Synthetic fireplace log

Abstract

The present invention relates to a synthetic fireplace log and a process for making a synthetic fireplace log which is adapted to utilize wood derivative materials, such as wood chips, sawdust or virtually any wood-based product, such as paper and cardboard. The wood derivative materials are molded into a desired shape and held together with a non-petroleum based binder to form a synthetic fireplace log. In order to increase the flammability of the log, the synthetic fireplace log may optionally be sprayed or soaked with either a petroleum or non-petroleum-based flammability agent. Even though a petroleum-based flammability agent is used for soaking and/or spraying the synthetic log, the off-gassing is minimized since the petroleum-based spray is burned off relatively quickly. In other embodiments of the invention, a non-petroleum-based flammability agent is utilized. Suitable non-petroleum-based flammability agents include, for example, vegetable oil, corn oil, soybean oil, granola oil, and lard. These non-petroleum-based flammability agents produce no unpleasant odors. Moreover, the process for making the synthetic log is relatively simple and can be made from relatively inexpensive components, thus reducing the cost for making such synthetic logs.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.