Abstract:
A yard waste incinerator device is provided. The device includes an at least partially spherical outer member which is comprised of a truncated sphere. The outer member is usually comprised of a multiplicity of frame members that are spaced apart, but intersect with one another so they look much like latitudinal and longitudinal lines of a globe. Thus, they define a fairly open structure. A partially spherical cover is provided that will moveably engage the frame of the spherical outer member. The cover may be removed to allow debris and the like to be placed in the interior of the at least partially spherical outer member. By placing the cover back in a closed position, the yard ball can be rolled from one place to another rather easily. This is the result of the cover being generally spherically shaped, similar to the outer member so that, when the cover is in place, the yard ball has a spherical or ball shape. When the cover is moved, yard debris may be placed into the device.

Description:
[0001]    This patent application claims benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/389,945, filed Oct. 5, 2010. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Containers, including containers capable of acting as incinerators for the burning of waste. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Most homes have a yard that requires periodic raking, especially leaves in the fall. What is needed is a practical, effective method for the collection, removal and/or incineration of leaves, twigs, and the like from the ground and especially from a lawn area. 
         [0004]    Typically, in rural, country or farm settings, trash or other waste is burned in 55 gallon barrels. However, this usually creates heavy wet ash that is difficult to remove from the barrel. Other ways of burning small contained fires is in a store-bought fire pit or a chiminea. 
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is the object of the invention to provide a simple device for he collection, removal, and/or incineration of waste, such as yard waste. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    A yard waste incinerator device, comprising an at least partly spherical outer member defining an interior space, the outer member at least partially comprising an open frame. The open frame includes a multiplicity of rigid, curved spaced apart members, the members fixedly engaging one another. The outer member has walls defining a lid opening. An at least partially spherical cover is disposed relative to the cover opening of the outer, generally spherical member so as to move between a covered and uncovered position. The uncovered position allows access to the interior space. The cover is adapted to, in the covered position, generally conform to the shape of the outer member. The outer member may be a hemisphere and the cover may have a hemispherical outer surface. The cover may be pivotally engaged to the outer member. The cover typically has a radius of curvature about equal to the radius of curvature of the outer member and the engagement to the covered position defines a substantially spherical incinerator device. Means to selectively fix the position of cover with respect to the outer member are provided. The means to selectively fix the position of cover with respect to the outer member may include a pin for engaging the frame and the cover. The cover may be substantially solid; and include a removable lid, or it may be substantially open, like the frame. 
         [0007]    A method of incinerating yard waste is provided. The method comprises providing a yard waste incinerator device comprising an at least partly spherical outer member defining an interior space, the outer member at least partially comprising an open frame, the open frame comprising a multiplicity of rigid, curved spaced apart members, the members engaging one another, the generally spherical outer member also including a multiplicity of wire members for engaging the frame, the outer member having walls defining a cover opening; and an at least partially spherical cover disposed relative to the cover opening of the outer, generally spherical member so as to move between a covered and uncovered position. The uncovered position allowing access to the interior space, the cover adapted to, in the covered position, generally conform to the outer member; accumulating yard waste; placing yard waste into the incinerator device; burning the incinerator device to a desired location; and burning the contents of the incinerator device. 
         [0008]    A yard waste incinerator device is provided. The device includes an at least partially spherical outer member which is comprised of a truncated sphere. The outer member is usually comprised of a multiplicity of frame members that are spaced apart, but intersect with one another so they look much like latitudinal and longitudinal lines of a globe. Thus, they define a fairly open structure. A partially spherical cover is provided that will moveably engage the frame of the spherical outer member. The cover may be removed to allow debris and the like to be placed in the interior of the at least partially spherical outer member. By placing the cover back in a closed position, the yard ball can be rolled from one place to another rather easily. This is the result of the cover being generally spherically shaped, similar to the outer member so that, when the cover is in place, the yard ball has a spherical or ball shape. When the cover is moved, yard debris may be placed into the device. 
         [0009]    Applicant provides a spherical, at least partially open lidded, yard waste ball. This replaces the prior art drum, chiminea, open or closed pit, wheelbarrow or other large bags required for relocation and/or permanent disposal of yard waste via burning of leaves, small twigs, and the like. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of an embodiment of Applicant&#39;s yard waste ball in an upright position. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1A  is a detail view of a portion of  FIG. 1  showing the manner in which the mesh engages the frame through the use of tie wires or the like. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of Applicant&#39;s yard waste ball with the lid removed and placed adjacent the lower edge of the frame to chock the ball to prevent it from rolling. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2A  is a side perspective view of the frame of Applicant&#39;s yard waste ball with the cover, lid, and mesh removed therefrom. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view with the lid removed showing how it is used to chock the yard waste ball in position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3A  is a view of the lid removed from the yard waste ball illustrating the chock portion or flat portion thereon. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an alternate preferred embodiment of Applicant&#39;s device in a stow position. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 4  with the cover in an uncovered position. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5A  illustrates an open position between the frame and the cover, wherein debris or the like may be received within an interior of the frame. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is an illustration of the embodiment of  FIG. 4  with the cover in a covered position showing the pin locking the cover to the frame. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a top elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 4  with the cover in a covered position locked to the frame and illustrating the device on stands with a pan beneath it. 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view partial cutaway illustrating the manner in which the stand engages the outer member and the manner in which the outer member engages the cover. 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a side elevational view of the manner in which a pin is dimensioned for receipt within holes between the outer member and with the cover so as to releasably lock in position the outer member with respect to the cover. 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is a side elevational view of the system of the embodiment set forth in  FIG. 4  showing the cover in a fully covered or closed position, which will permit burning of debris in the device. 
           [0024]      FIG. 10A  is a side elevational view of the manner in which stands and/or a pan may engage the partially spherical outer member so as to support the outer member above a support surface. 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a pan for use as part of Applicant&#39;s burn ball. 
           [0026]      FIG. 12  is a side elevational view of the use of an embodiment of Applicant&#39;s present invention, including a pan and stands, as well as a spit for receipt of food thereon, wherein the spit is rotatable with respect to the frame and wherein debris, charcoal material or other burnable material, may be received on the surface of a cover  14 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 13  is a perspective exploded partial view of the manner of engagement of the spit with the frame, cover, and stands of Applicant&#39;s system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0028]    Applicant provides for a yard waste ball  10  having a generally spherical shape. Yard waste ball  10  is comprised of a frame  12 . Frame  12  is at least partially spherical and may be made from a multiplicity of formed metal rod bands  20 / 21  welded or otherwise fixedly joined at their intersections and where the ends thereof meet. The frame  12  is typically shaped as a truncated sphere or greater than a hemisphere (see  FIG. 2A ) or a hemisphere (see  FIG. 5 ). 
         [0029]    A replaceable wire mesh fabric  18  may be stretched over the bands  20 / 21  of frame  12  and tied thereto by tie wires  24 , such as 9 to 11 gauge steel or aluminum tie wires  18 . Wire mesh fabric may be made of any suitable material that is non-permanent, sturdy enough and flexible so as to engage the spherical frame and maintain its generally hollow structure under intended use. The openings of mesh fabric  18  should be tight enough to hold small leaves inside while also allowing airflow therethrough. The mesh fabric may be chain link fence mesh fabric, such as 1″ to 2″ mesh fabric, galvanized metal 9 to 11½ gauge available from Hoover Fence Co., www.hooverfence.com. 
         [0030]    The use of an exterior of mesh fabric over the frame  12  is optional (see the second embodiment of  FIG. 4 , which has no mesh fabric). Its use allows for easy, non-slip moving or rolling of a ball manually, such as with the human hand or a rod. Leaves, small twigs, waste, and the like, may be placed for later burning inside the inner volume of the sphere when a lid  16  or cover  14 / 14   a  is at least partly removed. The waste may be moved to a disposal area by rolling the spherical waste ball (cover closed) to the desired dump area, removing lid  16  from cover  14 , and rolling the sphere back and forth until the contents have fallen out. Clips  26  may be used to removably engage lid  16  to cover  14  or cover  14  to frame  12 , at a rim member  22  of frame  12 . 
         [0031]    In a first embodiment ( FIGS. 1-3   a ), cover  14  may removably engage rim member  22  of frame  12 . Rim member  22  may define cover opening  23 . Cover  14  may be durable sheet metal and dimensioned so as to generally conform to the exterior of the spherical shape comprising frame  12  as seen in  FIG. 1 . Cover  14  may removably engage upper rim member  22  by snaps, clips  26  or other suitable means. Cover  14  may, optionally, include a cover  16  to removably engage therefrom. Lid  16  may include a flat spot  16 A, which allows the lid to act as a chock under the spherical waste ball so as to prevent it from rolling, by wedging it against the side of mesh lidded frame  12  to prevent rolling while, for example, loading refuse into the open top  17  (see  FIG. 3 ). The optional open top  17  is defined by the upper perimeter of the cover  14  where it engages the outer perimeter of the lid  16 . 
         [0032]    Lid  16 , typically cup shaped (consistent with the radius of curvature of the cover and frame), may be used separate and apart from the remainder of the waste ball  10  by inverting it and placing it on optional stands  40 / 42  (see pan  44  in  FIG. 7 ) and using it to burn refuse therein. 
         [0033]    In operation, the cover  14 / 14   a  may be removed (first embodiment) or pivoted (second embodiment) with respect to frame  12  to allow the interior of frame  12  to be filled with refuse or the like. Yard ball  10 / 10   a  may then be rolled to pick up additional refuse. When at or near full capacity, it may be rolled (with the cover in a covered position) to a burn location and the contents lit (typically with the cover on). When only ashes remain, the ball is rolled back and forth until the ashes fall through the mesh or frame bottom and the process may be started over. 
         [0034]    If one does not want to burn the contents, they may, when they reach the desired dump area, remove or pivot the cover. Then rolling the contents back and forth through the opening created by the removable cover will allow the contents to fall on the ground. 
         [0035]    The cover may be non-removably fixed to the frame, but then would include the removable lid  16 . The cover may be up to about a hemisphere in shape (see  FIGS. 4-10 ). 
         [0036]      FIGS. 4-13  illustrate a second embodiment of Applicant&#39;s yard waste ball  10   a.  The second embodiment includes the frame  12 , here hemispherically shaped, and having longitudinal metal bands or members  20  and latitudinal metal bands or members  21 . Metal bands or members may be any suitable shape, rectangular or band-like or may be generally cylindrical. Here frame  12  is similar to the frame of the earlier embodiment, but is typically hemispherically shaped and may or may not include the wire mesh member (illustrations  FIGS. 4-10  show yard waste ball  10   a  without mesh cover  18 ). Here, cover  14   a  is also hemispherical and includes a circular cover rim member  34 , typically band shaped. Hemispherical cover  14   a  and frame  12  typically articulate so they may pivotally engage one another at pivot members  28 / 30 . Pivot members  28 / 30  are seen to be disposed about 180° apart and include pivotal metal channels or bushings  28   a / 30   a.  It can be seen that cover  14   a  may move between a fully covered position and one that is at least partially uncovered, as seen in  FIG. 5 . The at least partially uncovered position as seen in  FIG. 5  will allow access to the interior space for placement of yard waste debris or other burnable material thereinto. 
         [0037]    Both embodiments include a cover that can be removed in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3A  or pivoted in the second embodiment, but in both cases covers  14 / 14   a,  whether having clips  26  or pivot members  28 / 30 , have an outer surface that, when in the covered position ( FIGS. 1 and 10 ), generally conform to the outer spherical surface of frame  12 . Moreover, both covers can be moved to allow access to the interior of the device to place burnable or other material thereinto. 
         [0038]    In yard ball  10   a,  a suitable member, such as a ball lock pin  32 , is provided as seen in  FIGS. 4 and 9 . Ball lock pin  32  is intended to engage holes  35  in cover rim member  34 , when cover rim member  34  is aligned with upper rim member  22  a seen in  FIG. 6 , for example. Holes  22   a / 34   a  may be aligned opposed to one another for receipt of pin  32  thereinto. Pin  32  may be a ball lock pin wherein depression of a button  32   a  will release spring loaded balls  32   b  and allow the pin to slide in or out (see  FIG. 9 ) of engagement between cover  14   a  and frame  12 . Ball lock pins, unless button  32   a  is depressed, will not allow movement as holes  22   a / 34   a  are smaller than the pin with the balls  32  extending from the removed end thereof as seen in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 5A  illustrates the use of ball lock pin  32  engaging holes  22   a  in upper rim member  22  and maintaining cover  14   a  in an open position as seen in  FIG. 5 . It is noted with respect to  FIG. 5A , that the barrel  32   c  of the pin, which extends beyond head  32   d,  may project between adjacent latitudinal members  38  of cover  14   a  or may engage holes  36   a  (see  FIG. 5 ) in a longitudinal member. 
         [0040]    Cover  14   a  is seen to be comprised of longitudinal member  36 , which may be band shaped or cylindrical rod shaped members (or any suitable shape), and latitudinal members  38  may be constructed similar to frame  12 . Both members  36 / 38  are curved and define a generally hemispherical shape and are substantially open. They are typically affixed to one another rigidly, but welding or any other suitable means, where they cross one another. 
         [0041]    In the earlier embodiment, cover  14  is seen to be substantially solid and may have a lid  16  thereon. In a second embodiment, cover  14   a  is seen to be open and pivotally engaged to frame  12  and typically includes a locking member, such as ball lock pin  32 , to position the cover in a multiplicity of positions between covered and uncovered or in stow position. For example, in the position illustrated in  FIG. 5 , which is at least partially uncovered, access is provided to the interior of the frame so that an individual may put debris thereinto. The position illustrated in  FIG. 4  may be a storage or covered position and illustrates rim  22 / 34  removably, lockingly engaged to one another as set forth above. 
         [0042]    The frame position illustrated in  FIG. 5  (at least partially uncovered) allows placement of burned materials or other debris into the interior of device  10   a  and then locking in the position illustrated in  FIG. 10  (fully covered). This allows the ball to be easily rolled. 
         [0043]      FIG. 10  illustrates that, with the use of optional stands  40 / 42  engaging channels  28   a / 30   a  of pivot members  28 / 30 , yard ball  10   a  may be held above a support surface, such as a concrete patio, the ground or the like, with a pan  44  positioned thereunder. Use of stands  40 / 42  and pan  44 , especially on a concrete patio, will allow one to use waste ball  10 / 10   a  much as a chiminera to provide heat. As frame  12  is substantially open, air will be supplied to the contents burning therein and cinders or the like can fall into pan  44  dimensioned to receive below the ball as seen in  FIG. 10 . A stand or stands may be used in conjunction with the pan  44  as illustrated in  FIG. 7  or  10 , or the frame  22  may simply rest directly on the upper perimeter  44   a  of the pan, which may be curved to receive a lower portion of the frame as seen in  FIG. 10A . 
         [0044]      FIG. 10A  illustrates the support engagement of upper perimeter  44   a  of pan  44  in an embodiment of the pan. With the curved sides and generally square shape of pan  44  as seen in  FIG. 11 , side walls  44   a  may add support surfaces when they engage frame  12  as seen in  FIG. 10A . Stands  40 / 42  may or may not be used in the embodiment, wherein the upper perimeter of the pan engages the frame. 
         [0045]      FIG. 11  illustrates an embodiment of pan  44 , which may be generally square, but with curved side walls  44   a.  End walls  44   b  may be straight or curved and the upper perimeter may be configured to engage frame  12  or stands  40 / 42  may be used. 
         [0046]    Turning to  FIG. 12 , it is seen that a spit  48  may be used for engaging the stands to the frame as seen in  FIG. 13 . Spit  48  may have a handle  48   a  and may be configured to slide through channel  40   b  of stands  40 / 42  as seen in  FIG. 13 . Spit  48  may receive food F thereon as seen in  FIG. 12 . 
         [0047]    Although the invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. On the contrary, various modifications of the disclosed embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications, alternatives, and equivalents that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.