COMBINED LIGHTER AND CIGARETTE PAPER DISPENSER

Abstract

A combined lighter and cigarette paper dispenser comprises an elongated housing having an ignition mechanism fitted to one end. The housing includes a lighter fluid container 12″ in fluid communication with the ignition mechanism 14 and also a cavity 12′ to receive a supply (e.g. a packet) of cigarette papers by insertion through an opening in the opposite end of the housing. The papers may be dispensed either by ejecting the entire packet from the housing, using one paper, and re-inserting the packet, or by dispensing the papers individually through a lateral slot in the housing.

Description

The present invention relates to a combined lighter and cigarette paper dispenser.

According to the present invention there is provided a combined lighter and cigarette paper dispenser, comprising an ignition mechanism fitted to a housing which includes a lighter fluid container in fluid communication with the ignition mechanism, the housing further being arranged to receive and dispense one or more cigarette papers.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a first transparent perspective view of a combined lighter paper dispenser according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a second transparent perspective view of the combined lighter paper dispenser of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a further transparent perspective view of the combined lighter paper dispenser of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a transparent perspective view of a combined lighter paper dispenser according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded transparent view of the combined lighter paper dispenser of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention which is a modification of the first embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the third embodiment showing insertion of a packet of cigarette papers into the dispenser;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention which is a modification of the second embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the fourth embodiment showing insertion of a roll of cigarette papers into the dispenser;

FIG. 10 is a section through the slot region of the housing of the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the present invention which is a further modification of the first embodiment; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the fifth embodiment showing insertion of a packet of cigarette papers into the dispenser.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, there is shown a combined lighter and cigarette paper dispenser 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The lighter of the first embodiment comprises an elongated plastics housing 12 divided longitudinally into two portions 12′ and 12″. The first portion 12′ includes a container (not shown) for filling with lighter fluid through a sealable hole 13 in the bottom end of the housing. The fluid container is in communication with a valve (not shown) housed with an ignition mechanism 14 fitted to the top end of the housing 12. The ignition mechanism includes a spring loaded button 16 which when engaged opens the valve to meter the fluid as it escapes as a gas through aperture 18. The button when engaged also creates a spark by striking metal against a flint (not shown). The spark ignites the escaping fluid causing a flame to come out of the lighter which continues until the button is released, so extinguishing the flame by depriving it of fuel. The lighter portion of the first embodiment is constructed in generally the same way as conventional disposable butane lighters.

The second housing portion 12″ includes a rectangular cavity 34 terminating in an opening 35 in the bottom end of the housing. The cavity 34 is sized to receive a packet of cigarette papers, for example, one of the range marketed under the Rizla+ brand, by sliding one end of the packet through the opening 35 until the packet is fully received into the cavity. The fluid container and the cavity 34 extend alongside one another in the longitudinal direction of the housing.

The outside surface of the housing 12 includes two major surfaces 20, 22, one of which 22 forms the outside wall of the cavity 34. A longitudinal slot 24 is formed in the surface 22 and a reciprocal slider 26 is located for movement within the slot 24 towards and away from the opening 35.

The slider 26 projects into the cavity 34 far enough to bear against a major surface of the cigarette paper packet when located in the cavity and so that when the slider is pushed by a user in the direction of the bottom end of the housing, the packet is pushed out of the cavity sufficiently far to allow the user to grip and draw the packet from the cavity and so retrieve a paper from the packet for use in rolling a cigarette, the packet then being returned to the cavity. Nonetheless, the slider should not protrude further into the cavity than would prevent the packet from being pushed/pulled past the slider when being inserted into/removed from the cavity.

In a preferred implementation, the slider 26 is spring loaded to bias the slider into the cavity so that it tends to bear against and retain a packet located in the cavity. Further preferably, the slider within the cavity is profiled to allow a packet to slide under the slider where it is then retained in position within the cavity.

It will be seen that while the first embodiment has been described in terms of a housing having particular dimensions and ignition mechanism, the first embodiment of the invention can be implemented in any lighter housing sufficiently large to receive a packet of cigarette papers of the desired dimensions. Furthermore, the slot/slider arrangement 24/26 is again only one example of many possible implementations allowing the packet to be received and held within the housing and dispensed as required by the user.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, there is shown a combined lighter and paper dispenser 40 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The lighter dispenser of the second embodiment comprises an elongated cylindrical housing 42 arranged to receive a roll of cigarette papers, for example, of the type marketed under the Juicy Jay's brand.

The housing 42 comprises upper and lower portions portion 42′, 42″ adjacent the top and bottom ends respectively of the housing. An ignition mechanism 14′ similar in functionality to that of the first embodiment is fitted to the top end of the housing, and communicates with a lighter fluid container in the upper portion 42′. The lighter fluid container is in communication with a central tube 44 which runs along the longitudinal axis of the otherwise hollow lower portion 42″ of the housing and terminates in a sealable hole 45 at the bottom end of the housing through which the fluid container is filled. The lower portion 42″ of the housing forms a cylindrical cavity 43 for receiving a roll of cigarette papers by inserting the roll into an opening 49 in the lower end of the cavity 43 so that the roll surrounds the tube 44. A longitudinal paper feed slot 47 is formed along the length of the lower portion of the housing. In the illustrated embodiment, a serrated edge 46 is formed beside the slot. In other implementations, the edge can be formed within the slot, so that the rough edges 46 are not exposed from the housing.

In either case, when a roll of papers is located in the housing over the tube 44, the leading edge of the first sheet of paper is fed through and along the slot 47 so that it extends from the side of the housing.

A cap 48 is provided to close off the opening 49 at the bottom end of the housing once the roll of papers is inserted. In use, paper is drawn laterally from the roll by a user through the slot 47 and torn off at a required length for use as an individual cigarette paper, preferably leaving the leading edge of the remaining paper extending at least somewhat from the slot 47. In this specification, laterally means sideways relative to the direction of insertion of the papers into the cavity.

In a variation of the second embodiment (not shown), the lighter fluid container is filled from a valve located on the outside cylindrical wall at the bottom of the housing and communicating with the lighter fluid container through a conduit running along the cylindrical wall of the lower portion of the housing.

It will also be seen that in further variations of this embodiment, the lighter fluid container can extend through and around the walls of the lower portion 42″ of the housing to the extent that a slot remains in the side of the lower portion allowing paper to be dispensed.

By not using the tube as a conduit for filling the fluid container, the tube 44 can act only as a hub over which the roll of papers is located. In such implementations, the tube can be shortened to allow a modified cap 48 to be located within the housing so that when in position, the cap engages the roll. The outside edge of the cap can have a non-circular shape conforming with a complementary non-circular opening 49, so that with the cap in position its engagement with the edge of the opening prevents the roll either freely dispensing paper or rolling back into the dispenser. As such, the cap needs to be loosened or removed to allow the roll to dispense a subsequent portion of paper to be used in rolling a new cigarette. The cap can then be re-inserted to hold the roll in place, before the user rips the portion of paper at the edge 46 to ensure a clean cut.

Again, it will be seen that while the second embodiment has been described in terms of a housing having particular dimensions and ignition mechanism, the second embodiment of the invention can be implemented in any lighter housing sufficiently large to receive a roll of cigarette papers of the desired dimensions. Furthermore, the serrated edge 46 is again only one example of many possible implementations allowing the roll to be received and held within the housing with individual papers dispensed as required by the user.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a modification of the first embodiment, and the same reference numerals have been used for the same or equivalent parts (the fluid container is not seen in FIGS. 6 and 7). In this case the wall of the housing 12 has a longitudinal open-mouthed slot 50 communicating with the cavity 34 so that individual papers 52 can be dispensed laterally from a packet 54 of cigarette papers rather than having to remove the entire packet from the housing 12 as in the case of the first embodiment. To this end, as the packet 54 is inserted into the opening 35 and pushed fully into the cavity 34, the user should ensure that the leading edge of the top paper in the packet extends through the slot 50. This embodiment has a stopper or cap 56 to close the opening 35 when a packet 54 is in the housing 12, to stop the packet falling out (in the first embodiment the slider performs this function by bearing on the packet). The cap 56 includes a V-shaped slot to assist a user in rolling a cigarette. This embodiment also includes a hinged cover 58 for the slot 50.

FIGS. 8-10 show a modification of the second embodiment, and again the same reference numerals have been used for the same or equivalent parts. In this case, rather than being formed integrally with the housing 42, the slot 47 is formed in a plastics insert 60 which is press-fitted to a larger gap 62 in the body of the housing 42. The insert includes a resilient tongue 66 which presses against the leading edge of a paper 52 emerging from the slot 47 to prevent the roll 64 of papers from rotating within the housing 42 to inadvertently withdraw the leading edge of the exposed paper 52, and to prevent the outermost paper from emerging further from the slot unless drawn by the user. Otherwise, this embodiment operates functionally the same as the second embodiment.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show a further modification of the first embodiment, and the same reference numerals have been used for the same or equivalent parts. In this case, rather than being formed integrally with the housing 12, the slot 24 is formed in an open-ended plastics clip 70 which is press-fitted to a larger gap 72 in the body of the housing 12. Otherwise, this embodiment operates functionally the same as the first embodiment.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment(s) described herein but can be amended or modified without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A combined lighter and cigarette paper dispenser, comprising an ignition mechanism fitted to a housing which includes a lighter fluid container in fluid communication with the ignition mechanism, the housing further being arranged to receive and dispense one or more cigarette papers.

2. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing includes a cavity for receiving a supply of cigarette papers through an opening in the housing.

3. A dispenser as claimed in claim 2, wherein the housing includes user operable means for urging the supply of papers from the housing through the opening.

4. A dispenser as claimed in claim 3, wherein the user operable means comprises a manually operable slider arranged to slide along a slot in a wall of the housing towards and away from the opening, the slider bearing internally on the supply of papers.

5. A dispenser as claimed in claim 2, wherein a wall of the housing has a slot to allow individual papers from the supply to be drawn laterally from the supply through the slot.

6. A dispenser as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the cavity is generally rectangular with the opening at one narrow end to receive a packet of cigarette papers by sliding one end of the packet into the cavity through the opening.

7. A dispenser as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the cavity is generally cylindrical to receive a roll of cigarette papers.

8. A dispenser as claimed in claim 7, wherein the cavity contains an axial hub surrounded by the roll of papers.

9. A dispenser as claimed in claim 8, wherein the hub is hollow and serves as a conduit for the supply of lighter fluid to the fluid container.

10. A dispenser as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the housing is elongated and has the ignition mechanism at one end, the opening at the other end, and the cavity extending in the longitudinal direction of the housing from the opening towards the ignition mechanism.

11. A dispenser as claimed in claim 10, wherein the fluid container is filled through a sealable hole in the other end of the housing.

12. A dispenser as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein the fluid container and cavity extend alongside one another in the longitudinal direction of the housing.

13. A dispenser as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein the fluid container and cavity are located respectively adjacent the ignition mechanism and opening at longitudinally distinct locations within the housing.