The present invention relates to kindling for starting fire, in particular in coal-burning stoves, also applicable in starting bonfires, barbecues or fireplaces.

The types of handlings known so far are manufactured from oil derivatives such as paraffin or there are the so called eco-friendly kindlings which are made from ecologically friendly materials such as: wood or cardboard.

The patent description WO 03/080770 discloses a device for kindling a fire made solely from cardboard. Said device is for self- assembly, initial form thereof being a board with incisions, which has a form of a cone formed by a cardboard band, spirally arranged on four props. Such a structure, after igniting the top thereof, ensures sufficient ventilation and quick starting of fire.

The patent description IE892585, on the other hand, discloses a set for facilitating starting of a fire. The set consists of a cage made from easily combustible material such as pieces of wood as kindling, and the actual easily combustible material is placed on top of the cage. The arrangement of the easily combustible material on the cage ensures the proper access of air to the combustible material and therefore facilities starting a fire.

The patent description ES2111451 discloses a wooden product for starting a fire. Said product has an external paper packaging in the form of a pyramid whose base is a quadrilateral. The inside of the paper packaging is filled with pieces of wood. Said paper packaging has two holes: one in the lower part on one of the side surfaces of the pyramid and another one on the top of the pyramid, which helps air circulation during combustion.

The present invention relates to a kindling for starting a fire, in particular in coal-burning stoves, wherein said kindling comprises a kindling material and longitudinal elements from combustible material in the form of shapes for maintaining the fire, wherein each of said shapes has a first end and a second end. The essence of the invention consists in that the shapes create an outline of a side surface of a spatial solid and they are arranged at a distance from one another around an axis and are mutually connected. The shapes are tapered towards their second ends. First ends of the shapes form the base of the solid and second ends of the shapes form the top opening of the spatial body. The kindling material is inside the solid.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the shapes create an outline of a side surface of a truncated cone or a truncated pyramid.

It is also advisable that the shapes should be connected by means of a tray arranged at first ends of the shapes.

It is also recommendable that the shapes should be connected with an additional ring. In such an embodiment the additional ring is located between the tray and the second ends of the shapes, or alternatively, the additional ring is affixed to the second ends of the shapes.

The shapes may be mounted in holes made along the edge of the tray and/ or in the holes made in the additional ring.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention the shapes are made from compressed sawdust, or alternatively from wood, whose moisture content is preferably no greater than 12%. It is also advisable that the cross-section of the shapes should be rectangular.

It is also recommendable that the combustible material should be sawdust mixed with paraffin.

A further benefit is achieved when the combustible material is affixed to the tray.

In a most preferred embodiment of the invention all elements making up the kindling are combustible.

The kindling according to the present invention has a wide range of applications. Apart from being used to start a fire in bonfires, barbecues or fireplaces, the foremost application of the kindling is for starting a fire in coal-burning stoves. The construction of the new kindling, wherein there are spaces between the shapes, and there is an opening in the upper part thereof, allows for an optimal air flow during combusting, which ensures the inflow of a sufficient amount of oxygen necessary for burning the combustible material of the kindling. Furthermore, the kindling may be ignited with one match which is lit and then put into the solid formed by the shapes wherein the kindling material is placed. Such a construction of the kindling which does not have to be lit from the bottom or from the side, and a match may be put into the kindling from the top, through the top opening, makes it possible to arrange fuel such as crushed coal around the kindling, before starting a fire, which makes the lighting process more intensive and more effective even in coal-burning stoves where other types of kindling known to date had not been used. All elements of the kindling are combustible and made solely or nearly so from natural materials, which makes them completely burnable, biodegradable. The construction of the kindling allows for its stable arrangement on a surface or in a fuel bed, for example in coal. The vertical stability of the kindling and the construction thereof ensure the easy burning of tinder and creating an effect of a fire whirl or a fire tornado while it is burning. The tray of the kindling is a hearth for the combustible material and allows for initial heating of the cold airflow, which induces the effect of a chimney draught during ignition. What is more, the tray as well as the additional rings allow for easy connection of the shapes and achieving their proper stable position.

The kindling for starting a fire according to the present invention is presented in more detail in the following embodiments and in the enclosed drawing, where fig. 1 shows the side view of the kindling, fig.2 — is a top view of the kindling shown in fig.l, fig.3— is a bottom view of the kindling shown in fig.l, and fig.4-6 show another embodiment of the kindling and side, top and bottom view thereof respectively.

The kindling for starting a fire 1 comprises longitudinal elements made from combustible material, in particular shapes 2 made from wood used for maintaining the fire. Each shape 2 has a first end A which is a lower end and a second end B which is an upper end. The shapes 2 are the same length each. The shapes 2 are arranged one next to another around an axis 0 and they form an outline of a side surface of a spatial solid, in particular resembling a truncated cone. The shapes 2 are so arranged that there are spaces 3 between them. The first, lower ends A of the shapes 2 form the base of the solid, whereas the second, upper ends B of the shapes 2 form an opening 6 which is an opening of the spatial solid from the top. The shapes 2 are tapered towards their second ends B. In the presented embodiment the shapes 2 are made from wood, for example pine wood, preferably seasoned, whose moisture content is no greater than 12%, for example 9%, and their cross-section is rectangular. Alternatively the shapes 2 may be made from any other known combustible material, for example compressed sawdust. Additionally, apart from the already mentioned rectangular cross-section, the scope of the invention also encompasses other cross-sections, for example circular. It is also possible that the shape of the spatial solid outlined by the shapes 2 is different. Instead of a truncated cone it may be, for example, a truncated pyramid.

The shapes 2 are mutually connected by means of a tray 4 which is placed inside the spatial solid at the first, lower ends A of the shapes 2. In particular the tray 4 is placed at a distance from the ends A up to 2 cm, for example 1 cm. In the embodiment shown in the drawing the shapes 2 are mounted in holes 5 made along the edge of the tray 4. The scope of the invention also encompasses other ways of connecting the shapes 2, for example by means of a string or wire. In the basic embodiment of the invention the shapes 2 are mutually connected only by means of the tray 4. It is recommendable, however, that the shapes 2 should be connected by means of an additional ring 7 comprising a central hole 10 and is mounted between the tray 4 and the second, upper ends B of the shapes 2, which enhances the stability of the position of the shapes 2.

In particular the shapes 2 are mounted in holes 8 made in the additional ring 7. The tray 4 and the additional ring 7 may be made from cardboard, for example. Inside the solid there is a kindling material 9 in particular in the form of sawdust mixed with paraffin and it is affixed to the tray 4. The scope of the invention also encompasses other known kindling materials, for example only sawdust or paraffin.

In the present embodiment of the invention all elements of the kindling 1 are combustible.

The scope of the invention also encompasses other possible embodiments, not shown in the drawing, such as drilling through holes in the tray and/or shapes to enhance air flow within the kindling during burning thereof, which boosts the intensity of burning and overall effectiveness of the kindling.

Fig.4— fig.6 show another embodiment of a kindling for starting a fire. The kindling 11 is very similar to the kindling 1 as described above, and the particular respective elements thereof are marked with numbers plus 10. It regards shapes 12 with ends A and B, spaces 13, a tray 14, holes 15 in the tray 14, an opening 16 and a kindling material 19 as well as the above mentioned varieties and alternative embodiments. The difference lies in the fact that the kindling 11 comprises another form of an additional ring for stabilising the position of the shapes 12 which is a ring 17 in this embodiment affixed to the second ends B of the shapes 12. The ring 17 has an inside opening which outlines the opening 16. The ring 17 may be affixed to the second ends B of the shapes 12 by means of glue, staples or other affixing means.

Within the scope of the invention it is also possible to have embodiments wherein the shapes 2,12 are mutually connected solely by means of the tray 4, 14 or other connecting elements without using the additional rings 7, 17.