Reusable fire starter and method of use

Abstract

A method of using a fire starter includes providing a fire starter made of a calcium silicate hydrate with an inflammable liquid and a packaging at least partially surrounding the fire starter; removing a portion of the packaging to expose a portion of the surface area of the fire starter less than the entire surface area of the fire starter; and lighting the fire starter so that the inflammable liquid in the fire starter burns without significantly affecting the integrity of the fire starter and a flame burns from the exposed portion of the surface area of the fire starter.

1 - 14 . (canceled)  
   
   
       15 . A method of using a reusable fire starter to ignite one or more ignitable elements of a fire, comprising: 
 a) providing a rectangular block-shaped reusable fire starter that can absorb a flammable liquid that can be burned while absorbed in the reusable fire starter without significantly affecting the integrity of the reusable fire starter;    b) providing a cylindrical container, the reusable fire starter in the cylindrical container, and a circular cap for closing the cylindrical container, the cap removably attached to the cylindrical container;    c) then removing the circular cap from the cylindrical container;    d) then filling the cylindrical container at least partially with the flammable liquid and allowing the reusable fire starter to at least partially absorb the flammable liquid;    e) then removing the reusable fire starter from the cylindrical container;    f) then positioning the fire starter near one or more ignitable elements;    g) then lighting the flammable liquid absorbed in the reusable fire starter so that the flammable liquid in the reusable fire starter burns without significantly affecting the integrity of the reusable fire starter, causing the one or more ignitable elements to ignite;    h) then removing the reusable fire starter after the fire is consumed;    i) then placing the reusable fire starter back into the cylindrical container for storage;    j) then closing the cylindrical container with the circular cap with the reusable fire starter in the cylindrical container;    k) reusing the reusable fire starter to ignite one or more new, different ignitable elements for a new fire by repeating steps c-j above.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the flammable liquid comprises at least one of lighting fluid, camp fuel, citronella, and kerosene.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the fire comprises at least one of a charcoal fire, a fireplace fire, and a campfire.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein at least partially filling the cylindrical container includes partially filling the cylindrical container with the flammable liquid, closing the cylindrical container with the circular cap with the reusable fire starter and flammable liquid therein, allowing the reusable fire starter to absorb the flammable liquid in the closed cylindrical container, removing the circular cap from the cylindrical container, and removing the reusable fire starter from the cylindrical container.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the reusable fire starter is made of a material that maintains its integrity and does not break down at elevated temperatures of a fire, has low thermal conductivity at elevated temperatures of a fire, is non-combustible at elevated temperatures of a fire, and is highly absorbent.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the reusable fire starter comprises calcium silicate.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the reusable fire starter comprises calcium silicate hydrate.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the reusable fire starter comprises low-density xonotlite calcium silicate hydrate.  
   
   
       23 . A method of using a reusable fire starter to ignite one or more ignitable elements of a fire, comprising: 
 a) providing a container and a reusable fire starter therein;    b) then at least partially filling the container with flammable liquid and allowing the reusable fire starter to at least partially absorb the flammable liquid;    c) then removing the reusable fire starter from the container;    d) then positioning the reusable fire starter near one or more ignitable elements;    e) then lighting the flammable liquid absorbed in the reusable fire starter so that the flammable liquid in the reusable fire starter burns without significantly affecting the integrity of the reusable fire starter, causing the one or more ignitable elements to ignite;    f) then removing the reusable fire starter after the fire is consumed;    g) then storing the reusable fire starter in the container;    h) reusing the reusable fire starter to ignite one or more new, different ignitable elements for a new fire by repeating steps b-g above.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the flammable liquid comprises at least one of lighting fluid, camp fuel, citronella, and kerosene.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the fire comprises at least one of a charcoal fire, a fireplace fire, and a campfire.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein partially filling the container includes at least partially filling the container with the flammable liquid, closing the container with the reusable fire starter and flammable liquid therein, allowing the reusable fire starter to at least partially absorb the flammable liquid in the closed container, and removing the reusable fire starter from the container.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the reusable fire starter is made of a material that maintains its integrity and does not break down at elevated temperatures of a fire, has low thermal conductivity at elevated temperatures of a fire, is non-combustible at elevated temperatures of a fire, and is highly absorbent.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the reusable fire starter comprises calcium silicate.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the reusable fire starter comprises calcium silicate hydrate.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the reusable fire starter comprises low-density xonotlite calcium silicate hydrate.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the container is a cylindrical container with a circular cap.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the reusable fire starter has a rectangular block shape.  
   
   
       33 . A method of using a reusable fire starter to ignite one or more ignitable elements of a fire, comprising: 
 a) providing a reusable fire starter made of a material that maintains its integrity and does not break down at elevated temperatures of a fire, has low thermal conductivity at elevated temperatures of a fire, is non-combustible at elevated temperatures of a fire, and is highly absorbent;    b) then causing the reusable fire starter to adsorb flammable liquid;    c) then positioning the reusable fire starter near one or more ignitable elements;    d) then lighting the flammable liquid adsorbed in the reusable fire starter so that the flammable liquid adsorbed in the reusable fire starter burns without significantly affecting the integrity of the reusable fire starter, causing the one or more ignitable elements to ignite;    e) reusing the reusable fire starter to light one or more new, different ignitable elements for a new fire by repeating steps b-d above.    
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein providing a reusable fire starter includes providing a reusable fire starter with a flammable liquid and a packaging at least partially surrounding the reusable fire starter; removing a portion of the packaging to expose a portion of the surface area of the reusable fire starter less than the entire surface area of the reusable fire starter; lighting the flammable liquid adsorbed in the reusable fire starter so that the flammable liquid absorbed in the fire starter burns without significantly affecting the integrity of the reusable fire starter and a flame burns from the exposed portion of the surface area of the reusable fire starter.