Fire stump

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing firewood support systems are often unstable, difficult to assemble, and inefficient in maintaining airflow and radiant energy, leading to suboptimal combustion and safety concerns, while also being costly and cumbersome for inventory and shipping.

Innovation Solution

A fire stump with a sheet steel ground engaging base and upper firewood support featuring a perforate center and concave arcuate supports, combined with a riser to maintain a near-vertical stable position of firewood, enhancing airflow and clustering for efficient combustion, while being lightweight, durable, and easily stacked.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If firewood is arranged in a conical, nearly vertical arrangement resembling the geometry of an inverted funnel, then the fire provides good airflow and retains infrared thermal energy, but the arrangement is precarious and the wood may shift and collapse

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinfrared thermal energy retentionVSAvoidarrangement stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A metal support structure with a base and vertical support members acts as an intermediary between the ground and the firewood. The support members extend upward to support the firewood in a clustered arrangement, providing stable mediation that prevents collapse while maintaining the conical geometry needed for energy retention and airflow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of energy

If firewood is clustered in closed proximity, then radiant energy is preserved and combustion efficiency increases, but airflow may be restricted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveradiant energy preservationVSAvoidairflow restriction

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure creates different spatial zones with different qualities: the lower portion allows open airflow for oxygen supply, while the upper portion clusters firewood closely for radiant energy preservation. This local differentiation of spatial quality enables both airflow and energy retention simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If a stump of wood is used to define the center of the fire, then the fire starter can arrange wood around it, but the stump fills the center and blocks airflow

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefirewood arrangement easeVSAvoidairflow through fire

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the obstructing element (the wooden stump) and replaces it with a metal support structure that performs the same organizational function without blocking the fire center. The support members provide structural framework while leaving the central airflow path open.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Reliability

If conventional firewood supports are used, then firewood can be held, but they are costly and cumbersome for inventory and shipping

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefirewood support capabilityVSAvoidsupport structure weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure uses thin-walled metal tubing for the vertical support members and base construction. This thin-film approach provides sufficient structural strength to support firewood while minimizing the weight and material quantity, making the product lightweight for shipping and inventory management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution provides stable and efficient combustion with improved airflow, brighter flames, and easier fire starting, while being cost-effective, lightweight, and easy to use and store, maintaining visibility and accessibility for fire management.

Implementation Method 1

Since hot air rises above cold air, as aptly demonstrated by hot air balloons, the fire may provide all of the energy required to move the air simply as a result of the heat released during combustion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 2

When the wood is burning, it releases a substantial amount of energy in the form of infrared radiation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInfrared radiation: Infrared Radiation

Implementation Method 3

When firewood is clustered in closed proximity, then the radiant energy released from one piece of firewood may in turn be absorbed by an adjacent piece of firewood

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption (EM radiation): Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS11215357B1Fire stump

Publication Date: 2022.01.04 KITTELSON MARK W

AI summary

A fire stump holds firewood and similar combustibles in a near-vertical stable position. Firewood is end-stacked upon a ground engaging base, further stabilizing the base. An upper generally planar firewood support is inset interiorly from the base, providing sufficient tilt to hold a plurality of stacked wood in an inverted funnel configuration. The upper firewood support has a perforate center defining a chimney hole and a perimeter defining a plurality of concave arcuate cut-outs that serve as firewood supports. A riser extends between the ground engaging base and upper firewood support, holding the two in parallel but vertically offset planes. In a most preferred embodiment, the ground engaging base and upper firewood support are stamped from a common sheet of metal, with the upper firewood support circumscribed in the original sheet of metal by the ground engaging base.