Abstract:
The present invention provides a lighter assembly for use in a receptacle. A rigid elongate body is frictionally retained in the receptacle and an engaging arm projects into an axial passage way. An item to be lit engages the engaging arm, which completes a switch and actuates a heating element to ignite the item. An insulator block supports the heating element and protects the heating element from damage during use. Vents allow smoke and ash to escape the lighter assembly, and a lens assembly actuated by the engaging arm lights up for easy location.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an automatic lighter assembly. More specifically, the present invention relates to an automatic lighter for use in connection with a lighter receptacle, the lighter receiving an item along at least one longitudinal axis. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Conventional electric cigarette lighters have existed for many years. Many types of conventional lighters have been incorporated into vehicle dashboards. Many lighters are of the pop-out variety. Pop-out lighters are actuated by an operator depressing the lighter and contacting the vehicle&#39;s wiring harness. During use, electrical resistance heats a heating element and an operator removes the pop-out lighter to light a cigarette. This type of system may require custom pop-out elements different between vehicle models. Commonly, a user cannot easily switch a pop-out lighter between different vehicle models, since each vehicle model may employ different sized receptacles. 
     The pop-out type lighter system is also dangerous, as a user must handle the hot lighter in an unsecured manner. Through inadvertence or accident, hot pop-out lighters may be dropped on the floor of a car causing a fire or injury to a user. Pop-out lighters are also constructed to unexacting standards, allowing the pop-out mechanism to easily fail, leaving the heating element to become progressively hotter damaging the vehicle or the user. Pop-out designs also provide no way to vent excess heat buildup around a lit item. In sum, while pop-out lighters have been used frequently in recent years due to their low cost, they have many detriments. 
     Other conventional lighters are built into a vehicles dashboard at a factory or custom shop and cannot be interchanged between vehicles without rewiring the vehicle. Limited types of conventional removable lighters exist which require a generally L-shaped construction pivotably about a pivot point. These conventional lighters extend dangerously and inconveniently into a vehicle&#39;s user space risking easy breakage or damage to other items such as drink glasses, music players, and storage bins etc. 
     The non-linear and non-rigid conventional lighter designs cause stress concentrations about the pivot point or fixed junction in the L-shaped design. In sum, while L-shaped designs may still pivot about the axis of the receptacle they easily break, are unnecessarily expensive to manufacture and are more likely to mechanically or electrically fail during transport. 
     Conventional lighters also fail to provide convenient and transportable light sources for user convenience and safety. In some designs a light source is mounted on a dashboard in proximity to the lighter, in others a light is provided to illuminate the knob of a conventional lighter to make the knob visible at night or in the darkness to obviate the need for the driver to search for the lighter while driving. 
     Another difficulty presented with conventional designs is that little provision has been made to ease cleaning tasks and allow ash removal. In fixed conventional designs the unit had to be disassembled or vacuumed out. In removable designs, the ash was removed by shaking the device upside down. 
     Another difficulty with conventional designs is the lack of provision for efficient combustion. Efficient combustion requires access to an oxygen source and removal of smoke. Conventional designs do not allow easy air circulation and this may decrease the rate of ignition and generate incomplete combustion products dangerous to a user. 
     In summary, the problems of commercially available cigarette lighters include, but are not limited to: 
     1. Non-transferable between vehicles. 
     2. High manufacturing and replacement costs. 
     3. Low visibility and difficulty of use while operating a vehicle. 
     4. Limited smoke and ash escape limit unit lifespan and effectiveness. 
     5. Large size and interference with vehicle operation. 
     6. Fragile construction. 
     7. Safety risks through breakage and misuse. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF SELECTED EMBODIMENTS 
     An object of the present invention is to provide at least one invention that overcomes the detriments of conventional lighter assemblies discussed above. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a robust lighter assembly that is easily portable and transferable between vehicles. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a lighter assembly that is easily accessed and used in sub-optimal visual conditions. 
     Another object of the present invention allows easy removal of ash for cleaning and exhaust of smoke during use. 
     The present invention relates to a lighter assembly for use in a receptacle. A rigid elongate body is frictionally retained in the receptacle and an engaging arm projects into an axial passage way. An item to be lit engages the engaging arm completing a switch and actuating a heating element to ignite the item. An insulator block supports the heating element and protects the heating element from damage during use. Vents allow smoke and ash to escape the lighter assembly and a lens assembly actuated by the engaging arm lights up for easy location 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention there is provided a lighter assembly, for use in conjunction with a lighter receptacle, comprising: a rigid elongate housing, the housing defining at least one central axis and being dimensioned to be engageably received within the receptacle, the housing having a first contact intermediate axial ends of the assembly for contacting one electrical pole of a power supply connectable to the assembly during a use, and a second contact at one axial end of the assembly for contacting another polarity of the power supply connected to the receptacle during the use, a lens assembly at the other axial end of the assembly, the lens assembly defining an axial passageway dimensioned to at least partially receive an item to be lit for passage through the other axial end towards the one axial end, a light source proximate the lens assembly, a heating means arranged to ignite a received end of the item when inserted through the axial passageway and moved to a predefined axial position relative to the housing, switch means responsive to movement of the item into the axial passageway, and the switch means electrically connecting the heating element and the light source to the first and second contacts only when the item is sufficiently inserted into the axial passageway, whereby the heating element and light source are energized when the item is inserted into the lighter assembly and positioned within the receptacle to ignite the received end and illuminate the lens assembly. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a lighter assembly, wherein: the light source is at least one of a miniature incandescent element, a LED element, an LCD element, and an electro luminescent element. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a lighter assembly, further comprising at least a sloped rim on the lens assembly, the sloped rim coaxial with the axial passageway, and the sloped rim being at least one of a curved surface and an angular surface, whereby the sloped rim guides the item to be lit into a substantially axial alignment with the axial passageway and minimizes damage to the item during the insertion. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a lighter assembly, further comprising: at least a centering guide sleeve in the lens assembly, the guide sleeve being coaxial with the sloped rim, and a centering wall of the centering guide sleeve in smooth contact with a contact surface of the sloped rim, whereby both the sloped rim and the centering guide sleeve guide the item to be lit into the axial alignment with the axial passageway and prevents damage during the insertion. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a lighter assembly, further comprising: at least a first annular cavity defined in the lens assembly, the lens assembly being formed from at least one of translucent and a transparent material, the light source positioned proximate the first annular cavity, and the first annular cavity being effective to pass light, emitted from the light source during the use, around the lens assembly and enable an operator to perceive the lighter assembly. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a lighter assembly, further comprising: an inner cylinder assembly having a first conductive sleeve, the means for heating in the inner cylinder assembly, the inner cylinder assembly within the elongate housing coaxial the axial passageway, the conductive sleeve partially coaxial with the centering guide sleeve in the lens assembly whereby the received end easily slides from the lens assembly to the means for heating without damage, an annular cavity defined between the first conductive sleeve and the elongate housing, and at least one vent hole in the elongate housing in communication with the annular cavity, whereby combustion products from an ignited received end easily escape from lighter assembly and maintain a clean environment for future use. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a lighter assembly, wherein: the heating means includes at least one of a coil heater, a substantially planar ceramic heater, and a non-planar ceramic heater, and the heating means being effectively resistive to electrical current when energized to ignite the received end when the item is inserted to the predefined axial position. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a lighter assembly, further comprising: means for blocking an insertion of the received end along the axial passageway beyond the predefined axial position, and the blocking means effective to physically obstruct at least a first portion the axial passageway to prevent an unintended over insertion of the item and damage to the heating means. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a lighter assembly, wherein: the heating means is a coil heater, and the coil heating being a wire coil connected in parallel with the light source to the switch means. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a lighter assembly, further comprising: an insulator block in the blocking means, the coil heater arrayed on a top face of the insulator block, the insulator block effective to both electrically insulate poles of the coil heater and support the coil heater during the use, a slot in the insulator block, an insulative retainer in the slot, and at least a first portion of the insulative retainer projecting from the top face of the insulator bock and both retaining the coil heater in a predefined arcuate shape and blocking the unintended over insertion of the received end, whereby the blocking means prevents the item from disturbing the coil heater while positioning the received end sufficiently proximate the heating means to easily ignite during the use. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a lighter assembly, further comprising: means for frictionally retaining the rigid elongate housing in the receptacle, whereby the lighter assembly is prevented from an unintended removal from the receptacle while allowing an intended removal and repositioning to alternative receptacles. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a lighter assembly, further comprising: at least one friction fit member in the means for frictionally fitting, the at least one friction fit member projection from the elongate housing, the at least one fit member elastically contacting walls of the receptacle during an insertion of the lighter assembly, whereby the lighter assembly is slidably retained in the receptacle, and the means for frictionally fitting including the first contact, whereby during an insertion of the lighter assembly in the receptacle, the means for frictionally fitting simultaneously engages the receptacle frictionally and electrically. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a lighter assembly, further comprising: an outer conductive shell in the elongate housing, the first contact extending from the outer conductive shell to contact the one electrical pole, the outer conductive shell including at least one vent hole, the at least one vent hole on a portion of the elongate housing extending beyond the lighter receptacle when the lighter assembly is inserted in the receptacle, and the vent hole in communication with both the heating means and the received end, whereby when the received end is ignited, smoke from the item passes through the vent hole and escapes the lighter assembly thereby indicating to an operator that the item is ignited. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a lighter assembly, wherein: the light source is at least one of a miniature incandescent element, a LED element, an LCD element, and an electro luminescent element, the heating means includes at least one of a coil heater, a substantially planar ceramic heater, and a non-planar ceramic heater, and the heating means being effectively resistive to electrical current when energized to ignite the received end when the item is inserted to the predefined axial position. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a lighter assembly, wherein: the rigid elongate housing is a substantially cylindrical housing. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a lighter assembly, wherein: the axial passageway is a central axial passage way in the lens assembly. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a lighter assembly, further comprising: an engaging arm in the switch means, the engaging arm elastically projecting into the axial passageway, and the received end contacting and deflecting the engaging arm during an insertion to engage the switch means to allow the heating means to ignite the received end, whereby the lighter assembly is responsive to an insertion of the item and idle when no item is inserted thereby increasing a safety of the lighter assembly. 
     The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description read in conduction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate the same elements. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a sectional view along a length of the lighter assembly; 
     FIG.  1 (A) is a partial close-up view of a portion of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view along line  2 — 2  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG.  3 (A) is a partial sectional view along line  3 — 3  of FIG. 2; 
     FIG.  3 (B) is a partial sectional view along line  4 — 4  of FIG.  3 (A); and 
     FIG. 4 is a representational circuit diagram of the lighter assembly. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In resolving the issues noted above, embodiments of the present invention provide a lighter assembly that overcomes all the concerns noted above. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1,  1 (A), and  2 , a lighter assembly  100  includes a centering lens  3  and a housing  30  aligned generally along an axis A (alternatively called a central axis A). Axis A is a general axis defined along a lengthwise dimension of lighter assembly  100  (as shown) and need not be at a defined center of lighter assembly  100 , as long as the below-described general construction is functionally retained. As shown, lighter assembly  100 , in operation and assembly, is a substantially rigid elongate structure, meaning that it has generally more length than width and does not move relative to itself, as will be explained. 
     Lens  3  extends around axis A into a centering guide sleeve  4  coaxial with axis A, as will be explained. Lens  3  is constructed from materials selected to be partially transparent or translucent, for example plastic, as will be explained. 
     On an outer user surface of lens  3 , a sloped rim  7  smoothly joins a centering wall  8  defining a general axial passageway  2  on an inner surface of centering guide sleeve  4  extending along axis A. 
     A mating wall  5  extends from an outer surface of lens  3 . A first cavity  6  (shown as an annular cavity) is defined between outer mating wall  5  and inner centering wall  8 . 
     Cylinder housing  30  includes an outer conductive shell  31  and an inner cylinder assembly  36  having an inner conductive sleeve  37 . A top portion of conductive shell  31  overlaps lower portions of mating wall  5 . A set of at least two top crimps  33 ,  33  securely join overlapping portions of mating wall  5  to the top portion of conductive shell  31 , as shown. Consequently, top crimps  33  securely join housing  30  to lens  3 . Proximate top crimps  33 ,  33 , a set of vents  32  arrayed around an outer surface of conductive shell  31 , ventilate first annular cavity  6  to an external environment, as will be explained. 
     At a bottom portion of conductive shell  31 , a set of two or more blocking grooves  39 , are formed perpendicular to axis A by deforming inward selected portions of conductive shell  31 . An upper portion of an insulator block  63  is positioned in conductive shell  31  below blocking grooves  39  such that a portion of conductive shell  31  overlaps a portion of insulator block  63 , as shown. Blocking grooves  39  prevent insulator block  63  from slipping toward lens  3  during use, as will be explained. 
     A set of at least two bottom crimps  33 A,  33 A securely join overlapping portions of conductive shell  31  to the top portion of insulator block  63 , and prevent separation between insulator block  63  and conductive shell  31  during use. 
     A conductive cap  56  is press fit over a lower portion of insulator block  63 . Conductive cap  56  may be secured to insulator block  63  by any conventional means, including adhesive or the press fit as shown. Conductive cap  56  covers and protects the lower portion of insulator block  63 . A portion of insulator block  63  electrically separates conductive shell  31  and conductive cap  56 . 
     At least one friction fit members  35  elastically projects from an outer portion of conductive shell  31 . Friction fit member  35  frictionally and elastically engages one electrical pole (typically an inner wall) of an external lighter assembly receptacle during use and both rotationally stabilizes lighter assembly  100  relative to the external assembly and prevents unintended electrical separation. 
     A second annular cavity  6 A is defined between conductive shell  31  of cylindrical housing  30  and conductive sleeve  37  of inner cylinder assembly  36 . Second annular cavity  6 A is continuous with first annular cavity defined between mating wall  5  and centering wall  8 . 
     An overlap portion  8 A, of centering wall  8  on centering guide sleeve  4 , overlaps an outer upper portion of conductive sleeve  37 , as shown. 
     During operation, an external item to be lit  1  (as one example, a cigarette) is inserted by a user along sloped rim  7  into general axial passageway  2  along centering wall  8  of guide sleeve  4 . Overlap portion  8 A allows an axial end of item to be lit  1  to slide from centering wall  8  to inner conductive sleeve  37  without damaging interference. 
     A conductive leg  34  extends from conductive sleeve  37  of inner assembly  36  through a hole  34   a  in insulator block  63 , as shown. A conductor tab  54  extends from conductive leg  34  between insulator block  63  and an inner portion of conductive cap  56 . 
     A movable electrical contact  10  includes an engaging arm  9  flexibly projecting into axial passageway  2  for engagement with an item to be lit  1  during use. Movable contact  10  extends over a top portion of conductive sleeve  37  as shown and is electrically joined to conductive sleeve  37 . A projection portion  11  of engaging arm  9  extends through a shell opening in conductive sleeve  37  and contacts movable contact  10 . Movable contact  10  and engaging arm  9  are shown in a relaxed/non-engaged position. A movable contact  10 A and an engaging arm  9 A are shown in a deflected/engaged position. 
     During a use, item to be lit  1  is inserted along axial passageway  3  and flexibly engages engaging arm  9  moving engaging arm  9  into a deflected engaged position. During this motion, projection portion  11  contacts electrical contact  10  and presses it against conductive shell  31 . 
     A circuit  50  includes a wire  55  having a first wire portion  55 A extending from conductive cap  56  to a first conductive post  57 A secured in insulator block  63 . A second wire portion  55 B extends from a top of first conductive post  57 A to a light emitter  51  positioned within one of annular cavities  6  and  6 A and thereafter electrically joins light emitter  51  to conductive sleeve  37  and movable electrical contact  10 . 
     A third wire portion  55 C electrically joins conductor tab  54  with a bottom of a second conductive post  57 B secured in insulator block  63 . First conductive post  57 A is spaced apart from second conductive post  57 B. A heating element  53  operating as an electrical resistor  53  (shown for example as a coil) is electrically joined between respective tops of first and second conductive posts  57 A,  57 . An alternative embodiment of the present invention provides heating element  53  as a rigid ceramic resistor element either as a planar cast film or a bar/rod-type element. 
     As shown, conductive circuit  50  joins heating element  53  and light emitter  51  in an electrically parallel circuit, but an alternative embodiment may allow for a serial circuit without detracting from the novel features of the present invention. 
     Referring now to FIGS.  3 (A) and  3 (B), in the embodiment shown a slot  59  extends inward from a top surface of insulator block  63 . Slot  59  is opposite conductive posts  57 A,  57 B and hole  34   a  in insulator block  63 . A retained portion  62  of an insulative retainer  60  is secured within slot  59 . A blocking leg  61  extends from retained portion  62 . Blocking leg  61  projects between ends of heating element  53  (heating coil  53 ) fixed to conductive posts  57 A,  57 B, and operates to maintain heating element  53  in a desired expanded and secure position. 
     As shown, heating element  53  is a heating coil and extends from conductive posts  57 A,  57 B in a generally arcuate shape. Blocking leg  61  also serves as a crush-resister for heating element  53  (coil) and prevents item to be lit  1  from compressing heating element  53  during use and changing an electrical resistance in circuit  50 . A top of blocking leg  60  is proximate a height of heating element  51  to allow at least a close position between an end of item to be lit  1  and heating element  53 , but may either prevent actual contact with heating element  53  or allow only a light contact with heating element  53  depending upon a manufacturer&#39;s desire. 
     It should be readily understood by those skilled in the art that where heating element  53  does not require compression protection or position security (for example, when heating element is a ceramic resistor), slot  59  and insulative retainer  60  may be removed without effecting the overall operation and function of the present invention. 
     Referring now to FIG. 4, movable contact  10  is represented by switch  58  in circuit  50  and light emitter  51  and heating element  53  are shown in a parallel arrangement. As noted above, with other commonly understood circuit modifications, a serial arrangement may be used after determining the required current loads and resistance for circuit  50 . 
     Positive and negative poles of an external power supply  52 , commonly understood as the wiring harness of a vehicle or the vehicles battery, or even an external battery servicing the receptacle for lighter assembly  100 , are connected to conductive sections of a lighter assembly receptacle. These conductive sections are frequently the bottom and wall portions of a lighter assembly in a car, but other arrangements are envisioned depending upon consumer and manufacturer desire. These conductive sections are electrically separated so that no current flow exists between the conductive sections without operation of an inserted conductive switch. 
     During a use of lighter assembly  100 , a user inserts lighter assembly into an external receptacle until conductive cap  56  electrically contacts a bottom portion of the receptacle (commonly the positive pole of power supply  52 . Simultaneously friction fit members  35  elastically projecting from conductive shell  31  both electrically contacts wall portions of the receptacle and frictionally secures lighter assembly  100  in the external receptacle. Consequently, the external conductive sections of the receptacle remain electrically separated until circuit  50  in lighter assembly  100  is connected by a users action of inserting item to be lit  1  in axial passageway  2 . 
     After securing lighter assembly  100  in the external receptacle, a user inserts item to be lit  1  through axial passageway  2 . Sloped rim  7 , centering wall  8  of guide sleeve  4 , and inner conductive sleeve  37  provide a generally close-guiding fit and prevent axial misalignment away from axis A and damage to item to be lit  1 . The user inserts item to be lit  1  until contacting blocking leg  61  of insulative retainer  60 , simultaneously item to be lit  1  deflects engaging arm  9  of movable contact  10  until movable contact  10  (operating as switch  58 ) electrically contacts an inner portion of conductive shell  31  and completes circuit  50 . 
     As circuit  50  is completed both light element  51  and heating element  53  receive a current inherent with their design and operate by either emitting light or glowing to ignite item to be lit  1 . It should be understood that as or since power supply  52  preferably provides power in parallel to both heating element  53  and light emitter  51 , circuit  50  may be alternatively arranged to feed power through negative post  57 B (now acting as positive post  57 A) and discharge power through positive post  57 A (now acting as negative post  57 B) depending upon switch  58  placement and other factors obvious to those skilled in the art of designing electrical circuits. 
     One skilled in art of designing related types of engagement circuits  50  will recognize that circuit  50  may be easily modified to allow light emitter  51  to be any one of a miniature incandescent element, a LED element, an LCD element, or an electro luminescent element depending upon the type of power supplied from power supply  52  and a customer demand. For example, circuit  50  may be adapted to supply a current adapted to any combination of different heating elements  53  and light emitters  51 . 
     One benefit of the present design is that light emitted by light emitter  51  passes through transparent or translucent lens  3  and can be readily perceived by an operator. An operator easily perceives this emitted light both looking directly at lighter assembly  100 , and looking tangentially at lighter assembly  100  while driving. Consequently, at night, while operating lighter assembly  100 , an operator may both view item to be lit  1  extending from lens  3 , but also any smoke issuing from cylinder vents  32  and remove item to be lit  1  both safely while driving and at an optimal time for use. It should be understood, that one of the benefits of the present design is that annular cavity  6  allows light emitted from light emitter  51  to easily pass about an entire circumference and entirely illuminate lens  3 . Where a manufacturer or customer designs opaque sections of lens  3  to indicate a name or other symbol, these sections are backlit by light emitter  51  and easily seen by an operator. 
     Another benefit of the present design is that cylinder vents  32  allow smoke, created by igniting item to be lit  1  to easily pass away from heating element  53 , through second annular cavity  6 A and exit lighter assembly  100 . Remaining smoke also issues from axial passageway  2  after a withdrawal of item to be lit  1 . Consequently, there is little smoke residue build up internally in lighter assembly. This limited residue build up ensures an extended operable life for movable contact  10 . Additionally, since residue does not build up between contact  10  and conductive sleeve  37 , and acting as a fulcrum to stress contact  10 , contact  10  is not subjected to non-designed bending forces. 
     As with smoke, another benefit of the present design is simple and quick ash removal. Ash residue from most types of tobacco products (items to be lit  1 ) is easily friable and is either in small particles in an original state or is easily broken into small particles by simply removing lighter assembly  100  from a receptacle and shaking it. The small ash particles easily slide out of axial passageway  2 , or are easy to shake free from lighter assembly  100  along annular cavities  6 A through vents  32  and possibly friction fit members  35  depending upon overall design. 
     Another benefit of the present design is that it may be readily adapted to a variety of receptacles in a variety of environments. While we have discussed preferred embodiments involving common lighter receptacles in vehicles, these receptacles may be adapted for positioning on boats, golf carts, and in smoking lounges. These receptacles and the present design may be expanded in diameter to easily accommodate larger sized items to be lit, for example cigars. 
     In the claims, any means- or step-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described or suggested herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures. Thus, for example, although a nail, a screw, and a bolt may not be structural equivalents in that a nail relies entirely on friction between a wooden part and a cylindrical surface, a screw&#39;s helical surface positively engages the wooden part, and a bolt&#39;s head and nut compress opposite sides of at least one wooden part, in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail, a screw, and a bolt may be readily understood by those skilled in the art as equivalent structures. 
     Although only a single or few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiment(s) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the following claims.