Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SMOKELESS CIGARETTE SYSTEM
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
A lighter for using cigarettes in a smokeless manner is
disclosed.
The lighter can accommodate conventional cigarettes, a
flavor cartridge, or both.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A smokeless cigarette lighter may include a generally cylindrical
lo heating' arrangement operable to define a generally cylindrical
chamber
and to maintain the temperature in that chamber between 1600 and 2000.
The lighter may also include a generally cylindrical jacket
surrounding the heating arrangement and being operable to maintain the
external temperature of the lighter at or below 40 C, surface
temperatures that will not burn the smoker's hand.
One end of the
jacket defines an opening sized to accept a smoking article, such as a
cigarette or cigar. The other end of the jacket connects with an air
supply manifold. The air supply manifold connects with a power supply
arrangement operable to energize the heating means, to optionally
contain the related electronic circuitry, and to optionally simulate
glowing tobacco.
To preserve the life of the power supply arrangement, as well as
to ensure self-extinction operation of the lighter, a timer circuit
may be provided which terminates the supply of energy to the heating
arrangement after a period of time correlated to the time associated
with burning of a typical smoking article.
To initiate operation of the lighter, a switch may be provided
which becomes engaged by a smoking article.
Alternatively, or
conjunctively, a manually operable switch may be provided so that the
smoker can initiate lighter operation or override its electronic
circuitry.
If desired, the lighter may also include a glow-indicator light
coupled with circuitry operable to sense air flowing through the
lighter and to illuminate the glow-indicator light in response to that
event.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a
lighter comprising: generally cylindrical heater defining a generally
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cylindrical chamber, an air supply opening, and an entrance sized to
receive at least an end portion of a smokable article, such as a
cigarette, the heater being operable to maintain a substantially
uniform temperature in the generally cylindrical chamber, the
temperature being below the ignition temperature of tobacco, and lying
in the range of about 160 C to about 200 C; an insulating jacket
substantially surrounding the generally cylindrical heater, having an
external surface, being fashioned from a thermally insulating
material, and having a thickness selected such that the temperature of
lo the external surface remains below 40 C; power supply operable to
supply electrical energy to the heater; and circuity operable to
control the duration of electrical energy delivered by the power
supply to the heater.
Preferably, the generally cylindrical chamber of the heater has a
transverse dimension corresponding to the nominal diameter of a
cigarette or cigar. Also preferably, the generally cylindrical
chamber has a length corresponding to the length of the tobacco rod of
a conventional cigarette.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a
lighter comprising: a heater defining a generally cylindrical chamber,
an air supply opening, and an entrance sized to accommodate at least
an end portion of a smokable article, the heater being operable to
maintain a temperature in the generally cylindrical chamber in the
range of 160 C to 200 C; a jacket substantially surrounding the heater,
?5 having an external surface, being fashioned from a thermally
insulating material, and having a thickness selected such that the
temperature of the external surface remains below 40 C; a power supply
operable to supply electrical energy to the heater; and circuitry
operable to control the duration of electrical energy delivered by the
power supply to the heater to a period of about 10 to about 12
minutes.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a
smokeless cigarette lighter comprising: heater defining a generally
cylindrical chamber with a transverse dimension corresponding to the
nominal diameter and length of a cigarette, the heater further
including an air supply opening, and an entrance sized to accommodate
the cigarette, the heater being operable to receive the cigarette and
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to maintain a temperature in the generally cylindrical chamber in the
range of 160 C to 200 C; a jacket substantially surrounding the heater,
having an external surface, being fashioned from a thermally
insulating material, and having a thickness selected such that =the
temperature of the external surface remains below about 40 C; a power
supply operable to supply electrical energy to the heater; and
circuitry operable to control the duration of electrical energy
delivered by the power supply to the heater to a period of about 10 to
about 12 minutes.
Preferably, lighters according to the invention include a puff-
indicator operable to sense airflow into the heater and to generate a
signal during periods of increased airflow.
Also preferably, the
circuitry includes a manually actuatable switch to initiate operation
of the heater independently of the timing circuit. Also preferably,
is the circuitry includes a switch actuated in response to the presence
of an the smokable article in the generally cylindrical chamber of the
heater.
Also preferably, the generally cylindrical chamber of the
heater has a transverse dimension corresponding to the nominal
diameter of a cigarette. Also preferably, lighters according to the
invention include an aerosol generating flavor cartridge in the
chamber.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a
system for smokeless enjoyment of a smoking article comprising: at
least one smokable article; a lighter having an opening sized to
receive at least an end portion of the smokable article, including an
insulating jacket, and heating apparatus operable to maintain a
preselected temperature within the opening, the preselected
temperature being in the range of about 160 C to about 200 C; and a
power supply operable to supply electrical energy to the heating
apparatus.
Preferably, the lighter of the system further includes a puff
sensor effective to sense air flow changes through the lighter. Also
preferably, the heating apparatus of the lighter is actuated for a
predetermined time period, wherein the smokable article initiates the
predetermined time period, and wherein the puff sensor resets the
predetermined time period.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a smokeless cigarette lighter.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a smokeless cigarette lighter
showing an optional puff-indicator light.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the smokeless cigarette
lighter of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of
FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a suitable electronic circuit for
lo the smokeless cigarette lighter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Turning now to FIG. 1, a lighter 20 may have a generally
cylindrical external configuration and is designed to function with a
conventional smoking article such as a conventional cigarette 22, or a
conventional cigar, or a conventional cigarillo, or the like.
The
conventional cigarette 22 typically includes a rod 24 comprising a rod
of tobacco cut filler encased in a paper wrapper. Depending upon the
particular cigarette 22, a filter end 26 may also be part of the
cigarette. The lighter 20 may also be designed to function with other
smoking articles such as a cigar or cigarillo or the like.
In that
case, however, a range of lighter sizes may be needed to accommodate
the various ring sizes of the cigars.
As illustrated, the lighter 20 receives a substantial portion of
the length of the smoking article through an opening at one end. The
opposite end of the lighter 20 includes a manifold 28 provided with a
plurality of generally radially extending channels 30.
The manifold
28 allows air to enter the lighter when the smoker puffs on the
cigarette 22 by drawing air therethrough.
Optionally, the end of the lighter opposite to the opening for
the smoking article may include an indicator light assembly 36 which
can light when the smoker draws air through the smoking article.
Thus, the indicator light assembly 36 operates analogously to the coal
of a conventional cigarette or cigar when air is drawn into it. The
indicator light assembly 36 (see FIG. 2) may have a cover 38 to
protect the LED, bulb or filament 40. As desired, the cover 38 may be
transparent or translucent.
Moreover, the cover 38 may have
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pigmentation such as orange or another color to simulate the color of
a burning coal.
The cover 38 may be constructed from any suitable
conventional material including, for example, plastic, glass,
transparent minerals, and the like.
Within the lighter 20 a heating assembly 50 is provided. The
heating assembly 50 defines a chamber 52 which is generally
cylindrical with a generally circular cross section.
This heater is
not limited to that shape and includes other shapes such as
frustoconical and other cross sections such as polygonal, elliptical,
lo and the like. Whichever shape may be selected, the chamber 52 has a
transverse dimension selected to accommodate the transverse dimension
of a smoking article to be used with the lighter.
In addition, the
length of the chamber 52 is selected to accommodate the length of the
associated smoking article such that a mouth engageable portion, i.e.,
about 0.5 to about 2 inches, extends from the lighter 20.
One end of the chamber 52 has an opening 54 sized to accommodate
a smoking article.
For example, where a cigarette is the smoking
article, the opening 54 may have a transverse dimension in the range
of about 8mm to about 10mm (about 0.3 to about 0.4 inches). Where the
smoking article is a cigar, the transverse dimension may range from
about 10 mm to about 25 mm (about 0.4 to about 1.0 inches).
The other end of the chamber 52 also has an opening 56.
This
opening 56 communicates with the manifold 28 and receives air that is
drawn through the lighter 20 during smoking. The air opening 56 can
be sized as desired. In appropriate circumstances, the air opening 56
may define an orifice of reduced transverse dimension.
In other
circumstances, the air opening 56 is sufficiently large that no
airflow restriction or pressure drop is caused thereby.
The air opening 56 has fluid communication with a central bore 58
of the manifold 28. The central bore 58 has fluid communication with
each of the channels 30 (see FIG. 4) which extend radially outwardly
through the manifold 28. While four channels 30 are illustrated, it
should be understood that the number of channels can be selected as
desired to give the appropriate airflow into the lighter.
For
example, there may be as few as two to as many as sixteen channels.
The channels 30 may be equiangularly spaced around the axis of the
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manifold 28 and may be arranged in one radial plane or in two or more
axially-spaced, radial planes.
The central bore 58 preferably has a transverse dimension
selected so that it does not restrict airflow through the lighter 20.
For example, the bore 58 may have a transverse dimension or diameter
as large as the transverse dimension of the air opening 56 of the
heating assembly. To avoid restricting airflow into the lighter, the
central bore 58 preferably has a cross-sectional area at least as
large as the sum of cross-sectional areas of the channels 30 which
lo communicate with the bore 58.
The heating assembly 50 may include a generally cylindrical
element 60 having a substantially uniform wall thickness and having a
generally circular cross section.
The element 60 may be fabricated
from a suitable conventional material including, for example, a
ceramic material, a thermally insulating material, or a thermally
conductive material.
The element 60 may have one or more surface-
mounted resistance heating members such as films, or shaped ribbons.
Alternatively, the element 60 may include one or more internal heating
members. Regardless of the type of heating members used, the heating
members are arranged in and/or on the heating element 60 so that a
substantially uniform temperature can be obtained and maintained in
the chamber 52 in both the radial and axial directions.
The heating assembly 50 is operable to raise the temperature in
the chamber 52 to preselected temperature or range, preferably in the
range of about 160 C to about 200 C within a short time period, for
example less than about 30 seconds, preferably less than about 20
seconds, and most preferably about 10 seconds or less.
Further, the
heating assembly SO is operable to maintain the temperature in the
chamber 52 within the range of about 160 C to about 200 C. The lower
temperature of this range, i.e., about 160 , constitutes the threshold
for release of volatiles from tobacco which provide the experience of
smoking. The higher temperature of this range, i.e., about 200 ,
defines a heating temperature below which visible smoke does not occur
around the lighter. Moreover, at and below this higher temperature,
the lighter operates without combustion of tobacco and/or paper
cigarette wrapper material. Coincidentally, most of the pyrolytic and
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pyrosynthetic processes are avoided that otherwise occur when a
conventional cigarette is smoked in a conventional manner.
A jacket 62 is disposed on the outside of the heating assembly SO
both to provide a means of holding the lighter 20 and to insulate the
smoker's hand and fingers from the heating assembly 50. To that end,
the jacket 62 is fashioned from an insulating material such as, for
example, ceramic, phenolic, wood, or the like.
The jacket 62 has a
thickness selected such that the temperature of its external surface
does not exceed about 40 C.
To further protect the smoker's fingers
lo
from accidental burns, the jacket 62 may be substantially coaxial with
the heating element 60 and preferably has a similar cross-sectional
shape.
For the same reason, the jacket 62 preferably has a length
which exceeds the length of the heating element 60 so that the jacket
can also substantially cover the end of the heating element 60 at the
ls opening 54. When the jacket 62 covers the end of the heating element
60 and extends toward the opening 54, the jacket is shaped so that it
provides an opening for the smoking article which is at least as large
as the opening 54.
If desired, the jacket 62 may be designed with a tolerance that
20 permits the heating element 60 to slide axially for replacement
purposes.
The manifold 28 attached to the jacket 62 and provides a radially
extending surface 64 which provides an abutment to hold the heating
element 60 in position within the jacket 62. As shown, the surface 64
25 extends radially across the end of the heating element 60; however,
to
provide the positioning function, that surface 64 need only overlap a
portion of the end of the heating element.
The manifold 28 may be
attached to the jacket 62 in any of a variety of ways depending on the
materials used for the jacket and the manifold.
For example, the
30 connection may be with a permanent adhesive, welding, brazing,
interference, or a mechanical arrangement. Where the heating element
60 is designed to be replaceable, the connection may be a mechanical
one such as mating threads on the jacket and the manifold 28.
If desired, the remote end of the lighter 20 may include a glow
35 light assembly 36.
The glow light assembly is operable to sense
airflow in the lighter 20 in a suitable conventional manner so that
the light 40 comes on when air is passing through the lighter 20, such
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as when the smokeable object is puffed. When the glow light assembly
is not part of the lighter, a simple cap may be substituted having a
similar shape and being operable to contain the battery 70. The glow
light assembly, or the cap, is removably connected to the manifold 28
so that the battery 70 can be accessed and replaced if needed.
The battery 70 is provided to energize the lighter 20.
The
battery 70 may be disposed in a conformingly shaped cavity located
between the manifold 28 and the light assembly 36. The battery 70 not
only supplies energy to the heating element 60, it also supplies
lo energy for the glow light assembly.
The battery 70 may have any
desired design.
For example, the battery 70 may be disposable or
rechargeable; however it must be capable of delivering electrical
energy to the heating element 60 for a plurality of periods of
smoking.
The lighter 20 also includes a comparatively simple control
system for regulating delivery of electrical energy to the heating
element 60.
The control system also operates to control the
temperature in the heating chamber 52 to the range specified above.
The control system also functions to energize the glow light assembly
when that is part of the lighter 20.
While various designs for a control system will be apparent to
those skilled in the art, one simple control system is shown in FIG.
5. The battery 70 may be connected in series with a first actuator
80, a timer circuit 82, and the heating element 60.
The first
actuator 80 may be operated by insertion of a cigarette into the
heating chamber of the lighter, such as a switch, or a suitable
conventional sensor to detect the presence of a smoking article, or a
suitable conventional pressure sensor to indicate when the smoker
draws upon a smoking article that has been inserted into the lighter.
Regardless of the actuator type used, the actuator 80 is operable to
connect the battery 70 with the timer circuit 82. When the circuit is
energized, the timing circuit begins and continues to permit
electrical energy to reach the heating element 60 for a predetermined
time, such as a period in the range of about 10 to about 12 minutes.
During that time, the heating element 60 rapidly reaches its operating
condition and heats the chamber to a temperature in the range of about
160 C to about 200 C.
A temperature control 84 is provided to both
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9
sense the temperature in the heating chamber and to regulate that
temperature.
This control aspect can be effected by, for example,
adjusting the electrical energy passing through the heating element
60.
The optional puff-indicator assembly includes the light 40 and a
puff sensor circuit 88. These elements may be connected in series and
those elements then connected in parallel with the heating element 60.
The puff sensor circuit is operable to determine when airflow through
the heating chamber begins and/or increases. When that happens, the
lo light 40 is energized; conversely, when airflow drops or stops, the
light 40 is extinguished. Thus, the light 40 simulates the operation
of the coal on a burning cigarette when the cigarette is being puffed.
At the end of the timer cycle, energy to the puff sensor circuit
88 and to the heating element 60 stops. As a result, further puffing
by the smoker will not be accompanied by lighting of the light 40 and
the smoker will know that the operating cycle has ended. Also, since
energy to the heating element 60 stops, further heating of the chamber
ends at the same time.
For those situations where the smoker wants to continue puffing
the smokeable object, a manually operable switch 86 is provided on the
lighter 20. As seen in FIG. 1, the switch 86 may be located adjacent
to the end of the lighter and near the protruding portion of the
smokeable object.
If the switch 86 is engaged, the timer circuit
again becomes energized and operates as discussed above.
Various other arrangements for controlling the heating element 60
are possible and are within the scope of this disclosure.
In use, a smoking article such as a cigarette 24 (FIG. 3) is
inserted into the open end 54 of the lighter 20. As an alternative, a
disposable or permanent flavor cartridge 90 may be inserted into the
lighter 20 prior to insertion of the cigarette. The flavor cartridge
90 permits customization of the tobacco flavors by the smoker.
Yet
another alternative involves using both a flavor cartridge 90 and a
smoking article 24.
When the flavor cartridge, or the smoking
article, or both are introduced into the heating chamber, the
actuating switch 80 (FIG. 5) of the lighter 20 is closed.
As a
result, the battery 70 energizes or initiates the timer 82 and the
heating element 60.
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The battery 70 is preferably sized to have an electrical capacity
sufficient to operate the lighter 20 through multiple cycles.
Recognizing that frequent replacement or recharging of the battery 70
could annoy a smoker, the battery 70 is most preferably capable of
s operating the lighter 20 for about a week for an average smoker. That
could be, for example, through 100 to 150 cycles or more before
replacement or recharge becomes needed.
As a minimum, the battery
should be able to operate the lighter 20 for at least a day, for
example through about 20 cycles or more before replacement or recharge
io is needed.
The battery 70 is also selected so that, when the timer 82 is
initiated, the temperature of the heating chamber 52 (FIG. 3) rises to
the preselected temperature or temperature range, preferably in the
range of about 160 C to about 200 C in a time period of about 10
is seconds. At this time the heat in the chamber 52 acts on tobacco in
the smoking article and on the flavor cartridge, if present, to begin
releasing volatile vapors from the tobacco or tobacco flavor extract
cartridge.
The temperature of about 160 C is preferred since, below
that temperature, volatile vapors may not be released.
The
20 temperature of about 200 C is also preferred since higher temperatures
may give rise to visible smoke.
By keeping the temperature in the
chamber 52 below this value, visible smoke is essentially avoided.
The temperatures defining the range end points allow for some
variation due to operation of the temperature control, introduction of
25 cooler air during puffing, responsiveness of the temperature control
to ambient temperature changes, and similar factors.
Generally
speaking, these end point temperatures can be evaluated as time
averages over the period of time that the timer 82 energizes the
heater element 60.
30 The timer circuit 82 (FIG. 5) preferably energizes the heater
element for a predetermined time period, preferably in the range of 10
to 12 minutes. This length of time will accommodate most individuals
who use cigarettes as the smoking article.
The time period is
selected to be longer that the length of time the typical smoking
35 article to be smoked =with the lighter would burn if used in the
conventional way of lighting the smoking article and smoking it in the
conventional manner.
Where the smoking article is a cigarette, the
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time period of 10 to 12 minutes substantially exceeds the time frame
of 3 to 5 minutes typically involved in smoking a cigarette. The time
period of 10 to 12 minutes also exceeds the time during which a
lighted, but unsmoked, cigarette burns. Where, however, the smoking
article is a cigar, the period of operation established by the timer
may be adjusted to be significantly longer than the 10 to 12 minute
period. Again, the time period would be selected to be greater than
the length of time normally associated with smoking a cigar in the
conventional, lighted way. With cigars, the expected duty cycles for
lo the battery 70 may also be different since fewer cigars than
cigarettes may be consumed by smokers on a daily or weekly basis.
When the timer circuit reaches the end of the time period, energy
flow from the battery 70 to the heating element 60 is interrupted and
the heating chamber 52 is no longer heated. At that time, the smoking
article may be withdrawn from the lighter 20 and discarded.
If,
however, the smoker wants to continue smoking the smoking article, a
manually operable switch 86, located for example on the outside of
the jacket 62 near the open end 54 of the heating chamber 52, can be
actuated. When the switch 86 is activated energy again flows through
the timer circuit, heating element, and temperature control, so that
the smoker can continue smoking the object.
When smoking a cigarette in the normal way, each time the smoker
takes a puff the coal at the end of the cigarette glows at least in
part as a result of the increased oxygen from airflow through the
burning end. That glowing coal provides an indicia that the cigarette
is lit and being smoked.
If desired, the lighter can provide
increased power to the indicator 40 to simulate the smoking
experience.
The indicator can remain on during the time the heater is
maintained at the desired temperature or the indicator can be turned
off between puffs.
For example, where the puff sensor 88 and the
puff-indicator 40 are used, however, the smoker of the smokeless
lighter will get a visual indication when puffing occurs.
For
example, the puff sensor 88 senses airflow into the internal end 56 of
the heating chamber 52 (FIG. 3). The airflow sensor may be positioned
in one of the channels 30, or the central manifold 58, as desired.
Normally there is very little airflow through those channels and
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manifold since there is no need for oxygen to support combustion of
tobacco at the end of the cigarette. But, when the smoker puffs or
draws air through the smoking article in the lighter 20, the puff
sensor 88 (FIG. 5) allows electrical energy to light the indicator 40
causing it to glow. When the airflow returns to its normal value, the
puff sensor 88 interrupts electrical energy to the indicator and the
indicator 40 no longer glows. Accordingly, the optional puff-
indicator indicates when the smoker is puffing or drawing air through
the lighter.
io
During the time when air is drawn into the lighter, i.e.,
puffing, the air condenses the volatile and semi-volatile vapors of
the tobacco and the flavor extracts of the flavor cartridge, when
used, into an aerosol that is then drawn out of the end of the smoking
article protruding from the lighter 20.
That distillation aerosol
looks like smoke but does not include the particulate matter, ash,
pyrolytic and pyrosynthetic compounds found in conventional tobacco
smoke.
As an alternate arrangement, the predetermined time interval for
operation of the lighter could be set to a shorter value such as, for
example the time typically involved in smoking a cigarette. That
arrangement could be desirable as a way to increase battery life or
longevity. In such a situation, the puff sensor 88 could be used to
restart the preselected time interval when a puff by the smoker is
sensed. In this way, the preselected time interval could be as short
/25
as the typical length of time between puffs for a smoker who smokes a
cigarette slowly, but the lighter would keep the heating element
energized so that there would not be any interruption in the smoking
experience.
While the lighter 20 discussed above can be offered as a stand-
alone item, it may also be offered as a component of a kit or smoking
system.
For example, the kit could include at least one, perhaps
more, smokable articles as well as the lighter and a replaceable power
supply.
The lighter 20 can smoke conventional cigarettes. No specially
manufactured cigarette or tobacco product is required. Thus, the cost
to the smoker for this smoking system is thus reduced compared to
other approaches where special cigarettes are required. Furthermore,
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the components of the lighter 20 are fabricated from inexpensive
materials.
For example, the electronic components are conventional
elements so that the expense associated with sophisticated electronic
components is avoided. All these factors contribute to an inexpensive
system and an inexpensive lighter assembly.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the system
described above allows at least a portion of a cigarette rod to be
heated maintained at, or heated to, a preselected temperature for a
predetermined time interval.
The preselected temperature is
lo maintained without substantial interruption between puffs during that
time interval and, in the absence of a puff, for the duration of the
predetermined time interval.
Presence of a puff during the
predetermined time interval can be determined by a puff sensor. In an
alternate arrangement, the puff sensor can actuate or restart the time
interval to extend the smoking period.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the
cigarette being smoked is almost entirely enclosed in the heating
chamber 52 and the heating temperature avoids combustion products. As
a result, virtually no sidestream smoke is generated during a smoke.
Thus, the lighter 20 is a smokeless device.
The tobacco smoked in this lighter is maintained in the specified
temperature range continuously. Accordingly, the smoker may take as
many puffs, or as few puffs, as desired.
Further, the frequency of
the puffs is unrestricted and can be any frequency the smoker desires.
Furthermore, since the temperature range is low, less battery energy
is needed than in systems using higher temperatures.
It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that the
lighter according to this disclosure would require, at most, minimal
cleaning. And, when such cleaning is needed, it can be performed very
simply.
For example, the air channels 30 are externally accessible
and can be readily cleaned.
The heating chamber 52 is open at one
end, and is also externally accessible.
To the extent it might be
necessary to clean the central channel of the air manifold, that
manifold may be removed from the lighter for internal access.
It will now be apparent to those skilled in the art that this
specification describes a new, useful, and nonobvious smokeless
cigarette lighter and smoking system.
It will also be apparent to
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those skilled in the art that numerous modifications, variations,
substitutes, and equivalents exist for various aspects of the
invention that have been described in the detailed description above.
