PACKING LIGHTER

Abstract

A packing lighter that includes an ignite activation portion and a middle portion that stores an ignitable substance. The packing lighter further includes a tip that removably attaches to the middle portion, or a sleeve that removably slides over the middle portion. The tip and the sleeve are a shape and size that is suited to fit into a smoking device to pack a smokable substance into the smoking device.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to a lighter that is capable of packing smoking substances in a smoking device and, more particularly, to a lighter with a tip portion that may be used to pack smoking substances in a smoking device, where the tip portion is hollow and may be used to store the smoking substances therein.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Humans have smoked various substances for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Tobacco and marijuana are two commonly smoked substances, and there are many more substances that are and historically have been smoked by people. There are various ways to smoke substances, for example by using smoking devices such as pipes, bowls, bongs, etc. Often, the substance to be smoked, i.e., the smoking substance or “smokable”, is packed into a smoking device using a tool, finger, etc., and then lit with a lighter and smoked. It would be useful to have a single device that is capable of packing and lighting the substance to be smoked.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a packing lighter that includes an ignite activation portion and a middle portion that stores an ignitable substance. The packing lighter further includes a tip that removably attaches to the middle portion, or a sleeve that removably slides over the middle portion. The tip and the sleeve are a shape and size that is suited to fit into a smoking device to pack a smokable substance into the smoking device.

Additional features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of one embodiment of a packing lighter;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a tip of the packing lighter;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of another embodiment of a packing lighter;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a tip of a sleeve of the packing lighter; and

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a packing lighter with a sensor that detects leaks in an ignitable substance.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The following discussion of the embodiments of the invention directed to a packing lighter is merely exemplary in nature, and is in no way intended to limit the invention or its applications or uses.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a packing lighter 10 that includes a lighter portion 12 with an ignite activation portion 14. The lighter portion 12 and the ignite activation portion 14 operate in a known manner. A middle portion 16 stores an ignitable substance, such as butane. A tip 18 is also included that is detachable and is a shape and size that is particularly suited to fit into a smoking device such as a pipe, bowl, etc., such that a smokable substance may be packed into the smoking device by using the tip 18 of the packing lighter 10. The tip 18 may be made of any suitable material, such as plastic or metal, where metal may be preferred to avoid melting or burning of the tip 18 when used to pack a hot smokable substance and/or when inserted into a hot smoking device such as a hot pipe. A clip 50 may also be included to allow the lighter packing 10 to be removably attached to an article, for example, clothing. The lighter packing 10 may further include a textured grip 52 that allows the tip 18 to be removed and attached more easily.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of the tip 18 of the packing lighter 10. The tip 18 may be removably attached to the middle portion 16 using, for example, threads 20. The threads 20 are merely exemplary as any suitable means may be used to removably attach the tip 18 to the middle portion 16.

A channel 24 in the middle portion 16 is provided and may be accessed by removing the tip 18. The channel 24 is used to introduce an ignitable substance, such as butane, into the middle portion 16. Removing the tip 18 also allows an inner region 26 of the tip 18 to be accessed. The inner region 26 is hollow and capable of holding items such as smokable substances. Thus, a user of the packing lighter 10 may remove the tip 18, retrieve a desired amount of a smokable substance from the inner region 26, reattach the tip 18, pack the smokable substance into a smoking device using the tip 18 and light the smokable substance using the lighter portion 12 and the ignite activation portion 14.

A cover 22 may be placed at a top region of the tip 18 that connects to the middle portion 16. The cover 22 serves to prevent spilling of a smokable substance stored in the inner region 26 and also protects the smokable substance in the event the butane or ignitable substance leaks from the channel 24. The cover 22 may be made of any suitable material, such as rubber, silicone, latex, etc.

The size of the packing lighter 10 may be any suitable size. The size of the tip 18 may vary, and also may be of any suitable size. For example, the packing lighter 10 may be approximately 3.5 inches in length and approximately 1 inch in diameter. The tip 18 may be, for example, 0.5-1.0 inches long and 0.75 inches in diameter. The shape of the packing lighter and tip may be any suitable shape, for example, cylindrical. The middle portion 16 and the tip 18 may be the same shape or may be different shapes. The material of the middle portion 16 and lighter portion 12 may be any suitable material, for example, plastic or metal. The middle portion 16 and/or the tip 18 may be smooth or textured.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a packing lighter 30 that includes a lighter portion 32 with an ignite activation portion 34. The lighter portion 32 and the ignite activation portion 34 operate in a known manner. A middle portion 36 stores an ignitable substance, such as butane. A sleeve 38 slides overtop at least part of the middle portion 36. The sleeve 38 is a shape and size that is particularly suited to fit into a smoking device such as a pipe, bowl, etc., such that a smokable substance may be packed into the pipe, bowl, etc. using the end of the sleeve 38. The sleeve 38 may be made of any suitable material, such as plastic or metal, where metal may be preferred to avoid melting or burning when used to pack a hot smokable substance. A keychain loop 42 may also be included to allow the lighter 30 to be removably attached to items such as a keychain.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of the end of the sleeve 38. As shown, the sleeve 38 fits over the middle portion 36 such that an inner region 40 is created. The inner region 40 provides a gap that separates the end of the sleeve 38 from the butane containing middle portion 36. Thus, the end of the sleeve 38 may be inserted into a hot pipe, bowl, etc. without exposing the middle region to the inside of the pipe, bowl, etc.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a packing lighter 60 that includes a butane sensor 62 that detects leaks of the ignitable substance, where like elements from FIGS. 1 and 2 are identified by the same reference numerals. The sensor 62 is connected a circuit board 64, a battery 66 and an alarm 68. The alarm 68 may be audio, visual, vibration or some combination thereof. A barrier 70 is attached to a face of the alarm 68, where the battery 66 is next to an opposing face of the alarm 68. According to this embodiment, the battery 66 is sandwiched between the alarm 68 and the circuit board 64, however any suitable arrangement for the sensor 62 may be used. The sensor 62 is removably inserted in the middle portion 16 of the lighter 60 via a removable cap 72. The sensor 62 fits inside the middle portion 16 beyond the threads 20. The sensor sits near a fill hole 74 in the middle portion 16 where an ignitable substance may be introduced into the middle portion 16.

The sensor 62 serves to detect a leak of the ignitable substance, should a leak from the middle portion 16 occur. For example, if the ignitable substance is leaking from the fill hole 74 the sensor will detect the leak and the alarm 68 will indicate that a leak has been detected. The sensor 62 serves to protect the contents of the tip 18 from contamination that may occur as a result of a leak of the ignitable substance from the middle portion 16. The removable cap 72 may also protect the contents stored in the tip 18 as well as hold the sensor 62 in place.

The foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplary embodiments of the present invention. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion and from the accompanying drawings and claims that various changes, modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. A packing lighter, said lighter comprising:

an ignite activation portion, said ignite activation portion capable of producing a flame;

a middle portion, said middle portion attached to the ignite activation portion and capable of storing an ignitable substance;

a tip, said tip being removably attached to the middle portion, wherein the tip is a shape and size that is suited to fit into a smoking device to pack a smokable substance into the smoking device.

2. The packing lighter according to claim 1 wherein the tip is hollow and used to store desired items.

3. The packing lighter according to claim 2 wherein the tip is used to store the smokable substance.

4. The packing lighter according to claim 1 wherein the tip is made of a material that will not melt or burn when placed in a hot smoking device.

5. The packing lighter according to claim 1 further comprising a clip that is capable of removably attaching the packing lighter to a desired article.

6. The packing lighter according to claim 1 wherein the tip is removably attached using threads.

7. A packing lighter, said lighter comprising:

an ignite activation portion, said ignite activation portion capable of producing a flame;

a middle portion, said middle portion attached to the ignite activation portion and capable of storing an ignitable substance; and

a removable sleeve, said sleeve removably sliding over the middle portion, wherein a gap within the end of the removable sleeve separates the middle portion from the end of the removable sleeve, and wherein the sleeve is a shape and size that is suited to fit into a smoking device to pack a smokable substance into the smoking device.

8. The packing lighter according to claim 7 wherein the sleeve is made of a material that will not melt or burn when placed in a hot smoking device.

9. The packing lighter according to claim 7 further comprising a clip that is capable of removably attaching the packing lighter to a desired article.

10. The packing lighter according to claim 7 wherein the packing lighter is approximately 3.5 inches in length.

11. The packing lighter according to claim 7 wherein the packing lighter is approximately 1 inch in diameter.

12. The packing lighter according to claim 7 wherein the packing lighter is cylindrical.

13. A packing lighter, said lighter comprising:

an ignite activation portion, said ignite activation portion capable of producing a flame;

a middle portion, said middle portion attached to the ignite activation portion, wherein the middle portion is used to store an ignitable substance therein that is used by the ignite activation portion to produce a flame;

a sensor located within the middle portion and seated below the stored ignitable substance, said sensor capable of detecting a leak of the ignitable substance from the middle portion; and

a tip, said tip being removably attached to an end of the middle portion, wherein the tip is below the sensor, and further wherein the tip is a shape and size that is suited to fit into a smoking device to pack a smokable substance into the smoking device.

14. The packing lighter according to claim 13, wherein the sensor includes a circuit board, a battery and an alarm.

15. The packing lighter according to claim 14, wherein the alarm is audio, visual, vibration or some combination thereof, said alarm activating when a leak of the ignitable substance is detected by the sensor.

16. The packing lighter according to claim 13 wherein the sensor sits near a fill hole in the middle portion where an ignitable substance is introduced into the middle portion.

17. The packing lighter according to claim 13 wherein the tip is hollow and may be used to store desired items.

18. The packing lighter according to claim 13 wherein the packing lighter may be any suitable shape.

19. The packing lighter according to claim 13 wherein the packing lighter is approximately 3.5 inches in length.

20. The packing lighter according to claim 13 wherein the packing lighter is approximately 1 inch in diameter.