Combustible package for charcoal briquettes and a fire starter

Abstract

A package made from all combustible materials for containing a fuel source, such as charcoal briquettes, and a fire starter. The package includes a wound paper tube with an interior space where the charcoal briquettes are stored along with the fire starter. The top of the interior space is closed off by a top lid made from combustible material. The fire starter is located underneath the charcoal briquettes at the lower end of the interior space. The fire starter may also function as bottom lid or a separate bottom lid may be employed.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to the packaging of charcoal briquettes and fire starters. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Charcoal briquettes are compressed blocks of black porous carbonaceous material used to provide the heat for barbequing or grilling food. Although the blocks can come in several shapes, the blocks are generally pillow-shaped. Typically, charcoal briquettes are placed in a bottom of a grill, ignited, and burn to coals over time providing the heat for cooking the food. [0003] Charcoal briquettes are very messy, often leaving a black residue on items, such as a user's clothes or skin, upon contact. Therefore it is desirable to keep the manual handling of charcoal briquettes to a minimum. [0004] One of the most common packages for charcoal briquettes is a large bag containing a predetermined weight of charcoal briquettes. The size and weight of the bags vary usually from five pounds to 20 pounds. [0005] Typically the bag package contai...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] In one embodiment, the package includes a wound paper tube, a top lid, at least one charcoal briquette, and an annular fire starter. The wound paper tube has an interior space with a top end and bottom end. The top lid, made from combustible material, is fixed to the paper tube closing off the top end of the interior space. The annular fire starter is inserted in the lower end of the interior space, effectively closing off the lower end and functioning as a bottom lid. The charcoal briquettes are located on top of the annular fire starter inside the interior space. The central hole of the annular fire starter functions as a chimney through which air is drawn upwardly to the burning charcoal.

Problems solved by technology

Charcoal briquettes are very messy, often leaving a black residue on items, such as a user's clothes or skin, upon contact.

Due to the bag's weight and shape and the messiness associated with charcoal, this transfer step is undesirable.

However, lighter fluid by design is very flammable and thus dangerous.

Lighter fluid also may leave an unpleasant odor and / or taste on the food being cooked.

However, these packages are more expensive because the packages often require complex structures, such as internal panels to create flues or chimneys.

However, this also causes the charcoal to burn too quickly and is not desirable.

Cost is always an issue with packaging.

However, the cost of charcoal briquettes packaging is especially sensitive.

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