Abstract:
A briquette fire starter is provided having a first chamber, a second chamber and a cone. The first chamber has a sidewall, a top edge, and a bottom surface. the first chamber has a planar member disposed horizontally intermediate the top edge and the bottom surface. The planar member has at least one aperture formed therein. The sidewall has at least one aperture formed therein intermediate the bottom surface and the planar member. The second chamber is disposed in cooperating relationship with the first chamber. The second chamber has a sidewall, a top edge, and a bottom surface. The bottom surface of the second chamber has at least one aperture formed therein, with the bottom surface being able to have placed thereon a first fuel source and to have placed below a second fuel source. The second chamber bottom surface being located above the first chamber planar member. The cone is located above the first chamber planar member. Preferably the chambers are cylindrical.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates generally to a portable fire starter, and more particularly to a charcoal fire starter, and even more particularly to a fire starter which can also be used as a cooker.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     This invention is directed to the providing of a portable fire starter which in the preferred embodiment of the invention uses charcoal, the structure of which efficaciously enhances the performance of the fuel used therein, and which device can also be used as a cooking device. The invention is also known as a charcoal chimney. Charcoal chimneys or fire starters have long been used by grilling aficionados who love to grill food on a barbeque grill.  
         [0005]     For grilling purists, nothing can beat charcoal or a wood fire, especially if the fire is not contaminated by the use of a lighter fluid. There are two main reasons why some individuals do not care for using lighter fluids when it comes to grilling. The first reason is that it precludes flame burst, a condition which arises when lighter fluid is added to an already ignited fuel source in hope of quickening the combustion of the fuel source, thereby hastening the cooking process. Flame burst results when the added fluid itself undergoes combustion and either causes the can of lighter fluid to ignite, creating the potential for an extremely dangerous condition for the individual holding the can. Flame burst can also result when the fuel has an excessive amount of lighter fluid applied to it, such that when combustion occurs, the flame size is significantly greater than anticipated, creating the potential for an extremely dangerous condition for anyone positioned near the grill. One other advantage related to not using lighter fluid is economic, in that it incurs less cost.  
         [0006]     One way to preclude the use of lighter fluid is to use a small quantity of ignited charcoal briquettes to ignite the other briquettes to be used in the cooking process. Conventional charcoal chimneys have been used to evenly heat other charcoal briquettes. Such devices are normally cylindrical, open at the top and the bottom, and have a plate extending across the interior of the cylinder. Charcoal is then placed on the plate and paper, such as newspaper, is placed under the plate and ignited, the idea being that the paper will cause the small amount of charcoal to ignite, and that after sufficient time has passed, the charcoal can be transferred to a grill where it can be distributed for the cooking process or placed in contact with a larger quantity of charcoal which in turn will ignite, thereby providing the fuel for cooking. Pouring lit charcoal from a chimney is also easier than trying to move individual briquettes by using tongs.  
         [0007]     There are a couple of problems with existing charcoal chimneys which use paper as described above. Sometimes, the paper can be so compressed that it actually inhibits the updraft necessary to provide the initial heating of the briquettes. In some, the actual structure of the chimney can either make it difficult to easily light the kindling or readily permit the kindling to remain lit. Other times, there can be problems with the ash from the incinerated paper, perhaps the most common of which being the ash blowing onto nearby food.  
         [0008]     In response to the desire to provide charcoal chimneys, numerous ones have been invented. Storandt, U.S. Pat. No. 3,974,821 discloses a charcoal fire starter and cooker with three main components. Kindling and charcoal is positioned in the bifurcated middle section. Frazier, U.S. Pat. No. 4,227,510 discloses a charcoal briquette lighter in the form of an upright container for the quick light starting of briquettes placed therein. There are two compartments, with the top having a handle and a base with holes, and the bottom having vented sides for draft.  
         [0009]     Further, Karpinia, U.S. Pat. No. 4,417,565 discloses a unitary charcoal starter that is inwardly tapering, with an additional inwardly tapered structure located in the top section of the device. Gerson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,531,507 discloses a charcoal lighter device also of unitary construction featuring a panel which permits the charcoal to be dumped out when it is sufficiently heated.  
         [0010]     Walton, U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,867 discloses an apparatus and method for charcoal ignition with the device having a thermal barrier movably attached to the top of the ignition chamber. Kent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,404,864 discloses an outdoor cooking system which is collapsible. It consists of a tube with a grate that is inserted from underneath the tube at its base, and a plurality of side panels which can form venting means. The bottom is essentially closed off. Pre-ignition takes place below the grate, and a fire chamber is located above the grate. Tessien, U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,455 discloses a unitary structure with a cone, with the structure having a grate intermediate the top and bottom of the starter.  
         [0011]     While it is apparent that numerous attempts have been made to provide charcoal fire starters, problems with ash and inadequately heated coals remain. It is thus apparent that the need exists for a charcoal chimney which can effectively heat charcoal as well as diminish the problem associated with ash.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     In accordance with this invention a charcoal fire starter is provided having a first chamber and a second chamber. The first chamber has a sidewall, a top edge, and a bottom surface, with a planar member being disposed horizontally intermediate the top edge and the bottom surface. The planar member has at least one aperture formed therein, and the first chamber sidewall has at least one aperture formed therein intermediate the bottom surface and the planar member.  
         [0013]     The second chamber is disposed in cooperating relationship with the first chamber. The second chamber has a sidewall, a top edge, and a bottom surface, with the bottom surface having at least one aperture formed therein. The second chamber has a cone atop its bottom surface, spaced inwardly of the second chamber sidewall. The second chamber bottom surface is located above the first chamber planar member.  
         [0014]     The first chamber sidewall has retention means for support thereon of the planar member. In one embodiment, the planar member has formed therein a centrally positioned aperture. In one embodiment a plurality of planar members are directly adjacent to each other intermediate the top edge and the bottom surface, with each of such planar members having at least one aperture formed therein, so that the planar members are cooperatively adjusted relative to one another to facilitate control of the amount of air passing through the planar member.  
         [0015]     The second chamber sidewall has a flange member, with the flange member forming the bottom edge of the sidewall. The flange member telescopes with the top edge of the first chamber. The second chamber has a removable grating placed atop the top edge of the second chamber. In at least one embodiment, the second chamber has attached thereto a handle.  
         [0016]     In at least one embodiment, the second chamber has a plurality of supporting members extending downwardly from the second chamber bottom surface into contact with the first chamber planar member. The planar member is preferably removable from the first chamber. Preferably, the first chamber sidewall has apertures formed only on one side of the first chamber. In the preferred embodiment, the first and second chambers are cylindrical.  
         [0017]     There is also disclosed a charcoal fire starter having a first chamber, a second chamber and a cone. The first chamber has a sidewall, a top edge, and a bottom surface, with a planar member disposed in the first chamber horizontally intermediate the top edge and the bottom surface. The planar member has at least one aperture formed therein, and the sidewall having at least one aperture formed therein intermediate the bottom surface and the planar member. The second chamber is disposed in cooperating relationship with the first chamber, and has a sidewall, a top edge, and a bottom surface, with the bottom surface having at least one aperture formed therein. The bottom surface is able to have placed thereon a first fuel source and to have placed below a second fuel source. The second chamber bottom surface is located above the first chamber planar member. The cone is located above the first chamber planar member.  
         [0018]     The cone is located above the second chamber member bottom surface and spaced inwardly of the second chamber sidewall. In one embodiment, the cone is disposed in an intermediate chamber, with the intermediate chamber having a top edge and a bottom portion. The bottom portion has a bottom surface. The intermediate chamber top edge is in contact with the second chamber, and the intermediate chamber bottom portion is in contact with the first chamber, the cone resting on the intermediate member bottom surface. In one embodiment, the intermediate chamber has a plurality of supporting members extending downwardly therefrom. The first chamber sidewall preferably has apertures formed only on one side of the first chamber. The first and second chambers are preferably cylindrical, as is the intermediate chamber.  
         [0019]     The primary objective of this invention is to provide a charcoal chimney which quickly and efficiently heats charcoal or other briquettes while at the same time eliminating the problems associated with prior art devices in terms of ash.  
         [0020]     Another objective is to provide a charcoal fire starter that is of relatively economical construction and is relatively easy to fabricate. Still another objective is to provide a charcoal fire starter that is easy to use.  
         [0021]     Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]      FIG. 1  is a partially exploded side elevational view of a charcoal chimney made in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the device of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is a vertical sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 4  is a vertical sectional view similar to  FIG. 3 , but of a first modified embodiment of the invention.  
         [0026]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the device of  FIG. 4 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 6  is a vertical sectional view similar to  FIG. 3 , but of a second modified embodiment of the invention.  
         [0028]      FIG. 7  is a vertical sectional view similar to  FIG. 3 , but of a further modified embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
       [0029]     In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the specific term so selected and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0030]     Having reference to the drawings, attention is directed first to  FIG. 1  which discloses a charcoal briquette starter designated generally by the numeral  10 , made in accordance with the present invention. The briquette starter  10  has as its two main components a combustion compartment  12  and a cup member  14 . As can be appreciated from a comparison of  FIGS. 1-3 , the cup member  14  is shown as having a sidewall  20  having a top edge  22 , and a bottom plate  24 . This bottom plate  24  has a bottom plate top surface  25 .  
         [0031]     The cup member  14  and combustion chamber  12  have retaining means provided to prevent the cup member from too easily becoming dislodged from its position atop the combustion chamber. In the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the retaining means take the form of a flange  26  which extends downwardly at the bottom of the sidewall  20 . This flange  26  has a bottom edge  27  and an interior surface  28 . The inner diameter of the sidewall at the flange  26  is shown as being slightly greater than the outer diameter of the combustion chamber  12  at the point where the flange interior surface  28  is directly adjacent to the exterior sidewall of the combustion compartment.  
         [0032]     Preferably the plate  24  is integral with the cup member  14 , such that it is of planar sheet-form. However in the embodiment shown, there is at least one and more preferably a plurality of apertures  29  formed in the plate  24 . Also shown as a preferred part of the cup member  14  is a handle  30 . The handle has a top  32 , a bottom  33 , and an interior portion  34 , although other handle configurations could be utilized.  
         [0033]     Also shown in the cup member  14  is cone  50 . The cone is of a height less than the height of sidewall  20 . Further, the cone  50  rests on the top surface  25  of the bottom plate  24 . The cone could be of a mesh substance, such as wire, or it could be formed from a sheet-form material having a plurality of apertures formed therein. In any case, the cone facilitates an updraft to enter the cone at its bottom or base, and rise in the interior of the cone until exiting through the apertures or openings in the cone sidewall.  
         [0034]     Turning now to the combustion compartment  12 , it will be readily appreciated as having a sidewall  60  with a top edge  62  and a bottom edge  64 . There is also at least one sidewall opening  66 . While in these drawing figures, the shape of the opening is shown as being an arch, other types of openings could be used such as holes or other geometrically configured openings. The sidewall opening or openings  66  in the lower portion of the combustion compartment sidewall only occur in one side of the combustion chamber, thus providing some degree of control of the air draft which can enter the device.  
         [0035]     The Intermediate the top edge  62  and the bottom edge  64  is a holding means  80  which can support a combustion compartment bottom plate  82 . The holding means  80  could be a plurality of pins inserted through the sidewall  60  or other structure such as spot welds upon which the bottom plate could rest or be secured. The bottom plate  82  features at least one, and preferably a plurality of bottom plate apertures  84 . The purpose of these apertures is to allow the entry of air through the sidewall openings  66  to go up into the interior of the device.  
         [0036]     The aforementioned sidewall opening  66  is located between the bottom plate  82  and the bottom edge  64 . One of the purposes of the bottom edge  64  is to provide support for the device to rest on a surface, and to that end while the edge could in effect be just a rim on which the device rests, a comparison of these drawing figures discloses that there is a bottom surface which extends inwardly from the sidewall  60  so as to provide a planar surface of support.  
         [0037]     In actual use, paper or other kindling  90  is placed into the first chamber  12 . Charcoal or other types of briquettes  95  are placed around and on top of cone  50  in the second chamber  14 . Once the paper is lit, air is drawn up through the bottom plate apertures  84  to feed that fire. The fire causes the charcoal to ignite, with the holes in the bottom plate  24  providing an updraft to quicken the time of ignition of the charcoal. If it is desired to transfer the charcoal into a larger grill structure, such as a conventional barbeque grill, the cup member  14  can be lifted off the combustion compartment  12  using handle  30 , and the charcoal poured out onto the other grill.  
         [0038]     A first modified embodiment of the invention may be appreciated from a comparison of  FIGS. 4-5 . The briquette starter  110  of this embodiment also has as its two main components a combustion compartment  112  and a cup member  114 . The cup member  114  is shown as having a sidewall  120  having a top edge  122 , and a bottom plate  124 . This bottom plate  124  has a bottom plate top surface  125 .  
         [0039]     The cup member  114  may optionally have a plurality of legs  165  extending downwardly from the bottom plate  124  for resting on the combustion chamber  112 . The inner diameter of the sidewall of the combustion compartment is shown as being greater than the outer diameter of the cup member so that the cup can easily fit into the combustion compartment.  
         [0040]     Preferably the plate  124  is integral with the cup member  114 , such that it is of planar sheet-form. However in the embodiment shown, there is at least one centrally located aperture  120  formed in the plate, although alternatively a plurality of apertures  129  could be formed in the plate  124  as in the first disclosed embodiment.  
         [0041]     Also shown in the cup member  114  is cone  150 . The cone is of a height less than the height of sidewall  120 . Further, the cone  150  rests on the top surface  125  of the bottom plate  124 . The cone could be of a mesh substance, such as wire, or it could be formed from a sheet-form material having a plurality of apertures formed therein. In any case, the cone facilitates an updraft to enter the cone at its bottom or base, and rise in the interior of the cone until exiting through the apertures or openings in the cone sidewall.  
         [0042]     Turning now to the combustion compartment  112 , it will be readily appreciated as having a sidewall  160  with a top edge  162  and a bottom edge  164 . There is also at least one sidewall opening  166 , although in  FIG. 4 a  plurality of holes are shown as providing the sidewall opening. While in these drawing figures, a plurality of holes are used, other types of openings could be used such as the single arch shown in  FIG. 1  or other geometrically configured openings. The sidewall opening or openings  166  in the lower portion of the combustion compartment sidewall preferably only occur in one side of the combustion chamber, thus providing some degree of control of the air draft which can enter the device.  
         [0043]     Intermediate the top edge  162  and the bottom edge  164  is a holding means  180  which can support a combustion compartment bottom plate  182   a.  The holding means  180  could be a plurality of pins inserted through the sidewall  160  or other structure such as spot welds upon which the bottom plate could rest or be secured. The bottom plate  182   a  features at least one, and preferably a plurality of bottom plate apertures  184   a.  The purpose of these apertures is to allow the entry of air through the sidewall openings  166  to go up into the interior of the device.  
         [0044]     Further control of the amount of air which passes through its bottom plate apertures  184   a  is effectuated by the use of a second bottom plate  182   b  located above the first bottom plate  182   a  and having the same orientation of bottom plate apertures  184   b  as bottom plate  182   a . Intermediate the bottom plates  182   a  and  182   b  is a cooperating plate  186  with cooperating apertures  188 . The cooperating plate  186  slides between the other two plates with adjustment provided by a projection  187  of the cooperating plate which extends through an opening  188  in the sidewall  160 . The cooperating plate can be moved to obstruct the air flow or to maximize it.  
         [0045]     The aforementioned sidewall opening  166  is located between the bottom plate  182   a  and the bottom edge  164 . One of the purposes of the bottom edge  164  is to provide support for the device to rest on a surface, and to that end while the edge could in effect be just a rim on which the device rests, a comparison of these drawing figures discloses that there is a bottom surface which extends inwardly from the sidewall  160  so as to provide a planar surface of support.  
         [0046]     In actual use, paper or other kindling  190  is placed into the first chamber  112  preferably on top of the bottom plate  184 , but at least below the bottom of the second chamber  114 . Charcoal or other types of briquettes  195  are placed around and on top of cone  150  in the second chamber  114 . Once the paper is lit, air is drawn up through the bottom plate aperture  184  to feed that fire. The fire causes the charcoal to ignite, with the holes  129  in the bottom plate  124  providing an updraft to quicken the time of ignition of the charcoal. If it is desired to transfer the charcoal into a larger grill structure, such as a conventional barbeque grill, the cup member  114  can be removed from the combustion compartment  112  and the charcoal poured out onto the other grill.  
         [0047]     Yet another modified embodiment of a briquette starter  210  is shown in  FIG. 6  has as its two main components a combustion compartment  212  and a cup member  214 , with an intermediate member  216  therebetween. The cup member  214  is shown as having a sidewall  220  having a top edge  222 , and a bottom plate  224 . This bottom plate  224  has a bottom plate top surface  225 .  
         [0048]     The cup member  214  has retaining means provided to prevent the cup member from too easily becoming dislodged from its position atop the intermediate chamber  216 . In the embodiment of the invention shown, the retaining means take the form of an inwardly bent flange  226  which extends downwardly and inwardly at the bottom of the sidewall  220 . This flange  226  has a bottom edge  227  with the inner diameter of the intermediate chamber being slightly greater than the outer diameter of flange  226  at its bottom edge  227  at the point where the flange terminates inside the intermediate chamber.  
         [0049]     Preferably the plate  224  is integral with the cup member  214 , such that it is of planar sheet-form. However in the embodiment shown, there is at least one and more preferably a plurality of apertures  229  formed in the plate  224 . Also shown as a preferred part of the cup member  214  is a handle  230 . The handle has a top  232 , a bottom  233 , and an interior portion  234 , although other handle configurations could be utilized.  
         [0050]     The intermediate chamber  216  has a sidewall  240  having a top edge  242 , and a bottom plate  244  having formed therein at least one aperture  249 . On the top surface  245  of the bottom plate  244  rests cone  250 . The cone is of a height less than the height of sidewall  240 . The cone could be of a mesh substance, such as wire, or it could be formed from a sheet-form material having a plurality of apertures formed therein. In any case, the cone facilitates an updraft to enter the cone at its bottom or base, and rise in the interior of the cone until exiting through the apertures or openings in the cone sidewall.  
         [0051]     The intermediate chamber  216  has retaining means provided to prevent it from too easily becoming dislodged from its position atop the combustion compartment  212 . In the embodiment of the invention shown, the retaining means take the form of an inwardly bent flange  246  which extends downwardly and inwardly at the bottom of the sidewall  240 . This flange  246  has a bottom edge  247  with the inner diameter of the intermediate chamber being slightly greater than the outer diameter of flange  246  at its bottom edge  247  at the point where the flange terminates inside the combustion chamber  212 .  
         [0052]     Turning now to the combustion compartment  212 , it will be readily appreciated as having a sidewall  260  with a top edge  262  and a bottom edge  264 . There is also at least one sidewall opening  266 . While in these drawing figures, the shape of the opening is shown as being an arch, other types of openings could be used such as holes or other geometrically configured openings. The sidewall opening or openings  266  in the lower portion of the combustion compartment sidewall only occur in one side of the combustion chamber, thus providing some degree of control of the air draft which can enter the device.  
         [0053]     Intermediate the top edge  262  and the bottom edge  264  is a holding means  280  which can support a combustion compartment bottom plate  282 . The holding means could be a plurality of pins inserted through the sidewall  260  or other structure such the spot welds  280  shown, upon which the bottom plate could rest or be secured. The bottom plate  282  features at least one, and preferably a plurality of bottom plate apertures  289 . The purpose of these apertures is to allow the entry of air through the sidewall opening  266  to go up into the interior of the device.  
         [0054]     The aforementioned sidewall opening  266  is located between the bottom plate  282  and the bottom edge  264 . One of the purposes of the bottom edge  264  is to provide support for the device to rest on a surface, and to that end while the edge could in effect be just a rim on which the device rests, a comparison of these drawing figures discloses that there is a bottom surface which extends inwardly from the sidewall  260  so as to provide a planar surface of support.  
         [0055]     In actual use, charcoal or other types of briquettes  295  are placed above cone  250  in the second chamber  214 . Paper or other kindling  290  is placed below the second chamber  212 . Once the paper is lit, air is drawn up through the bottom plate apertures  289  to feed that fire. The fire causes the charcoal to ignite, with the holes  229  in the bottom plate  224  providing an updraft to quicken the time of ignition of the charcoal. If it is desired to transfer the charcoal into a larger grill structure, such as a conventional barbeque grill, the cup member  214  can be lifted off using handle  230 , and the charcoal poured out onto the other grill.  
         [0056]     Still another briquette starter  310  shown in  FIG. 7  has as its two main components a combustion compartment  312  and a cup member  314 . The cup member  314  is shown as having a sidewall  320  having a top edge  322 , and a bottom plate  324 . This bottom plate  324  has a bottom plate top surface  325 .  
         [0057]     The cup member  314  and combustion chamber  312  have retaining means provided to prevent the cup member from too easily becoming dislodged from its position atop the combustion chamber. In the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 7 , the retaining means take the form of a flange  326  which extends downwardly at the bottom of the sidewall  320 . This flange  326  has a bottom edge  327  and an interior surface  328 . The outer diameter of the sidewall at the flange  326  is shown as being slightly less than the inner diameter of the combustion chamber  312  at the point where the flange exterior surface  328  is directly adjacent to the interior sidewall of the combustion compartment.  
         [0058]     Preferably the plate  324  is integral with the cup member  314 , such that it is of planar sheet-form. However in the embodiment shown, there is at least one and more preferably a plurality of apertures  329  formed in the plate  324 . Also shown as a preferred part of the cup member  314  is a handle  330 . The handle has a top  332 , a bottom  333 , and an interior portion  334 , although other handle configurations could be utilized.  
         [0059]     Turning now to the combustion compartment  312 , it will be readily appreciated as having a sidewall  360  with a top edge  362  and a bottom edge  364 , with a plurality of legs  365  extending downwardly from combustion compartment bottom plate  382  to the bottom  364  for resting on a surface. Intermediate the top edge  362  and the bottom edge  364  is a combustion compartment bottom plate  382 . The bottom plate  382  features at least one aperture  384 , if not more. The purpose of this aperture is to allow the entry of air from around the legs  365  to go up into the interior of the device.  
         [0060]     Also shown in the combustion compartment  314  is cone  350 . The cone is of a height less than the height of sidewall  360 . Further, the cone  350  rests on the top surface of the combustion compartment bottom plate  382 . The cone could be of a mesh substance, such as wire, or it could be formed from a sheet-form material having a plurality of apertures formed therein. In any case, the cone facilitates an updraft to enter the cone at its bottom or base, and rise in the interior of the cone until exiting through the apertures or openings in the cone sidewall.  
         [0061]     In actual use, paper or other kindling  390  is placed into the first chamber  312 . Charcoal or other types of briquettes  395  are placed above the cone  350  in the second chamber  314 . Once the paper is lit, air is drawn up through the bottom plate apertures  384  to feed that fire. The fire causes the charcoal to ignite, with the holes in the bottom plate  324  providing an updraft to quicken the time of ignition of the charcoal. If it is desired to transfer the charcoal into a larger grill structure, such as a conventional barbeque grill, the cup member  314  can be lifted off the combustion compartment  312  using handle  330 , and the charcoal poured out onto the other grill.  
         [0062]     As a result of the characteristics of the structure of the invention, a charcoal briquette starter is provided which can efficiently enable the relatively quick ignition of briquettes while at the same time effectively eliminating the prior art problem associated with ash. This is due in part to the providing of a constant draft of non-turbulent air for the briquettes to facilitate the ignition of more surface area faster than most traditional charcoal chimneys. This results in a more consistent and more complete incineration of the kindling. Furthermore, a controlled draft is provided to simultaneously minimize, if not eliminate, the amount of ash able to be easily spilled from the starter. Ash is not blown out of the chimney easily. Conversely, it is retained in the chimney for easier disposal.  
         [0063]     Moreover, the charcoal starter of this invention is of relatively economical construction and is relatively easy to fabricate. Also, it is safer inasmuch as the bottom surface remains cooler, thus reducing the risk of scorching and/or burning of any supporting surface on which it is used, such as a table, deck, porch, counter, or floor by way of example. Additionally, the device is easy to use and maintain. For example, it is easy to fill, light, pour, and clean.  
         [0064]     While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.