US20050250060A1

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Publication number: US20050250060A1
Application number: US10/842,170
Authority: US
Inventors: Ben Etherington; Luke Etherington
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-05-10
Filing date: 2004-05-10
Publication date: 2005-11-10

Abstract

Described is an apparatus for use by an individual to direct at a fire a jet of air produced by force of breath. The tool includes a rigid tubular member having a bore extending therethrough. The bore has an air-entrance end and a heat-resistant air-exit end. A flexible tubular member, that is bendable at one or more points along a length thereof, has a bore extending therethrough. The bore of the flexible tubular member has an air-entrance end into which the individual can blow air and an air-exit end. The air-exit end of the bore of the flexible tubular member is coupled to the air-entrance end of the bore of the rigid tubular member. The coupled bores together define a passageway for directing the air blown by the individual into the air-entrance end of the flexible tubular member to the heat-resistant air-exit end of the rigid tubular member.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to blowpipes for directing blown air into a fire.

BACKGROUND

A well-known principle of inflaming a fire is to blow air over its hot embers. The blown air concentrates and increases the heat so that the nearby fuel ignites into flame. For this purpose, people have devised various tools for blowing directed air. One type of such tool, referred to as a bellows, mechanically draws in air through a valve and expels air through a tube by alternately expanding and contracting. Another type relies upon the force of breath. Tools of this type include long, straight cylindrical tubes or pipes. In general, a user blows into one end of the tube and the blown air exits a hole at the opposite end.

The effectiveness of these tubes to inflame the fire depends upon the user's ability to deliver the air flow to a hot spot. Usually, such hot spots are among the embers at the base of the fire, for example, below a fireplace grill or behind other burning logs. Long straight tubes, however, offer little flexibility as to where the user may stand with respect to the fire when operating the tool. To bring the end hole of the straight tube into proximity of the glowing embers and then to blow into it, the user may need to stand or crouch awkwardly. As a result, the user may be uncomfortably close to the heat of the fire or too far removed from the fire to produce an effective jet of air. There is, therefore, a need for a tool for inflaming fires that users can operate conveniently and within comfortable distance of the fire.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the invention features a tool for directing blown air at a fire. The tool includes a rigid tubular member having a bore extending therethrough. The bore of the rigid tubular member has an air-entrance end and a heat-resistant air-exit end. A flexible tubular member that is bendable at one or more points along a length thereof has a bore extending therethrough. The bore of the flexible tubular member has an air-entrance end into which the individual can blow air and an air-exit end. The air-exit end of the bore of the flexible tubular member is coupled to the air-entrance end of the bore of the rigid tubular member. Together the coupled bores define a passageway for directing the air blown into the air-entrance end of the flexible tubular member by the individual to the heat-resistant air-exit end of the rigid tubular member.

In another aspect, the invention features an apparatus for use by an individual to blow air at a fire. The apparatus includes rigid means for providing a first air passageway having an air-entrance end and a heat-resistant air-exit end, and bendable means for providing a second air passageway having an air-entrance end into which the individual can blow air and an air-exit end. The bendable means is bendable at one or more points along a length thereof. The air-exit end of the second air passageway is coupled to the air-entrance end of the first air passageway. Together the coupled first and second air passageways provide a combined air passageway for directing air blown by the individual into the air-entrance end of the second air passageway to the air-exit end of the first air passageway.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and further advantages of this invention may be better understood by referring to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals indicate like structural elements and features in various figures. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of an apparatus, constructed in accordance with the invention, for directing a jet of air produced by force of breath into a fire, the apparatus, also referred to herein as a fire persuader, including a rigid portion and a flexible portion.

FIG. 2 is an exploded side view of an air-entrance end of the rigid portion being coupled to an air-exit end of the flexible portion shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded side view of a mouthpiece being attached to an air-entrance end of the flexible portion.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of an air-exit end of the rigid portion shown inFIG. 1, the air-exit end having a flared tip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention features an apparatus for use in kindling and rekindling indoor and outdoor fires, e.g., in fireplaces or campfires. By using the apparatus, an individual can supply additional air to pinpoint locations of the fire and consequently increase the flames. In brief overview, the apparatus includes an elongate tube. Air blown into one end of the tube exits at the other end. An individual positions the exit end near or in the fire. A portion of the apparatus is bendable, permitting the individual to shape the apparatus so that air can be blown into the fire from a comfortable position. Because of the apparatus' shapeable construction, the individual can reach the apparatus into the lower regions of the fire from a variety of stances. Also, dimensions of elongate tube produce a concentrated, high-pressured stream of air that can more aggressively fan a fire than traditional tools, such as blow-pokes, which generally have considerably larger dimensions (i.e., a 1 inch diameter) and produce a less concentrated stream of air.

Also, a portion of the apparatus has sufficient strength to enable the individual to poke, lift, and turn logs, coals, and embers in order to stoke the flame. A length of the apparatus permits the individual to blow on the fire from a comfortable distance away from the fire's heat. Some embodiments of the apparatus employ an insulating cover to shield the hollow tube from excessive heat. This covering can operate to maintain a bent shape of the bendable tube.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of afire persuader2 constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention. Thefire persuader2 includes aflexible portion4 and arigid portion6. Theflexible portion4 includes amouthpiece8, through which the individual can blow air into thefire persuader2, and a bendabletubular member10. The bendabletubular member10 has a bore extending therethrough. The bore has an air-entrance end and an air-exit end. Themouthpiece8 is coupled to the air-entrance end of the bendabletubular member10. As shown, the bendabletubular member10 can bend at one or more points along a length thereof. In a preferred embodiment, thebendable member10 retains the shape into which it has been bent. In another embodiment, thebendable member10 is resilient, and returns to a substantially straight shape when the bending force is removed.

Therigid portion6 includes an elongate, straight, cylindrical, rigidtubular member12 and acoupling device14. The rigidtubular member12 also has a bore extending therethrough, with an air-entrance end and a heat-resistant air-exit end16. Thecoupling device14 joins the air-exit end of the bendabletubular member10 to the air-entrance end of the rigidtubular member12. The

tubular members

10,12 are joined so that their respective bores define a passageway for the air blown by the individual into themouthpiece8. This passageway extends from the air-entrance end of the bendabletubular member10 to the heat-resistant air-exit end16 of the rigidtubular member12. Air blown into themouthpiece8 passes through the bendable and rigid

tubular members

10,12 to exit at the heat-resistant air-exit end16 of the rigidtubular member12. Also, thecoupling device14 provides a locus at which to hold thefire persuader2 for directing the air-exit end16 towards certain significant places in the fire. The individual can, by holding therigid tubular member12 near thecoupling device14, use therigid portion6 as a poker to stoke the fire.

In one embodiment, the bendable tubular member10 (when straightened) is 24 inches in length and therigid tubular member12 is 20 inches in length. Such lengths enable the individual to rekindle the fire at a comfortable distance from the fire's heat. Fire persuaders of other lengths can be constructed without departing from the principles of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the air-entrance end of therigid tubular member12 being joined to the air-exit end of thebendable tubular member10 by thecoupling device14. Thebendable tubular member10 includes a flexibleinner tube20 and asleeve22. Thetube20 can be opaque or clear, and made of natural or synthetic rubber, elastomer, plastic, or any bendable material. Flexible tubes of varying resistance to heat can be used to practice the invention. In one embodiment, thetube20 has aninner diameter24 of ¼ inch (6.35 mm) and an outer diameter of ⅜ inch (9.525 mm).

Thesleeve22 can be made of a synthetic rubber, e.g., neoprene and polychloroprene, or any other material that can effectively insulate and protect thetube20 from the heat of the fire and possible puncture during use. Depending upon its type of material, thesleeve22 can also provide structure for retaining the shape into which thebendable tubular member10 is bent. Other embodiments of thefire persuader2 do not employ thesleeve22, in particular, those embodiments in which theinner tube20 has sufficient heat-resistant characteristics. InFIG. 2, thesleeve22 only partially encloses theinner tube20 and leaves a portion of the tube's outer surface exposed. In a preferred embodiment, thesleeve22 fully surrounds thetube20 and extends to the air-exit end of thetube20.

Therigid tubular member12 is a cylindrical pipe made of metal, e.g., stainless steel, copper, brass. Metals other than those listed and materials other than metal can be used to construct therigid member12, provided such materials can withstand high temperatures and provide sufficient strength so therigid member12 can be used to move and pry over logs in the fire. In one embodiment, therigid tubular member12 is an automotive brake line. Preferably, the diameter of therigid tubular member12 is approximately ¼ inch (6.35 mm). This particular diameter size produces a concentrated and high-pressured stream of air that is more effective for inflaming a fire than an air stream having a wider diameter. Other diameter sizes can be used without departing from the principles of the invention. At the air-exit end16 of therigid tubular member12 is a flared tip40 (FIG. 4). In some embodiments, a tip portion of therigid tubular member12, i.e., at the air-exit end16, is made of or coated with a fire resistant material, whereas the remainder of therigid tubular member12 is made of a different material (e.g., less fire resistant).

Thecoupling device14 has a cylindricalnarrow end26 for coupling to therigid tubular member12, and a cylindricalwide end28 for coupling to thebendable tubular member10. In one embodiment, thecoupling device14 is made of metal, such as copper. The diameter of thenarrow end26 is slightly larger than the diameter of therigid tubular member12 so that one end of therigid tubular member10 can be press fit into thenarrow end26 of thecoupling device14. In one embodiment, thenarrow end26 has an inside diameter of approximately ¼ inch and an outside diameter of approximately ⅜ inch. In some instances, the bond between thecoupling device14 and therigid tubular member12 can be strengthened by the use of solder.

The diameter of thewide end28 of thecoupling device14 is slightly larger than the combined thickness of the flexibleinner tube20 and thesleeve22 so both thetube20 andsleeve22 are press fit within thewide end28. In one embodiment, thewide end28 has an inside diameter of approximately ½ inch and an outside diameter of approximately ⅝ inches. Alternatively, of thetube20 and thesleeve22 only thetube20 enters thewide end28, while thesleeve22 abuts or covers an edge portion of thewide end28 of thecoupling device14. When the bendable and

rigid members

10,12 are both joined to thecoupling device14, the bore of theflexible tube20 abuts the bore of therigid member12 to provide a continuous air passageway from themouthpiece8 to the air-exit end16 of therigid tubular member12.

Other means for coupling thebendable member10 to therigid member12 can be used to practice the invention. For example, in one embodiment a fitting referred to as a reducing union holds the bendable and

rigid members

10,12 firmly together with the use of screws and clamps that tighten around the flexible and rigid tubes.

In alternate embodiments, thecoupling device14 is optional. In such embodiments, either the diameter of therigid tubular member12 is smaller than that of theflexible tube20 or the diameter of theflexible tube20 is smaller than that of therigid tubular member12, and, accordingly, the two cylindrical tubes can be joined by closely press fitting one into the other.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of themouthpiece8 being joined toflexible tube20 at the air-entrance end29 of thebendable tubular member10. Themouthpiece8 can be made of a variety of materials, e.g., plastic. Other materials can be used without departing from the principles of the invention. Themouthpiece8 is an optional, although preferred component. Without themouthpiece8, an individual can still practice the principles of the invention without themouthpiece8 by blowing intotube20.

Themouthpiece8 has a ribbedshank30, anedge stop32, alip region34, and abore36 extending therethrough. The ribbedshank30 enters the bore of theflexible tube20 at the air-entrance end29 of thebendable tubular member10. The ribs of theshank30 are back-angled or barbed to prevent themouthpiece8 from retracting from thetube20. The inside surface of theflexible tube20 at the air-entrance end29 may be threaded to receive the ribbedshank30.

Theedge stop32 determines the fullest extent of entry of theshank30 into thetube20. In general, the mouthpiece plugs tightly into thetube20. When themouthpiece8 is fully inserted into the bore, theedge stop32 abuts the end of theflexible tube20. Thelip region34 has a contoured outer surface to provide a smooth feeling for the lips.

To use thefire persuader2, an individual can hold theflexible portion4 just below themouthpiece8 with one hand and hold therigid portion6 near thecoupling device14 with the other hand. From a desired position, the individual points the air-exit end16 of therigid portion6 at a desired target in the fire. In this desired position, theflexible portion4 may be bent in one or more places. The individual then blows into themouthpiece8. The air exits thefire persuader2 from the air-exit end16 in the direction of the target. To illustrate the flexibility of thefire persuader2, consider that an individual can hold therigid portion6 horizontally, substantially parallel and close to the floor of the fireplace, while blowing into themouthpiece8 from a kneeling, a crouching, a sitting, and, provided theflexible portion4 is long enough, a standing position.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of an embodiment of the flaredtip40 at the air-exit end16 of therigid tubular member12. The degree of flaring of the flaredtip40 can be enhanced to increase the ability to catch material in the fire. As shown, the flaredtip40 is integral to therigid tubular member12, although other embodiments can have a flaredtip40 as a separate element that is coupled to the air-exit end16. A curved surface or an edge of the flaredtip40 can catch onto a log better than a flat or flush air-exit end when poking and pulling the log in the fire. Also, the flaredtip40 helps prevent charcoal, burned material, and soft wood from becoming jammed in the bore of therigid tubular member12 when poking at the fire.

Although the invention has been shown and described with reference to specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. For example, other shapes for the rigid and bendable tubular members, other than cylindrical, can be used to practice the invention.

Claims

1. A tool for use by an individual to direct at a fire a jet of air produced by force of breath, the tool comprising:

a rigid tubular member having a bore extending therethrough, the bore of the rigid tubular member having an air-entrance end and a heat-resistant air-exit end; and

a flexible tubular member, bendable at one or more points along a length thereof, having a bore extending therethrough, the bore of the flexible tubular member having an air-entrance end into which the individual can blow air and an air-exit end, the air-exit end of the bore of the flexible tubular member being coupled to the air-entrance end of the bore of the rigid tubular member such that the bores together define a passageway for directing the air blown by the individual into the air-entrance end of the flexible tubular member to the heat-resistant air-exit end of the rigid tubular member.

2. The tool ofclaim 1, further comprising a coupling device coupling the air-exit end of the flexible tubular member to the air-entrance end of the rigid tubular member.

3. The tool ofclaim 1, further comprising a mouthpiece connected to the bore of the flexible tubular member at the air-entrance end of the flexible tubular member for use by the individual to blow in air.

4. The tool ofclaim 1, further comprising an insulating sleeve around the flexible tubular member.

5. The tool ofclaim 4, wherein a material of the insulating sleeve includes neoprene.

6. The tool ofclaim 1, further comprising a protective sleeve around the flexible tubular member.

7. The tool ofclaim 1, wherein the air-exit end of the rigid tubular member has a flared shape.

8. The tool ofclaim 1, wherein a diameter of the rigid tubular member is approximately ¼ inch for producing a concentrated stream of air when the user blows into the tool.

9. The tool ofclaim 1, wherein the rigid tubular member has a straight shape from the air-entrance end of the rigid tubular member to the heat-resistant air-exit end.

10. An apparatus for use by an individual to blow air at a fire, comprising:

rigid means for providing a first air passageway having an air-entrance end and an heat-resistant air-exit end; and

bendable means for providing a second air passageway having an air-entrance end and an air-exit end, the second air passageway being bendable at one or more points along a length thereof, the air-exit end of the second air passageway being coupled to the air-entrance end of the first air passageway such that the coupled first and second air passageways together provide a combined air passageway for directing air blown by the individual into the air-entrance end of the second air passageway to the air-exit end of the first air passageway.

11. The apparatus ofclaim 9, further comprising means for coupling the air-exit end of the second air passageway to the air-entrance end of the first air passageway.

12. The apparatus ofclaim 9, further comprising means for directing air into the air-entrance end of the second air passageway.

13. The apparatus ofclaim 9, further comprising means for insulating the bendable means from heat.

14. The apparatus ofclaim 9, further comprising means for protecting the bendable means from an external source of potentially damage.

15. The apparatus ofclaim 9, further comprising means for retaining a shape into which the individual bends the bendable means.

16. The apparatus ofclaim 9, further comprising means for dispersing the air outward from the heat resistant air-exit end of first air passageway of the rigid means.