Patent Publication Number: US-2006016374-A1

Title: Burn barrel cover

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
      The present invention relates to simple incineration devices, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a cover for a burn barrel.  
     BACKGROUND  
      Garbage, especially organic garbage such as leaves, branches, and other similar types of debris pile up over time. Hauling away this garbage is an expensive proposition and difficult. Many people, especially people who live in rural areas, utilize burn barrels to dispose of garbage. Bum barrels are barrel shaped objects to hold garbage for incineration.  
      Certain types of garbage release noxious fumes during incineration. Release of these noxious fumes indoors is hazardous to health. Bum barrels release noxious fumes outdoors providing a method to safely burn garbage that releases noxious fumes. Burn barrels also prevent the spread of fire through containment.  
      A burn barrel effectively contains fire within its interior, but the fire can still spread. Commonly, as the garbage burns, burning debris flies out of burn barrels because of differences in air temperature. Often, the debris continues burning after landing on the ground. If the conditions of the surrounding area are sufficiently dry, field fires or brush fires start. Such fires create a potentially dangerous situation.  
      Thus, needs exist in this area of technology.  
     SUMMARY  
      In one form, a burn barrel cover is described. The burn barrel cover includes a first hoop defining a circular opening; a second hoop coupled to the first hoop; a third hoop; a plurality of cross members coupled to the first hoop, wherein the plurality of cross members form a net-like surface across the circular opening defined by the first hoop, and a plurality of connection members each having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of each of the connection members is coupled to the second hoop and the second end of each of the connection members is coupled to a third hoop, the connection members defining a side surface of the burn barrel cover.  
      A method for preventing field fires is described. The method includes providing a burn barrel, wherein the burn barrel is constructed and arranged to hold garbage for incineration inside the barrel and covering the burn barrel with a cover having a top surface wherein the top surface defines a net-like surface.  
      In another form, a burn barrel cover is described. A burn barrel cover for covering an opening of a burn barrel comprising a net-like top surface including cross members constructed and arranged to prevent the release of burning debris from the burn barrel; and a side surface running around the perimeter of the top surface constructed and arranged to surround the opening of the burn barrel.  
      In yet another form, a burn barrel cover for covering the opening of a burn barrel is described. The burn barrel cover includes a first hoop defining a circular opening constructed and arranged to cover the opening of the burn barrel and a plurality of cross members coupled to said first hoop, wherein said plurality of cross members form a net-like surface across the circular opening defined by said first hoop.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  illustrates a top plan view of a burn barrel cover according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  illustrates a side elevational view of the burn barrel cover of  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 3  illustrates a side elevational view of an alternate embodiment of a burn barrel cover.  
       FIG. 4  illustrates placing the burn barrel cover of  FIG. 1  onto a burn barrel.  
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE SELECTED EMBODIMENTS  
      For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any such alterations, modifications, and further applications of the principles of the present invention as illustrated are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.  
      The present application is directed to a cover for a burn barrel. Burn barrels hold and incinerate garbage. Many times, as the garbage incinerates, the garbage flies out of the top of the barrel, lands somewhere and starts a fire. A burn barrel cover having a net-like top surface prevents the burning debris from escaping the barrel.  
       FIG. 1  illustrates a top plan view of one form of a burn barrel cover  20 . The burn barrel cover  20  includes a top surface  21 , a first hoop  22  defining the outer perimeter of the burn barrel cover  20 , and cross members  24  running perpendicularly transverse to each other along the top surface  21 . The cross members  24  retain the burning debris and simultaneously allow heat and smoke to escape the barrel.  FIG. 1  illustrates cross members  24  and a first hoop  22  formed of metal and shaped as rods. Other embodiments contemplate cross members  24  and a first hoop  22  formed of alternate fire resistant materials. Moreover, other embodiments contemplate a variety of cross sectional shapes. One example, among others, has cross members  24  and a first hoop  22  with a square shaped cross section.  FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment having cross members  24  arranged so the spaces  26  have equal dimensions across the top surface  21 . Other embodiments contemplate having spaces  26  with varying dimensions.  
       FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment where each of the cross members  24  includes a first end  27  and a second end  28 . The cross members  24  join the first hoop  22  along the ends  27 ,  28  of the cross members around the perimeter of the first hoop  22 . Therefore, the cross members  24  form a net-like surface across the opening defined by the first hoop  22 . The joining of the cross members  24  and the first hoop  22  occurs along the perimeter of the first hoop  22 .  FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment using welds to couple the various components of the burn barrel cover  20 . In alternate embodiments, the coupling occurs by brazing, interference fit, or other methods readily apparent to those skilled in the art.  
       FIG. 2  illustrates a side elevational view of the burn barrel cover  20 . Burn barrel cover  20  further includes a side surface  30 . The second hoop  32 , the third hoop  34  and the connection members  36  define the side surface  30 . The side surface  30  projects outwardly from the first hoop  22  and second hoop  32  towards the third hoop  34 . The first hoop  22  is coupled to the second hoop  32 . A third hoop  34  lies in a plane parallel to the plane formed by the first hoop  22  and the second hoop  32 . The connection members  36  couple the second hoop  32  to the third hoop  34  to completely define the side surface  30 . Each connection member  36  includes a first end  38  and a second end  40 . The first end  38  attaches to the second hoop  32  and the second end  40  attaches to the third hoop  34 . Combining the second hoop  32  and the third hoop  34  using the connection members  36  creates a cylindrical cage like appearance.  
       FIG. 2  illustrates one form of the side surface  30 . One alternate embodiment contemplates a flat sheet of material. Yet another embodiment contemplates a small flange that wraps around the perimeter of the first hoop  22 . A further embodiment contemplates a burn barrel cover  20  lacking a side surface  30 . Other embodiments contemplate other forms of side surface  30  readily apparent to those skilled in the art.  
       FIG. 3  illustrates one of these alternative embodiments. The burn barrel cover  20  includes a first hoop  22 , a second hoop  32  and a flange  42 . The flange  42  substitutes as a side surface  30  in this alternative embodiment. The flange  42  is solid and extends outwardly from the second hoop. The height of the flange  42  is less than the side surface  30  of the  FIG. 1  burn barrel cover  20 . The flange  42  of the burn barrel cover  20  allows easy placement and removal of the burn barrel cover  20 .  
       FIG. 4  illustrates placing the burn barrel cover  20  of  FIG. 1  over a burn barrel  44 .  FIG. 4  illustrates that the top surface  21  of the burn barrel cover  20  is slightly larger than the opening  46  of the burn barrel  44 . Therefore, the side surface  30  of the burn barrel cover  20  will completely surround the opening  46  of the burn barrel  44 . Any debris that may attempt to float out of the burn barrel  44  will be caught by the net-like top surface  21  of the burn barrel cover  2 , while still allowing heat and smoke to escape.  
      While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.