Gas fire starter

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a convenient means of adapting flammable compressed gas for the purpose of starting a fire, such as a barbeque fire or a camp fire.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is well known and appreciated that a home fireplace or woodstove for home heating and also for the visual enjoyment and pleasant warmth experienced in front of a fire, barbecue fire, or camp fire. It is also well known that getting a fire started can be very difficult and is often an obstacle to enjoyment. Starting a fire can be summarized as providing enough heat to the fuel until the exothermic oxidation of the fuel provides sufficient heat to perpetuate the fire. This is often accomplished through the use of tinder which burns very easily and very quickly and the use of kindling which is somewhat easy to burn and has a short burn time. The use of these materials provides a transition to the fuel of the fire which burns for a significant time. A typical difficulty in starting a wood fire is determining how much kindling to provide in order to ensure that the fire is lit before the kindling burns out. Common fuels for home use are wood, charcoal, and coal.

Typically, there is an inverse relationship between the ease of burning and the burn time of a fuel. Coal and other fuels that provide a longer burn time are often more difficult to ignite, often requiring tinder and kindling to get a wood fire started and then utilizing the wood fire to ignite the coal.

There have been many devices provided in the marketplace to get a wood fire started. These include kiln-dried wood that is easier to ignite because of its low moisture content. Small fire starting sticks are soaked in paraffin, or other flammable substance. These devices provide a flame of longer duration than newspaper or other common kindling, but they only provide a small source of flame. If several are used at the same time, the effectiveness is increased, but the expense is commensurately greater. Additionally, once the fire is started, there is no way to reclaim the remaining portion of the fire starting sticks.

There are also commercially produced flammable logs that do burn easily, but these are decorative in nature and do not provide the heat needed in a wood stove, nor do they provide the crackling, glowing heat of a stack of logs. Because these logs are soft when ignited, placing anything on the flammable logs is generally prohibited by the labeling on the package.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,698,068 discloses a device that provides a source of ignition. This device utilizes a piece of magnesium to create magnesium shavings and a striking element to create sparks in order to create a source of ignition. Although this is particularly useful while camping, and creates a very high temperature, the duration and size of the flame is not suitable for avoiding the use of tinder or kindling.

There is a long felt need for a bridge between a ready source of inexpensive, unprocessed lumber and an enjoyable, lit fire; a ready source of ignition that is flexible, convenient, and inexpensive.

Whereas coal provides a large amount of heat and burns for a long time, it is even more difficult to get started than a wood fire. A steady source of heat that persists for a significant amount of time is needed to provide the amount of heat needed until the exothermic oxidation of the coal provides sufficient heat to perpetuate burning.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is defined by the appended claims with a specific embodiment shown in the attached drawings. For the purpose of summarizing the invention, the invention comprises a fire-igniting device comprising at least a source of compressed flammable gas and a flexible means of delivering the gas to a fuel for a desired duration.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an ignition source of controlled duration that is flexible and portable and can provide significant heat and ignition to a conventional fireplace, wood stove, and charcoal fires.

The present invention comprises a compressed gas and a regulator that provides delivery of the gas at a reduced, manageable pressure. Reducing the pressure delivers an appropriate flame size. The compressed gas is usually contained in a tank with a shutoff valve. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a transfer segment which can be a flexible hose is attached to the outlet of the regulator. It is attached with a threaded metal connector or other suitable connection device. The transfer segment connects to a non-flammable metal delivery segment. The flexible transfer segment provides for easy positioning of the delivery segment and allows the delivery end to be moved while utilizing the invention to start a fire. The delivery segment is preferably made of a relatively non-flammable material such as brass or steel. The proximal end of the delivery segment receives the flow of the gas and the distal end has several holes that allow the gas to exit the delivery segment. The combined length of the delivery segment and the transfer segment allow the compressed gas to be placed away from the distal end of the delivery segment and the accompanying heat and flame.

When operated, the device of the present invention delivers flammable gas through the delivery end of the delivery segment. A brief ignition source such as a match is utilized to combust the gas. The delivery segment of the present invention is substantially free of oxygen and therefore prohibits the combustion of the gas in the delivery segment. Upon exiting the delivery segment, the gas is exposed to oxygen, combusts, and continues to provide a source of heat and ignition for the fuel. The delivery end is positioned in, under, or near the fuel in a way that promotes the ignition of the fuel. When sufficient ignition of the fuel is obtained, the delivery of the gas can be shut off by closing the shutoff valve and the delivery end removed from the fire. The fire starter can then be placed aside, put away, or utilized in lighting another fire.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention the transfer segment is a flexible hose. The hose is long enough to provide a safe distance, about 5 feet, between the delivery segment which is hot and the tank which remains relatively cool.

In another preferred embodiment, the compressed gas tank is a propane tank commonly utilized for outdoor gas grills.

In also another preferred embodiment of the invention, the delivery segment is steel pipe with a sealed distal end. The exit means are achieved by drilling holes in the steel pipe. The end is sealed by folding or crimping the end onto itself.

In still another preferred embodiment of the invention, the transfer segment is connected to the delivery segment with a brass bushing. The delivery segment is ¼″ diameter steel pipe having a length of approximately 2 feet. The proximal end of the delivery segment pipe is threaded with normal pipe thread die and the male end is attached to the female end of a brass bushing. The transfer segment is made of flexible rubber hose in a length of approximately 5 feet, and the second end of the transfer hose is fitted with a compression fitting with a ⅜″ female end that receives the ⅜″ male end of the brass bushing. The connections are tightened with wrenches to provide an airtight seal between the transfer segment, the bushing, and the delivery segment.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, a starter is provided with a spark producing device at the distal end of the delivery segment and an actuator at the proximal end of the delivery segment.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the distal end of the delivery segment is a rounded configuration and produces a flame or set of flames that converge on a given area from different or approximately opposite directions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 presents a side view of the device of the invention.

FIG. 2 presents an exploded view of an embodiment of the delivery segment of the invention

FIG. 3 presents an exploded view of another embodiment of the delivery segment of the invention.

FIG. 4 presents a view of the invention in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described with reference to the enclosed figures wherein the same numbers utilized where applicable. FIG. 1 illustrates an ignition source of controlled duration utilizing a tank 10 of compressed gas which can be refillable or disposable, in accordance with the present invention. The tank has a shutoff valve 12 that allows or stops the flow of gas out of the tank. The outlet pressure of the tank is controlled by a regulator 13. The regulator outlet is fitted with a connector 14 with normal pipe thread (NPT). A transfer segment 15 is threaded to the connector to produce a seal free of leaks at the first end 16 and the second end 17 is threaded to a delivery segment 18. The delivery segment 18 has a proximal end 19 that receives the flow of gas and delivers the gas to a distal end 20.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the delivery segment 18 of an embodiment the invention. This view provides a detailed view of an embodiment of the invention. The distal end has gaseous exit means in the form of holes 11 that have been drilled out of the distal end 20 of the delivery segment 18. In this particular embodiment of the invention, the transfer segment 15 is terminated with a compression fitting 22 with a ⅜″ female end that receives the male end 24b of the brass bushing 24. The delivery segment 18 is a narrow diameter pipe in a length of approximately 2 feet. The proximal end of the delivery segment pipe is threaded with narrow normal pipe thread die and the male end 23 is attached to the female end 24a of a brass bushing 24. The threaded connections provide an airtight seal between the transfer segment, the bushing, and the delivery segment.

FIG. 3 is a close up view of another embodiment of the invention where the distal end 41 of the delivery segment 40 is a curved pipe. The holes 42 in the distal end 41 are opposed on the segment. Flames are produced and can be concentrated in a location at approximately the focus point of the arc of the distal end. This configuration is produced by drilling a straight line of holes into the distal end of the pipe and then using a tubing bender to bend the distal end into an arc keeping the drilled holes on the interior of the bend. The result is a distal end shaped like a cane with holes that provide an exit means for the gas. The exit means collectively provide for the flow of gas towards the center of the arc of the distal end, thereby concentrating the effect of the flames and maximizing the effective ignition of the fuel.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the invention in use. Flames 50 are produced at the distal end 20 of the delivery segment 18.

The operation of the invention is now described.

When operated, the device of the present invention delivers flammable gas through the delivery end of the delivery segment. A brief ignition source such as a match is utilized to combust the gas. The delivery segment of the present invention is substantially free of oxygen and therefore prohibits the combustion of the gas in the delivery segment. Upon exiting the delivery segment, the gas is exposed to oxygen, combusts, and continues to provide a source of heat and ignition for the fuel. The delivery end is positioned in, under, or near the fuel in a way that promotes the ignition of the fuel. When sufficient ignition of the fuel is obtained, the delivery of the gas can be shut off by closing the shutoff valve and the delivery end removed from the fire. The fire starter can then be placed aside, put away, or utilized in lighting another fire.

While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated, modifications may be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.