U.S. patent application number 12/231132 was filed with the patent office on 2010-03-04 for wearable firestarter.
Invention is credited to Joel Woodward.
Application Number | 20100050690 12/231132 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41723348 |
Filed Date | 2010-03-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100050690 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Woodward; Joel |
March 4, 2010 |
Wearable firestarter
Abstract
A wearable firestarter has a sparking material including a
wearable portion and a friction element including a wearable
portion. The friction element's wearable portion is releasably
connected to the sparking material's wearable portion. The wearable
portions may be rings or a bracelet sized to closely encompass a
wearer's appendage. A portion of the wearable portions may be made
of magnesium. The sparking material may be made of ferrocerium. The
friction element may be made of file steel. The wearable portions
may form grippable surfaces that extend away from the sparking
material and the friction element.
Inventors: |
Woodward; Joel; (Reno,
NV) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Langlotz Patent Works. Inc.;Bennet K. Langlotz, Patent Attorney
P.O. Box 759
Genoa
NV
89411
US
|
Family ID: |
41723348 |
Appl. No.: |
12/231132 |
Filed: |
August 29, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
63/15.1 ;
44/507 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44C 5/0007 20130101;
C06C 15/00 20130101; A44C 9/0023 20130101; A44C 9/0053
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
63/15.1 ;
44/507 |
International
Class: |
A44C 9/00 20060101
A44C009/00; C06F 3/08 20060101 C06F003/08 |
Claims
1. A wearable firestarter for attachment to a user's appendage,
comprising: a wearable portion adapted for attachment to the
appendage; a sparking element; a friction element; and the wearable
portion being connected to at least one of the sparking element and
the friction element.
2. The wearable firestarter as defined in claim 1, wherein the
wearable portion is a ring sized to closely encompass a wearer's
appendage.
3. The wearable firestarter as defined in claim 1, wherein the
wearable portion is a bracelet sized to closely encompass a
wearer's appendage.
4. The wearable firestarter as defined in claim 1, including two
wearable portions, one connected to the sparking element, and the
other connected to the friction element.
5. The wearable firestarter as defined in claim 4, wherein the
sparking material and the friction element are removably connected
to their respective wearable portions.
6. The wearable firestarter as defined in claim 1, wherein at least
a portion of the wearable portion is made of a combustible
metal.
7. The wearable firestarter as defined in claim 1, wherein
substantially the entire wearable portion is made of a combustible
metal.
8. The wearable firestarter as defined in claim 1, wherein the
sparking material is made of ferrocerium.
9. The wearable firestarter as defined in claim 1, wherein the
friction element is made of file steel.
10. The wearable firestarter as defined in claim 6, wherein the
combustible metal is magnesium.
11. The wearable firestarter as defined in claim 7, wherein the
combustible metal is magnesium.
12. The wearable firestarter as defined in claim 1, wherein the
wearable portion comprises grippable surfaces that extend away from
the sparking material and the friction element.
13. A wearable firestarter comprising: a sparking element; a
friction element; and a combustible portion including a wearable
portion, wherein the sparking material, friction element, and
combustible portion are releasably connected to one another.
14. The wearable firestarter as defined in claim 13, wherein the
sparking material and its wearable portion are made of
ferrocerium.
15. The wearable firestarter as defined in claim 13, wherein the
friction element and its wearable portion are made of file
steel.
16. The wearable firestarter as defined in claim 13, wherein the
combustible portion and its wearable portion are made of
magnesium.
17. The wearable fire starter as defined in claim 13, wherein the
wearable portions are rings sized to closely encompass a wearer's
appendage.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a wearable firestarter for
use in connection with starting fires. The wearable firestarter has
particular utility in connection with enabling fire starting
materials to be worn comfortably on an everyday basis.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Making fire is an essential element required for surviving a
wide range of conditions. However, most people who find themselves
in a survival situation do so unexpectedly. As a result, they are
not typically carrying conventional fire starting materials with
them.
[0003] The use of firestarters is known in the prior art. For
example, one type of known fire starting tool is a magnesium block
with a sparking insert attached to one side. However, the user must
also have a knife in order to scrape off magnesium shavings from
the magnesium block and to scrape the sparking insert rapidly in
order to produce sparks to ignite the magnesium shavings. Although
such magnesium blocks with sparking inserts may come equipped with
a beaded chain to link to a keychain, they are not typically
carried on an everyday basis.
[0004] Another type of known fire starting tool has a separate
striker and starter linked together by a lanyard. Although the
inclusion of a striker eliminates the need for a knife, the
separate fire starting elements makes this fire starting tool
bulkier than the magnesium block with a sparking insert.
Furthermore, even though it has a lanyard, this type of fire
starting tool is still not typically carried on an everyday
basis
[0005] Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved firestarter
that can be used for enabling fire starting materials to be
possessed comfortably on an everyday basis. In this regard, the
various embodiments of the present invention substantially fulfill
at least some of these needs. In this respect, the wearable
firestarter according to the present invention substantially
departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior
art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for
the purpose of enabling fire starting materials to be worn
comfortably on an everyday basis.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention provides an improved wearable
firestarter, and overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and
drawbacks of the prior art. As such, the general purpose of the
present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater
detail, is to provide an improved wearable firestarter that has all
the advantages of the prior art mentioned above.
[0007] To attain this, the preferred embodiment of the present
invention essentially comprises a sparking material including a
wearable portion and a friction element including a wearable
portion. The friction element's wearable portion is releasably
connected to the sparking material's wearable portion. The wearable
portions may be rings or a bracelet sized to closely encompass a
wearer's appendage. A portion of the wearable portions may be made
of a combustible metal, such as magnesium. The sparking material
may be made of ferrocerium. The friction element may be made of
file steel. The wearable portions may form grippable surfaces that
extend away from the sparking material and the friction element.
There are, of course, additional features of the invention that
will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject
matter of the claims attached.
[0008] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more
important features of the invention in order that the detailed
description thereof that follows may be better understood and in
order that the present contribution to the art may be better
appreciated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the current embodiment
of the wearable firestarter constructed in accordance with the
principles of the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the current embodiment of the
wearable firestarter of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of a first alternative
embodiment of the wearable firestarter of the present
invention.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of a second alternative
embodiment of the wearable firestarter of the present
invention.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a top side view of the faces of the second
alternative embodiment of the wearable firestarter of the present
invention.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the third alternative
embodiment of the wearable firestarter of the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the third alternative
embodiment of the wearable firestarter of the present
invention.
[0016] FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the fourth alternative
embodiment of the wearable firestarter of the present
invention.
[0017] FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the fourth alternative
embodiment of the wearable firestarter of the present invention
depicting the undersides of the striking element layer and the
combustible layer.
[0018] The same reference numerals refer to the same parts
throughout the various figures.
DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT EMBODIMENT
[0019] The principles of the present invention are applicable to a
variety of wearable jewelry-like configurations. The term "closely
encompasses," as used herein, refers to the wearable firestarter
fitting comfortably, but not easily falling off, a wearer's
appendage and generally not been removable except by the wearer's
deliberate action. A "ring," as that term is used herein, includes
without limitation both a circlet worn especially on the finger,
but also on the toes or through a piercing, and rings that do not
make a full loop for sizing because both of these types of rings
nonetheless prevent lateral removal from a wearer's appendage. A
"bracelet," as that term is used herein, includes without
limitation both an ornamental band or chain worn around the wrist
or ankle as well as bracelets that do not make a full loop for
sizing because both of these types of bracelets nonetheless prevent
lateral removal from a wearer's appendage. A bracelet may consist
of several different parts that are removably attached together.
Furthermore, when this application refers to an element being
connected to another portion of the firestarter, that may include
being connected by way of an appendage of the user, as in two
separate but adjacent rings, each with its own wearable
portion.
[0020] A preferred embodiment of the wearable firestarter of the
present invention is shown and generally designated by the
reference numeral 10.
[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates an improved wearable firestarter 10 of
the present invention. The firestarter includes all of the
components required to start a fire with a small amount of tinder.
More particularly, the wearable firestarter 10 has two wearable
portions 16, each having a flat surface forming a face 26. One
wearable portion 16 has a sparking material layer 12 attached to
its face 26, and the other wearable portion 16 has a striking
element layer 14 attached to its face 26. The two wearable portions
16 are releasably joined by retaining pins 20 inserted into
pinholes 18 present in the wearable portions 16. Alternatively, the
sparking material layer 12 and the striking element layer 14 may
attached to a single wearable portion 16. In this case, the
sparking material layer 12, the striking element layer 14, or both
are releasably attached to the single wearable portion 16.
[0022] The wearable firestarter 10 is depicted being worn on a
wearer's appendage 24, which is a finger in the current embodiment.
The wearable firestarter 10 closely encompasses the wearer's
appendage. The wearable portions 16 also provide convenient handles
that can be gripped when striking the striking element layer 14
against the sparking material layer 12. When used as a handle, the
wearable portions 16 have the additional advantage of leaving the
entire exposed portion of the sparking material layer 12 and
striking element layer 14 uncovered when the wearable firestarter
10 is in use.
[0023] In the current embodiment, the sparking material layer 12 is
a plate made of ferrocerium. Ferrocerium is used because it gives a
large number of sparks when it is scraped against a rough surface.
When small shavings of ferrocerium are removed quickly from a
larger body, the heat created from friction is sufficient to ignite
the shavings. The resulting small pieces of burning metal are
sufficient to ignite fine tender, thereby starting a fire.
Furthermore, the small pieces of burning metal burn at a
sufficiently high temperature to ignite magnesium shavings. A
ferrocerium composition suitable for use in the current invention
is 19% iron, 38% cerium, 22% lanthanum, 4% neodymium, 4%
praseodymium, and 4% magnesium. The sparking material layer 12 has
a flat surface, which is important for generating a sufficiently
large quantity of sparks when struck perpendicularly by the
striking element layer 14.
[0024] In the current embodiment, the striking element layer 14 is
a plate made of file steel with a rough surface. The striking
element layer's 14 rough surface causes the sparking material layer
12 to generate pyrophoric small metal particles when struck that
ignite spontaneously. The striking element layer 14 also has a
generally flat surface, which is important for creating a
sufficiently large quantity of sparks when it is struck
perpendicularly against the sparking material layer 12.
[0025] In the current embodiment, the wearable portions 16 are made
of magnesium. Magnesium is used because it is a lightweight, highly
flammable metal that is easily ignited when shaved into a fine
powder but is difficult to ignite in mass because magnesium is
protected by a thin layer of oxide which is fairly impermeable and
hard to remove. Furthermore, because magnesium reacts with water to
release hydrogen, combustion of magnesium is unaffected by damp
tinder. Magnesium burns at extremely high temperatures, making it
very effective for use as a firestarter. The wearable firestarter
10 readily yields magnesium shavings when the striking element
layer 14 or a knife blade is struck against the wearable portions
16. However, any suitable material in addition to magnesium could
be used, including a wide range of metals, wood, plastic, and
fabric.
[0026] FIG. 2 illustrates the improved wearable firestarter 10 of
the present invention. More particularly, the wearable firestarter
10 is depicted in exploded view with the two wearable portions
separated from one another. The sparking material layer 12 and the
striking element layer 14 are each attached to one of the wearable
portions 16 by an adhesive layer 22. However, they also could be
attached magnetically or cast as one piece with their respective
wearable portion 16. Each wearable portion 16 has pinholes 18,
which are drilled completely through at two points on adjacent
sides of the wearable portions' 16 faces. Each wearable portion 16
is fitted with one retaining pin 20 fixed in one of the pinholes
18, leaving one filled pinhole 18 and one open pinhole 18 in each
wearable portion 16. Each filled pinhole 18 features a tight fit
between the inserted end of the retaining pin 20 and the wearable
portion 16 that secures the inserted end of the retaining pin 20
within the filled pinhole 18. This can be accomplished by either a
tight friction fit or an adhesive. When the wearable firestarter 10
is assembled, the free end of the retaining pins 20 is slip fit
into the open pinholes 18. In the current embodiment, nickel-silver
retaining pins 20 are used because they are sufficiently flexible
to not bind up within the open pinholes 18. The nickel-silver
retaining pins 20 slip and slide without requiring extraordinarily
precise machining of the open pinholes 18. However, the retaining
pins 20 still fit sufficiently tightly within the open pinholes 18
that the wearable portions 16 will not separate without the
deliberate action of the wearer.
[0027] FIG. 3 illustrates a first alternative embodiment of the
improved wearable firestarter 100 of the present invention. More
particularly, the first alternative embodiment of the wearable
firestarter 100 has three wearable portions 116a, 116b, and 116c,
each having a flat surface forming a face 126. Wearable portion
116a has a combustible portion 122 attached to its face 126.
Wearable portion 116b has a sparking material portion 112 attached
to its face 126. Wearable portion 116c has a striking element
portion 114 attached to its face 126. In the current embodiment,
the combustible portion 122 is magnesium, the sparking material
portion 112 is ferrocerium, and the striking element portion 114 is
roughened file steel. Retaining pins 120, which are nickel-silver
in the current embodiment, are removably inserted into pinholes 118
to releasably secure the wearable portions 116a, 116b, and 116c
together in a similar manner to that previously described. However,
wearable portion 116b, which is positioned between wearable
portions 116a and 116c, has two open pinholes 118, each of which
receives the free end of one of the retaining pins 120. The
wearable portions 116a, 116b, and 116c can be made of the same
substance as the material attached to their faces 126, can be made
of magnesium, or can be made of any other suitable material such as
other metals, wood, plastic, and fabric. The wearable portions
116a, 116b, and 116c can be designed to attach to one another in
any desired order in addition to the one depicted.
[0028] FIG. 4 illustrates a second alternative embodiment of the
improved wearable firestarter 200 of the present invention. More
particularly, the second embodiment of the wearable firestarter 200
has two wearable portions 216, each having a flat surface forming a
face 226. One wearable portion 216 has a sparking material layer
212 attached to its face 226, and the other wearable portion 216
has a striking element layer 214 attached to its face 226. The two
wearable portions 216 are releasably joined by retaining pins 220
inserted into pinholes 218 present in the wearable portions 16. The
wearable firestarter 200 is depicted being worn on a wearer's
appendage 228, which is a wrist in the current embodiment. The
wearable firestarter 200 closely encompasses the wearer's
appendage. The wearable portions 216 also provide convenient
handles that can be gripped when striking the striking element
layer 214 against the sparking material layer 212. When used as a
handle, the wearable portions 216 have the additional advantage of
leaving the entire exposed portion of the sparking material layer
212 and striking element layer 214 uncovered when the wearable
firestarter 200 is in use. In the current embodiment, the sparking
material layer 212 is ferrocerium, the striking element layer 214
is roughened file steel, and the wearable portions 216 are
magnesium. The sparking material layer 212 and striking element
layer 214 can be joined to the wearable portions 216 magnetically,
by an adhesive layer, or be cast as one piece with their respective
wearable portion 216. In the current embodiment, the retaining pins
220 are nickel-silver.
[0029] FIG. 5 illustrates the faces 226 of the second alternative
embodiment of the improved wearable firestarter 200 of the present
invention. More particularly, the faces 226 have a striking element
layer 214 and a sparking material layer 212 attached. In the
current embodiment, the striking element layer 214 has a dull edge
222 and a sharp edge 224. When the wearable firestarter 200 is
assembled for wear, the sharp edge 224 rests against the sparking
material layer 212 so the wearer cannot be injured by the sharp
edge 224 while wearing the wearable firestarter 200. The sharp edge
224 facilitates both the striking of sparks from the sparking
material layer 212 and the shaving of magnesium from the wearable
portions 216.
[0030] FIG. 6 illustrates a third alternative embodiment of the
improved wearable firestarter 300 of the present invention. More
particularly, the third embodiment of the wearable firestarter 300
has a wearable portion 316 that closely encompasses the wearer's
appendage, which is a wrist in the current embodiment. The opposing
ends of the wearable portion 316 have pinholes 318 that receive
retaining pins 320. A striking element layer 314 and sparking
material layer 312 are releasably joined to the wearable portion
316 by hooks 328. A combustible layer 326 is attached to the
underside of the sparking materials layer 312. When the wearable
firestarter 300 is used for fire starting, the sparking material
layer 312 may be reattached to the wearable portion 316 so the
wearable portion 316 can be used as a handle. In the current
embodiment, the sparking material layer 312 is ferrocerium, the
striking element layer 314 is roughened file steel, and the
combustible layer 326 is magnesium.
[0031] FIG. 7 illustrates the third alternative embodiment of the
improved wearable firestarter 300 of the present invention. More
particularly, the third embodiment of the wearable firestarter 300
has a wearable portion 316 that is made of spring steel in the
current embodiment and biases outwards to releasably engage hooks
328 with retaining pins 320 when the wearable firestarter 300 is
assembled for wear by squeezing the opposing ends of the wearable
portion 316 inwards. When assembled for wear, the wearable portion
316 also holds the striking element layer 314 securely against the
sparking material layer 312 and the combustible layer 326. In the
current embodiment, the striking element layer 314 has a dull edge
322 and a sharp edge 324. When the wearable firestarter 300 is
assembled for wear, the sharp edge 324 rests against the sparking
material layer 312 so the wearer cannot be injured by the sharp
edge 324 while wearing the wearable firestarter 300. In the current
embodiment, the striking element layer 314 has the same thickness
as that of the joined sparking material layer 312 and combustible
layer 326.
[0032] FIG. 8 illustrates a fourth alternative embodiment of the
improved wearable firestarter 400 of the present invention. More
particularly, the fourth embodiment of the wearable firestarter 400
has a wearable portion 416 that closely encompasses the wearer's
appendage, which is a wrist in the current embodiment. The opposing
ends of the wearable portion 416 terminate in hooks 418. A striking
element layer 414 and a sparking material layer 412 with a
combustible layer 426 attached to its underside are releasably
joined to the wearable portion 416. When the wearable firestarter
400 is used for fire starting, the sparking material layer 412 may
be reattached to the wearable portion 416 so the wearable portion
416 can be used as a handle. In the current embodiment, the
sparking material layer 412 is ferrocerium, the striking element
layer 414 is roughened file steel, and the combustible layer 426 is
magnesium.
[0033] FIG. 9 illustrates the fourth alternative embodiment of the
improved wearable firestarter 400 of the present invention. More
particularly, the fourth embodiment of the wearable firestarter 400
has a wearable portion 416 that is made of spring steel in the
current embodiment. The wearable portion 416 biases outwards to
releasably engage hooks 428 with retaining slots 420 present in the
underside of the combustible layer 426 and the striking element
layer 414 when the wearable firestarter 300 is assembled for wear.
The hooks 428 are engaged with and disengaged from the retaining
slots 420 by squeezing the opposing ends of the wearable portion
316 inwards. When assembled for wear, the wearable portion 416 also
holds the striking element layer 416 securely against the sparking
material layer 412 and the combustible layer 426. In the current
embodiment, the striking element layer 314 has a dull edge 422 and
a sharp edge 424. When the wearable firestarter 400 is assembled
for wear, the sharp edge 424 rests against the sparking material
layer 412 so the wearer cannot be injured by the sharp edge 424
while wearing the wearable firestarter 400. In the current
embodiment, the striking element layer 414 has the same thickness
as that of the joined sparking material layer 412 and combustible
layer 426.
[0034] In use, the user selects the desired embodiment of the
wearable firestarter and wears it about the appropriate appendage
in its assembled for wear state. When the user needs to start a
fire, the user begins by separating the striking element layer from
the sparking material layer. If the tinder requires a hotter
ignition source than that generated by the sparking material layer
alone, the user can use the striking element layer to scrape
magnesium shavings from any portion of the wearable firestarter
made from magnesium. Then, while holding the sparking material
layer as close to the tinder pile as possible, the user holds the
striking element layer firmly, typically by using the wearable
portion as a handle. Then, keeping the striking element layer
perpendicular to the sparking material layer, the user scrapes the
striking element layer in a downward motion against the sparking
material layer with considerable force. The scraping action ignites
sparks of burning material from the sparking material layer, which
are directed onto the tinder pile. These hot fragments ignite the
tinder (and the magnesium shavings if they are present) into a
burning flame. After successfully starting a fire, the user
reassembles the wearable firestarter into its wearable state and
wears it about the appropriate appendage.
[0035] While current embodiments of the wearable firestarter have
been described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications
and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the
true spirit and scope of the invention. With respect to the above
description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional
relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations
in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation,
assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one
skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are
intended to be encompassed by the present invention. For example,
the elements of the present invention could be incorporated into a
wristwatch, necklace, or other types of jewelry.
[0036] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only
of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous
modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in
the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact
construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly,
all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to,
falling within the scope of the invention.
* * * * *