Patent Publication Number: US-9851104-B2

Title: Lighting apparatus for tobacco-based products

Description:
FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a lighting apparatus and more particularly a lighting apparatus used to ignite tobacco-based products having a sensitized tip. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and should not be construed as constituting prior art. 
     The production of tobacco-based products (cigarettes) has become a major industry with many consumers routinely purchasing and consuming these products. Tobacco products require an ignition source for the consumer to effectively smoke the tobacco-based contents. Consumers currently use many different methods for lighting these products. 
     Gas lighters, electrical lighters, and matches are all commonly used to ignite the tobacco within these products. The large consumer base for tobacco-based products has necessarily generated a large consumer base for the ignition sources as well. 
     There are several flaws in current ignition sources. The gas lighter is often made of plastic or metal and must maintain the appropriate amount of fuel to be effective. Gas lighters often do not maintain the appropriate flame when used in windy or rainy conditions. Once the fuel runs out, the lighter is either discarded or refilled. The gas lighter also requires significant vital resources to produce and to operate. Further, the use and disposal of the lighter creates significant negative impacts upon the environment. 
     Using a match as an ignition source for tobacco-based products has many undesirable effects as well. Matches are sensitive to the surrounding environment, and often cannot be used if the matches are wet or used in a windy area. The user is also limited to a set number of matches, and once the last match is used, the user will have no ignition means for lighting the tobacco-based products. 
     Electronic lighters can be very effective, and reusable, but usually require a bulky battery or frequent recharge to generate enough energy to ignite tobacco. The electronic lighters can also be adversely affected by water. Further, improper disposal of a portable electronic lighter can introduce harmful battery acid into the environment. 
     The users of tobacco based products are inconvenienced and potentially endangered by relying upon these separate ignition sources. Lighters and matches can be maintained in a relatively small compartment that can be easily lost or misplaced. Further, the misuse of these products is inherently dangerous for the consumer. Misused ignition sources frequently cause accidental fires. The propensity of matches and lighters to be misplaced significantly increases the chances that a minor will obtain and negligently misuse the product possibly resulting in severe harm. 
     Finally, tobacco-based products can be manufactured with a sensitized tip that enables ignition by striking the tip against an abrasive material. This uniquely couples the ignition source to the tobacco itself. Past designs utilize strike pads on the side of a pack holding the tobacco-based product. Similar to lighting a match, the sensitized tip is dragged down the strike pad to create enough friction to ignite the tip. Lighting the tobacco-based product by striking it against the strike pad creates difficulties because the product can easily be broken when attempting to ignite the tip and the strike pad can lose the abrasive qualities necessary to ignite the tip. 
     What is needed is an improved design for facilitating the lighting of a tobacco-based product. The present application is intended to improve upon and resolve some of these known deficiencies of the art. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an igniter apparatus for igniting a tobacco-based product having a sensitized tip. The igniter apparatus includes a first member having a projecting portion with a cavity, and a first concave surface disposed adjacent to the projecting portion. A second member includes a rib, a receiving portion configured to receive the projecting portion, and a second concave surface disposed adjacent to the receiving portion. The cavity is configured to receive the rib and the first concave surface and the second concave surface define a chamber configured to receive the tobacco-based product when the projecting portion is located in the receiving portion and the rib is disposed in the cavity. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an igniter apparatus for igniting a tobacco-based product having a sensitized tip including a first member having a first concave surface. A second member includes a second concave surface, wherein: i) one of the first member and the second member is configured to slidingly engage with the other of the first member and second member; ii) one of the first member and the second member includes a rib configured to engage a cavity of the other of the first member and the second member; and iii) one of the first member and the second member and formed to include a bias element configured to engage the other of the first member and the second member. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above-mentioned aspects of the present application and the manner of obtaining them will become more apparent and the teachings of the present application itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of the embodiments of the present application taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an igniter apparatus coupled to a pack of cigarettes; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the igniter apparatus of  FIG. 1  in an open configuration and uncoupled from the pack of cigarettes; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of one member of the igniter apparatus; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of another member of the igniter apparatus; 
         FIG. 5  is an perspective exploded view of two members of the igniter apparatus; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional perspective view of the igniter apparatus taken along a line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another embodiment of an igniter apparatus; 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom perspective view of the igniter apparatus of  FIG. 7 ; 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the exemplification set out herein illustrates embodiments of the present application, in several forms, the embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or to be construed as limiting the scope of the present application to the precise forms disclosed. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The embodiments of the present application described below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the teachings of the present application to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may appreciate and understand the principles and practices of the present application. 
     Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. To this end, the phrase “tobacco-based product” is intended to include any tobacco product or similar product capable of igniting in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure. This includes, but is not limited to, cigarettes and cigars. As such, those of skill in the art should understand and appreciate herein that the present teachings are intended to cover any such use of a tobacco-based product. Further, the contents of the product should not be limited to tobacco. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the disclosed embodiments could be used to ignite any product that is used similarly to tobacco. Although any method, components, parts, devices and materials similar to or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present application, the specific apparatus, methods and materials are now described. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a pack of cigarettes  100  coupled to an igniter apparatus  102  to provide a kit or unit  104 . In one embodiment, a top of the igniter apparatus  102  is dimensioned to be substantially similar to the bottom dimensions of the pack of cigarettes  100 . This arrangement enables the unit  100  to be easily carried. Coupling the pack of cigarettes  100  with the igniter apparatus  102  provides for storage of one or more sensitized cigarettes  106  and at the same time providing the easily accessible igniter apparatus  102 . While this particular embodiment shows the igniter apparatus  102  coupled to the bottom of a pack of cigarettes  100 , the disclosure does not limit the igniter apparatus  102  to this embodiment in which the igniter apparatus  102  is coupled to a pack of cigarettes  100 . One skilled in the art will understand how the igniter apparatus  102  is equally effective standing alone or coupled to a variety of surfaces. Further, one skilled in the art will understand that the pack of cigarettes could be replaced by a reusable and/or refillable container that is configured to hold a tobacco-based product. 
     Other embodiments of an igniter apparatus are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/804,378 having the title “Lighting Apparatus For Tobacco-Based Products” filed Mar. 14, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     As further illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the igniter apparatus  102  includes a first member  110  and a second member  112 . The first member  110  includes a projecting portion  114  configured to be located within a receiving portion  116  of the second member  112 . In the illustrated embodiment, the projecting portion  114  extends from a user accessible surface  118  configured to provide a tangible interface for the hand of a user to ignite the tobacco-based product. As seen in  FIG. 1 , the second member  112  also includes user accessible surface  120  configured to provide a second tangible interface for the hand of a user. While the user accessible surfaces  118  and  120  are similarly configured as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , other embodiments include different user accessible surfaces, including those as further illustrated and described herein. 
     Each of the user accessible surfaces  118  and  120  define an oblong shaped portion  121  having raised edges to provide the tactile interface for a user. The oblong portion  121  enables a user to locate the hands at a point where the application of pressure helps insure a reasonable relative movement between the first member  110  and the second member  112 . A surface  123  extends away from each of the oblong portions  121  on either side of the igniter apparatus such that the surfaces  123  converge toward one another at a chamber  130 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the projecting portion  114  extends from the user accessible surface  118  and into the receiving portion  116  of the second member  112 . The projecting portion generally outlines a rectangular prism which fits within a space defined by the receiving portion  116  and, in particular, a top wall  124 , a back wall  126 , and a bottom wall  128 . 
     Compression or movement of the first member  110  with respect to the second member  112  (or vice versa) adjusts the size of the chamber  130  which is configured to receive one of the cigarettes  106 . The chamber  130  is generally cylindrical and is formed by a first concave surface  132  extending from the projecting portion  114  and a second concave surface  134  extending from the receiving portion  116 . Each of the first and second concave surfaces  132  and  134  extends along a length  136  of the igniter apparatus  102 , wherein the length  136  in one embodiment is similar to a dimension of the pack  100  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Each of the concave surfaces  132  and  134  defines at least a generally semi-circular outline shaped to accommodate an outside surface of the cigarette  106  in the illustrated embodiment. In other embodiments, one or more semi-circular outlines are of different sizes to accommodate different sizes of smoking products, such as cigars. In addition, one or both of the concave surfaces  132  and  134  support an abrasive  135 . The abrasive  135 , in different embodiments is an abrasive strip which is glued, taped, or adhered to the concave surface. In another embodiment, the abrasive is a sprayable or brushed on adhesive which sticks to or dries at the surface to provide an abrasive coating. In still another embodiment, the abrasive is formed as a part of the concave surfaces  132  and  134 . 
     In other embodiments, the abrasive coating is composed of red phosphorus, powdered glass, and an adhesive which when combined sufficiently ignite the sensitized tip of the cigarette. One skilled in the art will understand in other embodiments, the materials and material combinations are varied as the abrasive coating for the igniter apparatus  102 . The material consistency of the abrasive coating is selected to correspond to the type of sensitized tip of the cigarette or other tobacco-based product being ignited and all combinations should be considered incorporated herein. In still other embodiments, the abrasive material is imbedded at the contacting surfaces of the chamber  130  during manufacture of the first member  110  and the second member  112 . 
     The top wall  124  is generally planar on one surface thereof to interface with the generally planar bottom surface of the pack of cigarettes  100 . In one embodiment, an adhesive strip  138  is located at a surface of the top wall  124 . The adhesive strip may be formed from a plurality of different adhesive materials, including, but not limited to hook and loop fasteners, magnets, double-sided tape and the like. Further, while this particular embodiment illustrates the adhesive strip  138  on the top wall  124 , the skilled artisan will understand that the adhesive strip  138 , in different embodiments, is placed on other surfaces of the igniting apparatus  102  without straying from the present disclosure. Further, the igniter apparatus  102 , in other embodiments, stands alone and is stored separately from the pack of cigarettes  100  if desired. For instance, in a factory where combustible materials are made or stored, the igniter apparatus is located away from the combustible materials and adhered to a smoking station. 
     The top wall  124  includes retainer  140  which is configured to engage a portion of the first member  110 . By engaging the first member  110 , the retainer  140  limits movement of the first member  110  with respect to the second member  112 , such that the size of the chamber  130  is limited to a maximum size when the projecting portion  114  is located in the receiving portion  116 . In one embodiment, the retainer  140  is a tab, which substantially limits the first member  110  from being separated from the second member  112  during normal use. 
     As described above, one of the first member  110  and second member  112  of lighter assembly  102  is moveable relative to the other of the first member  110  and second member  112 . In accordance with this aspect, a top surface  142  (See  FIG. 4 ) of the projecting portion  114  maintains a substantially parallel planar orientation with respect to a bottom surface  143  (See  FIG. 3 ) of the receiving portion  116 . In this manner, the size of the chamber  130  is repeatably consistently adjustable when lighting one tobacco-based product after a previously ignited tobacco-based product. 
     When an external force is applied to bring the first member  110  and the second portion  112  towards one another, a size of a gap  144  (See also  FIG. 6 ) between first member  110  and the second portion  112  is adjusted. When the gap  144  is sufficiently reduced, the distance between the abrasive located on the first concave surface  132  and the second concave surface  134  is reduced sufficiently to contact a tip  146  of the cigarette  106  if located in the chamber  130 . Consequently, by: i) inserting the cigarette  106  into the chamber  130 ; ii) adjusting the gap  144  sufficiently to contact the tip  146 ; and iii) removing the cigarette  106  from the chamber  130  while reduced in size, the tip  146  ignites and the cigarette  106  is lit. Depending on the amount of external force applied, the gap  130  allows the cigarette  106  with a sensitized tip  146  to be inserted or removed from the chamber  130  with minimal or no contact with the abrasive. As shown, the abrasives  135  at least partially surround the tip  146  of the cigarette  106 . 
     In different embodiments, the chamber  130  includes many different types of shapes, such as a square, oval, triangle, octagon, and the like to provide similar results. Furthermore, in other embodiments, the chamber is an enclosed chamber. For example, the chamber  130  of  FIG. 2  does not require a chamber which is entirely enclosed around the perimeter of the cigarette  106 . In other embodiments, the chamber  130  includes a substantial gap between each half (first concave surface  132  and second concave surface  134 ) and still provides sufficient contact with the cigarette tip  146  to be effective. 
     While the chamber  130  is shaped in any manner to permit the cigarette  106  to be inserted therein, in accordance with certain aspects, the chamber  130  has a substantially cylindrical shape. In accordance with this aspect of the present disclosure, the chamber  130  includes a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the cigarette  106 . 
     The first member  110  and second member  112 , in different embodiments, are constructed of any material sufficient to achieve the disclosed function. Materials including, plastic, metal, wood, composites, and the like are incorporated herein. One skilled in the art can appreciate, without resorting to undue experimentation, that any such materials and compositions could be used to construct the disclosed embodiments. As such, the present teachings are not intended to be limited. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the second member  112  including the user accessible surface  120 , the top wall  124 , and the tab  140 . In the illustrated embodiment, one or more ribs  150  are coupled to the top wall  124 , each of which extends along a width  152  of the top wall  124 . The rib  150 , in one embodiment, is coupled to an underneath side of the top wall  124  and generally defines what is known as an “I” beam configuration. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of the second member  110  which includes one or more cavities  154 , each of which is configured to receive one of the ribs  150 . The cavity  154  extends along a width  156  of the first member  110  and includes a channel  158  configured to receive the rib  150 . The first member  110  further includes a stop  160  defined by an edge of thereof configured to engage the retainer  140  when the first member  110  is located with the second member  112  to form the chamber  130 . A rail  162  (See  FIG. 5 ) formed in the retainer  140  contacts the stop  160  to hold the first and second members  110  and  112  together. Movement of the first member  110  with respect to the second member  112  is restricted in at least one direction by the rail  162  in contact with the stop  160 . 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the first member  110  and the second member  112  shown in a separated spaced alignment to indicate the engagement of a first rib  150 A and a second rib  150 B with a first cavity  154 A and a second cavity  154 B. Each of the ribs  150  slidingly engages one of the cavities  154 . Each of the ribs  150  includes a web portion  164  coupled to a flange portion  166 . The web portion  166  extends through the channel  158  such that alignment of the first member  110  to the second member  112  is maintained during relative movement thereof. Consequently, the space defined by the chamber  130  during ignition of a tobacco-based product is repeatably consistently sized from one tobacco-based product to the next. 
       FIG. 5  further illustrates a first bias element  170 A and a second bias element  170 B, each of which extends laterally into a space  172  from side portions  174  of the projecting portion  114 . Each of the bias elements  170  also extends past a plane defined by the front surface of each of the side portions  174 , such that the bias elements  170  contact or engage the back wall  126  of the second member  112  when the members  110  and  112  are combined as a single unit. 
     As seen in  FIG. 6 , each of the bias elements  170  are formed as a single unitary part integrally formed with one of the corresponding side portions  174 . Each of the bias elements  170  are formed to curve inwardly into the space  172  and include ends  176  which are configured to contact the back wall  126  of the second member  112 . In addition, each of the bias elements  176  are formed to be flexible and resilient, such that the relative movement of the first member  110  with the second member  112  to decrease the size of the gap  144  increases the tension placed on each of the bias elements  170 . The first member  110  and second member  112  are therefore biased at a first position with the bias elements  170  and movement of the first member  110  toward the second member  112  compresses the bias elements  170 , reduces the size of the chamber  130 , and thereby decreases the distance between the abrasives  135  located at the sides of the chamber. Insertion of the tobacco based product in the first position locates the sensitized tip adjacent to the abrasives. Compression of the bias elements  170  reduces the size of the chamber such that the sensitized tip contacts the abrasive. Removal of the tobacco-based product from the reduced-in-size chamber ignites the sensitized tip, thereby lighting the tobacco-based product for smoking. Consequently, the act of igniting the tip  146  requires that the user positively move the first member  110  and second member  112  closer together to contact the tip  146 . Movement of the tip  146  along the abrasives lights the cigarette. Once lit, the user reduces the pressure applied to the igniter apparatus  102 , the bias elements  170  increase the size of the gap  144  and therefore the size of the chamber  130 , to thereby enable removal of a lit product without damage to the product. 
     Each of the first member  110  and the second member  112 , in one embodiment, are formed as a single unitary part. By forming the bias elements as a part of the unitary first member  110 , the number of parts required to complete the igniter apparatus  102  is reduced, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and reducing the complexity of assembling a final igniter apparatus  102 . Additionally, the manufacture of a single unitary part, in one embodiment, is provided by injection molding of each of the first member  110  and the second member  112 . The use of such a manufacturing technique provides for consistent and repeatable manufacture of parts in large quantities, if desired, without reducing the effectiveness of the igniter apparatus  102 . Other methods of molding are also used in different embodiments. Other embodiments include having one of or both of the first member  110  and the second member  112  formed of more than one part. In one embodiment, for instance, the bias elements  170  are formed separately from the formation of the first member  110  and inserted into holes or apertures configured to receive the bias elements  170 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates another embodiment of the igniter apparatus  102 . While the first member  110  is the same as previously described, the second member  112  includes a user accessible surface  180 . In this embodiment, a tactile interface  182  defined by raised edges when compared to a recessed surface  184  is provided to direct an application of force by a user&#39;s hand, and in particular a user&#39;s fingers at the defined location. In this embodiment, the tactile interface  182  is spaced from the top surface  124  such that the interface  182  is lower, i.e. closer to the bottom of the igniter assembly  102 , than in the other embodiment. In addition, the tactile interface  182  does not slope toward the chamber  130 , but instead is relatively perpendicular to the top wall  124 . To provide this location of the tactile interface  182 , the second member  112  includes a spacing portion  186  upon which the tactile interface is formed, as seen in both  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates the igniter apparatus  102  in an inverted position to more fully depict the chamber  130 . As can be seen, the second concave surface  134  supports the abrasive. While not shown, the first concave surface  132  supports a similarly situated abrasive. In one embodiment, a gap  188  is defined between the terminating ends of the first and second concave surfaces  132  and  134 . This gap  188  includes a width in the opened position which is larger than a diameter of the tobacco-based product being ignited. Consequently, during an igniting operation, the cigarette is moved into the chamber  130  by moving the cigarette through the gap first, as opposed to inserting the cigarette through one of the ends of the chamber. In other embodiments, the gap  188  is less than the diameter of the tobacco-based product, such that the cigarette is inserted into one of the ends of the chamber  130 . 
     While not shown in the igniter apparatus  102  of  FIGS. 2 and 8 , a cover, in different embodiments, is located on a surface  190  and a surface  192  of the first member  110 . The cover includes a first piece and a second piece to respectively cover the exposed apertures seen in each of the figures. The cover substantially prevents debris or other unwanted material collecting in the cavities  154 , for instance, which could restrict movement of one member with respect to the other member. Additionally, the cover includes a surface, which in different embodiments, is utilized for logos, advertising, or other indicia. 
     While one or more exemplary embodiments incorporating the principles of the present application have been disclosed hereinabove, the present application is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Instead, this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the application using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this present application pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular illustrative embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed. 
     When an element or layer is referred to as being “on”, “engaged to”, “connected to” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to”, “directly connected to” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. 
     Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments. 
     Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”, “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature&#39;s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations).