Improvements in the Manufacture and Production of Fire Lighters.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Jan., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 6th Sept., 1895-Accepted, 12th Oct., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture and Production of Fire Lighters.
I HENRY THOMAS STEVENSON of the Firm of M. Stevenson & Sou, of
18 Wharf Road, City Road in the County of London, Manufacturer do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide fire lighters of the kind usually known
as wheel fire lighters, which are lighter and more readily and cheaply made than
hitherto, and which are stronger and hold together better in burning than do such
fire lighters as hitherto made. Hitherto such fire lighters have been made of
pieces of wood which are held together by means of string. This is an inconvenient
mode of manufacture and, as when the lighters are in use the string readily burns
through the component parts of the lighter become separated and their free burning
is greatly impeded. According to my invention I surround the component parts
of the fire lighter with a band of wood, cardboard, or stout wire fabric or other
equivalent material, preferably extending the whole width, or thereabouts, of the
lighter, and if desired also saturated with an inflammable material or with a
material which will retard combustion so as to allow the band to retain the parts in
position for a longer time. This band is most conveniently made by forming a
tube of wood, or other suitable material, and securing the overlapping, or opposed
parts, together by glue, or other suitable means, and then dividing the tube into
rings of the requisite width; but I do not limit myself to this particular way of
making the rings, or bands. A ring, or band, is placed in a matrix fitted to receive
it and the component parts of the lighter are placed within this ring. A convenient
way is to first place against, and around, the ring, or band, after it has been placed
in the matrix, the pieces corresponding to the rim of the wheel and then to place
in position pieces which radiate from the centre and correspond to the spokes of
the wheel, these pieces not extending quite to the centre, but leaving a space into
which a plug-piece can be driven, so as to force the parts closely, and securely,
together. A mandril may first be driven in, if desired, so as to make the orifice
for the reception of the plug. The bass, or other material, usually employed for
igniting the lighter may be driven in with the plug and held thereby. If desired
the pieces corresponding to the rim of the wheel may be omitted and the parts
corresponding to the spokes be driven up closely against the band, or ring which
can be made of one thickness or several thicknesses so as to be sufficiently stout to
enable the rim pieces to be dispensed with if desired. The wheel, as a whole or
the rim or the centre plug can be made round or of other shape such as hexagonal
octagonal or other figure with a number of sides.
Dated this 21st day of January 1895.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.

page_text: Improvements in the Manufacture and Production of Fire Lighters.
I, HENRY THOMAS STEVENSON of the Firm of M. Stevenson & Son, of
18 Wharf Road, City Road, in the County of London, Manufacturer, 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:―
The object of my invention is to provide fire lighters of the kind usually known
as wheel fire lighters, which are lighter and more readily and cheaply made than
hitherto and which are stronger and hold together better in storage and in burning
than do such fire lighters as hitherto made. Hitherto such fire lighters have been
made of pieces of wood which are held together by means of string. This is an
inconvenient mode of manufacture and, as when the lighters are in use the string
readily burns through, the component parts of the lighter become separated, and
their free burning is greatly impeded. According to my invention I surround the
component parts of the fire lighter with a band of wood or cardboard, or other
equivalent material, preferably extending the whole width, or thereabouts, of the
lighter, and, if desired, also saturated with an inflammable material, or with a
material which will retard combustion so as to allow the band to retain the parts in
position for a longer time. This band may be made in any suitable way for
example each band may be made separately from strips or by forming a tube of
wood or cardboard, or other suitable material, and securing the overlapping, or
opposed parts, together by glue, or other suitable means, and then dividing the tube
into rings of the requisite width, but I do not limit myself to this particular way of
making the rings, or bands, or of securing them as they may for example be
secured by metal clips.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing represents in sectional elevation and
Figure 2 in plan a fire lighter made according to my invention.
It may be made as follows:-
The ring or band A of wood or cardboard or other suitable material is placed in
a matrix fitted to receive it and the component parts of the lighter are placed within
this ring. A convenient way is to first place against and around the ring or band A
after it has been placed in the matrix the pieces b corresponding to the rim of the
wheel and then to place in position pieces c which radiate from the centre and
correspond to the spokes of the wheel these pieces not extending quite to the centre
but leaving a space into which a plug piece d can be driven so as to force the
parts closely and securely together. A mandril may first be driven in if desired so
as to make the orifice for the reception of the plug d. The bass or other material e
usually employed for igniting the lighter may be driven in with the plug d and be
held thereby. If desired the pieces corresponding to the rim of the wheel may
be omitted and the parts c corresponding to the spokes be driven up closely against
the band or ring A which can be made of one thickness or of several thicknesses
so as to be sufficiently stout to enable the rim pieces b to be dispensed with if
desired. The wheel, as a whole or the rim or the centre plug can be made round
or of other shape such as hexagonal, octagonal, or other figure with a number of
sides.
In Figures 3 and 4 I have shewn in sectional elevation and plan an arrangement
wherein the plug d is dispensed with, the band A surrounding the component parts
which are of the ordinary kind consisting of radial pieces cand cross pieces c² but
in place of the plug wedge pieces are driven in as at 3 to force the parts securely
and closely together. The band A. is shewn as being held together by a metal clip
piece bent over and under the edges at the meeting ends of the band but it may
be secured in any other way.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A fire lighter in which the component parts are surrounded or held together
by means of a band of wood or cardboard or equivalent material substantially as
hereinbefore described.
2. A fire lighter in which the component parts are held together between an
outer enclosing band and a plug driven into the centre so as to force the parts
closely and securely together substantially as herein before described.
3. Fire lighters made
accompanying drawings.
as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
Dated this 6th day of September 1895.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.