Survival light

Abstract

Survival light consisting of a disk with wick installed on the top floating on the surface of a combustible fluid that can reach and be sucked up by the wick through vertical holes penetrating the disk and through horizontal channels leading the combustible fluid from the periphery of the disk to the central area where the wick is installed and where the combustible fluid is a layer on top of a non-combustible fluid such as water.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates to emergency and decorative lights using a combustible fuel.

Typical application fields are lighting and cooking in emergency situations with limited selection of fuel and equipments and under extraordinary and unsafe operational condition.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The conventional emergency lights are candles and electrical lights with limited life expectancy. A burned down candle or a discharged electrical battery without recharging opportunity, is useless.

The objective of this invention is to avoid the above disadvantages and shortcomings by designing a survival light for emergency situations.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Briefly stated, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention survival light consisting of a disk with wick installed on the top floating on the surface of a combustible fluid that can reach and be sucked up by the wick through vertical holes penetrating the disk and through horizontal channels leading the combustible fluid from the periphery of the disk to the central area where the wick is installed and where the combustible fluid is a layer on top of a non-combustible fluid such as water.

Other features of the invention will be described in connection with the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows a survival light viewed from above and in cross-section. in accordance with the present invention.

A disk 1 floating on the top of a combustible fluid 4. The combustible fluid may be new or used cooking oil, new or used engine oil or similar. However gasoline and other easily flammable fluids should not be used. Under the combustible fluid 4 is a non-combustible fluid 5 for example water. Typically, cooking oil and water does not mix but remains separated along a separation surface 6. The disk 1 in this sample is a circular disk. However other shapes, polygonal, oblong, and rectangular or other shapes are also covered by this invention. In the central area of the disk 1 is a wick holder 2 that support the wick 3 that can be made up of rolled up paper or other hydroscopic material that is available in an emergency situation. In this central area several vertical holes 9 arranged through which the combustible fluid 4 could raise from below occupy the central area 13 and wet the wick 3. The number, size and shape of these holes 9 does not limit the validity of this invention. The combustible fluid 4 has also alternate paths to reach the wick 3. Channels 10 create the alternate paths in the upper surface of the disk 1 leading the combustible fluid 4 from the disk's 1 periphery to the central area 13 around the wick 3. These channels 10 will be partially filled with the combustible fluid 4 up to the level 7 that is essentially same as the combustible fluid 4 level in the central area 13.

The application example in FIG. 1 has three channels 10. The number and shape of channels 10 is not a limitation for this invention. FIG. 1 shows also another interesting feature of this invention. The peripheral edge of the disk 1 is equipped with a vertical extension, a collar 11 , extending downward into the combustible fluid 4. This collar's 11 mission is that when the disk 1 is positioned on the surface 7 of the combustible liquid 4 a certain amount of air 8 will get trapped under the disk 1. Therefore, the disk is not completely flat but has elevated areas 8 where the trapped air can accumulate. The trapped air will increase the buoyancy and stability of the disk 1 preventing tipping and submersion.

In an emergency situation empty glass cup, preserve box can be used as container 12. The present invention is not limited by the size, shape and material of the container 12.

With regard operation of the above survival light upon filling the container 12 with the incombustible fluid 5 and combustible fluid 4 the disk 1 with the inserted wick 3 can be positioned on the surface 7. The combustible fluid will be automatically sucked in be the wick 3. Thereafter, the wick 3 can be lit using match, cigarette lighter or other device. The burning wick 3 will suck up the combustible fluid 4 gradually reducing the level 7 to level 6. When all combustible fluid 4 is used up the incombustible fluid 5, for example water will enter the wick 3 and the light will be subsequently extinguished eliminating fire hazards.

In accordance with this invention the survival light can be used also as decorative light in non-emergency situations. Therefore, the combustible 4 and incombustible fluid 5 can be colored and/or added aromatic stuffs for example citronella or similar aromas deterring bugs for example mosquito.

Claims

1. Survival light consisting of a disk equipped with a wick to be lit on the upper side of the disk and where the said disk is floating on the top surface of a combustible fluid that can reach the wick through holes connecting the lower and upper surface of the disk and where the combustible fluid is a layer on the top of a non-combustible fluid and where both the combustible and the non-combustible fluid and the named disk is inside of a container that is open on the top accessible to the atmospheric air.

2. Survival light in accordance with claim 1 characterized by trenches in the upper side of the disk leading the combustible fluid form the peripheral edges of the disk to the wick.

3. Survival light in accordance with any of the foregoing claims characterized by vertically downward extending collar ensuring that the air trapped under the disk cannot escape.

4. Survival light in accordance with any of the foregoing claims characterized by coloring additive to the combustible fluid.

5. Survival light in accordance with any of the foregoing claims characterized by coloring additive to the non-combustible fluid.

6. Survival light in accordance with any of the foregoing claims characterized by aromatic fluid is added to the combustible fluid.