Fuel and related compositions – Fuel product of defined shape or structure – Shaped or arranged for easier ignition
Reexamination Certificate
2001-11-08
2004-06-29
Toomer, Cephia D. (Department: 1714)
Fuel and related compositions
Fuel product of defined shape or structure
Shaped or arranged for easier ignition
C044S451000, C044S452000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06755877
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the use of certain combustible, freestanding thermoplastic containers rather than metal canisters, plastic pouches and other devices for both the packaging and controlled burning of alcohol-based fluids, without fuel leakage occurring even as these thermoplastic containers gradually melt and burn.
Ethyl alcohol, a non-polluting, combustible, and renewable energy source, has become an increasingly popular fuel which is commercially sold for use in alcohol stoves, for example. Ethanol is also used in combination with other fuels such as gasoline to produce “gasohol”. Mixed alcohol fuels have also been described. For example, isopropanol has been combined with ethanol. Besides serving as a denaturing agent, the isopropanol provides flame coloration as described by Perlnan in U.S. Pat. No. 5,858,031 for safety purposes, e.g., skin burn prevention. Some alcohol-containing fuels have been used as lighter fluids for igniting solid fuels such as barbecue charcoal and wooden logs. Alcohol-based fuels may be “free-burned”, i.e., a pre-measured quantity of fuel is burned in the open air without the use of a stove or other hardware device to regulate combustion. With the free-burning of lower alcohols, the rate of combustion and flame spread can be controlled by a combination of water dilution and addition of thickening agent, e.g., hydroxypropylcellulose or polyacrylate.
A gelled alcohol-based fuel known as Sterno® (manufactured by Colgate-Palmolive, Tenafly, N.J.) contains approximately 65-70% by volume ethanol, and is packaged and burned in metal cans which can be placed under food vessels such as chafing dishes. The metal can is generally discarded as a waste product after the alcohol gel is burned.
Snow, U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,405 describes an auxiliary fuel source which is placed beneath charcoal in a grill for the purpose of igniting the charcoal. Similarly, McKenney et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,779,693 describe a charcoal igniting device employing a fuel source positioned beneath the charcoal. Similarly, Minnis, U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,045 describes an apparatus and method for igniting briquettes in a cooking utensil by placing a solid flammable fire-starting material in an enclosure beneath the briquettes.
Sloan et al., U.S. Pat. No. 2,838,384 describe a combustible alcohol and finely divided charcoal-containing mixed gel composition which is intended to cling or adhere to charcoal or wood materials, for igniting these materials.
Duncan, U.S. Pat. No. 4,165,968, describes a rapidly ignitable charcoal briquette with a thickened flammable alcohol-containing coating applied to the briquette.
Tanner, U.S. Pat. No. 3,801,292 describes a fire starting composition in gelled form which solidifies upon ignition.
Tarpley, Jr., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,156,594 and 4,157,242 and Wesley et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,890 describe thixotropic gel fuels.
Monick, U.S. Pat. No. 4,365,971 describes an alcohol-based fuel gel composition for igniting wood or charcoal in which the composition is packaged in a pressurized container and dispensed onto the surface of the wood or charcoal.
Spilles, U.S. Pat. No. 4,238,201 describes a pasty emulsion of an alcohol for lighting charcoal in which a sealed polyethylene-coated cellophane foil bag is used to hold the pasty emulsion. This flexible bag (formed from a film approximately 0.004 inches thick) is reported to burn away entirely, exposing the fuel, unless the thickness of the bag becomes too great, in which case the bag becomes fire-inhibiting.
Wyer, U.S. Pat. No. 4,786,290 describes a burnable charcoal package that includes an elongated plastic container in the form of a conventional side edge-sealed pouch filled with an alcohol gel. An elongated fuse along the pouch's length is required to initially burn, thereby melting through the pouch and igniting the gel, which then ignites the charcoal.
Solidified alcohol-based fuels, coatings of liquid or solid fuels on charcoal and wood, and liquid fuels packaged in non-combustible containers, do not tend to leak from barbecue grills. On the other hand, any of the above-described liquid alcohol-based fuels placed either free in the bottom of a barbecue grill or packaged inside a thin-walled pouch may, as it burns, leak out of the grill through ventilation holes or cracks in the grill bottom. For example, Applicant has packaged liquid alcohol fuels described in the present invention inside plastic pouches such as those described by Spilles and by Wyer, and it was found that these pouches leaked when burned. As stated above, if a burning fuel liquid is allowed to leak from a grill, it may cause an accidental fire. The present invention reduces or eliminates this risk.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention concerns the use of a combustible fire-starting (or generally heat-providing) assembly that includes a suitable quantity of combustible alcohol-based fuel liquid contained within a freestanding, alcohol-resistant and impermeable, and combustible container preferably a thermoplastic container. The container is suitably sized (to hold the quantity of fuel liquid), and has a bottom wall and a perimeter sidewall that is continuous with (joined to) the bottom wall. Unlike a pouch, the container is freestanding and in use its upper portion is open to the air to allow free-burning of the fuel liquid. Surprisingly, by selecting an open style container having a suitable composition, and having a sidewall of an adequate thickness, the container is able to retain the alcohol-based fuel without leaking, throughout the period of combustion of the fuel liquid. Even as the container's sidewall gradually becomes shortened in height as it melts and burns downward along with the fuel, the container retains the fuel. This fire-starting assembly can be used for igniting a charcoal or wood fire, but can also be used as a heat source, e.g., for warming or cooking food.
Thus in a first aspect, the invention features a combustible fire-starting or heat-providing assembly that includes a suitable quantity of combustible alcohol-based fuel liquid within a freestanding combustible alcohol-resistant and alcohol-impermeable semi-rigid container. The container is sized to hold that quantity of liquid, and is configured with at least a bottom wall and a perimeter sidewall that is continuous with the bottom wall. In use, the upper portion of the container is substantially open to the air to allow free-burning of the fuel liquid. The container is of a suitable composition, and its sidewall is of an adequate thickness to allow the container to retain the fuel liquid without leakage throughout the period of the fuel's combustion, even as the sidewall gradually diminishes in height as it melts and burns downward toward the bottom wall of the container.
In preferred embodiments, the fuel liquid and the container constituting the assembly are composed of materials consisting essentially of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms which, upon combustion, produce water and carbon dioxide. Highly preferably, the assembly is substantially free of chlorinated, or other halogenated, compounds which, upon burning, may produce dioxin or other toxic substances. In particular, the container (or at least all portions of the container that will be burned) are substantially free of halogenated, e.g., chlorinated, compounds. Also preferably, the container is substantially free of heavy metals.
In preferred embodiments, the assembly meets California and/or Federal Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) emission standards for charcoal lighter material products. Preferably the assembly produces no more than 0.020 pounds VOC per start according to the California South Coast Air Quality District Rule 1174 Ignition Method Compliance Certification Protocol, dated Feb. 27, 1991, or an equivalent amount under a subsequent Ignition Method Compliance Certification Protocol or alternate protocol. More preferably, the assembly produces no more than 0.01, or no more than 0.005 pounds per start under the cited protocol.
In preferred embodime
Brandeis University
Toomer Cephia D.
White Mark P.
LandOfFree
Freestanding plastic container for controlled combustion of... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Freestanding plastic container for controlled combustion of..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Freestanding plastic container for controlled combustion of... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3363949