EP0922397A1

EP0922397A1 - Cigarette-lighter

Info

Publication number: EP0922397A1
Application number: EP97830658A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Germano Raso
Original assignee: Ferrigno Giuseppe; Perin Cristiano
Current assignee: Ferrigno Giuseppe; Perin Cristiano
Priority date: 1997-12-11
Filing date: 1997-12-11
Publication date: 1999-06-16

Abstract

A lighter (1) for cigarette smokers, characterized in that there is provided a means for removably fastening the lighter (1) to a packet of cigarettes (3).

Said removable fastening means includes a clip (2) which can be applied to one of the slots of packet (3) to which the lighter (1) has to be secured.

As an alternative said fastening means includes a clip (2a) provided with a safety (12) which can engage the free end of said clip (2a), the latter being able to be applied to one of the slots of packet (3).

In a further embodiment said removable fastening means includes suitable adhesive means formed of at least one adhesive strip (2b) integral with lighter (1) and capable of sticking to packet (3).

One or more intermediate members or plates (8), each equipped with an adhesive strip (2c) may also be provided.

Description

The present invention relates to a lighter particularly suitable for cigarette smokers.
A number of lighters with several shapes and sizes for cigarette smokers, particularly lighters with elongated shapes having a generally elliptical or rectangular cross-section, are known. A drawback of the presently known lighters for cigarette smokers is that they are easily lost due to their small size.
Moreover, they can hardly be found within the handbag containing a plurality of objects.
The ease with which lighters are lost is further promoted by the fact that smokers often use the lighters by usual, automatic gestures, i.e. without paying particular attention to the lighter itself.
Still the lighter may be cumbersome and bother if kept in the smokers' pockets.
To solve such problems many smokers are used to keeping the lighter in the packet of cigarettes when this is partially empty. It is self-evident that such a solution is limited by the fact that the packet of cigarettes may be used as a lighter holder only when the number of cigarettes in the packet is small enough, typically about half the initial content.
Another problem of the solution mentioned above is the need to take the lighter out of the packet of cigarettes and to put it back thereinto after its use.
Such apparently easy, ordinary actions of taking out and putting back in may be rather troublesome to those who are engaged in other operations (e.g. holding the a telephone handset) or have lost the use of one hand.
A lighter case which can be secured to a packet of cigarettes so as to receive the lighter keeping it close thereto is also known. Such a case, however, has the drawback of generally matching the outer shape of the lighter which is kept therein with the result that the overall dimensions are in any case very large and detrimentally affect those of the packet. Moreover, in most cases it is necessary to take the lighter out of the case for it to be used so that it may be left somewhere and lost.
A first object of the invention is to provide a lighter equipped with means for securing it to a packet of cigarettes and with such a size as not to change the overall dimensions of the packet to which it is applied.
A second object of the invention is to provide a lighter which can be used with no removal from the packet of cigarettes.
Such objects are accomplished by providing a lighter for cigarette smokers which is equipped with means for securing it to a small side of the packet of cigarettes, thus allowing it to be operated in situ.
According to the several embodiments herein shown such means allows the lighter to be permanently or removably secured to the packet.
A better understanding of the invention will be gained from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings which show by way of a not limiting example some preferred embodiments of the invention.
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the lighter of the invention;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the lighter of the invention;
Fig. 2A is an enlarged view of a detail of Fig. 2;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the lighter of the invention;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the lighter of Fig. 3 provided with removable parts;
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a removable part of the lighter of Fig. 3;
Fig. 6 is a different perspective view of the lighter of Fig. 3;
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a detail of the lighter of Fig. 3;
Fig. 8 shows an enlarged detail of the lighter of Fig. 3;
Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a lighter secured to the top of a packet of cigarettes according to the invention;
Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a lighter according to the invention which is secured to the bottom of a packet of cigarettes which may be of the hard or soft-box type; and
Fig. 11 shows a perspective view of the invention with some advertisement space or alikes.
With reference to the accompanying drawings according to the invention there is provided a lighter 1 which is equipped with fastening means capable of combining the lighter 1 with a packet of cigarettes 3 in a removable manner.
In a first preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 1 such fastening means is formed of an elastic longitudinal member consisting of a plate secured on the longer side of one small face of the lighter so as to form a clip means 2. Such clip means 2 allows lighter 1 to be combined with packet 3 in a removable manner so as to make it possible to move the lighter from an empty to a full packet of cigarettes 3.
Particularly said clip 2 can be applied, for example, to one of the slots on either of the small bases of the packet of cigarettes.
A possible alternative to said embodiment, shown in Figs. 2-2A, provides a clip 2a with a safety 12 capable of avoiding any accidental removal of lighter 1 from packet 3. In such a second embodiment, clip 2a is very thin, thus advantageously reducing the overall dimensions of the lighter.
According to a third embodiment shown in Figs. 3-8 said means for fastening the lighter to the packet of cigarettes includes a suitable adhesive means preferably formed of an adhesive strip 2b joining lighter 1 with packet 3.
Advantageously one or more intermediate members or plates 8, each with an adhesive strip 2c may be also provided. Each such member 8 can be permanently secured to the packet of cigarettes 3 and removably joined with lighter 1. In the preferred embodiment described, such intermediate plates 8 are secured to the lighter by means of end lugs 9 capable of being fitted into suitable housings 10 formed in lighter 1.
Once the packet is empty, such intermediate removable member 8 allows lighter 1 to be removed from said member 8 which is attached to the empty packet and to be joined with a full packet of cigarettes 3 by a further intermediate member or plate 8 provided with an adhesive strip 2c directly applied to one large side of lighter 1.
In the preferred embodiment of such third alternative engaging means 9 and 10 are shaped in such a way to define a locking/unlocking direction parallel to the contact surface with packet 3.
Thus, by shifting the lighter keeping it parallel to the contact surface with packet 3, adhesive plate 8 detaches from lighter 1.
In order to correctly fit the lighter onto the packet of cigarettes 3, lighter 1 is provided with a pair of rigid centring tabs 11. Housings 10 for engaging lugs 9 are formed in tabs 11. The width of such tabs 11 is proportional to the number and thickness of fastening members 8 which can be used one after the other.
As already mentioned the bottom of lighter 1 has a further adhesive strip 2b which allows lighter 1 to be also used after all of the intermediate members 8 have been used up.
A further embodiment of the invention which is not shown provides a pair of elastic tabs as removable means for securing the lighter to the packet and forming a gap capable of receiving and engaging a portion of the packet of cigarettes 3.
It should be appreciated that whatever embodiment is employed, it is not necessary to detach lighter 1 from packet of cigarettes 3 to light a cigarette. As it can be seen from the figures, the invention allows the flame to develop directly from the large side which is opposite to the contact surface with the packet. Of course such an embodiment is not limiting.
Advantageously, since the lighter according to the present invention has very small overall dimensions, a lighter provided with a clip which is like a money holder may also be used. Thus, the lighter is always at easy reach and will certainly be put back into the pocket after use because of the nature of the objects to which it is attached.
A further advantage of the invention is given by the possibility to occupy a surface of lighter 1 with advertisements or customized space (name, stars, etc.). As it can be best seen in Fig. 11, a surface 13 which may be used for the above-mentioned purposes is provided in the central zone of the surface of lighter 1 which is opposite to packet 3.
The present invention has been described and illustrated according to some preferred embodiments thereof, however, it should be understood that those skilled in the art can make modifications and/or equivalent replacements without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

A lighter (1) for cigarette smokers, characterized in that there is provided a means for removably fastening the lighter (1) to a packet of cigarettes (3) or the like.
The lighter of claim 1, characterized in that said removable fastening means includes a clip (2) which can be applied to one of the slots of packet (3) to which lighter (1) has to be secured.
The lighter of claim 1, characterized in that said fastening means includes a clip (2a) provided with a safety (12) which can engage the free end of said clip (2a), the latter being able to be applied to one of the slots of packet (3).
The lighter of claim 1, characterized in that said removable fastening means includes suitable adhesive means formed of at least one adhesive strip (2b) integral with lighter (1) and capable of sticking to packet (3).
The lighter of claim 4, characterized in that there are provided one or more intermediate members or plates (8) each provided with an adhesive strip (2c).
The lighter of claim 5, characterized in that the intermediate members (8) are capable of being permanently fastened only to one packet of cigarettes (3) one after the other.
The lighter of claims 5 and 6, characterized in that said intermediate plates (8) are secured to lighter (1) by means of end lugs (9) capable of engaging suitable housings (10), said housings (10) fitting said lugs (9) and being located inside the body of lighter (1).
The lighter of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that said housings (10) are located inside tabs (11) for centring lighter (1) with respect to packet (3).
The lighter of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that when the packet (3) is empty, the lighter can be detached from the intermediate member (8) which is sticking to the empty packet (3) and attached to a full packet by means of the adhesive strip (2c) which is sticking to the next intermediate member or plate (8).
The lighter of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that the engaging members (9, 10) are so formed as to define a locking/unlocking direction parallel to the contact surface with packet (3).
The lighter of claim 10, characterized in that the engaging members (9, 10) are such that the adhesive plate (8) which is sticking on packet (3) is detached from lighter (1) by shifting said lighter (1) keeping it parallel to the contact surface with packet 3.
The lighter of claims 5 to 11, characterized in that the width of tabs (11) is proportional to the number and thickness of the fastening members (8) which can be used one after the other.
The lighter of claims 5 to 12, characterized in that the surface of the lighter (1) adjacent to the intermediate members (8) has a further adhesive strip (2b) which allows the lighter (1) itself to be used after all of the intermediate members (8) have been used up.
The lighter of claim 1, characterized in that there are provided a pair of elastic tabs as removable means for securing the lighter to the packet and forming a gap capable of receiving and engaging a portion of the packet of cigarettes (3).
The lighter of claim 2, characterized in that said clip (2) can be used as a money holder.
The lighter of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the flame develops directly from the large side which is opposite to the contact surface with the packet so that it is not necessary to detach the lighter from the packet of cigarettes (3) in order to light a cigarette.
The lighter of the preceding claims, characterized in that a surface (13) of lighter (1) which may be occupied by advertisement or customized space (name, stars, etc.) is provided in the central zone of the surface of lighter (1) which is opposite to packet (3).