Device for carrying and burning firewood

Abstract: A device for carrying and burning firewood, comprising a container that is made of combustible material, is open at the top, and has a bottom (4) provided with at least one opening (9), pieces of wood of appropriate size being arranged inside the container and the opening allowing to set fire to the wood inside the container.

Description: The present invention relates to a device for carrying and burning firewood. It is known that preparing the fire in the fireplace is often awkward and troublesome due to the need to carry the necessary wood from its storage place to the point of use. In addition, a particular size of wood and an appropriate arrangement of said wood in the fireplace are required to facilitate the critical initial lighting step. Moreover, combustion requires some assistance, at least during the initial step, and this often causes those who have to tend to the fire to get dirty. Examples of self-contained fire packages including combustible containers in which fuel elements such as pieces of wood are shown are disclosed in US-A-4 063 904, US-A-4 762 525, and CH-A-371 091. The aim of the present invention is therefore to provide a device that allows to meet the felt requirement of a more convenient way of carrying the firewood and of a quicker and safer lighting thereof. Within the scope of this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a device that is capable of ensuring greater cleanliness during the carrying and burning of the wood. In accordance with the invention, there is provided a device for carrying and burning firewood, which comprises a container made of combustible material and having an upper opening and a bottom that has at least one lower draft opening. Pieces of wood of appropriate size are arranged inside the container, and the opening being adapted to allow the wood inside said container to catch fire. The device is characterized in that the bottom has a substantially central region constituted by tabs which are foldable outwards so as to constitute the lower draft opening and elements for setting on fire the wood inside the container. Further particularities of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: figure 1 is an upward perspective view of the device when not in use; figure 2 is a downward perspective view of the device when not in use; figure 3 is a transverse sectional view of the device; figure 4 is an upward perspective view of the device ready for use; figure 5 is a downward perspective view of the device ready for use; figures 6, 7, 8, and 9 are views of a different embodiment of the device. With reference to the above figures, the device is generally designated by the reference numeral 1 and comprises a container made of combustible material and having a rectangular prism-like shape. The container 1 is made, for example, of corrugated cardboard according to conventional methods. In the drawing, the walls of the container are designated by the reference numeral 2 and the lid and the bottom are designated by the reference numerals 3 and 4 respectively. The lid 3 and the bottom 4 are constituted by flaps 5 and 6; the lid flaps can be turned outwards so as to allow to open the container. The bottom, which normally remains in closure position, instead has a substantially central portion that is formed by two tabs 7 and 8 that can be folded outwards so as to form an opening 9 that is connected to the internal space of the container. A certain amount of firewood 10 is arranged in the container. Conveniently, the wood comprises pieces of various sizes: the wood having the smallest diameter rests on the bottom 4 and the larger wood is located directly below the lid 3. The described device is used by placing the container 1 in the fireplace, preferably in a raised position, for example by resting it on two andirons. Then, after opening the lid 3 at the top, by lifting the flaps 5, and after folding the tabs 7 and 8 outwards, combustion of the wood is triggered by setting fire to the lowermost wood, either directly, through the opening 9 left by the tabs 7 and 8, or indirectly, by setting fire to the tabs 7 and 8. The described invention perfectly achieves the intended aim and objects. In particular, it is noted that combustion develops radially, in a very uniform manner, from the opening 9 of the bottom by virtue of the draft produced by the container itself. Numerous modifications and variations are possible in the practical embodiment of the invention, all of which are within the scope of the same inventive concept. Thus, for example, it is possible to provide a container that does not have a lid. Likewise, it is possible to provide a plurality of openings in the bottom of the container in order to set fire to the wood more quickly, or to replace the openings with regions made of highly flammable material which, by burning rapidly, form said openings. Advantageously, for the same purpose a layer of sawdust, shavings, or wood chips can be formed on the bottom 4, the firewood being placed on said layer. Figures 6 to 9 illustrate a different embodiment, in which the pieces of firewood are tied beforehand with a vegetable cord that is wound around them so as to form two slip knots 11 and 12 interconnected by a handle 13. Advantageously, the slip knots 11 and 12 are closed by metal rings 14. After the wood has been placed in the container 15, the handle 13 protrudes outside through an opening 16 of the container, so as to allow more comfortable carrying. The size of the opening 16 is chosen so as to allow the draft of the combustion air. Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims: Device (1) for carrying and burning firewood, comprising a container made of combustible material, said container having an upper opening, and a bottom (4) that has at least one lower draft opening (9), pieces (10) of wood of appropriate size being arranged inside said container, said opening being adapted to allow the wood inside said container to catch fire, the device being characterized in that said bottom (4) has a substantially central region constituted by tabs (7, 8), said tabs (7, 8) being foldable outwards so as to constitute said lower draft opening (9) and elements for setting on fire the wood inside said container. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said container comprises a closure lid (3) composed of flaps (5) that can be turned outwards. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a container made of combustible material and provided with a bottom (4) and with a closure lid (3) that is composed of flaps (5), said pieces of wood (10) being arranged inside said container having a diameter that increases from the bottom towards said lid, said flaps (5) being openable so as to extend the peripheral walls (2) of said container. Device according to any one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a cord that forms two slip knots (11, 12) that are wound around the pieces of wood and are joined by a handle (13) which, after the wood has been inserted in the container, protrudes outside through an opening (16) of the container that is arranged opposite with respect to the bottom opening.

Inventors: BERNABEI GIAN FRANCO, BERNABEI, GIAN FRANCO
Applicants: RI BE S S R L, RI.BE.S. S.R.L.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: C10L11
IPC codes: C10L11