CHARCOAL BRIQUET HAVING A GROOVED SURFACE

Abstract

A generally pillow-shaped charcoal briquet having a convex upper surface and a convex lower surface, wherein at least one of these surfaces contain an enhanced surface feature comprising one or more grooves. When two or more grooves are located on one or both convex surfaces, the grooves are generally parallel to each other and to two opposing sides of the briquet, and generally perpendicular to two opposing sides of the briquet. The briquets have improved ignition characteristics and enhanced burn phase properties.

Claims

1. A pillow-shaped charcoal briquet comprising: at least one groove formed in at least one surface thereof; and wherein a depth of the at least one groove varies as a function of distance from an external periphery of the briquet.

2. The briquet of claim 1, further comprising an upper surface and a lower surface, and said at least one groove comprises a plurality of substantially parallel grooves extending across a majority of said upper surface.

3. The briquet of claim 1, further comprising an upper surface and lower surface, and said at least one groove comprises a plurality of grooves disposed across said upper surface and lower surface, said plurality of grooves aiding combustion by providing air circulation around said briquet, and between said briquet and at least another said briquet within a pile of briquets.

4. The briquet of claim 1, further comprising an upper surface and a lower surface, and said at least one groove comprises at least two grooves disposed on at least one of said upper surface and said lower surface, said at least two grooves extending substantially from one side of a periphery of said briquet to an opposing side of said periphery for aiding combustion by providing air circulation around and along at least a portion of said periphery and between said briquet and at least another said briquette within a pile of briquets.

5. The briquet of claim 1, further comprising an upper surface, a lower surface, and a periphery; said periphery defining a plane whereby said upper surface and said lower surface are substantially symmetrical with respect thereto; and, said upper surface and said lower surface each having at least one groove extending respectively across said upper surface and said lower surface, said grooves having a depth thereby providing an increased surface area to volume ratio.

6. The briquet of claim 1, wherein: said at least one groove comprises a first groove disposed on said upper surface and a second groove disposed on said lower surface respectively, at least one of said grooves extending substantially from one side of a periphery of said briquet to an opposing side of said periphery; and, said upper surface and said lower surface are configured to allow close contact between said briquet and one or more adjacent briquets while said grooves provide air circulation around at least a portion of said periphery.

7. The briquet of claim 1, wherein said briquet has four sides and a generally square periphery.

8. A charcoal briquet comprising having at least one means for enhancing the circulation of air around said briquet during combustion; wherein said briquet is configured to achieving a temperature suitable for cooking quickly after ignition and holding said temperature for an adequate amount of time for cooking thereafter when disposed relative to a plurality of other similar briquets and ignited; and wherein said means for enhancing the circulation enables both (i) said achievement of quick ignition, and (ii) said adequate amount of time for cooking thereafter.

9. A pillow-shaped charcoal briquet having a convex upper surface, a convex lower surface, and a plurality of grooves extending across a majority of both said convex upper surface and said convex lower surface, said grooves configured to aid combustion by providing air circulation around said pillow-shaped briquet when said pillow-shaped briquet is at least partly surrounded by other similar briquets; wherein said briquet is configured to achieve a temperature suitable for cooking quickly after ignition and to hold said temperature for an adequate amount of time for cooking thereafter when disposed relative to said other similar briquets, and ignited; and wherein a depth of the grooves varies as a function of distance from an external periphery of the briquet.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, and wherein:

[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pillow-shaped charcoal briquet embodying the present invention;

[0016] FIG. 2 is a right side elevational view of the briquet of FIG. 1, right and left side elevations being the same;

[0017] FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the briquet of FIG. 1, front and back elevations being the same;

[0018] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the briquet of FIG. 1;

[0019] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a charcoal briquet showing a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] FIG. 6 is a right side elevational view of the briquet of FIG. 5, right and left side elevations being the same;

[0021] FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the briquet of FIG. 5, front and back elevations being the same;

[0022] FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the briquet of FIG. 5;

[0023] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a charcoal briquet showing a third embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] FIG. 10 is a right side elevational view of the briquet of FIG. 9, right and left side elevations being the same;

[0025] FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of the briquet of FIG. 9, front and back elevations being the same;

[0026] FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the briquet of FIG. 9;

[0027] FIG. 13 is a front elevational view of a charcoal briquet similar to the briquet of FIG. 3, but having one groove on both the upper and lower surfaces, front and back elevations being the same;

[0028] FIG. 14 is a front elevational view of a charcoal briquet similar to the briquet of FIG. 7, but having two grooves on the upper and lower surfaces, front and back elevations being the same;

[0029] FIG. 15 is a front elevational view of a charcoal briquet similar to the briquet of FIG. 11, but having three grooves on the upper and lower surfaces, front and back elevations being the same;

[0030] FIG. 16 is a front elevational view of a charcoal briquet similar to the briquet of FIG. 3, but having one groove on the upper and two grooves on the lower surface, front and back elevations being the same;

[0031] FIG. 17 is a front elevational view of a charcoal briquet similar to the briquet of FIG. 3, but having one groove on the upper and three grooves on the lower surface, front and back elevations being the same; and

[0032] FIG. 18 is a front elevational view of a charcoal briquet similar to the briquet of FIG. 7, but having two grooves on the upper and three grooves on the lower surface, front and back elevations being the same.

[0033] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The examples set out herein illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, in one form, and such examples are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] FIGS. 1-18 depict a grooved pillow-shaped charcoal briquet of the present invention. Previous charcoal briquets used by consumers have typically assumed a generally pillow-shape configuration. However, previous charcoal briquets were not designed as the charcoal briquets provided herein having enhanced grooved surface features that provide consumers with a charcoal briquet having enhanced lighting and burn phase characteristics.

[0035] FIGS. 1-4 and 13 depict a grooved pillow-shaped briquet 30 having a generally convex upper surface 38, a generally convex lower surface 36, a generally elliptical periphery 37 when viewed from the side, and a generally rectangular periphery 35 when viewed from above or below. FIG. 3 depicts briquet 30 wherein one of these surfaces, upper surface 38, contains thereon one groove 32. FIG. 13 depicts a front elevational view of briquet 39 wherein both of the upper 38 and lower surfaces 36 each contain thereon one groove 32.

[0036] FIG. 1 depicts a top plan view of charcoal briquet 30 having four sides A, B, C and D, connected by four generally rounded corners 34. Groove 32 runs generally parallel to side B (right side) and side D (left side), and generally perpendicular to side A (back) and side C (front). Groove 32 thereby connects front C and back A of briquet 30 via this channel or trench-like surface feature that traverses the upper convex surface 38, and increases the surface area to volume ratio of the briquet enabling more of the briquet to be exposed to oxygen.

[0037] FIGS. 5-8 and 14 depict a grooved pillow-shaped briquet 40 having a generally convex upper surface 48, a generally convex lower surface 46, a generally elliptical periphery 47 when viewed from the side, and a generally rectangular periphery 45 when viewed from above or below. FIG. 7 depicts briquet 40 wherein one of these surfaces, upper surface 48, contains thereon two grooves 42. FIG. 14 depicts a front elevational view of briquet 49 wherein both of the upper 48 and lower surfaces 46 each contain thereon two grooves 42.

[0038] FIG. 8 depicts a top plan view of charcoal briquet 40 having four sides A, B, C and D, connected by four generally rounded corners 44. Grooves 42 run generally parallel to side B (right side) and side D (left side), and generally perpendicular to side A (back) and side C (front). Grooves 42 thereby connect front C and the back A of briquet 40 via this channel or trench-like surface feature that traverses the upper convex surface 48, and increases the surface area to volume ratio of the briquet enabling more of the briquet to be exposed to oxygen.

[0039] FIGS. 9-12 and 15 depict a grooved pillow-shaped briquet 50 having a generally convex upper surface 58, a generally convex lower surface 56, a generally elliptical periphery 57 when viewed from the side, and a generally rectangular periphery 55 when viewed from above or below. FIG. 11 depicts briquet 50 wherein one of these surfaces, upper surface 58, contains thereon three grooves 52. FIG. 15 depicts a front elevational view of briquet 59 wherein both the upper 58 and lower surfaces 56 each contain thereon three grooves 52.

[0040] FIG. 12 depicts a top plan view charcoal briquet 50 having four sides A, B, C and D, connected by four generally rounded corners 54. Grooves 52 run generally parallel to side B (right side) and side D (left side), and generally perpendicular to sides A (back) and side C (front). Grooves 52 thereby connect front C and back A of briquet 50 via this channel or trench-like surface feature that traverses the upper convex surface 58, and increases the surface area to volume ratio of the briquet enabling more of the briquet to be exposed to oxygen.

[0041] FIG. 16 depicts a front elevational view of a grooved pillow-shaped briquet 60 having a generally convex upper surface 68, a generally convex lower surface 66, and a generally elliptical periphery 67 when viewed from the side. Briquet 60 includes upper surface 68 containing thereon one groove 62, and lower surface 66 containing thereon two grooves 62. Briquet 60, like briquets 30, 40 and 50, has a generally rectangular periphery when viewed from above or below, and four sides connected by four generally rounded corners (not shown). Grooves 62 run generally parallel to the right and left sides of the briquet, and generally perpendicular to the back and front of the briquet (not shown).

[0042] FIG. 17 depicts a front elevational view of a grooved pillow-shaped briquet 70 having a generally convex upper surface 78, a generally convex lower surface 76, and a generally elliptical periphery 77 when viewed from the side. Briquet 70 includes upper surface 78 containing thereon one groove 72, and lower surface 76 containing thereon three grooves 72. Briquet 70, like briquets 30, 40 and 50, has a generally rectangular periphery when viewed from above or below, and four sides connected by four generally rounded corners (not shown). Grooves 72 run generally parallel to the right and left sides of the briquet, and generally perpendicular to the back and front of the briquet (not shown).

[0043] It should be understood that the present invention as depicted in FIGS. 1-18 preferably describes and discloses pillow-shaped briquets with one, or two or three parallel grooves on one or both opposite convex surfaces of the briquet. It should be understood that the present invention can be considered to relate to briquets having a plurality of grooves on the surface thereof. However, it should be realized that the greater the number of grooves, the shallower the individual groove would become. The depth of the groove is defined by the width-to-depth proportion.

[0044] Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the present invention provides a means of providing charcoal briquets having textured and grooved surface features that result in consumer desired improved random, no-mating stacking ability, and improved ignition and burn phase characteristic for use in grilling, cooking or the like. However, it will be appreciated that the present invention is useful for designing a surface configuration of briquets to achieve the specific qualities and properties as disclosed herein.

[0045] This invention has been described herein in considerable detail to provide those skilled in the art with information relevant to apply the novel principles and to construct and use such specialized components as are required. However, it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out by different equipment, materials and devices, and that various modifications, both as to the equipment and operating procedures, can be accomplished without departing from the scope of the invention itself.