Patent Application
20240384872
The present specification relates generally to devices for lighter case and more specifically a lighter case that is multifunctional providing the user with different uses.
Lighters have been around for years. Individuals have been using different types of devices to smoke tobacco, cannabis and other smokeable materials. These devices are hookahs, bongs, and pipes all of which hold the smokeable material and allow the user to breath in the smoke vapors through the device's neck and mouthpiece. These type of smokeable material require something to start burning or combusting the material which is usually a match or a lighter. Individuals have developed many types of lighters to easily start the burning of the material. The ignitors can be sparkwheel lighters, spark ignition lighter, zippo lighter, butane torch, or an electric coil lighter. These lighters usually use zippo, butane or electric coils to ignite the material which can eventually evaporate reducing the lighters life.
Lighters are usually disposable, small and are easily lost by user. Individuals have developed lighter cases to go around their lighter to make it easier to handle and less likely to lose. These cases are usually have hollow bodies that only hold the main portion of the lighter's body and have a certain shape or specific design using material such as stainless steel, aluminum or leather. Other cases have a main body that holds the lighter and a cap that is placed on top of the main body. These cases are usually not waterproof so when water enters the sparkwheel, the water makes the lighter inoperable. In addition, lighter case today usually have a singular use which is to only encapsulate the lighter.
Lighters are commonly used for various applications, including lighting cigarettes, candles, and campfires. However, they often lack additional utilitarian features that could enhance their functionality. Concurrently, individuals frequently carry multiple tools, such as bottle openers, pokers, and other minor tools used in daily activities. This leads to cluttered keychains, additional burden in pockets, or even the loss of such tools due to their small size.
Traditional lighter cases typically serve the sole purpose of protecting lighters and providing a modest aesthetic appeal. However, the existing art does not adequately integrate various utility tools into a singular, compact, and portable device. As a result, a need exists for a lighter case that can also function as a multifunctional tool, providing convenience and utility beyond merely holding a lighter.
The present invention provides a multifunctional lighter case that can offer convenience and functionality beyond the simple storage of a lighter. The multifunctional lighter case aims to reduce the likelihood of misplacing or losing a lighter by incorporating a tracker within the case. The case is designed to securely hold a standard size disposable lighter, ensuring its availability whenever needed.
The multifunctional lighter case can comprise a housing, a top cap, a tool, a means for securing the top cap, and a bottom cap. The housing can be configured to hold a lighter and can be equipped with a loop or clip for attaching the case to a keychain, belt loop, or other items, enhancing its portability. The housing can also include a bottle opener, adding to its multifunctionality.
The top cap can be moveably coupled to the housing and can be secured in a closed position using a snap or latch mechanism which can ensure the lighter is safely stored and protected when not in use. The housing can also include a seal between the lid and the housing, further enhancing the protection of the lighter.
The tool can be retractably coupled to the housing and can be a poker, scraper, screwdriver, or knife. This tool can be coupled to a push slider which can move the tool between an extended position and a retracted position, providing easy access and safe storage. The bottom cap can be removably coupled to the housing and is configured to house a tracker. This feature significantly reduces the chances of losing the lighter case, as its location can be tracked if misplaced.
The housing, cap, and tool can be made of a durable, heat-resistant material such as metal or plastic, ensuring the longevity of the case and safety of the user. The housing can also comprise a grip over mold, enhancing the user's hold and control over the case. The multifunctional lighter case of the present invention provides a practical and convenient solution for storing a lighter, reducing the chances of loss, and offering additional functionalities that enhance its utility.
Aspects and applications of the invention presented here are described below in the drawings and detailed description of the invention. Unless specifically noted, it is intended that the words and phrases in the specification and the claims be given their plain, ordinary, and accustomed meaning to those of ordinary skill in the applicable arts. The inventors are fully aware that they can be their own lexicographers if desired. The inventors expressly elect, as their own lexicographers, to use only the plain and ordinary meaning of terms in the specification and claims unless they clearly state otherwise and then further, expressly set forth the. Absent such clear statements of intent to apply a “special” definition, it is the inventor's intent and desire that the simple, plain, and ordinary meaning to the terms be applied to the interpretation of the specification and claims.
The inventors are also aware of the normal precepts of English grammar. Thus, if a noun, term, or phrase is intended to be further characterized, specified, or narrowed in some way, then such noun, term, or phrase will expressly include additional adjectives, descriptive terms, or other modifiers in accordance with the normal precepts of English grammar. Absent the use of such adjectives, descriptive terms, or modifiers, it is the intent that such nouns, terms, or phrases be given their plain, and ordinary English meaning to those skilled in the applicable arts as set forth above.
Further, the inventors are fully informed of the standards and application of the special provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112 (f). Thus, the use of the words “function,” “means” or “step” in the Detailed Description or Description of the Drawings or claims is not intended to somehow indicate a desire to invoke the special provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112 (f), to define the invention. To the contrary, if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112 (f) are sought to be invoked to define the inventions, the claims will specifically and expressly state the exact phrases “means for” or “step for” and will also recite the word “function” (i.e., will state “means for performing the function of . . . , without also reciting in such phrases any structure, material or act in support of the function. Thus, even when the claims recite a “means for performing the function of molding a . . . , step for performing the function of molding a . . . ,” if the claims also recite any structure, material or acts in support of that means or step, or that perform the recited function, then it is the clear intention of the inventors not to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112 (f). Moreover, even if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112 (f) are invoked to define the claimed inventions, it is intended that the inventions not be limited only to the specific structure, material or acts that are described in the preferred embodiments, but in addition, include any and all structures, materials or acts that perform the claimed function as described in alternative embodiments or forms of the invention, or that are well known present or later-developed, equivalent structures, material or acts for performing the claimed function.
Additional features and advantages of the present specification will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiment exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present specification will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:
Elements and acts in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and have not necessarily been rendered according to any particular sequence or embodiment.
In the following description, and for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various aspects of the invention. It will be understood, however, by those skilled in the relevant arts, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, known structures and devices are shown or discussed more generally in order to avoid obscuring the invention. In many cases, a description of the operation is sufficient to enable one to implement the various forms of the invention, particularly when the operation is to be implemented in software. It should be noted that there are many different and alternative configurations, devices and technologies to which the disclosed inventions may be applied. The full scope of the inventions is not limited to the examples that are described below.
Referring initially to
The housing 12 can have a first end 15 and a second end 17 wherein the first end can be open to a compartment 13 to hold a lighter 50 as shown in
The second end 17 can have a tracker slot 46 wherein the second end can be configured to accept a bottom cap 30 and an optional spacer 32. The second end 17 can have a tracker slot that is horizontal as shown in
In embodiments, a top cap 14 can be moveably coupled to the housing 12 between an open position and a closed position. The top cap 14 can be moveable coupled to the housing 12 by a hinge wherein a spring 18 can allow the top cap to easily open to its open position and in other embodiments the spring can be omitted. The multifunctional lighter case 10 can further comprise a snap or latch mechanism 20 that can secure the top cap 14 in the closed position. The latch mechanism can be a snap or can have a latch and hook 29 wherein the hook can be such as, for example, a ledge, protrusion, snap, button, or the like, or can be at least two magnets embedded into the top cap and the housing 12 or in other embodiments the top cap 14 can be secured in the closed position by such as, for example, lever catches, hinges latches, pressure fit hinges, magnetic closure, latches, or the like. The top cap 14 or the housing 12 can have a seal 16 wherein the housing can generally be the same shape as the top cap or housing wherein when the top cap is in its closed position the top cap pushes down on the seal compression the seal between the top cap and the housing creating a watertight seal. The seal 16 can be such as, for example, an O-ring, gasket, Neoprene, Rubber, Nitrile, VITON™, Graphite, Cork, SBR, or the like. The top cap 14 can be any suitable shape or size, but in the preferred embodiment the top cap is as shown in
The housing 12 can further comprise tool slot 22 wherein the tool slot can be formed or machined into the housing and can allow a tool 24 to be retractably coupled to the housing 12. The tool 24 can extend out of the housing 12 when needed and can be retracted when not in use. The tool 24 can be such as, for example, telescoping poker tool, knife, scissors, cleaning tool, or the like. The tool 24 can be coupled to a push slider 26 which can protrude through the slider slot 27 and be coupled to the tool. The user can extend and retract the tool 24 with the push slider 26. The push slider 26 can be such as, for example a manual push slider, button, cam slider, magnetic slider, spring-loaded slider, ball bearing slide, or the like. The push slider 26 can be permanently or removably attached to the tool 24.
The housing second end 17 can be coupled to a bottom cap 30. The bottom cap 30 can be removably coupled to the housing 12 wherein the bottom cap can be configured to house a tracker. The bottom cap 30 can be such as, for example, snaped on, screwed on, or the like to the housing allowing the user to easily remove the tracker. The second end 17 can have tracker slot wherein the user can place a tracker into the slot and the bottom cap 30 can fully or partially cover the tracker. The bottom cap 30 can further capture a spacer 32 and second seal 40 allowing the user to put different size trackers in the tracker slot such as, for example, Tile®, Apple® Airtag, or the like. The housing 12, top cap 14, bottom cap 30 and tool 24 can be made of a durable, heat-resistant material, such as metal or plastic. In other embodiments, the bottom cap 30 can be omitted or integrated into the housing 12, as shown in
The multifunctional lighter case 10 is a practical and versatile accessory, designed with a range of features to enhance the user's experience. Its multifunctional design, durable construction, and additional features such as the tracker and tool make it a valuable accessory for any lighter user.
In closing, it is to be understood that although aspects of the present specification are highlighted by referring to specific embodiments, one skilled in the art will readily appreciate that these disclosed embodiments are only illustrative of the principles of the subject matter disclosed herein. Therefore, it should be understood that the disclosed subject matter is in no way limited to a particular methodology, protocol, and/or reagent, etc., described herein. As such, various modifications or changes to or alternative configurations of the disclosed subject matter can be made in accordance with the teachings herein without departing from the spirit of the present specification. Lastly, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, which is defined solely by the claims. Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to those precisely as shown and described.
Certain embodiments are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the methods and devices described herein. Of course, variations on these described embodiments will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. Accordingly, this disclosure includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described embodiments in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the disclosure unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
This application claims the benefit from currently pending U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/467,377 titled “MULTIFUNCTIONAL LIGHTER CASE” and having a filing date of May 18, 2023, and all of which is incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63467377 | May 2023 | US |
