CA2062322A1 - Fire-starting device - Google Patents

Abstract

FIRE-STARTING DEVICE

ABSTRACT OF THE INVENTION
A fire-starting apparatus of an elongated piece of pine knot wood material having an elongated flint longitudinally positioned on one side thereof, said material to be shaved into a kindling pile and said apparatus to be then rotated to expose said flint to be struck to create sparks to ignite said pine knot shaving kindling.

Description

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FIRE-ST~RTING DEVIC,E

BACKGROUND OF TIIE INVENTION
Field of the Invention The device of this invention resides in the field of self-contained Eire-starting apparatuses that provide their own kindling and more particularly relates to a fire-starting devices of the type from which starting material can be scraped off one portion of the device by a k~ife and when the device is rotated, it exposes a flint member on its other side against which the knife can be struck to create sparks to 1~ ignite the starting material.
Description of the Prior Art It is well-known in the prior art to use flints scraped by a metal object such as a knife to create sparks to ignite kindling. One prob]em associated with prior art devices occurs when the kindling material is damp or wet. To overcome this problem waterproof matches have been tried and various types of wax-impregnated materia]s have been suggested as kindling material. One device utili~ed in the prior art uses a magnesium bar which is first scraped to remove some fire-starting material and has on its opposite side a flint member which is then scraped to ignite the magnesium fire-starting material to create a fire.
It has been found, though, that when such magnesium material is wet and the environment is damp, it is very difficult to start a fire using such material. Further it is even difficult to ignite water-proof matches if they are wet and the atmosphere contains high humidity.

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SUMMARY OF TIIR INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide an improved fire-starting device which provides its own kindling and which, upon rotation, exposes a flint for striking to light the kindling.
It is a further object of this invention that such device will ignite the kindling even if the device has been cornpletely immersed in water prior to use up to a week. When the device of this invention is removed from the water and is still wet, it has the ability to start a fire even on a rainy day.
The device of this invention is comprised of a piece of wood such as yellow pine or wooden knots which are naturally heavily impregnated with turpentine and other resins. Pine knot material has been found to be an excellent material for the device of this invention. Pine knot is generally cylindrical and small enough to be grasped by hand. A
piece several inches in length such as 5 - 7 inches can be used in this invention. On one side of the pine knot is embedded longitudinally a narrow~piece of flint protruding along its length above the outer surface of the pine knot along a portion of the length of the pine knot material. The flint can be about 1/4 inch thick and 1/4 inch high in general although different size Elints can be utilized. In order to utilize the device of this invention, the pine knot material is held and whittled with a knife to create a small pile of highly ignitable kindling. The device is then rotated to move the flint to an exposed position which flint is then struck by a knife or other metallic object.
The-sparks fall on, and ignite, the ';indling even if it is wet because the kindling contalns so much turpentine and other resin materials in -it.

3 ~ 2 BP~IEF DESCRIPTION OF '~l~ DRAWINGS
~igure l illustrates the pine knot material of this invention being whittled by a kniEe to produce kindl;ng.
Fi.gure 2 illustrates the flint rotated into position and bei.ng struck by the knife, creating sparks to ignite the kindling material.

DESC~IPTION OF '~IE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) Figure l illustrates device 10 of this invention held in the user's left hand 12 while right hand 14 holds knife 16, The user whittles a small amount of shavings 18 off first side 26 of pine knot 20 to form a p;.le of Icindling covering area 22 approximately 2 inches in diameter on ground 24. It is desirable to make shavings 18 as fine as possible because it is easier to ignite them. Device 10 of this invention i.s then rotated, as seen in Figure 2, and on its opposite side 28 is embedded an elongated length of flint material 30 which is then struck by knife 16 by running knife 16 hard down against flint material 30 while the pine knot material 20 is placed firmly on ground 24, positioning flint 30 next to shavings 18. To create sparks, one holds knife 16 at approximately a 90-degree angle to flint 30, and one positions the knife at the top of flint 30 and scrapes downward in one slow motion. The harder one scrapes flint 30, the larger sparks 32 will be. Sparks 32 are directed onto shavings 18 which ignite the shavings and start a fire. Once small shavings 18 are ignited, the fire can be fed with tinder such as small branches and then limbs until the fire reaches the desired size and intensity.
. Although the present inventi.on has been described w:ith reference to 2~2~%

parti.cular embodiments, it wi.l] be apparent to those skilled in the ~rt ~hat variatlons and olodifi.cati.ons can be substituted therefor without departing from the principles and spi.rit of the invention.

Claims (3)

1. A fire-starting apparatus of the type which has an elongated flint on one side and material on the opposite side of said flint which can be scraped off and ignited by sparks created by scraping said flint, wherein the improvement comprises:
said material is an elongated piece of wood with said flint mounted longitudinally thereto and protruding therefrom.

2. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said material is wood knot.

3. The apparatus of Claim 2 wherein said material is pine knot.