SCENTED LIGHTER COVER

Abstract

A scented lighter cover includes an elongated, hollow main body having a capped bottom end, a middle portion, a hollow interior space and a top opening that are shaped to cover various commercially available lighters. The cover also includes a generally hollow cap member having a shape and size that is suitable for covering the flame producing portion of the lighter that is positioned within the main body. Each of the main body and the cap are constructed from fire resistant rubber, and are scented. A flame resistant metallic layer can be disposed along the entirety of the inside portion of one or both of the cap and the main body members.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application Ser. No. 62/258,158 filed on Nov. 20, 2015, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to object covers that are permeated with one or more scented materials.

BACKGROUND

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.

Tobacco and other types of smoking material have a persistent scent that becomes intensified when it is burned. As such, when a user handles cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other such smoking articles, it is not uncommon for their hand to maintain the scent of the smoking material for long periods of time.

There are many types of commercially available products which work to reduce the aroma produced by smoking such materials. For example, there are many types of aerosol-based air fresheners which can be sprayed across a room, so as to attempt to hide the aroma of the lit smoking material. Likewise, breath mints and other such objects are well known for attempting to remove the aroma of the smoking material from the users breath. Unfortunately, such products do nothing to remove the aroma from the users hands and clothing.

In light of the above, it would be beneficial to provide a scented lighter cover which can provide a pleasant aroma while the user is smoking, and which can deposit the same onto the users hands. Such a feature will prevent the scent from the smoking material(s) from being permeated into the users hands and clothing in the first place, and will also alleviate the need for the user to carry hand sanitizer and/or make frequent trips to the washroom to wash his/her hands.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a scented lighter cover. One embodiment of the present invention can include an elongated, generally tubular shaped main body having a capped bottom end, a middle portion, a hollow interior space and a top opening. The main body includes a shape and size that is complementary to the shape and size of a lighter, and more particularly a standard BIC® lighter.

In another embodiment, the cover also includes a generally hollow cap member having a shape and size that is suitable for covering the flame producing portion of the lighter that is positioned within the main body. Each of the main body and the cap can be constructed from fire resistant rubber, and are scented.

In another embodiment, a flame resistant metallic layer can be disposed along the entirety of the inside portion of one or both of the cap and the main body members.

In yet another embodiment, the cap and main body can be connected via a living hinge, and the cover can include dimensions that are complementary to those of a commercially available ZIPPO® lighter, so as to engage and cover the same.

This summary is provided merely to introduce certain concepts and not to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Presently preferred embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should be appreciated, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a scented lighter cover that is useful for understanding the inventive concepts disclosed herein.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the scented lighter cover in operation, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is another front view of the scented lighter cover in operation, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the scented lighter cover, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the description in conjunction with the drawings. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the inventive arrangements in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of the invention.

Identical reference numerals are used for like elements of the invention or elements of like function. For the sake of clarity, only those reference numerals are shown in the individual figures which are necessary for the description of the respective figure. For purposes of this description, the terms “upper,” “bottom,” “right,” “left,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIG. 1.

As described throughout this document, the term “complementary shape,” and “complementary dimension,” shall be used to describe a shape and size of a component that is identical to, or substantially identical to the shape and size of another component.

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate various embodiments of a scented lighter cover 10 that are useful for understanding the inventive concepts disclosed herein. Although the device is described for use with lighters, the invention is not limited to any particular use or industry, as the device can include any number of other shapes and sizes for use with objects other than lighters.

As described herein, the device 10 can include a main body 11 having any number of different shapes and sizes that are suitable for receiving and/or adhering to a secondary object such as the below illustrated lighters, for example. As such, the main body can be constructed from any number of different materials such as silicone, plastic, synthetic rubber, and other lightweight elastomeric compositions, that can function to grip and conform to the shape of the lighter. In various embodiments, the main body can be constructed from neoprene fire resistant rubber, so as to reduce the risk of the device ever catching fire, and/or can include a phosphorescent material so as to allow the cover to glow in the dark.

The main body 11 can also include any number and type of decorative elements 12 such as various colors, markings, words, shapes, symbols, logos, designs, texturing of materials, patterns, images, photographs and/or bedazzled elements, for example. These elements can be secured onto and/or into the main body in accordance with known techniques so as to be flush with the surface of the main body or can be recessed, and/or protruding outward from the main body so as to give a three dimensional effect or have phosphorescent that glows in the dark.

As the device 10 is intended to disperse an aroma, the main body can preferably include a scented material. In the preferred embodiment, the scented material will be formed with the construction of the main body so as to be integral with the same. As described herein, a scented material can include or comprise any type of oil, liquid, solid, gas or chemical compound that can be lined, coated and/or embedded within the main body or a cap, in order to produce an aroma, such as a floral arrangement or fruit smells, for example. Moreover, the scented material can be designed within the main body to include any number of different intensities and/or lifespans such as between 6 months and a year, for example. Although not required, certain embodiments are contemplated wherein the color of the body corresponds with a particular scent.

FIG. 1 illustrates a scented lighter cover 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. As shown, the cover can include an elongated, generally tubular-shaped main body 11 having a capped bottom end 11a, a continuous middle section 11b, a hollow interior portion 11c, and an open top end 11d that provides access to the interior portion.

In the present embodiment, the main body 11 can include a length (e.g., distance from the capped bottom end 11a to the open top end 11d) of approximately 2.75 inches, and an inside diameter of approximately 0.75 inches. Such dimensions being complementary to the dimensions of a standard sized commercially available BIC® lighter. Of course, other sizes are also contemplated to accommodate different sized lighters as well.

In one embodiment, the cover 10 can also include an optional cap member 20 which can function to cover the flame producing portion of a lighter. In this regard, the cap can be constructed from the same construction materials as the main body 11, and can also include a generally tubular-shaped main body having a capped top end 20a, a continuous middle section 20b, a hollow interior portion 20c, and a bottom end 20d that provides access to the interior portion. In the illustrated embodiment, the cap 20 also includes a metallic lining 21 along the interior portion, which functions to create a heat barrier between the lighter surface and the cap. Such a feature advantageously allows a user to cover the hot flame producing portion of a lighter 6, and to easily carry and store the same immediately after the lighter is used.

In the present embodiment, the cap 20 can include a length (e.g., distance from the capped top end 20a to the open bottom end 11d) of approximately 0.75 inches, and an inside diameter of approximately 0.75 inches. Such dimensions being complementary to the dimensions of the flame producing portion of a standard sized commercially available BIC® lighter. Of course, other sizes are also contemplated to accommodate different sized lighters as well.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lighter 5 can be removably positioned within the main body 11 of the cover 10 by sliding the same through the open top end 11d until the bottom of the lighter is resting on the top surface of the capped bottom end 11a and is inside the interior portion 11c. When so positioned, the flame producing portion of the lighter remains exposed, but the entire grip of the lighter is covered. As such, each time a user holds the lighter, the scent produced by the main body is emanated into the environment and onto the users hands. Such a scent functions to reduce the aroma produced by the smoking material to which the lighter is applied.

Although described and illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 for use with a traditional BIC® lighter, and as having a separate cap member, the inventive concepts are not so limiting. As such, those of skill in the art will recognize that the above described device can include any number of different shapes and sizes that is designed to accommodate any number of other types of commercially available lighters.

For example, FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the cover 10 that includes an elongated, generally rectangular-shaped main body 110 having a capped bottom end 110a, a continuous middle section 110b, a hollow interior portion 110c, and an open top end 110d that provides access to the interior portion. A cap member 200 is preferably hingedly secured to the open top end 110d via known manufacturing processes so as to form a living hinge 210. As shown, the cap member 200 also includes a generally rectangular-shaped main body having a capped top end 200a, a continuous middle section 200b, a hollow interior portion 200c, and a bottom end 200d that provides access to the interior portion 200c.

In the present embodiment, the main body 110 can include a length (e.g., distance from the capped bottom end 110a to the open top end 110d) of approximately 1 1/16 inches, a width of approximately 1 1/16 inches, and a depth of approximately 9/32 inches. Likewise, the cap 200 can include a length (e.g., distance from the open bottom end 210a to the capped top end 210d) of approximately ⅝ inches, a width of approximately 1 1/16 inches, and a depth of approximately 9/32 inches. Such dimensions being complementary to the dimensions of a standard sized commercially available ZIPPO® lighter. Of course, other sizes are also contemplated to accommodate different sized lighters as well.

As described herein, one or more elements of the lighter cover 10 can be secured together utilizing any number of known attachment means. Moreover, although the above embodiments have been described as including a unitary construction, the inventive concepts disclosed herein are not so limiting. To this end, one of skill in the art will recognize that one or more individual elements such as the scented material and/or the fire resistant lining for example, may be provided as separate elements that are designed to be adhered onto the interior surface of the main body, for example.

As to a further description of the manner and use of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Claims

1. A lighter cover, comprising:

an elongated, generally tubular shaped main body having a capped bottom end, a middle portion, a hollow interior space and a top opening;

said main body including a shape and size that is complementary to a shape and size of a lighter; and

a scented material that is provided along the main body.

2. The cover of claim 1, wherein the main body is constructed from an elastomeric material that is configured to stretch and grip the lighter.

3. The cover of claim 2, wherein the lighter includes a length of approximately 2.75 inches and a diameter of approximately 0.75 inches.

4. The cover of claim 1, further comprising:

a fire resistant material that is embedded within the main body, said material functioning to prevent the main body from catching on fire.

5. The cover of claim 1, further comprising:

a cap member that includes a generally tubular shaped main body having a capped top end, a middle portion, a hollow interior space and a bottom opening;

said cap member including a shape and size that is complementary to a shape and size of a flame producing portion of the lighter.

6. The cover of claim 5, wherein the cap member includes a length of approximately 0.75 inches and a diameter of approximately 0.75 inches.

7. The cover of claim 5, wherein the cap member is secured to the top opening of the main body via a living hinge.

8. The cover of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of decorative elements that are disposed along the main body.

9. The cover of claim 5, wherein at least one of the decorative elements includes a color, and said color corresponds to an aroma of the scented material.

10. The cover of claim 1, wherein the scented material includes an oil that is blended with the main body at a time of construction.

11. The cover of claim 1, wherein the scented material includes a gas that is blended with the main body at a time of construction.

12. The cover of claim 1, wherein the scented material includes a chemical compound that is blended with the main body at a time of construction.