US2811428A

US2811428A - Artificial kindling

Info

Publication number: US2811428A
Application number: US554171A
Authority: US
Inventors: Elizabeth R Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1955-12-20
Filing date: 1955-12-20
Publication date: 1957-10-29
Anticipated expiration: 1974-10-29

Description

Oct. 29, 1957 E. R. SMITH ARTIFICIAL KINDLING Filed Dc. 20. 1955 EIE :l

INVENTORQ mfl e 5% M 0 Rd F F m n m QM 4 Ha United States Patent ARTIFICIAL KINDLING Elizabeth R. Smith, Kentfield, Calif. Application December 20, 1955, Serial No. 554,171

3 Claims. (CI. 44-41) This invention relates to a fire kindler and more particularly relates to an inexpensive igniter which is adapted to be used in lighting a fire in a stove, fireplace, barbecue or the like. The device of the present invention is adapted to be readily ignitable by the application of a small flame such as a match, and will burn for a considerable period of time so that the device is capable of igniting wood, charcoal or the like without the necessity of resorting to kindling.

One essential feature of the present invention is that it is made of an absorbent piece of material with a wax coating which is substantially entirely on the surface. As the wax melts, the excess wax will be absorbed by the absorbent material and will not drip onto the bottom of a fireplace or the like.

The igniter of the present invention also has no inherent fire hazard and can be stored indefinitely at normal temperatures without fear of decomposition or spontaneous combustion.

In the drawings forming a part of this application:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an igniter made in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the lines 2-2 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings by reference characters, the igniter has been generally designated 3 and consists of a rectangular member of any convenient size. In one practical embodiment of the invention, the igniter was about six inches long, about three inches wide, and about fiveeighths inch thick. However, it is obvious that the principles of the present invention can be applied to igniters of various sizes. The igniter has a central body portion 4, which is preferably of a felted cellulose material. One material which was found particularly suitable is sold under the name of Tuffiex, and consists of a felted cellulose batting derived from wood fibers. However, other coarse felted materials such as those made from cotton linters or the like may be used. The outside of the mat 4 is coated with a froth of candle wax 5. The froth candle wax is prepared by heating a body of ordinary candle wax, which may consist of paraflin wax or of ice parafiin wax with minor amounts of oleic acid and/or other waxes, to its melting temperature, which will ordinarily be in the range of -135 F. After the wax is all molten, it is cooled slightly so that a surface scum forms on the wax. A high speed stirrer in the vessel is then started and this draws the surface scum and some air into the wax, making a somewhat frothy wax which contains a considerable amount of entrained air. The batting 4 is then dipped into the wax and, since the wax is substantially at its melting temperature or even slightly below, and contains entrapped air, it does not substantially penetrate the batting 4, but forms a surface coating 5 on the batting with entrapped air as at 7. After the batting has been dipped and acquires its surface coating, an ordinary candle wick 6 may be pressed into the top surface. This serves as an easy means of igniting the kindler with a match or the like.

Since the wax 5 has not substantially impregnated the cellulose material 4, the material 4 remains in a condition where it can absorb a considerable additional quantity of wax. Therefore, when the device is ignited, and the wax becomes partially molten, instead of dripping from the device, the surplus wax is absorbed into the cellulose material 4 and subsequently burns. In this manner, the wax is not wasted, nor is it allowed to drip in unsightly manner onto the bottom of a fireplace or the like.

If desired, the wax may be dyed in some desired color. Any type of candle wax may be used, but ordinary paraflin wax has been found to be completely satisfactory. The wax may be mixed with powdered charcoal or an odorant may be added to the wax so that it gives off a pleasant odor upon burning. Or, an ingredient may be added to produce vari-colored flames.

I claim:

1. A fire kindler comprising a central body portion of coarse felted cellulose fibers the interior of said central body portion being substantially free of wax and a surface coating thereon comprising candle wax with air entrained therein.

2. The igniter of claim 1 wherein a wick is pressed into one side of the body.

3. The method of making a fire kindler comprising heating a body of candle wax to at least its melting temperature, cooling the wax slightly whereby a surface scum is formed, agitating the wax to draw the scum into the body of the wax and to introduce air into the wax to produce a frothy wax and dipping a felted cellulose material into said body of frothy wax whereby the wax forms a surface coating over said body but does not substantially pene trate the interior of said body.

Macleay et al. Oct. 5, 1937 Haymond Feb. 1, 1938

Claims

1.A FIRE KINDLER COMPRISING A CENTRAL BODY PORTION OF COARSE FELTED CELLULOSE FIBERS THE INTERIOR OF SAID CENTRAL BODY PORTION BEING SUBSTANTIALLY FREE OF WAX AND SURFACE COATING THEREON COMPRISING CANDLE WAX WITH AIR ENTRAINED THEREIN.