GB2214494A - Solid fuel packaging - Google Patents

Abstract

A packaging 101 for retaining solid fuel includes at least two individual packs 102, 104, 106 of hollow construction adapted to contain a predetermined quantity of solid fuel, the packs being separably associated one with the other, whereby in use an individual pack is useable on its own. <IMAGE>

Description

SOLID FUEL PACKAGING This invention concerns the packaging of solid fuel.

In particular, the present invention has reference to the packaging of solid fuel for direct use on a domestic fire, without the need for removal of the packaging.

Accordingly the invention provides a solid fuel packaging including at least two individual packs of hollow construction adapted to contain a predetermined quantity of solid fuel, the packs being separably associated one with the other, whereby in use an individual pack is useable on its own.

The packs may be separably associated by a suitable wrapping which may be in the form of shrink wrapping or of cardboard or other easily disposable, preferably combustible, material.

Each pack is conveniently produced from cardboard, and at least one is openable and is provided with a firelighter, which in practice is removed for placement in the grate of an open fire or equivalent.

More than two packs may be provided to give a stacked formation to the packaging. The top pack is conveniently provided with a handle for easy transport.

Each pack may be of rectangular or substantially rectangular form. Alternatively, the base pack may be of rectangular form with the remaining pack or packs being of wedge shape in cross section.

The base pack may be in the form of a cassette having a base perforated to allow in use the passage of combustion-promoting air, and having a top part including a vent for the exhaust of gaseous combustion products.

Conveniently, internally of the cassette there is provided ignition means, for example one or more fire lighters, advantageously located on or near the base. An aperture is provided in the cassette through which access to the taper trail of the or each fire lighter is gained.

The vent in the top of the cassette may advantageously have a dual role in providing also a means of carrying the packaging.

The cardboard from which the packs are made are for example of specification 140 c - COT 150 k - 112 SC. Alternatively, other containment materials having suitable strength and combustion characteristics may be employed for the packs.

By way of example only, one embodiment of solid fuel packaging according to the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention with individual packs being shown in separated form from the packaging assembly; Figure 2 is a front elevation; Figure 3 is a plan view of Figure 1; Figure 4 is an end elevation; and Figure 5 is a plan on the base.

Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a solid fuel packaging 101 comprising three hollow cardboard packs 102, 104 and 106 stacked together and wrapped within a covering 108 in order to constitute a unit. The base pack 102 is rectangular in form and is openable (not shown) to extract, in use, a fire lighter (not shown) which is provided with the packaged fuel (not shown). The packs 104 and 106 are each of wedge shaped section and are so designed to fit together as seen in the illustration. Each pack 102, 104 and 106 is filled with a predetermined quantity of fuel and closed.

In use, the base pack 102 is placed on the grate of an open fire; the firelighter (not shown) which is contained within the pack together with the fuel, is removed and set on the grate adjacent the pack in a suitable position. The firelighter is ignited and the pack with its contents begins to burn. When the fire needs replenishing, the pack 104, unopened, is then placed on the fire bed in the grate and proceeds to burn. The same happens to the pack 106 when that is placed on the grate.

The wrapping 108 is conveniently provided with a handle 110 for ease of carrying, and may be produced from cardboard or may be of transparent shrinkable material.

The invention provides a high amenity and clean way of supplying solid fuel in predeterined quantities.

Referring now to Figures 2 to 5, there is shown a solid fuel packaging consisting of a pack in the form of a cassette 1 having a top part 2, a base 4, a front part 6, a rear wall 8, and side walls 10 . The top part 2 is provided with a vent 14 which has a further role as a carrying hold. In the front part 6 there is located an aperture 16 which provides access to the interior of the cassette 1 and in use will accommodate the taper trail of a fire lighter (not shown) disposed on the base 4 internally of the packaging.

The base 4, as can be seen from Figure 5, is perforated with an array of holes 18 through which in use combustion promoting air can flow.

In use, solid fuel, which may be coal or a manufactured fuel such as that sold under the Registered Trade Mark COALITE or briquettes sold under the Registered Trade Mark HOMEFIRE, are packaged in paper and inserted in the packaging 1 which is preferably made of cardboard, two firelighters (not shown) being located within the packaging on the base 4 thereof with their taper trails protruding through the aperture 16.

The packaging in the form of the cassette 1 is placed in the grate of an open fire (not shown) and the taper trails ignited. The combustion sustaining air passes through the holes 18 and the cassette gradually burns as does the fuel therewithin, the gaseous products of combustion exhausting through the vent 14. The packaging together with the fuel burns completely leaving just an ash residue for disposal.

The packaging of the present invention enables a predetermined quantity of solid fuel to be packaged dependent upon the dimensions. For example, a 400mn packaging will accommodate a total weight of 4.0 kg and is strong enough to be hand carried, the vent 14 facilitating such handling. A packaging of this size has a burning time of between two and three hours.

Claims (16)

1. A solid fuel packaging including at least two individual packs of hollow construction adapted to contain a predetermined quantity of solid fuel, the packs being separably associated one with the other, whereby in use an individual pack is useable on its own.

2. A packaging as claimed in claim 1 in which the packs are separably associated by means of a suitable wrapping.

3. A packaging as claimed in claim 2 in which the wrapping is shrink wrapping or cardboard or other disposable material.

4. A packaging as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which each pack is produced from cardboard, and at least one is openable and is provided with a firelighter, which in practice is removed for placement in the grate of an open fire or equivalent.

5. A packaging as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which more than two packs are provided to give a stacked formation to the packaging.

6. A packaging as claimed in claim 5 in which the top pack is conveniently provided with a handle.

7. A packaging as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which each pack may be of rectangular or substantially rectangular form.

8. A packaging as claimed in any of the preceding claims 1 to 6 in which the base pack is of rectangular form with the remaining pack or packs being of wedge shape in cross section.

9. A packaging as claimed in claim 1 in which one of the packs is in the form of a cassette which has a perforated base to allow in use the passage of combustion-promoting air, and has a top part including a vent for the exhaust of gaseous combustion products.

10. A packaging according to Claim 9 in which the cassette is provided internally with ignition means located on or near the base.

11. A packaging according to Claim 10 in which the ignition means comprises one or more fire lighters.

12. A packaging according to Claim 10 or Claim 11 in which there is provided an aperture for access to the ignition means.

13. A packaging according to any one of the preceding claims in which the packs are manufactured from cardboard.

14. A packaging substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 or Figures 2 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

15. A packaging according to any one of the preceding claims in which solid fuel is contained therewithin.

16. A packaging according to Claim 15 in which the solid fuel is wrapped in paper.