CA2852290C

CA2852290C - Quick fire cube

Info

Publication number: CA2852290C
Application number: CA2852290A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Sean P. A. Price
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-05-23
Filing date: 2014-05-23
Publication date: 2020-10-20
Anticipated expiration: 2034-05-23
Also published as: CA2852290A1

Abstract

A fire-starter cube has a combustible container having a bottom, four sides and a lid. The combustible container houses a crib of stacked wooden slats that are arranged around a central chimney. The sides of the combustible container have door vents that can be opened and closed, configured to admit air, and a knock-out on the lid configured to permit the exhaust of hot gases. The removal of the knock-out on the lid provides an opening to the chimney, wherein as the cube burns, cooler air enters the door vents and exits from the top opening, and wherein the air forms a vortex within the chimney. The fire-starter cube has wooden shavings within the chimney. Each of the door vents can be opened on the sides of the container and the opening of the door vents is selectable by a user.

Description

QUICK FIRE CUBE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of Invention [001] The present invention relates to the field of fire starters, more specifically fire cubes.
Description of Related Art

[002] Fires have been started for millennia using kindling, paper and more recently, accelerants such as fire starter. Fire cubes in the art contain accelerants, usually of a petroleum or wax base, that provide heat long enough for adjacent fuel to start burning. However, there is a need for a small, environmentally friendly fire-starting cube that burns hot enough and long enough to start adjacent fuel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[003] A quick fire cube (QFC) has a combustible container having a bottom, four sides and a lid. Inside the container there is a crib of stacked wooden slats that are arranged around a central void creating a central chimney. The container has four door vents that may be opened or closed within the sides and configured to admit fresh air. The top of the container has a knock-out on the lid configured to permit the exhaust of hot gases, where the removal of the knock-out provides an opening to the chimney, wherein as the cube burns, the =fresh air enters the door vents and exits from the opening, and wherein the air forms a vortex within the chimney.

[004] The cube has wooden shavings within the central void. The door vents are be perforated to allow for opening and closing by a user. The heat of the burning cube generates heated slats before they ignite.

[005] The foregoing, and other features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent from the following, more particular description of the invention, the accompanying drawings, and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[006] For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the objects and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the ensuing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings briefly described as follows.

[007] Fig. 1 shows a front elevation view of the fire cube;

[008] Fig. 2 shows a top plan view of the fire cube;

[009] Fig. 3 shows a left side elevation view of the fire cube;

[010] Fig. 4 shows a right side elevation view of the fire cube;

[011] Fig. 5 shows an exploded view of the fire cube;

[012] Fig. 6a shows an assembled perspective view of the fire cube;

[013] Fig. 6b shows an assembled top plan view of the fire cube;

[014] Fig. 7a shows a perspective view of the fire cube and the vortex air flow; and

[015] Fig. 7b shows a plan view of the fire cube and the draft or vortex air flow.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[016] The preferred embodiment of the present invention and its advantages may be understood by referring to Figs. 1 ¨ 7b, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements.

[017] The fire cube is positioned adjacent to combustible material, in order to assist in igniting the material. Typically, complete combustion of the fire cube is achieved in to 15 minutes, leaving a minimal of residue, while producing a hot, intense burn that is useful for igniting adjacent fuel such as wood or charcoal. There are no accelerants used in the fire cube, therefore no unusual toxic emissions are present before and during burning. The use of natural and 100% recycled materials such as wood, wood-based products and paper-based products such as cardboard reduces environmental impact.

[018] With reference to Figures 1 to 4, the cube 1 is shown from the outside, wherein the front has a door vent 7, the right side has a right side door vent 4, the left side has a left side door vent 6, and the top has a knock-out within chimney opening 3.
Each of the door vents and the knock-out can be removed from the top or side of the cube 1 or opened, to permit fresh air to enter the cube 1. The chimney knock-out 3 gives access to the chimney 8. The door vents and chimney opening allow for a constant flow of air that create a vortex effect in and around the stacked slats and pine shavings. The cube 1 is made of cardboard or recycled material.

[019] With reference to Figures 5 and 6a-b, the fire cube is constructed using a plurality of dried pine slats 2, measuring 2 7/8" by 3/4" by 'A", which are stacked two slats per level, in opposite directions creating a crib like structure 9 inside the cube 1. The cube is 3" X 3". This stacking system creates a chimney 8 in the center that may be partially filled with dry pine shavings (not shown) to facilitate in the initial ignition by a match or other small heat source. The cube 1 has a knock out 3 in the top surface, which opens the chimney 8 to the outside and permits communication of fresh air with the interior of the cube and hot gases with the exterior of the cube. In an embodiment, the cube also has a plurality of door vents 4, 6, 7 in the sides, the outline perforated for ease of opening, one opening in each side of the cube 1, wherein the doors are configured to perform as adjustable vents. These door vents 4, 6, 7 and chimney opening 3 allow for a constant flow of air creating a vortex effect in and around the stacked slats 2 and pine shavings (not shown). The burning of the wood shavings creates enough heat inside the container so the pine slats release their carbon rich gas prior to ignition. The ignition produces an intense hot flame that will burn for approximately 10 - 15 minutes allowing the kindling that is placed around the fire cube 1 to ignite. The pine slats 2 are held together with brad nails (not shown) in all four corners to maintain the integrity of the cube 1.

[020] A method of lighting the cube is described. Ignition of the fire cube is accomplished by using a standard wooden match. Once the match is fully ignited, it is dropped into the top of the chimney opening 3. The draft effect produced by the chimney opening and the four side vents ensures a rapid burning of the shavings and the ignition of the pine slats. With reference to Figures 7a-b, in use, the air enters from the door vents 4, 6, 7, through the slat crib structure and enters into the chimney 8, where it adds oxygen and combusts. Thereafter, heat and exhaust gases exit through the top opening 3. The door vents 4, 6, 7 are adjustable to control the fresh air inflow and the speed at which the cube burns. Similarly, the opening 3 size is adjustable by controlling the knock-out positioning.

[021] Multiple fire cubes may be combined for a larger fire starting application, or where the adjacent fuel is damp, for example. The fire cube has a plurality of uses such as a fireplace starter, a wood stove starter, a camp fire starter, a cooking source, and an emergency heat source. The fire cube was designed to be a compact, easy to use source for igniting a fire in a woodstove, fire place or campfires.

[022] The fire cube's design takes advantage of the vortex effect created initially by the release of hot gases during the initial burn period. That, combined with the cooler fresh air being drawn in through the opening in the sides of the fire cube and the crib like structure of the combustible material and the extreme temperature difference between these two gases forces the hotter carbon rich gas to the sides of the fire cube.
With the opening of the side door vents, a circular air flow is introduced which completes the requirements for a controlled vortex of fresh air to feed the fire within the cube. The inlet air may be controlled by selectively adjusting the door vents, to permit more air when the outside air is still, and restrict air when the outside air is windy. It is because of this vortex effect that the consumption of the combustible material produces a burn that is three to five times hotter than an open burn.

Claims

I claim:

1. A fire-starter cube, comprising:
a. a combustible container having a bottom, four sides and a lid;
b. a crib of stacked wooden slats, wherein the slats are arranged around a central chimney;
c. a plurality of openable and closeable door vents within the sides, configured to admit fresh air;
d. a knock-out on the lid, configured to permit the exhaust of hot gases, wherein the removal of the knock-out provides an opening to the central chimney;
wherein as the fire-starter cube burns, the fresh air enters the door vents and exits from the opening, and wherein the air forms a vortex within the chimney.

2. The cube of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of wooden shavings within the chimney.

3. The cube of claim 1, wherein the doors are perforated and the opening and closing of the door vents is selectable by a user.

4. The cube of claim 2, wherein the heat generated from the plurality of wooden shavings generates hot gases from the slats during an initial burn period.