US20160109127A1

US20160109127A1 - Multipurpose solar lighter

Info

Publication number: US20160109127A1
Application number: US14/520,253
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph P. Bolger
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-10-21
Filing date: 2014-10-21
Publication date: 2016-04-21

Abstract

A multipurpose solar lighter for conveniently lighting a cigarette, tinder, or other flammable objects, includes a hollow upper part, which further includes an upper elongated piece, a convex lens, and a stopping tab; and a hollow lower part; such that the upper part connects to the lower part, whereby a cigarette can be inserted into the solar lighter, until it reaches the stopping tab, and is lighted by focused solar light. The upper part can also be used separately to ignite tinder. Furthermore, the solar lighter can include a fire steel surface and a fire striker, and end mounted thumb caps for holding the upper and lower parts, when striking the fire steel surface with the fire striker to produce sparks that can light a fire.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

N/A

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of lighter devices, and more particularly to methods and systems for using solar energy to function as a cigarette lighter, in combination with other lighting mechanisms.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fire-making or burning lenses, in the form of a convex lens that can concentrate solar light and thereby ignite an exposed surface, have been known since ancient times.
Similarly fire striker devices have been used since in various forms since early times. Originally used by striking iron pyrites with flint, later devices and methods used steel with various types of hard rock.
Even in modern times there is widespread interest in the outdoor community in fire-making devices that use natural and traditional methods for lighting a fire or lighting tobacco products.
Devices exist for lighting a cigarette with focused sunlight and modern fire steel devices are also widely available. However, these devices are restricted in that they only allow one mode of usage, and one method of ignition, and therefore a hiker may be forced to carry several devices, or resort to inconvenient procedures for using one device for several purposes, some of which the device may not have been designed for.
As such, considering the foregoing, it may be appreciated that there continues to be a need for novel and improved lighter and fire-making devices and methods.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by the present invention, wherein in aspects of this invention, enhancements are provided to the existing model of solar lighters.
In an aspect, a multipurpose solar lighter for convenient lighting of a cigarette, tinder, or similar objects, can include an upper part which is hollow and has a convex lens mounted to an upper front end, and further includes a stopping tab, which is mounted so that a lower edge of the stopping tab is substantially in the focal plane of the convex lens; and a lower part, which is a hollow piece, that is open in both ends, such that the upper and lower parts can be connected, thereby forming an internal cavity
In a related aspect, a cigarette can be inserted into the cavity, until the cigarette reaches the stopping tab, whereby a tip of the cigarette is positioned at the focal point of the convex lens, such that sunlight can be focused by the convex lens on the tip of the cigarette, thereby lighting the cigarette.
In a related aspect, the upper and lower parts can be screwed together.
In a related aspect, the upper part can further include one or more ventilation holes.
In a related aspect, the upper part can further include a window, such that a user can see the inside, and for example, in some related aspects, view ignition of the cigarette tip by the focused sunlight.
In a further related aspect, the window can be made of heat-resistant borosilicate glass.
In a related aspect, the upper part can be used separately to light a piece of tinder, by pointing the convex lens towards the sun and directing the other end of the upper part, to rest against the tinder.
In another aspect, the multipurpose solar lighter can further include a fire steel function, such that the multipurpose solar lighter further includes a fire striker and a ridged steel surface mounted on respectively the upper and lower parts, or alternatively on respectively the lower and upper parts. The multipurpose solar lighter can further include thumb caps, which are mounted on both the upper and lower parts to aid a user in holding the upper and lower parts when striking the ridged steel surface with the fire striker.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, certain embodiments of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof herein may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional embodiments of the invention that will be described below and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of embodiments in addition to those described and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a center-cut cross sectional side view illustrating a multipurpose solar lighter, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a multipurpose solar lighter, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a center-cut cross sectional side view illustrating a disassembled multipurpose solar lighter, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a center-cut cross sectional side view illustrating use of an upper part of a multipurpose solar device, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a multipurpose solar device, according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before describing the invention in detail, it should be observed that the present invention resides primarily in a novel and non-obvious combination of elements and process steps. So as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will readily be apparent to those skilled in the art, certain conventional elements and steps have been presented with lesser detail, while the drawings and specification describe in greater detail other elements and steps pertinent to understanding the invention.
The following embodiments are not intended to define limits as to the structure or method of the invention, but only to provide exemplary constructions. The embodiments are permissive rather than mandatory and illustrative rather than exhaustive.
In the following, we describe the structure of an embodiment of a multipurpose solar lighter 100 with reference to FIG. 1, in such manner that like reference numerals refer to like components throughout; a convention that we shall employ for the remainder of this specification.
In an embodiment a multipurpose solar lighter 100 for conveniently lighting a cigarette, tinder, or other objects, can comprise:

- a) An upper part 110, further comprising:
  - i. an upper elongated piece 112, which is hollow and open in an upper front end 118 and an upper rear end 119;
  - ii. A convex lens 114, which is mounted in an opening of the upper front end 118; and
  - iii. At least one stopping tab 115, which is mounted inside the upper part 110, such that a lower edge of the stopping tab 115 is substantially in the plane of the focal point of the convex lens 114; and
- b) A lower part 120, which is an elongated hollow piece, which is open in a lower front end 128 and a lower rear end 129;
- such that a front end of the lower part is detachably connected to the rear end of the upper part with a connection mechanism, such that the multipurpose solar lighter 100 is hollow from below the convex lens 114 in the upper front end 118 to the lower rear end 129, forming a cavity with an opening in the lower rear end 129;
- whereby a cigarette 154 can be inserted into the cavity, such that it reaches and is stopped by the stopping tab 115, whereby a tip of the cigarette is positioned at the focal point of the convex lens 114, whereby strong external light source, such as sunlight, can be focused by the convex lens 114 on the tip of the cigarette, thereby lighting the cigarette. Lighting the cigarette in most cases takes about 3 seconds from full insertion.

The various embodiments of the multipurpose solar lighter 100 thereby provide a natural ignition aided by the sun, avoiding any butane inhalation
In a related embodiment, such as shown in FIG. 1, the connection mechanism can be comprised of an inner threading on an inside of the upper rear end 119 of the upper part 110, and an outer threading on an outside of the lower upper end of the lower part 120, such that the lower part 120 screws into the upper part 110.
In alternative related embodiments the connection mechanism can be a snap-connector with a ball release, or similar well known detachable connection mechanisms.
In a related embodiment, the stopping tab 115 can instead be mounted in the lower part 120.
In a related embodiment, FIG. 2 shows a front perspective view of a multipurpose solar lighter 100 in an assembled state.
In a related embodiment, shown in FIG. 2, the upper elongated piece 112 can further include at least one ventilation hole 202. The ventilation holes 202 can for example be positioned 0.5 inches above the upper rear end of the upper part 110.
In a related embodiment, shown in FIG. 2, the upper elongated piece 112 can further include at least one window 204, which is a transparent piece made of a heat-resistant material, such that the window 204 allows visibility to the cavity inside the multi-purpose solar lighter 100. The window 204 can for example be configured as one band of heat-resistant glass, such that the upper elongated piece 112, includes an upper cylinder, the band of heat resistant glass, and a lower cylinder. In this example, the band of heat-resistant glass can for example be glued with heat-resistant adhesive or screwed together with the upper and lower cylinders.
In a further related embodiment, the heat-resistant material can for example be borosilicate glass.
In a further related embodiment, the window 204 can be tinted, whereby the window tinting prevents any eye damage from visibility to focused light and ignited material inside the multi-purpose solar lighter 100. In related embodiments, the window tinting can be similar to optical filters used in welding helmets and goggles.
In yet a further related embodiment, the multipurpose solar lighter 200 can further comprise one or two caps 206 for placing on an end of the multipurpose solar lighter 200. A cap 206 can be placed on the upper front end of the upper elongated piece 112, to protect the convex lens 114, and prevent light entering the convex lens 114, as a safety measure to prevent accidental damage from focused light. In addition, a cap 206 can be placed on a lower rear end of the lower part 120. The cap 206 can for example be made of a plastic or rubber material, and can for example be designed to fit snuggly on the end or be screwed on.
In a related embodiment, FIG. 3 shows a center-cut side view of a multipurpose solar lighter 100 in a dissembled state, such that the upper part 110 has been separated from the lower part 120. Here, it is shown how the upper part 110 can be used to light a piece of tinder 302, or other ignitable object, for example positioned on a surface 304, by pointing the convex lens 114 towards the sun or another light source and directing the upper rear end 119 of the upper part 110, to rest against the tinder 302 such that a surface of the tinder 302 is stopped substantially at the location of the stopping tab 115, whereby the tinder 302 surface can be ignited in the focal point of the convex lens 114.
In a related embodiment, FIG. 4 shows a related use, wherein the upper part 110 can be used to light tobacco 402 in a pipe 404, by pointing the convex lens 114 towards the sun or another light source and directing the upper rear end of the upper part 110, to rest against the tobacco 402 such that a surface of the tobacco 402 is stopped substantially at the location of the stopping tab 115, whereby the tobacco 402 surface can be ignited in the focal point of the convex lens 114.
In a related embodiment, the upper part 110 can be used to ignite gas emitting from a gas burner, such as used for camping, by pointing the convex lens 114 towards the sun or another light source and directing the upper rear end of the upper part 110, into the gas, whereby the gas can be ignited in the focal point of the convex lens 114.
In an embodiment, the length of the multipurpose solar lighter 100 can be 3 inches long, with a width of ⅜ inches.
In related embodiments the upper elongated part and the lower part can be made from a plastic material, including ABS; or a metal or metal alloy, such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy, steel, including stainless steel; and other suitable materials.
In an embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 5, a multipurpose solar lighter 500 can further be configured with a fire steel function, such that the multipurpose solar lighter 500 further includes:

- a. A protruding fire striker 504, which is mounted to the upper elongated piece 112 which can be made of flint, chert, a ferrocerium material, or another suitable striker material known in the art of fire steel and fire strikers;
- b. A ridged steel surface 502, which can be a steel cylinder with outer ridges placed around the lower part 120 or can be an integral part of a lower part made fully or partially of steel, wherein part of the surface of the lower part 120 is a steel surface with ridges.

In a related embodiment, the ferrocerium material can include a composition in percentages by weight of:

- a. 19% iron;
- b. 47% cerium;
- c. 22% lanthanum;
- d. 4% neodymium;
- e. 4% praseodymium;
- f. 4% magnesium.

The multipurpose solar lighter 500, can further include two thumb caps with an inner threaded aperture that screws onto respectively the front upper end, which further includes an outer threading 508, and the rear lower end, which further includes an outer threading (not visible in FIG. 5). Thereby a user can attach the thumb caps 506 to respectively the upper and lower parts 110 120, separate the upper and lower parts 110 120, and produce sparks by striking the ridged steel surface 502 with the protruding fire striker 504, whereby the sparks can ignite an object, such as tinder or a gas flowing from a gas burner.
The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention, which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
Many such alternative configurations are readily apparent, and should be considered fully included in this specification and the claims appended hereto. Accordingly, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and thus, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A multipurpose solar lighter for conveniently lighting a cigarette, tinder, or other objects, comprising:

a) an upper part, further comprising:

i. an upper elongated piece, which is hollow, and open in an upper front end and open in an upper rear end;

ii. a convex lens; which is mounted in an opening of the upper front end; and

iii. at least one stopping tab, which is mounted inside the upper part, such that a lower edge of the stopping tab is substantially in the plane of the focal point of the convex lens; and

b) a lower part, which is an elongated hollow piece, which is open in a lower front end and open in a lower rear end;

such that a front end of the lower part is detachably connected to the rear end of the upper part with a connection mechanism, such that the multipurpose solar lighter is hollow from below the convex lens in the upper front end to the lower rear end, forming a cavity with an opening in the lower rear end;

whereby when a cigarette is inserted into the cavity, such that it reaches and is stopped by the stopping tab, thereby a tip of the cigarette is positioned at the focal point of the convex lens, thereby a strong external light source is focused by the convex lens on the tip of the cigarette, thereby lighting the cigarette.

2. The multipurpose solar lighter of claim 1, wherein the connection mechanism further comprises an inner threading on an inside of the upper rear end of the upper part, and an outer threading on an outside of the lower upper end of the lower part, such that the lower part screws into the upper part.

3. The multipurpose solar lighter of claim 1, wherein the upper elongated piece further comprises at least one ventilation hole.

4. The multipurpose solar lighter of claim 1, wherein the upper elongated piece further comprises at least one window, which is a transparent piece made of a heat-resistant material, such that the window allows visibility to the cavity inside the multi-purpose solar lighter.

5. The multipurpose solar lighter of claim 4, wherein the heat-resistant material is borosilicate glass.

6. The multipurpose solar lighter of claim 4, wherein the window is tinted, whereby tinting of the window prevents eye damage from visibility to focused light in the cavity.

7. The multipurpose solar lighter of claim 1, further comprising at least one cap for placing on an end of the multipurpose solar lighter.

8. The multipurpose solar lighter of claim 1, wherein the upper elongated piece is cylindrical and the lower part is cylindrical.

9. The multipurpose solar lighter of claim 1, wherein the upper elongated piece further comprises:

a. A protruding fire striker, which is mounted to the upper elongated piece, such that the protruding fire striker is made from a fire striker material;

b. A ridged steel surface, wherein a surface of the lower part further comprises the ridged steel surface.

10. The multipurpose solar lighter of claim 9, wherein the fire striker material is a ferrocerium material.

11. The multipurpose solar lighter of claim 10, wherein the ferrocerium material further comprises a composition in percentages by weight of:

a. 19% iron;

b. 47% cerium;

c. 22% lanthanum;

d. 4% neodymium;

e. 4% praseodymium; and

f. 4% magnesium.

12. The multipurpose solar lighter of claim 9, further comprising:

a. a first thumb cap, further configured with a first inner threaded aperture;

and

b. a second thumb cap, further configured with a second inner threaded aperture;

such that the first thumb cap screws onto the front upper end, wherein the front upper end further comprises a first outer threading; and

such that the second thumb cap screws onto the rear lower end, wherein the rear lower end further comprises a second outer threading;

whereby a user attaches the first and second thumb caps to respectively the upper and lower parts, which are separated, and produce sparks by striking the ridged steel surface with the protruding fire striker, thereby producing sparks, which ignite an object.

13. The multipurpose solar lighter of claim 1, wherein both the upper elongated part and the lower part are made from aluminum.

14. The multipurpose solar lighter of claim 9, wherein both the upper elongated part and the lower part are made from stainless steel.