This invention generally relates to portable handheld lighters. More particularly, this invention is concerned with battery powered lighters for cigars and cigarettes.
Conventional cigarette lighters are used by consumers to ignite the tobacco in one end of a cigarette as the consumer forces air through the cigarette by inhaling. While many different devices and sources of heat could be used to ignite a cigarette, three of the most common ways to ignite a cigarette include using: a match; a coil that has been heated by passing an electric current through the coil; and a flame that is powered by a flammable liquid such as butane which is stored in a portion of the lighter. Unfortunately, all three of these devices can be used to ignite materials other than cigarettes or cigars. The match and flammable liquid lighter are considered to be particularly dangerous because both devices produce “open flames” which can be used, either intentionally or unintentionally, to ignite a wide range of flammable materials. In addition to the dangers associated with matches and electrically heated coils, lighters that contain a reservoir housing a flammable liquid are known to be especially dangerous because of the risk that the flammable liquid will be removed from the lighter and used in an illegal and destructive manner.
To reduce or eliminate the risks associated with using an open flame lighter, various attempts have been made to provide a lighter that will ignite a cigarette without using an open flame. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,268,553 discloses a battery powered lighter that uses a laser to ignite the tobacco. In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,235,157 discloses a battery powered lighter that uses a spiral electric heating element to elevate the temperature of the tobacco to ignite the cigarette. The same patent discloses a recessed opening into which the cigarette must be inserted to enable the heating element to contact the cigarette. The recessed opening is intended to inhibit the intentional setting of fires. Unfortunately, neither of these inventions is able to effectively limit the use of the lighter to igniting tobacco in a cigarette.
Therefore, there exists a need for a cigarette lighter that will effectively ignite the tobacco in a cigarette but cannot be used to ignite other materials such as a flammable liquid, strips of paper or a candle's wick.
The present invention provides a portable battery powered lighter that will effectively and efficiently ignite a cigarette but cannot be used to ignite many other materials.
In one embodiment, the present invention is an apparatus that includes a housing and an electrical circuit disposed in the housing. The housing defines an opening therein. The circuit includes a heating element, a direct current power supply that provides an electrical current to the heating element, and a switch for regulating the flow of the electrical current to the heating element. The switch is activated by a change of air pressure within the housing.
In another embodiment, the present invention also relates to an apparatus that includes a housing and an electrical circuit disposed in the housing. The housing defines an opening therein. The circuit includes a heating element, a direct current power supply that provides an electrical current to the heating element, and a switch for regulating the flow of the electrical current to the heating element. The switch is activated by a change in air flow within the housing.
The present invention also relates to a process for igniting a cigarette. The process includes the following steps. Providing an apparatus comprising a housing and an electrical circuit disposed within the housing. The housing defines an opening therein. The circuit comprises a heating element, a direct current power supply providing an electrical current to the heating element, and a switch for regulating the flow of the electrical current to the heating element. The switch is activated by a change in air pressure within the housing. Providing an elongated, air permeable cigarette having a first end and a second end. Inserting the first end of the cigarette into the opening in the housing. Igniting the cigarette by causing a change in air pressure within the housing which activates the switch that allows the electrical current from the direct current power supply to increase the temperature of the heating element. Withdrawing the cigarette from the housing.
The present invention also relates to yet another process for igniting a cigarette. The process includes the following steps. Providing an apparatus comprising a housing and an electrical circuit disposed within the housing. The housing defines an opening therein. The circuit comprises a heating element, a direct current power supply providing an electrical current to the heating element, and a switch for regulating the flow of the electrical current to the heating element. The switch is activated by a change in air flow within the housing. Providing an elongated, air permeable cigarette having a first end and a second end. Inserting the first end of the cigarette into the opening in the housing. Igniting the cigarette by causing a change in air flow within the housing which activates the switch that allows the electrical current from the direct current power supply to increase the temperature of the heating element. Withdrawing the cigarette from the housing.
As used herein the term “cigarette” generally refers to an elongated, rolled tube that contains tobacco or other similar products. A sheet of coiled paper may be used to contain the tobacco. The cigarette has a first end, a second end, and is air permeable. The second end may contain a filter. At least the first end contains tobacco that can be ignited. The cigarette is considered to be air permeable if an individual can manually draw air into the first end, through the length of the cigarette, and out the second end.
Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to
In an alternative embodiment, switch 34 can be activated by the exertion of positive air pressure. For example, after the first end of the cigarette has been inserted into the cavity, the consumer can activate switch 34 by manually forcing air from the second end of the cigarette to the first end of the cigarette which exerts a positive pressure on switch 34. As long as switch 34 is activated, an electrical current flows to the heating element which becomes sufficiently hot to ignite the tobacco.
The advantage of using a cigarette lighter with a switch that is responsive to a change in air pressure within the housing of the lighter is that the lighter can only be activated when an air permeable article, such as a cigarette or cigar, is inserted into the cavity and the switch detects the change in air pressure. If a solid object, such as a candle's wick or match, is inserted into the cavity, the lighter will not ignite the wick or match because the consumer cannot close switch 34. Similarly, if the lighter's heating element is allowed to contact flammable fumes or a flammable liquid, the element will not become hot because the consumer cannot exert pressure on switch 34. Consequently, the lighter of this invention is inherently limited to igniting objects that are sufficiently air permeable to allow the consumer to exert air pressure on a switch that is enclosed within the housing. Accidental activation of the lighter while it is stored in a purse or backpack is virtually precluded by the design of the lighter. Similarly, intentionally burning any material in an illegal manner is effectively thwarted by the existence of the switch which can only be activated by exerting air pressure on the switch which is protected by the housing.
To further improve the safety of the lighter, the circuit disposed within the housing may also contain components such as first manual switch 28, second manual switch 30, energy storage system 36, proximity sensor 38 and a positive temperature coefficient switch 40. As shown in
Referring again to
Energy storage system 30, which could be a capacitor, super capacitor or a rechargeable battery, is an optional component that could be used to provide a burst of electrical energy to insure reliable operation of the lighter in adverse conditions such as extreme cold, damp or windy conditions. For example, if a consumer is attempting to ignite a cigarette while camping outdoors during the winter, the cigarette lighter's heating element may need to receive an abnormally large amount of electrical current to sufficiently heat the cold tobacco above the ignition point. To facilitate delivering a large burst of electrical current, the consumer would close at least one of the manual switches which would allow electrical energy from the power supply to charge the energy storage system. An indicating light, such as a green LED (not shown) could be used to notify the consumer that the energy storage system is ready to ignite the cigarette. Upon seeing the illumination of the green LED, the consumer would insert the first end of the cigarette into the lighter's cavity, exert a negative pressure on the air pressure switch in the housing by inhaling through the cigarette which would subsequently cause the heating element to become hot and ignite the tobacco.
Another safety feature is proximity sensor 38 which is preferably positioned proximate cavity 42. The function of the proximity sensor is to detect the presence of a cigarette in cavity 42. If a cigarette is present, the proximity sensor moves to an electrically closed position thereby enabling electrical current from the power supply to flow to the heating element if all other switches in the circuit are activated. If the proximity sensor does not detect the presence of a cigarette, the sensor remains electrically open and thereby prevents activation of the circuit.
Shown in
Shown in
Referring now to
Referring now to
The direct current power supply disclosed in
The above description is considered that of the preferred embodiments only. Modifications of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art and to those who make or use the invention. Therefore, it is understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above are merely for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the following claims.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20070042305 A1 | Feb 2007 | US |