US20180184708A1

US20180184708A1 - Multifunctional lighter device

Info

Publication number: US20180184708A1
Application number: US15/853,819
Authority: US
Inventors: Bahathi M. Ntuli
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-12-29
Filing date: 2017-12-24
Publication date: 2018-07-05

Abstract

A multifunctional lighter device that dispense and light a cigarette simultaneously with the click of a push-button is disclosed. The multifunctional lighter device comprises a substantially rectangular casing with sidewalls to define an enclosed space for placing cigarettes in a stacked configuration in a storage compartment disposed along the length of the casing. A lighter unit is adaptively placed in a predefined position inside the casing and a push-button disposed on the sidewall of the casing is configured to activate the ejection of the cigarette via a first opening and the lighter unit via a second opening from an upper surface of the casing simultaneously using a spring mechanism. A block support is disposed near the second opening to generate the flame simultaneously to light the ejected cigarette from the first opening of the casing for smoking.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Technical Field

The invention disclosed herein generally relates to an all-in-one lighter or multifunctional lighter device. The invention is specifically related to a compact casing to house or store cigarette and a built-in lighter providing combined convenience for a user.

B. Description of Related Art

Tobacco leaves were discovered a long back about two thousand years ago predominantly in the America. Today, the tobacco industry worldwide is valued at $38 billion and its rising sharply because of its usage. It is also learnt that there are currently 40 million smokers in the United States alone. With the growing popularity of rolled cigarettes beginning in the early 1800s, manufacturers started packaging them in either cardboard or paper. However, the packaging has not changed much since the first cigarettes were made available commercially. The butane lighter debuted in the 1940s, which has been made exclusively for cigarette smoking, but they are comparatively bulkier.
Currently, a user carries a package of cigarettes with them, and light them via a matchbox or a lighter. Users generally juggles the cigarette and the lighter for usage, and they must store these two separately in their pockets or other storage means. The user struggles a lot to keep their cigarettes and lighter in the same place at the same time. Further, too many objects in the pocket might crush the cigarettes which causes frustration. In the lighting process, the user may drop the lighted cigarette while exchanging the cigarette and the lighted device, it can hurt them so badly and therefore it would be an adventurous task to carry out. Nowadays, in this busy lifestyle, the user might forget to take the lighter or the matchbox causing lot of frustration. Then, the user must look around to get some match sticks or any other lighter to ignite the cigarette. Another common issue is the lighters are smaller in size and lightweight and due to which in some cases, the user might misplace the lighter or the cigarette holder and sometimes that might be even lost.
Many smokers have experienced crushed packages of cigarettes from traditional cigarette packaging. Further, the cigarettes in traditional storage cases are not protected from becoming stale or being damaged. Some of the lighters does not provide any locking system to prevent the accidental ignition of the lighter which might cause burns to hand or other parts.
Many attempts were made to provide lighters that are compact in configuration and easy to use. However, as explained above, the user faces lot of inconvenience and eventually get frustrated. Some of the attempts were targeted at providing a combinational cigarette and lighter kit. However, the limitations of the such devices are complex and bulkier design, complex activation mechanism, expensive, cigarette crushing, accidental release protection and few more.
Hence, there is a long felt but unresolved need for a multifunctional lighter device wherein the user can conveniently utilize the stacked cigarettes and the lighter device simultaneously for smoking purpose.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further disclosed in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
The multifunctional lighter device, disclosed herein, addresses the above-mentioned need for an all-in-one device to dispense and light a cigarette simultaneously with the click of a push-button. The multifunctional lighter device comprises a substantially rectangular casing comprising one or more sidewalls to define an enclosed space, wherein a plurality of cigarettes is placed in a stacked configuration in a storage compartment disposed along the length of the casing. A lighter unit is adaptively placed in a predefined position inside the casing, wherein the lighter unit comprises a reservoir and an ignition unit for producing flame. A push-button disposed on the sidewall of the casing is configured to activate the ejection of the cigarette via a first opening and the lighter unit via a second opening from an upper surface of the casing simultaneously using a spring mechanism.
In other embodiments, a block support is disposed near the second opening configured to drive a wheel in the ignition unit during the ejection of the lighter from the second opening, thereby generating the flame simultaneously to light the ejected cigarette from the first opening of the casing for smoking. An end plate attached to the lighter unit is configured to extend in sequence with the cigarette in the casing wherein a lever is disposed to switch off the flame from the lighter unit. In additional embodiments, a safety valve is configured in the lighter unit to block the butane inside the reservoir until the push-button is activated again for dispensing the cigarette and the lighter unit for smoking.
In another embodiment, the multifunctional lighter device comprises a gripping unit configured to grasp the cigarette in the dispensing channel. The gripping unit comprises a pair of hinged arms to adaptively receive and support the cigarette in the dispensing channel. A tapered block is configured to allow the movable gripping unit to drive the release of the cigarette from the dispensing channel when the push-button is activated.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and the specific examples, while indicating specific embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, exemplary constructions of the invention are shown in the drawings. However, the invention is not limited to the specific methods and structures disclosed herein. The description of a method step or a structure referenced by a numeral in a drawing is applicable to the description of that method step or structure shown by that same numeral in any subsequent drawing herein.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a multifunctional lighter device, incorporating the aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the multifunctional lighter device with a cigarette and a lighter unit in a collapsed position inside the device.

FIG. 3 shows an end view of the multifunctional lighter device, incorporating the aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows the end view of the multifunctional lighter device with cigarettes in a stacked configuration, incorporating the aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows the front view of the multifunctional lighter device with the cigarette and the lighter unit in an extended position from the device.

FIG. 6 shows a top view of a spring mechanism of the multifunctional lighter device, incorporating the aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 7A shows the end view of a gripping unit of the multifunctional lighter device in open position.

FIG. 7B shows the side view of the gripping unit of the multifunctional lighter device in open position.

FIG. 8A shows the end view of the gripping unit of the multifunctional lighter device in closed position.

FIG. 8B shows the side view of the gripping unit of the multifunctional lighter device in closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

A description of embodiments of the present invention will now be given with reference to the Figures. It is expected that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive.
Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a perspective and front view of a multifunctional lighter device 100 is disclosed. The multifunctional lighter device 100 is an all-in-one device comprises a substantially rectangular casing 102 with one or more sidewalls 104 to define an enclosed space, wherein a plurality of cigarettes 106 is placed in a stacked configuration in a storage compartment 130 disposed along the length of the casing 102. A lighter unit 108 is adaptively placed in a predefined position inside the casing 102, wherein the lighter unit 102 comprises a reservoir 110 and an ignition unit 112 for producing flame. A push-button 114 disposed on the sidewall 104 of the casing 102 is configured to activate the ejection of the cigarette 106 via a first opening 116 and the lighter unit 108 via a second opening (not shown) from an upper surface 120 of the casing 102 simultaneously using a spring mechanism 122 as shown in FIG. 2. The push button 114 is configured to disposed on any one of the sidewall 104 to enhance the convenience and comfort of the user.
In one embodiment as shown in FIG. 2, the multifunctional lighter device 100 comprises a block support 124 is disposed near the second opening (not shown) configured to drive a wheel 126 in the ignition unit 112 during the ejection of the lighter unit 108 from the second opening (not shown), thereby generating the flame simultaneously to light the ejected cigarette 106 from the first opening 116 of the casing 102 for smoking as shown in FIG. 3. This configuration of the multifunctional lighter device 100 allows the user to conveniently utilize the stacked cigarettes 106 and the lighter unit 108 simultaneously for smoking with the click of the push-button 114 in the casing 102 of the device 100. The lighter unit 108 is a replaceable butane lighter that projects the flame upward along the upper surface 120 of the casing 102, igniting the tobacco in the ejected cigarette 106 and holding it for the user to safely remove after the lighter unit 108 is restored back into the casing 102.
In another embodiment as shown in FIG. 2, the multifunctional lighter device 100 comprises a safety valve 156 that is engaged when the push-button 114 is depressed and remains locked until the next use. The safety valve 156 is configured to block the butane inside the reservoir 110 until the push-button 114 is activated again for dispensing the cigarette 106 and the lighter unit 108. Therefore, the butane in the lighter unit 108 does not volatilize in the pocket or purse and is only released when required to light the cigarette 106. FIG. 2 illustrates a multifunctional lighter device 100 with the cigarettes 106 and the lighter unit 108 in a collapsed position inside the device 100. The spring mechanism 122 is configured to move the cigarette 106 to a dispensing channel 134 and eject the cigarette 106 via the first opening 116 in the upper surface 120 of the casing 102 and eject the lighter unit 108 via the second opening (not shown) in the upper surface 120 of the casing 102. With the click of the push-button 114 in the casing 102, the spring mechanism 122 dispenses one cigarette 106 at a time and simultaneously triggering the lighter unit 108. All the components such as the cigarette stack, the spring mechanism 122, the push-button 114 and the lighter unit 108 are integrated inside the casing 102 and therefore the device 100 acts as an all-in-one unit enabling a user for multi-tasking with higher degree of convenience as shown in FIG. 4.
Referring to FIG. 5, the multifunctional lighter device 100 with the cigarette 106 and the lighter unit 108 in a fully extended position, is illustrated. In preferred embodiment, the multifunctional lighter device 100 comprises at least twenty cigarettes 106 configured in the stacked configuration in the compartment 130 and positioned inside the casing 102 wherein the cigarette 106 is pushed down gently with help of the push-button 114 via a cigarette push member to dispense and keep one cigarette 106 in the dispensing channel 134 like that of an ammunition clip. The spring mechanism 122 compresses the cigarette 106 gently without damaging them. Simultaneously, the spring mechanism 122 pushes the lighter unit 108 to get ejected from the casing 102. During the ejection of the lighter unit 108, the block support 124 disposed near the second opening (not shown) drives the wheel 126 in the ignition unit 112 to generate the flame to light the ejected cigarette 106.
In a different embodiment as shown in FIG. 3, an end view of the multifunctional lighter device 100 is disclosed. The multifunctional lighter device 100 comprises a lid 128 slidably attached to the upper surface 120 of the casing 102. The lid 128 is slidably removed from the upper surface 120 of the casing 102 to load the cigarettes 106 in the storage compartment 130 inside the casing 102. The cigarettes 106 are loaded in a V-shaped array in the stacked configuration based on the gravitational force without disturbing the position of the cigarettes 106 inside the storage compartment 130. The lid 128 allows the user to easily refill the cigarettes 106 when the compartment 130 gets emptied. The cigarettes 106 are stored in a stainless steel ‘V’ shaped array that uses gravity to guide the paper wrapped tobacco cylinders into the dispensing channel 134 as shown in FIG. 4. The surfaces of the sliding lid 128 on the casing 102 is made air-tight so that the tobacco will not become stale after a certain period. Also, the end of the cigarette 106 to be dispensed blocks off some of the air coming through the first opening 116 on the casing 102 of the device 100.
Referring to FIG. 6, the spring mechanism 122 in the casing 102 of the device 100 is illustrated. The activation of the push-button 114 is configured to release a latch member 132 to drive the spring mechanism 122. A pair of molded plastic arms 138 is connected to the push-button and when depressed, pushes the capture slot away, releasing the deployment spring member 144 in the spring mechanism 122. Further, the plastic stabilizing block 146 is adhesively bonded to the interior surface of the casing 102. The stainless-steel pivot bracket 148 is spot welded to the interior surface of the casing 102 and the spring mechanism 122 pushes the latch member 132 back into position to capture the lighter unit 108 and a gripping unit 136 as shown in FIG. 2.
Referring to FIG. 7A, the gripping unit 136 of the multifunctional lighter device 100 in open position is illustrated. The gripping unit 136 configured to grasp the cigarette 106 in the dispensing channel 134. The gripping unit 136 of the device 100 rides upon the top of the lighter unit 108 as shown in FIG. 2 and allows one cigarette 106 to fall into the dispensing channel 134 at a time. The gripping unit 136 comprises a pair of hinged arms 138 to adaptively receive and support the cigarette 106 in the dispensing channel 134. In a different embodiment, one of the arm 138 is fixed and other is hinged to allow the gripping unit 136 to open when fully retracted or fully extended. Further, the edges of the arm 138 are smoothed, and the gripping unit 136 is wide enough to grasp the cigarette 106 without tearing the paper as shown in FIG. 7B. The plastic stabilizing block 146 is tapered on each end to operate the gripping unit 136 properly.
FIG. 8A illustrates the gripping unit 136 of the multifunctional lighter device 100 in closed position. Further, a small tab 150 is provided to prevent the movable gripper arm 138 from opening too far and jamming the extending mechanism. A tapered block 140 is configured to allow the movable gripping unit 136 to drive the release of the cigarette 106 from the dispensing channel 134 when the push-button 114 is activated as shown in FIG. 5. The gripper arm 138 is closed and then released as it passes by the closing block bonded to the interior surface of the casing 102 and the tapered block 140 on each end to operate the gripping unit 136 properly as shown in FIG. 8B. The stainless-steel material of these components does not corrode or rust, preventing contamination of the cigarette 106. The gripping unit 136 is configured to ride upon the top of the carrier of the replaceable lighter unit 108 to allow one cigarette 106 to get dispensed into the dispensing channel 134 grasped by the hinged arms 138.
In another embodiment as shown in FIG. 4, the lighter unit 108 in the device 100 comprises an end plate 152 configured to extend in sequence with the cigarette 106 in the casing 102. A lever 154 is disposed in the end plate 152 configured to switch off the flame from the lighter unit 108. Once the cigarette 106 is lighted and removed, the lever 154 is operated to put off the flame and the user pushes the end plate 152 with the lighter unit 108 in a downward direction to reset the push-button 114 and the spring mechanism 122 in the casing 102. The downward movement of the lighter unit 108 to a predefined position inside the second opening (not shown) in the casing 102 is configured to guide the cigarette 106 from V-shaped array the into the dispensing channel 134.
In another embodiment as shown in FIG. 5, the gripping unit 136 uses the tapered block 140 for the moveable gripper arm 138 to ride upon and gently close, index and reopen to release the paper wrapped tobacco cylinders and a button arm releases the spring-loaded latch member 132 and allows the deployment spring member 144 to push the cigarette 106 and the lighter unit 108 out. Once the lighter unit 108 is extended, the wheel 126 strikes the block support 124, which in turn rotates the wheel 126 on the flint to create a spark to ignite the butane gas stored in the reservoir 110. The casing 102 of the device 100 is made from materials such as a nickel, a rose gold and a chrome for a metal finished product. This rugged metal casing 102 is configured to house a plurality of different sizes of cigarettes 106 as well as the integrated lighter unit 108 to dispense and light one cigarette 106 simultaneously. However, various materials, including but not limited to wood, plastic, rigid rubber, or any other acceptable material could be used for making the casing 102 of the device 100. The casing 102 is fabricated in two separate sections as modular configuration that fits together, and secured with compression surfaces and stainless-steel fasteners. In alternate embodiments, the interior surface of the device 100 is coated with moisture resistant materials to protect the cigarettes 106 from becoming stale or being damaged.
In additional embodiments as shown in FIG. 5, a method of using the multifunctional lighter device 100 is disclosed. Once the compartment 130 in the casing 102 is filled with the cigarettes 106 and when the user clicks the push-button 114, the gripping unit 136 gently grasps one cigarette 106 in the dispensing channel 134 and advances it through the first opening 116 in the upper surface 120 and then releases it so that the user can withdraw it from the casing 102 after lighting. The push-button 114 releases the latch member 132 to enable the deployment spring member 144 to advance the cigarette 106 and the lighter unit 108 simultaneously. Once the cigarette 106 is lit, lighter unit 108 is shut off and returned to its stored position via the reset end plate 152 and then the spring-loaded latch member 132 secures the assembly until the user click the push-button 114 in the casing 102 again for smoking.
In another embodiment as shown in FIG. 3, a method of manufacturing the components of the multifunctional lighter device 100 is disclosed. The casing 102 is made from a metallic material preferably from 20-gauge (0.030″ thick) cold rolled steel sheet which is supplied in rolls cut to width and is shaped using a flywheel press and special dies so that it has long durable life. Various steel, brass, and aluminum components are fabricated using the same process. All the components are vibrationally deburred, any sub-assembly (like spot welding, etc.) steps are performed, and then the device 100 is subjected to the plating step. In this step, gold, silver, copper, nickel, chrome, or any brushed finish could be applied. The internal metal components are manufactured from brass and stainless-steel sheet. These components are also made using the same flywheel press and specialty die process. The resilient members like the spring is commercially available and are fabricated to meet the design requirements.
All the plastic components are injection molded from polypropylene plastic, which are very durable, highly resistant to household and industrial chemicals, high lubricity, and typically used in this type of application. The plastic components can be adhesively bonded to the interior surfaces of the casing 102 and possess good lubricity, so it can be used as bearings to support carriers, press on gripping unit 136 to mechanically operate them, or become operating elements. The replaceable butane lighter unit 108 is commercially available, and fabricated to meet the side projecting flame requirements of the device 100. It is provided with a steel striking mechanism and a flint. The striking mechanism by the block support 124 is designed to last longer than the gas inside the plastic container. The empty lighter is easy to remove and recycle and therefore the replacement lighter 108 just slides into the carrier and is simple to remove and install. The capacity of lighter unit 108 is such that, which could be able to ignite thousands of cigarettes 106 before replacement is required.
The preferred embodiments of the present invention as shown in FIG. 1 disclose the multifunctional lighter device 100 to be used as the all-in-one lighter unit designed to be aesthetic and effective in its application. The fabrication of the device 100 is simple, and the reasonably priced components used in this device 100 provides good marketability for the manufacturer. As the device 100 dispenses and lights one cigarette 106 at the touch of the push-button 114, the user can enjoy higher degree of convenience and comfort while smoking. The device 100 is portable and eliminates the need for other lighting methods such as match sticks or other lighting techniques. The cigarette 106 from the casing 102 is lit at the at the same moment when the device 100 dispenses it, making it ready for the user to enjoy conveniently. The casing 102 of the device 100 is very strong to hold the cigarette stack and inside of the device 100 is preferably made from moisture resistant materials to protect the cigarettes 106 from getting wasted.
Further, the decorative metallic casing 102 employs a specially designed, replaceable butane lighter and can be reloaded with cigarettes 106 any number of times for extended use. The multifunctional lighter device 100 eliminates the need for multiple lighters and it is very compact to fit easily inside a purse or a pocket. Further, it completely reduces the chance of burns from lighting the cigarette 106 by hand, and the safety valve 156 prevents the accidental dispensary and lighting of the butane gas. The device 100 could also be made as childproof device and made in a variety of shapes such as a heart, circle, bullet shape, and so on to improve the aesthetic appearance of the device 100.
Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. It should be understood that the illustrated embodiments are exemplary only, and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention.
The foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the multifunctional lighter device 100, disclosed herein. While the multifunctional lighter device 100 has been described with reference to various embodiments, it is understood that the words, which have been used herein, are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Further, although the multifunctional lighter device 100 has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials, and embodiments, the multifunctional lighter device 100 is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the multifunctional lighter device 100 extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the invention. Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A multifunctional lighter device, comprising:

a substantially rectangular casing comprising one or more sidewalls to define an enclosed space, wherein a plurality of cigarettes is placed in a stacked configuration in a storage compartment disposed along the length of the casing;

a lighter unit is adaptively placed in a predefined position inside the casing, wherein the lighter unit comprises a reservoir and an ignition unit for producing flame;

a push-button disposed on the sidewall of the casing is configured to activate the ejection of the cigarette via a first opening and the lighter unit via a second opening from an upper surface of the casing simultaneously using a spring mechanism, and

a block support is disposed near the second opening configured to drive a wheel in the ignition unit during the ejection of the lighter from the second opening, thereby generating the flame simultaneously to light the ejected cigarette from the first opening of the casing for smoking.

2. The multifunctional lighter device of claim 1, further comprising a lid slidably attached to the upper surface of the casing.

3. The multifunctional lighter device of claim 2, wherein the lid is slidably removed from the upper surface of the casing to load the cigarettes in the storage compartment inside the casing.

4. The multifunctional lighter device of claim 3, wherein the cigarettes are loaded in a V-shaped array in the stacked configuration based on the gravitational force without disturbing the position of the cigarettes inside the storage compartment.

5. The multifunctional lighter device of claim 1, wherein the activation of the push-button is configured to release a latch member to drive the spring mechanism.

6. The multifunctional lighter device of claim 1, wherein the spring mechanism is configured to move the cigarette to a dispensing channel and eject the cigarette via the first opening in the upper surface of the casing.

7. The multifunctional lighter device of claim 1, wherein the spring mechanism is configured to move and eject the lighter unit via the second opening in the upper surface of the casing.

8. The multifunctional lighter device of claim 1, further comprising a gripping unit configured to grasp the cigarette in the dispensing channel.

9. The multifunctional lighter device of claim 8, wherein the gripping unit comprises a pair of hinged arms to adaptively receive and support the cigarette in the dispensing channel.

10. The multifunctional lighter device of claim 8, further comprising a tapered block is configured to allow the movable gripping unit to drive the release of the cigarette from the dispensing channel when the push-button is activated.

11. The multifunctional lighter device of claim 1, further comprising an end plate attached to the lighter unit is configured to extend in sequence with the cigarette in the casing.

12. The multifunctional lighter device of claim 11, further comprising a lever is disposed in the end plate configured to switch off the flame from the lighter unit.

13. The multifunctional lighter device of claim 11, wherein the lighter unit with the end plate is driven in a downward direction to reset the push-button and the spring mechanism in the casing.

14. The multifunctional lighter device of claim 13, wherein the downward movement of the lighter unit to a predefined position inside the second opening in the casing is configured to guide the cigarette from V-shaped array the into the dispensing channel.

15. The multifunctional lighter device of claim 1, wherein the lighter unit is replaceable and configured to carry butane fuel in the reservoir.

16. The multifunctional lighter device of claim 1, wherein the lighter unit further comprises a safety valve to block the butane inside the reservoir until the push-button is activated again for dispensing the cigarette and the lighter unit.