Disposable liquid fuel burner

A disposable liquid fuel burner is disclosed which comprises a container having a closed bottom, an enclosing sidewall and an open top and at least partially filled with a liquid fuel. A flat support member is supported adjacent the open top above the liquid fuel and having a centrally located opening receiving one end of an elongated wick of a fibrous material overlying the support member and having its other end immersed in the liquid. The support member may be a cardboard or plastic disk supported on legs or a cylinder or may be a cup-shaped member. A fibrous bat of a refractory, non-combustible material substantially fills the open top and overlies the support member and the end of the wick supported thereon. A bat of a plastic, e.g., polyurethane, foam material overlies the fibrous bat. A top cover is secured on the container closing the open top and is at least partially removable, e.g. removable cover or pull-tap opening cover, to expose the plastic foam bat, whereby the burner may be ignited with the flame extending substantially uniformly from said entire top opening and continuing to burn until extinguished or said liquid fuel is exhausted. The plastic foam bat is combustible and burns off in use with the flame being subsequently emitted from the surface of said fibrous bat. A flat disc or ring member with an opening smaller than the lid is provided to control the size of the flame and rate of burning.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates generally to a disposable liquid fuel burner and 
more particularly a burner having an easily opened top and arranged for 
the flame to be emitted from substantially the entire top opening of the 
burner. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Restaurants and other food preparers and servers have long required simple 
means for heating or maintaining foods at an elevated temperature for 
extended periods of time. The need has been particularly strong for buffet 
service or for table service where some items are kept hot at the table. 
Canisters containing jellied fuels, under the name CANNED HEAT, have been 
in use for many years. Next, canisters with liquid fuels were used. At 
first volatile alcohol fuels were used, but more recently fuels of low 
volatility, such as glycols, have come into use. The usual liquid fuel 
burner has a wick which concentrates the flame into a small area. There 
has been a need for a liquid fuel burner having a construction which 
spreads the flame over a substantial area for a less concentrated 
application of heat. 
Devon U.S. Pat. No. 3,888,620 discloses a canned burner using a wax fuel 
and having a tubular wick which protrudes above the can at several points. 
Huber U.S. Pat. No. 3,262,290 discloses a canned burner using a liquid fuel 
and a wick stone. 
de la Rosa U.S. Pat. No. 4,604,053 discloses a canned burner using a liquid 
fuel and having a flat wick which protrudes above the can through an 
opening so that the middle portion of the wick is exposed and the ends are 
positioned in the liquid fuel. 
Bandel U.S. Pat. No. 4,624,633 discloses a canned burner using a liquid 
fuel and having a central wick which protrudes above the can through a 
center opening. Glycol fuels are claimed as the novel feature. 
Menter U.S. Pat. No. 4,611,986 discloses a canned burner using a liquid 
fuel and having a central flat folded wick which protrudes above the can 
through a center opening. 
Norwegian patent No. 59,224 and British patent No. 845,639 disclose liquid 
fuel burners with special wick constructions. 
The present invention is distinguished from this and other prior art by a 
disposable liquid fuel burner which comprises a container having a closed 
bottom, an enclosing sidewall and an open top and at least partially 
filled with a liquid fuel. A flat support member is supported adjacent the 
open top above the liquid fuel and having a centrally located opening 
receiving one end of an elongated wick of a fibrous material, e.g., cotton 
or glass fibers, overlying the support member and having its other end 
immersed in the liquid. The support member may be a cardboard or plastic 
disk supported on legs or a cylinder or may be a cup-shaped member. A 
fibrous bat of a refractory, non-combustible material, e.g., glass fibers, 
substantially fills the open top and overlies the support member and the 
end of the wick supported thereon. A bat of a plastic, e.g., polyurethane, 
foam material overlies the fibrous bat. A top cover is secured on the 
container closing the open top and is at least partially removable, e.g. 
removable cover or pull-tab opening cover, to expose the plastic foam bat, 
whereby the burner may be ignited with the flame extending substantially 
uniformly from said entire top opening and continuing to burn until 
extinguished or said liquid fuel is exhausted. The plastic foam bat is 
combustible and burns off in use with the flame being subsequently emitted 
from the surface of said fibrous bat. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is therefore a general object of this invention to provide a new and 
improved portable burner for cooking, for heating or for maintaining food 
hot at a point of service. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved 
portable liquid fuel burner for cooking, for heating or for maintaining 
food hot at a point of service. 
It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improved 
portable liquid fuel burner for cooking, for heating or for maintaining 
food hot at a point of service and having a construction permitting 
generation of a flame spread over a substantial area. 
It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improved 
portable liquid fuel burner for cooking, for heating or for maintaining 
food hot at a point of service and having a construction permitting 
generation of a flame spread over the entire top of the can in which the 
fuel is carried and stored. 
It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improved 
portable liquid fuel burner for cooking, for heating or for maintaining 
food hot at a point of service and having a canister construction which is 
simple and inexpensive to manufacture and easy to use. 
Other objects of the invention will become apparent from time to time 
throughout the specification and claims as hereinafter related. 
The above noted and other objects of the invention are accomplished by a 
disposable liquid fuel burner comprises a container having a closed 
bottom, an enclosing sidewall and an open top and at least partially 
filled with a liquid fuel. A flat support member is supported adjacent the 
open top above the liquid fuel and having a centrally located opening 
receiving one end of an elongated wick of a fibrous material, e.g., cotton 
or glass fibers, overlying the support member and having its other end 
immersed in the liquid. The support member may be a cardboard or plastic 
disk supported on legs or a cylinder or may be a cup-shaped member. A 
fibrous bat of a refractory, non-combustible material, e.g., glass fibers, 
substantially fills the open top and overlies the support member and the 
end of the wick supported thereon. A bat of a plastic, e.g., polyurethane, 
foam material overlies the fibrous bat. A top cover is secured on the 
container closing the open top and is at least partially removable, e.g. 
removable cover or pull-tab opening cover, to expose the plastic foam bat, 
whereby the burner may be ignited with the flame extending substantially 
uniformly from said entire top opening and continuing to burn until 
extinguished or said liquid fuel is exhausted. The plastic foam bat is 
combustible and burns off in use with the flame being subsequently emitted 
from the surface of said fibrous bat.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in FIG. 
1 a vertical central sectional view of a disposable liquid fuel burner 10 
which comprises a container 11 having a closed bottom wall 12, an 
enclosing sidewall 13 and an open top 14. Container 11 is at least 
partially filled with liquid fuel 15, preferably a relatively non-volatile 
fuel such as diethylene glycol or the like. 
A flat support member 16 is supported adjacent the open top 14 above the 
level of the liquid fuel 15. Support member 16 has a centrally located 
opening 17 receiving one end of an elongated wick 18 of a fibrous 
material, e.g., cotton or glass fibers. The upper end 19 of wick 18 
overlies support member 16 and the other end 20 is immersed in the liquid 
fuel 15. Support member 16 is a cardboard disk supported on a cardboard 
cylinder 21. The support member may also be of a one-piece, molded-plastic 
construction as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 where flat support member 16a has 
central opening 17a and is supported on integrally formed legs 21a. 
A fibrous bat 22 of a refractory, non-combustible material, e.g., glass 
fibers, substantially fills the open container top 14 and overlies the 
support member and the end of the wick supported thereon. A bat 23 of a 
plastic, e.g., polyurethane, foam material overlies fibrous bat 22. A top 
wall member 24 cover is secured at its periphery 25 on container 11 
closing open top 14. Wall member 24 has a central opening 26 which 
receives a removable cover 27. 
OPERATION 
In use, cover or lid 27 is removed from container 11 to expose the portion 
of plastic foam bat 23 seen through opening 26. Liquid fuel 15 is drawn by 
wick 18 to saturate glass fiber bat 22 and plastic foam bat 23. The burner 
is ignited by a match or other lighter and flame is emitted uniformly from 
the entire opening 26. Plastic foam bat 23 slowly burns off with the 
burning fuel, leaving glass fiber bat 22 exposed. In subsequent operation, 
the flame is emitted from fuel carried by wick 18 and distributed 
uniformly over glass fiber bat 22. 
ANOTHER PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in FIG. 
5 a view of another embodiment of the invention utilizing a different 
support for the glass fiber bat and plastic foam bat. The structure is 
otherwise the same as that shown in FIG. 1 and like reference numerals are 
applied to like parts. 
In FIG. 5, there is shown a vertical central sectional view of a disposable 
liquid fuel burner 10 which comprises a container 11 having a closed 
bottom wall 12, an enclosing sidewall 13 and an open top 14. Container 11 
is at least partially filled with liquid fuel 15, preferably a relatively 
non-volatile fuel such as diethylene glycol or the like. 
A flat cup-shaped support member 30 (replacing support member 16) is 
supported adjacent the open top 14 above the level of the liquid fuel 15. 
Support member 30 has a flat bottom wall 31 with centrally located opening 
32 receiving one end of an elongated wick 18 of a fibrous material, e.g., 
cotton or glass fibers. The upper end 19 of wick 18 overlies bottom wall 
31 of support member 30 and the other end 20 is immersed in the liquid 
fuel 15. Support member 30 is a stamped sheet metal cup having a 
surrounding side wall 33 and is outwardly flanged at 34 to be supported on 
the upper end of container side wall 13. 
A fibrous bat 22 of a refractory, non-combustible material, e.g., glass 
fibers, substantially fills the open container top 14 and overlies the 
support member and the end of the wick supported thereon. A bat 23 of a 
plastic, e.g., polyurethane, foam material overlies fibrous bat 22. A top 
wall member 24 cover is secured at its periphery 25 on container 11 
closing open top 14. Wall member 24 has a central opening 26 which 
receives a removable cover 27. 
OPERATION 
The operation is as described for the embodiment of FIG. 1. Cover or lid 27 
is removed from container 11 to expose the portion of plastic foam bat 23 
seen through opening 26. Liquid fuel 15 is drawn by wick 18 to saturate 
glass fiber bat 22 and plastic foam bat 23. The burner is ignited by a 
match or other lighter and flame is emitted uniformly from the entire 
opening 26. Plastic foam bat 23 slowly burns off with the burning fuel, 
leaving glass fiber bat 22 exposed. In subsequent operation, the flame is 
emitted from fuel carried by wick 18 and distributed uniformly over glass 
fiber bat 22. 
STILL ANOTHER PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in FIGS. 
6 and 7 a view of another embodiment of the invention utilizing a 
different top opening. The structure is otherwise the same as that shown 
in FIG. 5 although this cover arrangement may be used with the embodiment 
of FIG. 1. In this embodiment, like reference numerals are applied to like 
parts. 
In FIG. 6, there is shown a vertical central sectional view of a disposable 
liquid fuel burner 10 which comprises a container 11 having a closed 
bottom wall 12, an enclosing sidewall 13 and an open top 14. Container 11 
is at least partially filled with liquid fuel 15, preferably a relatively 
non-volatile fuel such as diethylene glycol or the like. 
A flat cup-shaped support member 30 (replacing support member 16) is 
supported adjacent the open top 14 above the level of the liquid fuel 15. 
Support member 30 has a flat bottom wall 31 with centrally located opening 
32 receiving one end of an elongated wick 18 of a fibrous material, e.g., 
cotton or glass fibers. The upper end 19 of wick 18 overlies bottom wall 
31 of support member 30 and the other end 20 is immersed in the liquid 
fuel 15. Support member 30 is a stamped sheet metal cup having a 
surrounding side wall 33 and is outwardly flanged at 34 to be supported on 
the upper end of container side wall 13. 
A fibrous bat 22 of a refractory, non-combustible material, e.g., glass 
fibers, substantially fills the open container top 14 and overlies the 
support member and the end of the wick supported thereon. A bat 23 of a 
plastic, e.g., polyurethane, foam material overlies fibrous bat 22. 
A top wall member 24 is secured at its periphery 25 on container 11 closing 
open top 14. Wall member 24 has a scored line of weakness 26a which 
defines a removable cover 27a. A pull-tab 35 is secured on cover 27a and 
is operable to remove the cover in the well-known manner. This pull-tab 
removable cover arrangement has been shown in connection with the 
embodiment of FIG. 5 but obviously can be used with the embodiment of FIG. 
1 as well. A flat disc or ring member 124 with an opening 125 smaller than 
the opening 26a is provided to control the size of the flame and rate of 
burning. The burn rate can also be controlled by the size of opening 32 
for wick 18. The length and density of the wick 18 also contributes to 
control of the size of flame and burn rate. All of these sizes may be 
predetermined for a particular application for the burner. 
OPERATION 
The operation is as described for the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 5. Cover 
or lid 27a is removed from container 11 by pull-tab 35 expose plastic foam 
bat 23 across the entire opening. As in the other embodiments, liquid fuel 
15 is drawn by wick 18 to saturate glass fiber bat 22 and plastic foam bat 
23. The burner is ignited by a match or other lighter and flame is emitted 
uniformly from the entire opening 26. Plastic foam bat 23 slowly burns off 
with the burning fuel, leaving glass fiber bat 22 exposed. In subsequent 
operation, the flame is emitted from fuel carried by wick 18 and 
distributed uniformly over glass fiber bat 22. 
While this invention has been described fully and completely, with special 
emphasis on certain preferred embodiments, it should be understood that, 
within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced 
otherwise than as specifically described herein.