Apparatus and methods for lighting tobacco-containing articles

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to tobacco products and packages and lighters and more specifically to cigarette and cigar products, packages and lighters.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tobacco product smokers such as cigarette smokers typically require a pack of cigarettes as well as a separate gas lighter or box of matches in order to light a cigarette. Smokers often find themselves without matches or with an empty lighter. They then typically ask someone else for a light or request a passer-by to assist them with the lighting of their cigarettes.

Various attempts have been made to overcome the aforementioned inconveniences. These attempts are exemplified by the following U.S. patents, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,976,194 to Loredo, describes a combined cigarette pack and disposable lighter.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,230,224 to Weeks, describes a cigarette and lighter case.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,267,924 to Tata, describes a cigarette container and lighter combination.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,289,234 to Rutschke, describes a cigarette package closure.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,281,761 and 4,385,689 to Olazabal, describe lighter apparatus for use with cigarette packages or cases therefor.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,507,704 to Chuang, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a cigarette box with self-lighting device and lighter.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,517,994 to Endelson, describes a flat cigarette lighter.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,729 to Conte, describes a cigarette-lighter holder.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,875 to Leong, describes a cigarette box incorporating a match drawer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of some aspects of the present invention to provide apparatus and methods for easy and convenient lighting of tobacco products.

It is a further object of some aspects of the present invention to provide improved products and methods for storage and lighting of tobacco products. Tobacco products include, but are not limited to cigarettes, cigars and cigarillos.

In preferred embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a container for housing at least one tobacco product and a lighter on the container for lighting the at least one tobacco product.

There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, tobacco-containing article including an elongate tobacco-containing element having an electrically conductive end portion.

Also, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a tobacco-containing article, wherein the electrically conductive end portion includes at least one metallic element.

Additionally, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a tobacco-containing article, wherein the at least one metallic element includes metallic fibers.

Further, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a tobacco-containing article wherein the metallic fibers are mixed with tobacco.

There is thus provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, apparatus for lighting a tobacco-containing article having a conductive tip, including an electrical power source having a positive electrode and a negative electrode, wherein the positive electrode and a negative electrode are adapted to complete a circuit upon contact with the conductive tip of the tobacco-containing article so as to light the tobacco-containing article.

Also, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, apparatus is provided wherein the electrical power source includes a battery.

Additionally, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, apparatus is provided, further including a safety cover removably mounted over the positive electrode and the negative electrode.

Further, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided apparatus, further including a cigarette container onto an outer surface of which the electrical power source is mounted, the cigarette container containing cigarettes having conductive tips.

Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided apparatus wherein the electrical power source is mounted onto a housing of a mobile communicator.

Yet further, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided apparatus, wherein the positive and negative electrodes are located on an external surface of the mobile communicator.

There is thus provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention apparatus for lighting a tobacco-containing article, including:

• • an electrical power source having positive and negative electrodes, and
  • a heating element slidably mounted with respect to the positive and negative electrodes for being selectably brought into operative engagement therewith for receiving power from the power source, thereby to be heated sufficiently to light the tobacco-containing article.

Also, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided apparatus, further including a cigarette container onto an outer surface of which the electrical power source is mounted.

Additionally, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided apparatus, further including a mobile communicator onto an outer surface of which the electrical power source is mounted.

There is thus provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a method for lighting a tobacco-containing article having an electrically conductive tip, the method including contacting the tip of the tobacco-containing article with electrodes of an electrical power source so as to close a circuit through the tip, thereby heating the tip sufficiently to light the tobacco-containing article.

There is thus provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a method for lighting a tobacco-containing article, including:

• • slidably positioning an electrical resistance heating element into operative engagement with electrodes of an electrical power source, thereby to heat the electrical heating element sufficiently so as to light the tobacco-containing article, and
  • bringing the tip of the tobacco-containing article into contact with the electrical heating element so as to light the tobacco-containing article.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof, taken together with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a simplified pictorial illustration of a tobacco product container and electrical lighter combination together with a conductive-tipped tobacco-containing article, both constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of an electrical lighter mounted on the outside of a mobile communicator, such as a mobile telephone; and

FIGS. 3A and 3B are simplified illustrations of an alternative electrical lighter useful in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which is a simplified pictorial illustration of a cigarette container 10, formed with an external electrical cigarette lighter 12 which is particularly adapted for lighting conductive-tipped tobacco-containing articles, such as cigarettes 14.

Container 10 may be of any suitable construction and lighter 12 may be integrally formed therewith or mounted therein or thereon. In the illustrated embodiment, electrical lighter 12 is preferably affixed to an outside edge 16 of container 10, as by adhesive. Alternatively, any other suitable removable or non-removable attachment mechanism may be employed.

Electrical lighter 12 preferably comprises a battery 18 which is provided with or otherwise connected to positive and negative electrodes 20 and 22, which are sized and mutually spaced so as to be simultaneously contacted by an electrically conductive tip 24 of a cigarette 14, thereby to close an electrical circuit through the conductive tip.

Preferably, the battery has a thickness that does not exceed 1 mm. Suitable batteries are commercially available from such as Power Paper Ltd., of Petach Tikva, Israel and from Varta Microbattery GmbH of Ellwangen Germany.

A removable safety cover 26 is preferably provided for covering electrodes 20 and 22 when not in use.

The tobacco-containing article is typically a cigarette but may alternatively be a cigar, cigarillo or any other suitable tobacco-containing article.

Cigarette 14 preferably includes tip 20 formed of steel wool 28 or any other suitable electrically conductive fiber and optionally also containing tobacco and a body portion 30 containing conventional tobacco. A filter 32 may be provided.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which shows an electrical lighter 40 of the type described hereinabove with reference to FIG. 1, mounted onto an outer surface of a housing 42 of a mobile communicator, here a cellular telephone 44. Lighter 40 is capable of lighting conductive-tipped cigarettes 46, of the type described hereinabove with reference to FIG. 1.

Reference is made to FIGS. 3A and 3B, which illustrate an alternative type of electrical lighter, which is suitable for use in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2, but does not require that a tobacco article have a conductive tip in order to be lighted thereby.

As seen in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a battery 48 is provided with or otherwise connected to positive and negative electrodes 50 and 52. An electrical resistance heating element 54 is slidably mounted for selectable positioning in electrical contact cross electrodes 50 and 52, thereby to cause an electrical current to pass through heating element 54 for heating thereof to a temperature sufficient to light a conventional cigarette or other conventional tobacco-containing product.

FIG. 3A shows the electrical heating element 54 disposed out of engagement with electrodes 50 and 52, while FIG. 3B shows the electrical heating element 54 disposed in operative engagement with electrodes 50 and 52, thereby producing heating of element 54 to a temperature sufficient to light a cigarette. A spring 56 may be provided for retaining the electrical heating element in a non-heating position relative to electrodes 50 and 52.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather, the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and subcombinations of the various features described hereinabove, as well as variations and modifications thereof that are not in the prior art, which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description.