Charcoal briquet having a grooved surface

Abstract

A generally pillow-shaped charcoal briquet having a convex upper surface and a convex lower surface, wherein at least one of these surfaces contain an enhanced surface feature comprising one or more grooves. When two or more grooves are located on one or both convex surfaces, the grooves are generally parallel to each other and to two opposing sides of the briquet, and generally perpendicular to two opposing sides of the briquet. The briquets have improved ignition characteristics and enhanced burn phase properties.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A pillow-shaped charcoal briquet having a total surface area measurable in square inches and a total volume measureable in cubic inches, the ratio of said total surface area to said total volume comprising a value in a range between approximately 13.7 to approximately 2.16;
 wherein said briquet further comprises at least one groove formed in at least one surface thereof; and   wherein a depth of the at least one groove varies as a function of distance from an external periphery of the briquet.   
     
     
         2 . The briquet of  claim 1 , further comprising an upper surface and a lower surface, and said at least one groove comprises a plurality of substantially parallel grooves extending across a majority of said upper surface; and
 wherein each of said grooves comprises a width and a depth, said width comprising a relationship to said depth   
     
     
         3 . The briquet of  claim 2 , wherein said relationship comprises said width being substantially equal to said depth over at least a portion of said groove. 
     
     
         4 . The briquet of  claim 1 , further comprising an upper surface and lower surface, and said at least one groove comprises a plurality of grooves disposed across said upper surface and lower surface, said plurality of grooves aiding combustion by providing air circulation around said briquet, and between said briquet and at least another said briquet within a pile of briquets. 
     
     
         5 . The briquet of  claim 1 , further comprising an upper surface and a lower surface, and said at least one groove comprises at least two grooves disposed on at least one of said upper surface and said lower surface, said at least two grooves extending substantially from one side of a periphery of said briquet to an opposing side of said periphery for aiding combustion by providing air circulation around and along at least a portion of said periphery and between said briquet and at least another said briquette within a pile of briquets. 
     
     
         6 . The briquet of  claim 1 , further comprising an upper surface, a lower surface, and a periphery;
 said periphery defining a plane whereby said upper surface and said lower surface are substantially symmetrical with respect thereto; and,   said upper surface and said lower surface each having at least one groove extending respectively across said upper surface and said lower surface, said grooves having a depth thereby providing an increased surface area to volume ratio.   
     
     
         7 . The briquet of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said at least one groove comprises a first groove disposed on said upper surface and a second groove disposed on said lower surface respectively,   at least one of said grooves extending substantially from one side of a periphery of said briquet to an opposing side of said periphery; and,   said upper surface and said lower surface are configured to allow close contact between said briquet and one or more adjacent briquets while said grooves provide air circulation around at least a portion of said periphery.   
     
     
         8 . The briquet of  claim 1 , wherein said briquet has four sides and a generally square periphery. 
     
     
         9 . A charcoal briquet having a total surface area measurable in square inches and a total volume measurable in cubic inches, the ratio of said total surface area to said total volume comprising a value in a range between approximately 13.7 to approximately 2.16;
 wherein said briquet further comprises at least one means for enhancing the circulation of air around said briquet during combustion; and   wherein said briquet is configured to achieving a temperature suitable for cooking quickly after ignition and holding said temperature for an adequate amount of time for cooking thereafter when disposed relative to a plurality of other similar briquets and ignited; and   wherein said means for enhancing the circulation enables both (i) said achievement of quick ignition, and (ii) said adequate amount of time for cooking thereafter.   
     
     
         10 . The briquet of  claim 9 , wherein the prescribed depth is no deeper than approximately 25% of a maximum depth dimension of the briquet. 
     
     
         11 . The briquet of  claim 9 , wherein at least of a portion of the grooves are substantially symmetrical with respect to a horizontal plane passing through the center of the briquet. 
     
     
         12 . The briquet of  claim 11 , wherein the depth of the grooves varies as a function of distance from an external periphery of the briquet. 
     
     
         13 . The briquet of  claim 12 , wherein a width of each of the grooves at the convex upper surface is greater than a width of the same groove at said prescribed depth within said briquet. 
     
     
         14 . A pillow-shaped charcoal briquet having a convex upper surface, a convex lower surface, and a plurality of grooves extending across a majority of both said convex upper surface and said convex lower surface, said grooves configured to aid combustion by providing air circulation around said pillow-shaped briquet when said pillow-shaped briquet is at least partly surrounded by other similar briquets;
 wherein said briquet is configured to achieve a temperature suitable for cooking quickly after ignition and to hold said temperature for an adequate amount of time for cooking thereafter when disposed relative to said other similar briquets, and ignited; and   wherein a depth of the grooves varies as a function of distance from an external periphery of the briquet.   
     
     
         15 . The briquet of  claim 14 , wherein the grooves each have a maximum prescribed depth that is no deeper than 25% of a maximum depth dimension of the briquette, yet which is sufficiently deep to provide said air circulation. 
     
     
         16 . The briquet of  claim 14 , wherein a width of at least a portion of the grooves is about as wide as said depth. 
     
     
         17 . The briquet of  claim 14 , wherein the depth comprises a prescribed depth; and
 wherein a width of each of the grooves at the convex upper surface is greater than a width of the same groove at said prescribed depth within said briquet.   
     
     
         18 . The briquet of  claim 17 , wherein said plurality of grooves enables both (i) said achievement of quick ignition, and (ii) said adequate amount of time for cooking thereafter. 
     
     
         19 . The briquet of  claim 18 , wherein at least a portion of the grooves are substantially symmetrical with respect to a horizontal plane passing through the center of the briquet.