Abstract: An improved gas burner system is disclosed. The burner system comprises a conventional household gas burner with a grill for supporting a cooking utensil, a head generating an annular flame and a device placed around the head and preferably extending to the grill. The device has a wall for containing the flame and the hot air from the head and has a diameter small enough to effectively contain the heat and large enough to allow effective air flow to the flame. The device includes a body forming the cylindrical surface and a support for variably positioning the body around the head. The support is made of an alloy that resists distortion and discoloration by the heat from the flame. The ring can be cylindrical member made of metal or a ceramic heat absorbing ring.

Abstract: A method of forming a three-dimensional object having a base region and a plurality of curved sidewalls is disclosed (FIGS. 5-8). The object is formed from a two-dimensional piece of material that has been inscribed with geometrical information to form a template. The template comprises a base region and a sidewall region or regions. The sidewall regions are manipulated using a variety of methods to allow the template to be folded into the three-dimensional object (FIGS. 21-25).

Abstract: An improved burner system for a gas range is provided. The burner system includes an annular metal pan through which the gas flame selectively projects, and an annular grill or grate overlying the pan on which the bottom of a cooking utensil is selectively supported. In addition, the inventive system includes an element for directing the gas flame inwardly and upwardly towards the bottom of the utensil, as well as for substantially reducing heat loss generated by flame operation.

Abstract: A fire retardant coating composition useful as a paint or as a mastic is composed of ultrafine pulverized fly ash, a low viscosity vinyl acrylic type emulsion polymer as a binder and water. The composition also preferably contains one or more of a dispersant, a defoamer, a plasticizer, a thickener, a drying agent, preservative, a fungicide and an ingredient to control the pH of the composition and thereby inhibit corrosion of any metal surface to which the composition is applied.