Abstract:
The invention is a lighter cover for use with a cigarette lighter, the cover including a bottle opener for removing crimped crown-type caps from bottles and a pull-tab opener for lifting a pull-tab on a beverage can.

Description:
BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The invention relates to a cover for cigarette lighters. More particularly, the invention relates to such a cover that includes a bottle opener. 
         [0003]    2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Persons who smoke commonly carry on their person a lighter for cigarettes or cigars. Regardless of the intended use of the lighter, it will be referred to hereinafter as a cigarette lighter. Hikers and campers also use lighters to start campfires. Because of this, the cigarette lighter lends itself as a carrier for some other item that a person may frequently use, such as a bottle opener. A lighter cover that includes a bottle opener is one that is called the MANTIS bottle opener lighter cover. This lighter cover is designed to receive the BIC® lighter. A pry-type bottle opener for opening crimped crown bottle caps is provided on the bottom of the lighter cover. 
         [0005]    The crown bottle cap is used, of course, only on bottles. Beverages are also commonly provided in aluminum cans that have a pull-tab for opening the can. To open these pull tabs, one must insert a fingernail under the tab and lift up. Many people, particularly women with manicured and polished fingernails, do not like to do this, because the action frequently damages the nail polish or breaks the nail. 
         [0006]    What is needed, therefore, is a cover lighter that includes a bottle opener and pull-tab opener. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The invention is a lighter cover for a conventional cigarette lighter, the lighter cover including a bottle opener and a pull-tab opener. The lighter cover is a molded component, dimensioned to receive a cigarette lighter, such that the cigarette lighter remains usable while in the cover. Incorporated into the cover is a pry-type bottle opener for opening crimped crown bottle caps and also a pull-tab opener to lift the pull-tab on a beverage can. 
         [0008]    The bottle opener is provided on the side and the pull-tab opener on the bottom of the lighter cover. Additional elements, such as a golf-ball marker, a clock, a compass, etc. may also be incorporated into the lighter cover. 
         [0009]    The lighter cover is molded from a strong, durable material, such as ABS plastic or stainless steel. The cover may be lined with an overmold of a softer, compressible material, so as to provide a secure frictional grip on the cigarette lighter, to prevent it from falling out of the lighter cover. An overmold of softer material may also be provided on the outer surface of the lighter cover, to aesthetic reasons, and also to provide a softer grip. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. The drawings are not drawn to scale. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the lighter cover according to the invention, showing a first face having the bottle opener with magnet and the pull-tab opener. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the lighter cover, showing a second face having a retainer for an additional element, this case, a magnet for holding a golf-ball marker. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a front plan view of the body, showing details of the bottle opener. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a first side plan view. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a rear plan view, showing the retainer for an additional element. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is second side plan view. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a top plan view. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a bottom plan view of the lighter cover. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the lighter cover, showing a friction-fit liner on the inside of the body. 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the lighter cover according to the invention, showing a partial shield over the bottle opener. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    The present invention will now be described more fully in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention should not, however, be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, they are provided so that this disclosure will be complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
         [0022]      FIGS. 1-9  illustrate a lighter cover  100  according to the invention, the lighter cover comprising a cover body  10 , a bottle opener  30  and a pull-tab opener  40 . It is understood that the shape and dimensions of the lighter cover  100  may be selected to fit a specific lighter, such as the BIC®, as shown in the figures, or the ZIPPO® cigarette lighter, or any other type or brand of lighter.  FIG. 1  is a perspective view, showing a front face  16 A of the sidewall  16  and the top, and  FIG. 2  is a perspective view, showing a rear face  16 B and the bottom of the lighter cover.  FIG. 3  is a plan view of the cover lighter  100  and  FIG. 4  a first side view.  FIG. 5  is a rear plan view and  FIG. 6  a second side view.  FIGS. 7 and 8  are top and bottom plan views, respectively,  FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the lighter cover  100 , and  FIG. 10  a perspective view of a second embodiment of the cover lighter that has a shield over a portion of the bottle opener  30 . 
         [0023]    Ideally, the lighter cover  100  has a shape and dimensions that provide a form-fit for a cigarette lighter. In the embodiments shown, the lighter cover is constructed to receive a cigarette lighter that has straight sides and is oval in shape. The cover body  10  has an open top  12 , a bottom  14 , and a side wall  16 . The side wall has a front face  16 A, a rear face  16 B, a first end face  16 C, and a second end face  16 D. It is understood that the cover body  10  can be rectangular in shape, with four plane faces  16 A- 16 D or round with four portions  16 A- 16 D. The cover body  10  is constructed of a durable material, such as ABS plastic or stainless steel. 
         [0024]    The bottle opener  30  is provided in the front face  16 A and is defined by a recess  32  that is deep enough to accommodate an edge of a bottle cap. A metal plate or bar is embedded in the lower part of the cover body  10 , such that a pry edge  34  for lifting a bottle cap from a bottle extends into the area of the recess  32 . Also provided in the recess  32  is a magnet  36 . This magnet  36  also serves as the leverage surface against the bottle cap, in the process of lifting it from the bottle. The purpose of the magnet is to attract and hold the cap, so that it may be properly disposed of, rather than fall to the ground.  FIG. 10  illustrates a shield  38  that may be integrated into the cover body  10 . The shield is essentially a thickening of the cover body in the area above the recess and may have a slightly out-ward rounded contour. The rounded contour is desirable for reasons of comfort and aesthetics. Also, thicker material of the cover body in this area increases the strength of the leverage surface. The lower face of the shield provides a surface into which the magnet  36  may be embedded, such that the magnet still serves as the leverage surface against the bottle cap. 
         [0025]    Optional elements of the lighter cover  100  include a retainer for an additional element  50 , a tether means  60 , and a friction-fit liner  20 . The additional element  50  may be a golf-ball-marker retainer, a clock, a compass, etc. In the embodiment shown, the additional element  50  is a golf-ball-marker. A recess  52  that is dimensioned to hold a golf-ball marker is formed in the side wall  16 . The recess  52  is contoured to enable one to press an edge of the golf-ball marker into it, so as to force an opposite edge out of the recess, to facilitate removing the golf-bail marker from the recess. A magnet  56  is embedded into or adhesively bonded to the recess  52  to hold the metal golf-ball marker  54  in place. It is understood that the additional element may be any instrument or device that can be magnetically attached to the recess  52  or adhesively or otherwise affixed thereto. It is also within the scope of the invention to provide a lip around the perimeter of the recess,  52 , so that the additional element may be snapped into place, rather than held by a magnet. 
         [0026]    In the embodiment shown, the tether means  60  is provided in the bottom of the body  10 . In this embodiment, the tether means  60  includes a through-bore  62  through the cover body  10  to which a key ring  64 , a tether strap, etc may be attached. The user may then attach a strap, chain, cord, or other device to the tether means  60 . 
         [0027]    The bottom  14  includes an intermediate bottom  46 , a lifter  42 , and a gap  44  formed therebetween. The lifter  42  is thin enough to slip under and the gap large enough to receive the pull-tab on a conventional beverage can. Once the lifter  42  is inserted under the pull-tab, the lighter cover is moved at an angle relative to the place of the lid of the can, to lift the pull-tab sufficiently to open the can. 
         [0028]    The inside of the body may be filled with a friction-fit liner  20  that is soft and compressible and provides a secure friction fit against the cigarette lighter.  FIG. 9  shows the liner  20  lining the inside wall of the body extending only part way down the inside wall. It is also possible, of course, to provide the friction-fit liner  20  down the entire length of the inner wall. A suitable material for the friction-fit liner is silicone. Depending on the geometry of the cigarette lighter and the material used for the cover body  10 , use of the friction-fit liner  20  may be unnecessary. The amount of friction-fit liner  20  that is needed to securely hold the cigarette lighter is also a function of the type of material used for the friction-fit liner and the geometry of the cigarette lighter. 
         [0029]    Although not shown in the drawings, it is understood that an overmold of a soft material may be applied to the outer surface, or a portion thereof, to provide a comfortable feel and grip for the user. 
         [0030]    It is understood that the embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the present invention. Variations in the construction of the lighter cover may be contemplated by one skilled in the art without limiting the intended scope of the invention herein disclosed and as defined by the following claims.