US20250369611A1

US20250369611A1 - Reusable Fire Starter

Info

Publication number: US20250369611A1
Application number: US18/733,546
Authority: US
Inventors: Collin Thul; Travis Seera; Easton White
Original assignee: Spark Fire LLC
Current assignee: Spark Fire LLC
Priority date: 2024-06-04
Filing date: 2024-06-04
Publication date: 2025-12-04

Abstract

A reusable fire starter is disclosed. The reusable fire starter may include a receptable with at least three legs and an open-top burn chamber configured to receive and hold a flammable substance that, when ignited, can be used to easily and quickly start a self-sustaining fire using standard firewood logs with little effort and without building up a gradual fire from smaller kindling or tinder first. The receptacle can be comprised of a non-porous, heat-resistant material that survives being used to start a fire, so the reusable fire starter can be reused to start subsequent fires after being refilled with more of the flammable substance. A method of use of the reusable fire starter is also disclosed herein.

Description

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the reproduction of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to a reusable fire starter, and in particular, the present disclosure relates to a reusable fire starter that can be repeatedly used to start a fire, even after sitting underneath and/or sustaining multiple fires.

BACKGROUND

A fire remains central to social gatherings in outside settings, like a campfire, firepit, or bonfire. A fire is also central to social gatherings in residential buildings, such as a household hearth or outdoor piece. Fire also provides necessary heat to individuals during cooler months of the year, especially in the outdoors or when camping.
However, starting a wood-based fire from scratch is a process that has traditionally been difficult and time-consuming, requiring skill and effort. A fire requires heat, fuel, and oxygen. The most primitive method of starting a fire can involve rubbing two sticks together using friction; however, this process can be tedious, time-consuming, and difficult to accomplish, needing to get the right amount of friction and then applying tinder quickly enough before the small flame is extinguished. Primitive tools, like a flint or other fire strikers, can be frustrating and difficult to use, often requiring repetitive efforts and with little success, especially in wet conditions. Simply pouring flammable liquids (like lighter fluid, gasoline, or kerosene) on standard firewood logs can result in a dangerous and large immediate flame that does not have sufficient heat and fuel to ignite firewood logs, especially to the point of self-sustainment. Due to such rapid combustion, liquid fuel is typically consumed very quickly, requiring frequent replenishment before logs fully ignite and support a self-sustaining fire. This continuous requirement for liquid fuel supplementation can quickly escalate into a hazardous situation. With little ability to control the direction and speed of the burn when using flammable liquids, potential personal injury or property damage can occur.
While matches or a lighter may be the safer and easier tool in comparison to those listed above, properly starting wood-based fire can require building a small fire with tinder, twigs, paper, kindling, or similar substances, slowly progressing to larger and larger sticks and small logs until the fire is hot enough to sustain adding logs without maintenance. Adding logs to the fire that are too large too soon can smother the small fire. Furthermore, at the earliest stages, a small flame can be easily extinguished due to wind or a lack of fuel to continue burning. As such, successfully building a gradual fire requires time, effort, and technique.
Single-use fire starters represent an additional solution to building a fire. Some are small tablets of solid fuel that are lit to start fires, while others are bundles of material like wood sawdust, other recycled wood or wood chips, paper fiber, ground tree nutshells, wax, or a combination thereof. However, in each case, such fire starters are consumed in the fire-building process and still require the gradual buildup to a larger fire.
Additional fire starters include petroleum-based products with accelerants incorporated therein, which are also consumed during the fire and cannot be reused. These types of fire starters produce small, low-energy flames for longer periods of time, again requiring users to start by building a small flame up to a larger fire with time and effort before the fire gets hot enough to maintain self-sufficiency with firewood logs. Since these fire starters are limited to a compact space, typically only one log, or even a fraction of a log, becomes ignited at once. Users then need to initiate a sequence of lighting: starting with one log using the fire starter, then using that ignited log to light another nearby, and continuing this chain reaction. This process can be quite time-consuming, particularly when aiming to build a substantial fire. When attempting to start a large fire by gradually building up from a small flame, there is a risk that the small flame or other smaller logs may extinguish before becoming hot enough to support a self-sustaining fire with standard firewood logs. Also, continually purchasing such single-use fire starters can become expensive over time since they cannot be reused.
Smokeless firepits can minimize the smoke from a wood fire by using a secondary burn or secondary combustion. Smoke in firepits is often produced from material that has not undergone full combustion during the initial burn. Providing additional airflow to a fire's fuel can allow for the combustion process to be more fully completed, minimizing the production of smoke and soot. Smokeless firepits usually raise the fire off the ground and have tall sidewalls with holes. Airflow through the holes in the tall sidewalls can allow smokeless firepits to use the heat from the fire to heat up air in the tall sidewalls, before introducing hot air near the top of the firepit. The hot air can allow for a more complete combustion of the carbon molecules in a fire's fuel, minimizing smoke production.
However, when the fire is not large enough to heat the air flowing through the tall sidewalls, the secondary burn process is less effective, and smoke can still be produced. As such, smoke is often produced during the time it takes the fire to become sufficiently large to heat the air in the firepit sidewalls. In fact, smoke may even be worse than a traditional campfire during the period when the fire is still growing because the tall sidewalls prohibit normal airflow to the flame.
To minimize the amount of smoke produced at the start of lighting a smokeless firepit, it can be beneficial to start a hotter, larger fire more quickly than by using traditional fire-starting methods. For example, a petroleum-based fire starter product with incorporated accelerant can burn for a long time, but the flame produced is small in size and low in energy, so their use with a smokeless firepit may create excess smoke at the start until the fire can grow large enough to produce enough heat to support secondary combustion. Similarly, these smaller-flame fire starters may only light one log, or even just one portion of one log, at a time, requiring the use of the previously described chain reaction of lighting logs in succession with other logs to start a larger fire; in a smokeless firepit, these smaller-flame fire starters can further increase the time until the firepit can reach a temperate that supports secondary combustion, again increasing the amount of smoke produced. In addition, these fire starters cannot be reused as they are consumed in the process.
Not only do users desire a safe, easy, quick, and effortless way to start a large fire, which can be used more than once, but also users desire to mitigate the excess smoke generated at combustion. As such, there is a need to provide a solution to the foregoing drawbacks, wherein a fire may be ignited and continuously sustained using standard firewood logs, even within smokeless firepits.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Disclosed herein is a reusable fire starter and methods of use thereof. In various aspects, the reusable fire starter comprises an open-top receptacle that can be made of a non-porous, high-temperature, and heat-resistant material. The open-top receptacle can have at least three legs projecting radially outward from a central basin. Each of the at least three legs can share a common base with the central basin. The reusable fire starter can have at least one wall extending upward from the common base about each of the at least three legs and the central basin to define an open-top burn chamber. The burn chamber can be configured to receive and hold a flammable substance that will be lit.
In embodiments, the reusable fire starter can have at least three legs and the common base that defines the open-top burn chamber and the central basin, forming a generally polyhedral geometry. In some of these embodiments, the generally polyhedral geometry of the open-top burn chamber can be Y-shaped. The at least one wall can comprise two side walls and an end wall; the two sidewalls can be interconnected by the end wall, and the end wall can be opposite from the central basin that joins the at least three legs. Each of the two sidewalls and the end wall can comprise a top rim. The top rims of each of the two sidewalls can be substantially co-planar with the top rim of the end wall.
Each of the at least three legs of the reusable fire starter can curve outwardly and downwardly from the central basin to form a downward concave curved shape. Each of the at least three legs can also be spaced equidistantly from the other of the at least three legs. The base of each of the at least three legs can have at least one support foot. The at least one support foot can be defined by a downward indentation into the base.
The receptacle of the reusable fire starter can be configured to fit within a smokeless firepit or beneath a plurality of firewood logs. In embodiments, the burn chamber can be configured to receive and hold at least about 8 ounces (oz) of the flammable substance; the 8 oz of the flammable substance can burn for at least fifteen minutes. The non-porous, high-temperature, and heat-resistant material of the receptacle and burn chamber can be comprised of stainless steel.
In embodiments, the reusable fire starter can comprise a receptacle having at least three legs and a central basin that share a common base. The at least three legs can project radially outward from the central basin, and each of the at least three legs spaced equidistantly from the other of the at least three legs. The burn chamber of the reusable fire starter can be defined by at least one wall extending upward from the base about the each of the at least three legs and the central basin. The burn chamber can be configured to receive and hold a flammable substance. The base of each of the at least three legs of the reusable fire starter can curve outwardly and downwardly from the central basin to form a downward concave curve with respect to a surface upon which the receptacle may be placed. The at least three walls of each of the at least three legs can comprise two sidewalls and an end wall; each of the two sidewalls can have a top rim that is substantially co-planar with a top rim of the end wall. The base of each of the at least three legs of the reusable fire starter can have at least one downward indentation or groove defined by a downward indentation into the base; the at least one downward indentation or groove can form at least one support foot. The burn chamber of the reusable fire starter can be configured to receive and hold at least about 8 ounces (oz) of the flammable substance. The non-porous, high-temperature, and heat-resistant material of the receptacle and the burn chamber of the reusable fire starter can be stainless steel.
In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method of using an embodiment of the reusable fire starter as disclosed herein to start and sustain a fire. The method can comprise providing a reusable fire starter, the reusable fire starter comprising at least three legs projecting radially outward from a central basin, and each of the at least three legs sharing a common base with the central basin, with an open-top burn chamber defined by at least one wall extending upward from the common base about each of the at least three legs. The open-top burn chamber can be at least partially filled with a flammable substance. A first plurality of firewood logs can be placed on top of the reusable fire starter. The flammable substance within the open-top burn chamber of the reusable fire starter can be ignited to create an ignition flame that can light the first plurality of firewood logs and start the fire.
The method can further comprise waiting until the fire is fully extinguished, and then at least partially refilling the burn chamber of the fire starter with more of the flammable substance. One or more other firewood logs can be placed on top of the reusable fire starter. The flammable substance within the open-top burn chamber of the reusable fire starter can be ignited to create a subsequent ignition flame that can light the firewood logs and sustain a subsequent fire.
Other objects and advantages of this disclosure will become readily apparent from the ensuing description.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. The present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the embodiments of the disclosure be considered in all aspects as illustrative and not restrictive. Any headings utilized in the description are for convenience only and have no legal or limiting effect. Numerous objects, features, and advantages of the embodiments set forth herein will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading of the following disclosure when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Certain illustrations, charts, or flow charts are provided to allow for a better understanding of the present disclosure. It is to be noted, however, that the drawings illustrate only selected embodiments of the disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting of scope. Additional and equally effective embodiments and applications of the present disclosure exist. Hereinafter, various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure are illustrated in more detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1A is a top-right perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a reusable fire starter, in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 1B is a top right-side perspective view of the embodiment of the reusable fire starter of FIG. 1A, in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 1C is a right-side elevation view of the embodiment of the reusable fire starter of FIG. 1A, in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 1D is a bottom right-side perspective view of the embodiment of the reusable fire starter FIG. 1A, in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 1E is a bottom-right perspective view of the embodiment of the reusable fire starter of FIG. 1A, in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 1F is another top right-side perspective view of the embodiment of the reusable fire starter of FIG. 1A, in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 2A is a top-right perspective view of an exemplary alternative embodiment of a reusable fire starter, in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 2B is a bottom-right perspective view of the alternative embodiment of the reusable fire starter of FIG. 2A, in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 3A is a top-right perspective view of another exemplary alternative embodiment of a reusable fire starter, in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 3B is a bottom-right perspective view of the embodiment of the reusable fire starter of FIG. 3A, in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 4A is atop-right perspective view of yet another exemplary alternative embodiment of a reusable fire starter, in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 4B is a bottom-right perspective view of the embodiment of the reusable fire starter of FIG. 4A, in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of using an exemplary embodiment of a reusable fire starter, in accordance with the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Detailed descriptions of one or more embodiments are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present disclosure can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present disclosure in any appropriate manner.
The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The use of the word “a” or “an” when used in conjunction with the term “comprising” in the claims or the specification can mean “one,” but it is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more,” “at least one,” and “one or more than one.”
Wherever any of the phrases “for example,” “such as,” “including” and the like are used herein, the phrase “and without limitation” is understood to follow unless explicitly stated otherwise. Similarly, “an example,” “exemplary” and the like are understood to be nonlimiting.
The term “substantially” allows for deviations from the descriptor that do not negatively impact the intended purpose. Descriptive terms are understood to be modified by the term “substantially” even if the word “substantially” is not explicitly recited. Therefore, for example, the phrase “wherein the lever extends vertically” means “wherein the lever extends substantially vertically” so long as a precise vertical arrangement is not necessary for the lever to perform its function.
The terms “comprising” and “including” and “having” and “involving” (and similarly “comprises,” “includes,” “has,” and “involves”) and the like are used interchangeably and have the same meaning. Specifically, each of the terms is defined consistent with the common United States patent law definition of “comprising” and is therefore interpreted to be an open term meaning “at least the following,” and is also interpreted not to exclude additional features, limitations, aspects, etc. Thus, for example, “a process involving steps a, b, and c” means that the process includes at least steps a, b, and c. Wherever the terms “a” or “an” are used, “one or more” is understood, unless such interpretation is nonsensical in context.
As used herein the term “about” is used herein to mean approximately, roughly, around, or in the region of. When the term “about” is used in conjunction with a numerical range, it modifies that range by extending the boundaries above and below the numerical values set forth. In general, the term “about” is used herein to modify a numerical value above and below the stated value by a variance of 20 percent up or down (higher or lower).
For purposes of the present disclosure, it is noted that spatially relative terms, such as “up,” “upward,” “down,” “downward,” “away,” “right,” “left,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” and the like, can be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over or rotated, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device can be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
The terms “attached,” “connected,” “engaged,” and the like or any variation thereof, as used herein, can refer to any manner of joining two or more objects. “Attached,” “connected,” “engaged,” and the like can refer to permanent, semi-permanent, or reversible joining of objects. Exemplary means of joining objects include but are not limited to, any fasteners such as screws, nuts, bolts, pin and clevis, and the like. Such fasteners can permit a stationary, translatable, or pivotable relationship between the objects. The terms “attached,” “connected,” and “engaged,” or variations thereof can refer to objects that are welded together (such as via welding of any kind, including traditional MIG welding, TIG welding, friction welding, brazing, soldering, ultrasonic welding, torch welding, inductive welding, and the like). In various embodiments objects can be “attached,” “connected,” or “engaged” to one another via any resin, glue, epoxy, and the like. In certain embodiments, “attached,” “connected,” or “engaged” objects are integrally formed as a single part together. “Attached”, “connected,” “engaged,” or variations thereof can refer to any mechanical fit such as a friction fit, interference fit, slidable fit, rotatable fit, pivotable fit, and any combination thereof.
As used herein, the words “log,” “firewood,” “firewood log,” “standard firewood,” “standard firewood log,” and the like can refer to wood configured for use as fuel in fires. The words “log,” “firewood,” “firewood log,” “standard firewood,” “standard firewood log,” can also refer to a naturally formed piece of firewood or synthetic or artificial wood logs. The size of a standard log or a standard piece of firewood can include any size that, as understood in the art, is manageable for handling while also providing sufficient surface area for burning. In various embodiments, the terms “log,” “firewood,” “firewood log,” standard firewood,” “standard firewood log,” and the like refer to wood with a standard length and width or cordwood length as known in the art. “Log” and “firewood” can be used interchangeably to refer to wood segments that range from about 6 inches in length to about 36 inches in length. In embodiments, “log,” “firewood,” and the like refer to wood segments with a length of between about 12 inches to 24 inches. “Log,” “firewood,” and the like can include wood segments that are about 16 inches in length. In various embodiments, the width or diameter of a log or a piece of firewood is up to about 8 inches. The width or diameter of a log or a single piece of firewood can be as little as 2 inches. In embodiments, “log” or “firwood” refers to a segment of wood with a width or diameter of between about 4 to about 6 inches. The phrase “smaller log,” “small log,” and the like can refer to wood segments that are smaller in size (such as a smaller diameter, a shorter length, or both) as compared to a standard log or standard firewood.
The below detailed description is provided for the purposes of illustration and description. Thus, although there have been described particular embodiments of a new and useful REUSABLE FIRE STARTER AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF, it is not intended that such references be construed as limitations upon the scope of this disclosure except as set forth in the appended claims. Thus, it is seen that the apparatus, methods, and systems of the present disclosure readily achieve the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those inherent therein. While certain preferred embodiments of the disclosure have been illustrated and described for present purposes, numerous changes in the arrangement and construction of parts and steps may be made by those skilled in the art, which changes are encompassed within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present disclosure, one or more drawings of which are set forth herein. Each drawing is provided by way of explanation of the present disclosure and is not a limitation. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the disclosure. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment.
While the making and using of various embodiments of the present disclosure are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present disclosure provides many applicable inventive concepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the embodiments and do not delimit the scope of the disclosure.
Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. Other objects, features, and aspects of the present disclosure are disclosed in, or are obvious from, the following detailed description. It is to be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present discussion is a description of exemplary embodiments only and is not intended as limiting the broader aspects of the present disclosure. Referring generally to FIGS. 1A-5 , various exemplary embodiments of a reusable fire starter 10 are described in detail. Where the various figures may describe embodiments sharing various common elements and features with other embodiments, similar elements and features are given the same reference numerals and redundant description thereof may be omitted below.
Disclosed herein is a reusable fire starter 10. The reusable fire starter 10 can be comprised of an open-top receptacle 18 with a non-porous burn chamber 15 configured to receive and hold a flammable substance which, when lit, creates a flame that can be distributed underneath one or more logs to assist with starting a fire. In embodiments, the reusable fire stater 10 permits a user to start a fire quickly, easily, and with little effort. In embodiments, the flammable substance is a flammable liquid. Non-limiting, exemplary flammable substances include ethanol (C₂H₅OH; such as bioethanol), isopropyl alcohol (C₃H₇OH), kerosene (C₁₂H₂₆-C₁₅H₃₂), lighter fluid (such as butane (C₄H₁₀)), lamp oil, or other liquid fuel, or a combination thereof. In operation the reusable fire starter 10 disclosed herein permits the user to build a fire while avoiding the traditional process of using tinder, kindling, and smaller logs. In embodiments, the presently disclosed fire starter 10 permits the formation of a self-sustaining fire when starting with standard logs. In other embodiments, the flammable substance may comprise a burn gel fuel, such as an alcohol-based gel fuel. When the flammable substance is ignited by a source providing combustion, such as an ignited matchstick or gas-fueled lighter, the flammable substance can produce a flame in the reusable fire starter 10. The flame can be used to start a fire of any type (campfire, firepit, fireplace, bonfire, etc.) using standard firewood logs, rather than having to start building a gradual fire from smaller kindling or tinder; fuels other than logs, such as charcoal or any other fuel, can also be used
Rather than pouring a flammable substance on the surface of logs, which creates only a thin layer of flammable substance that is quickly consumed, the burn chamber 15 of the reusable fire starter 10 can receive and hold a given volume of flammable substance that can be burned over a longer period of time. The presently disclosed reusable fire starter 10 can be configured to extend the energy output of an ignition flame. In embodiments, the reusable fire starter 10 disclosed herein permits a flame to burn for up to about twenty minutes. In addition, when using traditional methods wherein ignition fluid is poured directly on the outer surface of a log and lit, the direction of the resultant flame cannot be controlled such that much of the flame is directed up and away from the surface of the firewood. By contrast, when properly placed, the reusable fire starter 10 disclosed herein permits the formation of an ignition flame beneath the firewood, which increases the surface area of firewood exposed to the ignition flame, resulting in more efficient combustion, reduced time to a self-sustaining fire, or a combination thereof. The burn chamber 15 of the reusable fire starter 10 can hold enough of the flammable substance that an ignition flame, started by igniting the flammable substance within the burn chamber of the reusable fire starter 10, burns for a period of time that is sufficient to ignite standard firewood logs without having to add additional fuel to the burn chamber 15. Thus, in various embodiments, the reusable fire starter 10 disclosed herein aids in reducing the time and minimizing the effort involved in both starting a fire with standard logs and achieving the secondary burn or secondary combustion process in a smokeless firepit. In various embodiments, the reusable fire starter 10 can support the weight of at least 10 standard firewood logs that are stacked or thrown on top of the fire starter 10 without altering the shape or efficacy of the reusable fire starter 10. The reusable fire starter 10 comprises a material that can withstand the heat of repeated fires such that the burn chamber survives the fire without any change to the structure or efficacy of the reusable fire starter 10. After use, the burn chamber 15 of the reusable fire starter 10 can be refilled with a flammable substance and reused to start subsequent fires, as only the flammable substance is consumed in the process, not the reusable fire starter 10 itself.
FIG. 1A shows a top-right perspective of an exemplary embodiment of the reusable fire starter 10. The reusable fire starter 10 can comprise an open-top receptacle 18 that has at least three legs 50 projecting radially outward from a central basin 60. Each of the at least three legs 50 shares a base 20 in common with the central basin 60. Each of the at least three legs 50 can have a base 20 and at least one wall 25 extending upwardly and contiguously from the common base 20 to form the open-top burn chamber 15. The at least one wall 25 can be continuous such that the burn chamber 15 of the reusable fire starter 10 is configured to receive and hold a flammable substance. The flammable substance can be rubbing alcohol, ethanol, lamp oil, lighter fluid, other liquid fuel, or any combination thereof. These types of flammable substances, when lit, create an ignition flame that can be used to easily and quickly start a fire using standard logs rather than the small kindling required when building a gradual fire started by traditional single-use fire starters. In embodiments, the reusable fire starter 10 has no top portion or lid. The lack of a lid or top can optimize the surface area of the ignition flame that results after lighting the flammable substance within the burn chamber 15. Thus, in such embodiments, the ignition flame is permitted to directly contact one or more firewood logs across the entire top surface area of the reusable fire starter 10 and for the duration of the ignition period.
The receptacle 18 and burn chamber 15 of the reusable fire starter 10 can be made of a non-porous, high-temperature, heat-resistant material that is configured to receive and hold a flammable substance that can be lit; the material is such that the receptable and burn chamber 15 can be reused to start and sustain multiple fires. In certain embodiments, the reusable fire starter 10 comprises stainless steel (such as 304 stainless steel, or any other stainless steel), carbon steel, cast iron, aluminum, galvanized steel, magnesium, titanium, copper, chromium, cement, silicon carbide, refractory concrete, or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, the reusable fire starter 10 can comprise 16 gauge stainless steel. The reusable fire starter 10 disclosed herein can comprise a material that allows the burn chamber 15 of the reusable fire starter 10 to contain a lit flammable substance for a period of around fifteen (15) to twenty (20) minutes while catching standard firewood logs on fire that are set on top of the reusable fire starter 10. Such material can be durable enough to allow the reusable fire starter 10 to stay below a self-sustaining fire and then be reused to start multiple fires (after the burn chamber 15 is refilled with the flammable substance) without affecting its structure or efficacy. Such material also has compressive and tensile strength properties such that the material allows the reusable fire starter 10 to support logs being stacked or thrown on top of the reusable fire starter 10 without affecting its structure or efficacy. In other embodiments, the fire starter 10 may not be reusable, depending on the material the fire starter 10 comprises.
The embodiment of the reusable fire starter 10 shown in FIG. 1A can have a generally polyhedral geometry. In optional embodiments, the reusable fire starter 10 comprises a variety of geometrical configurations, including configurations in which the at least one wall 25 and the base 20 form a prism, for example a generally polyhedral geometries. In embodiments, the reusable fire starter 10 comprises a base 20 with a general shape of a cross-hair, an asterisk, as well as any number of legs 50 projecting radially outward from a central basin 60. For example, the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1A has at least three legs 50 and central basin 60 sharing a common base 20, such that the general polyhedral geometry has a base shape of a Y; the at least one wall 25 extending upwardly from the common base 20 can form the open-top rectangular prism shape of each leg 50. Each leg 50 and the central basin 60 are joined together to form the burn chamber 15 that can receive and hold a flammable substance.
As shown in FIG. 1A, in certain embodiments, the reusable fire starter 10 comprises a central basin 60 with a plurality of legs 50 projecting from the central basin 60. In each of the legs 50, the continuous wall 25 can comprise at least two sidewalls 30 and an end wall 40, which extend upwardly and contiguously from the base 20 to form the burn chamber 15. The continuous wall 25 may also comprise a connecting juncture 35 and a linking wall 70. The general polyhedral shape of the embodiment of the reusable fire starter 10 in FIGS. 1A-1E can be the general shape of a Y with three legs 50. In embodiments, each of the three legs 50 can be spaced equidistantly from the other legs 50. Spacing the legs 50 equidistantly can provide the fire starter 10 with stability, minimizing the risk that the reusable fire starter 10 could tip over and spill the flammable substance contained in the burn chamber 15. Furthermore, as each of the plurality of legs 50 comprise parts of the burn chamber 15 in which the flammable substance is received and held, spacing the legs 50 equidistantly from each other can further maximize the surface area of the logs on top of the reusable fire starter 10 that are exposed to the flame of the ignited flammable substance within the burn chamber 15. In embodiments with equidistantly spaced legs 50, the flammable substance within the burn chamber 15 can be evenly distributed throughout the legs to create a sustained burn across multiple logs. In still other embodiments with spaced out legs 50, the distribution of the flammable substance throughout the legs of the burn chamber 15 maximizes the total surface area of liquid exposed to the air such that the volume of flammable substance creates a flame that is larger in size and more widely distributed in comparison to embodiments without such legs 50.
The plurality of legs 50 can meet at a central basin 60. The central basin 60 can be hollow such that the central basin 60 of the burn chamber 15 can be filled with a flammable substance. In this way, the central basin 60 of the burn chamber 15 can allow the flammable substance from each leg 50 of the burn chamber 15 to mix with the flammable substance from other legs 50 of the burn chamber 15, ensuring that as the flammable substance is evenly distributed across the different legs 50 of the burn chamber 15 when being refilled or consumed in use. As shown in the FIG. 1A embodiment, the central basin 60 shares the same base 20 and walls 25 with at least one of the plurality of the legs 50 that make up the burn chamber 15 of the reusable fire starter 10. Where the sidewalls 30 of each leg 50 meet at the central basin 60, a linking wall 70 can connect adjacent side walls 30 of each adjacent leg 50. To form the continuous at least one wall 25, the side walls 30; the connecting juncture 35, the end wall 40 and the linking walls 70, can all be contiguous with each other. In embodiments, the linking wall 70 is curved in toward the central basin 60. In other embodiments not pictured, the linking wall 70 curves outward away from the central basin 60 or forms an angle or otherwise directly link two adjacent sidewalls 30 without such a curve. In still other embodiments not pictured, the central basin 60 is not hollow or able to be filled with a flammable substance, such that each leg 50 represents a separate and distinct burn chambers 15 for the flammable substance.
Each of the plurality of legs 50 can have the same general dimensions. However, in other embodiments not pictured, one or more legs 50 can have dimensions that are different from at least one leg in the plurality of legs 50. In additional embodiments, there may not be an equidistant spacing between at least two of the plurality of legs 50. As shown in the FIG. 1A, at least one of the legs 50 can have a general shape of an open-top rectangular prism. The legs 50 can comprise a base 20 with at a continuous wall 25 extending upwardly from the base 20, two side walls 30, an end wall 40, or a combination thereof. In embodiments, the end wall 40 is opposite the central basin 60. As can be seen better in the FIG. 1B view of this embodiment, the end wall 40 can be curved in shape, having the shape of an open parenthesis. In embodiments not depicted herein, the end wall 40 can be straight or otherwise non-rounded. Between at least one side wall 30 and the associated end wall 40, can be a connecting juncture 35. The connecting juncture 35 can be curved. The connecting juncture 35 can be integral with the side wall 30, the end wall 40, or both. In embodiments not pictured, the connecting juncture 35 can comprise an angular joint. A topmost edge of the walls 30, 40 can comprise a top edge or rim 90.
The base 20 of at least one leg 50 can have at least one indentation or groove 82 that defines a support structure or foot 80. As can be seen in the FIG. 1A embodiment, at least one leg 50 can comprise a plurality of support structures or feet 80. In certain embodiments, at least one leg comprises at least two support structures or feet 80. In such embodiments, one support structure or foot 80 can be disposed toward one sidewall 30 or side of the leg 50 while the other support structure or foot 80 is disposed closer to the opposite sidewall 30 or side of the leg 50. In other embodiments not pictured, the at least one support structure or foot 80 on a leg 50 may be continuous. As in the FIG. 1A embodiment, the plurality of indentations or grooves 82 (as shown in FIGS. 1B-1C) that comprise support structures or feet 80 (as shown in FIGS. 1D-1E) on at least one leg 50 can be of different sizes or discontinuous along a length of the leg 50. While some embodiments not pictured may not have indentations or grooves 82 or support structures or feet 80 on at least one leg 50, other embodiments also not pictured may have as many as forty indentations or grooves 82 or support structures or feet 80 on at least one leg 50. As in the FIG. 1A embodiment, the indentations or grooves 82 on at least one leg 50 can have the general shape of an open-top rectangular prism with rounded edges. In other embodiments not depicted, the at least one indentation or groove 82 on each leg 50 can be any other general shape, such as, for example, generally open-top cubes, open-top cylindrical prisms, or other prisms having bases with other shapes with more or less number of sides than the examples provided explicitly herein, and with or without rounded edges. In still other embodiments not shown, the at least one support structure or foot 80 is not an extension of the base 20 formed by an indentation or groove 82, but is an additional protruding structure on an underside of the base 20. By way of non-limiting example, such at least one support structure or foot 80 can include a disc, a stop, a caster, a pad, or foot. The at least one support structure or foot 80 can comprise a support with a threaded rod configured to be fastened to bored holes on the underside of the base 20, the bored holes having a threaded configuration that corresponds to the threaded rod. Such at least one support structure or foot 80 can be adjustable or nonadjustable to vary the height at which the base 20 rests upon a surface supporting the reusable fire starter 10.
FIG. 1B shows a top right-side perspective view of the reusable fire starter 10 of the embodiment of FIG. 1A. When a flammable substance received in the burn chamber 15 within the reusable fire starter 10 is ignited, a flame 85 is generated and can extend upward from the reusable fire starter 10 as seen in FIG. 1B. Logs, not pictured, sitting on top of the reusable fire starter 10 can then be lit by the flame 85 to start a fire. As can be better seen in this view, the end wall 25, 40 can be curved in shape, having the shape of an open parenthesis.
As shown in FIG. 1B, components of this embodiment of the reusable fire starter 10 have certain dimensions where the burn chamber 15 is generally Y-shaped with three equidistant legs 50 that are generally the shape of an open-top rectangular prism.
FIG. 1C shows a right-side elevation view of the reusable fire starter 10 of the embodiment of FIG. 1A, the burn chamber 15 being at least partially filled with a flammable substance 95. As can be seen, the base 20 can be configured to rest upon a surface supporting the reusable fire starter 10, such as a ground, a grate within a smokeless firepit, or any other surface capable of supporting the reusable fire starter 10 in a generally upright position along with a plurality of logs. The structure of at least one leg 50 can curve outwardly and downwardly from the central basin 60 to form a downward concave curve until the leg 50 meets the surface on which the reusable fire starter 10 sits. An underside of the base 20 of at least one leg 50 can include, at least one support structure or foot 80. Also shown in FIG. 1C is the curved connecting juncture 35 between a side wall 30 and an end wall 40 of a leg 50.
As can be better seen in the perspective shown in FIG. 1C, the top edge of each wall 25 of each leg 50 can have a top rim 90. In this embodiment, each wall 25 of each leg 50 has a height that increases in a downward direction from the top rim 90 as the side wall 30 extends laterally from the central basin 60 towards the end wall 40. In such embodiments, the increasing wall height along the lateral extension of each leg 50 compensates for the downward-concave curved shape of the legs 50 such that the top rim 90 remains in substantially the same plane across the entire top surface of the reusable fire starter 10. In other words, a horizontal plane defined along the top rim 90 of each wall 25 may be generally orthogonal to a vertical plane defined by, or along, the furthest edge of at least one end wall 40. Thus, in various embodiments, the height of at least one leg 50 can be at a maximum at the end wall 40, measuring from the top rim 90 to the top face of the base 20. Starting from the end wall 40, the height of the leg 50 can gradually decrease along the length of the leg in the medial direction until meeting the central basin 60, while keeping the top rim 90 generally co-planar across the entire top face of the reusable fire starter 10. In embodiments, the base 20 can comprise a generally concave shape, while the top rim 90 remains in the same plane throughout the top surface of the fire starter 10. The height of the rim 90 can be generally consistent and even across the linking wall 70 surrounding the central basin 60, at the smallest height of each leg 50. In certain embodiments, the base 20 can comprise a contour or shape matches the contour or shape of a fire grate or a bottom surface of a firepit.
This structure can enable the reusable fire starter 10 gravitationally rest securely on plurality of surfaces while minimizing the possibility of tipping or otherwise being moved in a manner that risks inadvertent spilling of the flammable substance 95 within the burn chamber 15. This structure also can allow the reusable fire starter 10 to distribute the volume of flammable substance 95 across the plurality of legs 50 comprising the burn chamber 15 such that each leg 50 of the burn chamber 15 holds a substantially similar volume of flammable substance 95. Such substantially even distribution of the flammable substance across each of the plurality of legs 50 of the burn chamber 15 can allow for consistent distribution of the flame and a consistent burn time of the flammable substance 95 throughout the burn chamber 15 of the reusable fire starter 10. This structure exposes a certain percentage of surface area to volume of the flammable substance 95 to the ignition flame, to control the direction and energy output of the flame. By contrast, the traditional fire-starting method of simply pouring a flammable substance onto the surface of the logs and then igniting the logs, can be dangerous and difficult to control in both speed and direction of burn and may require continual addition of the flammable substance to continue the flames for a long enough time to catch a standard firewood log on fire.
FIG. 1D shows a bottom right-side perspective view of the reusable fire starter 10 of the embodiment of FIG. 1A. Shown again is the base 20 and the plurality of support structures or feet 80 on the base 20 or bottom of the reusable fire starter 10. The downwardly and outwardly curved structure of each leg 50 is also shown. From this angle, it is also possible to see the curved connecting juncture 35 between a side wall 30 and an end wall 40. The base 20 of the central basin 60 also can have curved edges, matching the curved linking wall 70 between the side walls 30 of each adjacent leg 50 when meeting around the central basin 60. From this perspective, the top rim 90 of each wall 25 can be seen, but it is not possible to see within the burn chamber 15 of the reusable fire starter 10.
FIG. 1E shows a bottom-right perspective view of the reusable fire starter 10 of the embodiment of FIG. 1A. Shown again is the base 20 and a better view of the bottom of the plurality of support structures or feet 80 on the bottom of each leg 50 of the reusable fire starter 10. As can be seen in FIG. 1E, at least one leg 50 of this embodiment has four indentations or grooves 82, two sets of two indentations or grooves 82 on each side of the base 20. The pair of indentations or grooves 82 closest to the end wall 25, 40 can be shorter in length than the other pair of indentations or grooves 82 closest to the central basin 60. In various embodiments, the configuration and shape of the indentations or grooves 82 on at least one leg 50 are complementary to the structure and contour of a fire grate or the bottom surface of a fire pit such that the indentations or grooves 82 form channels, guides, or keyways 75. In embodiments, the channels, guides, or keyways 75 are configured to receive complementary protrusions or extension on the fire grate or bottom surface of the firepit, such that, when the extension or protrusions from the fire grate or bottom surface of the fire pit are disposed within the channels, guides, or keyways 75, rotational movement is restricted between the reusable fire starter 10 and the associated fire grate or bottom surface of the fire pit.
Again, the curved linking wall 70 between the side walls 30 of two legs 50, and the curved connecting juncture 35 between the side wall 30 and an end wall 40 can be seen in FIG. 1E.
FIG. 1F is a top right-side perspective view of the embodiment of the reusable fire starter 10 of FIG. 1A, in accordance with the present disclosure. FIG. 1F shows the same perspective view as FIG. 1B.
As shown in FIG. 1F, components of this embodiment of the reusable fire starter 10 have certain dimensions where the burn chamber 15 is generally Y-shaped with three equidistant legs 50 that are generally the shape of an open-top rectangular prism. The distance of the diagonal 100 between the middle of the end wall 40 of one of the legs 50 to the middle of the end wall 40 of another one of the legs 50 can be about 14.5 inches. The distance 110 between the top left curve of the rim 90 of one end wall 40 of one of the legs 50 to the top left curve of the rim 90 of the end wall 40 of another one of the legs 50 can be about 12.5 inches; the curve of the rim 90 being the top of the connecting juncture 35 where it meets the end wall 40. The width 120 of at least one leg 50 between the two side walls 30 can be about 1.5 inches. The length 130 of at least one leg 50, measured from the end wall 40 to the middle of the linking wall 70 between the leg 50 and the central basin 60 can be about 7.5 inches. The length 140 of a part of each of a leg 50 constituting the furthest edge of one of the indentations or grooves 82 to the middle of the linking wall 70 between the leg 50 and the central basin 60 can be about 4.5 inches. The height 150 of at least one leg 50 measured from the top edge 90 to the bottom of the indentations or grooves 82 can be about 1.6 inches. The height 160 of the base 20 of the central basin 60 measured to the surface that the reusable fire starter 10 sits upon can be about 1 inch. The maximum amount of flammable liquid that the burn chamber 15 of this embodiment of the reusable fire starter 10 may contain can be about 30 ounces. In embodiments, the burn chamber 15 of the reusable fire starter 10 can be configured to hold at least 1 ounces of flammable liquid. In various embodiments, the burn chamber 15 of the reusable fire starter 10 can be configured to hold about 8 ounces of flammable liquid. Overall, the size and shape of the FIG. 1A embodiment of the reusable fire starter 10, as depicted in FIG. 1F, can be such that a user may move, with ease, the reusable fire starter 10. The reusable fire starter 10 can thus be configured to be portable and mobile, such that a user can enjoy use of the same reusable fire starter 10 in multiple settings or locations, such as multiple camp sites, firepits, fireplaces, bonfires, fireplaces, or beyond.
In addition, the size and shape of the reusable fire starter 10 in the FIG. 1A embodiment as depicted in FIG. 1F can be such that the reusable fire starter 10 may fit inside of a smokeless firepit, resting on an internal grate instead of a surface like the ground. When used within a smokeless firepit, ignition flame of the reusable fire starter 10 puts off heat, which can decrease the time needed to achieve a secondary burn or secondary combustion within a smokeless firepit as compared to traditional methods of starting a fire. The lack of smoke in a smokeless firepit can be accomplished by minimizing the incomplete combustion of flammable materials by using a process called secondary combustion or secondary burn, when air brought into a walled fire pit is heated by the flames within the firepit to complete combustion of the fuel and reduce smoke and soot. While traditional single-use fire starters have small and low-energy flames, the reusable fire starter 10 has comparably taller flames with higher-energy flames that produce more heat. In addition, as compared to traditional single-use fire starters, the reusable fire stater 10 creates an ignition flame that is distributed over a larger area, which can heat the air within a smokeless firepit faster, achieving secondary combustion at a faster rate.
In other embodiments not depicted herein, the distance 100 can range from about 4 inches to about 30 inches. The distance 110 can range from about 3.5 inches to about 26 inches. The width 120 of each of at least one leg 50 can range from about 0.25 inches to about 4 inches. The length 130 of a leg 50, measured from the end wall 25, 40 to the middle of the linking wall 25, 70 between the leg 50 and the central basin 60 can be between about 2 inches and about 30 inches, inclusive. The length 140 of a part of at least one leg 50 constituting the furthest edge of one of the indentations or grooves 82 to the middle of the linking wall 25, 70 between the leg 50 and the central basin 60 can range from about 1 inch to about 18.5 inches. The 150 height of at least one leg 50 measured from the top rim 90 to the surface that the reusable fire starter 10 sits upon can range from about 0.5 inch to about 7 inches. The height 160 of the base 20 of the central basin 60 measured to the surface that the reusable fire starter 10 sits upon can range from about 0.3 inch to about 4 inches.
Another aspect of the present disclosure includes a method of starting a fire using the reusable fire starter 10 in accordance with any embodiment disclosed herein or otherwise apparent from the descriptions herein. FIG. 5 depicts this method 500. The method may commence with an operation 501 of providing the reusable fire starter 10, such as the one displayed in exemplary FIG. 1A. The method 500 may continue with operation 502 of placing the reusable fire starter 10 in a location where a fire will be started. The location may be within a designated campfire site within a camp site, a designated bonfire site, a smokeless firepit, an outdoor firepit, a residential fireplace, a grill, a stove, a chiminea, a fire bowl, or other locations where a fire may be started and contained. The method 500 may continue with operation 503 of at least partially filling the burn chamber 15 of the reusable fire starter 10 with a flammable substance 503. By way of non-limiting example, the flammable substance 95 can be a flammable liquid. Exemplary flammable liquids include, but are not limited to, isopropyl alcohol, ethanol, lamp oil, kerosene, lighter fluid, or a combination thereof. The method 500 may continue with operation 504 of placing logs for the fire on top of the reusable fire starter 10. The logs can be placed in any stable configuration on top of the reusable fire starter 10 and can be arranged such that at least one leg 50 of the reusable fire starter 10 is contacting or near at least one portion of the logs at the base of the configuration 504. The method 500 may continue with operation 505, igniting the flammable substance 95 within the burn chamber 15 of the reusable fire starter 10, using, for example, a struck matchstick or gas-fueled lighter or any other method of safely lighting a flammable substance 95 contained within the burn chamber 15, to create an ignition flame that can be used to catch the logs on fire to start a self-sustaining fire.
Once the fire is started, the method 500 may continue with operation 506-506 a, optionally adding additional logs to the fire and on top of the reusable fire starter 10 as needed to sustain or prolong the fire. If no additional logs are needed to sustain or prolong the fire, the fire can be self-sustaining to the point of extinguishing. The reusable fire starter 10, can remain underneath or within the fire for the duration of the burn. In one embodiment, the burn chamber 15 of the reusable fire starter 10 has a capacity sufficient to hold between 1 and 30 ounces of flammable liquid with a configuration to permit the flammable liquid to burn for about fifteen minutes, depending on airflow. Thus, in operation, the burn chamber 15 of the reusable fire starter 10 does not have to be refilled with additional flammable substance 95 during the fire-starting process to create a self-sustaining fire using standard firewood logs.
The method 500 may continue with operation 507, wherein the fire is fully extinguished. The method 500 may be repeated wherein the burn chamber 15 of the reusable fire starter 10 can be refilled with additional flammable substance 95 for subsequent use by repeating the aforementioned operations 503-507. A user should wait until the fire is fully extinguished before refilling the burn chamber 15 of the reusable fire starter 10 with a flammable substance 95 to minimize a risk of personal injury to the user or property damage when adding a flammable substance 95. An optional operation 508 includes waiting for the reusable fire starter 10 to cool before emptying ash from the burn chamber 15 of the reusable fire starter 10 and then refilling the burn chamber 15 of the reusable fire starter 10 with additional flammable substance 95 to repeat operations 503-507.
Other than optionally removing ash buildup that may fall from the fire into the burn chamber 15 of the reusable fire starter 10 while the reusable fire starter 10 remains underneath the fire, there is no maintenance that must be done before the reusable fire starter 10 can be reused.
The reusable fire starter 10 disclosed in various embodiments herein provides improved performance results as comparison to traditional and single-use fire starters when used in a smokeless firepit; the particular embodiment involved in the testing shown in Tables 1 and 2 is the reusable fire starter 10, as shown in FIGS. 1A-1E.

TABLE 1

	Maximum	Approx.
	Flame	Surface Area
	Height	of Flame Column
Fire Starter Type	(inches)	(inches²)

Reusable Fire Starter	8	528
Rutland ® Fire Starter Square	4	21
Solo Stove ® Fire Starter	6	75
Pine Mountain ® Fire Starter Log	4	240

TABLE 2

		Time
		to Wood	Time
		Catching	to Sus-	Time to
		with a Sus-	tainable	Secondary
	Amount of	tainable	Flame	Com-
Fire Starter	Flammable	Flame	over Top	bustion
Type	Substance	(seconds)	(seconds)	(seconds)

Reusable Fire	8 ounces of	49	125	289
Starter	99% isopropyl
	alcohol
Rutland ® Fire	2 bricks	492	N/A	N/A
Starter Square
Solo Stove ®	1 pack	N/A	N/A	N/A
Fire Starter
Pine Mountain ®	1 log	370	520	1,269
Fire Starter Log

Tables 1 and 2 illustrate exemplary data, including the maximum height of the flame generated from the fire starter, the potential surface area of the flame assuming the shape of the column, and the times of various events after ignition of the fire starter, wherein a time of 0 seconds is the time of ignition. Tables 1 and 2 are not intended to be exhaustive, as burn time may increase in conjunction with the quantity of the flammable substance 95 deposited, poured, or otherwise provided to the burn chamber 15 of the reusable fire starter 10. Burn time may also depend upon a number of other factors, including: the relative percentage of isopropyl alcohol or ethanol present in the chemical composition of the flammable substance 95, where such flammable substance 95 comprises isopropyl alcohol or ethanol; wind speed; ambient air temperature or humidity conditions, i.e., the temperature or humidity of the environment external to the reusable fire starter 10 and the then-current temperature of the environment. In an attempt to control variables, each of the tests performed to obtain the data from Tables 1 and 2 were performed using the off-the-shelf wood purchased from bundles offered by the same manufacturer on the same day and at the same location; this wood was kiln dried and heat-treated. In addition, each test was performed with the same fire pit (a Solo Stove® Bonfire® 2.0 smokeless firepit, available from Solo Stove, Grapevine, Texas), using the same log configuration on top of each fire starter, and on the same location on the same concrete pad on the same day in the same conditions. It was determined that secondary combustion was achieved when there were visible flames coming from the vent holes at a top internal rim of the firepit that were independent of the flames arising from the base/center.
Tables 1 and 2 compare the reusable fire starter 10 against known fire starters. The Rutland® Safe Lite® Fire Starter Square (available from Rutland, Jacksonville, Illinois) is a compressed wood/accelerant comprised of compressed recycled wood chips, paper fiber, and wax; the manufacturer's instructions indicate that only 1 square is needed for most fires, but that 1-2 squares can be set onto wood or pellets and lit by touching a flamed to the rough edge of a square to start a fire. After ignition, it took two of the Rutland® Safe Lite® Fire Starter Square bricks 492 seconds for the wood to catch fire with a sustainable flame, with a maximum flame height of 4 inches, and an approximate surface area of the flame (assuming the shape of a column) of about 21 square inches. The Rutland® Safe Lite® Fire Starter Square did not produce a consistent flame over the top of the smokeless firepit, even after thirty minutes, and also did not achieve secondary combustion; although the square was able to catch some of the wood on fire, the square did not light enough of the wood to form a self-sustaining fire without further intervention, and eventually the flame went out before creating a fire with large enough flames to be seen over the top wall of the fire pit or achieve secondary combustion. The Solo Stove® Fire Starter Packs available from Solo Stove, Grapevine, Texas) are a synthetic starter that is comprised of paraffin wax packaged in flammable plastic; the manufacturer's website indicates to “place a Starter Pack in the center of your fire pit . . . light the corner . . . and wait for the fire to catch.” However, after ignition, one fire starter pack did not catch the wood on fire; after the starter pack ran out, the wood did not remain lit, likely due to the small sized flame that may have been too short-lived to catch the wood on fire without actively tending the fire by adding small kindling. Finally, the Pine Mountain® 2-Hour Firelog (available from Royal Oak Enterprises, Roswell, Georgia) is a large log fire starter comprised of natural and renewable ingredients, including recycled hardwood, nutshells, and molasses; the manufacturer's instructions indicates that the paper wrapper of the log simply needs to be lit to enjoy a bright fire in minutes, which can burn for two hours with big, bold flames. After ignition, it took one Pine Mountain® 2-Hour Firelog fire starter log 370 seconds for wood to catch fire with a sustainable flame, with a maximum flame height of 4 inches, and an approximate surface area of the flame (assuming the shape of a column) of about 240 square inches. After ignition, the log took 520 seconds to produce a sustainable flame over the top of the smokeless firepit, and 1,269 seconds to achieve secondary combustion within the smokeless firepit.
On the other hand, the reusable fire starter 10 produced remarkable results in comparison to the above traditional single-use fire starter results. After ignition, the reusable fire starter 10 was filled with eight ounces of 99% isopropyl alcohol and was able to ignite the firewood with a sustainable flame within 99 seconds, producing an 8-inch flame height and an approximate surface area of the flame (assuming the shape of a column) of 528 square inches. After ignition, a sustainable flame was produced within 49 seconds, taking only 391 seconds to achieve secondary combustion within the smokeless firepit. In fact, the flames produced by the reusable fire starter 10 are so efficient and well distributed that it was possible to achieve secondary combustion within a smokeless firepit without using any solid fuel and just using the flammable substance within the burn chamber 15 of the reusable fire starter 10; secondary combustion was achieved at 195 seconds in a firepit using only 8 ounces of 99% isopropyl alcohol alone without any additional fuel, such as wood logs. A maximum flame height of 8 inches was produced when the reusable fire starter 10 was used without any wood, with an approximate surface area of the flame (assuming the shape of a column) of 528 square inches.
In comparison, the only traditional single-use fire starter to accomplish all three milestones was the Pine Mountain® 2-Hour Firelog fire starter log. The reusable fire starter 10 can achieve the third milestone (secondary combustion) at least 81 seconds before the traditional fire starter log was achieved the first milestone (ignition of the firewood with a sustainable flame). As such, the structure of the reusable fire starter 10 can achieve secondary combustion in 22% of the time that it takes the best tested competing product to do the same. Furthermore, eight ounces of 99% isopropyl alcohol can burn for approximately fifteen to twenty minutes within the reusable fire starter 10, but it only takes less than five minutes before the reusable fire starter 10 has produced enough heat for secondary combustion to occur within the smokeless firepit. As such, the volume of flammable substance that can be held within the burn chamber 15 of the reusable fire starter 10 can provide enough fuel to start fires with standard firewood logs, without the hassle of building up a sustainable fire from a small flame using progressively bigger fuel. And, once the fire is over, the burn chamber 15 of the reusable fire starter 10 can be reused after simply being refilled with the flammable substance 95, while the other competing fire starter products are all consumed in the process.
Aside from its performance advantages in being able to start a sustainable fire quickly and with little effort, the structure of the reusable fire starter 10 provides a number of advantages to satisfy a long felt need in this area of art for a reusable, quick, and easy fire starter. For instance, because of the downward curving legs 50 and the indentations or grooves 82 forming support structures or feet 80, the risk that the flammable substance 95 within the burn chamber 15 of the reusable fire starter 10 may spill is decreased, given its stability, especially when used on a level surface or within a firepit that comprises a complementary concave contour. This can reduce a risk of personal injury, property damage, or fire hazard, given that tip-over (or other inversion of the reusable fire starter 10) is less likely to spill the flammable substance 95, especially when the flammable substance 95 has already been ignited. In addition, the material and structure comprising the reusable fire starter 10 can allow the reusable fire starter 10 to withstand the weight of the logs (even when more logs are thrown on top of the reusable fire starter 10) and the heat of the fire on top of the reusable fire starter 10 without adversely affecting its structure or efficacy. Furthermore, the Y-shaped structure in the embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 1A-1F can enable the reusable fire starter 10 to evenly distribute the ignition flame across multiple portions, if not multiple logs, simultaneously to quickly allow the logs to catch fire and start a self-sustaining fire with standard logs. By contrast, traditional, single-use fire starters are smaller in size and concentrate their flames in one area, producing a smaller flame that requires more effort and time to gradually build up a larger fire. The disbursement of the ignition flame of the reusable fire starter 10 also reduces the risk of the fire starter's flame being extinguished before getting sufficiently hot to form a self-sustaining fire using only logs (as opposed to tinder or kindling), also helping to reduce the time from ignition to a self-sustaining fire or secondary combustion.
The ability to use any flammable substance allows the reusable fire starter 10 to create a dispersed ignition flame that can create enough heat to be used to start a sustainable fire using standard firewood logs, rather than using a traditional single-use fire starter with a smaller and lower-energy flame to slowly build a large fire starting from tinder, kindling, and smaller twigs or logs before being able to support standard logs without being suffocated. The ability to start a large fire without smaller logs saves time and effort. The reusable fire starter 10 can also be used to start a fire using wet wood, given the tall and efficient ignition flame produced. Unlike traditional single-use fire starters, the reusable fire starter 10 is not consumed in the process of igniting a fire and can be reused multiple times by simply refilling the burn chamber 15 with more of the flammable substance 95. The only maintenance involved with the reusable fire starter 10 is refilling the burn chamber 15 with more of the flammable substance 95 and optionally removing the ash that could accumulate within the reusable fire starter 10 since it remains underneath the fire that it starts. Without being bound by theory, the reusable fire starter 10 can be used over 1,000 times without the structure or efficacy being changed despite being under hot fires and supporting heavy logs. Although the reusable fire starter 10 is discussed above for use to start a wood-fueled fire, the reusable fire starter 10 can be used to start a fire using any type of fuel, including, but not limited to, wood, charcoal, paper, flammable substances alone, and more.
FIGS. 2A-4B shows exemplary alternative embodiments of the reusable fire starter 10. The alternative embodiments of the reusable fire starter 200, 300, 400 can be made of the same materials and used with the same flammable substances in the same manner as the reusable fire starter 10 as described above in FIGS. 1A-1F. Generally, the dimensions of the reusable fire starter 200, 300, 400 can be similar to the dimensions of the reusable fire starter 10 described in FIG. 1B.
FIG. 2A shows a top-right view of an embodiment of the reusable fire starter 200 comprised of an open-top receptacle 218 with a non-porous burn chamber 215. The at least one wall 225 is continuous, and integral, with the base 220 to form the burn chamber 215. Each leg 250 can be comprised of the base 220, at least two side walls 225, 230 and the associated end wall 225, 240, linked by a connecting juncture 225, 235. Again, the reusable fire starter 200 has no top portion or lid.
As shown in FIG. 2A, an alternate embodiment of the reusable fire starter 200 can comprise a burn chamber 215 that has a base 220 and at least one wall 225. The at least one wall 225 extends upwardly and contiguously from the base. The at least one wall 225 can be continuous and an extension of the base 220 to form a burn chamber 215 configured to receive and hold a flammable substance.
In this particular embodiment, the reusable fire starter 200 has a polyhedral geometry with the general shape of an X with each leg 250 projecting from the central basin 260. In embodiments, each of the four legs 250 can be spaced equidistantly from the other legs 250, again to provide the reusable fire starter 200 with stability and an even distribution of the flammable substance within each leg of the burn chamber 215 for even disbursement of the resulting flame once the flammable substance is lit.
The four legs 250 meet at a central basin 260 and can allow the flammable substance from each leg 250 to mix with the flammable substance from other legs 250 to enable an even distribution of the flammable substance across the burn chamber 215. As shown in FIG. 2A-2B, the meeting point of each leg 250 with the central basin 260 can form an angle of about 90 degrees 270. In other embodiments not pictured, the meeting point of each leg 250 with the central basin 260 can instead be curved, similar to the embodiment shown and described in FIGS. 1A-1E. Each leg 250 can have an indentation or groove 282 that defines at least one support structure or foot 280 (as shown in FIG. 2B).
Each wall 225 of each leg 250 has a height that increases in a downward direction from the top rim 290 as the side wall 225, 230 extends laterally from the central basin 260 towards the end wall 225, 240. In such embodiments, the increasing wall height along the lateral extension of each leg 250 compensates for the downward-concave curved shape of the legs 250 such that the top rim 290 remains in substantially the same plane across the entire top surface of the reusable fire starter 200. In other words, a horizontal plane defined along the top rim 290 of each wall 225 may be generally orthogonal to a vertical plane defined by, or along, the furthest edge of at least one end wall 225, 240. Thus, in various embodiments, the height of at least one leg 250 can be at a maximum at the end wall 225, 240, measuring from the top rim 290 to the top face of the base 220. Starting from the end wall 225, 240, the height of the leg 250 can gradually decrease along the length of the leg in the medial direction until meeting the central basin 260, while keeping the top rim 290 generally co-planar across the entire top face of the reusable fire starter 200. In embodiments, the base 220 can comprise a generally concave shape, while the top rim 290 remains in the same plane throughout the top surface of the fire starter 200.
FIG. 2B shows a bottom-right view of the reusable fire starter 200 of the embodiment of FIG. 2A. As seen better in FIG. 2B, the base 220 of at least one leg 250 can have at least one support structure or foot 280 with the general shape of an open-top rectangular prism with rounded edges. As can be seen in FIG. 2A, the reusable fire starter 200, at least one leg 250 can comprise a plurality of indentations or grooves 282. From this angle, it is also possible to see the downwardly and outwardly curved structure of each leg 250. In various embodiments, the configuration and shape of the support structures or feet 280 on at least one leg 250 are complementary to the structure and contour of a fire grate or the bottom surface of a fire pit such that the support structure or feet 280 form channels, guides, or keyways 275. In embodiments, the channels, guides, or keyways 275 are configured to receive complementary protrusions or extension on the fire grate or bottom surface of the firepit, such that, when the extension or protrusions from the fire grate or bottom surface of the fire pit are disposed within the channels, guides, or keyways 275, rotational movement is restricted between the reusable fire starter 200 and the associated fire grate or bottom surface of the fire pit.
FIG. 3A shows a top-right view of an embodiment of the reusable fire starter 300 comprised of an open-top receptacle 318 with a non-porous burn chamber 315. The at least one wall 325 is continuous, and integral, with the base 320 to form the burn chamber 315. Each leg 350 can be comprised of the base 320, at least two side walls 325, 330 and the associated end wall 325, 340, linked by a connecting juncture 325, 335. Again, the reusable fire starter 300 has no top portion or lid.
As shown in FIG. 3A, an alternate embodiment of the reusable fire starter 300 can comprise a burn chamber 315 that has a base 320 and at least one wall 325. The at least one wall 325 extends upward from the base, and the at least one wall 325 may comprise a side wall 330 and an end wall 340 continuous with one another. The at least one wall 325 can be continuous and an extension of the base 320 to form a burn chamber 315 configured to receive and hold a flammable substance.
In this particular embodiment, the reusable fire starter 300 has a polyhedral geometry with general shape of a star with each leg 350 projecting from the central basin 260. In embodiments, each of the five legs 350 can be spaced equidistantly from the other legs 350, again to provide the reusable fire starter 300 with stability and an even distribution of the flammable substance within each leg of the burn chamber 315 for even disbursement of the resulting flame once the flammable substance is lit. Each leg 350 can have an indentation or groove 383 that defines at least one support structure or foot 380 (as shown in FIG. 3B).
The five legs 350 meet at a central basin 360 and can allow the flammable substance from each leg 350 to mix with the flammable substance from other legs 350 to enable an even distribution of the flammable substance across the burn chamber 315. As shown in FIG. 3A-3B, the meeting point of each leg 350 with the central basin 360 can form an angle 270. In other embodiments not pictured, the meeting point of each leg 350 with the central basin 360 can instead be curved, similar to the embodiment shown and described in FIGS. 1A-1F.
Each wall 325 of each leg 350 has a height that increases in a downward direction from the top rim 390 as the side wall 330 extends laterally from the central basin 360 towards the end wall 340. In such embodiments, the increasing wall height along the lateral extension of each leg 350 compensates for the downward-concave curved shape of the legs 350 such that the top rim 390 remains in substantially the same plane across the entire top surface of the reusable fire starter 300. In other words, a horizontal plane defined along the top rim 390 of each wall 325 may be generally orthogonal to a vertical plane defined by, or along, the furthest edge of at least one end wall 340. Thus, in various embodiments, the height of at least one leg 350 can be at a maximum at the end wall 340, measuring from the top rim 390 to the top face of the base 320. Starting from the end wall 340, the height of the leg 350 can gradually decrease along the length of the leg in the medial direction until meeting the central basin 360, while keeping the top rim 390 generally co-planar across the entire top face of the reusable fire starter 300. In embodiments, the base 320 can comprise a generally concave shape, while the top rim 390 remains in the same plane throughout the top surface of the reusable fire starter 300.
FIG. 3B shows a bottom-right view of the reusable fire starter 300 of the embodiment of FIG. 3A. As seen better in FIG. 3B, the base 320 of at least one leg 350 can have at least one support structure or foot 380 with the general shape of an open-top rectangular prism with rounded edges. As can be seen in FIG. 3A, the reusable fire starter 300, at least one leg 350 can comprise a plurality of support structures or feet 380. From this angle, it is also possible to see the downwardly and outwardly curved structure of each leg 350. In various embodiments, the configuration and shape of the support structures or feet 380 on at least one leg 350 are complementary to the structure and contour of a fire grate or the bottom surface of a fire pit such that the support structure or feet 380 form channels, guides, or keyways 375. In embodiments, the channels, guides, or keyways 375 are configured to receive complementary protrusions or extension on the fire grate or bottom surface of the firepit, such that, when the extension or protrusions from the fire grate or bottom surface of the fire pit are disposed within the channels, guides, or keyways 375, rotational movement is restricted between the reusable fire starter 300 and the associated fire grate or bottom surface of the fire pit.
FIG. 4A shows a top-right view of an embodiment of the reusable fire starter 400 comprised of an open-top receptacle 418 with a non-porous burn chamber 415. The at least one wall 425 is continuous, and integral, with the base 420 to form the burn chamber 415. The at least one wall 425 may comprise at least two side walls 430 and an associated end wall 440 continuous with one another. Each leg 450 can be comprised of the base 420, the at least two side walls 430 and the associated end wall 440, linked by a connecting juncture 435. Again, the reusable fire starter 400 has no top portion or lid.
As shown in FIG. 4A, an alternate embodiment of the reusable fire starter 400 can comprise a burn chamber 415 that has a base 420 and at least one wall 425. The at least one wall 425 extends upward from the base 420. The at least one wall 425 can be continuous and an extension of the base 420 to form a burn chamber 415 configured to receive and hold a flammable substance.
In this particular embodiment, the reusable fire starter 400 has a polyhedral geometry with general shape of a Y with a circle in the middle, as each leg 350 projects from a circular ring- or disc-like central basin 460. In this embodiment, there can be an internal wall 465 that forms the inner portion of the disc-like central basin 460. In other embodiments not pictured, there may not an internal wall 465 such that the central basin 460 is shaped like a cylinder with a circular ring as a base. The internal wall 465 can also extend upward from the base 420 in a continuous and integral manner.
In embodiments, each of the six legs 450 can be spaced equidistantly from the other legs 450, again to provide the reusable fire starter 400 with stability and an even distribution of the flammable substance within each leg of the burn chamber 415 for even disbursement of the resulting flame once the flammable substance is lit. Each leg 450 can have an indentation or groove 482 that defines at least one support structure or foot 480 (visible in FIG. 4B).
The six legs 450 meet at a circular ring- or disc-like central basin 460 and can allow the flammable substance from each leg 450 to mix with the flammable substance from other legs 450 to enable an even distribution of the flammable substance across the burn chamber 415. As shown in FIG. 4A-4B, the meeting point 470 of each leg 450 with the central basin 460 can be curved. In other embodiments not pictured, the meeting point of each leg 450 with the central basin 460 can form an angle, similar to the embodiment shown and described in FIGS. 2A-3B.
Each wall 425 of each leg 450 has a height that increases in a downward direction from the top rim 490 as the side wall 430 extends laterally from the central basin 460 towards the end wall 440. In such embodiments, the increasing wall height along the lateral extension of each leg 450 compensates for the downward-concave curved shape of the legs 450 such that the top rim 490 remains in substantially the same plane across the entire top surface of the reusable fire starter 400. In other words, a horizontal plane defined along the top rim 490 of each wall 425 may be generally orthogonal to a vertical plane defined by, or along, the furthest edge of at least one end wall 440. Thus, in various embodiments, the height of at least one leg 450 can be at a maximum at the end wall 440, measuring from the top rim 490 to the top face of the base 420. Starting from the end wall 440, the height of the leg 450 can gradually decrease along the length of the leg in the medial direction until meeting the central basin 460, while keeping the top rim 490 generally co-planar across the entire top face of the reusable fire starter 400. In this way, the structure of the reusable fire starter 400 can keep the central basin 460 elevated, whereas the legs 450 can touch the surface that the reusable fire starter 400 is resting on. In other embodiments, the base 420 can comprise a generally concave shape, while the top rim 490 remains in the same plane throughout the top surface of the fire starter 400.
FIG. 4B shows a bottom-right view of the reusable fire starter 400 of the embodiment of FIG. 4A. As seen better in FIG. 4B, the base 420 of at least one leg 450 can have at least one support structure or foot 480 with the general shape of an open-top rectangular prism with rounded edges. As can be seen in FIG. 4A, the reusable fire starter 400, at least one leg 450 can comprise a plurality of support structures or feet 480. From this angle, it is also possible to see the downwardly and outwardly curved structure of each leg 450. In various embodiments, the configuration and shape of the support structures or feet 480 on at least one leg 450 are complementary to the structure and contour of a fire grate or the bottom surface of a fire pit such that the support structure or feet 480 form channels, guides, or keyways 475. In embodiments, the channels, guides, or keyways 475 are configured to receive complementary protrusions or extension on the fire grate or bottom surface of the firepit, such that, when the extension or protrusions from the fire grate or bottom surface of the fire pit are disposed within the channels, guides, or keyways 475, rotational movement is restricted between the reusable fire starter 400 and the associated fire grate or bottom surface of the fire pit.
To facilitate the understanding of the embodiments described herein, a number of terms have been defined above. The terms defined herein have meanings as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the areas relevant to the present disclosure. The terminology herein is used to describe specific embodiments of the disclosure, but their usage does not delimit the disclosure, except as set forth in the claims.
Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain, using no more than routine experimentation, numerous equivalents to the specific substances and procedures described herein. Such equivalents are considered to be within the scope of this disclosure and are covered by the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A reusable fire starter comprising:

an open-top receptacle made of a non-porous, high-temperature, and heat-resistant material, the open-top receptacle having at least three legs projecting radially outward from a central basin, each of the at least three legs sharing a common base with the central basin,

at least one wall extending upward from the common base about each of the at least three legs and the central basin to define an open-top burn chamber, wherein the burn chamber is configured to receive and hold a flammable substance that may be lit.

2. The reusable fire starter of claim 1, wherein the at least three legs and the common base defining the open-top burn chamber and the central basin form a generally polyhedral geometry.

3. The reusable fire starter of claim 2, wherein the generally polyhedral geometry of the open-top burn chamber is Y-shaped.

4. The reusable fire starter of claim 1, wherein the at least one wall comprises two side walls and an end wall, the two sidewalls interconnected by the end wall, and the end wall being opposite from the central basin that joins the at least three legs.

5. The reusable fire starter of claim 4, wherein each of the two sidewalls and the end wall comprises a top rim, the top rims of each of the two sidewalls are substantially co-planar with the top rim of the end wall.

6. The reusable fire starter of claim 1, wherein each of the at least three legs curves outwardly and downwardly from the central basin to form a downward concave curved shape.

7. The reusable fire starter of claim 1, wherein each of the at least three legs is spaced equidistantly from the other of the at least three legs.

8. The reusable fire starter of claim 1, wherein the base of each of the at least three legs has at least one support foot.

9. The reusable fire starter of claim 8, wherein the at least one support foot is defined by a downward indentation into the base.

10. The reusable fire starter of claim 1, wherein the receptacle is configured to fit within a smokeless firepit or beneath a plurality of firewood logs.

11. The reusable fire starter of claim 1, wherein the burn chamber is configured to receive and hold at least about 8 ounces (oz) of the flammable substance.

12. The reusable fire starter of claim 11, wherein the 8 oz of the flammable substance is configured to burn for at least fifteen minutes.

13. The reusable fire starter of claim 1, wherein the non-porous, high-temperature, and heat-resistant material comprises stainless steel.

14. A reusable fire starter comprising:

a receptacle having at least three legs and a central basin sharing a common base, the at least three legs projecting radially outward from the central basin, and each of the at least three legs spaced equidistantly from the other of the at least three legs;

at least one wall extending upward from the base about the each of the at least three legs and the central basin to define a burn chamber, wherein the burn chamber is configured to receive and hold a flammable substance; and

the base of each of the at least three legs curving outwardly and downwardly from the central basin to form a downward concave curve with respect to a surface upon which the receptacle may be placed.

15. The reusable fire starter of claim 14, wherein the at least one wall comprises two sidewalls and an end wall, and each of the two sidewalls has a top rim that is substantially co-planar with a top rim of the end wall.

16. The reusable fire starter of claim 14, wherein the base of each of the at least three legs has at least one downward indentation or groove defined by a downward indentation into the base, the at least one downward indentation or groove forming at least one support foot.

17. The reusable fire starter of claim 14, wherein the burn chamber is configured to receive and hold at least about 8 ounces (oz) of the flammable substance.

18. The reusable fire starter of claim 14, wherein the open-top receptacle comprises a non-porous, high-temperature, and heat-resistant material.

19. A method of starting and sustaining a fire, the method comprising:

providing a reusable fire starter, the reusable fire starter comprising:

at least three legs projecting radially outward from a central basin, each of the at least three legs sharing a common base with the central basin, and

at least one wall extending upward from the common base about each of the at least three legs and central basin to define an open-top burn chamber;

at least partially filling the open-top burn chamber with a flammable substance;

placing a first plurality of firewood logs on top of the reusable fire starter; and

igniting the flammable substance within the open-top burn chamber of the reusable fire starter to create an ignition flame that can light the first plurality of firewood logs and start the fire.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the method further comprises:

waiting until the fire is fully extinguished;

at least partially refilling the burn chamber of the fire starter with the flammable substance;

placing one or more other firewood logs on top of the reusable fire starter; and

igniting the flammable substance within the open-top burn chamber of the reusable fire starter to create a subsequent ignition flame that can light the firewood logs and sustain a subsequent fire.