Fire starter system, method of use, and method of manufacture

A fire starter device with a cloth or paper substrate, such as a herringbone cloth material, which is coated in a micro crystalline wax. Paraffin wax may also be added to the mixture in a small amount. The device is cut into strips which can be rolled or otherwise positioned to create a fire starter. The ends of the substrate may be left uncoated to promote lighting the ends with a fire source. An auto-starter element can be built into the fire starter near one of the ends. The substrate may be died or printed with a logo or other elements. The wax may be scented.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a fire starter system and method for use thereof, and more specifically to a wax and cloth fire starter system for use in remote locations, outdoors, and in loss of power situations.

2. Description of the Related Art

Typical products used for outdoor fire starting require additional fuel for prolonged burning, and are not designed to provide a self-contained fire source capable of boiling water or otherwise providing a cooking source of heat.

Heretofore there has not been available a system or method for a fires starter system with the advantages and features of the present invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally provides a cloth or paper substrate, such as a herringbone cloth material, which is then coated in a micro crystalline wax. Paraffin wax may also be added to the mixture in a small amount.

In a preferred embodiment the cloth substrate is cut into a rectangular piece before the coating is applied. A typical piece may be 12.5″×22″ or similar dimensions. One end of the substrate may remain uncoated by the wax and allows for easy lighting of the fire starter; however, the entire substrate could be coated in some embodiments.

After coating the substrate in wax, this typical piece can be cut into smaller strips, such as 2″, 3″, or 4″ wide strips, for different burn purposes.

Once cut the strip can be rolled into a cylinder approximately the size of a quarter with the uncoated end located on the inside of the roll. The rolls should be rolled tight. The uncoated portion can be lit which will spread to the rest of the rolled strip, providing a flame suitable for boiling water or food preparation. A looser roll will reduce burning time with a benefit of a more intense flame.

When folded up with the uncoated end placed within the center of the fold, the product is effectively waterproof due to the wax coating.

An accelerant may also be applied to the uncoated end or under the coating near the uncoated end.

A logo or color can be added to the cloth or paper substrate strip and color can also be added to the wax coating.

Scents may be integrated with the wax and cloth substrate.

An embodiment of the present invention may include an auto-light element which allows the product to be ignited without the use of external igniters. A pull string, stick, zipper-element, or other element which provides a push, pull, tear, or tear-away element from the strip to produce a spark or cause ignition of the strip may be used.

An embodiment of the present invention will be designed to allow increased air flow into the product during the burning process. This could include adding slits or holes into the strips to increase airflow through the device. Additional air flow will increase fire temperature throughout the burn process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

I. Introduction and Environment

As shown inFIGS. 1-5, the present invention is a strip of cloth or paper substrate6which is coated in a micro crystalline wax22. Preferred wax types would be CW-175 Micro A or CW-155 Pet A micro crystalline wax sold by Calumet Specialty Products Partners, LP of Indianapolis, Ind. Paraffin wax may also be included in the mixture up to 25%. At least one end8of the substrate may be left uncoated to act as a lighting surface, such as shown inFIG. 1. Alternatively, the uncoated end8could include an accelerant for easier lightning.

FIG. 1shows how the fire starter system2begins in a folded, stored orientation4, and can be unfolded into a flat orientation10, which is then rolled up into an assembled and deployed orientation12where it can be used to start a fire. A wick portion14which includes an uncoated end8can be pulled up and used to light the fire starter2with a match16or other fire source as shown inFIG. 2.FIG. 3shows how the flame18would engulf the upper portion of the fire starter system2and slowly work its way downward, slowed and enhanced by the wax.

The fire starter system2could either be sold in pre-cut strips, or provided in larger strips which can be cut to size by the user. Larger strips provide for longer burning. The strips can be rolled into the deployed orientation as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3to provide directed heat for boiling water or other food preparation purposes. Longer strip and looser rolls provide for reduced burning time but will burn with more intensity. The strips6can also simply be lit without being rolled into the deployed orientation.

As manufactured, the micro crystalline wax22renders the substrate waterproof and should have no limited shelf life for use.FIG. 4shows how the strip6itself may be made of a fabric or paper weave20, however if paper is used as the strip6substrate, a weave is not necessary.FIG. 5shows how text28or images30, such as a logo, may be printed to the substrate strip6.FIG. 6shows a representation of the micro crystalline wax22which may optionally have a scent24or color26added to it. As stated above, paraffin wax may also be added in a small amount. Once finalized, the microcrystalline wax22is applied to the strip6.

Other elements may be added to the substrate and/or the wax. For example, the substrate could also be permeated with a scent. Another example includes either the substrate or the wax or both to contain minerals or other color change materials which would alter the color of the flame put out by the fire starter when lit. Other combinations include a chemical compound acting as an insect repellent, such as Citronella oil. An antiseptic and/or antibiotic chemical could also be added so that the strip could be used as a first aid bandage.

III. Alternative Embodiment Fire Starter System52

FIG. 7shows an alternative embodiment fire starter system52in a first, unrolled orientation60and a second, rolled and deployed orientation62. Each are shown with wood shavings58glued or otherwise affixed to ends and sides of the strip56. The wood shavings may be held in place by the wax over the substrate strip56. Again, the deployed orientation62may include a pulled up portion64of the strip56which serves as a wick. The wood shavings58are easier to light and serve as an accelerant.

FIGS. 8A and 8Bshow an alternative embodiment auto-light fire starter system102. Either of the previous embodiments2,52may be used in conjunction with the auto-light function. One example of an auto-light function is shown in the form of a passive portion, such as a strip120, with an active portion, such as a pull string122located near an uncoated end108of the coated substrate106, which is used as the pulled up portion114serving as a wick in the deployed orientation112. As shown inFIG. 7, when the pull string122is pulled, it causes sparks and flames118from the strip120, thereby lighting the fire starter system102. Other auto-start features can be used instead of the pull string, such as a stick, zipper-element, or other element which provides a push, pull, tear, or tear-away element from the strip to produce a spark or cause ignition of the strip120.FIGS. 9A and 9Bshow a more tightly rolled version thereof, with a slightly modified auto starter strip120and pull string122elements.

V. Method of Manufacture of a Fire Starter System202

The process in manufacturing varies; there are multiple ways for the fire starter to be manufactured. One process would be to have materials cut into medium sized rectangles approx. 12.5″×22″, then micro crystalline wax will be heated in a container like a large cooking pot, once the wax is heated to 200° F. the rectangular cloth substrate will be lowered into the hot wax and pulled out once the materials are coated to within 1 inch from the end of the substrate. The materials will need to be held over the container with the wax until the dripping stops. The coated materials can then be hung up on a line to complete the cooling process. Once cooled and coating work is complete, the rectangles can be measured and cut into smaller strips and ready for use.

The second way this can be manufactured is for the materials to be precut in the same way as the process above, the difference will be that the coating and cooling process will be automated in a way suitable to speed the process for manufacturing. This will require equipment not yet designed and fabricated. The machine to do this will need to be fabricated with 4 sides, it will be a frame work approximately 5′ tall and each side being 5′ wide made of angle iron or similar metal. There would be a chain drive that goes around the top of the frame work, driven by a stepper motor with drive or a gear motor with required ratio and horsepower to drive the chain work. At each cycle the chain work would travel exactly 5′ per cycle and would allow 4 to 5 rectangles of materials be attached at the loading side of the equipment.

When cycled the chain would rotate the rectangles around to the coating side and then a tank of hot wax would raise up to the rectangles coating them as it came up. The tank would be driven by a pair of linear actuators that would stop at a programmed height just approximately 1″ below the edge of the materials being coated. The tank would come back down at the preprogrammed time and speed and once down the rectangles will drip dry or until no more wax is dropping off, this will be a preset timer as well to accommodate different dry times and process needs. The chain would then move again to the next station where the coating would cool down for handling, in this area there would be cooling fans and other required cooling means depending on the ambient conditions of the processing area. In the meantime, once the cycle is initiated there will be other rectangles being loaded onto the chain on the loading side as well as another set being coated on the coating side. Once the timing cycle is completed the machine will move the cooled product to the unloading station, this station could be used as a secondary cooling stage or if completely cooled can be used as an unloading area and for packaging as well. If this side is used as a secondary cooling stage then the loading station would be used as an unloading station as well. The cycle would repeat as long as production is needed for the product. The machine would run at a 3-minute cycle.

The third way this production could be accomplished is to feed the substrate through a slitter to cut the materials into set widths from a roll of materials into a roller bath with a tank of hot crystalline wax, after this it would go through a cooling area, after coating and cooling the machine would feed the strips into a cutting device which would cut them into lengths preprogrammed and then feed out onto a packaging table. In the process the printing and fragrance could be incorporated into the process.

The printing would be done in 2 or 3 different ways, 2 of the ways would be for the cloth or paper materials to be direct printed roll to roll on a large format printer, Sublimated from printed paper onto the cloth through the process of heating the paper against the cloth to transfer the image, or to screen print the image onto the substrate.

FIG. 10shows steps taken in manufacturing at least one embodiment of the present invention. The process begins at204. The substrate is obtained at206, either in sheets or pre-made strips as discussed above. The substrate is cut to length at208, if necessary, and then is prepared for the addition of the coating.

A determination is made at210whether color and/or printed text, or other images or logos, should be added to the substrate or color to the coating. If yes, the appropriate color, text, or other visual elements are added at212. A determination is then made at214whether scent should be added to the coating. If yes, scent is added to the coating at216. A determination is then made at218whether an auto-start lighter feature should be added to the fire starter system. If yes, that feature is installed near an end of the substrate strip at220. A determination then is made whether to leave the end of the substrate uncoated at222. If yes, preparation is made to leave the end of the strip uncoated at224.

Once all the appropriate decisions as to how the final strips should be, and all features are applied, the substrate6is coated at226with the wax. The coated substrate is then cut to width at228. A determination is made at230whether to add the wood shavings fromFIG. 5to the embodiment. If yes, wood shavings are added at232, otherwise this step is skipped and the product folded for storage or sale and packaged at234and the process ends at236.

VI. Method of Using Fire Starter System252

A method252of using the fire starter system is shown in steps illustrated byFIG. 11. The process starts at254and the fire starter to be used is selected by the user at256. The fire starter is unfolded at258, if the fire starter is obtained in a folded orientation. In some situations, the user will obtain the fire starter in an unfolded orientation, so step258may not be required.

Once rolled, the raised wick portion is pulled up at260to provide a lighting point, and rolled into a deployed orientation at262. This step can be skipped if the user simply wants to light the strip unrolled. If there is an auto-start element installed at264, the user can choose to activate the auto-start element at266to light the fire starter system. Otherwise the wick portion is lit at268using an external fire source, such as a match.

If a larger fire is desired at270, additional fuel can be added at272to create a larger fire. This can be repeated as necessary, but once the user is done with the fire they will let the fire expire at274and dispose of the debris. The process then ends at276.

It is to be understood that while certain embodiments and/or aspects of the invention have been shown and described, the invention is not limited thereto and encompasses various other embodiments and aspects.