Patent ID: 8292614

Claim:
A liquid fuel cell that includes: a canister having a fuel reservoir for holding a quantity of liquid fuel; a burner mounted upon said canister, said burner having a wick holding aperture that opens into said fuel reservoir; a wick including continuous strands of wicking material that extend from one end of said wick to another end of said wick, said wick passing through said wick holding aperture, said wick being doubled over to form a U-shaped crown, said wick extending from said U-shaped crown of said wick that is located above said wick holding aperture, and passing downwardly through said wick holding aperture and extending into said fuel reservoir, whereby said liquid fuel is supplied to said U-shaped crown of said wick via capillary action; and wherein a fraction representing substantially less than all-of said continuous strands that are located within said U-shaped crown of said wick are severed in a manner to create a region of bristles at said U-shaped crown and without entirely severing said wick at said U-shaped crown, in order to enhance rapid and efficient lighting of said wick at said U-shaped crown.