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  Accessory outlet apparatusRelated Patent Categories: Tobacco, Tobacco Users' ApplianceThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060231112. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of prior application Ser. No. 11/106,547, filed Apr. 15, 2005, in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present general inventive concept relates to an accessory outlet apparatus, and more particularly, to an accessory outlet apparatus with a coil type heated lighter that provides power to external devices and allows a user to light a smoking implement when access to a personal lighting device is not available. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] Due to growing public health concerns, smoking in public areas is generally limited to designated smoking areas. However, smoke odors and smoke pollution are not always contained in the designated smoking areas. Accordingly, it is desirable to reduce the smoke odors and smoke pollution occurring in and around the designated smoking areas. [0006] In light of recent security concerns, many public areas do not permit personal sources of heat, ignition, or fire, including cigarette lighters and matches. This is inconvenient for smokers because it prevents smoking even in the designated smoking areas. Accordingly, it is desirable to allow smokers to light smoking implements (i.e. cigarettes, cigars, etc.) without the use of a personal lighting device. [0007] Also, it is difficult for a person having a personal electronic device, such as a laptop computer, a cellular telephone, a portable listening device, and the like, to charge or supply power to the personal electronic device in public areas due to a lack of conveniently located electrical outlets. Furthermore, many public areas do not have the necessary types of outlets to charge or supply power to various types of these personal electronic devices. Accordingly it is desirable to provide conveniently located outlets of various types in public areas. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] The present general inventive concept provides an apparatus that allows a user to light a smoking implement, such as a cigarette, a cigar, etc., when the user does not have access to a personal lighting device. [0009] The present general inventive concept also provides an apparatus that allows a user to conveniently charge and/or apply power to a personal electronic device. [0010] The present general inventive concept also provides an apparatus that allows a user to conveniently connect a personal electronic device to the internet. [0011] Additional aspects of the present general inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept. [0012] The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present general inventive concept are achieved by providing an accessory outlet apparatus, including a main housing, a power supply housing separated from the main housing, a lighter unit including a coil provided at the main housing to receive a voltage to heat the coil, and a power supply unit provided in the power supply housing to receive electricity from an external power source, to convert the received electricity into a voltage compatible with the lighter unit, and to transmit the compatible voltage to the lighter unit to heat the coil. [0013] The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present general inventive concept are also achieved by providing an accessory outlet apparatus, including a main body, a lighter unit including a coil provided at the main body to receive electricity to heat the coil, one or more power outlets provided at the main body to receive electricity and to provide power to external devices plugged into the one or more power outlets, and a control unit to control a supply of the electricity to the lighter unit and to the one or more power outlets. [0014] The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present general inventive concept are also achieved by providing an accessory outlet apparatus, including a main body, a lighter including a coil attached to the main body to receive electricity to heat the coil, one or more internet connection ports provided at the main body to connect external devices plugged into the one or more internet connection ports to the internet, and a control unit to selectively supply the electricity to the lighter and to selectively connect the internet connection ports to the internet. [0015] The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present general inventive concept are also achieved by providing an accessory outlet apparatus, including a lighter unit including a coil to receive a DC voltage to heat the coil, at least one DC outlet to receive the DC voltage, to accommodate a first type of plug, and to transfer the received DC voltage to an external device through the first type of plug, at least one AC outlet to receive an AC voltage from an external power source, to accommodate a second type of plug, and to transfer the received AV voltage to an external device through the second type of plug, and at least one internet connection port to communicate with the internet, to accommodate a third type of plug, and to connect an external device to the internet through the third type of plug. [0016] The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present general inventive concept are also achieved by providing an accessory outlet system, including a plurality of accessory outlet stations, each comprising a lighter unit to light a smoking implement, one or more DC outlets to provide DC power to external devices, one or more AC outlets to provide AC power to external devices, and one or more internet connection ports to connect external devices to the internet, and a kiosk connected to the plurality of accessory outlet stations to control a supply of electricity and an internet access capability of each of the plurality of accessory outlet stations. [0017] The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present general inventive concept are also achieved by providing an accessory outlet system, including a plurality of accessory outlet stations, each comprising a lighter unit to light a smoking implement, one or more DC outlets to provide DC power to external devices, one or more AC outlets to provide AC power to external devices, one or more internet connection ports to connect external devices to the internet, and a credit card reader, and a main controller, connected to the plurality of accessory outlet stations to control a supply of electricity and an internet access capability of each of electricity and an internet access capability of each of the plurality of accessory outlet stations. [0018] The lighter unit may also be used as an additional DC outlet. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0019] These and/or other aspects and advantages of the present general inventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: [0020] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a smoking apparatus according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept; and Continue reading... Full patent description for Accessory outlet apparatus Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Accessory outlet apparatus patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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