Method and apparatus for generating graphic images with fire

An apparatus for generating a two-dimensional graphic image of fire, defined by one or more vector paths of continuous flame, supplied by a common reservoir of fuel, comprising

• A container, acting as the base of the apparatus, serving as the reservoir, and forming a housing that encloses the entire apparatus, except its top side,
• A combustibly ignitable fuel, conformable to the internal shape of the container reservoir as a fuel volume, so that the upper surface of the fuel volume may be exposed to the atmosphere,
• A fire bed, consisting of a panel of fire-resistant material,
• covering the upper surface of the fuel, so that the reservoir and the fire bed can be juxtaposed to substantially cover the fuel volume,
• and situating an array of vector paths that, together, form a pre-determined image upon the fire bed, wherein the perforations allow the transfer of fuel from the fuel volume below the fire bed, through the perforation vector paths forming the image;
• and
• A composite wicking structure, comprising a three-dimensional array of flammable wicking means, and a corresponding array of fire-resistant means for structural reinforcement of the wicking means, wherein the composite wicking structure is slideably engaged to the fire bed, through the perforations,
• such that a portion of the composite wicking structure extends below the vector bed, to be immersible in the fuel volume,
• another portion of the composite wicking structure is situated above the vector bed, and exposed to the atmosphere in the form of an array of vector paths, and
• the composite wicking structure is slideably engaged with the fire bed, to allow the height of the exposed composite wicking structure portion to be user-adjustable, and to be given columnar support by the means for structural reinforcement,
• in such a way that that, when the exposed portion of the composite wicking structure is set on fire, the resulting flame consumes the fuel, engulfs the exposed portion of wicking means, and takes the appearance of the pre-determined graphic image.

An apparatus for generating a two-dimensional graphic image of fire, defined by one or more vector paths of continuous flame, supplied by a common reservoir of fuel, comprising

• A container, acting as the base of the apparatus, serving as the reservoir, and forming a housing that encloses the entire apparatus, except its top side,
• A combustibly ignitable fuel, conformable to the internal shape of the container reservoir as a fuel volume, so that the upper surface of the fuel volume may be exposed to the atmosphere,
• A fire bed, consisting of a panel of fire-resistant material,
• covering the upper surface of the fuel, so that the reservoir and the fire bed can be juxtaposed to substantially enclose the fuel volume,
• and having one or more perforations arranged as an array vector paths that, together, form a pre-determined image upon the fire bed, wherein the perforations allow the transfer of fuel from the fuel volume below the fire bed, through the perforation vector paths forming the image;
• A means for spring-loaded vertical support, constructed to withstand slightly less than the weight of the fire bed, and located within the fuel volume below the fire bed, and
• A composite wicking structure, comprising a three-dimensional array of flammable wicking means, and a corresponding array of fire-resistant means for structural reinforcement of the wicking means, wherein the composite wicking structure is slideably engaged to the fire bed, through the perforations,
• such that a portion of the composite wicking structure extends below the fire bed, to be immersible in the fuel volume,
• another portion of the composite wicking structure is situated above the fire bed, and exposed to the atmosphere in the form of an array of vector paths,
• the composite wicking structure is slideably engaged with the fire bed, to allow the height of the exposed composite wicking structure portion to be user-adjustable, and to be given columnar support by the means for structural reinforcement, and
• the means for spring-loaded vertical support is fixably positioned under the slideably engaged composite wicking structure, and pre-constructed to provide just enough vertical support to withstand the weight of the composite wicking structure, alone, but not enough to withstand the weight of the fire bed,
• in such a way that, when the exposed portion of the composite wicking structure is set on fire, the resulting flame consumes the fuel, engulfs the exposed portion of wicking means, and takes the appearance of the pre-determined graphic image, and
• in such a way that, while the fuel volume is consumed over time and gradually but continually is reduced in size, the means for spring-loaded support operates to maintain the desired height, for the exposed portion of composite wicking structure.