Glow in dark lighter

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6520658
  • Patent Number
    6,520,658
  • Date Filed
    Friday, July 6, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, February 18, 2003
    21 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Tso; Laura K.
    Agents
    • Chan; Raymond Y.
    • David & Raymond Patent Group
Abstract
A glow in dark lighter includes a luminous casing having a receiving cavity for receiving a liquefied gas storage therein and at least a luminous area adapted to be visible in the dark, a gas emitting nozzle disposed in the luminous casing and communicating with the liquefied gas storage for control a flow of gas, and an ignition system comprising an ignition button for igniting the lighter. Therefore, the glow in dark lighter of the present invention is capable self-illuminating in the dark.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION




1. Field of Invention




The present invention relates to a lighter, and more particularly to a glow in dark lighter which is adapted to be self-illuminated in the dark so as to facilitate for a user to look for the lighter especially in a dim condition.




2. Description of Related Arts




Lighters have been know and sold throughout the United States. Almost every smoker is used to carry a lighter for lighting a cigarette or a cigar. However, they always have a common problem when they look for a lighter in the dark. For example, when the user is in a bar in which the light is dim, it is hard to look to the lighter in such dim condition to light a cigarette. Or, when the user is in the bedroom in when the lamp is switched off, it is extremely difficult to find the lighter unless the user impatiently to turn on the lamp. Besides, the user may easily loss his or her lighter in the dark since the lighter has no significant illuminating feature to attract the user's attention.




SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION




A main object of the present invention is to provide a glow in dark lighter which is visible in the dark so as to facilitate for a user to look for the lighter especially in a dim condition.




Another object of the present invention is to provide a glow in dark lighter which is adapted to be self-illuminated without using electrical power so as to minimize the cost of the lighter.




Another object of the present invention is to provide a glow in dark lighter, wherein no expensive or complicate mechanical structure is required to employ in the present invention in order to achieve the mentioned objects. Therefore, the present invention successfully provides an economic and efficient solution for attracting users' attention in the dark.




Another object of the present invention is to provide a glow in dark lighter which comprises a signlight arrangement adapted for emitting light when the lighter is ignited, so as to provide an ignition alert of the lighter.




Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a glow in dark lighter, which comprises a luminous casing having a receiving cavity for receiving a liquefied gas storage therein and at least a luminous area adapted to be visible in the dark, a gas emitting nozzle disposed in the luminous casing and communicating with the liquefied gas storage for control a flow of gas, and an ignition system comprising an ignition button for igniting the lighter. Therefore, the glow in dark lighter of the present invention is capable self-illuminating in the dark.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a glow in dark lighter according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 2

is an exploded perspective view of the glow in dark lighter according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 3

is a partially sectional view of the glow in dark lighter according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




Referring to

FIG. 1

of the drawings, a glow in dark lighter according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the glow in dark lighter comprises a luminous casing


10


, having a receiving cavity


11


for receiving a liquefied gas storage


12


therein and at least a luminous area


101


adapted to be visible in the dark, a gas emitting nozzle


20


disposed in the luminous casing


10


and communicating with the liquefied gas storage


12


for control a flow of gas, and an ignition system


30


comprising a ignition button


31


for igniting the lighter.




The luminous casing


10


has an exterior surface


102


wherein the luminous area


101


is provided thereon such that the luminous casing


10


is capable of self-illuminating in the dark. Moreover, the luminous casing


10


further has at least a through slot


13


provided thereon for communicating the receiving cavity


11


with an exterior of the luminous casing


10


.




The ignition system


30


, such as a standard piezoelectric lighter, comprises piezoelectric unit


32


, which is disposed in the luminous casing


10


for generating piezoelectricity, comprising a movable operating part


321


extended upwardly and an ignition tip


322


extended to a position close to the gas emitting nozzle


20


, wherein the movable operating part


321


is depressed downwardly, the ignition tip


322


generates sparks to ignite the gas emitted from the gas emitting nozzle


20


at the same time.




A rear portion of the ignition button


31


is positioned above a top end of the movable operating part


321


of the piezoelectric unit


32


and arranged in such a manner when the ignition button


31


is pushed downwardly, the movable operating part


321


of the piezoelectric unit


32


is depressed to ignite the glow in dark lighter.




According to the preferred embodiment, the luminous casing


10


, which is preferably made of plastic, comprises a fluorescent element


12


attached on the exterior surface


102


of the luminous casing


10


to define the luminous area


101


thereof. In other words, the entire exterior surface


102


of the luminous casing


10


, which is the luminous area


101


thereof, is capable of self-illuminating in the dark.




The fluorescent element


12


, which is preferably a fluorescent paint, is permanently coated on the exterior surface


102


of the luminous casing


10


such that the luminous casing


10


can be visible in the dark. Alternatively, the fluorescent element


12


can be a fluorescent powder attached by adhering to the exterior surface


102


of the luminous casing


10


to achieve the luminosity purpose.




It is worth to mention that a flint type lighter can also be employed the luminous casing


10


such that the flint type lighter can be visible in the dark.




As shown in

FIG. 2

, the glow in dark lighter further comprises a signlight arrangement


40


disposed in the receiving cavity


11


for illuminating light when the glow in dark lighter is ignited. The signlight arrangement


40


comprises an illuminator


41


, a power supply


42


electrically connected to the illuminator


41


, and a motion switch


43


electrically extended from the illuminator


41


and arranged to detect a motion of the ignition button


31


so as to emitting light from the illuminator


412


. Therefore, the emitting light from the illuminator


41


can be seen when the glow in dark lighter is ignited.




The motion switch


43


comprises a conductive wire


431


having a connecting end


431




a


electrically connected to the illuminator


41


and a detecting end


431




b


extended to a position close to the ignition button


31


for detecting the downward motion of the ignition button


31


.




According to the preferred embodiment, the illuminator


41


comprises an IC board


411


and at least a LED


412


electrically mounted thereon wherein a head portion of the LED


412


is extended to the exterior of the luminous casing


10


through the through slot


13


. As shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

, there are two LEDs


412


mounted the IC board


411


and passing through two through slots


13


respectively so as to extend to the exterior of the luminous casing


10


.




The illuminator


41


further comprises an illuminating unit


413


electrically provided on the IC board


411


in such a manner that when the illuminator


41


is switched on, the light from the illuminating unit


413


is adapted for passing through the luminous casing


10


to the exterior thereof.




The IC board


411


comprises a control means


4111


for orderly controlling the lights from the LED


412


and the illuminating unit


413


in a cycle manner. In other words, when the illuminator


41


is switched on, both the LED


412


and the illuminating unit


413


emit lights orderly in predetermined cycles.




The power supply


42


comprises at least a replaceable battery


421


securely disposed in the receiving cavity


11


of the luminous casing


10


wherein the replaceable battery


421


is electrically connected to the IC board


411


via a pair of wires. In order to hold the replaceable battery


421


in the luminous casing


10


, the luminous casing


10


further comprises a pair of parallel holding members


14


inwardly and integrally protruded from the luminous casing


10


and an opening


15


is formed on a rear side of the luminous casing


10


in such a manner that the replaceable battery


421


is securely mounted between the two holding members


14


and adapted to be replaced through the opening


15


of the luminous casing


10


without disassembling the glow in dark lighter.




It is worth to mention that the signlight arrangement


40


can be incorporated the slide-down type piezoelectric lighter wherein the ignition button is depressed downwardly and sidewardly to ignite the piezoelectric lighter. In other words, the motion switch


43


of the signlight arrangement


40


can detect not only the downward motion of the ignition button


31


but also the slid-down motion of the ignition button.



Claims
  • 1. A glow in dark lighter, comprising:a luminous casing having a receiving cavity for receiving a liquefied gas storage therein and at least a luminous area adapted to be visible in the dark; a gas emitting nozzle disposed in said luminous casing and communicating with said liquefied gas storage for control a flow of gas; and an ignition system comprising an ignition button for igniting said lighter.
  • 2. A glow in dark lighter, as recited in claim 1, wherein said casing comprises a fluorescent element attached on an exterior surface of said luminous casing to define said luminous area thereof such that said exterior surface of said luminous casing is capable of self-illuminating in the dark.
  • 3. A glow in dark lighter, as recited in claim 2, wherein said fluorescent element is a fluorescent paint permanently coated on said exterior surface of said luminous casing.
  • 4. A glow in dark lighter, as recited in claim 1, wherein said ignition system further comprises a piezoelectric unit, which is disposed in said luminous casing for generating piezoelectricity, comprising a movable operating part extended upwardly and an ignition tip extended to a position close to said gas emitting nozzle, wherein said movable operating part is depressed downwardly, said ignition tip generates sparks to ignite said gas emitted from said gas emitting nozzle at the same time, a rear portion of said ignition button being positioned above a top end of said movable operating part of said piezoelectric unit and arranged in such a manner when said ignition button is pushed downwardly, said movable operating part of said piezoelectric unit is depressed to ignite said glow in dark lighter.
  • 5. A glow in dark lighter, as recited in claim 2, wherein said ignition system further comprises a piezoelectric unit, which is disposed in said luminous casing for generating piezoelectricity, comprising a movable operating part extended upwardly and an ignition tip extended to a position close to said gas emitting nozzle, wherein said movable operating part is depressed downwardly, said ignition tip generates sparks to ignite said gas emitted from said gas emitting nozzle at the same time, a rear portion of said ignition button being positioned above a top end of said movable operating part of said piezoelectric unit and arranged in such a manner when said ignition button is pushed downwardly, said movable operating part of said piezoelectric unit is depressed to ignite said glow in dark lighter.
  • 6. A glow in dark lighter, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a signlight arrangement disposed in said receiving cavity for illuminating light when said glow in dark lighter is ignited, wherein said signlight arrangement comprises an illuminator, a power supply electrically connected to said illuminator, and a motion switch electrically extended from said illuminator and arranged to detect a motion of said ignition button so as to emitting light from said illuminator.
  • 7. A glow in dark lighter, as recited in claim 6, wherein said motion switch comprises a conductive wire having a connecting end electrically connected to said illuminator and a detecting end extended to a position close to said ignition button for detecting said motion thereof.
  • 8. A glow in dark lighter, as recited in claim 6, wherein said illuminator comprises an IC board, at least a LED electrically mounted thereon, and an illuminating unit electrically provided on said IC board wherein said IC board comprises a control means for orderly controlling lights emitted from said LED and said illuminating unit respectively in predetermined cycles when said illuminator is switched on.
  • 9. A glow in dark lighter, as recited in claim 7, wherein said illuminator comprises an IC board, at least a LED electrically mounted thereon, and an illuminating unit electrically provided on said IC board wherein said IC board comprises a control means for orderly controlling lights emitted from said LED and said illuminating unit respectively in predetermined cycles when said illuminator is switched on.
  • 10. A glow in dark lighter, as recited in claim 9, wherein said luminous casing further comprises a pair of parallel holding members inwardly and integrally protruded from said luminous casing and an opening formed on a rear side of said luminous casing in such a manner that said power supply which comprises at least a replaceable battery is securely mounted between said two holding members and adapted to be replaced through said opening of said luminous casing.
  • 11. A glow in dark lighter, as recited in claim 2, further comprising a signlight arrangement disposed in said receiving cavity for illuminating light when said glow in dark lighter is ignited, wherein said signlight arrangement comprises an illuminator, a power supply electrically connected to said illuminator, and a motion switch electrically extended from said illuminator and arranged to detect a motion of said ignition button so as to emitting light from said illuminator.
  • 12. A glow in dark lighter, as recited in claim 11, wherein said motion switch comprises a conductive wire having a connecting end electrically connected to said illuminator and a detecting end extended to a position close to said ignition button for detecting said motion thereof.
  • 13. A glow in dark lighter, as recited in claim 11, wherein said illuminator comprises an IC board, at least a LED electrically mounted thereon, and an illuminating unit electrically provided on said IC board wherein said IC board comprises a control means for orderly controlling lights emitted from said LED and said illuminating unit respectively in predetermined cycles when said illuminator is switched on.
  • 14. A glow in dark lighter, as recited in claim 12, wherein said illuminator comprises an IC board, at least a LED electrically mounted thereon, and an illuminating unit electrically provided on said IC board wherein said IC board comprises a control means for orderly controlling lights emitted from said LED and said illuminating unit respectively in predetermined cycles when said illuminator is switched on.
  • 15. A glow in dark lighter, as recited in claim 14, wherein said luminous casing further comprises a pair of parallel holding members inwardly and integrally protruded from said luminous casing and an opening formed on a rear side of said luminous casing in such a manner that said power supply which comprises at least a replaceable battery is securely mounted between said two holding members and adapted to be replaced through said opening of said luminous casing.
  • 16. A glow in dark lighter, as recited in claim 5, further comprising a signlight arrangement disposed in said receiving cavity for illuminating light when said glow in dark lighter is ignited, wherein said signlight arrangement comprises an illuminator, a power supply electrically connected to said illuminator, and a motion switch electrically extended from said illuminator and arranged to detect a motion of said ignition button so as to emitting light from said illuminator.
  • 17. A glow in dark lighter, as recited in claim 16, wherein said motion switch comprises a conductive wire having a connecting end electrically connected to said illuminator and a detecting end extended to a position close to said ignition button for detecting said motion thereof.
  • 18. A glow in dark lighter, as recited in claim 16, wherein said illuminator comprises an IC board, at least a LED electrically mounted thereon, and an illuminating unit electrically provided on said IC board wherein said IC board comprises a control means for orderly controlling lights emitted from said LED and said illuminating unit respectively in predetermined cycles when said illuminator is switched on.
  • 19. A glow in dark lighter, as recited in claim 17, wherein said illuminator comprises an IC board, at least a LED electrically mounted thereon, and an illuminating unit electrically provided on said IC board wherein said IC board comprises a control means for orderly controlling lights emitted from said LED and said illuminating unit respectively in predetermined cycles when said illuminator is switched on.
  • 20. A glow in dark lighter, as recited in claim 19, wherein said luminous casing further comprises a pair of parallel holding members inwardly and integrally protruded from said luminous casing and an opening formed on a rear side of said luminous casing in such a manner that said power supply which comprises at least a replaceable battery is securely mounted between said two holding members and adapted to be replaced through said opening of said luminous casing.
US Referenced Citations (4)
Number Name Date Kind
1110100 Ambash et al. Sep 1914 A
2198234 Stratton Apr 1940 A
3205350 Roszkowski et al. Sep 1965 A
6093016 Lin Jul 2000 A