Patent Publication Number: US-9890956-B1

Title: Device for ash removal

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a device for removing ashes from a wood burning stove, heater, furnace, or the like. The present disclosure more particularly relates to a device for removing ash from a wood burning stove, heater, furnace, or the like, and transporting the ashes to a remote location. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Many people use wood burning heaters, stoves, or fireplaces for heating homes. In those applications in which the stove or fireplace is used for heating, wood is burned on a substantially continuous basis. Therefore, in these applications it is often necessary to remove ashes from the wood burner while the burner is still operating. 
     The most generally used methods of ash removal from wood burning stoves include the use of a small shovel and dumping ashes into receptacle. This method of transferring ashes and debris into a bucket from the wood burner results in ashes falling on the floor and causing a mess or a fire hazard. Furthermore, the airborne dust from transferring the ashes can be a health hazard to those people who may suffer from asthma, emphysema, or other respiratory ailments. 
     Therefore, what is needed in the art is a convenient tool for removing hot ashes from a wood burner that avoids the mess of the prior art methods and minimizes the fire hazard traditionally associated with removing ashes from an indoor wood burning device. 
     SUMMARY 
     Provided is an ash remover, comprising a housing, a first handle fixedly mounted outwardly from a rear wall of said housing, and a second handle pivotably mounted on the side walls of said housing. 
     Additionally provided is a kit for separating larger hot coals from the used ash within a wood burning stove and removing the used ash from the wood burning stove, the kit comprising a sifting tool and an ash remover. According to certain illustrative embodiments of the kit, the sifting tool comprises a rake and side fins used to manipulate the used ashes into a pile and a screen attached to an elongated handle, and the ash remover comprises a housing, a first handle fixedly mounted outwardly from a rear wall of said housing, and a second handle pivotably mounted on the side walls of said housing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a rear perspective fragmentary view of an illustrative embodiment of the ash removing device. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the illustrative embodiment of the ash removing device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the illustrative embodiment of the ash removing device of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         FIG. 4  shows a top view of the illustrative embodiment of the ash removing device of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         FIG. 5  shows an illustrative embodiment of a sifting tool used for reclaiming hot ashes. 
         FIG. 6  shows the illustrative embodiment of the ash removing device of  FIGS. 1-4  in use removing ashes from a wood burning stove. 
         FIG. 7  shows the illustrative embodiment of the ash removing device of  FIGS. 1-4  in transport position containing a quantity of used ashes. 
         FIG. 8  shows the illustrative embodiment of the ash removing device being emptied of a quantity of used ashes. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Disclosed is a device for removing ashes from a wood burning stove or fireplace and transporting the ashes to a remote location. The ash removing device comprises a housing. The housing is a box-like housing including top and bottom walls, side walls, a rear wall, and a front door. The front door is hingedly attached to the top wall of the housing. The walls of the box-like housing define an inner volume for accepting ashes and storing the ashes during transport to a location that is remote from the wood burning stove or fireplace from which they were removed. 
     The ash removing device further includes a first handle that projects outwardly from the rear wall of the housing. According to certain embodiments, the first fixedly mounted handle may be provided as a substantially T-shaped handle portion. The T-shaped handle represents merely one possible geometry of the first fixedly mounted handle of the ash removing device. It should be noted that the first fixedly mounted handle may be provided in any shape that is suitable for gripping with a human hand and allows the ash removing device to be pushed into a wood burning stove, heater, furnace, or the like to remove ashes, and pulled from the wood burning stove, heater, or furnace after the ashes have been captured by the ash removing device. 
     The ash removing device also includes a second handle that is mounted on the housing. The second handle is pivotably mounted on at least one of the side walls of the housing. According to certain embodiments, the pivotably mounted handle is mounted to both of the side walls of the housing. The second handle of the ash removing device is pivotably mounted outwardly from the side walls of the housing. The second pivotably mounted handle is mounted to the housing in a manner such that the handle is free to pivot from the front of the housing through the neutral position (ie, perpendicular to the top and bottom walls of the housing) at the approximately the mid-section of the housing and to the rear of the housing. The second pivotably mounted handle may be gripped by a user and moved to a position that is outwardly rearwardly from the top surface of the housing of the ash remover to assist the user in moving the front portion of the of housing of the ash remover into a wood burning stove, heater, or the like, allowing both hands to keep from entering the hot stove, and drawing the ash remover from the wood burning stove after a desired amount of ashes have been captured by the ash remover. 
     According to certain illustrative embodiments, the second pivotably mounted handle is substantially U-shaped. The U-shaped handle includes spaced apart, substantially parallel arms. A bridging or connecting portion extends between the spaced-apart arms of the U-shaped handle. Ends of the spaced-apart arms include bend or flange portions that pivotably connect the arms of the second handle to the side walls of the housing of the device at pivot points. The flanges of the arms also provide clearance between the arms of the second handle and the outer surfaces of the side walls of the housing. 
     According to certain embodiments, the bridging portion of the second handle may also provide a gripping portion for the user. It should be noted that the second handle may be provided in any shape that is suitable from gripping with a human hand and allows the ash removing device to be pushed into a wood burning stove, heater, furnace, or the like to remove ashes, and to pull the ash removing device from the wood burning stove, heater, or furnace after the ashes have been captured by the ash removing device. 
     After the ash remover has captured a desired amount of ashes from the wood burning stove the ash remover is drawn out of the stove. According to certain embodiments, the user maintains his or her grip on the first fixedly mounted handle and momentarily releases his or her grip from the pivotably mounted handle. A portion of the bottom wall of the housing rests on the opening of the stove. The user moves the front door of the housing from the open position to the closed position, wherein the front door rests against the front edges of the bottom and side walls of the housing. Once the front door has been closed, then the user grabs the pivotably mounted handle. The user moves the pivotably mounted handle forward and the force of gravity causes the housing to rotate about an imaginary axis that extends between pivot points located on the side walls of the housing. This rotation causes the rear portion of the housing to drop toward the ground. The second pivotably mounted handle of the ash removing device is now in a position projecting outwardly from the front door of the housing of the ash removing device. The length of the arms of the second pivotably mounted handle have sufficient length so that is extends beyond the front door of the housing of the ash remover. Because the second handle extends beyond the front door of the housing, the user is able to safely grip the second handle without the fear of being burned by the housing of the device during removal or transport. 
     The housing of the device may further include a closure member that is mounted on the outer face of the top wall, or on one of the side walls, so as to releasably close the outside of the housing front door. Alternatively, the housing of the device may include a closure member that is mounted on the outer surface of the front door of the housing of the device. 
     Additionally provided is a kit that includes a tool for gathering and sifting ashes in a wood burning stove or heater and an ash remover for removing ashes from the wood burning stove. The sifting tool includes a rake and side fins used to manipulate the ashes into a pile and a screen or mesh having an open porosity that may be used to sift through the ashes within a wood burning stove to separate the ashes from burning coals, embers, and the like. The screen of the sifting tool includes a porosity that is large enough to permit ash to pass through the screen, but which is small enough to retain larger coals, embers and wood pieces. The screen is surrounded by a frame that provides a rake and side plates. The frame is connected to an elongated handle having a sufficient length to permit a user to insert the screen portion of the sifting tool into the wood burning stove to sift through the ashes without risking burning injury of the user. The sifting tool may be manufactured from any material that can survive exposure to fire and the high temperature of a wood burning stove. 
     An illustrative embodiment of the ash removing device will now be described in greater detail with reference to the FIGURES. It should be noted that the ash removing device is not intended to be limited to the illustrative embodiments shown in the FIGURES, but shall include all variations and modifications within the scope of the claims. 
       FIG. 1  is fragmentary rear perspective view of the ash removing device  10 . This view of the device  10  shows the rear portion of the housing  12 . Housing includes top wall  14 , side wall  18  (opposite side wall is not shown in  FIG. 1 ) and rear wall  22 . Extending rearwardly from rear wall  22  is fixed handle  32 . Fixed handle is shown having a substantially “T” shape. It should be known, however, that this is merely one illustrative shape for fixed handle  32  and any suitable shape that is grippable may be used. 
       FIG. 2  shows a side view of ash removing device  10 . Device  10  includes housing  12 . Housing  12  comprises top wall  14 , bottom wall  16 , and side walls  18 ,  20  (side wall  20  not shown). Housing  12  also includes rear wall  22  and front door  24 . The front door  24  is hingedly attached by a hinge to the front edge of the top wall  14  of the housing  12  by a hinge member  54 . The front edge of the bottom wall  16  extends beyond the front edge of the top wall  14  of the housing  12 . The front edges of side walls  18 ,  20  are sloped. First fixed handle  32  is shown projecting outwardly beyond the rear wall  22  of the housing  12 . Second pivotable handle  34  is connected to side wall  18  of housing  12  at pivot point  36 . Second pivotable handle  34  is shown in a forward position with a portion of handle  34  extending beyond front wall  24  of the housing  12  of the device  10 . In this position, handle  34  is disposed substantially parallel to the spaced-apart top wall  14  and bottom wall  16 .  FIG. 2  illustrates the ash removing device  10  having a front door  24  of the housing  12  resting against the front sloped edges of side walls  18 ,  20  in the closed position. 
       FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of ash removing device  10 . Device  10  includes housing  12 . Housing  12  comprises top wall  14 , bottom wall  16 , and side walls  18 ,  20 . Housing  12  also includes rear wall  22  and front door  24 . The front door  24  is hingedly attached to the front edge of the top wall  14  of the housing  12  by a hinge member  54 . The front edge of the bottom wall  16  extends beyond the front edge of the top wall  14  of the housing  12 . The front edges of side walls  18 ,  20  include sloped or otherwise angled front edges  28 ,  30 . According to certain embodiments, a closure member  25  may be mounted on the outer surface of said bottom wall of the housing. According to other embodiments, a closure member  25  mounted on the outer surface of said front door of the housing. First fixed handle  32  is shown projecting outwardly from the rear wall  22  of the housing  12 . Arm  42  of second pivotable handle  34  is connected to side wall  18  of housing  12  at pivot point  36  with connecting member  50 . Arm  40  of second pivotable handle  34  is connected to side wall  20  of housing  12 . Bridging portion  44  extends between arms  40 ,  42  of handle  34 . Second pivotable handle  34  is shown in an upwardly and rearwardly pointing position. The top wall  14 , bottom wall  16 , side walls  18 ,  20 , rear wall  22  and front door  24  collectively define an inner volume  26  for collecting ashes from a wood burning stove or fireplace.  FIG. 3  illustrates the ash removing device  10  having the first surface of front door  24  resting against the top wall  14  of the housing  12  in an open position. 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of an illustrative embodiment of the ash removing device  10 . Ash removing device  10  comprises an elongated box-like housing  12 . The housing  12  comprises top wall  14 , bottom wall  16  (not shown in  FIG. 4 ), spaced-apart side walls  18 ,  20  and spaced-apart rear wall  22  and front door  24 . The top wall  14 , bottom wall  16 , side walls  18 ,  20 , rear wall  22  and front door  24  collectively define an inner volume for accepting ashes from a wood burning stove or fireplace. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 4  a first handle  32  is mounted or otherwise secured to the rear wall  22  of the housing  12  of the ash removing device  10 . The first handle  32  is fixedly mounted to the rear wall  22  of the housing  12  and projects outwardly from the outer surface of the rear wall  22 . A second handle  34  is pivotably mounted to the side walls  18 ,  20  of the housing  12  of the device  10  at pivot points  36 ,  38 . The second handle  34  comprises first arm  40 , second arm  42  and connecting portion  44  extending between and connecting the first  40  and second arms  42 . The arms  40 ,  42  and bridging portion  44  collectively define a substantially U-shaped handle  34 . 
     The first arm includes a flange portion  48  connecting first arm  40  to side wall  20  of the housing  12  of the ash removing device  10 . Second arm  42  of the second handle  34  includes a flange portion  50  connecting second arm  42  to the side wall  18  of the housing  12  of the ash removing device  10 . The flange portion  48  provides a clearance between first arm  40  of second handle  34  and the outer surface of the side wall  20  of the housing  12 . The flange portion  50  provides a clearance between second arm  42  of second handle  34  and the outer surface of the side wall  18  of the housing  12 . The first  40  and second  42  arms of second handle  34  have a length sufficient to extend beyond the outer surface of the front door  24  and rear wall  22  of the housing  12  of the ash removing device  10 . The length of the arms  40 ,  42  are long enough to provide a clearance between connecting portion  44  of second handle  34  and the rear wall  22  or front door  24 , depending on the position of the second handle  34 . 
     Still referring to  FIG. 4 , the housing  12  of the device  10  is shown in the closed position with the terminal end portions of arms  40 ,  42  and connecting portion  44  extending beyond the front door  24  of the housing  12 . Because the front edge of bottom wall  16  of the housing  12  extends beyond the front edge of the top wall  14  of the housing, and the edges of the side walls  16 ,  18  of the housing  12  are sloped, the front door  24  of the housing slopes at an angle from the top wall  14  to the bottom wall  16  of the housing  12 . 
       FIG. 5  shows the sifting tool of the kit. Sifting tool  90  includes grid or screen  92  having a plurality of openings  94 . Screen  92  is bordered on all four sides by a frame  96  used to manipulate the ashes into a pile for sifting. Frame  96  of the tool  90  is connected to an elongated handle  98 . Handle  98  terminates into gripping portion  100 . Frame  96  includes a leading edge  102 , trailing edge  104 , and side edges  106 ,  108 . A hoe-like portion  110  depends downwardly from the leading edge  102  of the frame  96  and extends between the side edges  106 ,  108  of the frame  96  to push or pull the ashes and debris into a pile for sifting. 
       FIG. 6  shows a side view of ash removing device  10  in use.  FIG. 6  illustrates the ash removing device  10  with the front door  24  of the housing  12  in the open position and resting on the outer surface of the top wall  14  of the housing  12 . In the open position, the lower edge of the front door  24  points in a direction rearwardly in relation to the housing  12 . The user  70  is shown gripping and lifting the first fixedly mounted handle  32  projecting outwardly from the rear wall  22  of the housing  12  with one hand. The user is shown gripping the second pivotably mounted handle  34  with the other hand and the handle  34  is held in a position that is projecting upwardly and rearwardly from the housing  12 . Using handles  32  and  34 , the user  70  inserts the front portion of the housing  12  of the device  10  into the interior of a wood burning stove  72  containing a quantity of hot ashes and debris  74 . The housing  12  is advanced further into the interior of the stove  72  until a desired quantity of ashes and debris  74  are contained by the housing  12 . Once the desired quantity of ashes and debris  74  are collected in the housing  12 , the user  70  draws the housing  12  from the stove  72  using handles  32 ,  34 . As the housing  12  is drawn from the stove  72 , the pivotably mounted handle  34  pivots toward the front portion of the housing  12 . The user releases handle  34  and closes the front door  24  of the housing  12 . The closing of the front door  24  against the sloped edges of the side walls  18 ,  20  and bottom wall  16  of the housing  12  results in the hot ashes  74  being captured within the inner volume  26  of the housing  12 . Once the door  24  has been closed, the user grabs handle  34  moves it further forward toward the front of the housing  12 . The rear  22  of the housing  12  drops toward the ground as the housing  12  rotates about an imaginary axis extending between pivot points  36 ,  38 . The rotation about the imaginary axis extending between pivot points  36 ,  38 , results in the closing of the front door  24  against the sloped edges of the side walls  18 ,  20  and bottom wall  16  of the housing  12 . The hot ashes  74  are now captured within the inner volume  26  of the housing  12 . 
     Now referring to  FIG. 7 , the user  70  is shown standing in an upright position holding the ash removing device  10  the user&#39;s right side. The user is holding the device  10  by the bridging portion  44  of the pivotably mounted handle  34 . The device  10  is held with its longitudinal axis L substantially perpendicular to the floor. Front door  24  of the housing is facing upwardly and resting against the side walls  18 ,  20  and bottom wall  14  of the housing  12 . The rear wall  22  of the housing  12  is facing downwardly toward the floor. In view of the fact that the front door  24  is resting against the side walls  18 ,  20  and bottom wall  16  of the housing  12 , there is no chance that the collected hot ashes can escape from the housing  12 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 8 , user  70  is shown emptying a quantity of ashes and debris  74  that were collected from wood burning stove  72  (shown in  FIG. 6 ) at desired container or location  80  remote from the wood burning stove  72 . To remove ashes  74  from the device housing  12 , holding second handle  34  in one hand, the user  70  grips first handle  32  with the other hand. The rear wall  22  of the housing  12  is rotated upwardly, thereby causing the front wall  24  to rotate downwardly toward the ground G and to open. Once the front wall  24  opens, the ashes and debris  74  exit the housing  12  of the device  10  via the force of gravity and are deposited at the desired location  80 . 
     While the ash removing device has been described above in connection with certain illustrative embodiments, it is to be understood that other similar embodiments may be used or modifications and additions may be made to the described embodiments for performing the same function without deviating therefrom. Further, all embodiments disclosed are not necessarily in the alternative, as various embodiments may be combined or subtracted to provide the desired characteristics. Variations can be made by one having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope hereof. Therefore, the ash removing device should not be limited to any single embodiment, but rather construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the recitations of the attached claims.