Abstract:
A battery powered electronic candle lighter that generates an arc of electricity across electrodes to ignite a candle wick. The candle wick is positioned within the arc gap and the lighter is activated to generate an arc. The arc can be maintained by holding the arc generation button depressed. The very high temperature of the electrical arc ignites the materials within the candle wick to cause combustion. The electronic candle lighter of the present invention also has safety functionality to prevent accidents and misuse.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    This invention generally relates to portable hand held lighters, and more particularly, with battery powered lighters for candles. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Existing candle lighters generally use an onboard fuel source to produce a flame. When the fuel source is depleted the conventional lighter must be refueled or discarded. Refueling a conventional lighter requires a canister of pressurized fuel, and the storage and transfer of such a canister can be dangerous and inconvenient. 
         [0003]    Some fuel based lighters use a spark from other material such as flint to ignite the fuel. Some fuel based lighters use a momentary electrical arc to ignite the fuel. This momentary electrical arc is generated by a piezoelectric igniter. The igniter uses a mechanical means to deform a material which can exhibit a piezo electric effect. Typically a single motion of depressing a spring loaded trigger creates an impact on the piezo material. This deformation creates a high voltage in the material and results in a single spark (arc). This single spark is timed with the release of fuel and therefore ignites the fuel, producing a maintained flame at the end of the lighter. 
         [0004]    Another type of lighter that has become more common is a battery powered lighter that uses electrical power to heat a wire by means of ohmic heating. These lighters are convenient as they replace the need for combustible fuel; however they also have drawbacks associated with the heating wire which must have direct contact with the material it is lighting. This repetitive contact can cause damage to the wire and ultimately failure of the lighter. Additionally the wire expands with heat and this physical property also produces mechanical fatigue and ultimately failure of the lighter. 
         [0005]    It is desirable to have a candle lighter that overcomes the limitations of the previous art such that no fuel or heating wires would be required. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The present invention provides a battery operated candle lighter that uses a maintained electrical arc to directly ignite the candle wick. The electrical arc is created between two electrodes located at one end of the lighter housing. The other end of the lighter housing is used for holding and operating the lighter by hand. A switch is located within reach of the hand held end of the housing. 
         [0007]    As the wick of a candle can be located down within a candle holder it may be desirable to have an extended length of the lighter. In one embodiment of the present invention the candle lighter has an extended length between the handheld end and the electrode end of the lighter. This extended length makes it easy and safe for the operator of the lighter to access and light otherwise hard to reach wick locations. 
         [0008]    An embodiment of the invention includes a housing, an electric circuit having a switch, a power source, electrodes, electronic components, and conductors. The purpose of the electric circuit is to produce an electrical arc between the electrodes. There are multiple circuit designs that can produce an electric arc. Some designs are based on oscillators, resonant circuit or power inverter, step-up transformer, and diode-capacitor voltage multiplier to name but a few. These circuit designs achieve an alternating high-voltage discharge or a continuous direct current discharge. The circuit may be powered by one or more batteries, capacitors, or super capacitors. 
         [0009]    The internal electrical power source of the present invention may be rechargeable and therefore a means of recharging may be provided. In one embodiment of the present invention the hand held end of the lighter has two contact terminals exposed that can be contacted when the unit is put into a charging base. The base is electrically coupled to a supply source of electric power. When the lighter is inserted into the base the contact terminals on the base create a conductive connection with the contact terminals on the lighter. The contact terminals on the lighter are operatively coupled to the internal circuitry of the lighter so that electric power from the charging base is conducted into the lighter and charges the batteries, capacitor, or super capacitor within the lighter. 
         [0010]    In another embodiment of the invention, the lighter has an electric connection port and a wire with a jack can be inserted into the port. The wire with jack is electrically coupled to an electric power supply. The rechargeable power sources within the candle lighter can thus be charged via this means. 
         [0011]    An apparatus for igniting candles is provided, including an electrical power source; an electronic circuit; a first switch; and first and second electrodes at a first end of a housing, wherein the electrical power source, the switch, and the first and second electrodes are operatively coupled to the electronic circuit; whereby activation of the electronic circuit by actuating the first switch produces an electrical arc between the first and second electrodes. The electrical power source and electronic circuit may be positioned in the housing, and the housing may have an elongated shape. 
         [0012]    The housing may be sufficiently elongated to be held by hand and to extend the first and second electrodes safely into a candle with a wick in a recess while the hand remains outside the recess. The electrical power source may be rechargeable. The apparatus may include an electrically illuminated status indicator operatively coupled to the electronic circuit. 
         [0013]    The apparatus may also include contact terminals at a second end of the housing, and a charging base having an opening to receive the second end of the housing and thereby charge the power source via the contact terminals. 
         [0014]    The apparatus may include an electric connection port for receiving a wire electrically coupled to a power supply to recharge the power source. The apparatus may further include a second switch, wherein both the first and second switches are actuated to produce the electrical arc. The heat generated by the electric arc should be sufficient to light a candle wick. After actuation of the first switch, the electrical arc may be switched off after a predetermined time. 
         [0015]    The first switch may need to be actuated a predetermined number of times before the second switch will operate. After the first switch is actuated the predetermined number of times the second switch may be actuatable for a predetermined period of time. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an embodiment of an electronic candle lighter according to the invention, including a candle lighter, a charging base, and a charging base power cord. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of an embodiment of an electronic candle lighter according to the invention, including a candle lighter, a charging base, and a charging base power cord operatively coupled for charging. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is an elevation view of an embodiment of an electronic candle lighter according to the invention, including an enlarged view the electrode end thereof. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is an elevation view of an embodiment of an electronic candle lighter according to the invention, oriented to show the bottom of the electronic candle lighter. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a top view of an embodiment of a charging base for use with an electronic candle lighter according to the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    Referring now to the drawings and more particularly  FIG. 1 , there is shown a perspective view of a candle lighter ( 10 ) according to the invention. Lighter ( 10 ) has a housing ( 11 ) having a generally elongated and slender shape. Lighter ( 10 ) has two distinct ends: electrode end ( 12 ) and hand held end ( 14 ) where the operator grips lighter ( 10 ) with a hand. 
         [0022]    Lighter ( 10 ) has two switches, power on switch ( 16 ) and arc on switch ( 18 ). Although lighter ( 10 ) requires only a single switch, this embodiment uses a combination of switches and switch pressing patterns to improve safety and help prevent accidental generation of an arc during handling and storage. 
         [0023]    When the proper pattern of button presses occurs to actuate power on switch ( 16 ), lighter ( 10 ) illuminates a Light Emitting Diode (LED) for status indicator ( 20 ). The illumination of status indicator ( 20 ) indicates to the user that lighter ( 10 ) is active and only requires a single press and hold action of arc on switch ( 18 ) to generate and maintain an electrical arc at the electrode end ( 12 ) of candle lighter ( 10 ). When the user releases arc on switch ( 18 ) then internal lighter ( 10 ) circuitry terminates the electrical arc generation. The pattern can be as simple as one press of power on switch ( 16 ), or a more complicated pattern, for example, in an embodiment of the invention, power on switch ( 16 ) is pressed five times, thereby providing arc on switch ( 18 ) control for a three second period, during which arc on switch ( 18 ) can be pressed and held to initiate the arc. 
         [0024]    Again referring to  FIG. 1 , charging base ( 30 ) is depicted for use with candle lighter ( 10 ). Charging base ( 30 ) requires an electrical power supply and power cord ( 36 ) is shown for this function. In the embodiment shown, power cord ( 36 ) is adapted to plug into charging base ( 30 ) at one end, and then plug into a computer port, such as a USB port, at the other end. Alternatively, power cord ( 36 ) can plug into other electrical sources by changing the plug on the cord end. 
         [0025]      FIG. 2  shows an embodiment of the present invention configured for charging and storage. Hand held end ( 14 ) of candle lighter ( 10 ) is placed into charging base ( 30 ). As seen in  FIG. 1 , the charging base has a receiving opening ( 32 ) similar in profile to lighter ( 10 ), and shaped to receive hand held end ( 14 ). Stable charging base ( 30 ) rests solidly on flat surfaces and holds candle lighter ( 10 ) firmly via the receiving opening ( 32 ). Charging base ( 30 ) may then be connected to a suitable power source via power cord ( 36 ). 
         [0026]      FIG. 4  shows lighter contact terminals ( 28 ) of the candle lighter ( 10 ). The charging base contact terminals ( 34 ) of the charging base ( 30 ) are shown in  FIG. 5 . When the lighter ( 10 ) is placed into the charging base ( 30 ), the lighter contact terminals ( 28 ) come into contact with the charging base contact terminals ( 34 ). The mating of the contact terminals provides a conductive pathway for electrical power within the charging base ( 30 ) to reach the circuitry within the candle lighter ( 10 ). 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  includes an enlarged view labeled as ‘Detail A’ which shows clearly the two small electrodes ( 22 ), ( 24 ) at electrode end ( 12 ) of housing ( 11 ). The arc spans from electrode ( 22 ) to electrode ( 24 ) when lighter ( 10 ) is generating an arc. The space between electrode ( 22 ) and electrode ( 24 ) is the arc gap ( 26 ). 
         [0028]    To ignite a candle wick, the wick should be positioned within arc gap ( 26 ). When a wick is placed within arc gap ( 26 ) and lighter ( 10 ) is generating an arc, the extremely high temperatures of the arc ignite the materials within the wick of the candle. Arc gap ( 26 ) and the area below arc gap ( 26 ) should be sized to provide sufficient clearance for the combusting materials in the wick to avoid damage to electrode end ( 12 ) of candle lighter ( 10 ) during candle lighting. 
         [0029]    The length of the lighter ( 10 ) and more specifically the distance between the hand held end ( 14 ) and the electrode end ( 12 ) has a relationship with how deep within a hole or recess a wick can be reached. 
         [0030]    In another embodiment, the internal control circuitry of candle lighter ( 10 ) limits the time duration of arc generation regardless of the button state of the arc on switch ( 18 ). The time limit value can be predetermined at the time of manufacturing or may be set afterwards. This functionality provides further safety precautions for the unit to prevent overheating, accidental arc generation, and deter misuse. 
         [0031]    Although a few embodiments have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications might be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The terms and expressions used in the preceding specification have been used herein as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the invention is defined and limited only by the claims that follow.