Cigarette lighter

Abstract

The apparatus and method disclosed uses the energy, heat, and/or rays of a light source, such as the sun, to light a cigarette. An apparatus is provided comprising a housing, a reflecting device having an inner surface, the reflecting device connected to the housing, and a cigarette holder connected to the housing. A cigarette can be inserted into the cigarette holder such that light from a light source reflects off the inner surface of the reflecting device and is directed towards the cigarette, causing the cigarette to light. The reflecting device may be a dish. The dish may have a focal point at which light rays reflecting off of the inner surface of the dish intersect. The cigarette holder may hold a cigarette so that a first end of the cigarette which is to be lit, is located at the focal point of the dish. The housing may be comprised of a handle device by which the apparatus can be held.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to techniques for lighting cigarettes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Typically in the prior art an individual lights a cigarette by using the flame of a lit match or the flame of a conventional cigarette lighter. Assuming a match is used, it is thrown away after use and another match is need to light another cigarette. A conventional cigarette lighter uses a fuel source and when the fuel is exhausted another cigarette lighter is needed or more fuel needs to be purchased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention provides a method and apparatus for lighting a cigarette. The apparatus provided in at least one embodiment uses the energy, heat, and/or rays of a light source, such as the sun, to light a cigarette. Because the sun is essentially an inexhaustible and free source, the present invention allows an individual to light up a large number of cigarettes without having to obtain more fuel.

[0004] In one embodiment of the present invention an apparatus is provided comprising a housing, a reflecting device having an inner surface, the reflecting device connected to the housing, and a cigarette holder connected to the housing. A cigarette can be inserted into the cigarette holder such that light from a light source reflects off the inner surface of the reflecting device and is directed towards the cigarette, causing the cigarette to light. The light source may be the sun. The reflecting device may be a dish. The dish may have a focal point at which light rays reflecting off of the inner surface of the dish intersect. The dish may be in the form of a parabolic reflector. The term parabolic reflector is known and a parabolic reflector has its own mathematical formula for proper curvature, focal point, and reflectivity. The cigarette holder may hold a cigarette so that a first end of the cigarette which is to be lit, is located at the focal point of the dish.

[0005] The housing may be comprised of a handle device by which the apparatus can be held. The handle device may have a gap through which one or more fingers can be inserted for holding the apparatus. The dish may have a curvature which may be substantially the same as the curvature of a curved portion of the housing. The dish may be fixed to the housing at the curved portion. The cigarette holder may have a lip which prevents a cigarette from falling out of the cigarette holder.

[0006] The present invention discloses a method comprising the step of inserting a cigarette into a cigarette holder such that light from a light source reflects off the inner surface of a reflecting device and is directed towards the cigarette, causing the cigarette to light.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 shows front view of an apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0008] FIG. 2 shows a top view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0009] FIG. 3 shows a right side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0010] FIG. 4 shows a left side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0011] FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0012] FIG. 6 shows a back view of the apparatus of FIG. 1; and

[0013] FIG. 7 shows a cross sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 with cigarette inserted and with locations identified for placing or insertion of an individual's fingers for holding the apparatus 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] FIG. 1 shows front view of an apparatus 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 2-6 show a top, right side, left side, and bottom views of the apparatus 10 of FIG. 1. FIG. 7 shows a cross sectional view of the apparatus 10 of FIG. 1 with a cigarette 200 inserted and with locations identified for placing or insertion of an individual's fingers for holding the apparatus 10.

[0015] Referring to FIG. 1, apparatus 10 includes a dish 20, a housing 30, and a cigarette holder 40. The housing 30 is comprised of portions 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, and 130. Although the portions 50-130 may be solid, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, each portion has an outer section, a middle section, and an inner section. Portion 50, for example has an outer section 50a, middle section 50b, and an inner section 50c. There is a gap or opening 140 in the housing 30 which allows the insertion of an individual's four fingers, for example, at the locations 210a, 210b, 210c, and 210d, shown in FIG. 7. One or more of portions 60-130 can be considered a handle device in accordance with the present invention.

[0016] The dish 20 is comprised of an outer surface 20a, a rim 20b, and an inner surface 20c. The dish 20 may be considered to be a type of reflecting device for reflecting light from a light source, such as the sun. The inner surface 20c is concave, i.e. curves inward like the inside of a bowl, as can be seen in the cross sectional view of FIG. 7. The outer surface 20a is convex, i.e. curves outward like the outside of a bowl, as can also be seen in the cross sectional view of FIG. 7. The dish 20 rests on a pin 152a. There may be a gap 150 between the outer surface 20a of the dish 20 and the inner section 130c of the portion 130 of the housing 30. The dish 20 may have a radius of curvature of 3.631 degrees or inches 4.125 inches. The dish 20 should have as its focal point the location where an end 200a of the cigarette 200 shown in FIG. 7, sits.

[0017] The cigarette holder 40 has a height of H1, which may be 0.5 inches and an outer width or diameter, W1 which may be 0.44 inches. The cigarette holder 40 has a portion 40b which as an inner width or diameter W1, shown in FIG. 7, which may be 0.32 inches, which should be about the diameter of the cigarette 200. The cigarette holder 40 also has a lip portion 40a which has an inner width or diameter W3, which may be 0.308 inches and which is smaller than the width or diameter W1, so that the end 200a of the cigarette 200 will be stopped inside of the cigarette holder 40.

[0018] The end 40c of the cigarette holder 40 may be located a distance H2, which may be 1.875 inches, from the middle of the inner section 130c of the portion 130. The distance L3, from the inner section 90c of the portion 90 may be 0.835 inches from the section 130a of the portion 130, allowing a sufficient opening 140 for the insertion of one or more fingers. The dish 20 may be fixed to the housing 30 by a pin 152a and a cap, nut, or washer 152b.

[0019] In operation an individual may place a cigarette 200 in the cigarette holder 40 so that the end 200a of the cigarette comes in contact with the lip portion 40a. The individual may next an hold the apparatus 10 by the housing 30. The individual may insert his or her first four fingers (not including his or her thumb) through locations 210a, 210b, 210c, and 210d of the gap 140 as shown by FIG. 7. The individual may grip the four fingers (not including his or her thumb) around the portion 90 and place his thumb at the location 210e, resting on portion 110.

[0020] Next, the individual may direct the combination of the apparatus 10 and the cigarette 200 so that rays from the sun hit the dish 20 from, for example, directions D1 and D2 shown in FIG. 7. The rays from the sun may be reflected off of the inner surface 20c of the dish 20 and/or combined to form light focussed in the direction D3 towards the end 200a of the cigarette 200. The end 200a is at the focal point of the dish 20 where reflected light rays from the inner surface 20c meet. The individual should hold the apparatus 10 and cigarette 200 steady so that the light in the direction D3 continues to be focussed on the end 200a of the cigarette 200. Within a short time the light coming in the direction D3 from the dish 20 will cause the end 200a of the cigarette 200 to light. After the end 200a of the cigarette 200 is lit, the cigarette 200 can be taken out of the holder 40 and smoked. Another cigarette can be placed in the holder 40 and lit in the same manner as the cigarette 200.

[0021] The inner surface 20c of the dish 20 may be coated with a reflecting surface for reflecting light such as a mirror surface. The dish 20 itself may be a mirror. The housing 30 may be made of a non-flammable plastic.

[0022] Although the invention has been described by reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to include within this patent all such changes and modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope of the present invention's contribution to the art.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a reflecting device having an inner surface, the reflecting device connected to the housing;

a cigarette holder connected to the housing; and

wherein a cigarette can be inserted into the cigarette holder such that light from a light source reflects off the inner surface of the reflecting device and is directed towards the cigarette, causing the cigarette to light.

2. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein

the reflecting device is a dish.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein

the dish has a focal point at which light rays reflecting off of the inner surface of the dish intersect; and

wherein the cigarette holder holds a cigarette so that the a first end of the cigarette which is to be lit, is located at the focal point of the dish.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the housing is comprised of a handle device by which the apparatus can be held.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein

the handle device has a gap through which one or more fingers can be inserted for holding the apparatus.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein

the dish has a curvature;

the housing has a curved portion with a curvature which is substantially the same as the curvature of the dish; and

wherein the dish is fixed to the housing at the curved portion.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the cigarette holder has a lip which prevents a cigarette from falling out of the cigarette holder.

8. A method comprising the steps of:

inserting a cigarette into a cigarette holder such that light from a light source reflects off the inner surface of a reflecting device and is directed towards the cigarette, causing the cigarette to light.

9. The method claim 8 wherein

the reflecting device is a dish.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein

the dish has a focal point at which light rays reflecting off of the inner surface of the dish intersect; and

wherein the cigarette holder holds a cigarette so that the a first end of the cigarette which is to be lit, is located at the focal point of the dish.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein

the cigarette holder is connected to a housing;

the reflecting device is connected to the housing; and

further comprising picking up the housing by a handle device which is part of the housing.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein

the handle device has a gap through which one or more fingers are inserted for picking up the housing.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein

the dish has a curvature;

the cigarette holder is connected to a housing;

the reflecting device is connected to the housing; and

the housing has a curved portion with a curvature which is substantially the same as the curvature of the dish; and

wherein the dish is fixed to the housing at the curved portion.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein

the cigarette holder has a lip which prevents a cigarette from falling out of the cigarette holder.