul. 7, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. D,517,005 issued
Mar. 14, 2006, which are all incorporated herein in their
entirety.
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.
* * * * *