Modular firestarter assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional firestarters are inefficient, cumbersome, and lack customizability, requiring more material and effort to start a fire, and do not effectively utilize natural fire growth tendencies or adapt to varying weather conditions or user skill levels.

Innovation Solution

A modular firestarter with interchangeable components that can form various three-dimensional shapes, including polyhedrons, with apertures for fuel placement and coupling means for assembly, optimizing airflow and surface area exposure to enhance fire starting efficiency and packability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of substance

If conventional solid block firestarters are used, then fire starting function is achieved, but material efficiency is poor and weight is excessive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial efficiencyVSAvoidfirestarter weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The firestarter is divided into multiple discrete components (flammable material component, structural component, fuel source component) that can be separately stored and assembled. This segmentation reduces the weight of each individual component and allows users to carry only the necessary parts, improving material efficiency while maintaining fire starting functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The firestarter components are designed to nest within each other when not in use, with the flammable material component stored inside the structural component, which in turn can contain the fuel source component. This nesting arrangement minimizes the total volume and weight of the firestarter system while preserving all necessary functional elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Loss of substance

If conventional solid block firestarters are used, then fire starting function is achieved, but packability is poor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial efficiencyVSAvoidfirestarter volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the firestarter into separate components that can be stored independently or nested together, the overall volume is significantly reduced compared to a solid block design. Users can pack components in available spaces within their gear, improving packability without sacrificing material efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The firestarter components are designed with flexible or collapsible elements that allow them to change volume dynamically - compact for storage, expanded for use. This dynamic capability enables superior packability while maintaining the necessary structural integrity and surface area for effective fire starting when deployed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional solid block firestarters are used, then fire starting function is achieved, but customizability is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecustomizabilityVSAvoidfirestarter structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The segmented design allows users to select and combine different components based on specific conditions (wet/dry, windy/calm, novice/expert). This modularity provides extensive customizability without significantly increasing complexity, as each component remains relatively simple but can be configured in multiple ways to suit different fire starting scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The firestarter system allows dynamic reconfiguration of components based on environmental conditions and user skill level. Users can adjust the assembly to optimize performance for specific situations, providing adaptability and customizability while maintaining manageable complexity through standardized component interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Productivity

If conventional solid block firestarters are used, then fire starting function is achieved, but airflow optimization is poor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefire starting efficiencyVSAvoidfirestarter shape

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The segmented structure creates natural channels and spaces between components that facilitate airflow to the fuel source. This segmentation allows air to reach the flammable material more effectively compared to a solid block, improving fire starting efficiency without requiring complex shaped designs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The firestarter design incorporates three-dimensional spatial arrangements with components positioned at different heights and orientations. This dimensional approach creates optimized airflow paths that enhance oxygen delivery to the fuel source, improving fire starting efficiency while using simple component shapes rather than complex molded forms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS12104796B2Modular firestarter assembly

Publication Date: 2024.10.01 FIRECLIK IP LLC

AI summary

A modular firestarter assembly. The modular firestarter assembly includes a number of modular components configured to be able to join to one another to form the firestarter assembly. The modular components can be broken down to save space. The modular firestarter assembly can be formed from a number of different combinations of the modular components to hold fuel sources and assist in starting a fire.