System, Components and Method of a Functional Fire Starter tool

Abstract

A new and useful fire starter system, method and system components are that can be transported by a person (e.g. a hiker) in the wilderness and used to start a fire for that person.

1 . Fire starter structure comprising a support member configured for attachment to a piece of outdoor gear, the support member coupled with fire starter elements that include a rod that is designed to produce sparks for initiating a fire and a striker for applying friction to the rod to produce sparks, and a pouch with tinder, wherein the support member can be detached from the piece of outdoor gear and the fire starter elements and the tinder utilized to initiate a fire. 
     
     
         2 . The fire starter structure of  claim 1 , wherein the support member comprises a clip for attachment to a portion of the piece of outdoor gear, the rod is integrally connected with the clip, the striker is held against the clip by a retention device that overlies the clip and the striker, and the pouch is coupled with the clip by means of the retention device. 
     
     
         3 . The fire starter structure of  claim 2 , wherein the retention device comprises a chord that is at least partially wrapped about a portion of the laced portion of the piece of footwear. 
     
     
         4 . The fire starter structure of  claim 3 , wherein the tinder comprises a mass of tinder material and one or more tinder sticks, and wherein the pouch is configured to protect the tinder from environment conditions external to the piece of outdoor gear. 
     
     
         5 . The fire starter structure of  claim 4 , wherein the clip is configured for attachment to the laced portion of a hiking boot. 
     
     
         6 . The fire starter structure of  claim 1 , wherein the support member and the retention device are configured to be separated from the piece of outdoor gear and formed into a handle for the rod, to facilitate its use in producing sparks for initiating a fire. 
     
     
         7 . The fire starter structure of  claim 6 , wherein the clip is configured for attachment to the laced portion of a hiking boot. 
     
     
         8 . A piece of footwear with coupled fire starter structure, comprising a support member configured for attachment to the piece of footwear, the support member coupled with fire starter elements that include a rod that is designed to produce sparks for initiating a fire and a striker for applying friction to the rod to produce sparks, and a pouch with tinder, wherein the support member and the tinder can be detached from the piece of footwear and the fire starter elements and tinder utilized to initiate a fire. 
     
     
         9 . The piece of footwear and coupled fire starter structure of  claim 8 , wherein the piece of footwear has a laced portion, the support member comprises a clip for attachment to the laced portion of the piece of footwear, the rod is integrally connected with the clip, the striker is held against the clip by a retention device, and the pouch is coupled with the clip by means of the retention device. 
     
     
         10 . The piece of footwear and coupled fire starter structure of  claim 9 , wherein the retention device comprises a chord that is at least partially wrapped about a portion of the laced portion of the piece of footwear. 
     
     
         11 . The piece of footwear and coupled fire starter structure of  claim 10 , wherein the tinder comprises a mass of tinder material and one or more tinder sticks, and wherein the pouch is configured to protect the tinder from the environment external to the piece of footwear. 
     
     
         12 . The piece of footwear and coupled fire starter structure of  claim 11 , wherein the piece of footwear comprises a hiking boot with a laced portion, and the clip is configured for attachment to the laced portion of the hiking boot. 
     
     
         13 . The piece of footwear and coupled fire starter structure of  claim 10 , wherein the support member and the chord are configured to be separated from the piece of footwear and formed into a handle for the rod, to facilitate its use in producing sparks for initiating a fire. 
     
     
         14 . A method of starting a fire comprising providing a piece of outdoor gear with coupled fire starter structure, the fire starter structure comprising a support member configured for attachment to the piece of outdoor gear, the support member coupled with fire starter elements that include a rod that is designed to produce sparks for initiating a fire and a striker for applying friction to the rod to produce sparks, and the piece of outdoor gear carrying a pouch with tinder, detaching the support member and the tinder from the piece of outdoor gear and using the fire starter elements and tinder to initiate a fire. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the piece of outdoor gear comprises a piece of footwear has a laced portion, the support member comprises a clip for attachment to the laced portion of the piece of footwear, the rod is integrally connected with the clip, the striker is held against the clip by a retention device, and the pouch is coupled with the clip by means of the retention device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the retention device comprises a chord that is at least partially wrapped about a portion of the laced portion of the piece of footwear. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the tinder comprises a mass of tinder material and one or more tinder sticks, and wherein the pouch is configured to protect the tinder from environment conditions external to the piece of footwear. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the piece of footwear comprises a hiking boot having a laced portion, and the clip is configured for attachment to the laced portion of the hiking boot. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the support member and the chord are separated from the piece of footwear and formed into a handle for the rod, to facilitate its use in producing sparks for initiating a fire. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the rod is supported by the clip, and the chord is wrapped about a portion of the clip to form the handle for the rod.