Fire Starting Apparatus

Abstract

The present invention provides a fire stating apparatus having a reloadable system of flammable, easily ignitable pellets. The system preferably comprises a hand held housing, with a trigger mechanism disposed on said housing and operably connected to a flame initiating component disposed inside said housing and positioned to eject ignitable pellets from the apparatus nearly simultaneously with the ignition of said pellets.

Claims

1. A fire starting apparatus, comprising: a housing; a port; a trigger mechanism, operably connected to an initiating device; a cylinder having a plurality of chambers, each containing a fuel pellet; wherein the initiating device, cylinder, and port are relatively positioned such that the initiating device may drive into a cylinder, thereby igniting the fuel pellet, and ejecting the ignited fuel pellet from the apparatus through the port.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein trigger mechanism is a mechanical sliding mechanism.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the mechanical sliding mechanism is configured to be slid along an obstructed indirect path.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a retaining structure.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an isolation structure.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the trigger mechanism is an electronic switch.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the trigger mechanism is a biometric sensor.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a tube extending from the near the cylinder through the port.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a port cover.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the initiating device is a driver operably connected to a ferrocerium rod.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the driver is a spring.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fuel pellets comprise paraffin and petroleum products.

13. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the retaining structure is a film.

14. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the isolation structure is a film.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the chamber is a magazine structure.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a separation structure.

17. A fire starting apparatus, comprising: a housing; a port; a trigger mechanism, operably connected to an initiating device; a cylinder having a plurality of chambers, each containing a fuel pellet; a retaining structure; a port cover; wherein the trigger mechanism is a mechanical sliding mechanism; wherein the initiating device is a driver operably connected to a ferrocerium rod; wherein the retaining structure is a film; wherein the fuel pellet comprises paraffin and petroleum products; wherein the initiating device, cylinder, and port are relatively positioned such that the initiating device may drive into a cylinder, thereby igniting the fuel pellet, and ejecting the ignited fuel pellet from the apparatus through the port.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the fuel pellet is substantially entirely consumable by fire.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein at least one of the chambers of the cylinder have structures assist in igniting the fuel pellet.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a mechanism to reposition the cylinder after the ejection of a fuel pellet so that a new fuel pellet is present.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] For a better understanding of the invention, and to show by way of example how the same may be carried into effect, reference is now made to the detailed description of the invention along with the accompanying figures in which corresponding numerals in the different figures refer to corresponding parts and in which:

[0016] FIG. 1A is an illustration of the bottom view of the apparatus;

[0017] FIG. 1B is an illustration of the rear view of the apparatus;

[0018] FIG. 1C is an illustration of the front view of the apparatus;

[0019] FIG. 1D is an illustration of the top view of the apparatus;

[0020] FIG. 1E is an illustration of the side view of the apparatus;

[0021] FIG. 2 a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the apparatus, taken along the line Z-Z of FIG. 1E;

[0022] FIG. 3A illustrates the front view of one embodiment of a fuel cell cylinder; and

[0023] FIG. 3B illustrates the side view of one embodiment of a fuel cell cylinder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] While the making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts, which 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 invention and do not limit the scope of the invention.

[0025] The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a fire starting apparatus having an outer housing with a trigger mechanism disposed on the top of said housing, with such trigger mechanism being slideable through an obstructed indirect path to activate the apparatus. Said trigger mechanism being operably connected to an initiating device consisting of a ferrocerium rod propelled by a spring. Upon activation of the trigger mechanism, the initiating device is activated and moves forward into a chamber of a cylinder containing a parrifin-petroleum fuel pellet. The initiating device both generates sparks that ignite the fuel pellet and pushes the fuel pellet out of the apparatus. Upon being ignited, the flaming fuel pellet is ejected from the apparatus through a port in the housing.

[0026] The present invention is applicable for use in a number of applications where fire starting is required, and the present invention is particularly applicable to camping and outdoor survival scenarios. Therefore, for purposes of explanation and illustration, the present invention is hereafter described within the context of a camping application. It should be understood, however, that those of skill in the art will, upon reference to this description, be able to apply the principles and teachings of the present invention in a wide variety of fire starting applicationsfrom military and industrial uses to indoor residential uses.

[0027] Referring now to FIGS. 1A through 1E, one embodiment of the present invention is provided as an illustrative example. For illustrative purposes, the relative size of components and the relative distances between components are not depicted to scale in FIGS. 1A through 1E. FIG. 1A depicts the bottom view of the apparatus housing 101 with the protrusion of the end of a tube through the port 102 visible on the front side. FIG. 1B depicts the rear view of the apparatus housing 101 with the trigger mechanism 104 visible on the top side. FIG. 1C depicts the front view of the apparatus housing 101 and depicts the port 102 and a port cover 103, with the trigger mechanism 104 visible on the top side. FIG. 1D depicts the top view of the apparatus housing 101 and depicts the trigger mechanism 104 with the groves 105 for its obstructed indirect slide path, and the end of a tube through the port 102 visible on the front side. With respect to the slide path 105, the path may involve more directional changes and may include directional changes perpendicular to the top side of the apparatus housing 101. FIG. 1E depicts the side view of the apparatus housing 101 with the trigger mechanism 104 visible on the top side and the end of a tube through the port 102 visible on the front side. FIG. 1E also depicts the axis Z-Z along with a cross section will be depicted in FIG. 2.

[0028] As depicted in FIGS. 1A through 1E, housing 101 comprises a simple enclosure inside of which and onto of which various components are disposed. In the preferred embodiment, a tube extends through port 102 and a port cover 103 configured as a flap attached on one edge to the housing 101 is provided to prevent blockage of port 102 and to the introduction of foreign material into the apparatus. In the preferred embodiment, the trigger mechanism 104 is a slideable mechanism that can be slide through an obstructed indirect slide path 105. In other embodiments, port 102 may not include a tube and port cover 103 may be omitted or given a different configuration. In other embodiments, trigger slide path 105 may be missing and trigger mechanism 104 may comprise a button, a lever, a liftable device, an electronic trigger, a biometric sensor, or any other trigger mechanism known in the art.

[0029] Referring now to FIG. 2, one embodiment of the present invention is presented as an illustrative example by a cross-sectional view made along the Z-Z axis depicted in FIG. 1E. In the preferred embodiment, FIG. 2 depicts an initiating device consisting a spring 201 operably connected to the trigger mechanism 104 and a ferrocerium rod 202. Upon activation of trigger mechanism 104, the initiating device is activated causing spring 201 to drive the ferrocerium rod 202 into a chamber 301 of cylinder 203, the chamber containing paraffin-petroleum fuel pellet 302. The ferrocerium rod 202 further drives fuel pellet 302 out of the apparatus through port tube 102. In other embodiments, cylinder 203 may be a magazine structure or any other structure that will hold a plurality of fuel pellets 302 in a manner that allows them to be ignited and ejected individually without causing ignition of multiple fuel pellets. Furthermore, in other embodiments, spring 201 can be replaced with any device that will drive the ferrocerium rod 202 into fuel pellet 302. Furthermore, in other embodiments, ferrocerium rod 202 can be replaced with any material or any device that will both ignite fuel pellet 202 and eject fuel pellet 202 from the apparatus.

[0030] Referring now to FIGS. 3A and 3B, one embodiment of the present invention is presented as an illustrative example. FIG. 3A depicts a the front view of one embodiment of a fuel cell cylinder. In one embodiment, the front and back views are substantially similar. FIG. 3A depicts six chambers 301, each containing a paraffin-petroleum fuel pellet 302. FIG. 3A also depicts a central axis 304 around which the cylinder rotates and six ratchet mechanisms 303 to rotate and reposition the cylinder 203 between each activation of the apparatus. FIG. 3B depicts a side view of one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3B shows a rear film 305 and a front film 306. The rear film 305 and front film 306 both serve simultaneously as both retention structures and isolation structures. In other embodiments, any number of chambers 301 may be present. Furthermore, in other embodiments, each chamber may contain a plurality of fuel pellets 302. Furthermore, in other embodiments, ratchet mechanisms 303 may be replaced with any device that will reposition the cylinder between activations of the apparatus. Furthermore, in other embodiments, either rear film 305 and front film 306, or both, may be removed or may be replaced with any structure or combination of structures capable of serving as either retention or isolation structures. Furthermore, as described above, in other embodiments, cylinder 203 may be a magazine structure or any other structure that will hold a plurality of fuel pellets 302 in a manner that allows them to be ignited and ejected individually without causing ignition of multiple fuel pellets. Such a magazine structure may also employ retention, isolation, or separation structures either individually or in combination.

[0031] As depicted, the preferred embodiment of the apparatus is of the size and shape to be fit in one hand with the trigger mechanism being operable the thumb of the same hand. In other embodiments, however, the apparatus may be of any size and may require more than one hand or more than one person to operate.

[0032] The embodiments and examples set forth herein are presented to best explain the present invention and its practical application and to thereby enable those skilled in the art to make and utilize the invention. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the foregoing description and examples have been presented for the purpose of illustration and example only. The description as set forth is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims.