Patent Abstract:
A tinder storage container solar powered fire starter that includes top and lower housings that when coupled together form a water tight tinder storage cavity of which the inside bottom surface is a machined parabolic reflector that when used in conjunction with a tinder holder arm that securely positions the fire starting tinder at the exact focus of the reflective parabolic surface of the lower housing is able to use solar power to ignite combustible materials. The tinder holder arm is stowed in the top housing during non-use and incorporates a series of light through holes, and flex points, that provide maximum efficiency and quick positioning from stow configuration to fire starting configuration. The inside reflective inside surface of the top housing is a signal mirror, a lanyard hole is provided to prevent loss. An hour glass shaped air escape slot provides easy coupling of the top and bottom housings.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a water proof tinder storage container and, more particularly, to a water proof tinder storage container that uses solar power to ignite fire starting tinder positioned on a tinder holder arm. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Tinder storage containers and fire starters have been used in many different environments and can be particularly useful during survival situations, camping, and other outdoors activities where people are often isolated from civilization and the conveniences often found in populated environments. Tinder containers, and more particular, water proof tinder containers, are small pocket sized containers that allow the user to store and carry small amounts of dry fire starting tinder in one&#39;s pocket or backpack. The stored dry fire starting tinder can be used to start a seed fire that can then be used to ignite larger more difficult fire starting materials often found in the wilderness or other environments. Tinder containers are very useful in survival situations where many times wild tinder is damp or wet from rain, fog, or dew, and cannot be easily ignited. In addition, many outdoors activities take place in and around bodies of water and a water proof portable tinder container protects the dry fire starting tinder from becoming wet if the user should accidentally fall in a body of water. Generally speaking tinder containers of all types are simply water proof containers made from metal or plastic that often include an o-ring seal and are able to keep fire starting tinder dry in wet or damp environments. Tinder containers are often used along side stand-alone fire starters that are also very useful during survival situations, camping, and other outdoors activities. Fire starters can be used to provide warmth, cook meals, and also to signal rescue personnel. Fire starters on the market today use a variety of ignition sources that include, matches, lighters (that use some type of combustible liquid or gas), electrically heated elements, or pyrophoric elements, such as ferrocerium rods that are struck with sharp objects to produce a plurality of sparks. Matches, including water proof matches, do not work well in windy conditions, and provide minimum ignition time. Lighters use pyrophoric elements to ignite the on-board fuel source. Both lighters, and stand-alone pyrophoric type fire starters, all include elements that wear out over time, are susceptible to rapid oxidation in wet environments, are brittle and easily broken, require some means to scrape the pyrophoric element to obtain sparks, can be difficult to use, and contain rare earth elements, such as cerium that are becoming too expensive to be practical. Fire starters that use electrically heated elements require batteries or other electrical sources that wear out and must be replaced or recharged. There are also fire starters that include a tinder storage container portion of the device, but again, the fire starting elements within these devices all use consumable, replaceable, or rechargeable fire ignition systems. Both tinder containers and fire starters can also be life saving devices in a survival situation caused by natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods. Often times in such natural disasters electrical service is lost and people must leave their homes and fend for themselves. Having dry fire starting tinder in a water proof tinder container and a fire starter to start the dry tinder could save or improve the quality of lives. Ever since tinder containers and fire starters have been used there has been a need for one invention that would provide sufficient water proof space to store enough dry fire starting tinder to start a seed fire, be small enough to carry in one&#39;s pocket, and would provide a non-consumable, non-electrical fire starting element to be used to ignite combustible materials in one portable, safe, durable device. The present invention addresses the aforementioned problems by using a structural design that is aimed at minimizing the negative effects thus increasing the likelihood that the individual will carry the tinder container solar powered fire starter and realize its benefits. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, there is provided . . . a tinder storage container solar powered fire starter that includes top and lower housings that when coupled together form a water tight tinder storage cavity of which the inside bottom surface is a machined parabolic reflector that when used in conjunction with a tinder holder arm that securely positions the fire starting tinder at the exact focus of the reflective parabolic surface of the lower housing is able to use solar power to ignite combustible materials. The tinder holder arm is stowed in the top housing during non-use and incorporates a series of light through holes, and flex points that provide maximum efficiency and quick positioning from stow configuration to fire starting configuration. The inside reflective surface of the top housing is a signal mirror and a lanyard hole is provided to prevent loss. An hour glass shaped air escape slot is also included to aid in the coupling of the top and bottom housings and aid during solar alignment. 
     It would be advantageous to provide a . . . water tight tinder storage container and solar powered fire starter in one device. 
     It would also be advantageous to provide a . . . tinder storage container solar powered fire starter that included a reflective parabolic surface as the bottom surface of the tinder storage cavity. 
     It would further be advantageous to provide a . . . tinder storage container solar powered fire starter that included a tinder holder arm that positioned the tinder at the exact focus of a reflective parabolic surface of the bottom housing. 
     It would also be advantageous to provide a . . . tinder storage container solar powered fire starter that included a tinder holder arm that could securely hold the tinder in place during use. 
     It would further be advantageous to provide . . . a tinder storage container solar powered fire starter that included a tinder arm with light through holes and flex points. 
     It would also be advantageous to provide . . . a tinder storage container solar powered fire starter that included a tinder arm that would allow quick a change of configurations. 
     It would further be advantageous to provide . . . a tinder storage container solar powered fire starter that included a fire starting element that is non-consumable. 
     It would also be advantageous to provide . . . a tinder storage container solar powered fire starter that included mounting connectors for a tinder holder arm in all configurations. 
     It further be advantageous to provide . . . a tinder storage container solar powered fire starter that included a signal mirror. 
     It would also be advantageous to provide . . . a tinder storage container solar powered fire starter that included a lanyard hole. 
     It would further be advantageous to provide . . . a tinder storage container solar powered fire starter that provided an hour glass air escape slot to aid in coupling. 
     It would also be advantageous to provide . . . a tinder storage container solar powered fire starter that is compact enough to carry on one&#39;s pocket. 
     It would further be advantageous to provide . . . a tinder storage container solar powered fire starter that included-a water proof o-ring seal. 
     It would also be advantageous to provide . . . a tinder storage container solar powered fire starter that included knurled outside surfaces. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, when considered in conjunction with the subsequent, detailed description, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a tinder storage container solar powered fire starter with top housing removed and tinder holder arm in stowed configuration; 
         FIG. 2  is a left perspective view of a tinder storage container solar powered fire starter with top housing removed and tinder arm in fire starting configuration; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a tinder storage container solar powered fire starter in fire starting configuration with tinder held in position at the exact focus of the reflective parabolic surface of the lower housing using the tinder holder arm; and 
         FIG. 4  is a front sectional view of a tinder storage container solo powered fire starter in stowed configuration showing stored tinder in place. 
     
    
    
     For purposes of clarity and brevity, like elements and components will bear the same designations and numbering throughout the Figures. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the tinder storage container solar powered fire starter  10  with top housing  34  removed and tinder holder arm  38  in stowed configuration. 
       FIG. 2  is a left perspective tinder storage container solar powered fire starter  10  with top housing  34  removed and tinder arm in fire starting configuration. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the tinder storage container solar powered fire starter  10  in fire starting configuration with tinder held in position at the exact focus of the reflective parabolic inside surface  14  of the lower housing using the tinder holder arm  38 . 
       FIG. 4  is a front sectional view of the tinder storage container solar powered fire starter  10  in stowed configuration showing stored tinder in place. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 4  each element of the tinder storage container solar powered fire starter  10  is briefly described. A full description of the function and operation of the tinder storage container solar powered fire starter  10  will follow. The tinder storage container solar powered fire starter  10  of the invention includes, a bottom housing  12  that includes a machined reflective parabolic inside surface  14 , that also functions as the bottom inside surface of the tinder storage cavity  54 . The bottom housing  12  also includes a tinder holder arm male connector  16 , an o-ring channel  56  in which an o-ring seal  22  is exteriorly encircling the entire bottom housing  12 . The bottom housing  12  also includes an air hour glass shaped air escape slot  32 , a lanyard hole  30 , and a knurled lower edge  28 . The tinder storage container solar powered fire starter  10  of the invention also includes a top housing  34 , that has a knurled outside edge  36  around the entire perimeter and can be removeably coupled to the bottom housing  12 . The top housing  34  also includes a tinder holder arm male connector top  40 , an inside flat reflective surface top  52  that also functions as the top inside surface of the tinder storage cavity  54 . The tinder storage container solar powered fire starter  10  of the invention also includes a tinder holder arm  38 , that includes, a female vertical position connector  50 , a female horizontal position stow connector hole  44 , a light through hole tinder wedge upper  46 , light through hole flex point lower  48 , and female connector slot  42 . 
     In operation and referring to  FIG. 4 , the tinder storage container solar powered fire starter  10  is shown in the stowed configuration with the fire starting tinder  18  securely stowed in a water tight environment and the tinder holder arm  38  securely stowed in the top housing  34 . Now referring to  FIGS. 1 to 4 , in the stowed configuration, the tinder holder arm  38  is securely stowed in the top housing  34  by aligning the tinder holder arm  38  female horizontal position stow connector hole  44  over the tinder holder arm male connector top  40  and then pressing down and sliding the tinder holder arm  38  away from the center of the top housing  34  allowing the female connector slot  42  to ride underneath the larger diameter top of the tinder holder arm male connector top  40  and along the lower smaller diameter of the tinder holder arm male connector top  40 . This keeps the tinder holder arm  38  securely stowed in the optimum position during non-use. In operation, the tinder holder arm  38  must be removed from the stowed position and repositioned to the fire starting configuration. To remove the tinder holder arm  38  from the stowed position, the user simply slides the tinder holder arm  38  horizontally and towards the center of the top housing  34  using the female connector slot  42  until it stops. This aligns the female horizontal position stow connector hole  44  with the larger diameter top portion of the tinder holder arm male connector top  40  allowing the user to slide the tinder holder arm  38  straight up and over the tinder holder arm male connector top  40 . Once the tinder holder arm  38  is removed from the stowed position, the user must reposition the tinder holder arm  38  in the fire starting configuration. This is accomplished by aligning the female vertical position connector  50  of the tinder holder arm  38  over the tinder holder arm male connector  16  found at the center bottom of the reflective parabolic inside surface  14  of the bottom housing  12 . The user then simply presses straight down causing the female vertical position connector  50  of the tinder holder arm  38  to flex and expand via light through hole flex point lower  48  and slidably and securely connect the tinder holder arm  38  to the tinder holder arm male connector  16  of the center bottom of the reflective parabolic inside surface  14  of the bottom housing  12 . The tinder storage container solar powered fire starter  10  is now in fire starting configuration as shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 . Once the tinder storage container solar powered fire starter  10  is in fire starting configuration, the tinder holder arm  38  allows the user to securely position the fire starting tinder  18  at the exact focus point of the reflective parabolic inside surface  14  of the bottom housing  12 . In addition, the tinder holder arm  38  includes light through hole tinder wedge upper  46  and light through hole flex point lower  48  that minimize light interference once the tinder holder arm  38  is in position allowing maximum efficiency. The light through hole tinder wedge upper  46  and light through hole flex point lower  48  also allow flexing of the tinder holder arm  38  that aids in both changing configurations and holding fire starting tinder  18  in position. Now referring to  FIG. 3 , next the user securely wedges a small amount of fire starting tinder  18  into the tinder hole  58  of the tinder holder arm  38  of the tinder storage container solar powered fire starter  10 . This is accomplished by first placing the fire starting tinder  18  into the tinder hole  58  and sliding it towards the light through hole tinder wedge upper  46 . This causes the tinder holder arm  38  to expand via light through hole tinder wedge upper  46  thus wedging the fire starting tinder  18  in place. Now referring to  FIG. 3 , the user next aims the tinder storage container solar powered fire starter  10  bottom housing  12 , towards the sun or any nearby star if one is on a space mission. Because the tinder holder arm  38  positions the fire starting tinder  18  at the exact focus of the reflective parabolic inside surface  14  of the tinder storage container solar powered fire starter  10  all photons from the sun striking the reflective parabolic inside surface  14  of the bottom housing  12  of the tinder storage container solar powered fire starter  10  are reflected to a singular focus point at the position of the tinder instantly resulting in extremely high temperatures that are capable of igniting the fire starting tinder  18 . Any type of fire starting tinder  18  could be used with the present invention, wild or man-made. Once the base of the fire starting tinder  18  has been ignited to a burning ember the user grasps the yet unburned top portion of the fire starting tinder  18  and unwedges the fire starting tinder  18  from the tinder hole  58  and flexed light through hole tinder wedge upper  46  and then transfers the burning ember to a larger pile of fire starting tinder  18  placed within a fire pit or suitably prepared area. The inside flat reflective surface top  52  of the tinder storage container solar powered fire starter  10  also serves as a very effective signal mirror to be used to alert rescue personnel in times of emergency. The reflective parabolic inside surface  14  of the bottom housing  12  cannot be used for signaling purposes as all photons are focused to a singular point just above the bottom housing  12  not into space. When coupling the top housing  34  to the bottom housing  12  during non-use a water proof and air tight seal is formed between the top housing  34  and an o-ring seal  22  that is exteriorly encircling the entire bottom housing  12 . Because of this air tight seal, it is necessary to provide a means for a small amount of air trapped during coupling to escape the inside of the storage cavity to prevent the air pocket from preventing the top housing  34  and bottom housing  12  from completely coupling. This is accomplished by the use of an hour glass shaped air escape slot  32  that is shallow at is lower center portion and allows enough air to escape during initial coupling of the top housing  34  and bottom housing  12  to prevent the formation of an air pocket. The o-ring is automatically sealed as the o-ring is pressed further into the lower narrowest shallow portion of the hour glass shaped air escape slot  32  as coupling is completed. The hour glass shaped air escape slot  32  also serves as an aid to aiming the tinder storage container solar powered fire starter  10  directly at the sun by allowing the user to track the shadowing that forms within the hour glass shaped air escape slot  32  when misaligned with the sun. The tinder storage container solar powered fire starter  10  also includes a lanyard hole  30  that allows the user to carry the tinder storage container solar powered fire starter  10  on their belt or secure to back packs or other equipment to prevent loss. 
     Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention. 
     Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5