FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[001] This invention relates to a fire-starting arrangement and method for establishing a fire and more particularly to convenient, simple to use, fire lighting technique for establishing a fire without the use of toxic chemicals or gases in order to establish the requisite ignition for flame establishment for the fire.

BACKGROUND ART DISCUSSION

[002] While this invention hereafter for the most part is describing a campfire and the lighting thereof, this referencing to a campfire is purely to provide an example of the fire lighting capability of the fire-starting arrangement and method for establishing a fire.

[003] The fire-starting arrangement and method for establishing a fire can also apply to other fires like chimney fires, BBQ's, bon fires and so forth.

Referencing a campfire in no way should restrict the scope of this invention as the application of the fire-starting arrangement and method for establishing a fire of this invention is intended to extend to all kinds of fire lightning

applications.

[004] Campfire is an essential part of any decent outdoor experience, whether it be for the practical reasons of providing warmth, security and means to cook and/or boil provisions, or simply to provide that central point of reference to bring together those on an outdoor adventure or experience about a campfire for cultural development and understanding within the surrounds thereabouts.

[005] Igniting a campfire however, is not necessarily a straightforward procedure. For a campfire to have any longevity of combustion there is the requirement to fire light significant lengths of wood and sticks collected from the surrounds.

[006] These kinds of more significantly sized sources of fuel such as wood and sticks often require prolonged sparking of an ignition source given that the material is not immediately conducive to instantaneous ignition to fire, the kinds of fire ignition of which one would expect from paper and so forth.

[007] While it is possible to bring along to the outdoor activity fire-starting systems that rely upon chemicals such as kerosene, manganese and

Ferrocerium, these types of fire-making tools are often toxic and potentially harmful to both user and the environment.

[008] Further, while it is also possible to bring along non-toxic, easily ignitable paper and the like to attempt to establish an initial fire source that can provide enough ongoing sparking to ignite the more substantial source of fuel within the campfire of the wood and/or sticks, paper in itself has its own difficulties as a fire starter for a camp fire.

[009] First of all, to be able to get the paper in amongst the major fire burning wood and stick material, the paper has to be crunched up and fed in between the relevant lengths of wood and sticks.

[010] As most know about fire, one of the requisites in being able to establish and maintain combustion is to be able to feed oxygen effectively up through the material being ignited.

[01 1] As conventional newspaper being crunched up has no fluted structure, air-flow through the paper and/or lack thereof does not maximising introduction of oxygen to feed the initial source of fire lighting for the wood and sticks of the camp fire.

[012] Still further, it is well recognised that if the wood and sticks can be constructed in a generally pyramid configuration or at least a general degree of vertical interaction between the wood and sticks rather than laterally resting one upon the other on the ground, this then creates a structure that assists in the fire lighting of the wood and sticks making up the camp fire.

[013] Accordingly it would be advantageous to be able to provide a fire-starting arrangement for campfires that did not rely upon methods that would involve potentially toxic chemicals for fire starting and would also inherently provide for a fire starting arrangement which could assist in establishing the appropriate configuration of the campfire's wood and/or sticks to best assist in maintaining the combustion of the campfire and to also inherently act as a fuel source for that initial ignition and/or prolonged sparking of the more substantial fuel source such as wood and sticks that need to be fired ongoing as part of the campfire combustion.

[014] It is therefore an object of this invention to be able to provide for a campfire fire-starting arrangement and a method of use thereof which will be able to provide a non-toxic fuel source for ignition of the fire but also wherein the arrangement will be inherently structured so as to provide appropriate support for configuring the wood and/or sticks of the campfire so as to best allow fire lighting of this material and their ongoing combustion thereafter for the campfire. [015] Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a complete reading of the following specification.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[016] In one form of the invention there is provided a campfire fire-starting arrangement, said campfire fire-starting arrangement including; [017] a main housing structure wherein the main housing structure is made from robust, non-toxic cellulose-based paper material; [018] said main housing structure when in an erected configuration having a substantially hollow internal section with an open top section;

[019] said main housing structure characterised by a plurality of hinged flaps configured into a side or sides of the main housing structure wherein when the campfire fire-starting arrangement is in use, said flaps are user movable away from said side or sides of said main housing structure so as to provide for a corresponding plurality of open apertures on the side or sides of the main housing structure to which outside air is feedable through said plurality of open apertures internally into the hollow internal section of the main housing structure.

[020] In preference the main housing structure is further characterised with an upper edge, wherein said upper edge is adapted for kindle, wood, sticks and/or combustible lengths of non-toxic material to be at least partially vertically supported upon said upper edge of the main housing structure without substantially obstructing the open top section of said main housing structure.

[021] Hence when a campfire is to be started, the main housing structure is ignitable becoming inherently combustible as air is fed therein through the plurality of open apertures on the side or sides of the main housing structure whereupon burning of the main housing structure provides a non-toxic fire- lighting effect upon the kindle, wood, sticks and/or combustible lengths of nontoxic material that are at least generally vertically supported upon the upper edge of the main housing structure.

[022] In preference the main housing structure provides for a tetrahedral shape when the campfire is to be started. [023] In preference the upper edge of the main housing structure includes an undulated profile, wherein a series of troughs or inverted peaks of said undulated profile of the upper edge of the main housing structure allow sections of said kindle, wood, sticks and/or combustible lengths of non-toxic material to be restable therein allowing the main housing structure to provide at least generally vertical support for the kindle, wood, sticks and/or combustible lengths of non-toxic material upon the upper edge of the main housing structure.

[024] In preference the robust non-toxic cellulose-based paper material is cardboard.

[025] In preference the main housing structure includes a series of folds, wherein said series of folds provides for a collapsible storage configuration of said main housing structure and an expanded open configuration of said main housing structure when the main housing structure is in the erected

configuration for use.

[026] In preference two sides of the main housing structure are joinable together by a matching mating profile.

[027] Advantageously by having sides of the main housing structure joinable together by a matching mating profile, for example a hook and slot on adjacent sides, inherently configured into the main housing structure, means that a single sheet of the main housing structure can be erected without any glue, thereby avoiding any potential toxins in the material of the main housing structure.

[028] In preference the main housing structure provides for a tetrahedral shape when in the expanded open configuration of said main housing structure when the main housing structure is in the erected configuration for use.

[029] Advantageously, the main housing structure can be easily transported and sold in its collapsed configuration and as required expanded out easily into the erected configuration ready for use.

[030] Users can conveniently take the collapsed main housing structure of the fire-starting arrangement with them on their journey to the outdoors and when required simply fold out the main housing structure into the expanded open configuration where it would be placed on the ground with the open top section correctly orientated and with the upper edge of the main housing structure then providing a location on which the more substantial fuel to be burned within the campfire such as the wood, sticks and/or other non-toxic combustible material could then rested thereupon in order to establish a general pyramid

configuration.

[031] With the wood, sticks and the like appropriately arranged for best ongoing combustion, fire-lighting is achieved by the inherent conducive nature of the non-toxic cellulose-based paper material to burn virtually instantaneously once ignited.

[032] The inclusion of the unique series of hinged flaps that are hingedly withdrawn away from the respective side or sides of the main housing structure provides for openings through which airflow can pass there through, and the open top section of the main housing structure, feeding in that requisite oxygen from the outside air so essential in establishing and then maintaining the flame while the main housing structure burns.

[033] In preference each flap is pre-cut flap into the main housing structure, wherein each pre-cut flap includes a single hinged side so as to allow the pre- cut flap to be pushable or pullable away from the side of the main housing structure to provide the corresponding open aperture. [034] In preference the pre-cut flap is pushable from the side of the main housing structure internally into the main housing structure to provide the corresponding open aperture on the side of the main housing structure and wherein the pre-cut flap when pushed internally into the main housing structure provides an ignition point to be lightable internally within the erected

configuration of the main housing structure.

[035] Advantageously as the pre-cut flap includes the hinged side, this means as the pre-cut flap is pushed from the side of the main housing structure internally within the main housing structure to provide the corresponding open aperture on the side of the main housing structure, the pre-cut flap is still retained with the main housing structure where it can be used as fuel for burning, and as an ignition point internally within the erected configuration of the main housing structure. [036] In preference the open top section of the main housing structure, when the main housing structure is in the expanded open configuration when in the erected configuration for use, allows small pieces of kindle and/or non-toxic combustible material to be passable there through said open top section of the main housing structure into the hollow internal section of the main housing structure.

[037] In preference the main housing structure is coated with a non toxic coating to assist in the igniting of the main housing structure.

[038] In preference the non toxic coating is bees wax.

[039] In preference the main housing structure when in the expanded open configuration, provides for an appearance of walls of a house, and wherein said flaps configured into the side or sides of the main housing structure, provide for an appearance of a door and/or windows.

[040] In preference in a further embodiment of the invention, the main housing structure top open section is partially coverable with kindle sticks, such that the kindle sticks provide for an appearance of a roof upon main housing structure.

[041] Advantageously this invention provides for a multi-functional use of robust, non-toxic cellulose-based material wherein this material provides a housing structure which can provide the initial support for the wood and sticks and so forth that will make up the campfire but then, importantly, the robust non- toxic cellulose-based paper material as the main housing structure provides for that initial fuel source for instantaneous ignition so as to provide flame enough for a period of time in order to fire light the more substantial fuel of the campfire such as the wooden sticks which is supported upon the main structure of the robust non-toxic cellulose-based paper material.

[042] As the main housing structure of the robust non-toxic cellulose-based paper material includes the use of the unique flaps that were configured into the sides of the main housing structure, these flaps can be hinged away from the sides so as to provide the series of openings that will then uniquely allow the outside air to be passable there through in order to feed into the main housing structure, that essential ingredient of oxygen in order to allow the burning of the main housing structure wherein that inherent burning thereof, as introduced above, provides the means and mechanism for fire-lighting the more substantial fuel of the wood and sticks and so forth that rest upon the main housing structure of this fire-starting arrangement.

[043] In order now to describe the invention in greater detail a series of preferred embodiments will be presented with the assistance of the following illustrations and accompany text.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[044] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the main housing structure of the campfire fire-starting arrangement in a preferred embodiment of the invention in an expanded open configuration, ready for use. [045] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the same main housing structure of the campfire fire-starting arrangement in a preferred embodiment of the invention of Figure 1 in a collapsed storage configuration.

[046] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the campfire fire-starting arrangement of Figure 1 in use in the fire-lighting of a campfire in a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[047] Figure 4 is a perspective view of a further preferred embodiment of the invention wherein the main housing structure of the campfire fire-starting arrangement, provides an external appearance of a miniature house, wherein the doors and windows of the appearance of the miniature house of the main housing structure function as the hingeable flaps which when hingedly withdrawn away from the side of the main housing structure provide the open apertures through which outside air is feedable there into the internal structure of the main housing structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[048] Figures 1 and 2 show the campfire fire-starting arrangement generally as (10) wherein Figure 1 shows the representation of the main housing structure (12) in the expanded open configuration ready for use and wherein Figure 2 shows the collapsed storage configuration of the main housing structure (12).

[049] The preferred embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 provides for a generally tetrahedral configuration established by the folds and/or join lines (15) when the main housing structure (12) is taken from the collapsed storage configuration in Figure 2 to the expanded open configuration of Figure 1 .

[050] In the preferred embodiment the main housing structure (12) is made of robust non-toxic cellulose-based paper material such as cardboard.

[051] Although not shown in the illustrations the material to which the main housing structure (12) is made of can also be coated with a non toxic coating to assist in the initial lighting of the main housing structure (12) such a natural bees wax.

[052] Each side (13) of the main housing structure includes a plurality of hinged flaps shown as (14).

[053] The flaps (14) are configured on the side (13) of the main housing structure (12) through cut-lines (7) and the hinged fold (6). [054] In Figure 2 the flaps (14) have not been hingedly withdrawn away from the sides (13) of the main housing structure (12).

[055] In Figure 1 when the main housing structure (12) is in the expanded open configuration, the flaps (14) can be pushed in by virtue of the hinge (6) thereby providing a corresponding opening (20).

[056] These series of aperture openings (20) for each of the flaps (14) as best seen when referencing Figure 3, allows outside air to be feedable up into the internal hollow chamber (19) of the main housing structure (12).

[057] The flaps (14) as well as providing the corresponding aperture opening (20) on the sides (13) of the main housing structure (12) also provide an internal source for flame fuel once ignition, as seen through the fire-lighter (22) in Figure 3, igniting a section of the main housing structure (12) to commence the initial burning process.

[058] The undulating upper edge (16) of the main housing structure (12) includes the inverse peaks (17) wherein the upper edge of the undulating edge (16) allows for the more substantial combustible material such as wood, sticks and the like shown generally as (26) to be generally vertically supported by the main housing structure (12) in the pyramid and/or triangular prism configuration shown generally as (28) in Figure 3. [059] With the more substantial combustible material of the wood and the like (26) of the campfire shown in Figure 3 appropriately supported by the main housing structure (12) of the fire-starting arrangement of this invention means that ignition and the initial fire-lighting of the campfire is achieved through the flame by a spark (27) from the lighter (22) which is able to engage the main housing structure (12) which is conducive to almost instantaneous ignition wherein inherently the main housing structure (12) acts as an immediately combustible fuel source being able to continue to remain burning through the assistance of the outside air represented by the thick arrow (30) in Figure 3 feeding in the requisite oxygen into the internal chamber (19) of the main housing structure (12) for the fire to breathe and expand rather than

smouldering out due to lack of oxygen.

[060] Figure 4 shows a further preferred embodiment of the invention wherein, while the campfire fire-starting arrangement shown generally as (39) provides the same functionality as that referenced by the campfire fire-starting

arrangement (10) in Figures 1 , 2 and 3, there has been some design

considerations to enhance the aesthetic appearance of the main housing structure referenced as (50) for the fire-starting arrangement (39) in Figure 4. [061] The main housing structure (50) when expanded out into an open configuration as illustrated in Figure 4, the walls (40) of the main housing structure (50) provide for the appearance of a miniature house.

[062] To enhance upon the appearance of the house, the windows (43) and doors (45) act as the flaps and are cut out the same way as the flaps for the preferred embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 and are supported accordingly in the case of the windows by the hinged line (44) and in the case of the door, the hinge line (47).

[063] In Figure 4 there is also the potential introduction of a roof structure (49) over and above the main housing structure (50) wherein the roof structure is made of easily combustible kindle material such as icy pole sticks.