Reusable Fire Starter

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the reproduction of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

The present disclosure relates generally to a reusable fire starter, and in particular, the present disclosure relates to a reusable fire starter that can be repeatedly used to start a fire, even after sitting underneath and/or sustaining multiple fires.

A fire remains central to social gatherings in outside settings, like a campfire, firepit, or bonfire. A fire is also central to social gatherings in residential buildings, such as a household hearth or outdoor piece. Fire also provides necessary heat to individuals during cooler months of the year, especially in the outdoors or when camping.

However, starting a wood-based fire from scratch is a process that has traditionally been difficult and time-consuming, requiring skill and effort. A fire requires heat, fuel, and oxygen. The most primitive method of starting a fire can involve rubbing two sticks together using friction; however, this process can be tedious, time-consuming, and difficult to accomplish, needing to get the right amount of friction and then applying tinder quickly enough before the small flame is extinguished. Primitive tools, like a flint or other fire strikers, can be frustrating and difficult to use, often requiring repetitive efforts and with little success, especially in wet conditions. Simply pouring flammable liquids (like lighter fluid, gasoline, or kerosene) on standard firewood logs can result in a dangerous and large immediate flame that does not have sufficient heat and fuel to ignite firewood logs, especially to the point of self-sustainment. Due to such rapid combustion, liquid fuel is typically consumed very quickly, requiring frequent replenishment before logs fully ignite and support a self-sustaining fire. This continuous requirement for liquid fuel supplementation can quickly escalate into a hazardous situation. With little ability to control the direction and speed of the burn when using flammable liquids, potential personal injury or property damage can occur.

While matches or a lighter may be the safer and easier tool in comparison to those listed above, properly starting wood-based fire can require building a small fire with tinder, twigs, paper, kindling, or similar substances, slowly progressing to larger and larger sticks and small logs until the fire is hot enough to sustain adding logs without maintenance. Adding logs to the fire that are too large too soon can smother the small fire. Furthermore, at the earliest stages, a small flame can be easily extinguished due to wind or a lack of fuel to continue burning. As such, successfully building a gradual fire requires time, effort, and technique.

Single-use fire starters represent an additional solution to building a fire. Some are small tablets of solid fuel that are lit to start fires, while others are bundles of material like wood sawdust, other recycled wood or wood chips, paper fiber, ground tree nutshells, wax, or a combination thereof. However, in each case, such fire starters are consumed in the fire-building process and still require the gradual buildup to a larger fire.

Additional fire starters include petroleum-based products with accelerants incorporated therein, which are also consumed during the fire and cannot be reused. These types of fire starters produce small, low-energy flames for longer periods of time, again requiring users to start by building a small flame up to a larger fire with time and effort before the fire gets hot enough to maintain self-sufficiency with firewood logs. Since these fire starters are limited to a compact space, typically only one log, or even a fraction of a log, becomes ignited at once. Users then need to initiate a sequence of lighting: starting with one log using the fire starter, then using that ignited log to light another nearby, and continuing this chain reaction. This process can be quite time-consuming, particularly when aiming to build a substantial fire. When attempting to start a large fire by gradually building up from a small flame, there is a risk that the small flame or other smaller logs may extinguish before becoming hot enough to support a self-sustaining fire with standard firewood logs. Also, continually purchasing such single-use fire starters can become expensive over time since they cannot be reused.

Smokeless firepits can minimize the smoke from a wood fire by using a secondary burn or secondary combustion. Smoke in firepits is often produced from material that has not undergone full combustion during the initial burn. Providing additional airflow to a fire's fuel can allow for the combustion process to be more fully completed, minimizing the production of smoke and soot. Smokeless firepits usually raise the fire off the ground and have tall sidewalls with holes. Airflow through the holes in the tall sidewalls can allow smokeless firepits to use the heat from the fire to heat up air in the tall sidewalls, before introducing hot air near the top of the firepit. The hot air can allow for a more complete combustion of the carbon molecules in a fire's fuel, minimizing smoke production.

However, when the fire is not large enough to heat the air flowing through the tall sidewalls, the secondary burn process is less effective, and smoke can still be produced. As such, smoke is often produced during the time it takes the fire to become sufficiently large to heat the air in the firepit sidewalls. In fact, smoke may even be worse than a traditional campfire during the period when the fire is still growing because the tall sidewalls prohibit normal airflow to the flame.

To minimize the amount of smoke produced at the start of lighting a smokeless firepit, it can be beneficial to start a hotter, larger fire more quickly than by using traditional fire-starting methods. For example, a petroleum-based fire starter product with incorporated accelerant can burn for a long time, but the flame produced is small in size and low in energy, so their use with a smokeless firepit may create excess smoke at the start until the fire can grow large enough to produce enough heat to support secondary combustion. Similarly, these smaller-flame fire starters may only light one log, or even just one portion of one log, at a time, requiring the use of the previously described chain reaction of lighting logs in succession with other logs to start a larger fire; in a smokeless firepit, these smaller-flame fire starters can further increase the time until the firepit can reach a temperate that supports secondary combustion, again increasing the amount of smoke produced. In addition, these fire starters cannot be reused as they are consumed in the process.

Not only do users desire a safe, easy, quick, and effortless way to start a large fire, which can be used more than once, but also users desire to mitigate the excess smoke generated at combustion. As such, there is a need to provide a solution to the foregoing drawbacks, wherein a fire may be ignited and continuously sustained using standard firewood logs, even within smokeless firepits.

Disclosed herein is a reusable fire starter and methods of use thereof. In various aspects, the reusable fire starter comprises an open-top receptacle that can be made of a non-porous, high-temperature, and heat-resistant material. The open-top receptacle can have at least three legs projecting radially outward from a central basin. Each of the at least three legs can share a common base with the central basin. The reusable fire starter can have at least one wall extending upward from the common base about each of the at least three legs and the central basin to define an open-top burn chamber. The burn chamber can be configured to receive and hold a flammable substance that will be lit.

In embodiments, the reusable fire starter can have at least three legs and the common base that defines the open-top burn chamber and the central basin, forming a generally polyhedral geometry. In some of these embodiments, the generally polyhedral geometry of the open-top burn chamber can be Y-shaped. The at least one wall can comprise two side walls and an end wall; the two sidewalls can be interconnected by the end wall, and the end wall can be opposite from the central basin that joins the at least three legs. Each of the two sidewalls and the end wall can comprise a top rim. The top rims of each of the two sidewalls can be substantially co-planar with the top rim of the end wall.

Each of the at least three legs of the reusable fire starter can curve outwardly and downwardly from the central basin to form a downward concave curved shape. Each of the at least three legs can also be spaced equidistantly from the other of the at least three legs. The base of each of the at least three legs can have at least one support foot. The at least one support foot can be defined by a downward indentation into the base.

The receptacle of the reusable fire starter can be configured to fit within a smokeless firepit or beneath a plurality of firewood logs. In embodiments, the burn chamber can be configured to receive and hold at least about 8 ounces (oz) of the flammable substance; the 8 oz of the flammable substance can burn for at least fifteen minutes. The non-porous, high-temperature, and heat-resistant material of the receptacle and burn chamber can be comprised of stainless steel.

In embodiments, the reusable fire starter can comprise a receptacle having at least three legs and a central basin that share a common base. The at least three legs can project radially outward from the central basin, and each of the at least three legs spaced equidistantly from the other of the at least three legs. The burn chamber of the reusable fire starter can be defined by at least one wall extending upward from the base about the each of the at least three legs and the central basin. The burn chamber can be configured to receive and hold a flammable substance. The base of each of the at least three legs of the reusable fire starter can curve outwardly and downwardly from the central basin to form a downward concave curve with respect to a surface upon which the receptacle may be placed. The at least three walls of each of the at least three legs can comprise two sidewalls and an end wall; each of the two sidewalls can have a top rim that is substantially co-planar with a top rim of the end wall. The base of each of the at least three legs of the reusable fire starter can have at least one downward indentation or groove defined by a downward indentation into the base; the at least one downward indentation or groove can form at least one support foot. The burn chamber of the reusable fire starter can be configured to receive and hold at least about 8 ounces (oz) of the flammable substance. The non-porous, high-temperature, and heat-resistant material of the receptacle and the burn chamber of the reusable fire starter can be stainless steel.

In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method of using an embodiment of the reusable fire starter as disclosed herein to start and sustain a fire. The method can comprise providing a reusable fire starter, the reusable fire starter comprising at least three legs projecting radially outward from a central basin, and each of the at least three legs sharing a common base with the central basin, with an open-top burn chamber defined by at least one wall extending upward from the common base about each of the at least three legs. The open-top burn chamber can be at least partially filled with a flammable substance. A first plurality of firewood logs can be placed on top of the reusable fire starter. The flammable substance within the open-top burn chamber of the reusable fire starter can be ignited to create an ignition flame that can light the first plurality of firewood logs and start the fire.

The method can further comprise waiting until the fire is fully extinguished, and then at least partially refilling the burn chamber of the fire starter with more of the flammable substance. One or more other firewood logs can be placed on top of the reusable fire starter. The flammable substance within the open-top burn chamber of the reusable fire starter can be ignited to create a subsequent ignition flame that can light the firewood logs and sustain a subsequent fire.

Other objects and advantages of this disclosure will become readily apparent from the ensuing description.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. The present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the embodiments of the disclosure be considered in all aspects as illustrative and not restrictive. Any headings utilized in the description are for convenience only and have no legal or limiting effect. Numerous objects, features, and advantages of the embodiments set forth herein will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading of the following disclosure when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Detailed descriptions of one or more embodiments are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present disclosure can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present disclosure in any appropriate manner.

The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The use of the word “a” or “an” when used in conjunction with the term “comprising” in the claims or the specification can mean “one,” but it is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more,” “at least one,” and “one or more than one.”

Wherever any of the phrases “for example,” “such as,” “including” and the like are used herein, the phrase “and without limitation” is understood to follow unless explicitly stated otherwise. Similarly, “an example,” “exemplary” and the like are understood to be nonlimiting.

The term “substantially” allows for deviations from the descriptor that do not negatively impact the intended purpose. Descriptive terms are understood to be modified by the term “substantially” even if the word “substantially” is not explicitly recited. Therefore, for example, the phrase “wherein the lever extends vertically” means “wherein the lever extends substantially vertically” so long as a precise vertical arrangement is not necessary for the lever to perform its function.

The terms “comprising” and “including” and “having” and “involving” (and similarly “comprises,” “includes,” “has,” and “involves”) and the like are used interchangeably and have the same meaning. Specifically, each of the terms is defined consistent with the common United States patent law definition of “comprising” and is therefore interpreted to be an open term meaning “at least the following,” and is also interpreted not to exclude additional features, limitations, aspects, etc. Thus, for example, “a process involving steps a, b, and c” means that the process includes at least steps a, b, and c. Wherever the terms “a” or “an” are used, “one or more” is understood, unless such interpretation is nonsensical in context.

As used herein the term “about” is used herein to mean approximately, roughly, around, or in the region of. When the term “about” is used in conjunction with a numerical range, it modifies that range by extending the boundaries above and below the numerical values set forth. In general, the term “about” is used herein to modify a numerical value above and below the stated value by a variance of 20 percent up or down (higher or lower).

For purposes of the present disclosure, it is noted that spatially relative terms, such as “up,” “upward,” “down,” “downward,” “away,” “right,” “left,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” and the like, can be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over or rotated, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device can be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

The terms “attached,” “connected,” “engaged,” and the like or any variation thereof, as used herein, can refer to any manner of joining two or more objects. “Attached,” “connected,” “engaged,” and the like can refer to permanent, semi-permanent, or reversible joining of objects. Exemplary means of joining objects include but are not limited to, any fasteners such as screws, nuts, bolts, pin and clevis, and the like. Such fasteners can permit a stationary, translatable, or pivotable relationship between the objects. The terms “attached,” “connected,” and “engaged,” or variations thereof can refer to objects that are welded together (such as via welding of any kind, including traditional MIG welding, TIG welding, friction welding, brazing, soldering, ultrasonic welding, torch welding, inductive welding, and the like). In various embodiments objects can be “attached,” “connected,” or “engaged” to one another via any resin, glue, epoxy, and the like. In certain embodiments, “attached,” “connected,” or “engaged” objects are integrally formed as a single part together. “Attached”, “connected,” “engaged,” or variations thereof can refer to any mechanical fit such as a friction fit, interference fit, slidable fit, rotatable fit, pivotable fit, and any combination thereof.

As used herein, the words “log,” “firewood,” “firewood log,” “standard firewood,” “standard firewood log,” and the like can refer to wood configured for use as fuel in fires. The words “log,” “firewood,” “firewood log,” “standard firewood,” “standard firewood log,” can also refer to a naturally formed piece of firewood or synthetic or artificial wood logs. The size of a standard log or a standard piece of firewood can include any size that, as understood in the art, is manageable for handling while also providing sufficient surface area for burning. In various embodiments, the terms “log,” “firewood,” “firewood log,” standard firewood,” “standard firewood log,” and the like refer to wood with a standard length and width or cordwood length as known in the art. “Log” and “firewood” can be used interchangeably to refer to wood segments that range from about 6 inches in length to about 36 inches in length. In embodiments, “log,” “firewood,” and the like refer to wood segments with a length of between about 12 inches to 24 inches. “Log,” “firewood,” and the like can include wood segments that are about 16 inches in length. In various embodiments, the width or diameter of a log or a piece of firewood is up to about 8 inches. The width or diameter of a log or a single piece of firewood can be as little as 2 inches. In embodiments, “log” or “firwood” refers to a segment of wood with a width or diameter of between about 4 to about 6 inches. The phrase “smaller log,” “small log,” and the like can refer to wood segments that are smaller in size (such as a smaller diameter, a shorter length, or both) as compared to a standard log or standard firewood.

The below detailed description is provided for the purposes of illustration and description. Thus, although there have been described particular embodiments of a new and useful REUSABLE FIRE STARTER AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF, it is not intended that such references be construed as limitations upon the scope of this disclosure except as set forth in the appended claims. Thus, it is seen that the apparatus, methods, and systems of the present disclosure readily achieve the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those inherent therein. While certain preferred embodiments of the disclosure have been illustrated and described for present purposes, numerous changes in the arrangement and construction of parts and steps may be made by those skilled in the art, which changes are encompassed within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present disclosure, one or more drawings of which are set forth herein. Each drawing is provided by way of explanation of the present disclosure and is not a limitation. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the disclosure. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment.

While the making and using of various embodiments of the present disclosure are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present disclosure provides many applicable inventive concepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the embodiments and do not delimit the scope of the disclosure.

Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. Other objects, features, and aspects of the present disclosure are disclosed in, or are obvious from, the following detailed description. It is to be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present discussion is a description of exemplary embodiments only and is not intended as limiting the broader aspects of the present disclosure. Referring generally to, various exemplary embodiments of a reusable fire starterare described in detail. Where the various figures may describe embodiments sharing various common elements and features with other embodiments, similar elements and features are given the same reference numerals and redundant description thereof may be omitted below.

Disclosed herein is a reusable fire starter. The reusable fire startercan be comprised of an open-top receptaclewith a non-porous burn chamberconfigured to receive and hold a flammable substance which, when lit, creates a flame that can be distributed underneath one or more logs to assist with starting a fire. In embodiments, the reusable fire staterpermits a user to start a fire quickly, easily, and with little effort. In embodiments, the flammable substance is a flammable liquid. Non-limiting, exemplary flammable substances include ethanol (CHOH; such as bioethanol), isopropyl alcohol (CHOH), kerosene (CH-CH), lighter fluid (such as butane (CH)), lamp oil, or other liquid fuel, or a combination thereof. In operation the reusable fire starterdisclosed herein permits the user to build a fire while avoiding the traditional process of using tinder, kindling, and smaller logs. In embodiments, the presently disclosed fire starterpermits the formation of a self-sustaining fire when starting with standard logs. In other embodiments, the flammable substance may comprise a burn gel fuel, such as an alcohol-based gel fuel. When the flammable substance is ignited by a source providing combustion, such as an ignited matchstick or gas-fueled lighter, the flammable substance can produce a flame in the reusable fire starter. The flame can be used to start a fire of any type (campfire, firepit, fireplace, bonfire, etc.) using standard firewood logs, rather than having to start building a gradual fire from smaller kindling or tinder; fuels other than logs, such as charcoal or any other fuel, can also be used

Rather than pouring a flammable substance on the surface of logs, which creates only a thin layer of flammable substance that is quickly consumed, the burn chamberof the reusable fire startercan receive and hold a given volume of flammable substance that can be burned over a longer period of time. The presently disclosed reusable fire startercan be configured to extend the energy output of an ignition flame. In embodiments, the reusable fire starterdisclosed herein permits a flame to burn for up to about twenty minutes. In addition, when using traditional methods wherein ignition fluid is poured directly on the outer surface of a log and lit, the direction of the resultant flame cannot be controlled such that much of the flame is directed up and away from the surface of the firewood. By contrast, when properly placed, the reusable fire starterdisclosed herein permits the formation of an ignition flame beneath the firewood, which increases the surface area of firewood exposed to the ignition flame, resulting in more efficient combustion, reduced time to a self-sustaining fire, or a combination thereof. The burn chamberof the reusable fire startercan hold enough of the flammable substance that an ignition flame, started by igniting the flammable substance within the burn chamber of the reusable fire starter, burns for a period of time that is sufficient to ignite standard firewood logs without having to add additional fuel to the burn chamber. Thus, in various embodiments, the reusable fire starterdisclosed herein aids in reducing the time and minimizing the effort involved in both starting a fire with standard logs and achieving the secondary burn or secondary combustion process in a smokeless firepit. In various embodiments, the reusable fire startercan support the weight of at least 10 standard firewood logs that are stacked or thrown on top of the fire starterwithout altering the shape or efficacy of the reusable fire starter. The reusable fire startercomprises a material that can withstand the heat of repeated fires such that the burn chamber survives the fire without any change to the structure or efficacy of the reusable fire starter. After use, the burn chamberof the reusable fire startercan be refilled with a flammable substance and reused to start subsequent fires, as only the flammable substance is consumed in the process, not the reusable fire starteritself.

shows a top-right perspective of an exemplary embodiment of the reusable fire starter. The reusable fire startercan comprise an open-top receptaclethat has at least three legsprojecting radially outward from a central basin. Each of the at least three legsshares a basein common with the central basin. Each of the at least three legscan have a baseand at least one wallextending upwardly and contiguously from the common baseto form the open-top burn chamber. The at least one wallcan be continuous such that the burn chamberof the reusable fire starteris configured to receive and hold a flammable substance. The flammable substance can be rubbing alcohol, ethanol, lamp oil, lighter fluid, other liquid fuel, or any combination thereof. These types of flammable substances, when lit, create an ignition flame that can be used to easily and quickly start a fire using standard logs rather than the small kindling required when building a gradual fire started by traditional single-use fire starters. In embodiments, the reusable fire starterhas no top portion or lid. The lack of a lid or top can optimize the surface area of the ignition flame that results after lighting the flammable substance within the burn chamber. Thus, in such embodiments, the ignition flame is permitted to directly contact one or more firewood logs across the entire top surface area of the reusable fire starterand for the duration of the ignition period.

The receptacleand burn chamberof the reusable fire startercan be made of a non-porous, high-temperature, heat-resistant material that is configured to receive and hold a flammable substance that can be lit; the material is such that the receptable and burn chambercan be reused to start and sustain multiple fires. In certain embodiments, the reusable fire startercomprises stainless steel (such as 304 stainless steel, or any other stainless steel), carbon steel, cast iron, aluminum, galvanized steel, magnesium, titanium, copper, chromium, cement, silicon carbide, refractory concrete, or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, the reusable fire startercan comprise 16 gauge stainless steel. The reusable fire starterdisclosed herein can comprise a material that allows the burn chamberof the reusable fire starterto contain a lit flammable substance for a period of around fifteen (15) to twenty (20) minutes while catching standard firewood logs on fire that are set on top of the reusable fire starter. Such material can be durable enough to allow the reusable fire starterto stay below a self-sustaining fire and then be reused to start multiple fires (after the burn chamberis refilled with the flammable substance) without affecting its structure or efficacy. Such material also has compressive and tensile strength properties such that the material allows the reusable fire starterto support logs being stacked or thrown on top of the reusable fire starterwithout affecting its structure or efficacy. In other embodiments, the fire startermay not be reusable, depending on the material the fire startercomprises.

The embodiment of the reusable fire startershown incan have a generally polyhedral geometry. In optional embodiments, the reusable fire startercomprises a variety of geometrical configurations, including configurations in which the at least one walland the baseform a prism, for example a generally polyhedral geometries. In embodiments, the reusable fire startercomprises a basewith a general shape of a cross-hair, an asterisk, as well as any number of legsprojecting radially outward from a central basin. For example, the embodiment depicted inhas at least three legsand central basinsharing a common base, such that the general polyhedral geometry has a base shape of a Y; the at least one wallextending upwardly from the common basecan form the open-top rectangular prism shape of each leg. Each legand the central basinare joined together to form the burn chamberthat can receive and hold a flammable substance.

As shown in, in certain embodiments, the reusable fire startercomprises a central basinwith a plurality of legsprojecting from the central basin. In each of the legs, the continuous wallcan comprise at least two sidewallsand an end wall, which extend upwardly and contiguously from the baseto form the burn chamber. The continuous wallmay also comprise a connecting junctureand a linking wall. The general polyhedral shape of the embodiment of the reusable fire starterincan be the general shape of a Y with three legs. In embodiments, each of the three legscan be spaced equidistantly from the other legs. Spacing the legsequidistantly can provide the fire starterwith stability, minimizing the risk that the reusable fire startercould tip over and spill the flammable substance contained in the burn chamber. Furthermore, as each of the plurality of legscomprise parts of the burn chamberin which the flammable substance is received and held, spacing the legsequidistantly from each other can further maximize the surface area of the logs on top of the reusable fire starterthat are exposed to the flame of the ignited flammable substance within the burn chamber. In embodiments with equidistantly spaced legs, the flammable substance within the burn chambercan be evenly distributed throughout the legs to create a sustained burn across multiple logs. In still other embodiments with spaced out legs, the distribution of the flammable substance throughout the legs of the burn chambermaximizes the total surface area of liquid exposed to the air such that the volume of flammable substance creates a flame that is larger in size and more widely distributed in comparison to embodiments without such legs.

The plurality of legscan meet at a central basin. The central basincan be hollow such that the central basinof the burn chambercan be filled with a flammable substance. In this way, the central basinof the burn chambercan allow the flammable substance from each legof the burn chamberto mix with the flammable substance from other legsof the burn chamber, ensuring that as the flammable substance is evenly distributed across the different legsof the burn chamberwhen being refilled or consumed in use. As shown in theembodiment, the central basinshares the same baseand wallswith at least one of the plurality of the legsthat make up the burn chamberof the reusable fire starter. Where the sidewallsof each legmeet at the central basin, a linking wallcan connect adjacent side wallsof each adjacent leg. To form the continuous at least one wall, the side walls; the connecting juncture, the end walland the linking walls, can all be contiguous with each other. In embodiments, the linking wallis curved in toward the central basin. In other embodiments not pictured, the linking wallcurves outward away from the central basinor forms an angle or otherwise directly link two adjacent sidewallswithout such a curve. In still other embodiments not pictured, the central basinis not hollow or able to be filled with a flammable substance, such that each legrepresents a separate and distinct burn chambersfor the flammable substance.

Each of the plurality of legscan have the same general dimensions. However, in other embodiments not pictured, one or more legscan have dimensions that are different from at least one leg in the plurality of legs. In additional embodiments, there may not be an equidistant spacing between at least two of the plurality of legs. As shown in the, at least one of the legscan have a general shape of an open-top rectangular prism. The legscan comprise a basewith at a continuous wallextending upwardly from the base, two side walls, an end wall, or a combination thereof. In embodiments, the end wallis opposite the central basin. As can be seen better in theview of this embodiment, the end wallcan be curved in shape, having the shape of an open parenthesis. In embodiments not depicted herein, the end wallcan be straight or otherwise non-rounded. Between at least one side walland the associated end wall, can be a connecting juncture. The connecting juncturecan be curved. The connecting juncturecan be integral with the side wall, the end wall, or both. In embodiments not pictured, the connecting juncturecan comprise an angular joint. A topmost edge of the walls,can comprise a top edge or rim.

The baseof at least one legcan have at least one indentation or groovethat defines a support structure or foot. As can be seen in theembodiment, at least one legcan comprise a plurality of support structures or feet. In certain embodiments, at least one leg comprises at least two support structures or feet. In such embodiments, one support structure or footcan be disposed toward one sidewallor side of the legwhile the other support structure or footis disposed closer to the opposite sidewallor side of the leg. In other embodiments not pictured, the at least one support structure or footon a legmay be continuous. As in theembodiment, the plurality of indentations or grooves(as shown in) that comprise support structures or feet(as shown in) on at least one legcan be of different sizes or discontinuous along a length of the leg. While some embodiments not pictured may not have indentations or groovesor support structures or feeton at least one leg, other embodiments also not pictured may have as many as forty indentations or groovesor support structures or feeton at least one leg. As in theembodiment, the indentations or grooveson at least one legcan have the general shape of an open-top rectangular prism with rounded edges. In other embodiments not depicted, the at least one indentation or grooveon each legcan be any other general shape, such as, for example, generally open-top cubes, open-top cylindrical prisms, or other prisms having bases with other shapes with more or less number of sides than the examples provided explicitly herein, and with or without rounded edges. In still other embodiments not shown, the at least one support structure or footis not an extension of the baseformed by an indentation or groove, but is an additional protruding structure on an underside of the base. By way of non-limiting example, such at least one support structure or footcan include a disc, a stop, a caster, a pad, or foot. The at least one support structure or footcan comprise a support with a threaded rod configured to be fastened to bored holes on the underside of the base, the bored holes having a threaded configuration that corresponds to the threaded rod. Such at least one support structure or footcan be adjustable or nonadjustable to vary the height at which the baserests upon a surface supporting the reusable fire starter.

shows a top right-side perspective view of the reusable fire starterof the embodiment of. When a flammable substance received in the burn chamberwithin the reusable fire starteris ignited, a flameis generated and can extend upward from the reusable fire starteras seen in. Logs, not pictured, sitting on top of the reusable fire startercan then be lit by the flameto start a fire. As can be better seen in this view, the end wall,can be curved in shape, having the shape of an open parenthesis.

As shown in, components of this embodiment of the reusable fire starterhave certain dimensions where the burn chamberis generally Y-shaped with three equidistant legsthat are generally the shape of an open-top rectangular prism.

shows a right-side elevation view of the reusable fire starterof the embodiment of, the burn chamberbeing at least partially filled with a flammable substance. As can be seen, the basecan be configured to rest upon a surface supporting the reusable fire starter, such as a ground, a grate within a smokeless firepit, or any other surface capable of supporting the reusable fire starterin a generally upright position along with a plurality of logs. The structure of at least one legcan curve outwardly and downwardly from the central basinto form a downward concave curve until the legmeets the surface on which the reusable fire startersits. An underside of the baseof at least one legcan include, at least one support structure or foot. Also shown inis the curved connecting juncturebetween a side walland an end wallof a leg.

As can be better seen in the perspective shown in, the top edge of each wallof each legcan have a top rim. In this embodiment, each wallof each leghas a height that increases in a downward direction from the top rimas the side wallextends laterally from the central basintowards the end wall. In such embodiments, the increasing wall height along the lateral extension of each legcompensates for the downward-concave curved shape of the legssuch that the top rimremains in substantially the same plane across the entire top surface of the reusable fire starter. In other words, a horizontal plane defined along the top rimof each wallmay be generally orthogonal to a vertical plane defined by, or along, the furthest edge of at least one end wall. Thus, in various embodiments, the height of at least one legcan be at a maximum at the end wall, measuring from the top rimto the top face of the base. Starting from the end wall, the height of the legcan gradually decrease along the length of the leg in the medial direction until meeting the central basin, while keeping the top rimgenerally co-planar across the entire top face of the reusable fire starter. In embodiments, the basecan comprise a generally concave shape, while the top rimremains in the same plane throughout the top surface of the fire starter. The height of the rimcan be generally consistent and even across the linking wallsurrounding the central basin, at the smallest height of each leg. In certain embodiments, the basecan comprise a contour or shape matches the contour or shape of a fire grate or a bottom surface of a firepit.

This structure can enable the reusable fire startergravitationally rest securely on plurality of surfaces while minimizing the possibility of tipping or otherwise being moved in a manner that risks inadvertent spilling of the flammable substancewithin the burn chamber. This structure also can allow the reusable fire starterto distribute the volume of flammable substanceacross the plurality of legscomprising the burn chambersuch that each legof the burn chamberholds a substantially similar volume of flammable substance. Such substantially even distribution of the flammable substance across each of the plurality of legsof the burn chambercan allow for consistent distribution of the flame and a consistent burn time of the flammable substancethroughout the burn chamberof the reusable fire starter. This structure exposes a certain percentage of surface area to volume of the flammable substanceto the ignition flame, to control the direction and energy output of the flame. By contrast, the traditional fire-starting method of simply pouring a flammable substance onto the surface of the logs and then igniting the logs, can be dangerous and difficult to control in both speed and direction of burn and may require continual addition of the flammable substance to continue the flames for a long enough time to catch a standard firewood log on fire.

shows a bottom right-side perspective view of the reusable fire starterof the embodiment of. Shown again is the baseand the plurality of support structures or feeton the baseor bottom of the reusable fire starter. The downwardly and outwardly curved structure of each legis also shown. From this angle, it is also possible to see the curved connecting juncturebetween a side walland an end wall. The baseof the central basinalso can have curved edges, matching the curved linking wallbetween the side wallsof each adjacent legwhen meeting around the central basin. From this perspective, the top rimof each wallcan be seen, but it is not possible to see within the burn chamberof the reusable fire starter.

shows a bottom-right perspective view of the reusable fire starterof the embodiment of. Shown again is the baseand a better view of the bottom of the plurality of support structures or feeton the bottom of each legof the reusable fire starter. As can be seen in, at least one legof this embodiment has four indentations or grooves, two sets of two indentations or grooveson each side of the base. The pair of indentations or groovesclosest to the end wall,can be shorter in length than the other pair of indentations or groovesclosest to the central basin. In various embodiments, the configuration and shape of the indentations or grooveson at least one legare complementary to the structure and contour of a fire grate or the bottom surface of a fire pit such that the indentations or groovesform channels, guides, or keyways. In embodiments, the channels, guides, or keywaysare configured to receive complementary protrusions or extension on the fire grate or bottom surface of the firepit, such that, when the extension or protrusions from the fire grate or bottom surface of the fire pit are disposed within the channels, guides, or keyways, rotational movement is restricted between the reusable fire starterand the associated fire grate or bottom surface of the fire pit.

Again, the curved linking wallbetween the side wallsof two legs, and the curved connecting juncturebetween the side walland an end wallcan be seen in.