TWO CHAMBERED ILLUMINATING LIGHTER

Abstract

A lighter comprises an inner lighter housing and an outer housing that slideably fits over the inner lighter housing to form a two chamber structure. An illumination assembly attaches to the lighter. The illumination assembly comprises a light emitting diode (LED) on an inside portion of the illumination assembly, positioned such that when lit, the LED illuminates the inside portion of inner lighter housing and the outer lighter housing. The inner and outer housings at least somewhat transparent, so as the illuminate an ambient portion of the atmosphere proximate to the lighter. A decorative insert can be provided between the inner lighter hosing and the outer lighter hosing.

Description

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

A two chambered illuminating lighter is disclosed. More specifically, a lighter having an inner chamber, an outer chamber, and an illuminating diode dispersed therein, is disclosed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Just as is the case with any product making company, lighter manufacturers are concerned with safety, if not for any other reason, at least to limit their product liability. On the other hand, lighter manufacturers are interested in making their product more attractive to the buying public.

With regard to safety, few companies have improved on the basic design of the lighter, which typically consists of a lighter housing, a gas container for storing liquid inflammable gas, a combustion device connected to the gas container, and an igniter for igniting inflammable gas in the combustion device.

With regard to attractiveness to the buying public, while different shapes and unique light mechanisms have been used, few variations of the basic design have been manufactured and sold, leaving the buying public with few options in this regard.

Accordingly, there is a need for a system and method that solves the problems of prior and current lighters. The novel lighter described herein solves these and other problems by providing a two chambered illuminating lighter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one preferred embodiment, a lighter comprises an inner lighter housing that contains a gas container for storing liquid inflammable gas, a combustion device connected to the gas container, and an igniter for igniting inflammable gas in the combustion device. An outer housing slideably fits over the inner lighter housing to form a two chamber structure.

According to a preferred embodiment, an illumination assembly attaches to the base of the lighter. In one embodiment the illumination assembly comprises a light emitting diode (LED) on an inside portion of the illumination assembly, positioned such that when lit, the LED illuminates the inside portion of inner lighter housing and the outer housing. In one preferred embodiment, both the inner and outer housings at least somewhat transparent, so as the illuminate an ambient portion of the atmosphere proximate to the lighter.

In one preferred embodiment, a decorative insert is removably provided for inserting between the inner and out lighter housings. In one embodiment, the decorative insert is illuminated with the lighter when the lighter is illuminated by the light, thereby highlighting a pattern, design or photograph contained on or within the decorative insert.

In one preferred embodiment, the illumination assembly further comprises an electrical circuit, or wafer, connected to battery that provides electrical power to the LED. A switch provides a means to actuate the LED.

In one preferred embodiment, the switch is actuated by means of a button on the bottom of the illumination assembly that can be depressed by a user of the lighter to cause the circuit to close, and thereby illuminate the LED. The button is biased in the position so as to provide an open circuit, so that when not depressed, the lighter is not illuminated. In another preferred embodiment, the switch is integrated with the igniter by means of a rod that is actuated with the igniter is depressed to light the lighter. The pushrod travels along the inside of the inner housing, wherein the end of the rod that is distil to the igniter is position to close the circuit when the igniter is actuated. As is typical with lighter igniters, the igniter is biased to the non-depressed, or non-ignition, position. When in the non-ignition position, the pushrod is positioned and also biased in the open circuit position, with the LED not being illuminated.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the illumination assembly is located proximate to the igniter. In this embodiment, when the igniter is depressed, it causes the circuit on the illumination assembly to close, thereby lighting the LED.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The described system and method is illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawings which are meant to be exemplary and not limiting, in which like references are intended to refer to like or corresponding parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a lighter according to one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a lighter according to another embodiment; and

FIG. 3 is a left perspective elevational view of a two chamber assembly of the lighter with a decorative insert in the disassembled configuration according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIG. 1, a right elevational view of a lighter 100 according one embodiment is shown. The lighter 100 comprises an inner lighter housing 120 that houses a gas container 120 for storing liquid inflammable gas. An igniter 128 is connected to the inner housing 120, and connected to the gas container 122. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the igniter comprises a mechanical lighting unit that comprises a ribbed steel wheel 130 that generates an ignition spark through friction against a flint (not shown). This spark ignites gas that escapes from a nozzle when a valve switch 132 is pressed to open a valve to allow the gas to combust in a flame. The flame size can be adjusted using the setting screw 134 to regulate the gas flow emitted through the nozzle.

An outer lighter housing 140 slideably fits over the inner lighter housing 120 to form a two chamber structure. A storage container 122 contains the fuel, for example, liquid butane.

According to a embodiment, an illumination assembly 180 attaches to the base 150 of the lighter 100. In one embodiment the illumination assembly 180 comprises a light emitting diode (LED) 184 on an inside portion of the illumination assembly, positioned such that when lit, the LED illuminates the inside portion of inner lighter housing 120 and the outer housing 140. In one preferred embodiment, both the inner and outer housings 120 and 140 are at least somewhat transparent, so as to illuminate an ambient portion of the atmosphere proximate to the lighter 100 when the LED 184 is lit.

In one embodiment, the illumination assembly 180 further comprises an electrical circuit, or wafer, 186 connected to a battery 188 that provides electrical power to the LED 184. In one embodiment, a manual switch 190 provides a means to actuate the LED 184.

In one embodiment, the switch 186 is a manually actuated by means of a button on the bottom of the illumination assembly 180 that can be depressed by a user of the lighter to cause the circuit 190 to close, and thereby illuminate the LED 184. The button is biased in the position so as to provide an open circuit 186, so that when not depressed, the lighter 100 is not illuminated.

In another preferred embodiment, an automatic switch is integrated with the operation of the igniter 128 by means of a pushrod 194 that is actuated with the igniter 128 is depressed to light the lighter 100. The pushrod 194 travels along the inside of the inner housing 120, wherein the end of the rod that is distal to the igniter 128 is positioned to close the circuit 186 when the igniter 128 is actuated. As is typical with lighter igniters, the igniter 128 is biased to the non-depressed, or non-ignition, position. When in the non-ignition position, the pushrod 194 is positioned and also biased in the open circuit position, with the LED 184 not being illuminated.

FIG. 2 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the lighter 100. In this embodiment, the illumination assembly 180 is located proximate to the igniter 128. In this embodiment, when the igniter 128 is depressed, it causes the circuit 186 on the illumination assembly 180 to close, thereby lighting the LED 184.

With reference to FIG. 3, a left-side perspective elevational view of the inner lighter housing 120 and outer lighter hosing 140 assembly is sown in a disassembled configuration. In this embodiment, a decorative insert 300 is removably provided for inserting between the inner and outer lighter housings 120 and 140. In one embodiment, the decorative insert 300 is illuminated with the lighter when the lighter is illuminated by the LED (FIG. 1, 184), thereby highlighting a pattern, design or photograph contained on or within the decorative insert 300. The decorative insert can comprise one of various materials, such as paper, plastic or the like.

The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the claimed invention. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modifications and changes that may be made to the claimed invention without following the example embodiments and applications illustrated and described herein, and without departing from the true spirit and scope of the claimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A lighter, comprising:

an inner lighter housing;

a gas container for storing liquid inflammable gas;

a combustion device connected to the gas container;

an igniter for igniting inflammable gas in the combustion device; and

an outer housing that slideably fits over the inner lighter housing to form a two chamber structure.

2. The lighter of claim 1, further comprising, an illumination assembly.

3. The lighter of claim 2, wherein the illumination assembly comprises a light emitting diode (LED) on an inside portion of the illumination assembly, positioned such that when lit, the LED illuminates the inside portion of inner lighter housing and the outer lighter housing.

4. The lighter of claim 3, wherein, both the inner and outer housings are at least somewhat transparent, so as the illuminate an ambient portion of the atmosphere proximate to the lighter.

5. The lighter of claim 4, further comprising a decorative insert for inserting between the inner and out lighter housings.

6. The lighter of claim 3, wherein the illumination assembly further comprises an electrical circuit connected to a battery that provides electrical power to the LED.

7. The lighter of claim 6, further comprising a switch operate the LED.

8. The lighter of claim 7, wherein the switch is actuated by means of a button on the bottom of the illumination assembly that can be depressed by a user of the lighter to cause the circuit to close, and thereby illuminate the LED.

9. The lighter of claim 8, wherein the switch is integrated with the igniter wherein the switch is actuated when the igniter is depressed to light the lighter.

10. A lighter, comprising:

an inner lighter housing;

an outer housing that slideably fits over the inner lighter housing to form a two chamber structure; and

an illumination assembly to illuminate the lighter.

11. A lighter, comprising:

an inner lighter housing; and

an outer housing that slideably fits over the inner lighter housing to form a two chamber structure.