Fuelless Lifelong Cigarette Lighter

Abstract

A fuel-less and battery-less cigarette lighter is a manually powered lighter that operates without the use of fuel. The lighter includes a super capacitor (low voltage, very high capacitance) that is discharged into a resistance. This resistance then becomes hot enough to light a cigarette or cigar upon contact. The super capacitor is charged by means of a mechanical system, such as the user winding or squeezing the lighter and a micro generator. After charging, a switch allows the capacitor to discharge into the resistance.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 on the U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 190, 251, filed on Aug. 26, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD[0002]The present disclosure relates in general to portable cigarette lighters. More particularly, it relates to a fuel-less and battery-less cigarette lighter, which uses a super-capacitor and a resistance. An electrical charge from the super-capacitor is discharged onto the resistance to create heat energy, which in turn lights up a cigarette or a cigar on contact.DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND ART[0003]Lighters and the like are used in a number of different applications, which require an object to be ignited due to placement of the object in close proximity or in contact with the lighting means of the lighter. The most common and ubiquitous application is the lighting of tobacco products, such as cigarettes, cigars, etc. A li...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015](g) An electrical resistance partially mounted in a suitable recess on the body of the housing such that a top portion of the resistance is exposed from the surface of the housing; the resistance further including at least one heating element; the control switch being further connected to the resistance; the control switch discharging the electrical charges stored in the super-capacitor into the resistance, whereby the heating element of the resistance adequately heats up and lights up a cigarette on contact.

[0016]In another embodiment, the fuel-less and battery-less lighter assembly includes a winding crank in place of the spring loaded handle; the housing similarly receives the winding crank partially in a recess disposed on one of its outer faces; the winding of the winding crank exerts manual force; the set of gears receives this manual force through a link and creates kinetic energy; the winding crank is removably attached to the housing.

[0017]In operation, a manual force is exerted either by squeezing the handle or winding the crank. The manual force is transferred to the juxtaposed gear set fixedly mounted within the housing of the lighter assembly. The gear set converts the manual force to kinetic energy; the kinetic energy from the gear set is transferred to the micro generator. Successively, the micro generator converts the kinetic energy into electrical energy; further, the micro generator transfers the electrical energy to the adjoining electric circuit board; the circuit board processes the electrical energy to charge the super-capacitor with low voltage (which voltage, in an embodiment, does not exceed 10 volts) and high capacitance (which capacitance, in an embodiment, is at least 10 Farads). In another embodiment, the voltage of the super-capacitor is 12 volts, and the capacitance is 5 Farads. One skilled in the art will recognize, however, that the operating ratings set forth herein are exemplary only and are not intended to be limiting. When a user turns on the control switch, the super-capacitor, laden with low voltage and high capacitance, discharges the stored charges into the resistance, whereby, the heating element of the resistance is heated to create heat for the user to light up a cigarette without using a lighted flame of fire.

[0018]These and other features of the present disclosure will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

Problems solved by technology

These lighters have a number of well-known disadvantages relating to the need to maintain fuel therein, such as the inefficiency of the flint-based spark-producing means, and the like.

Moreover, the lighters can be used to start fires, either intentionally or accidentally.

Additional drawbacks of such conventional lighters are equally well known.

For example, the lighter fluid has an unpleasant smell.

Moreover, the lighters are heavy and not inexpensive.

The size, weight, and expense of the Chunage device are not inconsiderable.

This causes the frustration when it runs out and the frequent purchase of new lighters—which can be several times a year.

It is also a growing environmental issue with millions of lighters being disposed of each year.

Other issues with common flame lighters are the difficulty to operate in windy conditions, the poor operation in wet environments, the risk of inadvertently setting fire by negligence, the propensity of the nozzle to become plugged, the ban on flame lighters aboard aircraft, etc.

Battery operated cigarette lighters require frequent replacement of batteries, and the disposal of such batteries further carries inherent health and environmental hazards.

Although the art of cigarette lighters is well-developed, there remains a need for a lightweight and small lighter that can be held in the palm of one's hands but cannot be used to start intentional or unintentional fires.

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