Abstract:
A self-combusting ignition device comprising a hollow, funnel-shaped body made of a combustible material which is devoid of charcoal, said body having (a) a relatively narrow top opening and a relatively wide bottom opening, and (b) at least one ventilation conduit adjacent said relatively wide bottom opening.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from Israel Patent Application No. 232133, filed Apr. 13, 2014, entitled “Self-Combusting Ignition Device”. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to the field of ignition devices. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Outdoor cooking is an immensely popular activity enjoyed by many people. The burning of combustible fuel pieces from coal to charcoal to wood chips is well known. Common applications include burning charcoal in a backyard barbecue and burning coal lumps in a fireplace. Commonly, the actual combustible material is sold and stored in bulk containers. 
         [0004]    For instance, a 10 or 20 lb bag of charcoal can be kept in a consumer&#39;s garage next to their barbecue grill. Chunks of coal or wood may also be shipped in heavy bag containers. In each case, a consumer dispenses a portion of the pieces of combustible material to be burned. For instance, the consumer may pour briquettes from a charcoal bag into a grill then arrange them into a solid pyramid. 
         [0005]    It is often said that the combustion of these materials is not very efficient. The classic “pile” of charcoal briquettes in a grill burns slowly and inefficiently. This arrangement of charcoal typically requires some accelerant either applied onto or soaked into the briquette mixture. Also, airflow must usually be handled in order to achieve a quick and even burn. 
         [0006]    The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the figures. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope. 
         [0008]    One embodiment relates to a self-combusting ignition device comprising a hollow, funnel-shaped body made of a combustible material which is devoid of charcoal, said body having (a) a relatively narrow top opening and a relatively wide bottom opening, and (b) at least one ventilation conduit adjacent said relatively wide bottom opening. 
         [0009]    Another embodiment relates to a method for igniting flammable elements, the method comprising: positioning a self-combusting ignition device inside a barbecue grill, said device comprising a hollow, funnel-shaped body made of a combustible material which is devoid of charcoal, said body having (a) a relatively narrow top opening and a relatively wide bottom opening, and (b) at least one ventilation conduit adjacent said relatively wide bottom opening; piling up the flammable elements over said device; and igniting said device, thereby causing at least some of the flammable elements to ignite and, upon said device being consumed by combustion, to settle inside the barbecue grill. 
         [0010]    Optionally, said funnel-shaped body is concave. 
         [0011]    Optionally, said at least one ventilation conduit is multiple ventilation conduits. 
         [0012]    Optionally, said multiple ventilation conduits are each a half-cylindrical niche. 
         [0013]    Optionally, said combustible material comprises paper. 
         [0014]    Optionally, said combustible material comprises cardboard. 
         [0015]    Optionally, said combustible material comprises corrugated cardboard. 
         [0016]    Optionally, said body is soaked in liquid fuel. 
         [0017]    Optionally, said relatively wide bottom opening is defined by an elevated bottom rim, configured to prevent charcoal pieces which are piled up over the device from slipping over. 
         [0018]    Optionally, the piling up is over a majority of an outer surface of said device. 
         [0019]    Optionally, the flammable elements comprise charcoal pieces. 
         [0020]    Optionally, the igniting of said device is by throwing a burning piece of paper into said relatively narrow top opening. 
         [0021]    In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the figures and by study of the following detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0022]    Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures. Dimensions of components and features shown in the figures are generally chosen for convenience and clarity of presentation and are not necessarily shown to scale. The figures are listed below. 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a self-combusting ignition device; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  shows a side view of the self-combusting ignition device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  shows a top view of the self-combusting ignition device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  shows a side view of the self-combusting ignition device of  FIG. 1 , inside a barbecue grill; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  shows a side view of the barbecue grill after the self-combusting ignition device has been consumed. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]    A self-combusting ignition device is disclosed herein. The device may be made, fully or partially, from a combustible material, and be used to ignite one or more other flammable elements, such as pieces of charcoal, wood, etc. For simplicity of discussion, these flammable elements are hereinafter referred to as “charcoal pieces”, although other types of flammable elements, such as pieces of wood or the like, are intended herein as well. The device may be manually ignited by a user, causing the device to self-combust and, in turn, ignite the charcoal pieces which are piled over it. 
         [0029]    Reference is now made to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , which show a perspective view, a side view and a top view of a self-combusting ignition device (hereinafter simply “device”)  100 , in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. It should be noted that device  100  may look essentially the same when looked at from the top and from the bottom. Hence, the top view of  FIG. 3  may be similar to a bottom view of the device, and any differences may be only those derived from a thickness of the body of device  100 —which differences may be barely noticeable between bottom and top views. 
         [0030]    Device  100  may have a body  102  generally shaped as a concave funnel, which may be positioned essentially upside-down when in use. Namely, the narrower opening of the funnel is at its top, while the wider opening of the funnel is at its bottom. In the figure, the narrower opening is defined by a top rim  104 , while the wider opening is defined by a bottom rim  108 . 
         [0031]    In some embodiments (not shown), a body of a self-combusting ignition device, or at least a portion of the body, may be shaped differently than what  FIGS. 1-3  show, for example as a convex funnel, a cone, a triangular pyramid, a rectangular pyramid—or any other hollow shape having a wider opening at its bottom and a narrower opening at its top. 
         [0032]    A thickness of body  102  is optionally substantially uniform along the entirety of the body. For example, the thickness of body  102  may be between 1-2 millimeters, 2-3 millimeters, 3-4 millimeters, 4-5 millimeters, 5-6 millimeters, 6-7 millimeters, 7-8 millimeters, 8-9 millimeters, 9-10 millimeters, or more. Alternatively, the thickness of body  102  may be non-uniform, namely—some areas may be thicker than others. 
         [0033]    Body  102  may be made of one or more solid, combustible materials, or of a combination of one or more solid combustible materials with one or more solid, non-combustible materials. The term “solid, non-combustible materials” refers to solid materials whose flash point is higher than temperatures typically reached to in barbecue grill fires. Solid, non-combustible materials may include, for example, various reinforcement structures which may be used within body  102 , such as metallic meshes, metallic threads, etc. 
         [0034]    Examples of suitable solid, combustible materials for body  102  include various types of paper products (e.g. paper sheets, cardboard, corrugated cardboard, etc.), various fabrics (e.g. of animal sources, plant sources, etc.), various types of processed wood, and more. The one or more solid, combustible materials of body  102  may be characterized as being easily ignitable, such as by holding a burning match, a portable lighter and/or burning object next to them for a brief duration (e.g. up to a few seconds). 
         [0035]    Additionally or alternatively, body  102  may be made combustible (or its degree of combustibility be enhanced) by soaking it in liquid fuel. This may be performed either during manufacturing or by the user, just prior to igniting device  100 . If body  102  is soaking in liquid fuel during manufacturing, it may be consecutively packed in a sealed package, such as a plastic wrap, such that the liquid fuel does not vaporize until device  100  is being used. 
         [0036]    In some embodiments, body  102  is devoid of charcoal of any form and shape. In some embodiments, body  102  does not have any charcoal attached to it. Instead, charcoal may be piled up over body  102  when use of device  100  is desired; during this piling up, the charcoal does not become attached to body  102  but rather sits over it freely. 
         [0037]    Body  102  may include one or more ventilation conduits adjacent its bottom opening, such as conduits  106 . Conduits  106  may be shaped as half-cylindrical niches in body  102 , which niches disrupt the generally circular circumference of bottom rim  108 . When device  100  is positioned on an essentially flat surface, bottom rim  108  may contact the surface (fully or partially), while conduits  106  provide pathways for air to flow into an inside void of body  102 . 
         [0038]    The embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3  shows eight conduits  106  (only three of which are referenced, for the sake of simplicity); however, other embodiments (not shown) may include a different number of conduits, such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 or more. 
         [0039]    In some embodiments (not shown), a body of a self-combusting ignition device may include, adjacent to its bottom rim, one or more ventilation conduits shaped differently than what  FIGS. 1-3  show, as long as these ventilation conduits allow air to flow into an inside void of the body when the body is positioned on an essentially flat surface. 
         [0040]    In some embodiments (not shown), a bottom rim of a self-combusting ignition device may be elevated, to essentially form a circumferential concave bowl around the lower part of the device. Namely, the elevated rim may prevent charcoal pieces which are piled up over the device from slipping over its lowermost edges. Those of the charcoal pieces which get supported by this bottom rim, may serve to support charcoal pieces which are positioned higher up over the device. 
         [0041]    Reference is now made to  FIG. 4 , which shows device  100  of  FIGS. 1-3 , positioned inside a barbecue grill  110 , which is shown only schematically. Barbecue grill  110  may be shaped, for example, as a container open at its top (or being equipped with a removable cover at its top). Namely, barbecue grill  110  may have at least a bottom surface (which is optionally essentially flat) and side walls encircling the bottom surface. In this figure, parts of device  100  which are hidden behind charcoal pieces are shown with phantom lines. 
         [0042]    Device  100  may be used, in some embodiments, according to the following method: 
         [0043]    First, device  100  may be positioned in a suitable location for setting fire, such as inside barbecue grill  110  or even on bare ground. Optionally, a surface (e.g. of the barbecue grill) on which device  100  is positioned is substantially flat. 
         [0044]    Then, a plurality of flammable elements, such as charcoal pieces  112 , may be piled up over device  100 , to form an array of the charcoal pieces over at least a majority of the area of the outer surface of the device. For simplicity of presentation, only three charcoal pieces  112  are referenced in  FIG. 4 , although the figure shows many more charcoal pieces. 
         [0045]    A user piling up charcoal pieces  112  over device  100 , may start by piling them over the lower part of the device, so as to fill a space between that lower part and walls of barbecue grill  110 . As the piling up continues, charcoal pieces  112  begin covering device  100  higher up, finally forming an array resembling a somewhat amorphous pyramid over the device. The piling up may be done by pouring charcoal pieces  112  from a bag, by positioning them manually, by use of a hand tool, or by combination of any of the above. 
         [0046]    Finally, device  100  may be ignited using a fire source such as a match, a portable lighter, a burning piece of paper, and/or any other means of ignition. In some embodiments, the device may be ignited by simply throwing a burning piece of paper into its inner void, such as through top rim  104 . 
         [0047]    As device  100  catches fire, it may exhibit what is known as the chimney affect (also “stack effect”). Namely, oxygen-containing air may be drawn, due to the combustion, through the ventilation conduits (which are not referenced in  FIG. 4 , merely for simplicity of illustration, but are nonetheless observable) and into the inner void of device  100 . The inner void of device  100  hence acts as its flue. Exhaust gasses resulting from the self-combustion of device  100  may be emitted to the atmosphere through top rim  104 . Accordingly, device  100  may also be referred to as a combined device, acting as a self-combustible igniter and a chimney. 
         [0048]    The self-combustion of device  100  causes charcoal pieces  112 , or at least some thereof, to ignite as well. As device  100  self-combusts, its material (or at least a part thereof, in case its body contains also a non-combustible material) is also gradually consumed, such that the burning (or partly burning) charcoal pieces  112  gradually collapse and settle into an essentially flat formation inside barbecue grill  110 , allowing their use for barbecue grilling.  FIG. 5  illustrates this; the device is no longer shown, and charcoal pieces  112  have settled into a formation which is overall lower than before. 
         [0049]    If the charcoal pieces do not settle into a satisfactory formation, a user may manually manipulate them at his or her desire, for example using a hand tool such as a stick. A grill mesh and/or a rotisserie (not shown) may then be positioned over the settled charcoal pieces, as known in the art, for cooking food. 
         [0050]    In the description and claims of the application, each of the words “comprise” “include” and “have”, and forms thereof, are not necessarily limited to members in a list with which the words may be associated.