Improvements in Domestic Firelighters and in Means for Making the same.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Apr., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 20th Jan., 1900-Accepted, 17th Mar., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Domestic Firelighters and in Means for Making
the same.
I, EDMUND NICOLAS, of 2, Cooper Street, Manchester, in the County of Lan-
caster, Designer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My said invention relates to improvements in domestic firelighters and to
means whereby such firelighters may be readily and economically constructed.
In making a firelighter in accordance with my invention I employ two end
pieces of a suitable cross formation, such end pieces being pressed, moulded, or
otherwise produced, from a composition of sawdust and resin or from any other
suitable inflammable mixture capable of being moulded or worked and of retaining
a permanent shape.
The chips or sticks, which need not necessarily be of uniform thickness, are
arranged to sit in the four angles which exist in the end cross pieces, the sticks
bridging over the distance between the two end pieces. With end pieces of cross
formation, four sticks would be used as will be well understood, each end of each
stick resting in one angle of each end piece, so that a rectangular shape of fire
lighter is produced having a certain free space existing between the chips. This
free space may be arranged to contain the fuse, which might consist of the waste
produced from the manufacture of the inflammable end pieces enveloped in any
suitable wrapping. The sticks having been arranged in position and the fuse
inserted, the fire lighter is bound round with twine or wire so as to secure the
parts together.
Finally each end of the fire lighter is dipped in a resinous or other bath so as
to render the sticks more inflammable and the connection of the parts permanent.
I may arrange the parts so that the sticks project or extend beyond the cross
pieces and I may use a fuse or igniter other than that herein described.
I do not confine myself to end pieces of cross formation so long as suitable
angles or gaps are left for the reception of the sticks.
To expedite the production of my improved firelighter, I propose to press or
mould a number of the end cross pieces of inflammable material, at one and the
same time.
Under one form of apparatus a number of dies or plungers are arranged to
descend into a number of moulds of cross, or other, formation, provided with a
sliding or false bottom. The mixture is supplied to the moulds and the dies
brought down. Having descended sufficiently far, the sliding bottom to the
moulds is withdrawn or removed, so that the moulded end pieces, which are by
this time practically set, drop clear of the moulds which may then be refilled.
I employ two jaws in which the sticks and end pieces are put together and by
which they are held whilst binding is being effected. The jaws are made in two
halves formed with angular gaps, the upper halves being movable towards the
lower.
In arranging the parts, a stick is laid in the angle of the gap in the lower
jaws, the end pieces put in position and the remaining sticks inserted, whereupon

page_text: the movable halves are caused to descend and hold the parts of the firelighter,
whilst the fuse is inserted and the sticks bound round with wire or the like.
Upon this having been done, the upper jaws are released, the firelighter
removed, and the ends dipped in a bath of inflammable material which completes
its formation.
The upper jaws are kept out of action by a spring or weight and may be
operated by a treadle or any other suitable means.
By means of my invention. I am enabled to produce a vastly improved form
of firelighter in an expeditious and economical manner.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Domestic Firelighters and in Means for Making
the same.
I, EDMUND NICOLAS, of 2, Cooper Street, Manchester, in the County of Lan-
'caster, Designer, 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 following statement and accompanying drawings.
My said invention relates to improvements in domestic firelighters and to
means whereby such firelighters may be readily and economically produced.
According to my invention I make a fire-lighter from end pieces of cross
formation moulded from inflammable material such end pieces being connected
together by a suitable number of cross sticks which surround the fuse."
My invention will be clearly understood from the following description, when
read in conjunction with the sheet of drawings hereto annexed in which:
Fig. 1 shows both a plan and side view of the one of the moulded end pieces.
Fig. 2 shows a slight modification in the formation of the moulded end piece.
Fig. 3 is an end view of the fire-lighter complete.
Fig. 4 is a plan view of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 shows a front view of a press for use in moulding the end pieces of cross
formation.
Fig. is a side view of Fig. 5.
Fig. 7 is a plan view of the lower half or plate of the moulding press.
Fig. 8 is an inverted plan view of the upper half or plate of the moulding press.
In constructing a fire-lighter in accordance with my invention I employ two
end pieces
a of a suitable cross formation, such end pieces being pressed or
moulded from a composition of sawdust and resin or from any other suitable
inflammable mixture capable of being moulded or worked and of retaining a per-
manent shape when set."
The chips or sticks b, which need not necessarily be of uniform thickness, are
arranged to sit in the four angles which exist in the end cross pieces, the
sticks bridging over the distance between the two end pieces. With end pieces of
cross formation as shown in the drawings, four sticks would be used, each end of
each stick resting in one angle of each end piece, so that a rectangular shape of
firelighter is produced having a certain free space existing between the chips.
This free space is preferably arranged to contain the fuse e, which consists of the
waste produced from the manufacture of the inflammable end pieces enveloped

page_text: in any suitable wrapping, such for instance as a paper wrapping. The sticks
having been arranged in position and the fuse inserted, the firelighter is bound
round with twine or wire d so as to secure the parts together.
Finally each end of the fire lighter is or may be dipped in a resinous or other
bath so as to render the sticks more inflammable and the connection of the parts
permanent.
I may arrange the parts so that the sticks project or extend beyond the cross
pieces.
I do not confine myself to end pieces of cross formation so long as suitable
angles or gaps are left for the reception of the sticks.
As shown in Fig. 2 the corners of the end pieces may be moulded with a slight
curve so that the end pieces leave the moulds more readily.
To expedite the production of my improved firelighter, I propose to press or
mould a number of the end cross pieces of inflammable material, at one and the
same time.
Under a suitable form of apparatus and as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, a number
of dies or projections of cross formation e carried by the plate f of the screws
press A are arranged to descend into a corresponding number of moulds g of
cross shape formed in the lower plate h of the press. This lower plate h is
provided with a sliding or false bottom i capable of being withdrawn by the
handle. When moulding a number of the said end pieces a suitable supply
of mixture is first fed to the moulds and the handle A¹ operated to bring down
the upper half of the press and cause the dies to enter the moulds. The dies e
having descended sufficiently far the sliding bottom is withdrawn or removed
so that the moulded end pieces a falt clear of the press or into the space ordinarily
occupied by the sliding plate 2. In this latter case the re-insertion of the plate
pushes out the moulded end pieces into a convenient receptacle.
By way of example I give below the proportions of an inflammable composition
from which I am at present moulding the end pieces a.
Sawdust 5 to 6 parts.
Resin 1 part.
Coal or wood tar 2 to 3 parts.
}
By bulk.
As before stated in putting the parts of the fire-lighter together, the sticks b
are arranged in the angle gaps a¹ of the moulded cross pieces a, the fuse e inserted
and the whole bound round with wire or twine d all as is clearly illustrated in
Fig. 4. The dipping of the ends of the firelighter into resin or like (if thought
necessary) completes the formation.
By means of my invention I am enabled to produce a vastly improved form of
firelighter in an expeditious and economical manner.
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) The improved fire-lighter consisting of end pieces a moulded from inflam-
mable composition, sticks & arranged between such end pieces, and a fuse c formed
from the waste inflammable material substantially as described and shown.
2) The improved apparatus for moulding a number of the inflammable end
pieces a constructed arranged and acting substantially as described and shown in
Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the drawings.
Dated this 19th day of January 1900.