Patent ID: 6913013

Claim:
A charcoal igniter, comprising: a tubular housing having two stop members therein and open upper and lower ends; a grate releasably-mounted within the tubular housing for movement from a supporting position to a releasing position, the grate including two sections having opposing sides that are pivotally connected to form a pivotal connection therebetween, the two stop members of the tubular housing supporting the respective two sections of the grate in the supporting position; and an actuator for releasing the grate so that the grate moves from the supporting position to the releasing position, the actuator being adapted for applying a vertical lifting force to the grate at the pivotal connection, whereby the grate sections are pulled clear of the stop members and move under gravity to the releasing position such that charcoal briquettes supported within the tubular housing by the grate in the supporting position are released from the grate and fall through the open lower end when the grate moves to the releasing position.