Abstract:
A burning device includes a plurality of interconnected chamber walls defining a burning chamber and a central axis, each chamber wall also defining a plurality of chamber apertures. A plurality of flanges extend radially from the chamber walls and substantially parallel to the central axis, and a plurality of circumferentially extending lips extending from a respective flange. Each lip is radially spaced apart from an associated chamber wall and defines therebetween an air flow passageway communicating with the burning chamber and affording air flow into the burning chamber. Ventilation apertures are defined in at least one of the plurality of lips and the plurality of flanges, the ventilation apertures providing communication between the air flow passageways and the burning chamber. A cover is removably supported by the chamber walls and defines a plurality of apertures.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application No. 10/264,275 filed Oct. 3, 2002, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. provisional Patent Application No. 60/326,803 filed Oct. 3, 2001. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The invention relates to a container for burning material such as yard waste, paper products, coal, wood and other flammable material. In addition, the container may be used as a grill.  
         [0003]     Burning refuse has long been an efficient method for reducing large amounts of debris into comparatively small piles of soot and ash. Burning refuse in this manner reduces the amount of material placed into landfills and offers certain environmental advantages associated with the reduction of waste volume. In order to prevent the fire associated with burning the refuse from spreading uncontrollably, it has long been known to place the items to be burned into a container such as a drum or barrel, thereby containing the fire within a small, easily controlled area. Oftentimes holes or other apertures are formed in the barrel to increase airflow through the barrel, thereby improving the barrel&#39;s burning characteristics. Currently used burning barrels and drums often result in offensive smoking and smoldering, which is a result of poor airflow through the container.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention provides a burning device including a plurality of chamber walls that define a burning chamber and a central axis. Each chamber wall also defines a plurality of chamber apertures. A plurality of flanges extend radially from the chamber walls and substantially parallel to the central axis. A plurality of circumferentially extending lips extend from ends of respective flanges, and each lip is radially spaced apart from an associated chamber wall. The lips cooperate with the associated chamber wall to at least partially define an air flow passageway communicating with the burning chamber and affording air flow into the burning chamber. Ventilation apertures are defined in at least one of the plurality of lips and the plurality of flanges, the ventilation apertures providing communication between the air flow passageways and the burning chamber. A cover is removably supported by the chamber walls and defines a plurality of apertures.  
         [0005]     The present invention also provides a burning device including a plurality of panels interconnected to define a burning chamber and a central axis, each panel defining a plurality of ventilation apertures and having a top edge and a bottom edge. A plurality of flanges are formed integrally with the panels and extend radially with respect thereto from the bottom edge to the top edge, and a plurality of lips are formed integrally with the panels, each lip extending generally circumferentially from a respective flange. A plurality of ventilation apertures are formed in at least one of the plurality of flanges and of the plurality of lips. The panels, the flanges, and the lips operate to define angularly spaced apart air flow passageways that extend axially through the chamber.  
         [0006]     The present invention also provides a method for assembling a burning device. The method includes forming a plurality of chamber panels, each panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, a free edge, a flange edge, and a flange extending from the flange edge. Each chamber panel also defines a plurality of apertures. The free edge of a first chamber panel is coupled to the flange edge of a second chamber panel, and additional chamber panels are coupled to the first and second panels to define a burning chamber having a central axis. The method further includes coupling a generally annular support ring to the bottom edges of the chamber panels. A cover defining a plurality of apertures is positioned on the top edges of the panels to overlie the chamber, wherein the cover is positionable with respect to the panels in more than one position.  
         [0007]     Other features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description and the drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a burning container embodying the invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a section view taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged exploded view of a portion of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a side view of a portion of the burning container illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a handle for the burning container illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a cover hook for the burning container illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 7A  is a top view of a cover for the burning container illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 7B  is a side view of the cover illustrated in  FIG. 7A .  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a cross bar for the burning container illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 9  is an exploded view of a base assembly for the burning container illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 10  is a section view similar to  FIG. 3  illustrating a container which is an alternative embodiment of the invention.  
         [0019]     Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0020]      FIGS. 1-9  illustrate a burning container  20  embodying the invention and which is adapted for use to burn any number of materials. For example, the burning container  20  may be used as a cooking grill, an incinerator, a thermal shredder, a fireplace, or the like. Examples of fuel, or burning materials for the burning container  20  includes paper products, wood, yard refuse, coals, hickory or other burnable material.  
         [0021]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the burning container  20  includes a cylindrical portion  22  having a central axis  24 , and a burning chamber  26 . The cylindrical portion  22  is supported by a base assembly  28  that is fixed to the cylindrical portion  22 . The cylindrical portion  22  also includes a plurality of apertures  30  that afford ventilation along substantially the entire length of the cylindrical portion  22 . The container  20  also includes a cover  32 , cover hooks  34 , and a handle  36 .  
         [0022]     Referring also to  FIGS. 2-4 , the cylindrical portion  22  includes a plurality of generally arcuate chamber panels  38  having formed therein the ventilation apertures  30 . In the illustrated embodiment, four panels  38  are used to define the chamber walls of the burning chamber  26 . Each panel  38  is similarly configured and includes a top edge  40 , a bottom edge  42 , a free edge  44 , and a flange edge  46 . A flange  48  extends radially from the flange edge  46  of each panel  38  and substantially parallel to the central axis  24 . A lip  50  extends from the end of each flange  48  and is circumferentially extending. Each lip  50  is radially spaced apart from an associated panel  38 . As seen in  FIG. 4 , top edges of the flange  48  and the lip  50  are recessed from the top edge  40  of the panel  38 . The recess provides room for the cover  32  when attached to the burning container  20 . In further embodiments, no recess is formed between the top edges of the flanges  48  and the lips  50  and the top edges of the panels  38 .  
         [0023]     A plurality of mounting slots  52  extend along the free edge  44  of each panel  38 , and a plurality of corresponding mounting holes  54  extend along the flange edge  46  of each panel  38 . The slots  52  and holes  54  are configured such that the panels  38  may be secured to each other by extending fasteners  56  through the mounting slots  52  of one panel  38  and into corresponding mounting holes  54  of an adjacent panel  38 . For ease of assembly, the fasteners  56  are preferably of the self-tapping type, however other types of fasteners and other fastening methods are possible as well. Additional panels  38  are secured to one another in the manner described above until the plurality of panels  38  form a complete cylinder. When the panels  38  are assembled, the flanges  48  of each panel  38  extend generally radially inward toward the central axis  24 , and the lips  50  of each panel  38  extend generally circumferentially with respect to the cylindrical portion  22 . Although illustrated panels  38  are semi-cylindrical, in a further embodiment the panels  38  may be flat and define a polygonal structure in place of the illustrated cylindrical portion  22 .  
         [0024]     Those of ordinary skill in the art will readily understand that the flanges  48  and the lips  50  can be formed integrally with the panel  38 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the panel  38 , the ventilation apertures  30 , the mounting slots  52  and the mounting holes  54  are cut from a relatively flat sheet of material, such as a sheet of stainless steel or steel. The flat sheet can then be bent as required to form the flanges  48  and the lips  50 . In the illustrated embodiment, the bends that form the flanges  48  and the lips  50  are in the same direction. However, other methods for forming the panels  38 , including bending the flat sheet in different directions, or attaching the flanges  48  and lips  50  separately, can also be successfully used. In the illustrated embodiment, the flanges  48  and the lips  50 , like the rest of the panel  38 , have ventilation apertures  58  formed therein.  
         [0025]     Referring also to  FIGS. 1 and 5 , the handle  36  is secured to the cylindrical portion  22  by extending fasteners (e.g., the self-tapping fasteners  56  described above) through apertures  60  in the handles  36  and through the mounting slots  52  and mounting holes  54  of the panels  38 . In another embodiment, the handle  36  is mounted to the chamber panel  38  through apertures  30 .  
         [0026]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 6 , the cover hooks  34 , or clips, are secured to the cylindrical portion  22  in a similar manner. In the illustrated embodiment, three cover hooks  34  are attached to the top edges  40  of the panels  38 , and the cover hooks  34  are angularly spaced from one another by approximately 90 degrees. Each cover hook  34  includes a mounting portion  62  that is secured to one of the panels  38 , and a U-shaped portion  64  that extends over the top edge  40  of the panels  38 . The cover  32  is configured and adapted to overlap the top edges  40  of the assembled cylindrical portion  22  and is received by the U-shaped portions  64  of the cover hooks  34 , whereby the cover hooks  34  support the cover  32 . In further embodiments, fewer or more cover hooks may be used to attach the cover, and the cover hooks may be spaced greater or lesser distances apart.  
         [0027]      FIGS. 1, 7A  and  7 B illustrate the cover  32  of the burning container  20 , which when supported by the cylindrical portion  22  operates as a grill, ventilation means or a spark arrestor for the burning container  20 . The cover  32  includes a central, convex portion  66  having a peripheral edge  68 , and a flange portion  70  extending radially outward from the peripheral edge  68 . A plurality of apertures  72  are formed in the convex portion  66  of the cover  32  for providing ventilation to the burning chamber  26  while preventing sparks, large pieces of ash, and burning debris from exiting the burning chamber  26 .  
         [0028]     In use, the cover  32  is supported by the cylindrical portion  22  by sliding the flange portion  70  into and out of position within the U-shaped portions  64  of the cover hooks  34 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the cover  32  is positioned such that the convex portion  66  extends into the burning chamber  26 . In this configuration, the cover  32  may be used as a grill with food placed on a concave surface of the cover  32 . In another embodiment, the cover  32  is positioned such that the convex portion extends opposite the burning chamber  26 . In this configuration, the cover  32  is operable as a spark arrestor. In yet another embodiment, a flange extends axially outwardly from an outer edge of the flange portion  70  and away from the convex portion  66  to provide additional stiffness to the cover  32 .  
         [0029]     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 8 , a pair of cross bars  74  having a generally V-shaped cross-section are configured to at least partially support burning material inserted into the burning chamber  26 . The cross bars  74  are inserted into generally V-shaped support apertures  76  formed in the panels  38  (shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 ). Each cross bar  74  extends generally diametrically across the cylindrical portion  22  and is supported on each end by one of the panels  38 . Preferably, the cross bars  74  are inserted such that the V-shaped cross-section points generally upwardly and such that the cross bars  74  are at an angle of approximately 90 degrees to each other when viewed along the central axis  24 .  
         [0030]     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the base assembly  28  includes four arc-shaped portions  78  that are preferably formed from a relatively flat sheet of metal. Each arc-shaped portion  78  includes an inner edge  80  along which is formed a plurality of longitudinally extending mounting tabs  82 . In some embodiments, the mounting tabs  82  are formed integrally with the arc-shaped portions  78  and are bent generally upwardly to receive the cylindrical portion  22 . As illustrated, the mounting tabs  82  engage the outside surfaces of the panels  38  and are secured thereto using fasteners, such as the self-tapping fasteners  56  described above. In the illustrated embodiment, the arc-shaped portions  78  attach to the outside surfaces of the panels  38  so that ash is permitted to fall through the burning chamber  26  to the ground. Each arc-shaped portion  78  also includes a pair of coupling tabs  84 . The coupling tabs  84  are provided such that four arc-shaped portions  78  are securable to one another to define a generally annular support ring. When the burning container  20  is fully assembled, the bottom edges  42  of the panels  38  rest upon the arc-shaped portions  78  between the inner edges  80  and the mounting tabs  82 . The arc-shaped portions  78  also include grounding apertures  86  that are spaced along the annular ring. The grounding apertures  86  receive stakes  88  that are insertable into the ground to secure the base assembly  28  and the cylindrical portion  22 . It should be readily apparent to one skilled in the art that the support ring can be formed of fewer or more portions, including a one-piece ring.  
         [0031]     In  FIG. 9 , the base assembly  28  also includes a base plate  90 . In the illustrated embodiment, the base plate  90  is generally rectangular and includes sides  92  having a length that is longer than an inner diameter of the support ring, but smaller than an outer diameter of the support ring. In this way, the base plate  90  substantially completely overlies a bottom portion of the burning chamber  26 , but does not extend so far as to prevent the insertion of stakes  88  through the grounding apertures  86 . The base plate  90  also includes a pair of slots  94  that define handles. The base plate  90  affords easy collection and disposal of ash, as discussed further below. In a further embodiment, the base assembly  28  does not include the base plate  90 .  
         [0032]     The burning container  20  can be assembled from the various components by coupling the free edge  44  of a first panel  38  to the flange edge  46  of a second panel  38 . Additional panels  38  are then coupled to the first and second panels  38  in a similar manner until a complete cylinder is formed, thereby defining the cylindrical portion  22 , the central axis  24  and the burning chamber  26 . As the panels  38  are coupled together, the flanges  48  are positioned to extend radially inward with respect to the central axis  24 . The cover hooks  34  and the handle  36  are attached to the panels  38  using the mounting slots  52  and mounting holes  54  of the panels  38 , although other apertures for securing the cover hooks  34  and the handle  36  may be used. The assembled cylindrical portion  22  is then secured to the base assembly  28 . The cross bars  74  are inserted through the support apertures  76  and the cover  32  is then positioned on the top edges  40  to overlie the burning chamber  26 .  
         [0033]     In operation, the burning container  20  is preferably positioned on relatively soft ground such as sand or dirt. The stakes  88  are inserted into the ground to secure the base assembly  28  and the cylindrical portion  22  against undesired movement or overturning. Burnable material, such as paper, wood, yard refuse, coals, hickory or the like, are positioned inside the burning chamber  26 . The burnable material is supported at least partially by the cross bars  74 , and may also rest on the base plate  90  or the ground. The burnable material is supported along the sides of the burning chamber  26  at least partially by the inwardly extending flanges  48  and the circumferentially extending lips  50 .  
         [0034]     The flanges  48  and the lips  50  cooperate to provide a chimney-like air flow passageway  96  that keeps burning material away from the panels  38  in the area of the flanges  48  and that allows air to flow along the sides of the burning chamber  26  in the direction shown by arrow  98  in  FIG. 4 . As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , the panels  38  define a first outer diameter and the lips  50  define a second inner diameter, whereby the air flow passageways  96  are defined between the first and second diameters. It should be readily apparent to those of skill in the art that air flows in direction  98  within and outside of air flow passageways  96 . Further, ventilation apertures  58  formed in the flanges  48  and the lips  50  that define the air flow passageways  96  afford air flow into the burning chamber  26  transverse to the central axis  24 , as shown by arrow  100  in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The flanges  48  also assist in preventing burning material from overlying the ventilation apertures  30  to further improve air flow through the burning chamber  26 . In a further embodiment, the specific size and configuration of the flanges  48  and the lips  50  may be modified to achieve certain desired burning characteristics.  
         [0035]     Preferably, the cover  32  is positioned over the burning chamber  26  and the burnable material is ignited through any of the ventilation apertures  30 . Alternatively, the burnable material may be ignited from the top, before the cover  32  is positioned within the U-shaped portions  64  of the cover hooks  34 . As the burnable material burns, air is drawn into the burning chamber  26  through the ventilation apertures  30 , and air flows generally upwardly through the air flow passageways  96  defined by the flanges  48  and lips  50  before exiting through the apertures  72  in the cover  32 . The sizing and positioning of the ventilation apertures  30  and the cover apertures  72  are such that large pieces of ash and/or debris are substantially prevented from leaving the burning chamber  26 , while a substantial amount of air flow is maintained through the burning chamber  26 . When the burnable material has completely burned and the burning container  20  has cooled, the stakes  88  are removed from the base assembly  28  and the cylindrical portion  22  and arc-shaped portions  78  are lifted or rolled away from the base plate  90 , leaving a pile of ashes on the base plate  90 . The base plate handles  94  may then be used to carry the base plate  90  and the pile of ashes to an appropriate container for disposal.  
         [0036]      FIG. 10  illustrates an alternative embodiment of a burning container  120 . Features and components of the burning container  120  that are the same or similar to features and components of the burning container  20  have been given like reference numerals, increased by one-hundred. The burning container  120  is similar to the container  20 , however the flanges  148  of the panels  138  extend radially outward, as opposed to radially inward. The lips  150  extend circumferentially from the ends of the flanges  148  and are coupled to an adjacent panel  138 . The air flow passageways  196  of the container  120  extend along the burning chamber  126  in a similar manner as the air flow passageways  96 , but are positioned radially outward with respect to the panels  138 . Other orientations and configurations of the panels, flanges, lips, and passageways are possible as well.  
         [0037]     Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.