An Improved Device Suitable for Use as a Fire-lighter and Applicable also for Heating Cooking Utensils and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 14th Oct., 1899
An Improved Device Suitable for Use as a Fire-lighter and Applicable
also for Heating Cooking Utensils and the like.
We, ROBERT LUND ROBERTS, of 17, Prudential Buildings, Dale Street, Liver-
pool, in the County of Lancaster, Builders' Merchant, and GEORGE EDWARD
DEHANY, of 4, Northumberland Street, Liverpool, aforesaid, Contractor, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the follow-
ing statement:-
This invention has reference to an improved device suitable for use as a fire
lighter but applicable also for heating cooking utensils and the like. The
improved device (hereinafter referred to as a firelighter) comprises a suitably
shaped block of porous material having around its edge or periphery a groove
adapted to engage with a detachable handle the free end of which terminates in
a ring or loop whereby the device can be hung up, and its opposite end project-
ing past the porous block so as to protect such block against fracture or damage
whilst it is being forced between the bars of a fire grate or the coals contained
therein.
In order that the nature of the invention may be clearly understood we shall
now describe the same with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings
wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved firelighter, and Fig. 2
shows the fire-lighter in cross-section on the line of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows
the wire handle opened to receive the block with the means for securing the two
portions of the handle together. Fig. 4 shows the firelighter as applied for light-
ing a fire in an ordinary grate.
A is a block composed of any suitable porous incombustible material such for
example as what is known as brickwood, or clay or other earth treated so as to
be capable of absorbing mineral oils such as paraffin. It is made of any
suitable shape, the diamond shape shown in the drawings being however the
most convenient, and of about one inch in thickness, so that it can be passed
between the bars of a grate and then be turned on edge as shown in Fig. 4. To
facilitate combustion of the liquid fuel with which it is charged, it may be per-
forated with one or more holes, one such hole being shown at B in the drawing.
The block A is formed around its edges with a groove C for the reception of a
holder D having a handle D¹, D³. The holder and handle consists of a length of
stiff wire bent as shown in Fig. 3. One portion of the handle, viz.: D¹, being
made shorter than the other D2 which is folded over to give additional strength,
the bend being enlarged to form a loop D³ to admit of a better grip and to allow
of the firelighter being hung up if desired. On the portion D² of the handle
are rings or sliding wire ferrules E so arranged that when the portions D¹ and D
of the handle are brought together the rings or. ferrules E may be slid along
the three parallel lengths of wire thus securing them firmly together. The
handle of the device can however be made in various ways, for example of cast

page_text: metal if desired, but for cheapness and durability we prefer the one before
described and shown.
When it is desired to use the firelighter herein before described for kindling
an ordinary coal fire in a stove or grate, the porous block is saturated with
paraffin or other inflammable oil and passed flatways between the fire bars of the
stove or grate and is then turned on edge by the handle (see Fig. 4), the coal or
other fuel to be ignited being placed loosely around and above the saturated
block so as to allow the air and flame to circulate freely on kindling the fire.
When the fuel has become well alight the firelighter is withdrawn, and after
being allowed to cool it may again be steeped in oil so as to be ready for subsequent
use.
The device herein before, described can also be used to replace a gas stove for
heating or boiling pans, kettles and other household utensils. Fig. 5 shows the
device applied for heating a can or the like. For this purpose the porous block A
after being saturated with a suitable oil such as paraffin, is placed on a suitable
support such as a piece of hoop iron bent into a suitable form, such as that of
a horse shoe, and a similar piece G of hoop iron is also placed on the top of the
block A for carrying the utensil H to be heated, thus allowing a free circulation
of air to support combustion of the oil when the same is ignited.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
1. A device suitable for use as a firelighter and for heating cooking utensils
and the like, comprising a block of porous incombustible material such as brick-
wood, or clay, grooved around its periphery, and a removable handle adapted to
be secured around the grooved edge portion of the block, substantially as
described, with reference to the drawings.
2. The improved device suitable for use as a fire lighter and for heating cook-
ing and other receptacles, constructed, arranged and operating substantially as
herein before described with reference to and shown in the drawings annexed.
Dated this 9th day of August 1899.
For the Applicants,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.