Extension lighter
This invention relates to lighters and more particularly to an extension or remote lighter for use with fireplaces or grills or with other inaccessible places. More particularly, the invention relates to a novel use of a regular lighter where a lighter is mounted for remote operation on an extension and is ignited and extinguished remotely. 
     This invention is an improvement upon prior remote ignition devices having elongated extensions or handles. It employs a regular hand-held lighter having a hand operated ignition and extinguishing means. In the extension form of the invention the lighter is both ignited and extinguished remotely without direct hand operation of the lighter. It is an improvement, for example, over previous lighters such as those illustrated in prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,138,944, 3,523,005 and 4,013,398. These prior extension lighters were relatively complex and expensive in not being adapted to use the simpler mass-produced hand lighters or they failed to provide for the remote ignition and extinguishing of the lighter where hand-held lighters were adapted for this purpose. 
     The present extension means and lighter combination preferably utilizes two relatively simple molded plastic elements in combination with a mass-produced butane lighter to provide the remote lighting capability. The extension mountings include a lighter holder and a cooperating plunger both of which are formed as unitary elements molded from a suitable plastic. The completed extension lighter is assembled by a simple snapping together of the holder and the plunger together with the butane lighter. 
     A hand-held lighter of the butane type is used which has an ignition button or other control which is pressed or otherwise manipulated to ignite the lighter and which is released to extinguish the lighter. For example, one preferred lighter is a lighter having a sliding ignition switch which is pressed for ignition and released to extinguish the lighter and which is manufactured by Feudor Company of 50 Campus Plaza, Edison, N.J. 08817. The advantage of this type of lighter is its ability to be both ignited and extinguished easily in the preferred remote mounting of the invention as described below. 
     Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved remote or extension lighter. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved remote lighter utilizing a known butane type hand-held lighter. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an effective and relatively inexpensive mounting means for forming a remote lighter utilizing a conventional hand-held butane type lighter. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a remote lighter which is both ignited and extinguished by remote control. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive remotely operated lighter for fireplaces and grills and the like. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a remote type lighter having an easy replaceable lighter element. 
     Other and further objects of the present invention will become apparent upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiments about to be described or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the assembled extension lighter in use. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the extension lighter of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevational view partially in section of the extension lighter. 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the lighter end portion in its ignited position. 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 are vertical sectional views taken along lines 5--5 and 6--6 on FIG. 3. 
     FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the extension lighter with its parts assembled for shipment. 
     FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 8--8 on FIG. 7. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 illustrates the assembled extension lighter 1 in use. It comprises a butane type hand-held lighter 2 mounted in a lighter holder 3 and which is operated by a plunger 4 slidably positioned on the holder 3. 
     The hand-held lighter 2 is of the butane type. Such lighters are commercially available in a form which includes a supply of butane fuel supplying a wick which is ignited by a movable ignition button 5 to strike a flint. The preferred butane type lighter 2 has a slidable ignition button 5 which is pressed downwardly for ignition and which is released for extinguishing the lighter. This button is spring loaded so that it is depressed to ignite the lighter 2 against the force of a spring means which returns the button 5 and extinguishes the lighter when the button is released. The exact details of the lighter ignition are not part of the present invention as such lighters are available with the suitable spring loaded ignition and extingushing mechanisms as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,827,852 of Aug. 6, 1974, for example. 
     The lighter holder 3 of the present invention has a spring-like lighter gripping or retaining clip 6 with inwardly directed retaining lips 8 at its end which permits the lighter 2 to be snapped into place within the hollow outer end 7 of the holder 3. In its preferred form the holder 3 is a unitary molded member formed of medium impact polystyrene or a similar easily molded plastic. The holder 3 has a channel-like upwardly opening shape including a bottom wall 9, opposed side walls 10, and a lighter retaining end wall 11. Additionally, the inner end of the holder 3 has a curved trigger grip 12 which is used in operating the extension lighter 1 as will be further described below. 
     The plunger 4, which is used in operating the extension lighter 1 is also preferably molded as a unitary member from a similar plastic. It has a channel form including a top wall 14, spaced side walls 15 and an end wall 16. Lateral reinforcing members 17 are supplied at the gripping or inner end. The cross sectional dimensions of the plunger 4 are proportioned so that the plunger 4 fits slidably within the hollow holder 3 with the top wall 14 of the plunger being slidably retained beneath a pair of spaced detents 18 on the holder 3. A detent 19 is positioned on the bottom wall 9 of the holder 3 to engage the outer end 20 of a pair of elongated slots 21 formed in the side walls 15 of the plunger 4 to hold the plunger 4 in its normal or extinguished position as shown in FIG. 3. A rounded thumb grip 22 is provided on the top wall 14 of the plunger 4 and three suitably shaped finger grips 23 are formed on the opposite lower edges of the plunger 4 side walls 15. The extension lighter 1 grip, as illustrated in FIG. 1, provides for relative motion between the holder 3 and the plunger 4 as the lighter 2 is pressed outwardly to activate the lighter button 5. 
     The lighter clip 6 at the outer end of the holder 3 is relatively flexible because of the inherent flexbility of the preferred plastic and is spaced apart at its top or outer portion to be slightly closer than the width of the lighter 2 thereby providing a tight mounting grip on the lighter 2. 
     As the plunger 4 is moved forwardly of the holder 3 and against the lighter 2, the lighter 2 is also forced forwardly of the holder 3 causing a relative downward movement of the lighter button 5 on the lighter 2 thereby igniting the butane type lighter (FIGS. 1 and 14). When moved to this position against an internal spring means, the lighter 2 tends to urge the plunger 4 rearwardly of the holder 3. This permits the lighter 2 to be extinguished by the return movement of the lighter button 5 as soon as the user releases his grip on the trigger 12. 
     As seen in FIG. 7, the plunger 4 and slot 21 are proportioned so that the plunger 4 may slide forwardly into the normal lighter compartment for the packaging of the extension lighter 1. This provides a double advantage by reducing the overall length of the packaged lighter 1 and by preventing unintentional ignition, as the button 5 is displaced in this position from it usual ignition position as described above. 
     It will be seen that an improved extension lighter has been provided which is remotely ignited and extinguished and which employs a commercially available hand lighter in obtaining this improved result. The overall combination requires only two relatively inexpensively and easily molded plastic elements in addition to the hand lighter and the extension lighter is safely and easily packaged for shipment in a compact form. 
     As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be intrepreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.