Abstract:
A container for burning refuse including yard waste, household waste and the like. The container has a cylindrical portion that defines a burning chamber. The cylindrical portion includes a plurality of ventilation apertures and inwardly protruding flanges. The container also includes a cover supportable by the cylindrical portion to open and close the burning chamber. A pair of cross braces extends across a lower portion of the burning chamber to partially support the burnable refuse. During burning of the refuse, the flanges prevent the refuse from collecting along the inner walls of the burning chamber and define air flow passageways to improve air circulation through the chamber.

Description:
This application claims benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/326,803 filed Oct. 3, 2002. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to a container for burning refuse material such as yard waste, paper products, and other flammable refuse. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   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. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a refuse burning container including a plurality of chamber walls cooperating to 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 chamber walls to at least partially define an air flow passageway. A base is securable to the chamber walls and is engagable with the ground to support the container. 
   The present invention also provides a method for making a refuse burning container. The method includes forming a plurality of chamber panels 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 are 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. A cover defining a plurality of apertures is positioned on the top edges of the panels to overlie the chamber. 
   Other features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, and drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a refuse burning container embodying the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a section view taken along line  2 — 2  of FIG.  1 . 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged exploded view of a portion of FIG.  2 . 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of a portion of the refuse burning container illustrated in  FIG. 1   
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a handle for the refuse burning container illustrated in FIG.  1 . 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a cover hook for the refuse burning container illustrated in FIG.  1 . 
       FIG. 7  is a top view of a cover for the refuse burning container illustrated in FIG.  1 . 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a cross bar for the refuse burning container illustrated in FIG.  1 . 
       FIG. 9  is an exploded view of a base assembly for the refuse burning container illustrated in FIG.  1 . 
       FIG. 10  is a section view similar to  FIG. 3  illustrating a container which is an alternative embodiment of the invention. 
   

   Before one embodiment of the invention is explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is 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” and “comprising” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIGS. 1-9  illustrate a refuse burning container  10  embodying the invention and which is adapted for use to burn of yard waste, burnable refuse, and the like. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the container  10  includes a cylindrical portion  12  having a central axis  13 , and a burning chamber  14 . The cylindrical portion  12  is supported by a generally annular base assembly  15  that is fixed to the cylindrical portion  12 . The cylindrical portion  12  also includes a plurality of apertures  16  that afford ventilation along substantially the entire length of the cylindrical portion  12 . The container  10  also includes a cover  18 , cover hooks  19 , and handles  20 . 
   Referring now also to  FIGS. 2-4 , the cylindrical portion  12  includes a plurality (e.g. four as illustrated) of generally arcuate chamber panels  22  having formed therein the ventilation apertures  16 . Each panel  22  is similarly configured and includes a top edge  23 , a bottom edge  24 , a free edge  25 , and a flange edge  26 . A flange  27  extends from the flange edge  26  of each panel  22 , and a lip  28  extends from the end of each flange  27 . A plurality of mounting slots  29  extend along the free edge  25  of each panel  22 , and a plurality of corresponding mounting holes  30  extend along the flange edge  26  of each panel  22 . The slots  29  and holes  30  are configured such that the panels  22  may be secured to each other by extending fasteners  31  through the mounting slots  29  of one panel  22  and into corresponding mounting holes  30  of an adjacent panel  22 . For ease of assembly, the fasteners  31  are preferably of the self-tapping type, however other types of fasteners and other fastening methods are possible as well. Additional panels  22  are secured to one another in the manner described above until the plurality of panels  22  form a complete cylinder. Once assembled, the flanges  27  of each panel  22  extend generally radially inwardly toward the central axis  13 , and the lips  28  of each panel extend generally circumferentially with respect to the cylindrical portion  12 . 
   Those of ordinary skill in the art will readily understand that the flanges  27  and the lips  28  can be formed integrally with the panel  22 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the panel  22 , the ventilation apertures  16 , the mounting slots  29  and the mounting holes  30  are cut from a relatively flat sheet of material, such as a sheet of stainless steel. The flat sheet can then be bent as required to form the flanges  27  and the lips  28 . In the illustrated embodiment, the bends that form the flanges  27  and the lips  28  are in the same direction. However, other methods for forming the panels  22 , including bending the flat sheet in different directions, or attaching the flanges  27  and lips  28  separately, can also be successfully used. In the illustrated embodiment, the flanges  27  and the lips  28 , like the rest of the panel  22 , have ventilation apertures  16  formed therein. 
   Referring also to  FIGS. 5-7 , the handles  20  are secured to the cylindrical portion  12  by extending fasteners (e.g. the self-tapping fasteners  31  described above) through apertures  32  in the handles  20  and through the mounting slots  29  and mounting holes  30  of the panels  22 . The cover hooks  19  are secured to the cylindrical portion  12  in a similar manner, and preferably three cover hooks  19  are installed and are angularly spaced from one another by approximately 90 degrees. Each cover hook  19  includes a straight portion  34  that is secured to the panels  22 , and a U-shaped portion  36  that extends over the top edges  23  of the panels  22 . The cover  18  is sized to overlap the top edges  23  of the assembled cylindrical portion  12  and is received by the U-shaped portions  36  of the cover hooks  19 . The cover  18  includes a plurality of holes  38  providing ventilation to the burning chamber  14  while preventing large pieces of ash or burning debris from leaving the chamber  14 . The cover  18  can be slid into and out of place between the top edges  23  of the panels  22  and the U-shaped portions  36  of the cover hooks  19 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 8 , pair of cross bars  45  each have a generally V-shaped cross-section and are configured to at least partially support material inserted into the burning chamber  14 . The cross bars  45  are inserted into generally triangular support apertures  46  formed in the panels  22 . Each cross bar  45  extends generally diametrically across the cylindrical portion  12  and is supported on each end by one of the panels  22 . Preferably, the cross bars  45  are inserted such that the V-shaped cross-section points generally upwardly and such that the cross bars  45  are at an angle of approximately 90 degrees to each other when viewed along the central axis  13 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 9 , the base assembly  15  includes a pair of generally semi-circular portions  50  that are preferably formed from a relatively flat sheet of metal. The semi-circular portions  50  include an inner edge  54  along which is formed a plurality of radially inwardly extending mounting tabs  58 . In some embodiments, the mounting tabs  58  are formed integrally with the semi-circular portions and are bent generally upwardly to receive the cylindrical portion  12 . As illustrated, the mounting tabs  58  can engage the outside surfaces of the panels  22  and are secured thereto using fasteners, such as the self-tapping fasteners  31  described above. The semi-circular portions  50  also include a pair of coupling tabs  62 . The coupling tabs  62  are provided such that two semi-circular portions  50  can be secured to one another to define a generally annular support ring. When the container  10  is fully assembled, the bottom edges  24  of the panels  22  rest upon the semi-circular portions  50  between the inner edges  54  and the mounting tabs  58 . The semi-circular portions  50  also include grounding apertures  66  that are spaced along a bolt circle  70 . The grounding apertures receive stakes  72  that are insertable into the ground to secure the base assembly  15  and the cylindrical portion  12 . 
   The base assembly  15  can also include a base plate  74 . The illustrated base plate  74  is generally rectangular and includes sides  78  having a length that is longer than the diameter of the inner edge  54 , but smaller than the diameter of the bolt circle  70 . In this way, the plate substantially completely overlies the bottom portion of the burning chamber  14 , but does not extend so far as to prevent the insertion of stakes  72  through the grounding apertures  66 . The base plate  74  also includes a pair of slots  82  that define handles. The base plate  74  affords easy collection and disposal of burnt refuse, as discussed further below. 
   The container  10  can be assembled from the various components by coupling the free edge  25  of a first panel  22  to the flange edge  26  of a second panel  22 . Additional panels  22  (e.g. four panels as illustrated) are then coupled to the first and second panels  22  in a similar manner until a complete cylinder is formed, thereby defining cylindrical portion  12 , the burning chamber  14  and the central axis  13 . As the panels  22  are coupled together, the flanges  27  can be positioned to extend radially inwardly with respect to the central axis  13 . The handles  20  and the cover hooks  19  can be attached to the panels  22  using the mounting slots  29  and mounting holes  30  of the panels, although other apertures for securing the handles  20  and cover hooks  19  can be provided as well. The assembled cylindrical portion  12  is then secured to the base assembly  15 . The cross bars  45  are inserted through the support apertures  46  and the cover  18  can then be positioned on the top edges  23  to overlie the burning chamber  14 . 
   In operation, the container  10  is preferably positioned on relatively soft ground such as sand or dirt. The stakes  72  can be inserted into the ground to secure the base assembly  15  and the cylindrical portion against undesired movement or overturning. Burnable refuse, such as paper, wood, yard refuse and the like can be positioned inside the burning chamber  14 . The refuse is supported at least partially by the cross bars  45 , and may also rest on the base plate  74  or the ground. The refuse is supported along the sides of the burning chamber  14  at least partially by the inwardly extending flanges  27  and the circumferentially extending lips  28 . The flanges  27  and the lips  28  cooperate to provide a chimney like air flow passageway  86  that keeps refuse away from the panels  22  in the area of the flanges  27  and that allows fresh air to flow along the sides of the burning chamber  14 , in the direction shown by arrow  87  in FIG.  4 . As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , the panels  22  define a first outer diameter, and the lips  28  define a second inner diameter, and the air flow passageways  86  are defined between the first and second diameters. Further, ventilation apertures formed in the flanges  27  and the lips  28  that define the air flow passageways  86  afford air flow into the burning chamber  14  transverse to the central axis  13 , as shown by arrow  89  in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The flanges  27  also assist in preventing refuse from overlying the ventilation apertures  16  to farther improve air flow through the burning chamber  14 . The specific size and configuration of the flanges  27  and the lips  28  can be modified to achieve certain desired burning characteristics. 
   Preferably, the cover  18  is positioned over the refuse and the waste is lit through any of the ventilation apertures  16 . Alternatively, The waste may be lit from the top, followed by positioning of the cover  18  between the U-shaped portions  36  of the cover hooks  19 . As the refuse burns, fresh air is drawn into the burning chamber  14  through the ventilation apertures  16 , and air flows generally upwardly through the air flow passageways  86  defined by the flanges  27  and lips  28 , exiting through the holes  38  in the cover  18 . The sizing and positioning of the ventilation apertures  16  and the cover holes  38  are such that large pieces of ash and/or debris are substantially prevented from leaving the burning chamber  13 , while a substantial amount of air flow is maintained through the burning chamber  13 . When the refuse has completely burnt and the container  10  has cooled, the stakes can be removed from the base assembly  15  and the cylindrical portion  12  and semi-circular base portions  50  can be lifted or rolled away from the base plate  74 , leaving a pile of burnt refuse on the base plate  74 . The base plate handle apertures can then be used to carry the base plate and the pile of burnt refuse to an appropriate refuse container where the burnt refuse can be disposed of. 
     FIG. 11  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the container  110 . Features and components of the container  110  that are the same or similar to features and components of the container  10  have been given like reference numerals, increased by one-hundred. The container  110  is similar to the container  10 , however the flanges  127  of the panels  122  extend radially outwardly, as opposed to radially inwardly. The lips  128  extend circumferentially from the ends of the flanges  127  and are coupled to an adjacent panel  122 . The air flow passageways  186  of the container  110  extend along the burning chamber  113  in a similar manner as the passageways  86 , but are positioned radially outwardly with respect to the panels  122 . Other orientations and configurations of the panels, flanges, lips, and passageways are possible as well. 
   Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.