Crate-based fire starter solutions

Abstract

Embodiments are related to a crate-based fire starter structure. The crate-based fire starter structure includes a crate housing having combustible material. Interior layers include an ignition material and at least one tier of kindling lattice, the at least one tier of kindling lattice being positioned laterally in the crate housing and being suspended over a base. At least one lock-in element is positioned at the top of the crate housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A structure comprising:
 a crate housing comprising combustible material;   interior layers comprising an ignition material and at least one tier of kindling lattice, the at least one tier of kindling lattice being positioned laterally in the crate housing and being suspended over a base; and   at least one lock-in element at a top of the crate housing.   
     
     
         2 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the crate housing comprises sides and the base;   at least one of the sides or the base comprises slats with an air gap between the slats; and   remaining sides or the base without the slats are solid walls having no periodic air gaps.   
     
     
         3 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the base is formed to be a triangular shape, a rectangular shape, or many-sided polygon shape, the many-sided polygon shape having a greater number of sides than a number of sides constructable for the base having the triangular shape or the rectangular shape. 
     
     
         4 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein at least one or more sides of the crate housing comprising slats, the slats being attached to at least one adjacent solid side, to interior support elements, or to both the at least one adjacent solid side and the interior support elements. 
     
     
         5 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the ignition material is positioned below the at least one tier of kindling lattice, the ignition material comprises one or more wood-based components. 
     
     
         6 . The structure of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more wood-based components comprise sawdust, excelsior, tinder shreds, wood chips, wood chucks, or any combination of any two or more of the foregoing. 
     
     
         7 . The structure of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more wood-based components are combined with a wax or other combustible material. 
     
     
         8 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the interior layers comprise a plurality of tiers of kindling lattice, a first tier of kindling lattice of the plurality of tiers of kindling lattice being the at least one tier of kindling lattice; and   the plurality of tiers of kindling lattice are supported above the ignition material by suspension elements.   
     
     
         9 . The structure of  claim 8 , wherein the suspension elements comprise slotted interior brackets attached to an interior of the crate housing. 
     
     
         10 . The structure of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the crate housing comprises at least two sides formed of solid walls or slats; and   the suspension elements comprise vertical slots cut into a portion of the solid walls or the slats of the crate housing, such that kindling pieces of the first tier of kindling lattice are inserted into the vertical slots of the solid walls or the slats.   
     
     
         11 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the interior layers comprise a plurality of tiers of kindling lattice in which the at least one tier of kindling lattice is adjacent to an adjacent tier of kindling lattice; and   at least two pieces of kindling in the at least one tier of kindling lattice comprise notches formed to immobilize pieces of kindling in the adjacent tier of kindling lattice, such that the notches maintain a predetermined distance between pieces of kindling in the at least one tier of kindling lattice and the pieces of kindling in the adjacent tier of kindling lattice.   
     
     
         12 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one lock-in element is attached to the top of the crate housing so as to secure and contain the at least one tier of kindling lattice within an interior of the crate housing. 
     
     
         13 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein a top side of the at least one lock-in element comprises a decorative element. 
     
     
         14 . The structure of  claim 13 , wherein the decorative element comprises a decorative cut out shape, an icon, or both the decorative cut out shape and the icon. 
     
     
         15 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the combustible material comprises wood. 
     
     
         16 . A method of using a crate-based fire starter structure comprising;
 positioning the crate-based fire starter structure at a location, the crate-based fire starter structure comprising an ignition material and at least one tier of kindling lattice, the at least one tier of kindling lattice being positioned laterally in a crate housing and being suspended over a base of the crate-based fire starter structure; and   igniting the ignition material.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising adding combustible material. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the location comprises a fireplace, either above or below a fireplace grate, a wood burning stove, a grill, a campsite, or a pit fire. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein igniting the ignition material comprises introducing a flame to the ignition material through a top of the crate-based fire starter structure between pieces of the at least one tier of kindling lattice, through air gaps between slats on sides of the crate-based fire starter structure, through air gaps between slats forming the base of the crate-based fire starter structure, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein firewood is added above the crate-based fire starter structure, on top of the crate-based fire starter structure, around the crate-based fire starter structure, or any combination thereof.