Abstract
The controlled bottom charcoal starter is comprised of a fire starting cylindrical tube, a set of two separate but mirror imaged half grates pivotal along the line of the diametrical center of the starter cylinder, a lock and release mechanism, a handle grip and a button cap. The two half grates, which are formed by a one continuous steel rod, are locked horizontally in the same plane to form shelves for loading un-ignited charcoal in the starter cylinder tube. Once the charcoal is ignited, the lock mechanism releases the grates to pivotally rotate downward inside the charcoal starter cylinder so as to lower the hot charcoal briquettes onto a barbeque grill at a controlled rate of discharge. This controlled bottom discharge charcoal starter minimizes hot ash flying outside of the cylinder and makes it safer to use.
Claims
1. A bottom discharge charcoal starter comprising of a starter cylinder means, plurality of pivotal half grate means, a grate lock and release means,
2. A bottom discharge charcoal starter in claim 1, wherein the plurality of pivotal half grate means is a set of two equal but mirror imaged shape grates. Each grate half is made of one continuously formed metal rod that the distances relative to the gap between each turn, between the half grates and the inside cylinder wall are narrow enough that typical charcoal briquettes do not fall through. The two half grates fit loosely inside a cylindrical tube means supported by grate pivotal holes adjacent to each other in the handle side and the diametrically opposite wall at the same height of a charcoal starter cylinder. In addition, one end of each half grate is extended and turned at a right angle to the grate plane in mirror image.
3. A charcoal starter in claim 2, wherein the grate lock arid release mechanism means moves the two grate rod ends in the handle side to a substantially vertically upright position, which results in the grate halves to form a substantially horizontal plane at the same height. The lock and release mechanism means also moves both the grate rod ends to the horizontal positions in the opposite pocket of each other in the lock and release housing, thus rotating both half grates to a substantially downward vertical angle so as to create a clear flow path for the hot charcoal briquettes to move down onto the grill and enable a safe release of the hot charcoal.
4. A charcoal starter in claim 3, wherein the downward rotation of the grates is controllable by the speed of lowering the lock and release mechanism by a user.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0042] FIG. 1 shows a top view of this invention.
[0043] FIG. 2 shows a side view and the cross section A-A′ in FIG. 1.
[0044] FIG. 3 shows an isometric view of the mirrored half grates 7 & 7′.
[0045] FIG. 4 shows the unformed lock and release mechanism housing 9.
[0046] FIG. 5 shows a front view of the lock and release mechanism housing 9.
[0047] FIG. 6 shows a side view of the lock and release mechanism housing 9.
[0048] FIG. 7 shows a top view of the lock and release mechanism housing 9.
[0049] FIG. 8 shows a front view of the lock and release mechanism lock 14.
[0050] FIG. 9 shows a top view of two mirror imaged grates 7 & 7′ and the lock and release mechanism housing 9 when the grates are locked horizontal.
[0051] FIG. 10 shows a top view when the grates 7 & 7′ are rotated downward.
[0052] FIG. 11 is added to show when the button cap 13 is pushed down.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERED EMBODIMENT
[0053] Referring to FIG. 1 which shows the top view of this invention of a controlled bottom discharge charcoal starter. This view shows the two grate halves 7 & 7′ are locked horizontal ready to accept the charcoal. For more detail, refer to FIG. 2 for the side view.
[0054] Referring to FIG. 2 which shows the cross section A-A′ in FIG. 1. In this preferred embodiment of the charcoal starter 1, one end of a half grate 7 penetrates through the charcoal starter wall and the other end penetrates the same in the diametrically opposite handle attachment side through holes 8 that act as pivotal points of the grate 7. The lock and release mechanism housing 9 is located between the cylinder 1 and the heat shield 6. The housing 9 is connected to a J-shaped rod 10 penetrating through the hole 11 in the lower handle support bar 4. The rod 10 runs horizontally and is captured by the lock 14. The lock and release rod 10 then turns vertically up, through the hole 12 inside the handle 5, and terminates with a button cap 13.
[0055] FIG. 3 shows clearly the mirror imaged half grates 7 & 7′ in a horizontal position and the grate ends turned perpendicular to the grate plane. FIG. 3 also shows the grate halves 7 & 7′ are formed by a continuous metal rod.
[0056] FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7 show the housing 9 in various views. FIG. 4 is a flat sheet metal before forming the housing 9. FIG. 5 shows a front view after forming in U-shape. FIG. 6 shows a side view. FIG. 7 shows a top view. The housing 9 is made of a sheet metal folded in U-shape. The center bottom and a part of the side wall of the “U” is cut open wide enough to hold the two half grate ends side by side. Each of the grate ends is held in its own side of the center opening.
[0057] FIG. 8 shows a cross section B-B′ in FIG. 1 for the lock and release mechanism lock 14 mounted on the lower handle support bar 4. The rod 10 is held inside cavity of the lock 14 to prevent the housing 9 from sliding down. When the button cap 13 is pushed down, the rod 10 is pushed out of the lock 14..
[0058] FIG. 9 shows a top view of the grates 7 & 7′ and grate ends in a locked upright position in the housing 9.
[0059] FIG. 10 shows a top view of the lock and release mechanism in a pushed down position. The grate halve 7 & 7′ are rotated down making a clear path for the charcoal to move down onto the grate of a barbeque grill.
[0060] FIG. 11 is looking at the cross section of A-A′ in FIG. 1 to show the FIG. 10 in detail. When the button cap 13 is pushed down, the rod 10 is pushed out of the lock 14 and the connected housing 9 moves down. The grate ends rotate away from each other until each end rests horizontally in the housing 9 pockets as shown in FIG. 10. In turn, it causes the grate halves 7 & 7′ to rotate downward as visualized in an upside butterfly closing its two wings. This movement results in opening the pathway for charcoal to move downward and discharged onto the barbeque grill grate. The rate of discharge is controlled by the speed of pushing down the button cap 13. This slows hot ash flying out of the top of the charcoal starter cylinder 1.
