Dual head lighter

Abstract

A lighter including a body defining at least one liquid fuel reservoir and at least first and second lighter head assemblies which communicate with the at least one liquid fuel reservoir via respective at least first and second liquid fuel feed conduits.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to lighters, such as cigarette lighters, generally.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following U.S. patent Documents relate to cigarette lighters having multiple flames: U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,152,725; 6,558,156 and 6,589,045.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide a novel and improved lighter which improves utilization of the fuel contained therein.

There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a lighter including a body defining at least one liquid fuel reservoir and at least first and second lighter head assemblies which communicate with the at least one liquid fuel reservoir via respective at least first and second liquid fuel feed conduits.

In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention the body is a generally elongate body and the at least first and second lighter head assemblies are mounted on opposite ends of the generally elongate body.

In accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention the at least first and second liquid fuel feed conduits each define a respective first end which lies within the liquid fuel reservoir and a respective second end which communicates with a respective fuel outlet.

In accordance with still another preferred embodiment of the present invention the liquid fuel reservoir is partially bifurcated.

In accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the present invention the at least first and second lighter head assemblies each include a respective finger operated spark generator subassembly and a thumb operated fuel valve opening lever.

In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention the lighter also includes a wind shield associated with each of the at least first and second lighter head assemblies. In accordance with still another preferred embodiment of the present invention the wind shield is formed with a side aperture for receiving the end of a cigarette to be lighted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a simplified partially cut-away pictorial illustration of a lighter constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a simplified partially cut-away pictorial illustration of a lighter constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are respective side and edge view illustrations of a cigarette lighter constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention in a first operative orientation;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are respective side and edge view illustrations of the cigarette lighter of FIGS. 3A and 3B in a second operative orientation; and

FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C are pictorial illustrations of the use and operation of the lighter of FIGS. 3A-4B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which is a simplified partially cut-away pictorial illustration of a lighter constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As seen in FIG. 1, the lighter preferably comprises a generally elongate body 10 defining a partially bifurcated liquid fuel reservoir 12. Sealingly attached to body 10 at opposite ends thereof are a pair of lighter head assemblies 14 and 16, which communicate with respective portions 18 and 20 of fuel reservoir 12 via respective liquid fuel feed conduits 22 and 24.

Conduits 22 and 24 define respective first ends 26 and 28 which lie within respective portions 18 and 20 of fuel reservoir 12 and respective second ends 30 and 32 which communicate, via respective fuel supply valves 34 and 36, with respective fuel outlets 38 and 40. Assemblies 14 and 16 also preferably comprise respective finger operated spark generator subassemblies 42 and 44 and thumb operated fuel valve opening levers 46 and 48.

It is a particular feature of the present invention that notwithstanding failure of one of the lighter head assemblies 14 and 16, the lighter and the remaining fuel therein need not be discarded, inasmuch as the other of the head assemblies 14 and 16 may be employed.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which is a simplified partially cut-away pictorial illustration of a lighter constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. As seen in FIG. 2, the lighter preferably comprises a generally elongate body 110 defining a partially bifurcated liquid fuel reservoir 112. Sealingly attached to body 110 at a top surface 113 thereof and overlying opposite sides thereof are a pair of lighter head assemblies 114 and 116, which communicate with respective portions 118 and 120 of fuel reservoir 112 via respective liquid fuel feed conduits 122 and 124.

Conduits 122 and 124 define respective first ends 126 and 128 which lie within respective portions 118 and 120 of fuel reservoir 112 and respective second ends 130 and 132 which communicate, via respective fuel supply valves 134 and 136, with respective fuel outlets 138 and 140. Assemblies 114 and 116 also preferably comprise respective finger operated spark generator subassemblies 142 and 144 and thumb operated fuel valve opening levers 146 and 148.

It is also a particular feature of this embodiment of the present invention that notwithstanding failure of one of the lighter head assemblies 114 and 116, the lighter and the remaining fuel therein need not be discarded, inasmuch as the other of the head assemblies 114 and 116 may be employed.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 3A and 3B, which are respective side and edge view illustrations of a cigarette lighter constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention in a first operative orientation, and to FIGS. 4A and 4B, which are respective side and edge view illustrations of the cigarette lighter of FIGS. 3A and 3B in a second operative orientation. Similarly to the embodiment of FIG. 1, the cigarette lighter of FIGS. 3A-4B preferably comprises a generally elongate body 210 defining a partially bifurcated liquid fuel reservoir 212. Sealingly attached to ends of body 210 are a pair of lighter head assemblies 214 and 216, which communicate with respective portions 218 and 220 of fuel reservoir 212 via respective liquid fuel feed conduits 222 and 224.

Conduits 222 and 224 define respective first ends 226 and 228 which lie within respective portions 218 and 220 of fuel reservoir 212 and respective second ends 230 and 232 which communicate, via respective fuel supply valves 234 and 236, with respective fuel outlets. Assemblies 214 and 216 also preferably comprise respective finger operated spark generator subassemblies 242 and 244 and thumb operated fuel valve opening levers 246 and 248.

It is also a particular feature of this embodiment of the present invention that notwithstanding failure of one of the lighter head assemblies 214 and 216, the lighter and the remaining fuel therein need not be discarded, inasmuch as the other of the head assemblies 214 and 216 may be employed.

As distinguished from the embodiment of FIG. 1, the lighter assemblies 214 and 216 of the cigarette lighter of FIGS. 3A-4B also comprise respective selectably raisable wind shields 250 and 252, formed with respective side wall apertures 254 and 256 for receiving a cigarette to be lighted by a flame emanating from respective fuel outlets.

Operation of the cigarette lighter of FIGS. 3A-4B may be understood from a consideration of FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C, which are pictorial illustrations of the use and operation of the lighter of FIGS. 3A-4B and which illustrate raising of windshield 250, generating a flame by operating spark generator subassembly 242 and lighting the end of a cigarette extending through side wall aperture 254 of wind shield 250.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention includes combinations and subcombinations of the various features described hereinabove as well as variations and modifications which would occur to a person of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description and which are not in the prior art.

Claims

1. A lighter comprising: a body defining at least one liquid fuel reservoir; and at least first and second lighter head assemblies which communicate with said at least one liquid fuel reservoir via respective at least first and second liquid fuel feed conduits.

2. A lighter according to claim 1 and wherein said body is a generally elongate body and said at least first and second lighter head assemblies are mounted on opposite ends of said generally elongate body.

3. A lighter according to claim 1 and wherein said at least first and second liquid fuel feed conduits each define a respective first end which lies within said liquid fuel reservoir and a respective second end which communicates with a respective fuel outlet.

4. A lighter according to claim 1 and wherein said liquid fuel reservoir is partially bifurcated.

5. A lighter according to claim 1 and wherein said at least first and second lighter head assemblies each comprise a respective finger operated spark generator subassembly and a thumb operated fuel valve opening lever.

6. A lighter according to claim 1 and also comprising a wind shield associated with each of said at least first and second lighter head assemblies.

7. A lighter according to claim 6 and wherein said wind shield is formed with a side aperture for receiving the end of a cigarette to be lighted.