Lighting means

Abstract

An improved lighting apparatus includes a reservoir for flammable fluid (10), means (20) for delivering a controlled flow of fluid from that reservoir, ignition means (11, 17) for igniting that controlled flow to produce a flame, and means (12, 13) operable to direct that flame in a desired direction relative to the reservoir.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general terms, to a means which allows for variation in the actual direction of flow of a stream of ignited flammable material emanating from a reservoir or container therefor. More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a means, for use in conjunction with a lighting means or the like of any known type, as for example a cigarette lighter, which allows for the direction of any flame thus generated to be varied through an angle of at least 90°, to suit different use requirements.

This invention also relates to a flame diverter for changing the direction of a flame emanating from a container for flammable fluid and for protecting the user of the flame producer and associated container. It is particularly, but not exclusively, related to a flame diverter for diverting or varying the direction of the flame produced by or in a cigarette lighter or the like, but it is not to be considered to be limited to such a preferred context of use.

Throughout this specification reference will be made to a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, namely for use in or with a cigarette lighter. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not to be considered to be limited thereto. Indeed, the arrangement in accordance with the present invention is suitable for use on and in conjunction with any equipment or apparatus which includes a reservoir for storage of a supply, replenishable or otherwise, of a flammable substance and a means for controlled ignition of a flow of such flammable substance whereby to create a flame external to the container or reservoir therefor. By way of example only, gas lighters of the type commonly employed for igniting gas jets—in ovens, barbecues, etc—can also be equipped with a diverting or directional means in accordance with the present invention.

Due to the effects of air pressure and density a flame, however produced, will extend upwardly from and substantially normally to the source thereof. That property means that such a flame is quite useful for purposes of lighting articles which can be placed substantially directly above the flame or the source thereof. However, and due to this natural action or property of a flame, it can sometimes be particularly difficult, and even potentially dangerous, attempt to ignite products which are necessarily located below the flame (for example), or in the alternative at a location which is difficult to access.

One particular application where such a difficulty can be encountered is in the lighting of candles, of the type which include a wick extending from a top portion of a body of wax or the like material. It is not possible to light such candles from below, as this would melt the wax body rather than light the wick extending from the top of the candle wax body. When using a conventional lighting means, such as a gas or cigarette lighter or the like, being an article which has a lower chamber containing the combustible or flammable material and means leading to a top flame producing portion which includes an igniting means, as for example in the form of a flint or the like, and an outlet from the chamber, there can be experienced a certain degree of difficulty in lighting, for example, a candle, tinder for a fire, etc. When such a lighter is lit, it produces a flame from its top portion. To light a candle (or a fire) it can become necessary to turn the lighter itself at an angle away from the vertical, possibly even as far as horizontal. However, this will still allow the flame to extend upwards, and to get much closer to the hand of the user holding the lighter itself. In one scenario a user can experience burns from the flame, particularly when the lighter is angled further downwards in order to access candles or the like.

Another example of the need for lighting products which are to be located below a flame is for the lighting of pipes. A pipe has a pipe bowl with a mouthpiece connected thereto. The pipe bowl has a top opening which can be filled with tobacco, which must then be lit. In order to light the pipe a flame, as for example from a conventional cigarette lighter, is placed, again substantially horizontally, or perhaps even in a direction below the horizontal, which increases the chance of the user burning fingers or the like. Although the problem exists for pipe lighters, it is however partially minimised by the user being able to draw air in through the pipe bowl and therefore lower the air pressure below the flame, drawing the flame downwards. However, clearly there can still be a problem in terms of the possibility of burning the fingers of the user, due to the overall lighter having to be disposed at an angle.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which overcomes the problems associated with the prior art, by allowing for controlled variation in the direction of a jet of ignited flammable material emanating from a container or reservoir therefor.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus, to be associated with and mounted for pivotable movement relative to a container or reservoir for flammable material, which allows for variation in the direction of flow of a jet of material exiting said container and being ignited whereby to create a flame.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided an improved lighter or the like apparatus, including a tank for flammable fluid, a means for directing a controlled flow of fluid from said tank, ignition means for igniting said controlled flow whereby to produce a flame, and means allowing for variation in the direction of said flame relative to the overall lighter.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a flame diverter including an elongate body, preferably in the form of a U-shaped channel member, adapted to extend above a flame producing portion of a flame producer wherein the elongate body includes an opening for receiving the flame, a deflector for deflecting the flame, and an outlet opening for allowing access to the deflected flame.

The elongate body in one form can include an attachment means for removable attachment thereof to a flame producer, such as a cigarette lighter or the like. In another form the attachment means can be integral with a flame producer, such as a cigarette lighter or the like. This integral attachment can be by means of a sliding mechanism or a hinge mechanism. In another alternative, the attachment means can be permanently fixed in position.

The elongate body can be a deflecting strip able to extend above the flame producing portion of the flame producer (such as a cigarette lighter or the like). In one form the elongate body is an inverted U-shaped channel having a continuous open bottom such that one end forms an opening for receiving the flame the internal surface of the inverted U shaped channel forms a deflector for deflecting the flame towards the other end of the channel allowing access of the thus deflected flame to a candle wick or the like, while protecting the user holding the flame producer from inadvertent burns.

The attachment means can extend at an angle to the elongate body so as to give rise to a deflection away from the normal upright position. Preferably the angle to the elongate body will be an obtuse angle. Preferably such angle can provide the deflector extending at about 90° to the normal operation of the flame producer.

The attachment means can comprise resilient arms extending from either side of the elongate body and adapted to resiliently attach around a cigarette lighter or the like. The resilient arms and body may further include inwardly facing protuberances able to engage matching indentations on the flame producer itself. Alternatively the attachment means may include indentations which match the protuberances on a cigarette lighter or the like.

In another form the attachment means makes use of a biassing means, as for example a spring. In one form this spring may cause arms to tightly engage the sides of a cigarette lighter or the like and require compression of the spring to move the arms apart to remove the flame diverter from the cigarette lighter or the like. Such a system can be replaced by resilient arms and lever means to move the resilient arms away from the natural resilient position around the cigarette lighter or the like.

In another form the attachment means may comprise a clamp means to clamp onto or around a portion of a cigarette lighter or the like. In a still further variation, the attachment means may include sliding channels allowing the elongate body to be slidably engaged with a cigarette lighter or the like and move into position over the flame producing portion thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood and put into practical effect there shall now be described in detail preferred embodiments of an apparatus in accordance with the invention. The ensuing description is given by way of non-limitative example only and is with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a cigarette lighter in accordance with the invention, in a first mode of operation wherein a jet of flame can be directed normally upwardly from the lighter;

FIG. 2 is a cut-away sectional view, from the front, of a portion of the lighter of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, from above, of the lighter of FIG. 1, but with the jet (and associated flame when ignited) directed at an angle of 90° sideways away from the lighter;

FIG. 4 is a view, similar to FIG. 2, but from one side of the lighter;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a flame diverter in accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is an overhead plan view of the flame diverter of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the flame diverter of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a front view of the flame diverter of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, shown therein is an especially preferred embodiment of the present invention, for use in and in conjunction with a cigarette lighter. Such a lighter will include, as its principal components, a tank or reservoir 10 for a suitable flammable fluid, an ignition actuating means 11 in the form of a depressible button, operable by hand to ignite (in any known manner and using any known means) a flow/stream of fluid exiting the tank 10, a cap or shroud 12 adapted to be affixed (preferably releasably) to the tank 10 in any suitable manner and using any suitable means, and a flame directing means, generally designated 13, in the form of a substantially hollow tubular assembly of any suitable material (preferably a metal), which in accordance with the invention is mounted for selected/controlled pivotable and progressive movement relative to the cap or shroud 12, between a first end position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and a second end position as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The cap or shroud 12 will have a cut-away portion 12a in one face or side thereof, to provide a seating and limit stop means for said tubular assembly 13 when moved to the location shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and in fact to allow for and facilitate the desired pivotal movement of the tubular element. In the preferred embodiment illustrated the lighter includes a manually operable sliding level 14 which can be used to control the flow of fluid exiting the tank 10, thereby to vary the size (length) of the flame.

It should be understood that the internal workings of the overall lighter, as for example the actual ignition mechanism, feed means for the combustible medium, or flammable fluid etc, do not form part of the invention. Indeed the present invention is suited for incorporation in or with any form of cigarette lighter as presently known and in use. The ignition mechanism may, for example, in an especially preferred embodiment be of the piezoelectric type as commonly employed nowadays. In the alternative, a flint mechanism may be employed to generate a spark to ignite the jet of fluid emanating from the tank 10.

With particular reference now to FIGS. 2 and 4, an improved lighter in accordance with the present invention includes a tube 20, of any suitable material, extending from the tank 10, such tube 20 allowing for and receiving a controllable flow of fluid from the tank 10, that flow to be directed to the ignition means, to be actuated by depression of button 11, for creation of the desired flame. The tube 20 is then in flow connection with a nozzle or burner 21 (of any suitable type) disposed substantially centrally within the hollow tubular body of the flame deflecting or directing means 13. In an especially preferred embodiment the tube 20 will be constructed from a suitable metal, and will be so constructed as to be flexible, whereby to bend appropriately as the overall flame directing means is moved, in a selective and controlled manner, between the respective end positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 (2 and 4). Preferably the tube 20 will be housed within a sheath of a transparent flexible plastics material 22. In the preferred embodiment illustrated the flame directing means 13 will be made up of a hollow tubular element, preferably of a suitable metal, having an inner sheath 15 disposed therewithin and affixed thereto (in any known manner). The sheath 15 includes a portion 16 extending transversely of the tubular element 14, having the nozzle or burner 21 disposed therethrough. Preferably the sheath 15 may be formed from a suitable plastics material.

In the especially preferred embodiment illustrated a piezoelectric ignition means is employed. The metal cap or shroud 12 acts as a piezoelectric conductor, the end result being that the flow of flammable fluid exiting from the nozzle or burner 21 is ignited, thereby producing the desired flame. Once the flame exists, then the user can readily pivot the flame directing means 13 to any desired angular position or location between the respective end positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 (or 2 and 4).

To operate the piezoelectric ignition means, a downward force must be deliberately applied to the ignition button 11, thereby to compress the piezoelectric unit 17 for striking a spark. At the same time, gas or fluid being emitted from the tank 10 through tube 20 is transported to the nozzle or burner 21. Upon release of any downward force applied to ignition button 11, the previously compressed piezoelectric unit 17 will return/rebound back to its original position.

The arrangement is such that the tube 20, of a flexible material, with associated nozzle or burner 21, extends relatively upwardly into the cap or shroud 12, so as, with pivotal movement of flame directing means 13, to be itself selectively and controllably movable between the configurations or respective end positions shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. Such mounting within the cap 12 can be achieved in any suitable manner. In an especially preferred embodiment, however, the sheath 15 may have opposed elongated extensions thereon adapted to engage with stub axles, protrusions (or the like) associated with the internal walls of the cap 12. The arrangement is such that, as and when desired, the operator of the lighter can, with a simple finger action, move the tubular element 13 (with or without flame) to any desired location between the respective end positions shown in the drawings. With the tubular element 13 thus disposed, any flame emanating from the nozzle 21 will be directed at a preferred or desired angle away from the lighter itself, thereby to facilitate lighting of a cigarette, cigar, candle or whatever.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 to 8 of the drawings, there is shown therein a flame diverter which can be used with known standard disposable cigarette lighters. Such cigarette lighter will consist substantially of a tubular or cylindrical body made from a plastics material and containing the lighter fluid. The cross section of the tubular body is often oval shaped or rectangular, with curved ends, and has a dimension of from 2-3 cm. On top of the fluid body there is provided a metal structure including the top of a wick extending into the lighter fluid, and an igniting mechanism generally including a roller having a roughened surface which rubs against a spark-inducing material to light the wick and the fluid escaping from the lighter fluid tube.

The flame diverter in accordance with another aspect of the invention, as shown for example in FIG. 5, includes as its principal components a substantially U-shaped channel member 30 having means integral therewith (preferably) which allows for attachment of the overall diverter to a cigarette lighter or the like (of any known and presently in use type).

The attachment means for the flame diverter, as illustrated, includes two spaced-apart and substantially parallel extending arms 31 and 32 each adapted to be attached, by means of shoulders 33 and 34, to the inverted U-shaped channel member 30. The arms 31 and 32 extend at an angle from the inverted U-shaped channel member 30 (as shown in FIG. 5), that angle being approximately 165°, such that the free ends of the arms 31 and 32 extend rearwardly of the channel member 30 (see FIG. 5). Internally of the respective free ends of the opposed arms 31 and 32 there are provided protrusions 35 and 36 which are able to engage complementary shaped recesses formed or created in the body of the cigarette lighter, at or in the vicinity of the uppermost edge thereof. The arrangement such, and the material of construction of the flame diverter is such, that there is a degree of resilience in the arms 31 and 32, which facilitates the engagement of the protrusions 35 and 36 whereby to attach the flame diverter to a disposable cigarette lighter. A further hooking attachment 37 extends from the end of the inverted U-shaped channel member 30 so as to be releasably received by a complementary recess or opening to be formed the juxtaposed side of the cigarette lighter, thereby to provide further stability for the fitting. Due to the off-set of the arms 31 and 32, the resultant positioning of the U-shaped channel member 30 is over half of the top of the cigarette lighter, allowing access to a roller thereof so as to instigate the ignition sequence of the cigarette lighter and the flame produced by such ignition extends into the U-shaped channel member 30 itself, which then serves to protect the holder of the cigarette lighter.

Preferably such an article, the diverter, is made principally from flame resistant material, as for example spring steel, or in the alternative it may be made from other flame resistant materials, such as high melting point plastics material or the like.

From a reading of the aforegoing description it should be evident that the invention relates not only to an arrangement which can be included with an igniting means or lighter at point of sale, but also can be sold in kit form to be attached, by the user, to an existing lighter.

It should be evident from the description herein that the present invention provides an improved flame diverter which alleviates, if not removes altogether, most, if not all, of the disadvantages associated with the prior art.

For example, it allows the user ready access to any product or substance which needs to be ignited, without danger of that user being burnt by a naked flame it is especially suitable for pipe-smokers, by reason of the capability to vary the direction of the flame relative to the overall container (lighter).

Finally, it is to be understood that the aforegoing description refers merely to preferred embodiments of the invention, and that variations and modifications will be possible thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the ambit of which is to be determined from the following claims.

Claims

1. An improved lighter or the like apparatus, including: a tank or reservoir for flammable fluid; means for directing a controlled flow of said fluid from said tank or reservoir; ignition means for igniting said controlled flow of said fluid whereby to produce a flame; and an assembly allowing for variation in the direction of said flame relative to the overall lighter.

2. The improved lighter according to claim 1, wherein said directing assembly includes: a shroud means adapted to be attachable to an upper portion of said lighter; and a flame directing means pivotably associated with said shroud means.

3. The improved lighter according to claim 2, wherein said shroud means is adapted to be releasably attachable to said upper portion of said lighter.

4. The improved lighter according to claim 3, wherein said flame directing means is in the form of a hollow tubular element, mounted for pivotable movement relative to said shroud means, and adapted to be selectively and progressively movable between respective end positions, a first end position wherein said flame is directed substantially normally to the top of said lighter, and a second end position wherein said flame is directed substantially normally to a side of said lighter.

5. The improved lighter according to claim 4, wherein said tubular element includes an outer shell and an inner sheath associated therewith, said outer shell and inner sheath preferably both being formed from a suitable flame-resistant/heat resistant material.

6. The improved lighter according to claim 5, wherein said material is a metal.

7. The improved lighter according to claim 7, wherein said means for directing a controlled flow of fluid from said tank or reservoir is in the form of a tubular element extending from said tank or reservoir to said ignition means, and including a burner means at a free end thereof.

8. The improved lighter according to claim 7, wherein said tubular element is in flow connection with a nozzle means disposed substantially centrally of said flame diverter means.

9. The improved lighter according to claim 8, wherein said ignition means is of the piezoelectric type, with the flame directing means itself serving to allow for piezoelectric ignition of the flammable fluid exiting the nozzle of said burner means.

10. Apparatus, to be associated with and mounted for pivotable movement relative to a container or reservoir for flammable material, which allows for variation in the direction of flow of a jet of said flammable material exiting said container and being ignited whereby to create a flame.

11. A flame diverter including an elongate body adapted to extend above a flame producing portion of a flame producer wherein the elongate body includes an opening for receiving the thus produced flame, a deflector for deflecting the flame, and an outlet opening for allowing access to the deflected flame.

12. The flame diverter according to claim 11, wherein the elongate body includes an attachment means for removable attachment thereof to a flame producer, such as a cigarette lighter or the like.

13. The flame diverter according to claim 12, wherein said attachment means is integral with said flame producer.

14. The flame diverter according to claim 13, wherein said attachment is by means of a sliding mechanism or a hinge mechanism.

15. The flame diverter according to claim 14, wherein said elongate body is a deflecting strip able to extend above the flame producing portion of the flame producer.

16. The flame diverter according to claim 16, wherein said elongate body is an inverted U-shaped channel having a continuous open bottom such that one end forms an opening for receiving the flame, the internal surface of the inverted U-shaped channel forming a deflector for deflecting the flame towards the other end of the channel allowing access of the thus deflected flame to a candle wick or the like, while protecting the user holding the flame producer from inadvertent burns.

17. The flame diverter according to claim 16, wherein said attachment means extends at an angle to the elongate body so as to give rise to a deflection away from the normal upright position.

18. The flame diverter according to claim 17, wherein said attachment means includes extending from either side of said elongate body and adapted to resiliently attach around said flame producer.

19. The flame diverter according to claim 18, wherein said arms are resilient and said body further includes inwardly facing protuberances able to engage matching indentations on the flame producer.

20. The flame diverter according to claim 19, wherein said attachment means includes a biasing means, preferably in the form of a spring, said spring acting to cause said arms to tightly engage the sides of the flame producer and require compression of said spring to move said arms apart to remove the flame diverter from the flame producer.

21. The flame diverter according to claim 20, wherein said attachment means includes a clamp means to clamp onto or around a portion of said lame producer.

22. The flame diverter according to claim 20, wherein said attachment means include sliding channels allowing said elongate body to be slidably engaged with a flame producer and move into position over the flame producing portion thereof.

23. The flame diverter according to claim 20, wherein said flame producer is a cigarette lighter, gas lighter or the like.