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.

1 . A lighter configured to ignite a cigarette, cigar or pipe, the lighter comprising:
 a housing including an actuating mechanism and a burner cylinder; and   a disposable fuel cartridge including a fuel reservoir configured to store fuel and a fuel transfer mechanism configured to transfer fuel from the reservoir;   wherein the fuel cartridge and the housing are configured to releasably engage one another such that they are easily separable under digital pressure, and 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.   
   
   
       2 . The lighter of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises an upper case and a lower case. 
   
   
       3 . The lighter of  claim 2 , wherein the upper case supports and locates the actuating mechanism and the burner cylinder. 
   
   
       4 . The lighter of  claim 3 , wherein the lower case comprises an interior space configured to receive at least a portion of the upper case and at least a portion of the fuel cartridge. 
   
   
       5 . The lighter of  claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of the upper case and at least a portion of the fuel cartridge may be received within the interior space of the lower case such that the upper case and the fuel cartridge may be easily separated from the lower case under digital pressure. 
   
   
       6 . The lighter of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes at least a first guide member and the fuel cartridge includes at least a second guide member configured to engage the first guide member to guide the fuel cartridge into a proper engagement position with respect to the housing as the housing and the fuel cartridge are engaged with one another. 
   
   
       7 . The lighter of  claim 6 , wherein the first guide member is a cavity or aperture and the second guide member is a prong. 
   
   
       8 . The lighter of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes at least a first securing member and the fuel cartridge includes at least a second securing member configured to engage the first securing member to resist a force tending to disengage the housing and the fuel cartridge from one another. 
   
   
       9 . The lighter of  claim 8 , wherein the first securing member is a detent, a concavity or an aperture and the second securing member is a boss or a convexity. 
   
   
       10 . The lighter of  claim 1 , further comprising a fastening member securing the fuel cartridge and the housing to one another, such that the fuel cartridge and the housing are easily separable under digital pressure only after the fastening member has been disengaged from the fuel cartridge and/or the housing. 
   
   
       11 . The lighter of  claim 1 , further comprising a fastening mechanism securing the fuel cartridge and the housing td one another, such that the fuel cartridge and the housing are easily separable under digital pressure only after the fastening mechanism has been disengaged. 
   
   
       12 . A disposable fuel cartridge configured for use with a lighter, the fuel cartridge comprising:
 a fuel reservoir configured to store fuel;   a fuel transfer mechanism configured to transfer fuel from the reservoir, the fuel transfer mechanism including a stem and an outlet nozzle, the outlet nozzle being configured to attenuate a pressure and/or velocity of fuel passing through the outlet nozzle;   wherein 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, such that the outlet nozzle is releasably securable to the stem through engagement of the first set of threads with the second set of threads.   
   
   
       13 . The fuel cartridge of  claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of the fuel reservoir is transparent so that an amount of fuel in the reservoir is observable by visual inspection. 
   
   
       14 . The fuel cartridge of  claim 12 , further comprising at least one inlet nozzle configured to enable additional fuel to be injected into the fuel reservoir. 
   
   
       15 . The fuel cartridge of  claim 12 , further comprising an actuating lever configured to engage the stem and/or the outlet nozzle and apply a lifting force thereto, the lifting force inducing a flow of fuel from the reservoir, through the stem and out of the outlet nozzle. 
   
   
       16 . A method of repairing a lighter, the lighter being configured to ignite a cigarette, cigar or pipe, the method comprising the steps of:
 at least partially disassembling the lighter by removing a first component of the lighter;   disposing of the first lighter component;   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;   wherein the first lighter component comprises at least two subcomponents that are operably secured to one another; and   the method is performed entirely by hand without the use of a tool.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first lighter component engages the lighter in a sliding friction fit. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the subcomponents are selected from a group comprising a housing, a cover, an ignition button, a burner cylinder, a spark generator and a lever. 
   
   
       19 . A method of replacing a substantially empty fuel cartridge of a lighter, the lighter being configured to ignite a cigarette, cigar or pipe, the method comprising the steps of:
 at least partially disassembling the lighter by removing the substantially empty fuel cartridge of the lighter from a housing thereof;   replacing the substantially empty fuel cartridge with a substantially full fuel cartridge; and   at least partially reassembling the lighter by combining the substantially full fuel cartridge with the housing.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the substantially empty fuel cartridge engages the housing in a sliding friction fit. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the method is performed entirely by hand without the use of a tool. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the housing comprises a lower case, and the method further comprises the step of removing a lower case from the substantially empty fuel cartridge. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the housing further comprises an upper case, and the method further comprises the step of removing the substantially empty fuel cartridge from the upper case. 
   
   
       24 . A method of altering an outward appearance of a lighter, the lighter being configured to ignite a cigarette, cigar or pipe, the method comprising the steps of:
 at least partially disassembling the lighter by removing at least a first portion of a housing thereof, the first housing portion having at least a first appearance characteristic;   replacing the first housing portion with a second housing portion, the second housing portion having at least a second appearance characteristic that differs from the first appearance characteristic; and   at least partially reassembling the lighter by combining the second housing portion with the lighter.   
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the first housing portion engages the lighter in a sliding friction fit. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the first housing portion comprises a lower case. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the method is performed entirely by hand without the use of a tool. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the first appearance characteristic comprises a color, a texture, a surface pattern, a logo or an emblem.