Duraflame, Inc.

Gary W Leach

Alan Zachary

Willer De Oliveira

Alexander U Cavero, Jr

Jr Alexander U Cavero

An artificial firelog according to the present invention may comprise as constituents a combustible cellulosic or fiber material, a non-absorbent combustible oil- and/or fat-retaining material, and a combustible binder/fuel or wax in appropriate proportions. A combustible binding agent may be also be added as an additional constituent material to allow a further reduction of the combustible wax component. Certain naturally occurring agricultural by products and synthetic filter materials contain oils and/or fats that provide increased BTU value beyond the cellulosic or mineral components of the material. When these oil- and/or fat-retaining materials added to a blend of firelog material, the non-absorbent properties and additional BTU content of these alternative raw materials allow the amount of higher BTU wax material to be reduced without a dramatic reduction in fuel content in the finished mixture. The non-absorbent oil- and/or fat-retaining materials are significantly less expensive per mass than petroleum wax, and substituting these materials for more costly types of wax reduces cost without degrading the performance of the final firelog product.

Artificial firelog using oil and/or fat-retaining materials

An artificial firelog of the invention includes as constituents (a) a combustible cellulosic material and (b) a combustible non-petroleum wax, wherein the relative proportions of the constituents are, by weight, from about 30% to about 70% of (a) and from about 30% to about 70% of (b) for 100 parts of (a) and (b). In one form of the invention, the combustible non-petroleum wax constituent may include one or more combustible materials derived from plant oils, vegetable oils, animal oils, fats, rosin, pitch, waxy materials and combinations thereof. In another form of the invention, the combustible non-petroleum wax constituent may include a formulated blend of individual non-petroleum wax components. In yet another form of the invention a combustible binding agent can be added to the blend of materials resulting in reduction of the portion of the more costly combustible wax component. A firelog according to the invention can provide a number of benefits, including lower cost, better lighting and flaming performance, and more environmentally sustainable in comparison to firelogs using petroleum waxes.

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Escalon, CA, United States of America

Gary W Leach