CA2955893A1 - A cigarette lighter as a plug in accessory for a cell phone - Google Patents
A cigarette lighter as a plug in accessory for a cell phone Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2955893A1 CA2955893A1 CA2955893A CA2955893A CA2955893A1 CA 2955893 A1 CA2955893 A1 CA 2955893A1 CA 2955893 A CA2955893 A CA 2955893A CA 2955893 A CA2955893 A CA 2955893A CA 2955893 A1 CA2955893 A1 CA 2955893A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- plug
- cell phone
- cigarette
- accessory
- lighter
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 235000019504 cigarettes Nutrition 0.000 title claims abstract description 87
- BASFCYQUMIYNBI-UHFFFAOYSA-N platinum Chemical compound [Pt] BASFCYQUMIYNBI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 14
- 230000005611 electricity Effects 0.000 claims description 11
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 claims description 9
- XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N Iron Chemical compound [Fe] XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 8
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 6
- 229910052697 platinum Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 6
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 5
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 5
- VYZAMTAEIAYCRO-UHFFFAOYSA-N Chromium Chemical compound [Cr] VYZAMTAEIAYCRO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 4
- 229910052804 chromium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000011651 chromium Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 229910052742 iron Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 4
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 150000002739 metals Chemical class 0.000 claims description 4
- 229910052727 yttrium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 4
- VWQVUPCCIRVNHF-UHFFFAOYSA-N yttrium atom Chemical compound [Y] VWQVUPCCIRVNHF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 4
- 229910052802 copper Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000010949 copper Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 229910052703 rhodium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000010948 rhodium Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- MHOVAHRLVXNVSD-UHFFFAOYSA-N rhodium atom Chemical compound [Rh] MHOVAHRLVXNVSD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000035939 shock Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 8
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 6
- ATUOYWHBWRKTHZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Propane Chemical compound CCC ATUOYWHBWRKTHZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 239000000956 alloy Substances 0.000 description 4
- 229910045601 alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 4
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 229920000642 polymer Polymers 0.000 description 3
- CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon dioxide Chemical compound O=C=O CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000001273 butane Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000001746 injection moulding Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- IJDNQMDRQITEOD-UHFFFAOYSA-N n-butane Chemical compound CCCC IJDNQMDRQITEOD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- OFBQJSOFQDEBGM-UHFFFAOYSA-N n-pentane Natural products CCCCC OFBQJSOFQDEBGM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000001294 propane Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000004698 Polyethylene Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000006227 byproduct Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910002092 carbon dioxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000001569 carbon dioxide Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000007797 corrosion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005260 corrosion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010891 electric arc Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000002844 melting Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008018 melting Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000010813 municipal solid waste Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000005416 organic matter Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
- -1 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920000573 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004804 winding Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
- F23Q—IGNITION; EXTINGUISHING-DEVICES
- F23Q7/00—Incandescent ignition; Igniters using electrically-produced heat, e.g. lighters for cigarettes; Electrically-heated glowing plugs
- F23Q7/14—Portable igniters
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
- H04M1/21—Combinations with auxiliary equipment, e.g. with clocks or memoranda pads
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/72—Mobile telephones; Cordless telephones, i.e. devices for establishing wireless links to base stations without route selection
- H04M1/724—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
- H04M1/72403—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
- H04M1/72409—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality by interfacing with external accessories
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- H05B3/00—Ohmic-resistance heating
- H05B3/10—Heating elements characterised by the composition or nature of the materials or by the arrangement of the conductor
- H05B3/12—Heating elements characterised by the composition or nature of the materials or by the arrangement of the conductor characterised by the composition or nature of the conductive material
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
- F23Q—IGNITION; EXTINGUISHING-DEVICES
- F23Q2/00—Lighters containing fuel, e.g. for cigarettes
- F23Q2/32—Lighters characterised by being combined with other objects
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
- H04M1/18—Telephone sets specially adapted for use in ships, mines, or other places exposed to adverse environment
- H04M1/185—Improving the shock resistance of the housing, e.g. by increasing the rigidity
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- H05B2203/00—Aspects relating to Ohmic resistive heating covered by group H05B3/00
- H05B2203/016—Heaters using particular connecting means
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
- Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Battery Mounting, Suspending (AREA)
Abstract
The claimed invention is directed to a plug in accessory to a cell phone having the function of a battery-less electric cigarette lighter which draws current from an attached cell phone battery. The claimed invention is also directed to cell phone carrying cases which allow for the facile use and ease of carrying an electric cigarette lighter.
Description
A CIGARETTE LIGHTER AS A PLUG IN
ACCESSORY FOR A CELL PHONE
Field of the Invention The claimed invention is directed to a plug in accessory to a cell phone having the function of a battery-less electric cigarette lighter which draws current from an attached cell phone battery. The claimed invention is also directed to cell phone carrying cases which allow for the facile use and ease of carrying an electric cigarette lighter.
Background of the Invention In order to light a cigarette, many people use matches or lighters. People must carry matches or lighters throughout the day in order to have a means for lighting a cigarette readily available. However, matches and lighters can easily be misplaced or lost, or become wet or out of gas', leaving a person without a way to light a cigarette. Carrying these additional items can also be inconvenient and\or unsightly for people who already carry multiple items such as a wallet, cell phone, keys and/or other items on their person.
Further, matches and lighter fluid must he replaced as they are used.
requiring the USW' to continually purchase new cigarette lighting supplies. The user must also find a place to dispose of a match after it has been used. Similarly, empty lighters must be thrown away and replaced periodically. If a trash receptacle is not available, people may simply litter and discard the match or lighter by disposing of that item by littering.
Another problem with conventional lighters and matches is that these items ignite a cigarette by creating an open flame that must be brought into contact with a cigarette. However, creating an open flame in rainy and windy conditions may be difficult, causing the person to
ACCESSORY FOR A CELL PHONE
Field of the Invention The claimed invention is directed to a plug in accessory to a cell phone having the function of a battery-less electric cigarette lighter which draws current from an attached cell phone battery. The claimed invention is also directed to cell phone carrying cases which allow for the facile use and ease of carrying an electric cigarette lighter.
Background of the Invention In order to light a cigarette, many people use matches or lighters. People must carry matches or lighters throughout the day in order to have a means for lighting a cigarette readily available. However, matches and lighters can easily be misplaced or lost, or become wet or out of gas', leaving a person without a way to light a cigarette. Carrying these additional items can also be inconvenient and\or unsightly for people who already carry multiple items such as a wallet, cell phone, keys and/or other items on their person.
Further, matches and lighter fluid must he replaced as they are used.
requiring the USW' to continually purchase new cigarette lighting supplies. The user must also find a place to dispose of a match after it has been used. Similarly, empty lighters must be thrown away and replaced periodically. If a trash receptacle is not available, people may simply litter and discard the match or lighter by disposing of that item by littering.
Another problem with conventional lighters and matches is that these items ignite a cigarette by creating an open flame that must be brought into contact with a cigarette. However, creating an open flame in rainy and windy conditions may be difficult, causing the person to
2 become frustrated as he or she attempts to light a cigarette. Further, the open flame creates the risk that a user may burn himself or herself while attempting to light the cigarette.
Electric cigarette lighters are known in the art. Such lighters are described in numerous U.S. Patents including No.s: 8,979,526; 4,816,971; 7,373,183; 7,494,239;
8,014,822; 9,175,854;
Electric cigarette lighters are known in the art. Such lighters are described in numerous U.S. Patents including No.s: 8,979,526; 4,816,971; 7,373,183; 7,494,239;
8,014,822; 9,175,854;
3,569,787; 4,816,971; 5,380,984; 7,586,063; 7,138,605; 4,205,367; 4,255,645;
4,356,380;
4,622,454; 5,223,695; and, D364,245.
Electric lighters represent at least a perceived advantage over butane or propane lighters in that there is no carbon dioxide, or organic by-product waste, is cheaper, and electricity in the form of batteries is arguably more accessible than replacement butane or propane. With the ubiquity of cell phones in modern life, and the inconvenience of additional space required when carrying separate but necessary accessory's, there is a need in the art for improved lighters that do not require chemical fuels, nor batteries, and are smaller and more convenient than currently available lighters. For example, a lighter, electric or otherwise, can take a significant amount of space in a pocket or purse. Moreover in some social settings, such as those in which a person wants to wear pants without bulges in his pockets, or when a women wants to use a clutch as opposed to a purse, there is an advantage to having less accessories such as a lighter.
There is therefore a need for a smaller and more convenient lighter to replace more traditional varieties on the market to meet the needs of those individuals who want to carry a less cumbersome accessory.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a plug-in cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone comprising: a plug allowing the device to be plugged into, and receive electric current ..3 from, a cell phone; a means for connecting the plug to means for lighting a cigarette; and, a means for lighting a cigarette comprising a mechanism for converting electric current into heat.
The present invention is also directed to a plug-in electrical cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone wherein said means for lighting a cigarette comprises a resistor capable of attaining a heat sufficient to ignite a cigarette tip.
Also, the present invention is directed to a plug-in electrical cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone wherein no battery is incorporated into said plug-in cigarette lighter, i.e. the lighter of the claimed invention has an electric current source independent of a battery.
The present invention is also directed to a plug-in electrical cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone wherein said resistor capable of attaining a heat sufficient to ignite a cigarette tip comprises a coil of wire.
The claimed invention concerns a plug-in electrical cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone wherein said coil of wire comprises one or more metals selected from the group consisting of copper, platinum, yttrium, aluminum, chromium, iron and rhodium.
The claimed invention also concerns a plug-in electrical cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone comprising a substantially columnular shape having an axis that is at an approximately 90 degree angle to the axis of the plug.
A plug-in electrical cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone comprising a columnular shape having a resistor coiled at the distal end and a plug at the proximal end.
A plug-in electrical cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone wherein the coiled resistor is located within an opening within the distal end of the electrical lighter.
A plug-in electrical cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone wherein said opening at the distal end has a cover which can be moved so as to expose the coiled resistor.
A plug-in electrical cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone wherein said means for lighting a cigarette comprises a resistor capable of attaining a heat sufficient to ignite a cigarette tip.
A plug-in electrical cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone wherein said means for lighting a cigarette comprises a resistor capable of attaining a heat sufficient to ignite a cigarette tip.
A plug-in electrical cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone wherein said heating coil consists of a line wire element which, when energized by said battery, has the characteristics of consuming less than 40 watts of electricity.
A plug-in electrical cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone wherein said heating coil consists of a line wire element which, when energized by said battery, has the characteristics of consuming less than 15 watts of electricity.
A plug-in electrical cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone wherein said heating coil consists of a line wire element which, when energized by said battery, has the characteristics of consuming less than 4 watts of electricity.
A plug-in electrical cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone wherein said means for connecting the plug to a means for lighting a cigarette comprises copper wire.
A plug-in electrical cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone wherein said means for connecting the plug to a means for lighting a cigarette comprises copper wire covered with a polymer coating.
A cell phone case for providing shock resistance to a cell phone encased therein comprising: a means for securing a cell phone to the cell phone case; and, means for connecting the plug in lighter, which forms an integral part of said case into a cell phone.
Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1: Is a perspective of one embodiment of the present invention. A
plug (1) forms a part of the plug-in lighter according to the present invention which connects the lighter to a cell phone. The plug posts (2) connect the plug to the wires (3). Wires (3, 5) connect the plug to both a switch (4) and the coil (7). The coil housing (6) contains the coil (7). A
neck (8) between the plug and the coil housing incorporates the switch (4) and the wires (3.5) into a solid structure.
Figure 2: Is an end view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 1, with (6) being the coil housing, (7) being the coil, and (8) and (9) being the connection points of the wires (3,5) to the coil (7).
Figure 3: Is a side view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 1, wherein (4) is the switch, (6) is the coil housing, and (8) is the neck.
Figure 4: Is a perspective of another embodiment of the present invention in which the plug-in lighter is an integral part of a cell phone case in which the plug (1) is built into one of the walls (12) of the cell phone case (13) in which a switch (4), neck (8), coil housing (6) appear. A
cut out for a cell phone camera (10) and cut outs for volume switchs (11) also appear.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments The present invention is a device made up of three or more principle components: 1 ) a plug allowing the device to be plugged into, and receive electric current from, a cell phone, 2) a means for connecting the plug to means for lighting a cigarette; and, 3) a means for lighting a cigarette comprising a mechanism for converting electric current into heat.
The plug allowing the device to be plugged into, and receive electric current, from a cell phone can be any plug which can connect the electric cigarette lighter to a cell phone such that sufficient electric current can be drawn from the cell phone to cause the means for lighting a cigarette to heat to a sufficient degree to light a cigarette, or other organic matter. The skilled artisan will appreciate that there are a plurality of plugs which can be used according to the claimed invention with similarly acceptable results. There are numerous plugs which are commercially available which can be used in the present invention available from multiple commercial sources. The plug for use in the claimed invention can also be referred to as a phone connector, also known as phone jack, audio jack, headphone jack or jack plug, as a member of a common family of electrical connectors typically used for analog signals, primarily audio, but can include electrical current for power applications. It is typically cylindrical in shape, typically with two, three, four and, recently, five contacts. Three-contact versions are known as TRS
connectors, where T stands for "tip", R stands for "ring" and S stands for "sleeve". Similarly, two-, four- and five- contact versions are called TS, TRRS and TRRRS
connectors respectively.
The outside diameter of the "sleeve" conductor is I/4 inch (6.35 millimetres).
The "mini"
connector has a diameter of 3.5 mm (0.14 in) and the "sub-mini" connector has a diameter of 2.5 mm (0.098 in). Similarly any USB connector may also be employed as the plug of the present invention including USB A, USB B USB C and USB micro.
The means for connecting the plug to the means for lighting a cigarette includes any means known to the skilled artisan which will achieve the purposes of present invention. According to one embodiment of the present invention the means to convey electric current from the plug to the means for lighting a cigarette can be coated or uncoated copper wires. Such wires are well known to the skilled artisan and are well within the understanding of the current level of skill in the art.
The skilled artisan will appreciate that the means for connecting the plug to the means for lighting a cigarette may be housed within a structure meant to hold the various parts of the electric cigarette lighter according to the claimed invention together to form a housing for the components of the present invention. In the Figures, this means is referred to as a neck. Said means may be of any suitable length, thickness, and shape to accomplish the purpose of the present invention. Such housings are well known in the art and may be made from any material acceptable for the intended purpose. Such materials include polyethylene, or any other polymer which can be molded into the desired shape and reliably hold together all components.
The housing may alternatively contain a switch for actuating the electric coil to light a cigarette lighter. Such switches are well known to the skilled artisan and are readily available on the market.
The means for lighting, or igniting, a cigarette can comprise any method of employing electricity to light a cigarette, including the numerous methods known to the skilled artisan and it is well within the level of one of ordinary skill in the art to employ any of these numerous different methodologies in the claimed invention. Several known methods include creating an electric arc across terminals, or heating a resistor to a temperature sufficient to light a cigarette by passing electricity through it. Because of ease of manufacture, the use of a resistor is one of the preferred modes of using the present invention.
One type of preferred resistor is a simple piece of wire which acts as a resistor. For example, when electricity is passed through wires of specific proportions of some metals, for example, the wire resistor will get hot enough to light a cigarette. Such wire resistors are well known in the art and are currently used in several different types of electric cigarette lighters as a coil which glows hot when electricity is passed through the wire.
The wire resistor, or heater for lighting the cigarettes, included in the heater sub-assembly, is connected to a pair of terminal posts which are mounted in, and pass through a dielectric heater mounting block.
The wire resistor can be made from any material which will accomplish the function required by the claimed invention. One known alloy that works well as the wire resistor of the present invention is an alloy which is relatively inexpensive but still provides the required amount of heat for rapid lighting of a cigarette, is strong, and corrosion resistant to assure long operating life for the lighter filament. This alloy includes from about 0.5 to 4.0 weight aluminum, from 0.5 to 3.0 weight yttrium, from 20.0 to 95.0 weight percent chromium, and the balance iron. More specifically, a preferred composition includes 3.0 weight percent aluminum, 1.0 weight percent yttrium, 25.0 weight percent chromium and the balance iron.
The alloy may be formed in ingots by vacuum melting and then drawn to the required diameter.
Another wire resistor preferred for use as the wire resistor of the claimed invention is made of platinum wire including from about 10-20 weight percent rhodium and at one time known commercially as platinum 10-20.
The diameter of the wire resistor can be any diameter sufficient to light a cigarette and is typically between about .001 and .01 inches, or more preferably between about .003 and .006 inches, or between .004 and .005 inch. Platinum wire of this diameter, although relatively fine, can be produced commercially without difficulty. Platinum 10-20 wire is desirable since it does not tarnish or oxidize and since it has a relatively long life when heated periodically to temperatures of 1,800 to 2,200 degrees as is required for lighting cigarettes.
Platinum 10-20 heater wires of this diameter have been found particularly desirable since the decreased diameter of the wire increases the resistance of the heater element and thereby reduces the power requirements. At the same time, the decreased mass of the heater element provides a more rapid temperature rise to the cigarette lighting temperature thereby improving the efficiency of the lighter by decreasing the time required to light a cigarette.
The wire resistor may consist of two coils formed by winding the wire around a suitable mandrel having a diameter between .010 inch and .012 inch. The coils are each approximately 3/4, 1/2, 1/4, or 1/8 inches long and are connected in parallel between electric terminals as is known in the art. The spacing between the coils is approximately 1/16 to 1/8 inch. The heater coils provide higher temperatures than can be achieved by a straight wire heater since the infra-red radiation of the individual turns of the coils radiate energy into the adjacent coils to provide a better heat concentration and higher temperature. The coils are quite small in order to achieve better mechanical strength and to obtain a more rapid temperature rise for the heater.
Accordingly, it is preferable to use a pair of small coils rather than a single large coil.
having two coils has the advantages of inter - heating effect between the coils and improved reliability achieved by lighting the cigarette in two places. With a platinum 10-20 wire of approximately .0047 inch diameter wound into coils with the above indicated dimensions, the heater coils are found to each draw less than the 1.2 amps so that the combined heater unit, including two such coils, consumes less than 3 watts.
A heat shield may be incorporated into the area surrounding the coil so as to ensure that the coil housing does not suffer the effects of the elevated temperatures used when the heating element is actuated. The heat shield may be a small thin piece of material, such as aluminum, which can be seated in the coil housing around the coil.
Means for turning the electric lighter on or off from the electric source within the cell phone can be a part of the lighter accessory or the cell phone. Such means may be any suitable means known to the skilled artisan and includes both mechanical switches able to turn on and off the electric current to the coiled resistor, as well as program applications contained within the cell phone capable of doing the same.
The case for securing a cell phone and an electric lighter according to the claimed invention is made of any suitable material according to standard and well known methods. Any suitable material may be used, including plastics and metals and combinations of same, for example. The case may be made by injection molding or any other suitable manufacturing technique known to the skilled artisan.
A plug in lighter according to the present invention may be made according to any of the well-known techniques for making devices of this kind. One such technique would be to place the plug, wires switch and coil into a mold designed to hold each part in it's respective position, and then inject a suitable polymer around said parts using an injection molding device.
It will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art, while the invention has been described above in terms of preferred embodiments, it is not limited thereto.
Various features and aspects of the above-described invention may be used individually or jointly.
Further, although the invention has been described in the context of its implementation in a particular environment, and for particular applications, those skilled in the art will recognize that its usefulness is not limited thereto and that the present invention can be beneficially utilized in any number of environments and implementations. Accordingly, the following claims should be construed in view of the full breadth and spirit of the invention as disclosed herein.
All patents, patent applications and other publications are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety as though set forth in full.
4,622,454; 5,223,695; and, D364,245.
Electric lighters represent at least a perceived advantage over butane or propane lighters in that there is no carbon dioxide, or organic by-product waste, is cheaper, and electricity in the form of batteries is arguably more accessible than replacement butane or propane. With the ubiquity of cell phones in modern life, and the inconvenience of additional space required when carrying separate but necessary accessory's, there is a need in the art for improved lighters that do not require chemical fuels, nor batteries, and are smaller and more convenient than currently available lighters. For example, a lighter, electric or otherwise, can take a significant amount of space in a pocket or purse. Moreover in some social settings, such as those in which a person wants to wear pants without bulges in his pockets, or when a women wants to use a clutch as opposed to a purse, there is an advantage to having less accessories such as a lighter.
There is therefore a need for a smaller and more convenient lighter to replace more traditional varieties on the market to meet the needs of those individuals who want to carry a less cumbersome accessory.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a plug-in cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone comprising: a plug allowing the device to be plugged into, and receive electric current ..3 from, a cell phone; a means for connecting the plug to means for lighting a cigarette; and, a means for lighting a cigarette comprising a mechanism for converting electric current into heat.
The present invention is also directed to a plug-in electrical cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone wherein said means for lighting a cigarette comprises a resistor capable of attaining a heat sufficient to ignite a cigarette tip.
Also, the present invention is directed to a plug-in electrical cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone wherein no battery is incorporated into said plug-in cigarette lighter, i.e. the lighter of the claimed invention has an electric current source independent of a battery.
The present invention is also directed to a plug-in electrical cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone wherein said resistor capable of attaining a heat sufficient to ignite a cigarette tip comprises a coil of wire.
The claimed invention concerns a plug-in electrical cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone wherein said coil of wire comprises one or more metals selected from the group consisting of copper, platinum, yttrium, aluminum, chromium, iron and rhodium.
The claimed invention also concerns a plug-in electrical cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone comprising a substantially columnular shape having an axis that is at an approximately 90 degree angle to the axis of the plug.
A plug-in electrical cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone comprising a columnular shape having a resistor coiled at the distal end and a plug at the proximal end.
A plug-in electrical cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone wherein the coiled resistor is located within an opening within the distal end of the electrical lighter.
A plug-in electrical cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone wherein said opening at the distal end has a cover which can be moved so as to expose the coiled resistor.
A plug-in electrical cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone wherein said means for lighting a cigarette comprises a resistor capable of attaining a heat sufficient to ignite a cigarette tip.
A plug-in electrical cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone wherein said means for lighting a cigarette comprises a resistor capable of attaining a heat sufficient to ignite a cigarette tip.
A plug-in electrical cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone wherein said heating coil consists of a line wire element which, when energized by said battery, has the characteristics of consuming less than 40 watts of electricity.
A plug-in electrical cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone wherein said heating coil consists of a line wire element which, when energized by said battery, has the characteristics of consuming less than 15 watts of electricity.
A plug-in electrical cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone wherein said heating coil consists of a line wire element which, when energized by said battery, has the characteristics of consuming less than 4 watts of electricity.
A plug-in electrical cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone wherein said means for connecting the plug to a means for lighting a cigarette comprises copper wire.
A plug-in electrical cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone wherein said means for connecting the plug to a means for lighting a cigarette comprises copper wire covered with a polymer coating.
A cell phone case for providing shock resistance to a cell phone encased therein comprising: a means for securing a cell phone to the cell phone case; and, means for connecting the plug in lighter, which forms an integral part of said case into a cell phone.
Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1: Is a perspective of one embodiment of the present invention. A
plug (1) forms a part of the plug-in lighter according to the present invention which connects the lighter to a cell phone. The plug posts (2) connect the plug to the wires (3). Wires (3, 5) connect the plug to both a switch (4) and the coil (7). The coil housing (6) contains the coil (7). A
neck (8) between the plug and the coil housing incorporates the switch (4) and the wires (3.5) into a solid structure.
Figure 2: Is an end view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 1, with (6) being the coil housing, (7) being the coil, and (8) and (9) being the connection points of the wires (3,5) to the coil (7).
Figure 3: Is a side view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 1, wherein (4) is the switch, (6) is the coil housing, and (8) is the neck.
Figure 4: Is a perspective of another embodiment of the present invention in which the plug-in lighter is an integral part of a cell phone case in which the plug (1) is built into one of the walls (12) of the cell phone case (13) in which a switch (4), neck (8), coil housing (6) appear. A
cut out for a cell phone camera (10) and cut outs for volume switchs (11) also appear.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments The present invention is a device made up of three or more principle components: 1 ) a plug allowing the device to be plugged into, and receive electric current from, a cell phone, 2) a means for connecting the plug to means for lighting a cigarette; and, 3) a means for lighting a cigarette comprising a mechanism for converting electric current into heat.
The plug allowing the device to be plugged into, and receive electric current, from a cell phone can be any plug which can connect the electric cigarette lighter to a cell phone such that sufficient electric current can be drawn from the cell phone to cause the means for lighting a cigarette to heat to a sufficient degree to light a cigarette, or other organic matter. The skilled artisan will appreciate that there are a plurality of plugs which can be used according to the claimed invention with similarly acceptable results. There are numerous plugs which are commercially available which can be used in the present invention available from multiple commercial sources. The plug for use in the claimed invention can also be referred to as a phone connector, also known as phone jack, audio jack, headphone jack or jack plug, as a member of a common family of electrical connectors typically used for analog signals, primarily audio, but can include electrical current for power applications. It is typically cylindrical in shape, typically with two, three, four and, recently, five contacts. Three-contact versions are known as TRS
connectors, where T stands for "tip", R stands for "ring" and S stands for "sleeve". Similarly, two-, four- and five- contact versions are called TS, TRRS and TRRRS
connectors respectively.
The outside diameter of the "sleeve" conductor is I/4 inch (6.35 millimetres).
The "mini"
connector has a diameter of 3.5 mm (0.14 in) and the "sub-mini" connector has a diameter of 2.5 mm (0.098 in). Similarly any USB connector may also be employed as the plug of the present invention including USB A, USB B USB C and USB micro.
The means for connecting the plug to the means for lighting a cigarette includes any means known to the skilled artisan which will achieve the purposes of present invention. According to one embodiment of the present invention the means to convey electric current from the plug to the means for lighting a cigarette can be coated or uncoated copper wires. Such wires are well known to the skilled artisan and are well within the understanding of the current level of skill in the art.
The skilled artisan will appreciate that the means for connecting the plug to the means for lighting a cigarette may be housed within a structure meant to hold the various parts of the electric cigarette lighter according to the claimed invention together to form a housing for the components of the present invention. In the Figures, this means is referred to as a neck. Said means may be of any suitable length, thickness, and shape to accomplish the purpose of the present invention. Such housings are well known in the art and may be made from any material acceptable for the intended purpose. Such materials include polyethylene, or any other polymer which can be molded into the desired shape and reliably hold together all components.
The housing may alternatively contain a switch for actuating the electric coil to light a cigarette lighter. Such switches are well known to the skilled artisan and are readily available on the market.
The means for lighting, or igniting, a cigarette can comprise any method of employing electricity to light a cigarette, including the numerous methods known to the skilled artisan and it is well within the level of one of ordinary skill in the art to employ any of these numerous different methodologies in the claimed invention. Several known methods include creating an electric arc across terminals, or heating a resistor to a temperature sufficient to light a cigarette by passing electricity through it. Because of ease of manufacture, the use of a resistor is one of the preferred modes of using the present invention.
One type of preferred resistor is a simple piece of wire which acts as a resistor. For example, when electricity is passed through wires of specific proportions of some metals, for example, the wire resistor will get hot enough to light a cigarette. Such wire resistors are well known in the art and are currently used in several different types of electric cigarette lighters as a coil which glows hot when electricity is passed through the wire.
The wire resistor, or heater for lighting the cigarettes, included in the heater sub-assembly, is connected to a pair of terminal posts which are mounted in, and pass through a dielectric heater mounting block.
The wire resistor can be made from any material which will accomplish the function required by the claimed invention. One known alloy that works well as the wire resistor of the present invention is an alloy which is relatively inexpensive but still provides the required amount of heat for rapid lighting of a cigarette, is strong, and corrosion resistant to assure long operating life for the lighter filament. This alloy includes from about 0.5 to 4.0 weight aluminum, from 0.5 to 3.0 weight yttrium, from 20.0 to 95.0 weight percent chromium, and the balance iron. More specifically, a preferred composition includes 3.0 weight percent aluminum, 1.0 weight percent yttrium, 25.0 weight percent chromium and the balance iron.
The alloy may be formed in ingots by vacuum melting and then drawn to the required diameter.
Another wire resistor preferred for use as the wire resistor of the claimed invention is made of platinum wire including from about 10-20 weight percent rhodium and at one time known commercially as platinum 10-20.
The diameter of the wire resistor can be any diameter sufficient to light a cigarette and is typically between about .001 and .01 inches, or more preferably between about .003 and .006 inches, or between .004 and .005 inch. Platinum wire of this diameter, although relatively fine, can be produced commercially without difficulty. Platinum 10-20 wire is desirable since it does not tarnish or oxidize and since it has a relatively long life when heated periodically to temperatures of 1,800 to 2,200 degrees as is required for lighting cigarettes.
Platinum 10-20 heater wires of this diameter have been found particularly desirable since the decreased diameter of the wire increases the resistance of the heater element and thereby reduces the power requirements. At the same time, the decreased mass of the heater element provides a more rapid temperature rise to the cigarette lighting temperature thereby improving the efficiency of the lighter by decreasing the time required to light a cigarette.
The wire resistor may consist of two coils formed by winding the wire around a suitable mandrel having a diameter between .010 inch and .012 inch. The coils are each approximately 3/4, 1/2, 1/4, or 1/8 inches long and are connected in parallel between electric terminals as is known in the art. The spacing between the coils is approximately 1/16 to 1/8 inch. The heater coils provide higher temperatures than can be achieved by a straight wire heater since the infra-red radiation of the individual turns of the coils radiate energy into the adjacent coils to provide a better heat concentration and higher temperature. The coils are quite small in order to achieve better mechanical strength and to obtain a more rapid temperature rise for the heater.
Accordingly, it is preferable to use a pair of small coils rather than a single large coil.
having two coils has the advantages of inter - heating effect between the coils and improved reliability achieved by lighting the cigarette in two places. With a platinum 10-20 wire of approximately .0047 inch diameter wound into coils with the above indicated dimensions, the heater coils are found to each draw less than the 1.2 amps so that the combined heater unit, including two such coils, consumes less than 3 watts.
A heat shield may be incorporated into the area surrounding the coil so as to ensure that the coil housing does not suffer the effects of the elevated temperatures used when the heating element is actuated. The heat shield may be a small thin piece of material, such as aluminum, which can be seated in the coil housing around the coil.
Means for turning the electric lighter on or off from the electric source within the cell phone can be a part of the lighter accessory or the cell phone. Such means may be any suitable means known to the skilled artisan and includes both mechanical switches able to turn on and off the electric current to the coiled resistor, as well as program applications contained within the cell phone capable of doing the same.
The case for securing a cell phone and an electric lighter according to the claimed invention is made of any suitable material according to standard and well known methods. Any suitable material may be used, including plastics and metals and combinations of same, for example. The case may be made by injection molding or any other suitable manufacturing technique known to the skilled artisan.
A plug in lighter according to the present invention may be made according to any of the well-known techniques for making devices of this kind. One such technique would be to place the plug, wires switch and coil into a mold designed to hold each part in it's respective position, and then inject a suitable polymer around said parts using an injection molding device.
It will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art, while the invention has been described above in terms of preferred embodiments, it is not limited thereto.
Various features and aspects of the above-described invention may be used individually or jointly.
Further, although the invention has been described in the context of its implementation in a particular environment, and for particular applications, those skilled in the art will recognize that its usefulness is not limited thereto and that the present invention can be beneficially utilized in any number of environments and implementations. Accordingly, the following claims should be construed in view of the full breadth and spirit of the invention as disclosed herein.
All patents, patent applications and other publications are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety as though set forth in full.
Claims (15)
1. A plug-in cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone comprising:
a plug allowing the device to be plugged into, and receive electric current from, a cell phone; a means for connecting the plug to means for lighting a cigarette; and, a means for lighting a cigarette comprising a mechanism for converting electric current into heat.
a plug allowing the device to be plugged into, and receive electric current from, a cell phone; a means for connecting the plug to means for lighting a cigarette; and, a means for lighting a cigarette comprising a mechanism for converting electric current into heat.
2. A plug-in cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone according to claim 1 wherein the lighter does not contain a battery.
3. A plug-in cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone according to claim 1 wherein said means for lighting a cigarette comprises a resistor capable of attaining a heat sufficient to ignite a cigarette tip.
4. A plug-in cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone according to claim 1 wherein said resistor capable of attaining a heat sufficient to ignite a cigarette tip comprises a coil of wire.
5. A plug-in cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone according to claim I wherein said coil of wire comprises one or more metals selected from the group consisting of copper, platinum, yttrium, aluminum, chromium, iron and rhodium.
6. A plug-in cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone according to claim 1 having a substantially elongated shape having an axis that is at an approximately 90 degree angle to the length axis of the plug.
7. A plug-in cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone according to claim 1 having a elongated shape having a resistor coiled at the distal end and a plug at the proximal end.
8. A plug-in cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone according to claim 1 wherein the coiled resistor is located within an opening within the distal end of the electrical lighter.
9. A plug-in electrical cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone comprising: wherein said opening at the distal end has a cover which can be moved so as to expose the coiled resistor.
10. A plug-in cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone according to claim 1 wherein said means for lighting a cigarette comprises a resistor capable of attaining a heat sufficient to ignite a cigarette tip.
11. A plug-in cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone according to claim 1 wherein said heating coil consists of a wire which, when energized by said battery, has the characteristics of consuming less than 40 watts of electricity.
12. A plug-in cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone according to claim I wherein said heating coil consists of a wire which, when energized by said battery, has the characteristics of consuming less than 15 watts of electricity.
13. A plug-in cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone according to claim 1 wherein said heating coil consists of a wire which, when energized by said battery, has the characteristics of consuming less than 4 watts of electricity.
14. A plug-in cigarette lighter as an accessory to a cell phone according to claim 1 wherein wherein said means for connecting the plug to a means for lighting a cigarette comprises copper wire.
15. A cell phone case for providing shock resistance to a cell phone encased therein comprising: a plug in lighter according to claim 1.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2955893A CA2955893A1 (en) | 2017-01-25 | 2017-01-25 | A cigarette lighter as a plug in accessory for a cell phone |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2955893A CA2955893A1 (en) | 2017-01-25 | 2017-01-25 | A cigarette lighter as a plug in accessory for a cell phone |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2955893A1 true CA2955893A1 (en) | 2018-07-25 |
Family
ID=62976731
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2955893A Abandoned CA2955893A1 (en) | 2017-01-25 | 2017-01-25 | A cigarette lighter as a plug in accessory for a cell phone |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2955893A1 (en) |
-
2017
- 2017-01-25 CA CA2955893A patent/CA2955893A1/en not_active Abandoned
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued |
Effective date: 20200127 |