AN IMPROVED ED LIAMED
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Adam Glendinning Elliot, of San Francisco, California,
United States of America, now of 8, Southampton Buildings, London, for an
Invention of 66 AN IMPROVED ED LIAMED "
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Adam Glendinning Elliot
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th October 1881.
ADAM GLENDINNING ELLIOT, of San Francisco, California, United States of
America, now of 8, Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED FIRE-
LIGHTER.
"
My Invention relates to an improved fire-lighter made of separate pieces of
wood formed and combined in such a manner that very advantageous results are
obtained thereby.
According to my Invention a fire lighter is made in the following manner, that
is to say: I provide two flat end pieces, each of which is of about the following
dimensions, viz., four inches in length by one and a half inches in width, and a
quarter of an inch in thickness. These pieces are placed parallel with each other,
and at about five inches apart, more or less, and are united by two longitudinal
bars of wood, one on each side. These bars, which may be about a quarter of an
inch
square in transverse section, fit into recesses cut near the top of the aforesaid
end pieces. Between the latter I place other pieces, which are of about the same
dimensions as the said end pieces, but are situated at a higher level than the end
pieces, so that there is a clear space between the lower portions of the latter, the
bottom edges of the interior pieces being above this space. These interior pieces
have at each end thereof, and near their lower edge, an aperture into which the
longitudinal bars fit, the said pieces being placed crosswise from bar to bar in like
manner to the end pieces. The latter are however situated lower than the interior
pieces both with respect to their top and bottom edges. The pieces are so arranged
that there is a clear space between each two adjacent ones.
The lower edges of the interior cross-pieces are preferably cut in several places
so as to present thin depending strips or portions, which serve for facilitating the

page_text: ignition of the said fire-lighter when a light is applied thereto. The lower part of
the fire-lighter so constructed is covered or impregnated with readily ignitible
material, such as resin, coal oil, or a mixture of the same.
When a fire is to be lighted by one of these lighters the same is placed in the
grate in such a position that it rests upon the bottom thereof, the lower edges of
the two end pieces being the only parts of the lighter in contact with the grate.
There is therefore a clear air space between these two end pieces and under the
interior cross pieces, as above explained, this space permitting a free entry of air to
support combustion. Coal is placed upon and about the lighter, and a flame being
applied to the lower part of the latter a good fire is speedily obtained.
The dimensions above set forth for the pieces of wood have been found to be
convenient in practice, but may be varied without affecting the principle of my
Invention.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Adam Glendinning Elliot in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th April 1882.
ADAM GLENDINNING ELLIOT, of San Francisco, California, United States of
America, now of 8, Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED FIRE-
LIGHTER.
"
My Invention relates to an improved fire-lighter, which is formed of a series of.
separate pieces of wood arranged and combined in such a manner that very advan-
tageous results are obtained thereby, as hereinafter specified.
My Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, in which,-
Figure 1 is a plan or top view,
Figure 2 a front view, and
Figure 3 an end view of my improved fire-lighter.
Figure 4 is a transverse section of the same on the line x, x, Figure 1.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
I construct my improved fire-lighter in the following manner, that is to say :-
I provide two flat end pieces a, each of which is of about the following dimensions,
viz., four inches in length by one and a half inches in depth, and a quarter of an
inch in thickness. These end-pieces are placed parallel to each other, and at a
distance of about five inches apart, more or less, and are united by two longitudinal
bars b of wood, one at the front and the other at the rear of the fire-lighter. These
bars b, which may be about a quarter of an inch square in transverse section, fit
into recesses c near the top of the end pieces a, as shewn more particularly in
Figure 3. Between these end pieces I place intermediate pieces d of wood, which
are preferably of the same dimensions as the said end pieces, and are provided with
recesses similar to the recesses c in the latter. These intermediate pieces d however
are so combined with the aforesaid bars b that their upper edge is situated at a
higher level than that of the end pieces a, and there is a clear space e between the
lower portions of the said intermediate pieces and the bottom of the grate or fire
place when the said fire-lighter is placed therein, and supported by the end
pieces a.
The said intermediate pieces extend from one bar b to the other, and are so
arranged that there is a space f between each adjacent pair of the said pieces and
between the two outer pieces d and the end pieces a to allow a free passage for the
products of combustion, and permit the same to readily impinge upon the fuel
placed upon the fire-lighter.
The lower edges of the intermediate pieces d are in some cases cut, as shewn
at d', so as to present thin depending strips or portions, which will facilitate the
ignition of the said fire-lighter when a light is applied thereto. The lower portion
of the fire-lighter so constructed is covered or impregnated with readily ignitable
material, such as resin, or coal oil, or a mixture of the same; or instead of cutting
the lower edges of the said pieces d as above described, I may secure to the same
shavings, or sawdust, or other readily ignitable material.
When a fire is to be lighted with one of these lighters the lighter is placed in the
grate in such a position that its end pieces a rest upon the bottom thereof, and are
the only parts of the lighter in contact with the said grate. There is therefore the
clear air-space e between these two end pieces and below the lower edge of the
intermediate cross pieces d, as above explained, which space permits a free entry of
air beneath and between the said intermediate pieces to support combustion. Coal
is placed upon and about the lighter, and a flame being applied to the lower part
of the latter a good fire is speedily obtained.

page_text: The dimensions above set forth for the pieces of wood have been found to be
convenient in practice, but may be varied without departing from the principle
of my Invention.
Having thus fully described my said Invention and the manner of performing the
same, I wish it understood that I claim,-
The improved fire-lighter constructed substantially as above set forth, that is to
say, in such a manner that a free space is left between the end pieces and below
the lower edges of the intermediate pieces for the passage of air thereto for sup-
porting combustion.
In witness whereof, I, the said Adam Glendinning Elliot, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
ADAM G. ELLIOT. (LS.)