# US 2012/0073559 A1 · Charcoal igniter with dual-action locking grate

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- Number: US 2012/0073559 A1
- Document ID: US20120073559A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/893,568
- Filed: 2010-09-29
- Published: 2012-03-29
- Earliest claimed: 2010-09-29
- Assignees: Charlie Mize
- Inventors: Charlie Mize
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20120073559A1

## CPC

- F24B 15/005: {Igniting devices; Fire-igniting fans}
- A47J 37/079: {Charcoal igniting devices}
- F24B: DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES FOR SOLID FUELS (for solid fuels in combination with gaseous fuels, liquid fuels or other kinds of energy supply F24C1/02); IMPLEMENTS FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH STOVES OR RANGES
- A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A charcoal igniter, comprising:
a housing having a wall defining an interior charcoal space for receiving charcoal;
at least one grate having a shaft pivotally connected within the housing, the grate being pivotable from a charcoal-supporting position to a charcoal-releasing position, the grate having an outer profile generally following an inner profile of the housing wall when in the charcoal-supporting position; and
an actuator including an actuator arm movably coupled to on the housing, the actuator arm alternately moveable between a first position for securing the grate in the charcoal-supporting position and a second position for positioning the grate in the charcoal-releasing position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The charcoal igniter of claim 1, further comprising:
the at least one grate including a pair of grates, each grate including a supported end pivotally supported about a pivot axis and a free end opposite the supported end, wherein the outer profile of each grate along the free end matches the inner profile of the housing wall when the pair of grates are in the charcoal-supporting position.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The charcoal igniter of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises:
a multi-segment actuator rod extending from the grate, the multi-segment actuator rod including a first rod segment extending from the grate through a support hole in the housing, a second rod segment radially extending from the first rod segment, and a third rod segment extending from the second rod segment generally parallel to the first rod segment, wherein the first rod segment defines a first pivot axis about which the grate is pivotally supported on the housing; and
an actuator arm slidably engaged at a first end on a track and coupled at a second end to the second rod segment of the multi-segment actuator rod, wherein movement of the actuator arm in a first direction along the track moves the grate to the charcoal-supporting position and moving the actuator arm in a second direction along the track opposite the first direction moves the grate to the charcoal-releasing position.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The charcoal igniter of claim 3, further comprising:
a handle secured to the housing, the handle defining the track.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The charcoal igniter of claim 4, wherein the track comprises:
an opening on the handle for receiving the first end of the actuator arm, the handle having an inner edge along the opening and opposing ends limiting a range of movement of the actuator arm; and
a groove on the actuator arm for receiving the inner edge of the handle, such that the actuator arm rides along the inner edge of the handle over the defined range of movement.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The charcoal igniter of claim 1, wherein the inner profile of the housing wall is circular and the outer profile of the grate is semi-circular.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The charcoal igniter of claim 1, wherein moving the actuator arm from the first position to the second position releases the grate from the charcoal-supporting position to move under gravity to the charcoal-releasing position.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The charcoal igniter of claim 1, wherein the charcoal-supporting position is substantially horizontal and the charcoal-releasing position is substantially vertical downward.