Combination cigarette lighter and casing for a motorcycle

Abstract

A combination cigarette lighter and a casing in which the cigarette lighter is carried to be attached to the existing framework of a motorcycle without requiring any structural changes thereto. The casing is located on the motorcycle within easy reach so that riders may conveniently light their cigarettes while on the go away from home. An end cap is pivotally connected to the casing and rotated between a closed configuration at which to cover the cigarette lighter and an open configuration at which the cigarette lighter is removed from or returned to the casing. A ball and detent locking feature is provided by which to retain the end cap in either of the closed or open configurations relative to the casing so as to prevent the end cap from flapping back and forth and possibly disturbing the operator of the motorcycle.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Intention

[0002] This invention relates to a cigarette lighter and to an attractive casing therefor which is adapted to be connected to a motorcycle at a readily accessible location without having to make any structural changes to the motorcycle.

[0003] 2. Background Art

[0004] Motorcycle operators and their passengers may wish to light a cigarette or the like while on the road and away from home. Sometimes, the riders may not have access to either a book of matches or a pocket cigarette lighter. On other occasions, windy or rainy weather conditions may make it difficult to light one's cigarette. While automobiles and trucks are provided with the convenience of an on-board cigarette lighter, motorcycles have not been provided with a similar convenience. In this same regard, and unlike an automobile or a truck, no means are known to enable a cigarette lighter to be carried by a motorcycle so as to be readily available to riders without first requiring structural changes to the motorcycle. Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a cigarette lighter and an attractive, easy to access casing therefor by which to give motorcycle riders the same convenience that has heretofore been afforded to those riding in a car or a truck.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In general terms, a combination cigarette lighter and a casing therefor are disclosed having particular application to be carried by a motorcycle so as to enable riders to conveniently light their cigarettes while on the go away from home. The cigarette lighter casing includes a hollow housing in which the cigarette lighter is located, a center ring connected to the housing, and an end cap pivotally connected to the center ring so as to be adapted to rotate between a closed condition at which to cover the cigarette lighter and an open condition at which the cigarette lighter can be removed from or returned to the housing. A tubular socket is positioned inside the hollow housing, and the cigarette lighter is removably received within the socket. An electrical wire runs through a hole formed in the housing from the battery of the motorcycle to an electrical contact on the socket in order to energize the heating element for the purpose of lighting the rider's cigarette. A Y-shaped mounting bracket is connected to the casing. The mounting bracket has a pair of outstretched arms that are affixed to the existing framework of the motorcycle from which the controls are supported. Thus, the cigarette lighter casing can be mounted on the motorcycle at a readily accessible location without having to make any structural changes thereto.

[0006] The end cap of the cigarette lighter casing is pivotally connected to the center ring thereof by means of a pivot pin that extends through a hinge extension of the end cap. The hinge extension includes a pair of detents formed in the bottom and one side thereof. A coil spring is located in an axial bore formed in the center ring, and a small ball is seated on top of the spring above the bore. With the end cap rotated to the closed condition, the spring located within the bore will urge to the ball into receipt by the detent formed in the bottom of the hinge extension. When the end cap is rotated to the open condition, the spring will then urge the ball into receipt by the detent formed in the side of the hinge extension. By virtue of the interaction of the ball and the detents formed in the hinge extension of the end cap, the end cap can be reliably locked in each of the closed and open conditions to avoid flapping back and forth with the possibility of disturbing or distracting the operator of the motorcycle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 shows the cigarette lighter casing which forms the present invention affixed to the existing framework of a motorcycle;

[0008] FIG. 2 shows the cigarette lighter which also forms the present invention being removed form the casing of FIG. 1;

[0009] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the combination cigarette lighter casing and cigarette lighter of this invention;

[0010] FIG. 4 is a partial cross-section showing the cigarette lighter casing and the cigarette lighter removably received therewithin;

[0011] FIG. 5 is a partial rear view of the cigarette lighter casing taken from the direction of lines 5-5 of FIG. 4;

[0012] FIG. 6 is a partial cross section showing an end cap of the cigarette lighter casing rotated to a closed configuration over the cigarette lighter; and

[0013] FIG. 7 shows the end cap of FIG. 6 rotated to an open configuration so as to permit the cigarette lighter to be removed from the cigarette lighter casing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] The motorcycle cigarette lighter that forms the present invention is initially described while referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, where FIG. 1 shows a hollow casing 1 for the cigarette lighter 40 in a closed, at rest condition, and FIG. 2 shows the carrying case 1 for cigarette lighter 40 in an open condition so that the lighter can be pulled outwardly therefrom. As will be explained, the cigarette lighter 40 and the casing 1 provide a readily accessible means to be carried by a motorcycle at an unobtrusive location to enable riders to light their cigarettes. Thus, motorcycle riders will be afforded the same convenience as has heretofore been provided to those riding in an automobile.

[0015] The cigarette lighter casing 1 includes a cylindrical housing 3 that is manufactured from a weather resistant material (e.g. polished aluminum). Affixed to the top of the housing 3 is a center ring 5 (best shown in FIG. 3). An end cap 7 is pivotally connected to the center ring 5 and adapted to be rotated through an angle of 90 degrees between the closed configuration of FIG. 1 and the open configuration of FIG. 2. The particular means by which the end cap 7 is pivotally connected to the center ring 5 and the advantages that are achieved thereby will be described in greater detail when referring to FIGS. 5-7. An elastomeric O-ring (designated 8 in FIGS. 6 and 7) extends around the interface of center ring 5 and end cap 7 to weather proof the hollow interior of casing 1.

[0016] The cigarette lighter casing 1 is connected to the motorcycle by way of a Y-shaped yoke or mounting bracket 10 (best shown in FIG. 3). By virtue of the foregoing, no changes will have to be made to the existing motorcycle structure. The Y-shaped mounting bracket 10 has a base 12 and a pair of outstretched arms 14 and 16 that depend outwardly from the base 12 at an angle. The base 12 has a pair of holes (designated 18 in FIG. 3), and each outstretched arm 14 and 16 has a hole (designated 20 in FIG. 3) formed therein. The base 12 of mounting bracket 10 is affixed to the cylindrical housing 3 of cigarette lighter casing 1 by a pair of fasteners 22 that are received through the holes 18 (also best shown in FIG. 3). The combination cigarette lighter casing 1 and mounting bracket 10 are affixed to the existing motorcycle structure by a pair of fasteners 24 received through the holes 20 that are formed in respective outstretched arms 14 and 16 of mounting bracket 10.

[0017] It may be recognized from FIGS. 1 and 2 that the motorcycle shown therein is manufactured by Harley Davidson. However, it is to be understood that the cigarette lighter casing 1 and the cigarette lighter 40 carried therein are not limited to this type of motorcycle. Thus, while the Y-shaped mounting bracket 10 has particular application for connecting the cigarette lighter casing 1 to the motorcycle illustrated in the drawings, this and other attachment means may be used to connect casing 1 to motorcycles that are available from other manufacturers.

[0018] The Y-shaped mounting bracket 10 advantageously enables the cigarette lighter casing 1 to be conveniently positioned so that cigarette lighter 40 will be an easy reach of a rider without interfering with his ability to access the controls of the motorcycle. For the motorcycle illustrated in the drawings, the arms of the Y-shaped mounting bracket 10 are connected by means of fasteners 24 to the same framework 25 from which the existing push-button switch box 26, handle bar grip 28, rear view mirror 30 and hand brake lever 32 are all supported. In this case, the cigarette lighter casing 1 is shown being supported from framework 25 at the right side of the motorcycle. However, the mounting bracket 10 connected to cigarette lighter casing 1 may also be connected to the left side of a motorcycle.

[0019] Turning now to FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, details are provided of the cigarette lighter 40 that is removably received in casing 1 to be carried at the existing framework 25 of a motorcycle. Since the cigarette lighter 40 is generally known, only a brief description thereof will be provided. Cigarette lighter 40 includes a cylindrical body 42 having a resistance heating element 44 at one end of the kind that is capable of igniting a cigarette, cigar, pipe, and the like, and a knob 46 at the opposite end by which lighter 40 can be either pushed inwardly or pulled outwardly from the casing 1 as shown in FIG. 2 when end cap 7 is rotated to the open configuration.

[0020] The body 42 of cigarette lighter 40 is slidably received within an open tubular socket 48. An annular lip 50 is formed around the open top of socket 48. To achieve the preferred cigarette lighter assembly shown in FIG. 4, the annular lip 50 at the top of socket 48 is seated within a circumferential groove 52 that is formed at the top of the cylindrical housing 3 of cigarette lighter casing 1. Thus, the groove 52 captures the annular lip 50 and thereby retains the tubular socket 48 of cigarette lighter 40 within the cigarette lighter casing 1 to establish a space between the bottom of socket 48 and the bottom of housing 3.

[0021] An electrical contact 54 is located at the bottom of the tubular socket 48 of cigarette lighter 40 so as to lie in the aforementioned space between socket 48 and the housing 3 of casing 1. An insulator (e.g. paper) 55 is laid along the bottom of housing 3 to avoid any contact between the housing and the electrical contact 54 of socket 48. An electrical wire 56 runs from contact 54, through a hole 58 formed in the bottom of housing 3, to the battery (not shown) of the motorcycle. An electrical current is supplied via wire 56 to contact 54, whereby the heating element 44 of lighter 40 can be energized to ignite the rider's cigarette.

[0022] Spaced from one another and axially aligned along the tubular socket 48 of cigarette lighter 40 are flexible, spring-like clips 60 and 62. The clips 60 and 62 are positioned so as to capture annular ribs 64 and 66 (best shown in FIG. 3) that extend around the cylindrical body 42 of cigarette lighter 40 to be slidably received within socket 48. As with conventional cigarette lighters, the interaction of the spring-like clips 60 and 62 with the annular ribs 64 and 66 allows the body 42 of cigarette lighter 40 to be releasably retained at a retracted position within socket 48 (when the end cap 7 of casing 1 is closed in the manner shown in FIG. 1) and at an axially advanced position within socket 48 (when the end cap 7 is opened in the manner shown in FIG. 2) at which the heating element 40 of body 42 is moved into engagement with the electrical contact 54 of socket 48 by applying a pushing force against knob 46.

[0023] The center ring 5 of cigarette lighter casing 1 is affixed atop the cylindrical housing 3 by means of a pair of fasteners 70 (best shown in FIG. 3) so as to hold socket 48 within housing 3. As was indicated above and as will now be described in greater below while referring concurrently to FIGS. 5-7 of the drawings, the end cap 7 of casing 1 that is pivotally connected to the center ring 5 includes the interaction of ball and detent means by which the end cap 7 can be reliably locked in each of the closed configuration of FIG. 1 and the open configuration of FIG. 2.

[0024] More particularly, a slot 72 is formed in the back of the center ring 5 above the attachment of the mounting bracket 10 to the housing 3 of casing 1. A hinge extension 74 depends from the end cap 7 for receipt within the slot 72 of center ring 5. A pivot pin 76 which runs between the opposite ends of the slot 72 also extends through the hinge extension 74 (best shown in FIG. 5). Accordingly, the end cap 7 will be pivotally connected to center ring 5 at the slot 72 formed therein so as to be capable of rotating 90 degrees between the aforementioned closed and open configurations. As an important feature of cigarette lighter casing 1, the hinge extension 74 of end cap 7 that is received in the slot 72 of center ring 5 has a pair of detents 78 and 80 formed therein (best shown in FIGS. 6 and 7). A first of the detents 78 is formed in one side of hinge extension 74, and the second detent 80 is formed in the bottom of the hinge extension 74. A small (e.g. about 3 mm) diameter (e.g. steel) ball 80, similar to a ball bearing, cooperates with a coil spring 84 so as to be held within and captured by one of the detents 78 or 80 depending upon whether the end cap 7 has been rotated at the pivot pin 76 to the closed or open configuration relative to the cigarette lighter 40 that is carried within the housing 3 of casing 1.

[0025] A short bore 86 runs longitudinally through the center ring 5 to communicate with the slot 72. The coil spring 84 is located within the bore 86, and the ball 82 is seated on top of the spring 84 above the bore. The coil spring 84 is normally biased so as to exert an upward pushing force against ball 82, whereby the ball is urged into receipt by one of the detents 78 or 80 formed in the hinge extension 74 of end cap 7.

[0026] Accordingly, when the end cap 7 is rotated to the closed configuration (of FIG. 6) to lie above and enclose the cigarette lighter 40 that is carried within the casing 1, the ball 82 will be pushed by spring 84 into the detent 80 in the bottom of hinge extension 74. Hence, end cap 7 will be locked in the closed position. When a rider wishes to gain access to and remove the cigarette lighter 40 from casing 1, an upward pushing force is exerted by the rider to cause end cap 7 to rotate at pivot pin 76 to the open position (of FIG. 7) and thereby permit the rider to grasp the knob 46 of lighter 40. As the end cap 7 is moved 90 degrees to the open condition and the hinge extension 74 thereof correspondingly rotates at pivot pin 76, the ball 82 will be pushed downwardly in the bore 86 by the hinge extension 74 so as to compress coil spring 84. The hinge extension 74 will continue to rotate at pivot pin 76 with the end cap 7 until the open configuration is reached, whereby the ball 82 will now be aligned with and received by the detent 78 at the side of hinge extension 74. That is to say, the coil spring 84 within bore 86 expands to urge ball 82 away from the bore 86 and into the detent 78. Hence, end cap 7 will now be locked in the open configuration.

[0027] By virtue of the interaction of ball 82 and detents 78 and 80, the end cap 7 of cigarette lighter casing 1 can be reliably retained in each of the closed and open configurations so as not to be able to flap back and forth. Hence, the rider will not be inconvenienced by a loose end cap that could disturb his concentration while the motorcycle is in operation or interfere with his ability to remove or return the cigarette lighter 40, especially during windy conditions. In this same regard, it should be appreciated that the detents 78 and 80 that are formed in the hinge extension 74 of end cap 7 may be replaced by similar catches for the ball 82 including, but not limited to, notches, channels, and the like. In any case, the rider will now have the advantage of an easy to use, easy to access cigarette lighter 40 that is conveniently carried by his motorcycle in an attractive casing that can be attached to the motorcycle without having to change the existing structure thereof.

Claims

1. In combination:

a motorcycle having a battery;

a cigarette lighter casing having a hollow housing;

a cigarette lighter removable received within the hollow housing of said cigarette lighter casing; and

a mounting bracket by which to connect said cigarette lighter casing to said motorcycle so that said cigarette lighter is carried within said casing by said motorcycle to be removed from said housing to light a cigarette.

2. The combination recited in claim 1, further comprising a tubular socket located within the hollow housing of said cigarette lighter casing to removably receive said cigarette lighter, said tubular socket having an electrical contact to which an electrical current is supplied to heat the cigarette lighter within said socket.

3. The combination recited in claim 2, further comprising an electrical wire connected between the battery of said motorcycle and the electrical contact of said tubular socket, the hollow housing of said cigarette lighter casing having a hole formed therein and said electrical wire running through said hole.

4. The combination recited in claim 2, wherein said tubular socket has a series of flexible clips and said cigarette lighter has a series of ribs projecting therefrom, at least one of said series of flexible clips engaging at least one of said series of clips by which said cigarette lighter is releasably retained by said socket within the hollow housing of said cigarette lighter casing.

5. The combination recited in claim 1, wherein said mounting bracket has a base and at least one arm depending from said base, the base of said mounting bracket connected to said cigarette lighter casing and the arm of said mounting bracket connected to said motorcycle.

6. The combination recited in claim 5, wherein said mounting bracket has a pair of arms depending from said base for connection to said cigarette lighter casing, said pair of arms forming an angle therebetween so that said mounting bracket has a Y-shape.

7. The combination recited in claim 1, wherein said cigarette lighter casing also has an end cap pivotally connected to said hollow housing and adapted to be rotated from a closed position to cover said cigarette lighter in said housing to an open position at which said cigarette lighter is removed from or returned to said housing.

8. The combination recited in claim 7, wherein the hollow housing of said cigarette lighter casing has a slot formed therein and said end cap has a hinge extension projecting therefrom, said hinge extension located within said slot and pivotally connected to said housing.

9. The combination recited in claim 8, further comprising a ball, the hinge extension of said end cap having first and second detents formed therein, said ball being received in the first detent of said hinge extension for retaining said end cap in the closed position, and said ball being received in the second detent of said hinge extension for retaining said end cap in the open position.

10. The combination recited in claim 9, further comprising a spring and a bore formed in the hollow housing of said cigarette lighter casing for receiving the spring, said spring urging said ball into receipt by one of said first and second detents formed in the hinge extension depending upon whether said end cap is rotated to the closed or open position relative to said housing.

11. In combination:

a motorcycle;

a cigarette lighter casing having a hollow housing and an end cap pivotally connected to said housing;

a cigarette lighter removably received within the hollow housing of said cigarette lighter casing, said end cap being rotated between a closed position at which to cover said cigarette lighter within said housing and an open position at which said cigarette lighter is removed from or returned to said housing;

a mounting bracket by which to connect said cigarette lighter casing to said motorcycle so that said cigarette lighter is carried within said casing by said motorcycle to be removed from said housing to light a cigarette; and

means by which to retain said end cap in each of said closed and open positions relative to the hollow housing of said cigarette lighter casing.

12. The combination recited in claim 10, wherein said hollow housing has a slot formed therein and said end cap has a hinge extension projecting therefrom, said hinge extension located within said slot and pivotally connected to said housing.

13. The combination recited in claim 11, wherein said retaining means includes a ball and first and second detents formed in the hinge extension of said end cap, said ball being received in the first detent of said hinge extension for retaining said end cap in the closed position, and said ball being received in the second detent of said hinge extension for retaining said end cap in the open position.

14. The combination recited in claim 13, wherein said retaining means also includes a spring and a bore formed in the hollow housing of said cigarette lighter casing for receiving the spring, said spring urging said ball into receipt by one of said first and second detents formed in said hinge extension depending upon whether said end cap is rotated to said closed or open position relative to said housing.