Support for cigarette lighters with function of fragrance burner

Abstract

 This invention consists of a support for cigarette lighters of any kind. It comprises a hollow base connected by means of a vertical element to one or more rings, where the lighter is inserted. When this support is reversed, it can be also used as fragrance burner, as the flame of the lighter passes through the openings of the reversed hollow base.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical sector of the production of smoking accessories normally distributed by tobacconists, stationers or automatic dispensers that, further than selling cigarettes, also deal with everything concerns the smoking addiction. In particular, this invention consists of a support for cigarette lighters, forming a base for them and also useful to heat various aromatic substances, which have been recently developed not only in the Middle and Far East, but even in the western markets.

Background Art

[0002] All around the world, there is a widespread hobby to collect the most strange items, not only valuable, but even common items that, for their design or shape, characterize a definite historical period. Among these items, we find cigarette lighters of any kind, included "throwaway" lighters, collected above all for their decorations or their particular writing. Foreign lighters are then particularly collected, perhaps as souvenir of a holiday or memory of a friendship.

[0003] Even though this trend is nowadays widespread, in fact no system exists permitting to arrange lighters in order, since, for their particular shape, they can only be untidily collected in a box. But in this way, it's not possible to show the decorated body of the lighter collection.

Disclosure of invention

[0004] The main purpose of the present invention is to provide a shaped support for a lighter, making it possible to be perfectly shown. The secondary purpose of this invention is to provide a support manufactured in such a way that it can be used also as fragrance burner.

[0005] We reached this result providing the technical solution having the characteristics described in the separate claims. Other characteristics of this invention are the object of dependent claims.

[0006] The advantages resulting from the present invention essentially consist of the fact that it's possible to exhibit a lighter using a support that shows its shape and its decorations; that the support is light and not particularly bulky; that the support can be also used, in combination with the lighter, as fragrance burner, so getting a double function; that it is small and easy to carry; that it is cheap and easy to produce.

[0007] A support for cigarette lighters with function of fragrance burner, according to the present invention and with reference to the figures of the enclosed drawings, comprises:

• means for the support on a flat surface, with a base hollow inside (1), so that the perimeter bordering its opening can stand on a flat surface and, when the support is reversed, it can contain substances to heat or burn;
• means to hold the same lighter, consisting of one or more rings (4) having the same shape as the one of the body of the lighter, so that it can be placed and held into them;
• means to join the base with the support of the lighter, with a vertical element (2) connected to both.

[0008] Conveniently, the device object of the present invention is made of music wire or other material, also plastic, responding to the double function of elasticity, necessary for the reciprocal block lighter/frame, and of heat resistance.

[0009] Conveniently, the base (1) is equipped with openings in order to make the structure lighter and permit a better heating of the substance when the support is used as fragrance burner.

[0010] Conveniently, the base (1) has an elliptic hollow structure, with tight upper openings (3), preferably of enlarged shape, suitable to hold any substance to heat or burn without letting it leak, but, at the same time, letting the flame pass. through, properly heating the substance inside.

[0011] Conveniently, the ring supporting the lighter has an entrance through which the lighter can be inserted. This ring is also connected to the vertical element (2) in all its points.

[0012] Conveniently, the connection of the ring (4) to the vertical element, otherwise called rib (2), can be fixed or mobile and realized in any point of the rib. In particular, if mobile, the rib is provided with a sliding element connected to the ring and equipped with a lock mechanism, so that it allows the ring to slide until it finds the desired point.

[0013] Conveniently, said ring (4) is made of music wire, in this way it can be stretched for the insertion of the lighter and, once released, it presses the sides of the same lighter locking it inside.

[0014] The lighter is supported by said ring (4), so that the user can choose to show the lighter with its bottom raised on the base (1) or with its bottom placed on the same base. When the support is reversed and used as fragrance burner, the ring (4) grips the body of the lighter, which can be held in vertical position with a hand or placing its bottom on a flat surface.

[0015] Conveniently, the ring supporting the lighter has an elliptical shape, with a side entrance for the insertion, made of music wire, as well as the entire device.

[0016] Conveniently, the base (1) and the supporting ring (4) are connected each other by a rising vertical element (2) shaped in such a way as to make the lighter slightly shifted from the centre of the base. Thanks to this manufacturing feature, when the device is reversed and used as fragrance burner, the flame of the lighter is at the centre of the base (1) and thus permits the perfect heating of its content.

[0017] Conveniently, the rising vertical element (2) can take a flat, cylindrical or other shape.

[0018] Conveniently, this device is made by moulding.

[0019] This device, thanks to its small size, can be conveniently carried in one's pocket, as a common lighter.

[0020] In a practical solution of this invention, the device consists of an object made of metal plate, thin, anyway not bulky, which makes it easy to be carried. It comprises a ring of elliptical shape (fitting with common throwaway lighters), which has an entrance on its front side for the insertion and fitting of the lighter; thanks to the particular steel used, i.e. the music wire normally used for flat plate springs, the repeated insertion does not damage the above-mentioned elliptical shape, thus permitting in time an identical and firm hold of the lighter and an extremely simplicity of use in the operation to insert and remove it from the device.

[0021] Said device comprises, at the opposite side of the entrance, a rib rising perpendicularly to the elliptic surface of the ring and, by means of an elegant bend of this rib, it places in perfect vertical axis to the exit of the flame, an elliptic hollow structure, i.e. the base (1) equipped with various openings of such a size as to permit the direct passage of the flame, but at the same time as to avoid it falls down.

[0022] When it is used as support, the base (1) stands on a flat surface and the lighter is kept suspended by the ring (4) or with its bottom placed on the same base.

[0023] When it is used as fragrance burner, the support is reversed and the base (1) contains the substances to heat or burn. In this solution, the distance between the outlet of the lighter and the base (1) can be regulated simply by sliding up and down the lighter and the device each other.

[0024] Thanks to the lightness of the metallic structure and to the position it takes on the lighter, the assembled device can firmly stand alone, therefore it can be conveniently placed on any flat surface, without any need of further supports.

[0025] In practice, the manufacturing details may, however, vary as regards shape, size, position of elements and type of materials used, but still remain within the range of the idea proposed as a solution and, consequently, within the limits of the protection granted by this patent for invention.

Brief description of drawings

[0026] The following drawings are given as practical examples of the invention, but are not to be considered restrictive.

• Fig. 1 shows a front section of the device, with the elliptic holding ring (4), the back rising rib (2) and the corresponding front bend (6), which makes the insertion of the lighter (5) easier, thanks to a simple push (S).
• Fig. 2 shows the device and the relative lighter not inserted yet, in side position; this figure highlights the shape of the lower portion, i.e. the base (1), having also the function of burner, equipped with suitable openings (3), which can be better seen in the top view (P); we can then see the elegant bend of the rib (2) and the holding ring (4), placed in this case with the entrance directed towards the lighter (5), to be inserted by means of a simple sideways push (S).
• Fig. 3 shows the assembled device, where the lighter has been inserted, showing its entire body and being perfectly supported by the rib (2), even if it can be effectively placed on the base (1).
• Fig. 4 shows a different use of the device as fragrance burner. In this solution, the flame is in perfect axis with the centre of the container for the aromatic substances, thus improving this specific use.

Claims

1. Support for lighters, characterised in that it comprises:

- means for the support on a flat surface, with a base hollow inside, so that the perimeter bordering its opening can stand on a flat surface and, when the support is reversed, it can contain substances to heat or burn;

- means to hold the same lighter, consisting of one or more rings having the same shape as the one of the body of the lighter, so that it can be placed and held into them;

- means to join the base with the support of the lighter, with a vertical element connected to both.

2. Support as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it is made of music wire or other elastic material resistant to heat.

3. Support as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the base (1) is equipped with openings.

4. Support as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the base (1) has an elliptic hollow structure, with tight upper openings (3), preferably of enlarged shape, suitable to hold any substance to heat or burn without letting it leak, but, at the same time, letting the flame pass through.

5. Support as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the ring(s) supporting the lighter has an entrance through which the lighter can be inserted.

6. Support as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the connection of the ring (4) to the vertical element, otherwise called rib (2), can be fixed or mobile and realized in any point of the rib.

7. Support as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the rising vertical element (2) is shaped in such a way as to make the lighter slightly shifted from the centre of the base; in this way, when the device is reversed, the flame of the lighter is at the centre of the base (1) and thus permits the perfect heating of its content.

8. Support as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the rising vertical element (2) can take a flat, cylindrical or other shape.

9. Support as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it is made by moulding.

Drawing