Patent ID: 8590525

Claim:
A charcoal igniter, comprising: a housing having a wall defining an interior charcoal space for receiving charcoal; at least one grate having a shaft pivotally connected within the housing, the grate being pivotable from a charcoal-supporting position to a charcoal-releasing position, the grate having an outer profile generally following an inner profile of the housing wall when in the charcoal-supporting position; and an actuator, including an actuator arm movably coupled to the housing, the actuator arm moveable between a first position for securing the grate in the charcoal-supporting position and a second position for positioning the grate in the charcoal-releasing position, a multi-segment actuator rod extending from the grate and including a first rod segment extending through a support hole in the housing, a second rod segment radially extending from the first rod segment, and a third rod segment extending from the second rod segment generally parallel to the first rod segment; wherein the first rod segment defines a first pivot axis about which the grate is pivotally supported on the housing; and wherein the actuator arm is slidably engaged at a first end on a track and coupled at a second end to the second rod segment of the multi-segment actuator rod, wherein movement of the actuator arm in a first direction along the track moves the grate to the charcoal supporting position and moving the actuator arm in a second direction along the track opposite the first direction moves the grate to the charcoal-releasing position.