Abstract:
A lighting device for cigarettes and cigars having an upright elongate body, a lid openable approximately ninety angular degrees from the body, a nozzle for producing a flame and directing the flame from the body at an angled direction between the body and the lid. The proximity of the flame base to the lid protects the flame from being inadvertently extinguished, while the distance of the flame tip from the lid allows the lighting of large diameter cigars and avoids overheating of the lid.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is related to cigarette and cigar lighting apparatuses. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Cigarette lighters, as their name implies, are primarily designed to light cigarettes and are not optimally configured for lighting cigars, whose diameters vary and are much larger than that of a cigarette, and which generally take longer to light than a cigarette. 
         [0003]    Cigars consist of a barrel, a head, and a foot. The barrel is the long tubular body portion. The foot is the end which is lit by the lighter and burned during smoking. The head is the tip of the cigar which the consumer places in his mouth during smoking. Barrel diameters of cigars can range from approximately ⅜-inch to approximately ⅞-inch. 
         [0004]    Cigarette lighters produce a lighting flame that has a flame base at its bottom and exiting the lighters flame nozzle, and a flame tip at its top which is disposed against the foot of the cigar or cigarette during lighting. 
         [0005]    Cigars oftentimes being so expensive, cigar smokers are typically very serious about the implements and accessories they use for smoking, and typically want a high-quality lighter for lighting their cigars properly, and to impress other cigar smokers. Such high quality lighters typically include a lid to hide and protect the inner workings of the lighter during non-use, and that is swung open to expose the flame nozzle during use. Cigars typically take longer to light than cigarettes, so lidded lighters are preferred also because the lids shelter the flame from wind during lighting so that it flame is not blown out before the cigar is fully lit. 
         [0006]    Oft times, the larger and varying barrel and foot diameters of cigars make proper lighting with a lidded lighter difficult. It is often impossible to properly position the foot over the flame tip due to interference with the lid. The distance between the nozzle and the lid is insufficient to allow the foot to be centrally positioned over the flame tip and rotated to symmetrically ignite the entire foot. 
         [0007]    Repositioning the flame base further from the lid during design of the lighter would introduce an undesirable side effect, in that the flame would be more easily inadvertently blown out during use if the flame base is not close enough to the lid for effective sheltering. 
         [0008]    Another disadvantage to existing lidded lighters, whether for use with cigarettes or cigars, is that the proximity of the flame base to the lid that is needed for proper sheltering results in a flame tip so close to the lid that the lid is often inadvertently overheated by the flame, which is especially common during longer lighting times of cigars. This results in a hot lid that might burn the user or delay his ability to close the lid or put the lighter back into his pocket or such until after the lid has cooled down. 
         [0009]    There exists a need for improvement in lidded lighters to better enable the lighting of cigars, and such is an object of the present invention. There exists the need for improvement in lidded lighters to move the flame tip away from the lid to allow proper positioning of the cigar foot over the flame tip without moving the flame base away from the lid and inadvertently diminishing sheltering of the flame by the lid, and such is an object of the present invention. There exists the need for improvement in lidded lighters to reduce the overheating of the lid, especially during the longer lighting times of cigars, without moving the flame base away from the lid and inadvertently diminishing sheltering of the flame by the lid, and such is an object of the present invention. Further needs and objects exist which are addressed by the present invention, as may become apparent by the included disclosure of an exemplary embodiment thereof. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The invention may be embodied as a lighting device for cigarettes and cigars having an upright elongate body, a lid openable approximately ninety angular degrees from the body, a nozzle atop the body for producing a flame and directing the flame from the body at an angled direction between the body and the lid. The proximity of the flame base to the lid protects the flame from being inadvertently extinguished, while the distance of the flame tip from the lid allows the lighting of large diameter cigars and avoids overheating of the lid. 
         [0011]    Further features and aspects of the invention are disclosed with more specificity in the Detailed Description and Drawings of an exemplary embodiment provided herein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a lighter according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the lighter of  FIG. 1  with its lid open and a flame ignited; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a right side view of the lighter of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a right side view of the lighter of  FIG. 1  with its lid open and a flame ignited; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a view of the lighter of  FIG. 1  lighting a cigar. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    Reference is now made to  FIGS. 1 through 5 , where there is shown a cigarette and cigar lighter  100  according to just one of the infinite number of possible embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0019]    Lighter  100  includes an upright elongate housing  102  having a lid  104  pivotally attached thereto at hinge  106 . The lighter is shown in its storage position in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , where the lid is closed, at zero angular degrees with respect to the housing&#39;s upper surface  108 , to cover and protect the inner components of the lighter. 
         [0020]    When opened to its upright position for use, at ninety angular degrees from the housing&#39;s upper surface, the housing&#39;s flame-producing nozzle  112  is exposed. The lighter is shown in its use position in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , where the lid is opened. 
         [0021]    Pressing against the actuation button  114  on the front side of the housing causes release and ignition of fuel within the housing and the ejection of flame  116  from the nozzle. Any typical fuel release and ignition means may be employed within the lighter to cause the flame from the nozzle, and the invention is not meant to be limited thereby. 
         [0022]    As seen best in  FIG. 4 , the nozzle  112  is angularly positioned and thereby adapted to eject the flame, as seen best in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , at a diagonal angle relative to the housing and lid, that bisects the ninety angular degree opening angle of the lid from the housing. Preferably, the flame  116  is directed at an angle of approximately forty-five angular degrees above the top surface  108 , and forty-five angular degrees below the lid  104 . 
         [0023]    As seen in  FIG. 5 , the foot of a cigar  200  is easily disposed against the flames tip  120 , while the flames base  122  is sufficiently sheltered by the lid to avoid being inadvertently extinguished. And the disposition and direction of the flame tip avoids any inadvertent heating of the lid. 
         [0024]    In summary, the invention may be embodied as a lighting device for cigarettes and cigars having a housing encasing fuel, an igniter for causing the fuel into a flame, and a nozzle for directing the flame, a lid attached to the housing and pivotable relative thereto between a closed position at a first angle relative to the housing and covering the nozzle, and an open position at a second angle relative to the housing and exposing the nozzle, wherein the nozzle directs the flame at a third angle between the first and second angles. 
         [0025]    The first and second angles may be separated by approximately ninety angular degrees. The third angle may be between twenty and seventy angular degrees from the first angle. The third angle may more specifically be between thirty and sixty angular degrees from the first angle. The third angle may more specifically be approximately forty-five angular degrees from the first angle. 
         [0026]    The housing may be an elongate rectilinear housing having an upper end, and the nozzle may be disposed at and direct the flame from the upper end. The lid may be pivotally affixed to the housing at a hinge disposed at the upper end. The lid may be disposed substantially parallel to the upper end during the closed position and substantially perpendicular to the upper end during the open position. The lid may be disposed substantially upright during the open position, when the elongate rectilinear housing is disposed substantially upright. 
         [0027]    The invention may also be embodied as a lighting device for cigarettes and cigars having an upright elongate body, and a flame exiting the body at a direction between zero and ninety angular degrees from upright. The body may have an upper end and the flame may exit the body from the upper end. The lighting device may have a lid hingedly attached to the body at the upper end. The lid may be pivotable relative to the body between a closed position covering the upper end and denying exit of the flame therefrom and an open position exposing the upper end and allowing exit of the flame therefrom. 
         [0028]    The lid may be substantially disposed in a direction approximately ninety angular degrees from upright during the closed position, and may be substantially disposed in a direction approximately zero angular degrees from upright during the open position. The flame may exit the body in a direction substantially bisecting the upper end and lid when the lid is in the open position. 
         [0029]    The invention may also be embodied as a lighter having a body producing a flame, the flame having a flame base adjacent the body and a flame tip at the distal end of the flame, and a sheltering lid attached to the body, wherein the flame base is substantially nearer to the lid than the flame tip is to the lid. The flame base may more specifically be less than seven-eighths of an inch from the lid, and the flame tip may more specifically be more than seven-eighths of an inch from the lid. The flame base may more specifically be approximately three-quarters of an inch from the lid, and the flame tip may more specifically be approximately one inch from the lid. 
         [0030]    While the invention has been shown and described with reference to a specific exemplary embodiment, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the invention should therefore only be limited according to the following claims, including all equivalent interpretation to which they are entitled.