Patent Publication Number: US-2020300467-A1

Title: Firelighter Cage

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a firelighter cage. 
     BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
     Firelighters comprising a block impregnated with a flammable material are often used when starting a fire in order to allow easier lighting. Such firelighters are generally placed beneath a pile of wood, or other fuel, and lit to start the fire. 
     The present invention relates to a cage to be used with such firelighters. The cage is provided to receive the firelighter and ensure sufficient airflow around the firelighter, thereby improving the performance of the firelighter. The cage is constructed in a manner such that it is easy to manufacture and to open and close. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a firelighter cage comprising: 
     a first side member including a first wall portion formed from a rigid mesh defining a first cavity, the first side member having a peripheral first edge portion; and
 
a second side member including a second wall portion formed from a rigid mesh defining a second cavity, the second side member having a peripheral second edge portion; and
 
connectors provided on the first edge portion;
 
wherein when the first and second edge portions are aligned and engaged against each other, relative rotation of the first and second side members causes the connectors to engage with the second edge portion such that the first and second wall portions define a chamber for receiving firelighters.
 
     Preferably the second edge portion is provided with connectors to engage with the first edge portion when the first and second side members are rotated relative to each other. 
     Preferably the connectors comprise tabs each defining a channel between an outer end of the tab and an outer surface of the first or second edge portion such that the channels receive outer edges of the edge portion of the other side member. 
     Preferably the outer edges of the first and second edge portions are provided with recesses to receive the tabs of the other side member. 
     Preferably inner surfaces of the tabs are provided with lugs to engage into corresponding indents provided on the outer surfaces of the first and second edge portions. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the first and second edge portions comprise planar portions and the first and second wall portions are domed such that the cavity defined is spheroid. 
     Preferably the first and second members are formed from planar members provided with slots formed in concentric circles such that pushing a central portion of the planar member out of the plane of the planar member creates the domed wall portion. 
     Preferably the planar members include a central region provided with a plurality of holes such that the central regions of the first and second side members remain in a planar configuration. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the first and second edge portions are circular. 
     Preferably the recesses include first ends to receive the tabs and tapered end portions at second ends thereof which decrease in depth away from the first ends of the recesses such that the tapered end portions increase the force of engagement between the first and second side members as the first and second side members are rotated relative to each other. 
     Preferably the side members include alignment markings such that the alignment markings on the first side member can be aligned with the alignment markings on the second side member to correctly align the first and second side members to ensure the tabs are received within the recesses. 
     Preferably the alignment markings comprise notches provided on the outer edges of the edge portions of the first and second side members. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an upper perspective view of a firelighter cage in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the firelighter cage of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an upper perspective view of the firelighter cage of  FIG. 1  showing the first and second side members separated; 
         FIG. 4 a    is an upper perspective view of one of the side members in a flat state during construction; 
         FIG. 4 b    is an upper perspective view of the side member of  FIG. 4 a    fully extended; 
         FIG. 5  is an upper perspective view of the firelighter cage of  FIG. 1  receiving firelighters; 
         FIG. 6 a    is an upper perspective view of a second embodiment one of the side members in a flat state during construction; 
         FIG. 6 b    is an upper perspective view of the side member of  FIG. 6 a    showing the tabs for connection bent into position; and 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the side member of  FIG. 6   b.    
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the Figures, there is shown a firelighter cage  10  comprising a first side member  12  and a second side member  14 . The first side member  12  and the second side member  14  are connectable in use to define a chamber  16  for receiving firelighters  11 . 
     The first side member  12  comprises a central first wall portion  18  surrounded by a peripheral first edge portion  20 . The first wall portion  18  extends outwardly from the plane of the first edge portion  20  such that the first wall portion  18  defines a first cavity  22 . The second side member  14  comprises a central second wall portion  19  surrounded by a peripheral second edge portion  21 . The second wall portion  19  extends outwardly from the plane of the second edge portion  21  such that the second wall portion  19  defines a second cavity  23 . 
     The first and second side members  12  and  14  are arranged to be connected together such that the first edge portion  20  is adjacent the second edge portion  21  with the first and second wall portions  18  and  19  extending in opposite directions. The first and second cavities  22  and  23  thereby define the enclosed chamber  16  for receiving the firelighters  11 . 
     In the embodiment shown, the first and second wall portions  18  and  19  comprise first and second domed portions  28  and  29 . The first and second domed portions  28  and  29  are located adjacent each other such that the cavity  16  is generally spheroid in shape. 
     The first and second wall portions  18  and  19  are formed from a rigid mesh such that a plurality of holes are defined in the first and second wall portions  18  and  19 . The holes provide airflow into and out of the cavity  16 . 
     The first and second edge portions  20  and  21  are planar and in the embodiment shown are annular in shape. Connectors  24  are provided to connect together the first and second side members  12  and  14  in use. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, both the first and second edge portions  20  and  21  each include connectors  24  provided such that the first edge portion  20  is connectable to and disengageable from the second edge portion  21 . When the first edge portion  20  is engaged with the second edge portion  21 , the first and second edge portions  20  and  21  are aligned and an outer surface of the first edge portion  20  is adjacent and engaged with an outer surface of the second edge portion  21 . 
     In the embodiment shown, the connectors  24  comprise tabs  26  provided on the first and second edge portions  20  and  21 . In the embodiment, shown in the Figures, the tabs  26  are provided on opposite sides of each of the first and second edge portions  20  and  21 . Each of the tabs  26  comprises a folded portion of the edge portion  20  or  21  such that a channel is defined between an outer end of the tab  26  and the outer surface of the edge portion  20  and  21 . 
     The first and second edge portions  20  and  21  are provided also with a plurality of recesses  30  in an outer edges thereof. The recesses  30  are provided around the periphery of each of the first and second edge portions  20  and  21  such that when the first and second side members  12  and  14  are aligned and moved towards each other, the recesses  30  in the first edge portion  20  receive the tabs  26  on the second side member  14  and the recesses  30  in the second edge portion  21  receive the tabs  26  on the first side member  12 . 
     The channels defined by the tabs  26  are provided to receive outer edges of the first and second edge portions  20  and  21  adjacent the recesses  30  by relative rotation of the first and second side members  12  and  14 . The first and second side members  12  and  14  can thereby be connected by receiving the tabs  26  of each of the first and second side members  12  and  14  within the recesses  30  of the other side member  12  and  14  and rotating the first and second side members  12  and  14  relative to each other about an axis passing through centres of the first and second edge portions  20  and  21  to engage the peripheral edges of the edge portions  20  and  21  within the channels. 
     Inner surfaces of the tabs  26  are provided with lugs  32  to engage into corresponding indents  34  provided on the outer surfaces of the first and second edge portions  20  and  21 . The lugs  32  engage into the indents  34  to locate and secure the first and second edge portions  20  and  21  relative to each other. 
     The first and second side members  12  and  14  are formed from planar members  36 , as can be seen in  FIG. 4 a   . The planar members  36  comprise sheets of a suitable metal material. The planar members  36  are provided with slots  38  therein. The slots  38  are formed in a series of concentric rings  40  formed about a centre of the planar member  36 . The planar members  36  include also a central region  42  located within an innermost of the rings  40 . The central region  42  is provided with a plurality of holes. 
     The first and second side members  12  and  14  are formed as shown in  FIG. 4  by application of a force applied centrally on the planar member  36 . The applied force pushes the central region  42  of the planar member  36  out of the plane thereof, thereby expanding the slots  38  and forming the rigid mesh of the wall portion  18  or  19 . The central regions  42  of the first and second side members  12  and  14  remain in a relatively planar configuration once the shape of the first and second side members  12  and  14  has been formed. 
     In use, the firelighter cage  10  can be opened by rotating the first and second side members  12  and  14  to disengage the tabs  26 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , firelighters  11  can be placed in the cavity  22  or  23  formed by one of the wall portions  18  or  19  and the firelighter cage  10  closed by engaging the first and second side members  12  and  14  by rotation. The firelighter cage  10  can then be placed within the fuel of the fire and the firelighters  11  lit. The firelighter cage  10  provides improved airflow over the firelighters  11  in use, thereby improving the efficiency of the firelighters  11  and the speed at which the fire will properly ignite. 
     Either of the first or second side members  12  or  14  of the firelighter cage  10  may also be used separately by simply placing over a firelighter  11  underneath the fuel of the fire. 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  show a second embodiment of the side members  12  and  14  of the firelighter cage  10  in accordance with the present invention. The side member  12  of  FIGS. 6 and 7  is shown in the flat configuration prior to formation. The side member  12  is similar to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 to 5  and like reference numerals are used to denote like parts. 
     The side member  12  of  FIGS. 6 and 7  includes recesses  30  having first ends to receive the tabs  26  as shown in the previous embodiment and include also tapered end portions  44  at second ends thereof. The tapered end portions  44  of the recesses  30  decrease in depth away from the first ends of the recesses. The tabs  26  can be received within the first ends of the recesses  30  and moved toward the tapered end portions  44  of the recesses  30  as the first and second side members  12  and  14  are rotated relative to each other. The tapered end portions  44  thereby increase the force of engagement between the first and second side members  12  and  14  as the first and second side members  12  and  14  are rotated relative to each other, thereby clamping the first and second side members  12  and  14  together. 
     The side members  12  and  14  include also alignment markings  46 . The alignment markings  46  in the embodiment shown comprise notches provided on the outer edges of the edge portions  20  and  21  of the first and second side members  12  and  14 . The alignment markings  46  on the first side member  12  can be aligned with the alignment markings  46  on the second side member  14  to correctly align the first and second side members  12  and  14  to ensure the tabs  26  are received within the recesses  30  adjacent the first ends thereof. 
     It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention.