Charcoal igniter with dual-action locking grate

Abstract

One embodiment of the invention provides a charcoal igniter with a dual-action actuator assembly for pivoting a pair of grate members back and forth between a charcoal-supporting position and a charcoal-releasing position. Moving an actuator arm inwardly to a first position secures the grate members in the charcoal-supporting position. Moving the actuator arm outwardly to a second position allows the grate members to move downward to the charcoal-releasing position. A handle secured to the igniter housing includes an integrated track for guiding movement of the actuator arm between the first and second positions. The actuator assembly has a locking feature for securing the handle in the first position for supporting charcoal while it is being ignited.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.