Inclusive single-use heating device

• US 8,393,317 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2010
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zippo Manufacturing Company (Zipcorp Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Societe BIC
• Inventors: Sorenson, Chad M., Franchino, David C., Schweiger, Mark, Bush, Tom
• Primary Examiner(s): Rinehart, Kenneth
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEREIRO, JORGE ANDRES
• Application Number:
  US12/938,659
• Publication Number:
  US 20110045154A1
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 126/43, 126/246, 126/262, 431/288, 431/331, 431/341
• US Class Current: 126/43
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/0768 Disposable barbecue packages containing a quantity of fuel, e.g. charcoal
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/0786 Accessories

Abstract

The invention comprises a fuel package comprising a vessel, a fuel, a combustion-restricting choke plate and a sealed lidding.

Claims

1. A grilling device comprising:

a vessel having a bottom;

a side wall extending up from the bottom, the side wall having a top;

wherein the bottom and side wall of the vessel form an interior of the vessel;

a fuel located in the interior of the vessel;

a choke plate having a top side, a bottom side, an outer edge, and a plurality of apertures,

wherein the apertures are positioned in substantially concentric rings, wherein a plurality of apertures on an innermost ring has corresponding apertures in an adjacent outer ring and each pair of aperture in the innermost ring and corresponding aperture in the adjacent outer ring is angularly offset by substantially a same amount relative to each other;

wherein the choke plate is secured to the vessel,

wherein the choke plate comprises a depression section having a top surface lower than a top surface of the choke plate, and

wherein the depression section comprises at least one depression arm extending from a center of the choke plate to an outer edge of the choke plate.

2. The grilling device of claim 1 wherein the vessel further has a support ledge having an outer edge, the support ledge extending from the top of the side wall;

and wherein a portion of the bottom side of the choke plate rests on the support ledge of the vessel.

3. The grilling device of claim 2 wherein the vessel further has a vessel curl flange extending upward from the outer edge of the support ledge:

wherein the choke plate further has a choke plate curl flange which extends upward from the outer edge of the choke plate; and

wherein the vessel curl flange and the choke plate curl flange are curled together securing the choke plate to the vessel.

4. The grilling device of claim 1 wherein the choke plate has a center and the substantially concentric rings are positioned around the center of the choke plate.

5. The grilling device of claim 1, wherein the choke plate further has choke legs, wherein the choke legs support the choke plate.

6. The grilling device of claim 5 wherein the ethanol in the fuel is present in an amount of at least 55% w/v of the mixture;

water is present in an amount of 0-40% w/v of the mixture; and

sodium stearate is present in an amount of 2-20% w/v of the mixture.

7. The grilling device of claim 5 wherein the ethanol in the fuel is present in an amount of 80-95% w/v of the mixture;

water is present in an amount of 3-4% w/v of the mixture;

and sodium stearate is present in an amount of 2-10% w/v of the mixture.

8. The grilling device of claim 5, wherein the choke legs are directly attached or integral to the vessel, are embedded in the fuel, or rest on the bottom of the vessel.

9. A method of grilling food comprising:

placing in a grill a grilling device of claim 5 wherein the grilling device further comprises a lidding film having a top side and a bottom side, wherein a portion of the bottom side of the lidding film is sealed to the top side of the choke plate;

removing the lidding film from the choke plate;

igniting the fuel by placing a flame in contact with the fuel through one of the apertures; and

grilling food over the flames of the grilling device on a cooking grate positioned above the grilling device.

10. The grilling device of claim 1, wherein the size of the apertures in the outer concentric ring is larger than the size of the apertures in the adjacent inner concentric ring.

11. The grilling device of claim 1, wherein no aperture is located on the depression section.

12. A method of grilling food comprising:

placing in a grill a grilling device of claim 1 wherein the grilling device further comprises a lidding film having a top side and a bottom side, wherein a portion of the bottom side of the lidding film is sealed to the top side of the choke plate;

removing the lidding film from the choke plate;

igniting the fuel by placing a flame in contact with the fuel through one of the apertures; and

grilling food over the flames of the grilling device on a cooking grate positioned above the grilling device.

13. A heating source comprising:

a vessel having a bottom;

a side wall extending up from the bottom, the side wall having a top;

wherein the bottom and side wall of the vessel form an interior of the vessel;

a fuel located in the interior of the vessel;

a choke plate having top side, a bottom side, an outer edge, and a plurality of apertures;

wherein the choke plate is secured to the vessel, wherein the apertures are positioned in substantially concentric rings, wherein a plurality of apertures on an innermost ring has corresponding apertures in an adjacent outer ring and each pair of aperture in the innermost ring and corresponding aperture in the adjacent outer ring is angularly offset by substantially a same amount relative to each other; and

a lidding film having a top side, a bottom side, wherein a portion of the bottom side of the lidding film is sealed to the top side of the choke plate,

wherein the choke plate comprises a depression section having a top surface lower than a top surface of the choke plate, and

wherein the depression section comprises at least one depression arm extending from a center of the choke plate to an outer edge of the choke plate.

14. The heating source of claim 13 wherein the vessel further has a support ledge having an outer edge, the support ledge extending from the top of the side wall;

and wherein a portion of the bottom side of the choke plate rests on the support ledge of the vessel.

15. The heating source of claim 14 wherein the vessel further has a vessel curl flange extending upward from the outer edge of the support ledge;

wherein the choke plate further has a choke plate curl flange which extends upward from the outer edge of the choke plate; and

wherein the vessel curl flange and the choke plate curl flange are curled together securing the choke plate to the vessel.

16. The heating source of claim 13 wherein the choke plate further has a depression section which has a depression section bottom which is positioned lower than the bottom side of the choke plate.

17. The heating source of claim 13 wherein the fuel is a solidified gelled alcohol fuel.

18. The heating source of claim 13 wherein the gelled alcohol fuel comprises a mixture of ethanol, water and sodium stearate.

19. The heating source of claim 18, wherein the ethanol in the fuel is present in an amount of at least 55% w/v of the-mixture;

water is present in an amount of 0-40% w/v of the mixture; and

sodium stearate is present in an amount of 2-20% w/v of the mixture.

20. The grilling device of claim 18 wherein the ethanol in the fuel is present in an amount of 80-95% w/v of the mixture;

water is present in an amount of 3-4% w/v of the mixture;

and sodium stearate is present in an amount of 2-10% w/v of the mixture.