Abstract:
A fire starter candle for starting or kindling fires, especially wood fires such as those in fireplaces or the like is featured. The fire starter candle includes wax and wick for burning as a kindling device.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     This invention relates to an apparatus for starting or kindling fires, especially wood fires such as those in fireplaces or the like. In addition, the invention relates to a fire starting candle including wax and wick for burning as a kindling device.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention provides a fire candle apparatus comprising a candle body made of a waxy material having a first and second end; multiple wicks having first wick ends and second wick ends, oriented in the candle body such that the first wick ends are exposed a distance beyond said candle body for igniting said multiple wicks; with the candle body being of a geometric shape to fit tightly between two pieces of firewood. The present invention further provides a method of starting a wood fire using the fire starter candle apparatus, comprising the steps of positioning the candle body tightly between two pieces of firewood, angling the apparatus up at a 30 to 45 degree angle with only the multiple wicks exposed, lighting the wicks causing some wax to melt and run onto the firewood and concentrating heat in a small area to start the wood burning  
         [0003]     A general object of this invention is to provide a small, clean, convenient and economical way to start a wood burning fireplace or other fire.  
         [0004]     Another object of this invention is to provide a fire starting apparatus which is flexible and contour friendly for placement around and between various shaped fire logs.  
         [0005]     To achieve the foregoing and other objects, and in accordance with the purposes of the present invention as described herein, there are described fire starter candle apparatuses with a wax body and one or more wicks for burning as a kindling device.  
         [0006]     Further novel features and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, discussion and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0007]     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and, together with the general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a top view of an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a side view in cross section of an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a side view showing a typical placement for the present invention within a set of three fire logs.  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a top view showing the typical placement for the present invention lengthwise between the two front logs.  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
       [0014]     Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]     In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views. Also, in the following description, it is to be understood that terms such as front, back, inside, outside, and the like are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms. Terminology used in this patent is not meant to be limiting insofar as devices described herein, or portions thereof, may be attached or utilized in other orientations. Referring in more detail to the drawings, the invention will now be described.  
         [0016]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a fire starter candle apparatus  10  is shown comprising one or more wicks  12  and a candle body of waxy material  14 . The fire starter candle apparatus  10  may be of any geometric shape, and includes a first and second end  16 ,  17 . The one or more wicks  12  have a first wick end  19  and second wick end  21 . As seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the one or more wicks  12  are placed in the candle body  14  oriented such that the first wick end  19  is exposed a distance beyond the candle body  14  providing a means for igniting the one or more wicks. The candle body  14  is made of waxy material such as paraffin wax, beeswax, vegetable oil wax, tallow, soybean oil based wax or the like. However, the one or more wicks  12  may also be placed in another liquesce, meltable material that will allow a slow burn of the one or more wicks  12 , as would be contemplated by one skilled in the art.  
         [0017]     The candle body  14  extends in what is referred to herein as the longitudinal direction, even though, when utilized, the candle apparatus  10  may be in an arcuate configuration. This apparatus  10  may generally be rectangular in shape, but may also be produced in a variety of different shapes and sizes. The present invention will generally be longer than thick, for placement between two fire logs, and to provide a tight fit. The slope of the fire starter apparatus will generally be of a ratio, length vs. thickness, of at least about 20 to 1. The thickness will generally be no greater than about one (1) inch, preferably no greater than about ½ of an inch. In one embodiment, shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , rectangular-shaped candle bodies are available with approximate 5.00 in.×3.00 in×0.19 in. dimensions. However, the overall shape and dimensions may vary according to the specific needs of the customer. The shape shown in these figures is rectangular, however a variety of other shapes may also be employed, including but not limited to tetrahedron, or any other polyhedronic shape. Again, no shape is considered prohibitive for this present invention, as would be understood by one skilled in the art.  
         [0018]     The one or more wicks  12  are each formed from a bundle of long burning, easily ignitable fibers or loosely twisted, braided, or woven cord, tape, or tube usually of soft spun cotton threads or cotton paper fibers or the like. As best shown in  FIG. 3 , the wicks may be axially spaced along and centered within the width (W) of the candle body  14 . The wicks  12  extend the length (L) of the candle body  14 , with the second wick end  21  oriented in the same direction and generally aligned with the second end  17  of the candle body  14 . Further, the wick material  12  may be formed as one continuous elongated burnable member.  
         [0019]     In the embodiment of the invention depicted in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the fire starter candle apparatus  10  is placed tightly between two pieces of firewood  30 . In this embodiment, the candle apparatus  10  is angled up at 30 to 45 degrees (D) from the horizontal, with the wick material  12  exposed a distance, as seen in  FIG. 5 . The wick material  12  provides the heat that is required to start the wood  30  burning. Once all the wicks  12  are lit, the burning causes some waxy material to melt and run onto the firewood  30 . The proximity of the wood  30  above and below the fire starter  10  prevents it from burning too fast and helps contain the melted wax in a small area. The fire starter  10  works well on split and unsplit logs.  
         [0020]     In another embodiment, seen in  FIG. 6 , the wick material forms a first  22  and second  24  surface of the candle apparatus  10 . A mass of the waxy material  14  is sandwiched between the wick material. The wicks  12  are coated with waxy material  14  and the first and second surfaces  22 ,  24  extend as a peripheral edge  26  around the entire candle body  10 . The mass of waxy material and the flanged peripheral edge  26  may be of any thickness or size, with a larger block shape providing a preferred longer burning starter. Additionally, this embodiment may burn the waxy material or paraffin in a more controlled manner, and it only needs to be lit in one wick location.  
         [0021]     In yet other embodiments, scents may be added to increase the appeal. The number of wicks, length, width and thickness of the waxy material can all be varied for the specific fire starter application.  
         [0022]     The only products that are currently readily available for starting wood fires are wood blocks made from pressed wood chips and/or sawdust. They are more expensive, bulkier and not nearly as effective as the present invention.  
         [0023]     In summary, numerous benefits have been described which result from employing the concepts of the invention. The foregoing description of one or more embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The one or more embodiments were chosen and described in order to best illustrate the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.