1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a cigarette or cigar lighter. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a compact, lightweight, electronic lighter apparatus that connects to the data port of a mobile electronic device and is powered by the mobile electronic device.
2. Description of Related Art
The existing art provides several devices to ignite cigarettes or cigars. Typically, many people use lighters or matches to ignite cigarettes or cigars. However, many smokers frequently and repetitively lose their lighters and/or matches. The result is that a user who has lost his/her lighter or matches must purchase a replacement to ignite a cigarette or cigar.
Further, lighters typically use a fluid that must be periodically replaced or refilled. Once the lighter runs out of fluid, the lighter becomes inoperable until the fluid can be sourced and deposited into the lighter. In many cases, the lighter is disposable in which case the lighter would be thrown away which adds to the volume of landfills.
Another issue with open flame lighters is that these devices burn a flammable liquid or gas to sustain a flame in order to light a cigarette or cigar. These devices create a sustained, open flame to set fire to the cigarette or cigar. The uncontrolled flame and heat of these devices create a fire hazard if they are not handled properly. Additionally, handling flammable liquids or gases can result in injury as the liquid or gas could come in contact with a user and be ignited by the lighter.
Other devices avoid hazards associated with open flame by using an electric heating mechanism. Many of these devices must be plugged into an electric outlet to operate, thus rendering the device non-portable. Other devices use an internal battery, which must be recharged regularly and dramatically add to the size of the device.
One such device is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0021190 (hereinafter “Sardar”). This device contains an internal battery, which must be charged by the integrated USB port. The need for an internal battery drastically increases the physical size of the device. If the battery is depleted, the device becomes inoperable until the device can be connected to and charged by a USB charger. Finally, this device can be misplaced just as easily as a traditional lighter.
Another such device is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0335462 (hereinafter “Cebulski”). This device also contains an internal battery, which must be charged by the integrated USB port. The need for an internal battery also increases the physical size of the device, and if the battery is depleted, the device becomes inoperable until recharged. This device is shaped to partially enclose the end of a smartphone, and an adapter connects the smartphone to the control circuit of the lighter device. However, this adapter does not supply power to the lighter device. Thus, having this device connected to a smartphone does not improve or enhance the functionality of the device.
During the course of days, weeks, and months, the average cigarette smoker misplaces and loses his/her cigarette lighter repetitively. Cigarette lighters are one of the five most lost items in America. Existing electric cigarette lighters must be connected to a stationary power source which negates their mobility. Also, existing electric cigarette or cigar lighters contain an internal battery which much must be recharged prior to use.
Existing devices do not address the aforementioned issues which are widely common to cigarette and cigar smokers. Therefore, what is needed is a mobile, compact, flameless cigarette or cigar igniting device that does not have to be charged prior to use that uses power from a mobile and reliable source.
The present invention provides a mobile, electronic lighter apparatus that is flameless, compact, lightweight, and powered solely by a mobile electronic device.
The electronic lighter apparatus of the present invention not only generates heat for a user to ignite a cigarette or cigar, but also connects with a smartphone or other electronic mobile device. Existing electric lighter/lighters cannot prevent or minimize the problem of the lighter being misplaced or lost by users. In an embodiment, the present invention solves this problem by being an accessory to one of the most commonly used devices—a mobile electronic device.
In another embodiment, the electronic lighter apparatus of the present invention herein allows the user to have a constant, reliable source of heat when attached to his/her smartphone. In an embodiment, the present invention is charged by the user's electronic mobile device.
In another embodiment, the heating device can be used to heat or ignite items that are not cigarettes or cigars in case of an emergency.
In another embodiment, the present invention provides a cost-effective and efficient means for igniting cigars and cigarettes because the need for recharging an electronic lighter's battery is eliminated. In another embodiment, the need for refueling the lighter and the dangers associated with open flames and flammable liquids or gases are eliminated because the present invention does not utilize an open flame. Further, the likelihood of misplacing the apparatus of the present invention is minimized because it is used in conjunction with a mobile electronic device and is small enough to be easily transported by a user.
In another embodiment, the present invention provides a flameless device to ignite a cigarette or cigar, thereby eliminating the dangers of open flames and the requirement to source and refill lighter fluid.
In another embodiment, the present invention provides a small and compact flameless cigarette or cigar igniting device that does not require a recharge prior to use.
In another embodiment, the present invention provides an electronic mobile cigarette or cigar lighting device that is not required to be connected to a stationary power source.
In another embodiment, the present invention allows a user to easily ignite a cigarette or cigar without using an open flame. In another embodiment, the present invention is much lighter and smaller than the existing devices, because it does not include an internal battery. Because the present invention is powered by a mobile electronic device, a user will have ready access to a reliable power source to use the present invention. In another embodiment, the present invention mitigates the chance of being lost or misplaced because it is an accessory to a user's most commonly used device—their electronic mobile device.
The present disclosure provides an electronic apparatus for igniting a cigarette or cigar that is powered by an electronic mobile device. In an exemplary embodiment, the present disclosure provides an electronic lighter comprising a circuit board, a heating element, a controller, a connector and a housing, wherein the connector is configured to connect to an electronic mobile device, wherein the circuit board provides power to and regulates said heating element, wherein the circuit board is supplied power from the electronic mobile device to heat the heating element to a temperature sufficient to ignite a cigarette or cigar, wherein the controller allows a user to operate the electronic lighter, wherein the housing comprises an internal cavity, wherein the circuit board and the heating element are disposed within the internal cavity, and wherein the heating element, the controller, and the connector are located on the circuit board.
In another exemplary embodiment, the housing comprises an opening providing the user access to the heating element.
In another exemplary embodiment, the connector is configured to connect to the electronic mobile device including USB, mini USB, micro USB, Apple iOS, Apple Lightning, Apple 30-Pin Dock Connector, or a combination thereof.
In another exemplary embodiment, the housing comprises rigid, semi-rigid, pliable, or woven materials including polymers, plastics, silicon, fiber-reinforced polymers, metals, or a combination thereof.
In another exemplary embodiment, the present disclosure further comprises a heat guard, wherein the heat guard resists undesired effects from the heating element including deformation and comprising rigid, semi-rigid, pliable, or woven materials including polymers, plastics, silicon, fiber-reinforced polymers, metals, or a combination thereof, and wherein the heat guard prevents excessive heat from the heating element from affecting other components of the electronic lighter.
In another exemplary embodiment, the present disclosure further comprises a grip ring, wherein the grip ring further comprises a port protector, and wherein the grip ring comprises rigid, semi-rigid, pliable, or woven materials including polymers, plastics, silicon, fiber-reinforced polymers, metals, or a combination thereof.
In another exemplary embodiment, the housing further comprises a key ring loop.
In another exemplary embodiment, the present disclosure further comprises one or more indicator lights.
In another exemplary embodiment, the controller is operated manually by a button, knob, lever, trigger, dial, toggle, wheel, switch, or a combination thereof.
In another exemplary embodiment, the controller is operated by an application or program installed on the mobile electronic device.
In another exemplary embodiment, the present disclosure provides an electronic lighter comprising a circuit board, a heating element, a controller, a connector and a housing, wherein the connector is configured to connect to an electronic mobile device, wherein the circuit board provides power to and regulates the heating element, wherein the circuit board is supplied power from the electronic mobile device to heat the heating element to a temperature sufficient to ignite a cigarette or cigar, wherein the controller allows a user to operate the electronic lighter, wherein the housing comprises an internal cavity, and wherein the circuit board and the heating element are disposed within the internal cavity.
In another exemplary embodiment, the housing comprises an opening providing the user access to the heating element.
In another exemplary embodiment, the connector is configured to connect to the electronic mobile device including USB, mini USB, micro USB, Apple iOS, Apple Lightning, Apple 30-Pin Dock Connector, or a combination thereof.
In another exemplary embodiment, the housing comprises rigid, semi-rigid, pliable, or woven materials including polymers, plastics, silicon, fiber-reinforced polymers, metals, or a combination thereof.
In another exemplary embodiment, the present disclosure further comprises a heat guard, wherein the heat guard resists undesired effects from the heating element including deformation and comprising rigid, semi-rigid, pliable, or woven materials including polymers, plastics, silicon, fiber-reinforced polymers, metals, or a combination thereof, and wherein the heat guard prevents excessive heat from the heating element from affecting other components of the electronic lighter.
In another exemplary embodiment, the present disclosure further comprises a grip ring, wherein the grip ring further comprises a port protector, and wherein the grip ring comprises rigid, semi-rigid, pliable, or woven materials including polymers, plastics, silicon, fiber-reinforced polymers, metals, or a combination thereof.
In another exemplary embodiment, the present disclosure further comprises one or more indicator lights.
In another exemplary embodiment, the controller is operated manually by a button, knob, lever, trigger, dial, toggle, wheel, switch, or a combination thereof.
In another exemplary embodiment, the controller is operated by an application or program installed on the mobile electronic device.
The foregoing description, and other features, objects, and advantages of the present invention, will be apparent from the following brief description of the drawings, detailed description of the drawings, descriptions of the preferred embodiments of the invention, the accompanying drawings, and the claims.
The following detailed description is directed to certain exemplary embodiments. However, the present disclosure can also be further embodied in a multitude of different ways as defined and covered by the claims and equivalents thereof. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention and their advantages may be understood by referring to
As used in the description herein and throughout this disclosure, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “into” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
In another embodiment, as shown in
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To use the electronic lighter apparatus 100, as illustrated in the exemplary embodiment in
In another exemplary embodiment, the electronic lighter apparatus 100 is controlled using an application or program installed on an electronic mobile device. In another exemplary embodiment, when an application or program installed on an electronic mobile device is initiated, the application or program triggers a surge of power from the electronic mobile device to electronic lighter apparatus 100 through connector 104.
In another embodiment, as illustrated in
For the purposes of illustration, as illustrated in
To assemble another exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in
The invention has been described herein using specific embodiments for the purposes of illustration only. It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, however, that the principles of the invention can be embodied in other ways. The disclosed subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted in the spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referred elements, components, or steps may be present, utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Furthermore, when a definition or use of a term in a reference, which is incorporated by reference herein, is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply. Therefore, the invention should not be regarded as being limited in scope to specific embodiments disclosed herein, but instead as being fully commensurate in scope with the following claims.
The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/022920, filed on Jul. 10, 2014, entitled “Electronic Heat Device When Attached To A Smartphone Generates Heat For The Purpose Of Lighting Up A Cigarette/Cigar”, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62022920 | Jul 2014 | US |