Fire Starting Apparatus and Method

Abstract

A fire starting assembly can include a number of similarly shaped planks, each having substantially similar height, width, and length dimensions. Each plank is at least in part made from a flammable material such as wood, particle board, compressed sawdust or the like. A first connecting member can engage each plank at a first end of each plank. For example, each plank can include a first aperture at the first end and the first connecting member can be string or twine that is threaded through each first aperture. The ends of the first connecting member can be secured to each other to form a ring or loop. A second connecting member can engage each plank at a second end of each plank. The second connecting member can have a length that is longer than the first connecting member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fire starting assembly comprising:
 a first plurality of planks, each plank of the first plurality of planks having a first end and a second end;   a first connecting member that engages the first end of each of the first plurality of planks, the first connecting member forming a first loop such that each plank in the first plurality of planks is adjacent to two other planks of the first plurality of planks along the first loop formed by the first connecting member; and   a second connecting member that engages the second end of each of the first plurality of planks, the second connecting member forming a second loop and having a length that is greater than a length of the first connecting member.   
     
     
         2 . The fire starting assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second plurality of planks, each plank of the second plurality of planks having a first end and a second end; and   a third connecting member that engages the first end of each of the second plurality of planks, the third connecting member forming a third loop and having a length that is less than the length of the second connecting member;   wherein the second connecting member engages the second end of each of the second plurality of planks.   
     
     
         3 . The fire starting assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the third connecting member is secured to the first connecting member. 
     
     
         4 . The fire starting assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the third connecting member is secured to the first connecting member by a securing member. 
     
     
         5 . The fire starting assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the second connecting member engages the second end of each of the plurality of first planks and the second end of each of the plurality of second planks in an alternating pattern such that each plank in the first plurality of planks is adjacent to two planks from the second plurality of planks along the second connecting member. 
     
     
         6 . The fire starting assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the length of the third connecting member is less than the length of the first connecting member 
     
     
         7 . The fire starting assembly of  claim 2 , wherein each plank of the second plurality of planks has a height that is less than a height of each plank of the first plurality of planks. 
     
     
         8 . The fire starting assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first, second, and third connecting members comprise twine, string, or rope. 
     
     
         9 . The fire starting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second connecting members comprise twine, string, or rope. 
     
     
         10 . The fire starting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the planks in the first plurality of planks comprise a flammable material. 
     
     
         11 . The fire starting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each plank in the first plurality of planks has substantially the same height. 
     
     
         12 . The fire starting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each plank in the first plurality of planks includes a first aperture positioned at the first end and a second aperture positioned at the second end; and
 wherein the first connecting member is threaded through each of the first apertures and the second connecting member is threaded through each of the second apertures.   
     
     
         13 . The fire starting assembly of  claim 2 , wherein each plank in the first plurality of planks includes a first aperture positioned at the first end and a second aperture positioned at the second end;
 wherein each plank in the second plurality of planks includes a third aperture positioned at the first end and a fourth aperture positioned at the second end; and   the first connecting member is threaded through each of the first apertures, the second connecting member is threaded through each of the second and fourth apertures, and the third connecting member is threaded through each of the third apertures.   
     
     
         14 . A method of starting a fire comprising:
 obtaining a fire starting assembly having:
 a first plurality of planks, each plank of the first plurality of planks having a first end and a second end; 
 a first connecting member that engages the first end of each of the first plurality of planks, the first connecting member forming a first loop; and 
 a second connecting member that engages the second end of each of the first plurality of planks, the second connecting member forming a second loop and having a length that is greater than a length of the first connecting member; 
   arranging the fire starting assembly such that the second ends of the planks in the first plurality of planks are spaced apart at distances that are greater than distances between the first ends of the planks in the first plurality of planks and the first ends of the planks are positioned vertically higher than the second ends of the planks; and   applying a flame to the fire starting assembly.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the distances between the second ends of the planks are at least partially defined by the second connecting member and the distances between the first ends of the planks are at least partially defined by the first connecting member. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 prior to arranging the fire starting assembly, removing the fire starting assembly from a container, the container comprising a flammable material; and   prior to applying the flame to the fire starting assembly, positioning at least a portion of the container within an interior space defined by the fire starting assembly.