Patent Application
20160076771
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a lighter that is capable of packing smoking substances in a smoking device and, more particularly, to a lighter with a tip portion that may be used to pack smoking substances in a smoking device, where the tip portion is hollow and may be used to store the smoking substances therein.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Humans have smoked various substances for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Tobacco and marijuana are two commonly smoked substances, and there are many more substances that are and historically have been smoked by people. There are various ways to smoke substances, for example by using smoking devices such as pipes, bowls, bongs, etc. Often, the substance to be smoked, i.e., the smoking substance or “smokable”, is packed into a smoking device using a tool, finger, etc., and then lit with a lighter and smoked. It would be useful to have a single device that is capable of packing and lighting the substance to be smoked.
In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a packing lighter that includes an ignite activation portion and a middle portion that stores an ignitable substance. The packing lighter further includes a tip that removably attaches to the middle portion, or a sleeve that removably slides over the middle portion. The tip and the sleeve are a shape and size that is suited to fit into a smoking device to pack a smokable substance into the smoking device.
Additional features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The following discussion of the embodiments of the invention directed to a packing lighter is merely exemplary in nature, and is in no way intended to limit the invention or its applications or uses.
A channel 24 in the middle portion 16 is provided and may be accessed by removing the tip 18. The channel 24 is used to introduce an ignitable substance, such as butane, into the middle portion 16. Removing the tip 18 also allows an inner region 26 of the tip 18 to be accessed. The inner region 26 is hollow and capable of holding items such as smokable substances. Thus, a user of the packing lighter 10 may remove the tip 18, retrieve a desired amount of a smokable substance from the inner region 26, reattach the tip 18, pack the smokable substance into a smoking device using the tip 18 and light the smokable substance using the lighter portion 12 and the ignite activation portion 14.
A cover 22 may be placed at a top region of the tip 18 that connects to the middle portion 16. The cover 22 serves to prevent spilling of a smokable substance stored in the inner region 26 and also protects the smokable substance in the event the butane or ignitable substance leaks from the channel 24. The cover 22 may be made of any suitable material, such as rubber, silicone, latex, etc.
The size of the packing lighter 10 may be any suitable size. The size of the tip 18 may vary, and also may be of any suitable size. For example, the packing lighter 10 may be approximately 3.5 inches in length and approximately 1 inch in diameter. The tip 18 may be, for example, 0.5-1.0 inches long and 0.75 inches in diameter. The shape of the packing lighter and tip may be any suitable shape, for example, cylindrical. The middle portion 16 and the tip 18 may be the same shape or may be different shapes. The material of the middle portion 16 and lighter portion 12 may be any suitable material, for example, plastic or metal. The middle portion 16 and/or the tip 18 may be smooth or textured.
The sensor 62 serves to detect a leak of the ignitable substance, should a leak from the middle portion 16 occur. For example, if the ignitable substance is leaking from the fill hole 74 the sensor will detect the leak and the alarm 68 will indicate that a leak has been detected. The sensor 62 serves to protect the contents of the tip 18 from contamination that may occur as a result of a leak of the ignitable substance from the middle portion 16. The removable cap 72 may also protect the contents stored in the tip 18 as well as hold the sensor 62 in place.
The foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplary embodiments of the present invention. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion and from the accompanying drawings and claims that various changes, modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.
