DISPOSABLE LIGHTER FOR SIGHT-IMPAIRED USERS
A disposable lighter having a surface comprised of different elevations and different materials, which permit blind or sight-impaired users to know the proper orientation to use the lighter by feel alone and also improve gripping of the lighter.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gas lighter; more particularly, it relates to a disposable gas lighter for use by blind or sight-impaired users.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A disposable lighter is a portable igniter used to create a flame. It generally comprises a tank containing fuel and an ignition means for lighting the fuel. In one kind of conventional disposable lighter, a metal strike wheel is mounted above a flint that communicates with the fuel contained in the tank of the lighter. The lighter is actuated by striking the metal wheel against the flint to create a spark. When the lighter is actuated by striking the wheel, gas is contemporaneously released by depression of a gas lever located in proximity to the strike wheel. The spark created by the strike wheel ignites the released gas to create a flame. In another lighter of this kind, the ignition means is comprised of a piezoelectric unit instead of a strike wheel. A spark is created by actuating a button that compresses the piezoelectric unit to generate a discharge voltage, which ignites the gas to create a flame.
Disposable lighters can be dangerous if misused. It is common to provide safety mechanisms for such disposable lighters, especially child-resistant mechanisms to prevent misuse of the lighters by children. However, there is a need to make disposable lighters safe not only for children but for blind or sight-impaired users as well. The lighter of the present invention permits visually impaired users to know by touch alone whether they are holding the lighter properly to operate it. Since the top of the lighter where the flame is generated can become hot after operation, if visually impaired people use the top of the lighter to determine the proper orientation of the lighter, they can burn their finger by touching the hot metal near the ignition means. Even if the top of the lighter is not hot from previous use, it can be frustrating and time consuming for visually impaired users to fumble with a lighter to determine its proper orientation. The lighter of the present invention solves these problems by permitting sight-impaired users to know the orientation of the lighter by feeling the tank of the lighter.
The advantages of the present invention are not limited to sight-impaired users. It is also often necessary for people with normal vision to determine the orientation of the lighter by feel alone. For example, a person with normal vision may need to operate a disposable lighter in the dark, such as at night or in a dark bar or night club. In situations where there is inadequate lighting, it can be frustrating and time consuming for to fumble with a lighter to determine its proper orientation. The present invention allows users to safely operate the lighter in the dark. Furthermore, another common problem with disposable lighters is that it can be difficult to grip. Disposable lighters are small and they are generally made of plastic or metal, which can make the lighters difficult to grip. The present invention provides improved gripping of the lighter.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a disposable lighter that is safe for use by blind or sight-impaired users, and easy to use for unimpaired users who need to operate a lighter in the dark.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to a disposable lighter for blind or sight-impaired users. It is an object of the invention to provide a disposable lighter having a tank configured to permit users to know the orientation of the lighter by feel of the tank alone.
A disposable lighter having the features of the present invention comprises an elongated fuel tank with a flame ignition mechanism mounted on its top side. As shown in
As shown in
Further, as shown in
A lighter according to the present invention, having a tank with at least two elevations to permit users to know the orientation of the lighter by feel of the tank alone and to provide better grip, can employ a flame mechanism based on a piezoelectric unit instead of a strike wheel. As shown in
A lighter according to another embodiment of the invention comprises an elongated tank for holding fuel therein, having a top side, a front side, and a back side. The tank has a surface comprising at least two different materials having distinguishable tactile characteristics. One material is located in proximity to front side of the tank and a second material is located in proximity to the back side the of tank. The differences in materials between front and said back surfaces of the tank permit the user not only to know the proper orientation to use the lighter by feel alone, but also provide the user with better grip of the lighter.
With reference to the accompanying drawings, a lighter (1) in accordance with an embodiment of the invention comprises a tank (10) for holding fuel therein. The tank (10) is typically elongated as shown in
Tank (10) has a surface (40) with at least a first elevation (42) and a second elevation (44). The first elevation (42) forms substantially the front side (14) of tank (10). The second elevation (44) wraps over the front side (14) and back side (16) of tank (10). The difference in elevations between front side (14) and back side (16) of tank (10) permits the user to know the proper orientation to use the lighter by feel alone.
A lighter according to another embodiment of the invention is shown in
Tank (110) has a surface (140) comprising at least two different materials having distinguishable tactile characteristics. One material (142) is located in proximity to front side (114) of tank (110) and a second material (144) is located in proximity to back side (116) of tank (110), whereby the differences in materials between front and said back surfaces of tank permit the user to know the proper orientation to use the lighter by feel alone.
Yet another embodiment of the invention is shown in
In either or both embodiments of the invention, the first and second elevations form channels or furrows on the back side of the tank, which provide for better gripping of the lighter. The different materials of the surfaces also improve gripping.
This invention is not to be limited by the embodiment shown in the drawings and described in the description, which is given by way of example and not of limitation, but only in accordance with the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A lighter comprising:
- a tank for holding fuel, said tank having a top, a front, and a back;
- a flame ignition mechanism mounted on said top of said tank;
- a valve connected to said fuel and arranged to permit said ignition mechanism to ignite said fuel, said valve positioned on said top of said tank and in proximity to said front of said tank;
- said tank having a surface, said surface having at least a first elevation and a second elevation, said first elevation located in proximity to said front of said tank and said second elevation located in proximity to said back of said tank, whereby said differences in elevations between said front and said back surfaces of said tank permit the user to know the proper orientation to use the lighter by feel alone.
2. A lighter comprising:
- a tank for holding fuel, said tank having a top, a front, and a back;
- a flame ignition mechanism mounted on said top of said tank;
- a valve connected to said fuel and arranged to permit said ignition mechanism to ignite said fuel, said valve positioned on said top of said tank and in proximity to said front of said tank;
- said tank having a surface, said surface comprising at least two different materials having distinguishable tactile characteristics, said first material located in proximity to said front of said tank and said second material located in proximity to said back of said tank, whereby said differences in materials between said front and said back surfaces of said tank permit the user to know the proper orientation to use the lighter by feel alone.
3. A lighter comprising:
- a tank for holding fuel, said tank having a top, a front, and a back;
- a flame ignition mechanism mounted on said top of said tank;
- a valve connected to said fuel and arranged to permit said ignition mechanism to ignite said fuel, said valve positioned on said top of said tank and in proximity to said front of said tank;
- said tank having a surface, said surface having at least a first elevation and a second elevation, said first elevation comprised of a first material, said second elevation comprised of a second material, wherein said first material and said second material have distinguishable tactile characteristics so as to permit the user to know the proper orientation to use the lighter by feel alone.
Type: Application
Filed: May 16, 2008
Publication Date: Nov 19, 2009
Inventor: Yuzo Ochiai (Shizuoka)
Application Number: 12/122,605
International Classification: F23Q 2/36 (20060101); F23Q 2/02 (20060101); F23Q 2/32 (20060101);
