Patent Publication Number: US-2023157355-A1

Title: Lighter and storage device

Description:
FIELD 
     The present application relates to a device that includes a lighter and has a storage compartment configured to retain a component to be lit such as a cigarette, cigar, rolled cigarette, or the like. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Attempts have been made to create storage devices that store cigarettes or rolled cigarettes. These devices typically hold a pack of cigarettes and are generally square in shape. Further, novelty lighters have been made that have various shapes that resemble other objects. 
     Examples of some devices may be disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. D272,295; 995,463; and 2,453,713 all of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. Thus, there is a need for a dual lighter and storage system. There is a need for a lighter that includes a storage system to house rolled cigarettes so that the rolled cigarettes may be transported without being damaged. It would be desirable to have storage system where once the cigarette is removed the storage system may be used to light the cigarette. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present teachings provide: a lighter including: a lighter portion that is movable between an extended state and a retracted state; and a storage compartment located adjacent to the lighter portion that holds one or more stored items that may be lit by the lighter portion. 
     The present teachings provide a need for a dual lighter and storage system. The present teachings provide a lighter that includes a storage system to house rolled cigarettes so that the rolled cigarettes may be transported without being damaged. The present teachings provide a storage system where once the cigarette is removed the storage system may be used to light the cigarette. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a front perspective view of a lighter. 
         FIG.  2    is a rear perspective view of a lighter. 
         FIG.  3    is a partial exploded view of a lighter. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The explanations and illustrations presented herein are intended to acquaint others skilled in the art with the invention, its principles, and its practical application. Those skilled in the art may adapt and apply the invention in its numerous forms, as may be best suited to the requirements of a particular use. Accordingly, the specific embodiments of the present invention as set forth are not intended as being exhaustive or limiting of the teachings. The scope of the teachings should, therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description, but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated by reference for all purposes. Other combinations are also possible as will be gleaned from the following claims, which are also hereby incorporated by reference into this written description. 
     The present teachings relate to a lighter. The lighter may be a gas lighter. The lighter may be an electric lighter. The lighter may create a temperature that is sufficiently high to ignite paper, a cigarette, a cigar, tobacco, or a combination thereof. The lighter may fit within a pocket. The lighter may have hey lighting portion. The lighting portion may be spaced apart from a storage portion of the lighter. 
     The lighting portion may function to ignite a combustible item. The lighting portion may light a fuel, a combustible item of interest, a cigarette, a cigar, a rolled cigarette,  cannabis , start a fire, or a combination thereof. The lighting portion maybe movable between an extended state and a retracted state. The lightning portion may be a forward end of the lighter. The lighting portion may be a part of the body forward of the storage compartment. The lighting portion may include a lighting utensil. The lighting portion may protect the lighting utensil. The lighting portion may house all or a portion of the lighting utensil. The lighting portion may have an end that is openable and closable. The lighting portion may have an end that remains open at all times. The lightning utensil may extend through the opening in the lighting portion. 
     The lighting utensil functions to create combustion, ignition, a fire, to light an object of interest, or a combination thereof. The lighting utensil may extend into the lighting portion, extend out of the lighting portion or both. The lighting utensil may create fire through direct contact or indirect contact. The lighting utensil may retract into the lighting portion. The lighting portion may include an arc arm and one or more arc fingers. 
     The arc arm functions to move the lighting utensil relative to the lighting portion, create an electrical connection, or both. The arc arm may be located partially within the lighting portion and partially out of the lighting portion in the extended state. The arc arm may be in communication with a power source. The arc arm may be made of or include plastic, metal, a conductive material, an insulative material, aluminum, steel, copper, or a combination thereof. The arc arm may be a solid piece of material. The arc arm may be hollow and one or more wires may extend through the arc arm. The arc arm may be electrically connected to a power source. The arc arm may be indirectly connected to a power source. The arc arm may include a contact that when moved into contact with another contact allows power to flow from the power source to the arc fingers. For example, the contact portions may be in contact in the extended state and the contact portions may be spaced apart in the retracted state. The arc arm may facilitate the arc fingers extending into and out of the lighting portion. 
     The arc fingers function to create ignition, a flame, to light something on fire, or a combination thereof. The arc fingers may be spaced apart so that an arc of electricity may extend there between. The arc fingers maybe spaced a sufficient distance so that electricity can arc between the two arc fingers, an item to be lit may extend therebetween, an item to be lit may be lit, or a combination thereof. The arc fingers may extend out of the lighting portion. The arc fingers when located out of the lighting portion may provide an arc. The lightning fingers when located within the lighting portion may be prevented from providing an arc. The lightning fingers when located within the lighting portion may be electrically disconnected from a battery. The lightning fingers in the extended state may be turned on and in the retracted state may be turned off. 
     The extended state may extend the lighting utensil out of the lighting portion. The extended state may electrically connect the lighting utensil to a power source (e.g., a battery). The extended state may activate the lighting utensil. For example, as the lighting utensil extends forward an electrical contact may be made so that power may be supplied to the arc fingers. The extended state may be a position where the arc fingers extend a sufficient distance beyond the lighting portion to light an item of interest. The lighting utensil when moving between the retracted state and the extended state may be activated and deactivated. 
     The retracted state may protect the lighting utensil from damage. The retracted state may electrically disconnect the lighting utensil from a power source. The retracted state may switch the lighting utensil off. For example, as the lighting utensil moves from the extended state to the retracted state an electrical connection may be removed or an electrical connection may move from a conductive portion to a non-conductive portion. The retracted state may be a position where the lighting utensil is located entirely within the lighting portion. We retracted state may be formed by the movement button extending along the body. 
     The body functions to house the components of the lighter. The body functions to protect the lighting utensil, the stored items, or both. The body may include a storage compartment, the lighting portion, or both. The body may be made of one or more materials. For example, the lighting portion may be made of a different material than the storage compartment. All or a portion of the body may be thermally insulated. The body may be made of metal or include metal. The body may be made of or include medal, glass, ceramic, iron, plastic, a polycarbonate, a bromated plastic, aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide, steel, copper, or a combination thereof. The body may prevent thermal transfer from the lighting utensil to an individual using the lighter. The body may have a length that is sufficiently long to store one or more items such as a cigarette or cigar. The body may be sufficiently short so that the lighter may fit within a pocket. The body may have a length of about 2 centimeters or more, about 4 centimeters or more, about 6 centimeters or more, about 8 centimeters or more, or about 10 centimeters or more. The body may have a length of about 30 centimeters or loss, about 25 centimeters or less, about 20 centimeters or less, or about 15 centimeters or less. The body may be sufficiently strong to prevent crushing of the lighter. The body may include one or more buttons located on an outside thereof. The body may include one or more movement buttons that are movable along the body. 
     The movement button functions to move the lighting utensil, turn on the lighter, turn off the lighter, protect the lighting utensil, turn off the battery, preserve energy, or a combination thereof. The movement button may move the lighting utensil between and the extended state and the retracted state. The movement button may cause a flame or ignition. The movement button may cause an arc to extend between the arc fingers. The movement button may simultaneously move the lighting utensil while electrically connecting the arc fingers to a power source. The movement button may lock the lighting utensil in the extended state, the retracted state, or both. The movement button may slide along a longitudinal axis of the body. The movement button may include a plurality of ribs that facilitate a user in moving the movement button. The movement button when in an extended state may activate an indicator. 
     The indicator functions to indicate if the arc fingers are electrically active, the lighter is turned on, the lighter is ready to light or ignite, there is sufficient power to cause ignition, or a combination thereof. The indicator may indicate an amount of power remaining in the battery. The indicator may indicate whether the lighter is being charged. The indicator may indicate an amount of power available. The indicator may be a light. The indicator may be a single color. The indicator may provide different lights, different colors, different lighting patterns, or a combination thereof depending on the indication being provided. For example, an orange light may indicate that the lighter is ready to light and a red light may indicate that an arc is being provided between the arc arms. In another example, the indicator may turn red when the battery does not have sufficient power to cause ignition. In yet another example, the indicator light may flash when the power source is being charged and may flash at a different speed when the power in the power source is low. The indicator may be a light emitting diode (LED). The indicator may be connected to or include a processor. The indicator may monitor an amount of power in the power source (e.g., battery). The indicator may be located on the body, on the storage compartment portion of the body, next to a port, or a combination thereof. 
     The port functions to connect be lighter to a power source, a laptop, a tablet, a smartphone, a controller, any device that may program the lighter, or a combination thereof. the port may be any port that provides power to a power source. The port may be any port that allows communication with the lighter. The port may connect to a USB port, a micro USB port, a USB-A, a USB-B, a standard plug, a 12 volt plug, a 120 volt plug, or a combination thereof. The port maybe directly connected to a power source such as a battery. 
     The power source may be any power source that causes an ignition or a flame. The power source functions to create an arc to light paper, a cigarette, fuel, a cigar, or a combination thereof. The power source may be a battery. The power source may be a lithium ion battery. The power source may be connected to a trigger, the movement button, or both. The power source may be electrically disconnected when the movement button, the lighting utensil, or both are in a retracted state. The power source may only be electrically connected when the trigger is activated. 
     The trigger functions to electrically connect the power source to the arc fingers, cause electricity to flow to the arc fingers, cause ignition, cause a combustible product to be lit, or a combination thereof. The trigger may close a circuit so that power flows through the circuit. The trigger maybe mono stable. For example, the trigger may always bias to the off state. The trigger may bias the movement button so that once the user stops pushing the movement button, the lighting utensil and the moving button are moved from a lighting state to an extended state, the retracted state, or both. The trigger may prevent the movement button from accidentally causing ignition at the arc fingers. The trigger may require a sufficient amount of force to cause ignition at the arc fingers. The trigger may require about one N or more, about two N or more, about 3 N or more, or about five N or more to cause ignition. Ignition may not occur by pressing on the trigger without the movement button being in the extended state or a lighting state (e.g., a state located over or in communication with the trigger). The trigger may work in conjunction with the movement button. The trigger may be located behind the movement button, on the storage compartment, or both. 
     The storage compartment functions to store one or more items of interest. The storage compartment functions to keep items therein dry. These storage compartment functions to prevent items located therein from being crushed. The storage compartment may store one or more cigarettes, one or more rolled cigarettes, one or more cigars, or combination thereof. The storage compartment may have a length that is sufficiently long to store a cigarette. The storage compartment may have a length of about 1 centimeter or more, about 3 centimeters or more, or about 5 centimeters or more. The storage compartment may have a length of about 10 centimeters or less, about 7 centimeters or last, or about 6 centimeters or less. The storage compartment may be accessed through a storage cap. 
     The storage cap functions to close the storage compartment. The storage cap functions to seal the storage compartment. The storage cap may form a watertight seal with the storage compartment. The storage cap may prevent dust and debris from entering the storage container. The storage cap may be located at a distal end of the lighter, opposite the lighting portion, or both. the storage cap may include one or more seals. The storage cap may compress a seal when the storage cap is inserted into or connected to the storage compartment. 
     The seal functions to prevent fluid from entering the storage compartment. The seal may create a reactive force fat prevents the storage cap from falling off of the body once a connection has been formed between the storage cap and the storage compartment. The seal may be compressed between the storage cap and the storage compartment. The seal may be an O-ring. The seal may be made of or include, rubber, nitrile, an elastomer, plastic, a compressible material, a water phobic material, or a combination thereof. The seal may be located within the storage compartment, on the storage cap, or a combination of both. 
     The storage cap may include one or more cap connectors. The one or more cap connectors may connect to the storage cap to the storage compartment. The cap connector may be a friction fit. The cap connector may include a detent. The cap connector may be threaded. The cap connector may be a press fit. The cap connector may be a snap and lock feature. Preferably, the cap connector is a helical thread that is screwed into the cab connector. The cap connector and the body connector may be complementary to one another. 
     The body connector functions to connect the storage cap to the storage compartment. The body connector is a female portion if the storage cap is a male portion and vice versa. The body connector may form a connection with the cap connector. The body connector may be located inside of the storage compartment and the cap connector may extend into the storage compartment so that a fluid tight seal is formed. The body connector may be a helical thread that receives a helical thread of the cap connector so that a screwed engagement may be formed. The storage cap may close the storage compartment so that a storage chamber there in is closed to an outside environment. 
     The storage chamber functions to store articles of interest. The storage chamber may store combustible articles. The storage chamber may store combustible smoking articles. The storage chamber may store cigarettes, cigars, rolled cigarettes, loose tobacco, other loose smoking articles, or combination thereof. The storage chamber may include a variety of different stored items. They stored items may be any of the stored items discussed herein such as a cigarette or cigar. 
       FIG.  1    illustrates a front perspective view of lighter  2 . The lighter  2  includes a lighting portion  10  and a storage compartment  80  of a body  50 . The lighting portion  10  as shown is in an extended state  30  where the lighting utensil  12  extended out of the lighting portion  10  of the body  50 . The lighting utensil  12  includes an arc arm  16  with arc fingers  14  located at a distal end of the arc arm  16 . The arc fingers  14  are spaced apart so that when the lighter  2  is activated an arc extends between the arc fingers  14  to light an item. The arc arm  16  and the arc fingers  14  are movable by moving the movement button  52  along the body  50  so that the lighting utensil  12  is moved into an extended state  30 . The body  50  includes a storage compartment  80  and a storage cap  82  that closes the storage compartment  80 . 
       FIG.  2    is a rear perspective view of a lighter  2 . The lighter  2  includes a lighting portion  10  and storage compartment  80  forming the body  50 . As shown, the rear side of the lighter  2  includes an indicator  54  and a port  56 . The indicator  54  indicates if the lighter  2  is on or off, has available power, or both. The port  56  may be a receptacle that receives a charger, connects to a computer, or both. The port  56  may charge the power source  58  that powers the lighter  2 . 
       FIG.  3    is a partial exploded view of a lighter  2  with a storage compartment of the body  50  shown in transparent. The lighting utensil  12  is shown in the retracted state  32 . The retracted state  32  is formed by moving the movement button  52  rearward along the body  50 . The movement button  52  in the retracted state  32  may expose a trigger  60  that may activate lighting between the arc fingers  14 . The body  50  includes a storage compartment  80 . The storage compartment  80  includes a storage cap  82 . The storage cap  82  may include a seal  84  so that when the storage cap  82  is connected to the storage compartment  80  the storage compartment is sealed by the storage cap  82  and seal  84 . The body  50  includes a body connector  86  and the storage cap  82  include a cap connector  88  that connect the storage cap  82  to the body  50 . When the body connector  86  and the cap connector  88  are in communication the seal  84  is compressed to seal the storage chamber  90  so that the stored item  100  is maintained dry and clean. 
     Any numerical values recited herein include all values from the lower value to the upper value in increments of one unit provided that there is a separation of at least 2 units between any lower value and any higher value. As an example, if it is stated that the amount of a component or a value of a process variable such as, for example, temperature, pressure, time and the like is, for example, from 1 to 90, preferably from 20 to 80, more preferably from 30 to 70, it is intended that values such as 15 to 85, 22 to 68, 43 to 51, 30 to 32 etc. are expressly enumerated in this specification. For values which are less than one, one unit is considered to be 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01 or 0.1 as appropriate. These are only examples of what is specifically intended and all possible combinations of numerical values between the lowest value and the highest value enumerated are to be considered to be expressly stated in this application in a similar manner. 
     Unless otherwise stated, all ranges include both endpoints and all numbers between the endpoints. The use of “about” or “approximately” in connection with a range applies to both ends of the range. Thus, “about 20 to 30” is intended to cover “about 20 to about 30”, inclusive of at least the specified endpoints. 
     The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated by reference for all purposes. The term “consisting essentially of” to describe a combination shall include the elements, ingredients, components or steps identified, and such other elements ingredients, components or steps that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the combination. The use of the terms “comprising” or “including” to describe combinations of elements, ingredients, components or steps herein also contemplates embodiments that consist essentially of or even consists of the elements, ingredients, components or steps. 
     Plural elements, ingredients, components or steps can be provided by a single integrated element, ingredient, component or step. Alternatively, a single integrated element, ingredient, component or step might be divided into separate plural elements, ingredients, components or steps. The disclosure of “a” or “one” to describe an element, ingredient, component or step is not intended to foreclose additional elements, ingredients, components or steps. 
     It is understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many embodiments as well as many applications besides the examples provided will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description, but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated by reference for all purposes. The omission in the following claims of any aspect of subject matter that is disclosed herein is not a disclaimer of such subject matter, nor should it be regarded that the inventors did not consider such subject matter to be part of the disclosed inventive subject matter. 
     ELEMENT LIST 
     
         
         
           
               2  Lighter 
               10  Lighting Portion 
               12  Lighting Utensil 
               14  Arc fingers 
               16  Arc Arm 
               30  Extended State 
               32  Retracted State 
               50  Body 
               52  Movement Button 
               54  Indicator 
               56  Port 
               58  Battery 
               60  Trigger 
               80  Storage Compartment 
               82  Storage Cap 
               84  Seal 
               86  Body Connector 
               88  Cap Connector 
               90  Storage Chamber 
               100  Stored Item