Torch lighters and flame-coloring inserts therefor

Abstract

A lighter includes (a) a lighter body for storing fuel; (b) a lighter head extending upwardly from the lighter body to an outlet of the head for directing flow of the fuel toward the outlet; (c) an integrated ignition system for selectively releasing and igniting the fuel to produce a flame projecting along a flame path from the outlet; and (d) a replaceable flame-coloring insert including an insert body removably mounted to the lighter head adjacent the outlet. The insert body treated with a flame colorant positioned in the flame path for coloring the flame when heated.

1 - 20  (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A portable, handheld torch lighter, comprising:
 a) a lighter body including a fuel reservoir for storing fuel;   b) a lighter head extending upwardly from the lighter body to an outlet of the head for directing flow of fuel released from the fuel reservoir toward the outlet;   c) an integrated ignition system for selectively releasing the fuel from the fuel reservoir and igniting the fuel flowing through the head to produce a flame projecting along a flame path from the outlet; and   d) a replaceable flame-coloring insert including an insert body removably mounted to the lighter head adjacent the outlet and treated with a flame colorant positioned in the flame path for coloring the flame when heated, the insert body including a base portion extending circumferentially about the outlet and a plurality of retaining tabs projecting from the base portion and spaced circumferentially apart from each other about the outlet, the retaining tabs received in the lighter head in a friction fit for removably mounting the insert body to the lighter head.   
     
     
         22 . The lighter of  claim 21 , wherein each retaining tab projects downwardly from the base portion generally parallel with the flame path for sliding into and out from the lighter head from above. 
     
     
         23 . The lighter of  claim 21 , wherein the lighter head includes a head shell extending upwardly from the lighter body to an upper rim extending about the outlet, and wherein the plurality of retaining tabs are received in the lighter head radially inward of the upper rim. 
     
     
         24 . The lighter of  claim 23 , wherein the lighter head has an annular slot radially intermediate the upper rim and the outlet, and the plurality of retaining tabs project downwardly from the base portion generally parallel with the flame path for sliding into the annular slot from above. 
     
     
         25 . The lighter of  claim 21 , wherein the insert body has a plurality of colorant tabs spaced circumferentially apart from each other and projecting radially inwardly from the base portion into the flame path, each colorant tab treated with the flame colorant. 
     
     
         26 . The lighter of  claim 21 , wherein the insert body is formed from a sheet metal blank. 
     
     
         27 . The lighter of  claim 21 , wherein the lighter extends along a lighter axis, and each of the lighter body, lighter head, outlet, and flame path are coaxial with the lighter axis. 
     
     
         28 . A portable, handheld torch lighter, comprising:
 a) a lighter body including a fuel reservoir for storing fuel;   b) a lighter head extending upwardly from the lighter body to an outlet of the head for directing flow of fuel released from the fuel reservoir toward the outlet;   c) an integrated ignition system for selectively releasing the fuel from the fuel reservoir and igniting the fuel flowing through the head to produce a flame projecting along a flame path from the outlet; and   d) a replaceable flame-coloring insert including an insert body removably mounted to the lighter head adjacent the outlet, the insert body including a generally planar, annular base portion extending circumferentially about the outlet and oriented normal to the flame path, and a plurality of colorant protrusions spaced circumferentially apart from each other and projecting radially inwardly from the base portion into the flame path, the plurality of colorant protrusions treated with a flame colorant for coloring the flame when heated.   
     
     
         29 . The lighter of  claim 28 , wherein the plurality of colorant protrusions lie in a common plane with the base portion. 
     
     
         30 . The lighter of  claim 28 , wherein the insert body includes at least three colorant protrusions. 
     
     
         31 . The lighter of  claim 28 , wherein each colorant protrusion extends radially inwardly from a fixed end at the base portion to a free end opposite the fixed end. 
     
     
         32 . The lighter of  claim 28 , wherein the insert body includes a plurality of retaining protrusions projecting from the base portion and spaced circumferentially apart from each other about the outlet, the retaining protrusions received in the lighter head in a friction fit for removably mounting the insert body to the lighter head. 
     
     
         33 . The lighter of  claim 28 , wherein the lighter head includes a head shell extending upwardly from the lighter body to an upper rim encircling the flame-coloring insert. 
     
     
         34 . The lighter of  claim 28 , wherein the lighter extends along a lighter axis, and each of the lighter body, lighter head, outlet, and flame path are generally coaxial with the lighter axis. 
     
     
         35 . A flame-coloring insert for a torch lighter, comprising:
 a) a generally planar, annular base portion including an aperture extending therethrough;   b) a plurality of retaining protrusions projecting from the base portion radially outward of the aperture, spaced circumferentially apart from each other about the aperture, and insertable into a head of the lighter for removably mounting the insert to the lighter with the aperture in alignment with a flame path of the lighter; and   c) a plurality of colorant protrusions projecting radially inwardly from the base portion into the aperture for positioning in the flame path when the insert is mounted, the plurality of colorant protrusions spaced circumferentially apart from each other about the aperture and lying in a common plane with the base portion, and each colorant protrusion treated with a flame colorant for coloring a flame projecting along the flame path when the colorant is heated by the flame.   
     
     
         36 . The lighter of  claim 35 , wherein each colorant protrusion extends radially inwardly from a fixed end at the base portion to a free end opposite the fixed end. 
     
     
         37 . The lighter of  claim 36 , wherein the free end of each colorant protrusion is free of any connection within the aperture to the free end of circumferentially adjacent colorant protrusions. 
     
     
         38 . The lighter of  claim 35 , wherein the insert includes at least three colorant protrusions. 
     
     
         39 . The lighter of  claim 35 , wherein the body portion, retaining protrusions, and colorant protrusions form an insert body of integral, unitary, one-piece construction. 
     
     
         40 . The lighter of  claim 39 , wherein the insert body is formed from a sheet metal blank.