Charcoal igniter

Abstract

The charcoal igniter provides for the pre-ignition of charcoal, prior to placement of the charcoal within a barbecue or grill. The charcoal igniter includes a charcoal receptacle having at least one sidewall, a lower wall and an open upper end. The lower wall has an opening formed therethrough and the charcoal receptacle defines a charcoal-receiving chamber therein. A support is mounted on a gas cylinder, adjacent the nozzle thereof. When the charcoal receptacle is mounted on the support, the nozzle projects through the opening formed through the lower wall. Charcoal is then received within the charcoal-receiving chamber and gas flowing through the nozzle may be ignited. Once the charcoal is ignited, the receptacle may be lifted off the support for dispensing of the ignited charcoal into the barbecue of grill.

1 . A charcoal igniter, comprising:
 a charcoal receptacle having at least one sidewall, a lower wall and an open upper end, the lower wall having an opening formed therethrough, the receptacle defining a charcoal-receiving chamber; and   a support adapted for mounting on a gas cylinder, the support being adapted for mounting over a nozzle of the gas cylinder, the charcoal receptacle being removably and releasably mounted on the support with the nozzle extending through the support and projecting through the opening formed through the lower wall of the charcoal receptacle, so that charcoal received within the charcoal-receiving chamber may be ignited by burning gas supplied by the gas cylinder through the nozzle.   
   
   
       2 . The charcoal igniter as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one wall secured at an upper edge thereof to the upper end of said charcoal receptacle, the at least one wall defining the charcoal-receiving chamber. 
   
   
       3 . The charcoal igniter as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said at least one wall has a plurality of fluid passages formed therethrough. 
   
   
       4 . The charcoal igniter as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said support includes an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion having at least one vertical wall, the at least one vertical wall having an opening formed therethrough, the opening being adapted for allowing a user access to a valve controlling the nozzle of the gas cylinder. 
   
   
       5 . The charcoal igniter as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the upper portion of said support comprises a base having opposed upper and lower surfaces, the upper surface thereof being adapted for releasably and removably supporting the lower wall of said charcoal receptacle. 
   
   
       6 . The charcoal igniter as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising a raised rim formed on a perimeter of the upper surface of the base of the upper portion of said support. 
   
   
       7 . The charcoal igniter as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a handle mounted to the at least one sidewall of said charcoal receptacle. 
   
   
       8 . The charcoal igniter as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 at least one wall secured at an upper edge thereof to the upper end of said charcoal receptacle, the at least one wall defining the charcoal-receiving chamber; and   a pipe having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end of the pipe being adapted for connection to the nozzle so that gas flowing through the upper end of the pipe may be ignited to repel insects.   
   
   
       9 . The charcoal igniter as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the at least one wall of the charcoal-receiving chamber has a central opening formed therethrough, the pipe projecting through the opening formed through the lower wall thereof and through the central opening of the at least one wall. 
   
   
       10 . The charcoal igniter as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the upper end of the pipe is substantially flared. 
   
   
       11 . The charcoal igniter as recited in  claim 10 , wherein at least one air passage is formed through the upper end of the pipe. 
   
   
       12 . The charcoal igniter as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the charcoal-receiving chamber has a substantially frustoconical shape. 
   
   
       13 . The charcoal igniter as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one wall secured at an upper edge thereof to the upper end of said charcoal receptacle, the at least one wall defining the charcoal-receiving chamber, the at least one wall having a lower surface adapted for positioning above, and spaced apart from, an upper end of the nozzle when the charcoal receptacle is positioned on said support. 
   
   
       14 . A charcoal igniter, comprising:
 a propane gas cylinder having a nozzle;   a support having a cylindrical neck mounted about the nozzle and a pan above the neck; and   a charcoal receptacle removably placed on the pan above the nozzle, whereby charcoal placed in the receptacle is ignited when the nozzle is lit, the ignited charcoal being transferable to a grill by lifting the receptacle from the pan and pouring the ignited charcoal into the grill.   
   
   
       15 . The charcoal igniter according to  claim 14 , wherein said charcoal receptacle further comprises an insulated handle attached thereto. 
   
   
       16 . The charcoal igniter according to  claim 14 , wherein said pan comprises an upright peripheral rim for retaining said receptacle thereon. 
   
   
       17 . The charcoal igniter according to  claim 14 , further comprising an extension pipe attached to said nozzle, the extension pipe having a flared end extending above said receptacle, the flared end defining a slit, whereby gas escaping the slit is ignitable to repel insects.