US2005557A - Pocket cigarette case and lighter - Google Patents

Description

June 18, 1935. R PENNEY Y 2,005,557

POCKET CIGARETTE CASE AND LIGHTER Filed Feb. 6, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet l INV ENTOR June 18, 1935. R. PENNEY POCKET CIGARETTE CASE AND LIGHTER' Filed Feb. 6, 1954 4 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR June 18, 1935. R. 1 PENNEY 2,005,557V

POCKET CIGARETTE CASE AND LIGHTER Filed Feb. 6, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENT R June 18; 1935. RQL.. PENNEY 2,005,557

y POCKET CIGARETTE CASE AND LIGHTER Filed Feb. e, 1954 4 sheets-sheet 4 INV ENTOR Patented June 18', 1935 VUNITED STATES :PATENT FFICEf- This invention relates generally to that. type of cigarette magazine or case, in combination with a lighter, suitable to being carried in the pocket and particularly to a device which automatically` lights a cigarette in the case when the cover or lid is opened and leaves the cigarette to be extracted by hand.

Many different forms of mechanism have been provided for automatically lighting cigarettes but so far as I know they are allof such a cumbersome and expensive nature that they are not adapted forv use in a pocket form of case. On the other hand pocket lighters have been de signed which require mouth suction applied by the user in order to ensure ignition. Such `devices are not only unsanitary and incapable of friendly interchangeof use but lack the advantages of automatic ignition. p

As will be obvious a pocket form of device must be compact, light in weight `and `substantially fool-proof.

My principal Vobject is to provide-a compact and portable cigarette case which, when loaded with a plurality of cigarettes, will automatically presentv lighted cigarettes as-controlled by a simple manipulation of a linger of the hand holding the case.

Another object is to provide a device in which a cigarette is automatically lighted when the cover or lid is opened.

Another object is to provide a device of the character described in which the igniting and storage elements can be-inserted and removed as aA unit. Y

Special objects will-be understood from the following specification.`

In carrying out my invention I have provided acasing similar in size and shape to an ordinary pocket cigarette case and having a cigarette storage compartment and an ignition space. The casing is provided with a door which normally `closes the storage compartment and a lid or cover which normally closes the ignition space. I also provide a fuel tank and wick within the casing and a snufier which is carried by the lid. The casing also holds an ignition or sparking device consisting of the'conventional iiint and wheel which is automatically actuated when the lid is opened.

On account of the fact that it is impracticable to furnish a flame cf suicient heat and location to itself alone cause ignition ofthe cigarette, I provide an air pressure device in the form of a sort of blow pipe which is actuated automatically afterv rhesparking device has. ignited the wick.

.The lid is normallyheld closed by a latch `which is adapted to be manually released. The lid is .spring pressed toward the open position and whenl closed sets Athe. actuating Vdevices for the .sparking mechanism and the bellows orV air pressure device. In oneform of the invention I provide in addition to the foregoing a suction device for drawing air through the igniting cigarette at the same time that the air. blast operates against the ame.

In the drawings I have illustratedthe invention inthree different forms; all embodying the broad features of the invention and each having certain advantages of its own.

Fig. l is'a front viewY of one form of device embodying my invention, a part of the casing and lidbeing broken away to show the interior and with the cigarette compartment iled, the door and lid being closed.

Fig. 2 is an edge View of this form of. device.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the same. i

Fig. `4 is a fragmentary View Yshowing the upper end of the case' with the lidopen in full lines and partly openedr in dotted lines.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view on the plane of the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, the door being shown in dotted lines partly open. v

Fig. 6 is a front view of a modifiedform, the

ylid being open and partsbeing broken away to show the interior.v

Fig. 7 is afront view and partial section of the form shown in Figs. 1 and 5,the lid being shownclosed and only three cigarettes in place.

Fig. 8 `is a view similar to Fig. 7 with the lid open and showing the wick lighted and the air pressure device in operation.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentaryV perspective view on a larger scale showing the ignition mechanism.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view on the plane of the line lll-Iii of Figs. Tand 13 but on a larger scale and showing the position of the cigarette feed and delivery devicezwhen the lid is closed. L

Fig. 11 issimilar to Fig. 10 but showing the parts in the position which they occupy when the lid is open, the top'cigarette being indicated only by dot and dash lines. This shows how the second cigarette is held in position after the top one has been removed.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the spring pressed follower or feeder bar and showing a fragment of the wall of the cigarette comparte ment with which the ends of the bar coact at the upper end of the stroke.

Fig. 13 is a longitudinal section and rear view of the parts inside the casing, the lid being closed, the bellows expanded and latched, and the spark device actuator retracted.

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 13 but showing the lid open and the bellows and spark device actuators extended. l

Fig. 15 is a transverse sectional view on the plane of the line |-I5 of Fig. 13. v

Fig. 16 is a View similar to Fig. 7 of a modied form provided with a suction device as Well as an air pressure device.

Fig. 17 is aview similar to Fig. 8 and showing the form of Fig. 16, the lid being open and the two bellows in a position intermediate the full contraction and full expansion.

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the suctionV arm of the device shown in Figs. 16 and 17.'

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary perspective view of a detail for the anchorage device of the suction bellows.

In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 5 the casing 2| is, for convenience, formed of two parts suitably connected together. A door 22 is Vhinged to cover a part of one side of the casing and .the lid 23 is hinged to close the upper end of the casing. The door may be held closed by a friction catch 25. The lid is held closed by a spring pressed latch 25 which engages a lip or projection 26 in the lid. This latch 25 is adapted to be released by a push button or finger piece 21 which extends into or through a passage in one edge of the case. This may either project for convenience in operation or be made. flush as indicated at 21 in Fig. 6. The lid is 'biased toward the open position by means of a spring 28 and lever 29 which is hinged to the lid and guided by a stud or screw 30.

Inside the casing a compartment 3| .is provided for holding the cigarettes. This compartment may be conveniently held in a detachable manner by means of one or more screws 32 which enter posts 32 which project from the adjacent wall of the casing. The follower or feeder bar 33 is mounted in the cigarette compartment and provided with a spring 34 which presses the .bar and vthe cigarettes above it upwardly.

The :opposite ends of the feeder bar are provided with spring catches 33 each of which is 'adapted to engage van abutment or stop shoulder 3| on the inner wall of the cigarette compartment near its upper end so as to limit the upward movement of the feeder bar when the cigarettes are all removed,

A latch 35 hinged in the lower end of the cigarette compartment is adapted to engage the center of the feeder bar when the latter is depressed to the position shown in Fig. 1 so as to facilitate insertion of the cigarettes into the storage compartment. This latch is provided with an outwardly projecting lug 35 which is adapted to be engaged by the door 2'2 when the door is closed, as shown in Fig. 5. It will be seenthat the closing of the door thus releases the latch from the feeder bar allowing the spring 34 to expand and exert pressure against the feeder bar. t

At the upper end of the storage compartment are two fingers 36 which are spaced apart from each other and adapted to engage the opposite ends of the top cigarette in the case to hold it inl Dlace, the space between the fingers facilitating digital engagement of the cigarette when it is desired to remove it.

At a level below these fingers is a locking member 31 which is carried by a spring 31 in such a position that it can be wedged in between the two upper cigarettes. The construction and operation will be more clearly seen from Figs. and 11.

A spring pressed cam 38 is hinged in the lid in a position to engage the upper end of the spring arm 31 so as to retract the locking member 31 when the lid is closed.

y When the lid is opened the spring 31 moves the locking member 31 so as to wedge it between the two upper cigarettes and thus be in position to hold the second cigarette when the top cigarette is removed. When the lid is closed the locking member is retracted and the cigarettes released for upward movement by the spring 34 as previously described.

, The adjacent nger 36 may be provided with a curved or cam-like rear surface to serve as an abutment for the lower end of the cam member 38 to force it from the position shown in Fig.

11 to that shownin Fig. 10. This provides for aV considerable movement of the locking member 31 in spite of the limited space available.

The combustible fluid is stored in a reservoir or tank 4@ which is mounted in the casing in one edge and may, for convenience, be attached to or formed as a part of one edge of the cigarette compartment. This tank may be of any suitable construction and provided with a lling opening and closure 46' of suitable character.

The burner 4| may be of any suitable construction and provided with a Wick as usual. The burner is located below the top cigarette as shown in Fig. 9 and a guard wall 42 is provided for protecting the second cigarette from ignition while the rst is being lighted.

The igniting device of the spark type includes a flint 43 and a wheel 44 of suitable type. The ilint may be adjusted by the usual screw- 43 and spring. Vents 22 are provided in the door and passage 45 for the introduction of air to the burner. Flanges 46 are preferably provided at the sides to protect the flame.

In'V order to operate the igniter automatically when the lid is opened I provide a rack 41 which l is under tension of the spring 41. This rack is suitably guided'in the casing between the rear wall of the cigarette compartment and the adjacent inner wall of the casing. One or more screws 48 may cooperate in guiding and holding 53 when the ratchet member 41 is pushed inwardly.

When the lid is closed the shoulder 55 engages the upper end of the plunger rack 41 and pushes it inwardly thus through the medium of the gears 49 and 55 rotating the ratchet member 52 backwardly without rotating the spark Wheel 44 When the lid is opened the spring 41 shoots vthe ratchet member 41 outwardly and thus rotates the gears 49 and 50 and the clutch members 52 and 53 and the sparking wheel. 44 so as to ignite the wick of the burner. The lid is provided with a snuing or closure device 56 which!` fits over the burner when the lid is closed to extinguish the flame and prevent evaporation of the combustible liquid.

In order to direct the flame against the cigarette and furnish a suciently high temperature to ensure combustion I provide a suitable form of air presure device such as a collapsible bellows t@ whose chamber is connected by a pipe 6i to a nozzle G2, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. This nozzle requires only a very minute outlet and should be arranged so that when a stream of air is forced from it it will intercept the ame from the burner and direct at least a part of it to the end of the top cigarette. This nozzle hole is preferably slightly tapered sothat the open end is smaller than the inner end and the diameter oi' the open end need be no more than .Gill inch.

The bellows may be formed in any suitable manner and for convenience in assembly it may be secured to the lower end of the cigarette compartment 3i so that the upper end of the bellows is stationary, The lower end of the bellows is secured to a bar or plunger 63 which is suitably guided by one or more screws such as 6i secured to the back of the cigarette compartment. The plunger is under tension of a spring J which tends to close the bellows.

The upper end ESS of the rod t3 projects into thepath of movement of a shoulder B1 in the lid so that when the lid is closed it engages the upper end of the bellows rod and expands the bellows to its maximum extent as shown in Figs. 7 and 13. The bellows is held in this expanded position by; a spring pressed pivoted latch iwhich is adapted to be released only by the action of the spark actuating plunger 4l. This plunger has a shoulder 59 which is adapted to engage the upper end of the latch 58 to tilt it from the position shown in Fig. 13 to that shown in Fig. lll as the plunger il moves outwardly, and as it reaches the end or nearly the end of its upward movement.

By this means the collapsing of the bellows 1s delayed long enough to ensure the lighting of the burner before the air blast is directed through the flame.

The action of the device thus far described is a follows, assuming two or more cigarettes in the storage compartment and the case closed as shown in Figs. l, 2, 5, 7, l0 and I3. The push button 2l? is pressed inwardly to release the latch 2t from the catch 2%. The lid 23 is imvmediately opened and held open by the action of the spring 2li and the slide rod or lever 29. The movement of the lid removes the cup 56 .from the wick of the burner M. As soon as the lid is raised from the upper end of the plunger rack L'i'i the latter operates the sparking wheel .Lid through the action of the gears 49 and 5@ and the ratchet members 52 and A stream of sparks are thus driven from the flint 43 across the top of the wick which causes ignition of the vapor so that the flame jumps up beyond the end of the top cigarette.

This rack produces a substantially 360 rotation of the spark wheel 44 to ensure the ignition. When the shoulder t9 on the plunger rack il strikes the upper end of the latch 63 it disengages the latch from the bellows rod 63 so that the bellows can begin Yto collapse after the wick has been ignited. Air is then forced out of the bellows thro-ugh the pipe l and the nozzle 62 and directed at the end of the top cigarette, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. This action of the bellows is comparatively slow because of the large Volume of the bellows compared to the size of the outlet in the nozzle and because of the relatively low bias value of the spring F55. A superheated flame is thus directed for a considerable period of time (in this construction, for several seconds) at the tip of the cigarette so that combustion is ensured. This method and construction produces a short and thin but extremely hot, high-oxygen flame which persistently forces itself into the end of the top cigarette due to the controlling pressure of the column of air added-to the flame so that, if this device is constructed as described, it will be found that this blowame will satisfactorily light a cigarette even under the most adverse conditions such as in a wind or a hard draft. The shields M3 are provided to protect the ame only until the bellows begins blowing as from this time on it will be found that the blowame cannot be extinguished by any ordinary foreign drafts.

The lighted top cigarette is now removed by hand so that the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1l. The lid is then closed and the cam member 38 wedging in betweeen the back of the curved finger 3d and the tip of the spring 3l moves the locking member 3i to the position shown in Fig. l0 so that the spring 3d can force the next cigarette into position against the lingers 35.

The closing of the cover also snuifs out the flame and seals the burner and engages the upper ends of the plungers lil and 63 and forces them downwardly, resetting them into the position shown in Figml, whereupon the device is in condition to be again actuated and ignite another cigarette by a repetition of the steps above described.

When the case is empty and the lid 23 open the door 22 is opened and the follower or feeder bar 33 is moved downwardly by hand until caught by the latch 35 as shown in Fig. l2. The spring fingers 33 are automatically disengaged from the shoulders il when the feeder bar is pressed downwardly. When the feeder bar is held by the latch 35 the cigarette compartment 3l may be filled with cigarettes.

When the door Z2 is closed it engages the lug 35' and tilts the latch 35 away from the feeder bar thus releasing it so that it can press upwardly on the stack of cigarettes in the storage compartment.

The latch 35 and catch 2d are so located that the follower bar is not released until the door is substantially closed and latched so that the pressure of the follower bar will not act upon the cigarettes until the door is closed.

In the form shown in Fig. 6 the lid lill is carried by side pieces ll, 'il which telescopically slide into the body of the case l2. The action of the mechanism is substantially the same as that previously described except for the substitution of the straight-line movement of the lid for the tilting or hinging of the lid. In this case I provide an additional spring pressed plunger i3 to supplement the plunger 63 and more uniformly distribute the tension and compression of the bellows: I have also provided a space or opening 'lil between the parts il, 'H so as to leave room for the insertion of the 'fingers for gripping the lighted cigarette.

On the fourth sheet of drawings I have'illustrated mechanism similar to that heretofore described but having the additional advantage of automatically applying suction to the cigarette while the flame is directed to the opposite end. For this purpose I provide a bellows or suction device Bil and a suction applying member 8l. The bellows issecured to the bottom of the bellows G and the actuating bar 63 is secured toa partition 32 between the two bellows so that when the bellows Si? is compressed the bellows gli is expanded and vice versa. The lower end of the bellows St is provided with a cross bar 83 adapted to be inserted into hook-like members 8d secured in the bottom of the case so as to facilitate assembly of the parts.

The suction applying member Si is hinged at E5 and biased toward the position shown in Fig. 17 by a spring S6. When the lid is closed, however, the cam member 8l in the lid engages the upper end of the suction member 8l and holds it retracted in the position shown in Fig. 16 so as to permit the cigarettes to be fed into the igniting or delivery space. The lower end of the bellows Sii is connected to the lower end of the suction device 8i by means of a pipe 8S and B9, one or both of which may be flexible to facilitate connection and operation.

'Ihe upper end of the suction member 8| is provided with a flange or hood to ensure a tight joint around the end of the cigarette when suction is applied. This suction arm must be retracted before the cam 38 releases the locking bar 3l so as to prevent the second cigarette from jamming when released and fed upwardly.

The operation of this form of device so far as the production or" the blow llame is concerned is identical with that previously described. In addition to this, however, it will be seen that the bellows E@ normally collapsed when the lid is closed as shown in Fig. i6. When the lid is opened and the plunger 3 released the bellows 32 is expanded so that it draws air through the cigarette and the suction member thus stimulating combustion.

As those versed in the prior art know, previous constructions have attempted automatic cigarette lighters by the application of heat to one cnc. oi a cigarette and suctional means to the opposite end, mechanically imitating the normal method oi using the suctional power of the human lung" to ensure a combustion from the flame a 1 u. While this procedure may be practical i? a large construction, as :for instance in a table model, where space and size are unlimited and where the construction can include a very large bellows or other suction means, it is not feasible for a compact case designed to be carried in an ordinary vest pocket, where size and weight are definitely limited. In addition to this, a table model may be practical because such a device is designed for use indoors and away from drafts and also because it is usually placed on a table or other level and stationary support, ensuring a fixed plane position for the flame relative to the end of the cigarette. Y

Applicant has found by experiment that a pocket case utilizing suction means only must be perfectly shielded from drafts and must be held in a certain plane or position to ensure the flame touching the cigarette end. If this last is not done and the flame happens not to be touching and enclosing the end of the cigarette when the suction means operates, cool air from the atmosphere only will be drawninto Vthe cigarette lnstead of flame and heat.' It is thought that, in the construction shown in Figs. 16 and 17, these above-mentioned difliculties have been overcome as, in addition to the suctional means provided,

blower means are also shown which tend to correct the disadvantagesnamed above.

In some cases this suction device may afford suilcient assistance to stimulate combustion without the use of the blow pipe eiect. The provision of both the air blast and suction simultaneously, however, afford complementary means so that the suction means will always be able to draw flame into the cigarette, this being ensured by the blower means regardless of drafts or the position in which the case is held.

By securing the fuel tank, the burner, the igniter, the bellows and nozzle and the actuating devices to the storage compartment these parts can be readily assembled and inserted into and removed from the case when desired.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a casing having a storage compartment for cigarettes and delivery holding 'means for the top cigarette, a lid normally closing the casing and spring pressed toward an open position, a manually releasable latch for holding the lid closed, a burner and igniter in the casing, a spring pressed actuator for the igniter movable against the spring by the closing of the lid, an air blast device delivering air to the burner at the end of the top cigarette, spring pressed means movable by the lid in closing for forcing air from said air blast device and an actuator for resetting said means.

2. A pocket cigarette case and lighter comprising a casing having a storage compartment for cigarettes and delivery holding means for the top cigarette, a lid normally closing the casing, a manually rcleasable latch for holding the lid closed, a burner and igniter in the casing, a spring pressed actuator for the igniter, an air blast device delivering air to the burner at the end of the top cigarette, spring pressed means released by the lid for forcing air from said air blast device, an actuatory for resetting said means and a latch for holding the latter actuator and released by the movement of the igniter actuator.

3. A pocket cigarette case lighter comprising a case having a movable lid at one end, a manually operable catch for holding the lid closed, a storage compartment fOr cigarettes having a. delivery space4 at the end of the case adjacent the lid, a spring pressed follower for the cigarettes, a locking mem-ber at one side of the Acase for holding back the next to the top cigarette when the lid is opened, a burner and a sparking igniter located in one edge of the case adjacent one end of the tOp cigarette in the delivery space, spring actuated means actuated automatically by the opening of the lid to throw sparks to the burner, and means for accelerating combustion 'of the end of the top cigarette after the burner is ignited.

ll. A pocket cigarette case lighter comprising a case having a movable lid at one end, a manually operable catch for holding the lid closed, a storage compartment for cigarettes having a delivery space at the end of the case adjacent the lid, a) spring pressed follower for the cigarettes, a burner and igniter located in one edge o f the case adjacent one end of thetop cigarette in the delivery space, means actuated automatically when the lid is opened to ignite the burner, and an air blast device in the case for blowing through the name to the end of the tcp cigarette after the burner is ignited.

5. A pocket cigarette case lighter comprising a case having a movable spring pressed lid at one end, a manually operable catch for holding the lid closed, a storage compartment for cigarettes having a delivery space at the end of the case adjacent the lid, a spring pressed follower for the cigarettes, a locking member at one side of the case for holding back the neXt to the top cigarette when the lid is opened, a burner and a sparking igniter located in one edge of the case adjacent one end of the top cigarette in the delivery space, means actuated automatically by the opening of the lid to throw sparks to the burner, and a suction device in the case applied to the opposite end of the top cigarette after the burner is ignited.

6. In a pocket cigarette case, a compartment for cigarettes having a door to permit lling and having a lid to permit access to the top cigarette, a blow pipe device inthe case for lighting one end of the top cigarette while in the case and means actuated by the opening of the lid to ignite the blow pipe device.

7. In a pocket cigarette case, a compartment for cigarettes having a door to permit lling and having a lid to permit access to the top cigarette, a blow torch device in the case for automatically lighting one end of the top cigarette while in the case and a suction device coacting with the other end of said top cigarette in the case.

8. In a pocket cigarette case, a compartment for cigarettes having a door to permit filling, and having a lid to permit access to the top cigarette, a blow torch device in the case for automatically lighting one end of the top cigarette while in the case, a follower in the cigarette compartment, a latch for holdingthe follower stationary and means actuated by the closing f the door to release said latch.

9. In a cigarette lighter, automatic means for igniting a burner, automatic means for blowing air across the burner to a cigarette and means actuated by the igniting means to delay the action of the air blowing means until after the ignition of the burner.

10. In a cigarette lighter, a case containing a burner, an igniter, air pressure means and manually started mechanism for sequentially and automatically opening the case, igniting the burner and applying an air blast to the end of a cigarette in the case.

11. In a cigarette lighter, a pocket case having a movable lid, an igniter and air blast means in the case and means actuated by the closing of the lid to automatically reset the air blast means and latch it in position to automatically act when released.

12. In a pocket cigarette lighter including spring pressed igniter mechanism, a spring pressed air blast device and means actuated by the igniter mechanism for releasing the air blast device.

13. In a pocket cigarette holder and lighter, a case having a storage compartment with a door for access thereto, a movable lid at one end of the case, a burner and igniter mechanism in the case at one edge thereof, a spring pressed toothed rack mounted to reciprocate in the case, a gear meshing with said rack, a ratchet connected to the gear for driving a part oi the igniter mechanism, a'manually releasable spring pressed latch normally holding the lid closed, automatic means for accelerating combustion actuated by the rack after it moves outwardly to actuate the igniter and means carried by the lid for engaging a part of the rack when closing the lid to reset the rack.

14. In a pocket cigarette holder and lighter, a case, a burner and igniter in the case, two bellows in the case, spring actuated means for eX- panding one bellows and contracting the other bellows, an air blast nozzle connected to one bellows to direct the flame from the burner to one end ofl a cigarette and a suction device connected to the other bellows for applying suction tc the opposite end of the cigarette while the air blast is directed to theA first end.

l5. In a pocket cigarette holder and lighter, a case, a burner and igniter in the case, a suction device movable to and from a cigarette, means for automatically actuating said device to apply suction to one end of a cigarette, means for actuating the igniter to provide a flame from the burner, and means for delaying the action of the suction device until after the igniter has been actuated.

16. In a pocket cigarette holder and lighter, a case having a movable lid, a burner and igniter in the case, a bellows and air nozzle mounted in the case, a spring for collapsing the bellows to blow air across the ame from the burner against one end of a cigarette in the case and a plunger connected to the bellows and adapted to be engaged by the lid to expand the bellows when the lid is closed.

17. In a pocket cigarette holder and lighter, a case having a movable lid, a burner and igniter in the case, a suction bellows, a suction device having one end movable to and from the end of a cigarette in the case, a spring for expanding the bellows when the lid is opened, means for moving and applying the suction device to a cigarette, and means carried by the lid for retracting the suction device and collapsing the bellows when the lid is closed.

18. A pocket cigarette holder and lighter comprising a case having a storage compartment and a delivery space, means for feeding a cigarette from the storage compartment to the delivery space, a burner and igniter in the case, means for actuating the igniter to light the burner and devices for simultaneously applying an'air blast to one end of a cigarette in the delivery space and suction to the opposite end of said cigarette after the igniter has been actuated.

19. A pocket cigarette holder and lighter comprising a case having a storage compartment and a delivery space, a burner and igniter in the case, means for applying an air blast to one end of a cigarette in the delivery space, additional means for simultaneously applying suction tc` the opposite end of said cigarette and means causing both of said means to operate after the igniter has been actuated.

ROBERT L. PENNEY.

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