Wilderness survival device
View Patent ↗A fire starter device and method for producing the same capable of igniting a fire sustaining fuel source in adverse conditions typically associated with wilderness survival or emergency situations. A wick element facilitates ignition of the fire starter and extends through a generally cubical outer shell into a solid fuel inner core. The wick element can include one or more wicks associated with a wax, each wick including multiple strands of one or more wicking materials. The outer shell provides a hard, non-greasy external surface for the fire starter and substantially encapsulates the solid fuel inner core. The solid fuel inner core includes a fibrous material associated with a wax and can provide fuel to the flame of the fire starter.
1. A fire starter, comprising:
a solid fuel inner core comprising a fibrous material associated with a semi-soft wax;
an outer shell external to the inner core and fully encapsulating the inner core, the outer shell comprising a hard wax; and
a wick element extending through the outer shell and integrally molded with the inner core.
2. The fire starter of claim 1 , wherein the semi-soft wax comprises a paraffin wax with a melting point between about 130° F. and about 145° F.
3. The fire starter of claim 1 , wherein the hard wax comprises a paraffin wax with a melting point between about 150° F. and about 165° F.
4. The fire starter of claim 1 , wherein the fibrous material comprises cotton.
5. The fire starter of claim 1 , wherein the wick element comprises wicking selected from the group consisting of cotton, fiberglass, aramid, denim, hemp, wood, and paper, and further comprises a wax.
6. The fire starter of claim 5 , wherein the wick element comprises a plurality of individual wicks, wherein each of the plurality of wicks comprises a plurality of twisted cotton strands.
7. The fire starter of claim 1 , wherein the wick element further comprises a stiffener selected from the group consisting of a zinc stiffener, a paper stiffener, and a cotton stiffener.
8. The fire starter of claim 1 , wherein the fire starter has a generally cubical shape.
9. The fire starter of claim 1 , wherein the association comprises absorption of the semi-soft wax by the fibrous material.
10. The fire starter of claim 1 , wherein the association comprises adsorption of the semi-soft wax to the fibrous material.
11. The fire starter of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the semi-soft wax and hard wax include one or more additive materials selected from the group consisting of a dye, a fragrance, an oil, an accelerant, a wax, and an acid.
12. A method of making a fire starter, the method comprising:
inserting a portion of a wick element into a piece of fibrous material;
enclosing the portion of the wick element and the piece of fibrous material within a mold;
melting a semi-soft wax;
pouring the semi-soft wax into the mold;
cooling the semi-soft wax to form a solid fuel inner core comprising the portion of the wick element and the fibrous material associated with the semi-soft wax;
removing the solid fuel inner core from the mold;
melting a hard wax;
dipping the solid fuel inner core into the hard wax; and
cooling the hard wax to form an outer shell fully encapsulating the solid fuel inner core.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the semi-soft wax comprises a paraffin wax, and wherein the step of melting the semi-soft wax further comprises:
heating the semi-soft wax to a temperature between 130° F. and 145° F.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of melting the semi-soft wax further comprises:
adding one or more additive materials to the semi-soft wax.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the hard wax comprises a paraffin wax, and wherein the step of melting the hard wax further comprises:
heating the hard wax to a temperature between 150° F. and 165° F.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of melting the hard wax further comprises:
adding one or more additive materials to the hard wax.
17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
twisting a plurality of individual wicks together, wherein each of the plurality of wicks comprises a plurality of twisted cotton strands;
dipping the plurality of twisted wicks into a melted wax to associate the wicks with the wax; and
cooling the wax-associated wicks to form the wick element.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
inserting a stiffener into the plurality of wicks.
19. The method of claim 12 , wherein the fibrous material comprises cotton.
20. The method of claim 12 , wherein the association between the fibrous material and the semi-soft wax comprises an adsorption or an absorption.