LIGHTER

Abstract

A lighter having at least one retention section for reversibly retaining a consumable is disclosed. Consumables include cigarettes and other tobacco-delivery systems. The consumable may be retained frictionally, or a cap may be used to maintain the consumable within the retention section. A method of manufacturing such a lighter is also disclosed. A lighter having a retention section may also be utilized in a smoking cessation program and a method for utilizing such a lighter for such a program is also disclosed.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/522,950, filed Nov. 24, 2004, and entitled “LIGHTER,” hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The invention relates generally to an improved lighter.

BACKGROUND ART

Lighters are used to ignite various objects and substances. They may be disposable or reusable and come in many shapes and sizes. Certain components however are common to nearly all lighters. FIG. 1 shows a representative lighter. Such a lighter will typically comprise two sections, a lighting section L that includes various components for initiating a flame, and a body B that typically includes a chamber 6 that forms a reservoir for some type of flammable substance, typically a fluid or a gas.

The lighting section L often includes a button or similar device 4 for initiating/maintaining the flow of the flammable substance stored in the chamber 6 through an outlet typically disposed in the lighting section L. A wheel 2 or other device may be used to generate a spark for initiating the flame. Other embodiments of prior art lighters include those that operate electronically to heat an element or filament to a sufficient temperature to ignite a desired substance. Various other types of prior art lighters also exist.

A common use for many lighters is the ignition of a cigarette, cigar, or similar object (collectively referred to herein as “consumables”). Often, an operator may wish to carry a limited number of consumables. Although certain of these consumables will come in their own tube or packaging, it may be desired by the user to transport a number of such consumables in a quantity that may vary from the capacity of the tube or packaging. For example, a typical pack of cigarettes will include 20 cigarettes, and a cigar may come in an individual tube and/or in boxes of varying amounts. For the user wishing to transport fewer than 20 cigarettes, or more than a single cigar, it may be desirable to have a transport system that will accommodate the desired number of such consumables. Often simple placement in a pocket or purse is not practical due to the usual fragility of most consumables.

Prior art attempts to address these issues include a lighter that is adapted to attach to a pack of cigarettes and a lighter having a large, typically rectangular cavity for the disposition of a number of cigarettes therein. Both approaches require a size that may be larger than that desired by a user and further include a greater capacity than may be desired. Furthermore, such approaches will not protect an individual cigarette from undesirable interaction with adjoining cigarettes and/or undesirable movement within the cavity. Such approaches may also be too expensive to be practical for disposable use.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In one embodiment, the invention relates to a lighter having a retention section for the reversible retention of a consumable, such as a cigarette. The consumable may be frictionally retained and/or a cap may be used to retain the consumable in the retention section.

In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method for manufacturing a lighter having at least one retention section and a lighting section. The retention may section may be configured to frictionally retain a consumable and/or a cap may be included for retention of the consumable.

In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method for smoking cessation, wherein a lighter having at least one retention section is used with a predetermined number of consumables, which predetermined number is reduced over time.

Other aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a prior art lighter.

FIG. 2 shows a lighter according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows a lighter according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 shows a lighter according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in FIG. 2, one embodiment of the invention is a lighter that includes a retaining section 110 in which a consumable 112 may be disposed. The retaining section 110 will typically be cylindrical and configured to retain a desired size and shape of consumable 112. The retaining section 110 may also have a polygonal cross-section or have any other configuration known in the art. In one embodiment, the retaining section 110 will be configured to retain the consumable 112 through a frictional hold (e.g., the retaining section 110 will be configured to maintain sufficient contact with a predetermined size of consumable 112 disposed therein such that the consumable 112 will be maintained in the retaining section).

As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 3, a cap 114 may be used to seal the retaining section 110 against undesireable elements (e.g., air, moisture, etc.) and/or prevent the egress of a consumable 112 disposed therein. In such an embodiment, a frictional retention of the consumable 112 is not necessary. Although shown at the bottom of the chamber 106, the cap 114 may also be disposed at the top, proximal to, and/or surrounding the lighting section L. Furthermore, the cap 114 may include one or more openings disposed such that they will align with one or more retaining sections 110. Such a cap 114 may also be rotatable such that different retaining sections 110 may be accessed by a user. The cap 114 may be configured to extend up or down along a predetermined length of the lighter and any opening in the cap 114 may also extend along a length of the lighter such that any consumables placed within a retaining section 110 may be more easily accessed.

Any number of retaining sections 110 may be disposed in the lighter. The position and/or location of each retaining section 110 may vary. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, two retaining sections 110 are disposed on either side of a chamber 106. In other embodiments, any number of retaining sections 110 may be disposed about the perimeter of such a chamber 106. For lighters that do not include a chamber 106, one or more retaining sections 110 may be positioned in any desired configuration in combination with the lighting section L of the lighter.

In one embodiment, the lighting section and chamber 106 may be reversibly attached to the body such that the lighting section may function as a cap over one or more retaining sections 110 disposed about the chamber 106 when the lighting section L and body are connected. In one embodiment, the lighting section includes an opening for accessing at least one of the retaining sections 110. The lighting section may be rotatable so that the opening may be disposed over a desired retaining section 110 such that the contents of that retaining section 110 are accessible, while one or more other retaining sections 110 are sealed by that portion of the lighting section L that is not aligned with the opening.

As shown in FIG. 4, the retaining section 110 may also be configured so that it extends beyond the typical location of the traditional body (B in FIG. 1) of a lighter and into the lighting section L. Such a configuration may advantageously facilitate the use of embodiments of the invention with larger consumables while minimizing the overall size of the lighter.

A lighter according to various embodiment of the invention may comprise any material or combination of materials known in the art. Furthermore, embodiments of the invention may be used with any lighting configuration known in the art.

Advantages of various embodiments of the invention include, but are not limited to, the ability to carry a predetermined number of consumables in a manner that protects the consumables from undesirable elements and from damage that may occur if the consumables were to be carried individually. Embodiments also advantageously protect the carrying environment (e.g., a pocket, purse, etc.) from residue (e.g., tobacco). Furthermore, embodiments of the invention are also useful for a smoking cessation program because they allow the carrying of only a limited, predetermined number of cigarettes.

In one embodiment, a small opening is disposed in a sealed end of a retention section 110 such that a vacuum will not be formed when a consumable 112 is being removed from the retention section.

While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be devised which do not depart from the scope of the invention as disclosed herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims.

Claims

1. A lighter, comprising:

a lighting section; and

at least one retention section in which a consumable may be reversibly disposed.

2. The lighter of claim 1, wherein the consumable is frictionally retained in the retention section.

3. The lighter of claim 1, further comprising at least one cap for reversibly sealing the at least one retention section.

4. The lighter of claim 3, wherein the at least one cap comprises at least one opening.

5. The lighter of claim 1, wherein the lighting section comprises at least one opening.

6. The lighter of claim 5, wherein the lighting section is rotatable with respect to the at least one retention section such that the at least one opening may be aligned with the at least one retention section.

7. A method for manufacturing a lighter, comprising:

providing a lighting section; and

operatively connecting at least one retention section to the lighting section.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising configuring the at least one retention section to frictionally retain at least one predetermined consumable.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the operatively connecting comprises molding as a unitary member.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising operatively connecting a cap to the at least one retention section.

11. A method for smoking cessation, comprising:

providing a lighter having at least one retention section in which at least one consumable may be reversibly disposed;

disposing a predetermined number of consumables in the at least one retention section; and

decreasing the predetermined number of consumables over time.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising changing at least one characteristic of the predetermined number of consumables over time.