CA2586995A1 - Lighter case with cigarette extinguisher - Google Patents

Description

LIGHTER CASE WITH CIGARETTE EXTINGUISHER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a lighter case incorporating a cigarette butt extinguisher. More particularly, the invention relates to a lighter case comprising a cover which is provided with an aperture for receiving a burning head of a cigarette and a manually actuated blade for cutting said burning head, thereby extinguishing the cigarette.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With the advent of strict government enforcement of non-smoking policies, smokers are often facing the problem of having to extinguish a cigarette before it is completely smoked, in order to enter a non-smoking area or vehicle for example. Given the significant cost of cigarettes, smokers may not want to discard a long butt of a partly smoked cigarette and are thus seeking means to save the butt by properly extinguishing the cigarette so to enable safe storage of the butt and prevent development of bad odours and /or bad taste when lit again. One way to do so is to cut the burning end of the cigarette. When this is performed using a sharp blade, maximal butt length can be preserved, cutting is neat, tobacco particles are less likely become loose and be lost and the butt can be reused as would be a new cigarette.
In order to render them readily available, some cigarette extinguishing devices of the prior art have been integrated into lighters, which is not a cost effective solution especially when disposable lighters are used. However, such lighters are often used in association with attractive

2 carrying cases, which advantageously enables integration of an extinguishing means into such a case.

An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a cigarette end cutter forming an integral part of a reusable lighter case.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

More specifically, in accordance with the invention as broadly claimed, there is provided a lighter case comprising a pivotally actuated cover, said cover defining a through hole wherein an end of a cigarette can be inserted extending throughout said cover, and a manually actuated blade assembly is slidably mounted inside said cover so to be movable between a first retracted position in which the blade clears said hole to enable cigarette insertion and a second position wherein the blade is extended passed said hole, whereby moving the blade from the first position to the second position results in the cutting of the cigarette end.
The invention may further comprise a resilient means such as a spring for automatically returning the blade into the first position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure la is an front isometric view of a lighter case with a cigarette extinguisher according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein a lit cigarette is about to be inserted into the extinguisher;

Figure lb is a top isometric view of the lighter case with a cigarette extinguisher according to a preferred

3 embodiment of the present invention, wherein a lit cigarette has been inserted into the extinguisher and a cutter has been actuated;
Figure 2a is a front elevation view of the lighter case with cigarette extinguisher, wherein a blade is set in a first retracted position;

Figure 2b is a front elevation view of the lighter case with cigarette extinguisher, wherein the blade is set in a second extended cutting position;

Figure 2c is a side elevation view of the lighter case with cigarette extinguisher;

Figure 2d is a top view of the lighter case with cigarette extinguisher;

Figure 3a is a front isometric view of the lighter case with a cigarette extinguisher, wherein a lit cigarette is about to be inserted into the extinguisher according to a first step of an extinguishing process;

Figure 3b is a top view of Figure 3a;

Figure 4a is a top isometric view of the lighter case with a cigarette extinguisher, wherein the burning end of a lit cigarette is being cut off according to a second step of an extinguishing process;

Figure 4b is a top view of Figure 4a;

Figure 5a is a front isometric view of the lighter case with a cigarette extinguisher, wherein a

4 cigarette butt is being withdrawn from the extinguisher according to a third step of an extinguishing process;
Figure 5b is a top view of Figure 5a.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the lighter case with cigarette extinguisher according to the present invention, will now be described in detail referring to the appended drawings. The same numerals represent the same elements in every illustration.

Referring to Figure 1, there is illustrated a case 1 provided with a cover 2 pivoting about a hinge 3 between a close position and an open position enabling insertion of a disposable type lighter (not visible through the closed case 1) .=Cases of this type already exist on the market for nesting disposable lighters such as those manufactured by the BIC Company, but do not provide a cigarette extinguisher.

The cover 2 defines a through-hole 4 having inwardly tapering mouths 5 and 6. Cover 2 further comprises a slot 7 provided on the top thereof for guiding a blade assembly in a reciprocating movement between a first retracted position (see Figures, la, 2a, 2c, 2d, 3a, 3b, 5a and 5b) and a second extended position (see Figures 1b, 2b, 4a and 4b). The blade assembly comprises a metal (preferably stainless steel) blade 10 assembled to a thumb engaging friction knob 11 across slot 7. Therefore, the blade 10 can be moved between the first position and the second position by using a thumb to move knob 11 between a proximal end 8 and a distal end 9 of slot 7. As can be best viewed from Figures 2a and 2b, when the knob 11 is abutting on the proximal slot end 8, the blade 10 is clearing through-hole 4 which enables a user to insert a burning end BE of a cigarette C through said hole. When the knob 11 is actuated in the direction of the distal end 9, a cutting edge 12 of blade 10 is moved radially across the full section of hole 4 to cut the cigarette C. Except for the sharp edge 12 of blade 10, all of the case component may be moulded from plastic material. A
return mechanism may be provided to enable automatic return of the blade assembly. A resilient means such as a metal spring may be used to that end according to techniques well known by those with ordinary skill in the art.

In use, a smoker may first approach a burning end BE of a cigarette C towards mouth 5 or 6 of hole 4, as shown in Figures 3a and 3b, and inser,ts the burning end inside hole 4 passed the center blade 10 to a desired cutting position see Figures 4a and 4b). Tapering mouths 5 and 6 facilitate alignment of the burning end into hole 4. Secondly, the smoker actuates the blade 10 by sliding knob 11 from end 8 to end 9 of slot 7, thereby cutting off the burning end B from cigarette C enabling disposal thereof by dropping it into an ashtray or another appropriate location for such disposal;
Figures 4a and 4b show knob 11 abutted against slot end 9 inthe extended cutting position. Thirdly, the smoker withdraws the neatly cut cigarette butt CB from hole 4 and may place it back in a cigarette pack, for future reuse. In an alternative embodiment, a storage compartment may be provided into the case 1 to store the cigarette butt CB. Obviously, the burning cigarette C may be inserted into hole 4 by its non-burning end so to prevent the burning end BE from contacting and contaminating mouths 5 or 6 and hole 4.

Therefore, the present invention provides a simple :and cost effective cigarette extinguishing device which provides neatly cut cigarette butts, unlikely to develop bad odours or bad taste when stored and reused.
Further, the lighter case with cigarette extinguisher can be used in association with a disposable lighter and is independent therefrom. Therefore, the case does not have to be replaced when the lighter is being disposed of.

Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of a preferred embodiment thereof, it can be modified at will within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and nature of the subject invention.

INVENTOR

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Claims