Fireplace grate accessory to increase burn time of synthetic log

Abstract

An accessory for a conventional fireplace grate that is positioned on top of the fireplace grate and which supports a synthetic firelog thereon. The accessory provides better support for the synthetic log than the grate alone, and the firelog therefore bums longer than if it were placed on the fireplace grate without the accessory. The present invention provides a handy accessory that adapts fireplace grates that are designed primarily for real wood to adequately support synthetic logs.

1 - 17 . (canceled)  
   
   
       18 . A method, comprising: 
 positioning an accessory on a fireplace grate, the fireplace grate including a number of spaced apart bars and the accessory including two elongate members spaced apart from each other and connected together by at least one connecting member, the elongate members being placed across a portion of the bars by the positioning;    placing a synthetic firelog in a position on the elongate members of the accessory, the accessory being positioned between the fireplace grate and the synthetic firelog, the synthetic firelog longitudinally extending along each of the elongate members and spanning from one of the elongate members to another of the elongate members while in the position; and    burning the synthetic firelog while in the position, the burning of the synthetic firelog being longer without breaking apart than if the synthetic firelog were burned on the fireplace grate without the accessory.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , which includes sizing the accessory relative to size of the synthetic firelog.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the position places the synthetic firelog in contact with the at least one connecting member.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one connecting member includes two connecting members.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the elongate members each have a cross-sectional dimension in a range of between three eighths and seven eighths of an inch.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the cross-sectional dimension is a diameter and a top of the accessory is spaced apart from the grate by the dimension.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the bars are approximately parallel and separated spaced at least 2 inches apart.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , which includes positioning the at least one connecting member intermediate to two of the bars.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the synthetic firelog has an approximate cylindrical or rectangular shape.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one connecting member is approximately perpendicular to the elongate members.