US20060204913A1

US20060204913A1 - Fire starter candle

Info

Publication number: US20060204913A1
Application number: US11/076,639
Authority: US
Inventors: Carlton Trinkle
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-03-10
Filing date: 2005-03-10
Publication date: 2006-09-14

Abstract

A fire starter candle for starting or kindling fires, especially wood fires such as those in fireplaces or the like is featured. The fire starter candle includes wax and wick for burning as a kindling device.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to an apparatus for starting or kindling fires, especially wood fires such as those in fireplaces or the like. In addition, the invention relates to a fire starting candle including wax and wick for burning as a kindling device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a fire candle apparatus comprising a candle body made of a waxy material having a first and second end; multiple wicks having first wick ends and second wick ends, oriented in the candle body such that the first wick ends are exposed a distance beyond said candle body for igniting said multiple wicks; with the candle body being of a geometric shape to fit tightly between two pieces of firewood. The present invention further provides a method of starting a wood fire using the fire starter candle apparatus, comprising the steps of positioning the candle body tightly between two pieces of firewood, angling the apparatus up at a 30 to 45 degree angle with only the multiple wicks exposed, lighting the wicks causing some wax to melt and run onto the firewood and concentrating heat in a small area to start the wood burning
A general object of this invention is to provide a small, clean, convenient and economical way to start a wood burning fireplace or other fire.
Another object of this invention is to provide a fire starting apparatus which is flexible and contour friendly for placement around and between various shaped fire logs.
To achieve the foregoing and other objects, and in accordance with the purposes of the present invention as described herein, there are described fire starter candle apparatuses with a wax body and one or more wicks for burning as a kindling device.
Further novel features and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, discussion and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and, together with the general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a top view of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a side view in cross section of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a side view showing a typical placement for the present invention within a set of three fire logs.
FIG. 5 is a top view showing the typical placement for the present invention lengthwise between the two front logs.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention.
Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views. Also, in the following description, it is to be understood that terms such as front, back, inside, outside, and the like are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms. Terminology used in this patent is not meant to be limiting insofar as devices described herein, or portions thereof, may be attached or utilized in other orientations. Referring in more detail to the drawings, the invention will now be described.
Referring to FIG. 1, a fire starter candle apparatus 10 is shown comprising one or more wicks 12 and a candle body of waxy material 14. The fire starter candle apparatus 10 may be of any geometric shape, and includes a first and second end 16, 17. The one or more wicks 12 have a first wick end 19 and second wick end 21. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the one or more wicks 12 are placed in the candle body 14 oriented such that the first wick end 19 is exposed a distance beyond the candle body 14 providing a means for igniting the one or more wicks. The candle body 14 is made of waxy material such as paraffin wax, beeswax, vegetable oil wax, tallow, soybean oil based wax or the like. However, the one or more wicks 12 may also be placed in another liquesce, meltable material that will allow a slow burn of the one or more wicks 12, as would be contemplated by one skilled in the art.
The candle body 14 extends in what is referred to herein as the longitudinal direction, even though, when utilized, the candle apparatus 10 may be in an arcuate configuration. This apparatus 10 may generally be rectangular in shape, but may also be produced in a variety of different shapes and sizes. The present invention will generally be longer than thick, for placement between two fire logs, and to provide a tight fit. The slope of the fire starter apparatus will generally be of a ratio, length vs. thickness, of at least about 20 to 1. The thickness will generally be no greater than about one (1) inch, preferably no greater than about ½ of an inch. In one embodiment, shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, rectangular-shaped candle bodies are available with approximate 5.00 in.×3.00 in×0.19 in. dimensions. However, the overall shape and dimensions may vary according to the specific needs of the customer. The shape shown in these figures is rectangular, however a variety of other shapes may also be employed, including but not limited to tetrahedron, or any other polyhedronic shape. Again, no shape is considered prohibitive for this present invention, as would be understood by one skilled in the art.
The one or more wicks 12 are each formed from a bundle of long burning, easily ignitable fibers or loosely twisted, braided, or woven cord, tape, or tube usually of soft spun cotton threads or cotton paper fibers or the like. As best shown in FIG. 3, the wicks may be axially spaced along and centered within the width (W) of the candle body 14. The wicks 12 extend the length (L) of the candle body 14, with the second wick end 21 oriented in the same direction and generally aligned with the second end 17 of the candle body 14. Further, the wick material 12 may be formed as one continuous elongated burnable member.
In the embodiment of the invention depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5, the fire starter candle apparatus 10 is placed tightly between two pieces of firewood 30. In this embodiment, the candle apparatus 10 is angled up at 30 to 45 degrees (D) from the horizontal, with the wick material 12 exposed a distance, as seen in FIG. 5. The wick material 12 provides the heat that is required to start the wood 30 burning. Once all the wicks 12 are lit, the burning causes some waxy material to melt and run onto the firewood 30. The proximity of the wood 30 above and below the fire starter 10 prevents it from burning too fast and helps contain the melted wax in a small area. The fire starter 10 works well on split and unsplit logs.
In another embodiment, seen in FIG. 6, the wick material forms a first 22 and second 24 surface of the candle apparatus 10. A mass of the waxy material 14 is sandwiched between the wick material. The wicks 12 are coated with waxy material 14 and the first and second surfaces 22, 24 extend as a peripheral edge 26 around the entire candle body 10. The mass of waxy material and the flanged peripheral edge 26 may be of any thickness or size, with a larger block shape providing a preferred longer burning starter. Additionally, this embodiment may burn the waxy material or paraffin in a more controlled manner, and it only needs to be lit in one wick location.
In yet other embodiments, scents may be added to increase the appeal. The number of wicks, length, width and thickness of the waxy material can all be varied for the specific fire starter application.
The only products that are currently readily available for starting wood fires are wood blocks made from pressed wood chips and/or sawdust. They are more expensive, bulkier and not nearly as effective as the present invention.
In summary, numerous benefits have been described which result from employing the concepts of the invention. The foregoing description of one or more embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The one or more embodiments were chosen and described in order to best illustrate the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1) A fire starter candle apparatus comprising:

a candle body made of a waxy material having a first and second end, length and thickness;

multiple wicks having first wick ends and second wick ends, said multiple wicks oriented in said candle body such that said first wick ends are exposed a distance beyond said candle body for igniting said multiple wicks; and

said candle body being of a geometric shape to fit tightly between two pieces of firewood.

2) The fire starter candle apparatus of claim 1, wherein said multiple wicks are axially spaced along and centered within the width of said candle body.

3) The fire starter candle apparatus of claim 1, wherein said multiple wicks extend the length of said candle body, and said second wick end is oriented in the same direction and generally aligned with the second end of said candle body.

4) The fire starter candle apparatus of claim 1, wherein the thickness of said candle body is no greater than about one inch.

5) The fire starter candle apparatus of claim 4, wherein the thickness of said candle body is no greater than about one half of an inch.

6) The fire starter candle apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the length of said candle body to the thickness of said candle body is at least 20 to 1.

7) The fire starter candle apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wick material is formed as one continuous elongated burnable member.

8) The fire starter candle apparatus of claim 7, wherein said wick material further comprises a first surface and a second surface of said candle body.

9) The fire starter candle apparatus of claim 8, wherein said candle body is positioned between said first and second surface of said wick material.

10) The fire starter candle apparatus of claim 9, wherein said first and second surfaces of said wick material extend to create a peripheral edge of said candle body.

11) The fire starter candle apparatus of claim 1, wherein aromatic scents are added to said candle body.

12) The method of starting a wood fire using the fire starter candle apparatus of claim 1, comprising the steps of:

positioning the candle body tightly between two pieces of firewood;

angling the apparatus up at a 30 to 45 degree angle from the horizontal with substantially only the multiple wicks exposed;

lighting the wicks causing some wax to melt and run onto the firewood; and

concentrating heat to start the wood burning.