Patent Publication Number: US-7586063-B1

Title: Flameless lighter

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention concerns that of a new and improved flameless lighter that provides a cigarette lighter that does not rely on butane or another flammable fuel. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,794,613, issued to Krumholz, discloses a lighter assembly for use in a receptacle. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 3,563,682, issued to Bross, discloses a pressure-actuated pocket lighter. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,354,968, issued to Yamamura, discloses a battery powered electric cigarette lighter. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 3,392,265, issued to King, discloses a hand held cigarette lighter with a hollow enclosure housing an electric power source. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,429,212, issued to Mock, Jr., et al., discloses an ignition device for tobacco associated items such as cigars and cigarettes. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention concerns that of a new and improved flameless lighter that provides a cigarette lighter that does not rely on butane or another flammable fuel. The lighter includes a battery-powered unit that includes a heating element instead of an open flame. An incorporated main body portion encloses circuitry and batteries, while on top of the main body portion is located a concentric pattern of wire with a ceramic filament. An attached cover would protect the user from unintentional contact with the hot filament while also acting as an off switch when the flameless lighter is not in use. 
   There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of a flameless lighter that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the flameless lighter that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
   In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the flameless lighter in detail, it is to be understood that the flameless lighter is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The flameless lighter is capable of other embodiments and being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting. 
   As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present flameless lighter. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
   It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a flameless lighter which has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a flameless lighter which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a flameless lighter which is of durable and reliable construction. 
   It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a flameless lighter which is economically affordable and available for relevant market segment of the purchasing public. 
   Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment when considered with the attached drawings and appended claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the flameless lighter as it would appear with its cap closed. 
       FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the flameless lighter as it would appear with its cap open, ready for use. 
       FIG. 3  shows a side cutaway view of the flameless lighter as it would appear with its cap closed. 
       FIG. 4  shows a side cutaway view of the flameless lighter as it would appear with its cap open, ready for use. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 4  thereof, a new flameless lighter embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  2  will be described. 
   As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 4 , the flameless lighter  2  comprises an outer casing  4 , with the outer casing  4  comprising a main body portion  6 . The outer casing  4  can have a variety of shapes but is preferably box-like or rectangular in shape. A top-mounted cover  8  is pivotally attached to the main body portion  6  and has two positions comprising an open position and a closed position. 
   The main body portion  6  of the outer casing  4  houses a kinetic generator  14  and at least one battery  16 . The kinetic generator  14  is electronically connected to the battery  16 , which preferably is rechargeable. The kinetic generator  14  is designed to produce electricity when it is shaken, with this electricity being used to charge the battery  16 . Therefore, the battery  16  is not designed to be replaceable. 
   The lighter  2  also comprises a ceramic core  10  that is covered by a heating coil  12 , with the heating coil  12  designed to wrap around the ceramic core a number of times. The heating coil  12  is also attached to the battery  16  through a positive connector  30  and a negative connector  32  and will heat up under certain conditions to the point where a cigarette or other object placed against the heating coil  12  will ignite. The positive connector  30  and negative connector  32  each have two ends, a first end and a second end, with the first end of each connector being connected to the battery  16  and the second end of each connector being connected to the heating coil  12 . The ceramic core  14  will serve as a mount for the heating coil  12  and will also absorb the heat generated by the heating coil  12  so it will not spread to other components of the lighter  2  and potentially burn an individual. 
   The battery  16  is also connected to the kinetic generator  14  by a positive connector  40  and a negative connector  42 . The positive connector  40  and negative connector  42  each have two ends, a first end and a second end, with the first end of each connector being connected to the battery  16  and the second end of each connector being connected to the kinetic generator  14 . 
   A switch  20  is located in between the battery  16  and the heating coil  12  on either the positive connection  30  or negative connection  32 , but in  FIG. 4 , it is shown to be on the negative connection. When the cover  8  is in a closed position, a nodule  18  that is attached to the cover  8  pushes against the switch  20 , thereby placing the switch  20  in an open position. As a result, the heating coil  12  does not receive power from the battery  16  and it will not function. When the cover  8  is placed in a completely open position, the nodule  18  disengages from the switch  20 , allowing the switch  20  to revert into a closed position. In this instance, the heating coil  12  is then capable of receiving power from the battery  16 . Providing the battery  16  either has its own charge within it or is charged by shaking the lighter  2 , which activates the kinetic generator  14 , the battery  16  will then heat up the heating coil  12 . 
   When an individual wants to use the lighter  2 , he or she would open up the cover  8  and then shake the lighter  2 , which would activate the kinetic generator  14 . Any power within the battery  16  and any extra power generated by the kinetic generator  14  that is then used to charge up the battery  16  will be used to heat up the heating coil  12 , which an individual will then be able to use to light a cigarette or other material as desired. Once the heating coil  12  has served its intended purpose, the individual may close the cover  8 , which will cut power from the battery  16  to the heating coil  12 , thereby allowing it to cool down. The cover  8  will allow an individual to put away the lighter  2  right away, as it will protect the individual from being placed into direct contact with the heating coil  12 . 
   With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
   Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.