US20030145845A1

US20030145845A1 - Disposable ash pan and cover

Info

Publication number: US20030145845A1
Application number: US10/066,002
Authority: US
Inventors: Brent Brocking
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-02-02
Filing date: 2002-02-02
Publication date: 2003-08-07

Abstract

A newly designed disposable ash pan made from metal foil consisting of a base with four walls to be positioned beneath a fire for capturing and retaining hot ash falling from burning material in a fireplace and stove having an attachable cover made from metal foil to secure the ash within the disposable ash pan for safe and clean disposal.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a fireplace and stove ash pan, more specifically to a fireplace and stove disposable ash pan for capturing and retaining hot ashes released from burning material in a fireplace and stove and more specifically to a disposable ash pan having an attachable cover to secure the ash within the disposable ash pan providing for safe and clean disposal.

The use of an ash catch is known in the prior art. More specifically, ash catches heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of catching ashes are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.

By way of example, the prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,106 to Davis discloses a barbecue grill and fireplace ash cradle assembly. U.S. Pat. No. 5,785,046 to Colla discloses a portable fire pit. U.S. Pat. No. 5,694,918 to Blount discloses an ash catcher for fireplace insert. U.S. Pat No. 5,540,212 to Stroud discloses a grill aerator and waste receptacle. U.S. Pat. No. 5,513,625 to Landman discloses an ash catcher grate. U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,476 to Rhodes, Jr. discloses an artificial log assembly including combustible log members. U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,832 to Schlosser and Alden discloses an ash catcher assembly for a barbecue grill. U.S. Pat. No. 5,010,874 to Toth discloses a fireplace grate with adjustable ash pan. U.S. Pat. No. 4,763,640 to Shnack and Wilson discloses a barbecue grill ash collector. U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,648 to Blount, Exum, and Wooten discloses an ash catcher for an outside cooker or similar article. U.S. Pat. No. 4,497,308 to Johnson discloses an ash receptacle with dust eliminator. U.S. Pat. No. 2,377,665 to Best discloses a fireplace ash pan. U.S. Pat. No. 2,292,377 to Howard discloses a folding grate. U.S. Pat. No. 1,521,204 to Rollings discloses a grate. U.S. Pat. No. 960,174 to Higdon discloses an ash pan. U.S. Pat. No. 639,392 to Lotspeich discloses an ash pan. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 382,956 to Collins discloses a fireplace ash pan. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 355,566 to Stephen and Schlosser discloses a combined leg support and ash catcher for an outdoor cooker.

In this respect, the disposable ash pan assembly according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing a means for capturing and retaining hot ash from a fireplace and stove for safe and clean disposal.

Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved disposable ash pan assembly which can be used for providing a means for capturing and retaining hot ash from a fireplace and stove for safe and clean disposal. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

In View of the forgoing disadvantages inherent in the know types of ash pans now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved disposable ash pan assembly. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved disposable ash pan assembly for safe and clean disposal of ash which has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of ensuing description and drawings.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention a disposable ash pan for capturing and retaining hot ash from a fireplace and stove having an attachable cover to secure ash within the ash pan for safe and clean disposal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a detailed view of an ash pan cover. [0009]
FIG. 2 is a detailed view of a disposable ash pan. [0010]
FIG. 3 is a detailed view of a disposable ash pan having a cover aligned on top. [0011]
FIG. 4 is a detailed side view of a disposable ash pan having a cover attached. [0012]
FIG. 5 is a detailed sectional side view of a disposable ash pan having a cover attached.[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings of FIGS. [0014] 1-5, FIG. 1 illustrates a view of a cover 10, for the purpose of being attached to the disposable ash pan 24, FIG. 2 to secure ash within disposable ash pan 24, for safe and clean disposal made from a sheet of metal foil 36, consisting of an enclosure panel 12, consisting of two side edges 20, one front edge 18, one back edge 22, a folding line 16, and a folding locking edge 14. Cover 10, is of the same shape as the disposable ash pan 24, and is slightly larger providing for the folding locking edge 14.
FIG. 2 illustrates a view of a [0015] disposable ash pan 24, to be placed beneath a fire in a fireplace and stove for the purpose of capturing and retaining ash falling down from the burning material made from a sheet of metal foil 36, consisting one ash pan base 28, integral with two side panels 32, a front panel 30, and a back panel 34. The ash pan 24, shape is that of a trapezoid with the longest parallel panel being the front panel 30, and the shorter parallel panel being the back panel 34. The back panel 34, is higher than the front panel 30. The front of the two side panels 32, are of the same height as the front panel 30. The back of the two side panels 32, are of the same height as the back panel 34. The two side panels 32, progress in height equally consistent from the height of the front panel 30, to the height of the back panel 34. The top edge of the back panel 34, the front panel 30, and the two side panels 32, have a locking edge 26, protruding outwardly providing for an equally flat surface to receive cover 10.
FIG. 3 illustrates a view of a [0016] disposable ash pan 24, front panel 30, view, having cover 10, consisting of enclosure panel 12, consisting of two side edges 20, one front edge 18, one back edge 22, a folding line 16, and a folding locking edge 14. Cover 10, is correctly positioned on top of the disposable ash pan 24, by aligning folding line 16, to the outer edge of the locking edge 26, to completely cover the disposable ash pan 24.
FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of a [0017] disposable ash pan 24, consisting of a base 28, front panel 30, side panel 32, back panel 34, having cover 10, attached whereby the folding line 16, is aligned to the outer edge of the locking edge 26, providing for folding locking edge 14, to be folded downward and pressed around and up on locking edge 26, whereby securing the cover to the disposable ash pan 24.
FIG. 5 illustrates a sectional side view of a [0018] disposable ash pan 24, consisting of a base 28, front panel 30, side panel 32, back panel 34, having cover 10, attached whereby the folding line 16, is aligned to the outer edge of the locking edge 26, providing for folding locking edge 14, to be folded downward and pressed around and up on locking edge 26, whereby securing the cover to the disposable ash pan 24.
Using the disposable ash pan and cover in FIGS. [0019] 1-5 the disposable ash pan 24, is placed below burning material in a fireplace or stove to capture falling ash from the burning material and when full is removed and the ash secured within by attaching cover 10, for safe and clean disposal.
This invention has major advantages over the prior art. In the prior art, a typical ash pan is made of a heavy grade material to insure prolong use adding to the expense of manufacturing. Prior art ash pans capture spent wood and other material burned and must be emptied when full. To empty prior art ash pans they must be removed from the fireplace and transported to a disposal container at which time ash can be spilled or be disbursed into the air contaminating the air creating an unhealthy environment for breathing. When emptying the prior art ash pans into a disposal container ash is again disbursed into the air contaminating the air creating an unhealthy environment for breathing. Emptying ash that may not have completely extinguished into a disposal container can cause a fire resulting in property damage, human injury or death. Transporting the prior art ash pans back to the fireplace will cause additional ash to be disbursed into the air again contaminating the air creating an unhealthy environment for breathing. [0020]
I do not limit myself to any particular details of construction set forth in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, as the same refers to and sets forth only the embodiments of the invention, and it is observed that the same may be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention. Example, the disposable ash pan and cover is not limited to any one size or shape suitable for use in a wide variety of fireplaces and stoves and is not limited to heat resistant metal foil as there are many new noncombustible materials available for use. Materials used can be manipulated for additional strength and additional materials introduced to give added strength and support to the structure. [0021]

Claims

Having thus described the invention, what I claimed as new and desired to be secured by letters patent is as follows:

1. A disposable ash pan and a cover, said disposable ash pan to be positioned beneath a fire for capturing and retaining hot ash falling down from burning material in a fireplace and stove made from a noncombustible pliable sheet material comprising a plurality of integral side panels integral with a base panel, said plurality of integral side panels extend vertically at an angle of approximate 90 degrees around the complete outer perimeter of said base panel, said base panel is sized and shaped suitable for use in a wide variety of fireplaces and stoves, said integral side panels having a attachable means to secure said cover onto said disposable ash pan, said cover made from said noncombustible pliable sheet material the same shape as said disposable ash pan and sized to accommodate completely covering the top of said disposable ash pan, comprising a enclosure panel, having said attachable means to secured said cover to said disposable ash pan whereby hot ash is secured within the covered said disposable ash pan for safe and clean disposal.