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  Multi-component lighterUSPTO Application #: 20080044779Title: Multi-component lighter Abstract: The present lighter includes two basic components, a housing and a fuel cartridge. The housing may comprise multiple pieces. The fuel cartridge is easy to remove from the housing without the use of any tools. Thus, an empty fuel cartridge can quickly be replaced with a full one by the user. Replacing the fuel cartridge, rather than refilling it, prevents the user from coming into contact with lighter fuel. The housing and the fuel cartridge are each relatively inexpensive to mass produce. Thus, a worn or damaged housing may be removed from the lighter by the user and replaced with a new housing. The disposability and replaceability of the lighter components makes repairs to the lighter quick and inexpensive. All or part of the housing may also be replaced with a housing having a different outward appearance. A user can thus change the appearance of his or her lighter by changing housings, rather than having to purchase multiple lighters. (end of abstract) Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP - Irvine, CA, US Inventor: Keith K. Park USPTO Applicaton #: 20080044779 - Class: 431153 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080044779. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001]1. Field of the Invention [0002]The present invention relates to incendiary devices configured to ignite cigarettes, cigars and pipes. [0003]2. Description of the Related Art [0004]Many high-end lighters include refillable fuel reservoirs. When such a lighter is depleted of fuel it can be refilled using commercially available fuel. Unfortunately, the refueling process can sometimes be messy and dangerous. As fuel is transferred from a fuel source, such as a canister, into the lighter's fuel reservoir, some of the fuel may spill. The spilled fuel can not only stain fabrics and leave a foul smelling residue, but it is also highly flammable and could accidentally ignite causing injury or property damage. [0005]Refillable lighters are generally constructed of durable, long-lasting materials and are intended to remain in working order for many years. These lighters also generally include a multitude of moving mechanical parts. Unfortunately, these moving parts sometimes wear out, causing the lighter to become inoperative. Some of these moving parts are very small and/or difficult to remove from the lighter. Therefore, when a lighter breaks down it can be very difficult, time consuming and expensive to replace the worn out parts and restore the lighter to working order. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006]In light of the above shortcomings of prior art lighters, one aspect of the present lighter is the realization that it would be beneficial to all users of refillable lighters to separate the lighter fuel from the user as much as possible. Thus, if a user could refill his or her lighter with only a very low risk that fuel might be spilled, the user would be safer and there would be less of a likelihood of fuel staining any fabrics or leaving a foul smell behind. [0007]Another aspect of the present lighter is the realization that it would be beneficial to all users of refillable lighters to be able to replace worn out components of the lighters without the difficulty, delay and expense of repair procedures. For example, if a user could simply dispose of a worn out lighter component by quickly disassembling the lighter and replacing the worn out component with a new one, the user would be able to use his or her lighter again immediately instead of having to wait for a repair process to be completed by a professional. A do-it-yourself repair capability would also likely save the lighter user money in repair costs. [0008]The preferred embodiments of the present multi-component lighter have several features, no single one of which is solely responsible for their desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of this lighter as expressed by the claims, its more prominent features will now be discussed briefly. After considering this discussion, and particularly after reading the section entitled "Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments", one will understand how the features of the preferred embodiments provide advantages, which include quick disassembly and reassembly without the use of tools, disposable and replaceable parts, and interchangeable parts for changing an outward appearance of the lighter. [0009]One embodiment of the present lighter comprises a housing including an actuating mechanism and a burner cylinder. The lighter further comprises a disposable fuel cartridge including a fuel reservoir configured to store fuel and a fuel transfer mechanism configured to transfer fuel from the reservoir. The fuel cartridge and the housing are configured to releasably engage one another such that they are easily separable. When the fuel cartridge and at least a portion of the housing are engaged, the fuel transfer mechanism is operably connected to the burner cylinder and configured to transfer fuel from the reservoir to the burner cylinder. [0010]Another embodiment of the present lighter comprises a disposable fuel cartridge configured for use with a lighter. The fuel cartridge comprises a fuel reservoir configured to store fuel, and a fuel transfer mechanism configured to transfer fuel from the reservoir. The fuel transfer mechanism includes a stem and an outlet nozzle. The outlet nozzle is configured to attenuate a pressure and/or velocity of fuel passing through the outlet nozzle. An upper portion of the stem includes a first set of threads, and a lower portion of the outlet nozzle includes a second, complementary, set of threads. The outlet nozzle is releasably securable to the stem through engagement of the first set of threads with the second set of threads. [0011]Another embodiment of the present lighter comprises a method of repairing a lighter. The method comprises the steps of at least partially disassembling the lighter by removing a first component of the lighter, and disposing of the first lighter component. The method further comprises the steps of replacing the first lighter component with a second lighter component, and at least partially reassembling the lighter by combining the second lighter component with the lighter. The first lighter component comprises at least two subcomponents that are operably secured to one another. The method is performed entirely by hand without the use of a tool. [0012]Another embodiment of the present lighter comprises a method of replacing a substantially empty fuel cartridge of a lighter. The method comprises the steps of at least partially disassembling the lighter by removing the substantially empty fuel cartridge of the lighter from a housing thereof, and replacing the substantially empty fuel cartridge with a substantially full fuel cartridge. The method further comprises the step of at least partially reassembling the lighter by combining the substantially full fuel cartridge with the housing. [0013]Another embodiment of the present lighter comprises a method of altering an outward appearance of a lighter. The method comprises the step of at least partially disassembling the lighter by removing at least a first portion of a housing thereof. The first housing portion has at least a first appearance characteristic. The method further comprises the step of replacing the first housing portion with a second housing portion. The second housing portion has at least a second appearance characteristic that differs from the first appearance characteristic. The method further comprises the step of at least partially reassembling the lighter by combining the second housing portion with the lighter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0014]The preferred embodiments of the present multi-component lighter, illustrating its features, will now be discussed in detail. These embodiments depict the novel and non-obvious lighter shown in the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only. These drawings include the following figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts: [0015]FIG. 1 is an exploded front elevational view of one embodiment of the present multi-component lighter; [0016]FIG. 2 is an exploded front elevational view of another embodiment of the present multi-component lighter, including a cutter; [0017]FIG. 3 is an exploded front sectional view of the lighter of FIG. 1; [0018]FIG. 4 is an assembled front sectional view of the lighter of FIG. 1, illustrating the lighter in an at rest configuration; [0019]FIG. 5 is an assembled front sectional view of the lighter of FIG. 1, illustrating the lighter in an ignition configuration; [0020]FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of an upper case and a fuel cartridge of the lighters of FIGS. 1 and 2; [0021]FIG. 7 is an exploded front elevational view of an upper case and related components of the lighters of FIGS. 1 and 2, including an ignition button, a burner cover, a burner cylinder, an interior support member and a lever; Continue reading... Full patent description for Multi-component lighter Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Multi-component lighter 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. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Multi-component lighter or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Ignitor safety interlock and torch Next Patent Application: Method of solid fuel combustion intensification Industry Class: Combustion ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Multi-component lighter patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.11559 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Qualcomm , Schering-Plough , Schlumberger , Seagate , Siemens , Texas Instruments , |
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