Method for extending heating fire

Abstract

A technique for maintaining a continuous fire in a stove or fireplace for an indefinite period of time which is best accomplished by utilizing a reticulated filtering device or grid. When an ongoing fire is subsiding because the fuel is near depletion, the burning materials, the burned materials and the burnable materials contained in the fire can be separated with the grid, the burned materials passing through the apertures of the grid and the burning and not yet burned materials remaining on top of the grid for deposit at a desired location in the fire burning area. The burned materials are removed from the fire burning area and the burning and burnable materials are re-stoked to sustain and continue the fire. The grid can be substantially flat with a hanging and holding handle for convenience. Approximately 95% of the burning materials remain in the stove and do not ultimately reside in an ash can utilizing the present technique, thus providing an added safety factor.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of sustaining a burning fire containing burned materials, burned materials and some burnable materials in a fire burning area at an original location in a burning condition comprising the steps of: positioning a filter grid under the burning fire containing the burning materials, burned materials and burnable materials; separating the burning and burnable materials from the burned materials by lifting and agitating the burning, burned and burnable materials on the filter grid so that the burned materials fall through the grid and the burning and burnable materials remain on the grid; depositing the burning and burnable materials away from the burned materials; continuing to separate the remaining commingled burning, burned and burnable by lifting and agitating the materials on the grid filter and depositing the grid held separated burning and burnable materials away from the burned materials with the previously deposited burning and burnable materials until substantially all of the burned materials are positioned at one location and substantially all of the burning and burnable materials are positioned at another location away from burned materials in the fire burning area; removing the burned materials from the fire burning area; and re-stoking the burning and burnable materials in the fire burning area with additional burnable materials to sustain and continue the burning fire.  
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the burning, burned and burnable materials are moved the original fire burning location to another location before separation of the burned materials from the burning and burnable materials.  
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the burning and burnable materials are deposited at the original location in the fire burning area after separation from the burned materials.  
     
     
         4 . A method of sustaining a burning fire containing burning materials, burned materials and some burnable materials in a fire burning area such as a stove or fireplace at an original location in a burning condition comprising the steps of: separating the burning and burnable materials from the burned materials by positioning the burning, burned and burnable materials on a filter grid and lifting and agitating the materials on the grid so that burned materials fall through the grid and the burning and burnable materials remain thereon; placing the burning and burnable materials at another location in the fire burning area away from the burned materials; continuing to lift and agitate the remaining commingled burning, burned and burnable materials and to place the burning and burnable materials at the another location until substantially all of the burned materials are positioned at one location in the fire burning area and substantially all of the burning and burnable materials are positioned at the another location in the fire burning area away from the burned materials; removing the burned materials from the fire burning area; and re-stoking the burning and burnable materials in the fire burning area to sustain and continue the burning fire.  
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the burning, burned and burnable materials are moved from the original fire burning location to another location before separation of the burned materials from the burning and burnable materials.  
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed  claim 5  wherein the separated burning and burnable materials are positioned at the original fire location. additional burnable materials to sustain and continue the fire.  
     
     
         7 . The method of sustaining a burning fire containing burning materials, burned materials and some burnable materials in a fire burning area such as a stove or fireplace in a burning condition comprising the steps of: separating the burning and burnable materials from the burned materials by agitating portions of the comingled burning, burned and burnable materials on a grid to pass the burned materials through the grid while retaining the burning and burnable materials on the grid; depositing the burning and burnable retained materials held on the grid at a location away from the burned materials passed through the grid; continuing to separate the burned and burnable materials from the burned materials with the grid until all materials have been similarly separated and substantially all of the burning and burnable materials have been deposited at one location in the fire burning area and substantially all of the burned materials have been positioned at another location in the fire burning area; removing the separated burned materials from the fire burning area; and re-stoking the burning and burnable materials with additional burnable materials to sustain and continue the fire.  
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the re-stoked burning fire is positioned at the location of the original fire.  
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the grid has a mesh body portion, substantially vertical side and rear walls, and a handle extending from the rearward portion of the grid.  
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the grid has a mesh body portion, substantially vertical side and rear walls, and a handle extending from the rearward portion of the grid.