Year: 1899

page_text: I, EDWIN BROOKS, of 36, Peel Street, Eccles, Manchester, Manufacturers Agent,
do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to and consists of improvements in fire-lighters.
According to my invention I take a series of, by preference five small pieces
of wood or like inflamable substance, about 6 inches long and 1 inch by an inch.
square. These several sticks I thread on to fine wire or like object, and with small
blocks or distance pieces placed between them produce a comb-like structure
with the several sticks free to rotate on the wire.
The said wire is of such a length that after passing through the sticks it is long
enough to be bent over the faces of the sticks, and for both of its extremities to
be secured at the same side of the fire-lighter, and such bending of the wire across
the faces of the sticks is not at right angles with the sticks, but diagonal; or the
bending is such as to cause the wire to stand off the faces of the sticks and when
turned down on to the sticks lie in a diagonal to the sticks.
When the fire-lighter is required for use each alternate stick is rotated on the
wire until it meets and lies over, instead of under, that part of the wire lying over
the faces of the other sticks, and produces a multiple cross-like structure with
ne sticks lying at an angle of about 30° to each other. When placed in a fire-
grate horizontally and covered with fuel, the wire lying between the sticks acts
as a wedge, and prevents collapse, and with the several sticks thus held apart
ample air space is afforded, and a most effective-lighter obtained.
To aid in burning, the sticks may be impregnated or coated with any suitable
inflamable substance commonly used with fire-lighters, and to assist in lighting
the fire-lighter I may use small pieces of fibrous or other suitable material charged
with resin or tar and fixed between the several sticks.
For packing and transit purposes the fire-lighter is arranged with all the sticks
parallel.
Although preferring wire for holding the fire-lighter open I may cause the
sticks to lock with each other by abutment, or by other means which will give
the sticks a limited movement about their axis.
Dated this 5th day of June 1800

page_text: be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to and consists of improvements in fire-lighters.
According to my invention I take a series of small pieces, or sticks of wood or
like inflamable substance, about six inches long, one inch deep and half an inch wide.
These several sticks I thread on to a fine wire or like object along with a series
of small blocks or distance pieces placed between the several sticks, and thereby
produce a comb-like structure, with the several sticks free to rotate on the wire.
This latter, after passing through the sticks, is bent over the faces of the sticks,
and its two extremities are secured at the same side of the fire-lighter, and such
bending of the wire across the faces of the sticks is not at right angles with the
sticks but diagonal; or the bending is such as to cause the wire to stand off the
faces of the sticks and when turned down on to the sticks to lie in a diagonal to
the sticks.
When the fire-lighter is required for use each alternate stick is rotated on the
wire until it meets and lies over, instead of under, that part of the wire lying over
the faces of the other sticks, and produces a multiple cross-like structure with
the sticks lying at an angle of about 30° to each other. When placed in a fire-
grate horizontally and covered with fuel, the wire lying between the sticks acts
as a wedge and prevents collapse, and with the several sticks thus held apart
ample air space is afforded and a most effective lighter obtained.
On the accompanying drawing Fig. I illustrates a perspective view of the fire-
lighter as closed and adapted for transit or storage, and Fig. 2 illustrates the
same fire-lighter as opened out by the reversal of two of the sticks, and made
ready for use. Fig. illustrates the use of the fire-lighter.
(A'), (A²), (A³), (A) and (A) designate the several sticks forming the fire-
lighter which are of any suitable size, but preferably about six inches long, one inch
deep, and half an inch wide. In each stick is a small hole (13) through which I
pass a length of wire (C) and thereby thread the several sticks on to such wire.
Between the several sticks I introduce small distance blocks (D), either lose, or
forming part of one of the next adjoining sticks, and serving to produce air
spaces (E).
After passing through the sticks the wire (C) is bent flat against the side of the
end stick (A) and caused to lie diagonally to such stick as illustrated. It is then
passed at right angles across the faces of all the sticks and bent flat against the
outer side of the stick (A) where it is joined to its other end, or otherwise made
secure.
With the sticks arranged parallel as shewn in Fig. 1, the fire-lighter occupies a
minimum of room, and a quantity thereof may be stored away, or parcelled up, in
a comparatively small space.
When the fire-lighter is required for use, the two alternate sticks (A2), (*) are
rotated on the wire in the direction of the arrow () until they come above and
meet that part of the wire (C) which lies across the faces of the other sticks (A¹).
(A), (A³) and (A), as shewn in Fig. 2. After being so adjusted the fire-lighter is
then placed in the fire-grate horizontally and covered with fuel, as shewn in
Fig. 3. Owing to the wire (C) coming between the several sticks in the manner
shewn, and thereby acting as a wedge, it is impossible for the fire-lighter to col-
lapse under the weight of fuel, and in such position it presents a large combustion
area, and by its open character allows the fuel to lie above and between its several
parts, with the consequent advantages in lighting.
To ensure of the wire lying at the right point across the face of the sticks I
may provide a slight nick or saw-cut in which the wire is placed and to assist in
manipulating the sticks (A9). (A) I may connect them by a wire staple (F), see
Fig. 2. A modification of my invention consists in using two separate pieces of
wire, one for the axis, and the other for locking the sticks. Although preferring
wire I may cause the sticks to lock with each other by abutment of overlapping
parts, as shewn by dotted lines in Fig. 1, or by other like and suitable means which

page_text: will allow the sticks to lie in the flat, as shewn in Fig 1, and also allow them to
be opened out to the position shewn in Fig. 2, and lock them in such position
against collapse. It is not essential that the wire (C) should pass through the
centre of each stick, or that the fire-lighter be limited to an odd number of sticks,
but for the better support of the same it is desirable. In some cases we may
dispense with the distance pieces (D).
To aid in burning, the sticks may be impregnated or coated with any suitable
imflamable substance commonly used with fire-lighters, and to assist in starting the
fire-lighter I may use small pieces of fibrous or other suitable material charged
with resin or tar and fixed between the several sticks.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. A fire lighter composed of sticks of wood or like inflamable material mounted
upon a wire or other suitable axis, in combination with means, which, when the
sticks are rotated and caused to lie at an angle with each other, acts as a wedge
or stop to retain the sticks in such position and to resist collapse when the fire-
lighter is placed horizontally and covered with fuel, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 5th day of October 1899.
EDWIN BROOKS,
By John G. Wilson and Co., Fels. Inst. P.A., Manchester, Agents.