AU673032B2 - Radiant-energy tool with flexible extension - Google Patents

Description

r 1 Radiant-Energy Tool with Flexible Extension Field of the Invention This invention relates to radiant-energy tools such as fire starters and more particularly to a novel fire starter that is more versatile than conventional ones.

Description of the Prior Art In order to start a fine in a fireplace or stove or light a charcoal grill, it is the usual piLctice to lay a fuel bed and set a lighted match to it. In the case of a fireplace, the fuel bed often includes logs laid on top of kindling and crumpled newspapers. In the case of an outdoor grill, the fuel bed often includes charcoal briquettes. In both cases, it is the

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7485/39624-CIP practice of many people to add a petroleum-based fluid or gel as a starting fuel.

Starting a fire is recognized as a dangerous procedure, especially if a liquid or gel starter fluid is used. Starter fuel is highly flammable and more or less volatile, depending on the choice of starter fuel.

Despite warnings, every year some people use gasoline as a starter fuel and are severely burned because of the extreme volatility of gasoline and the tendency of the vapor rising from the fuel bed to explode at the approach of a lighted match.

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0 *0 9 Co G0C Kerosene is a less volatile and a safer starter fuel than gasoline but still dangerous, especially if used by people with no special training in starting fires.

Various commercial products have been developedexpressly for use as starter fuels. While such products may be relatively nonvolatile, they must be sufficiently flammable to be lighted by brief contact with a lighted match and thus cannot be regarded as completely safe. In fact, a starter fuel that is insufficiently volatile and flammable ceases to be useful for its intended purpose.

The danger is all the greater because a match is usually relatively short and becomes shorter still as it burns.

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7485/39624-CIP Thus the fingers of a person--even a very careful personstarting a fire may be literally only a fraction of an inch from the flame when the starter fuel ignites. A person trying to start a fire using a relatively "safe" starter fuel may find that the match burns down and singes the fingers before it ignites the starter fuel.

Another problem attendant upon starting a fire in a fireplace or grill is that fireplaces and grills usually have an abundance of ashes and soot and manage to dirty the hands of a to person using a match to start a fire, especially since the hands must get very close to the bed of fuel in order to get the flame of the match in all the right places. In order to give the fire a good start, it is desirable to place the flame of the match in contact with the fuel bed at a number of spaced-apart locations.

•7 .5 Moreover, these locations should be at or near the bottom of the fuel bed, since heat rising from a part of the fuel bed that has been ignited ignites fuel more readily at a higher level than at a lower level. This requires that the person starting the fire poke the match deep into the fuel bed, and it is nearly inevitable that the hands become soiled in the process.

E Attempts have been made heretofore to maKe the process 0.

of starting a fire safer and cleaner. An old technique is to use a match only to light a taper and use the taper to light the fuel bed. Makeshift tapers such as a rolled-up sheet of newspaper or strip of cardboard are often employed. Such tapers leave much -6i I

PATENT

7485/39624-CIP to be desired, however. They burn down at a rate that is unpredictable and produce a flame of unpredictable size. In many cases they produce ash that may fall outside the fireplace, stove or grill. They are inconvenient to make and in many cases they are suitable to be used only once, then thrown into the fireplace, stove or grill and consumed; often a search must be made for a suitable material, and sometimes none is at hand.

A much better alternative, of which the present applicant is a joint inventor, replaces both a match and a taper t0 and is disclosed in U.S. patent No. 4,538,983. This devices comprisesa housing for a fuel container, a piezoelectric igniting device, and an extension tube mounted on the forward end of the housing and pivotable from a folded position to an extended position. A flame can be provided at the distal end of the IS extension tube, remote from the user's hand. The housing has a recess in which a pushbutton is positioned for supplying the fuel and actuating the igniting device simultaneously. When the extension tube is folded, it lies parallel to the housing over the recess and the pushbutton so that the lighter cannot be .O accidentally ignited. Applicant hereby incorporates the disclosure of that patent herein by reference.

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4 i 1 i The fire starter described in the cited patent has enormous advantages as compared to the use of a match and taper.

However, it does not represent a cor.plete solution to the problem J of starting fires. Consider the following situation, which is 9ki 'y N

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r, Vr ILL -1: often encountered: a giate supporting the fuel bed may be reachable only over the top of some barrier such as the rim of a bowl of a charcoal grill or the lower edge of a stove doorway. In order to get the flame to various points at or near the bottom of the fuel bed, it may be necessary, for example, to insert the hand all the way into the grill or stove. In some cases, there is simply no way to position the flame ideally with respect to the fuel bed, given the rigidity of the pivotable extension. The problems of danger, dirt and inconvenience mentioned above in connection with matches and tapers have thus not been entirely avoided by recent advances in the art.

Summary of the Invention It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages.

There is disclosed herein a fire starter comprising: a housing adapted to accommodate a flammable fluid; and an elongate extension having a proximal portion connected to the housing and a o o 15 distal portion opposite the proximal portion; the elongate extension conducting the fluid from the housing to the distal portion to support a flame at the distal portion; p i the extension being formed so that it can be easily flexed by hand to assume a plurality of different shapes and can retain a given shape indefinitely; 20 whereby the housing and the distal portion can each be conveniently positioned and oriented independently of the other; and wherein the housing is formed with a groove for storing the extension.

[N:\LIBHH100O512:JCC 6 Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred form of the present and other inventions will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a first embodiment of a radiant-energy tool, viz. a flashlight, constructed in accordance with the invention and including an elongate member in the form of a housing and its extension, the extension being flexible and coiled in a first or compact 1 ii i, aaarr- 1 0 0 o 0 0 0 @0 0 000 '0 0 0 00 0 0 *0 00 e 0* 4 [N:\LIBHH O51 2:JCC L j -L_ p.-:F -1, *1

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7485/39624-CIP configuration; Fig. 2 is a view in elevation from the left side of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view in elevation from the right side of Fig. 1; a r o o no o

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Fig. 4 is a view from the top of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a view from the bottom of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a view from the rear of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1 showing the extension in a second or long-reach configuration; Fig. 8 is a view from the left of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a view from the right of Fig. 7; Fig. 10 is a broken view from the top of Fig. 7; Fig. 11 is a broken view from the bottom of Fig. 7; Fig. 12 is a view corresponding to Figs. 1 and 7 showing the extension in a third configuration; Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing the extension in a fourth configuration; Fig. 14 is a broken view corresponding to Fig. 7 from the rear thereof, partly exploded and with a battery cover removed; Fig. 15 is a plan view of the inside of the battery cover; Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a radiant-energy tool, viz. a fire starter, constructed in accordance with the invention and including an elongate member in the form of a housing and its extension, the extension being *3 riI~~Ph~t37 c ~-Y~LLI i--L I- Ir

PATENT

7485/39624-CIP flexible and coiled in a first or compact configuration; Fig. 17 is a view in side elevation of the tool of Fig.

16; Fig. 18 is a view in elevation from the right side of Fig. 17; Fig. 19 is c Fig. 20 is z Fig. 21 is z Fig. 22 is z Fig. 23 is extension extended in Fig. 24 is extension extended in Fig. 25 is extension extended in view from the bottom of Fig. 17; view from the top of Fig. 17; view from the rear of Fig. 17; view from the left side of Fig. 17; I perspective view showing the flexible I first position; i perspective view showing the flexible i second position; and i perspective view showing the flexible i third position.

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o 1 u t rr rcr r rre DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Figs. 1-15 show *a flashlight 10 eonstructed f accorcdance with the invention. The flashlight 10 comprises an elongate member formed as a housing 12 and an elongate extension 14. The housing 12 is adapted to accommodate one or more batteries (not shown), for example a pair of AAA batteries. The extension 14 has a proximal end 16 connected to the housing 12 and a distal end 18 opposite the proximal end 16 and adapted to accommodate a light bulb (not shown). Conductive leads X carried by the extension 14 are adapted to connect the battery to the bulb. The extension 14 is formed in such a manner that

PATENT

7485/39624-CIP it can be easily flexed by hand to assume a plurality of different shapes and can retain a given shape ir.nefinitely.

Examples of such construction are found in gooseneck lamps.

Preferably, seven or eight strands of copper wire are twisted to S form the gooseneck extension. Thus the housing 12 and the bulb can each be convenieritly positioned and oriented independently of the other.

Figs. 1-6 illustrate a first configuration or relative orientation of the housing 12 and bulb; Figs. 7-11 and 14 tO illustrate a second relative orientation; Fig. 12 illustrates a third relative orientation; and Fig. 13 illustrates a fourth relative orientation. From these few examples, it is clear that S• the number of different possible relative orientations of the housing 12 and bulb is essentially unlimited.

f f In the first configuration or relative orientation, the extension 14 is coiled around the housing 12. As Figs. 8-11 and 13 best illustrate, the housing 12 is formed with a peripheral groove 22 for accommodating the extension 14 so that the extension 14 can be wrapped around the housing 12 as illustrated O0 in Figs. 1-6. This provides a compact configuration for use, especially when the flashlight is held in the hand. In the configuration of Figs. 1-6, the flashlight 10 is moreover adapted to be carried neatly in a pocket or purse or to be stored for easy access in the glove compartment of a car, a corner ofa bureau drawer, a bedside stand, a hall table, etc.

PATENT

7485/39624-CIP The flashlight 10 includes an on-off switch 24 mounted on the housing 12 on one side thereof and a belt clip 26 mounted on the housing 12 on the other side thereof. With the extension 14 wound around the housing 12 and accommodated within the groove 22, the distal end 18 of the extension 14 is near the "head" end of the housing 12 where the on-off switch 24 and bulb are located (see Fig. This enables convenient operation of the on-off switch 24 by the thumb of a hand holding the flashlight. The flashlight 10 thus can conveniently be held in the hand and operated as a compact flashlight. In a preferred size, in which it runs on a pair of AAA batteries, it has about the size (but not the shape or appearance) of a conventional penlight.

Ct C The clip 26 is a spring clip and has one or more S protrusions P (Figs. 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11) that bear against one surface of the housing 12. A gap G best shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 11 is thus left between the clip 26 and the housing 12. The gap G provides a space for accommodation of, for example, the belt of a user of the flashlight 10. The flashlight 10 can therefore be clipped to clothing such as the belt or a pocket of d a user, and the extension 14 can be bent so that it projects light, for example, in the direction in which the user of the h flashlight 10 is walking or towards a task in which the user is engaged. The light 10 thus functions in the manner of a "rightangled" flashlight of greatly expanded capability, in view of the unlimited freedom with which the light can be directed.j 44-: 10F o AnV~

PATENT

7485/39624-CIP A retainer 28 comprising a pair of arms 30 and 32 is mounted on the housing 12 for engaging the extension 14 when the extension 14 is accommodated in the groove 22, thereby assisting in retaining the extension 14 in the groove 22. As Figs. 8 and 9 best show, the arms 30 and 32 extend from opposite sides of the housing 12 in opposed parallel relation, and the surface of each arm that faces the other arm is concave. The outer rolled edges 34 and 36 of the arms 30 and 32 are separated by a distance slightly less than the diameter of the distal end 18 of the extension 14 so that, when the distal end 18 of the extension 14 is forced into the retainer 28, the arms 30 and 32 are first bent slightly away from each other. When the distal end 18 of the S. extension 14 is fully accommodated within the retainer 28, the .o arms 30 and 32 snap back substantially to their respective positions shown for example in Figs. 8 and 9, and the rolled i edges 34 and 36 prevent accidental dislodgement of the extension 14. At the same time, the flexibility of the arms 30 and 32 enables the distal end 18 of the extension 14 to be withdrawn from the retainer 28 by pulling the distal end 18 of the 0 extension 14 away from the housing 12.

In the configuration of Figs. 7-11 and 14, the flashlight 10 can be used to reach spaces in a crowded environment that would otherwise be inaccessible. As illustrated in Fig. 7, a hand H of a user may hold the flashlight 10 at a position considerably removed from the distal end 18 of the extension 14. Thus the flashlight is capable of being brought a.1 j L I; 'j 1 1 7 r

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7485/39624-CIP to bear on a workspace or other area of interest which, in a crowded environment, may be inaccessible to conventional flashlights.

In the configuration of Fig. 12, the retainer 28 functions also as a base to assist in supporting the flashlight on a supporting surface S. The flexibility of the extension 14 together with its ability to retain any shape it is given enables it to function as a gooseneck, as illustrated for example in Fig. 12. In the configuration of Fig. 13, the light is iO directed upwardly, for example against a low ceiling to provide general illumination. Note that the extension 14 can be oriented so that the light is projected in any direction. In Fig. 12, for example, the light is not limited to projection in the plane of the illustration; on the contrary, the extension 14 can be bent 1 5 so that the light is projected into or out of the plane of the illustration, including directly away from or directly towards 'the viewer. Although not illustrated, the extension 14 can be looped or tied around a doorknob, basement pipe, protruding nail, I etc. In short, there is no limitation on the direction in which j C) the light can be projected, regardless of the orientation of the housing 12. Nor is there any limitation on the position of the bulb relative to the housing 12, so long as it is within the work space defined by the length of the extension 14. Vt In accordance with the invo.ntien, Focusing means 38 is' preferably mounted at the distal end 18 of the extension 14 for JI fXTy'C. if <T V *1 ri

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7485/39624-CIP selecting a floodlight or a spotlight. The focusing means 38 comprises a main lens. Moreover, a mount 40 (Fig. 14) in the housing 12 accommodates a spare lens. The main lens may be, for example, clear and the spare lens red, but of course it is within S the scope of the invention to employ lenses of other characteristics. Moreover, additionxi spare lenses can be accommodated in the housing 12. The mount 40 also accommodates a spare bulb.

The flashlight 10 is preferably made largely of IO plastic. In particular, the casing 12, on-off switch 24, spring clip 26 and retainer 28 can be made of plastic. The flashlight is thus inexpensive to manufacture and can be made available to consumers at an affordable price.

Figs. 16-25 show a fire starter 110 constructed in accordance with the invention. The fire starter 110 comprises an elongate member formed as a housing 112 and an elongate extension 114. The housing 112 is adapted to accommodate a source of energy, for example butane. The extension 114 has a proximal end 116 connected to the housing 112 and a distal end dD 118 opposite the proximal end 116 and adapted to support a flame (not shown). The extension 114 is hollow and adapted to conduct the fuel to the distal end of the extension 114. The extension 114 is formed in such a manner that it can be easily flexed by hand to assume a plucality of different shapes and can retain.a Lt given shape indefinitely. Examples of such construction are 0*00 0 00 0 5*000 A 1;"11\~t

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7485/39624-CIP found in gooseneck lamps. Thus the housing 112 and the distal end of the extension can each be conveniently positioned and oriented independently of the other.

Figs. 16-22 illustrate a first configuration or relative orientation of the housing 112 and bulb; and Figs. 23-25 illustrate second through fourth relative orientations. From these few examples, it is clear that the number of different possible relative orientations of the housing 112 and distal end of the extension is essentially unlimited.

In the first configuration or relative orientation, the extension 114 is coiled around the housing 112. 1s the figures illustrate, the housing 112 is formed with a peripheral groove 122 for accommodating the extension 114 so that the extension 114 can be wrapped around the housing 112. This provides a compact configuration for holding the fire starter in the hand or carrying it in a pocket or purse or in the glove compartment of a car, or storing it in a corner of a bureau drawer, a bedside stand, a hall table, etc.

*c The fire starter 110 includes a switch 124 mounted on c 20 the housing 112 on one side thereof. A retainer 128 comprising a pair of arms 130 and 132 is mounted on the housing 112 for engaging the extension 114 when the extension 114 is accommodated in the groove 122, thereby assisting in retaining the extension 114 in the groove 122. The arms 130 and 132 extend from opposite -2

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7485/39624-CIP sides of the housing 112 in opposed parallel relation, and the surface of each arm that faces the other arm can be made slightly -oncave. The outer rolled edges 134 and 136 of the arms 130 and 132 are separated by a distance slightly less than the diameter of the distal end 118 of the extension 114 so that, when the distal end 118 of the extension 114 is forced into the retainer 128, the arms 130 and 132 are first bent slightly away from each other. When the distal end 118 of the extension 114 is fully 1 accommodated within the retainer 128, the arms 130 and 132 snap back substantially to their respective positions shown for example in Fig. 25, and the rolled edges 134 and 136 prevent accidental dislodgement of the extension 114. At the same time, the flexibility of the arms 130 and 132 enables the distal end 0' 118 of the extension 114 to be withdrawn from the retainer 128 o* l- by pulling the distal end 118 of the extension 114 away from the A housing 112.

.o In the configuration of Figs. 23-25, the fire starter 110 can be used to reach spacas in a crowded environment that would otherwise be inaccessible. A hand of a user may hold the o0 fire starter 110 at a position considerably removed from the distal end 118 of the extension 114. Moreover, because of the flexibility of the extension, the fire starter is capable of introducing a flame to locations which, in a crowded environment, may be inaccessible to conventional fire starters.

The flexibility of the extension 114 together with its AL"\ .2.

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7485/39624-CIP ability to retain any shape it is given enables it to function as a gooseneck, as illustrated for example in Figs. 23-25.

The fire starter 110 is preferably made largely of plastic. In particular, the casing 112, switch 124, and retainer S128 can be made of plastic. The fire starter 110 is thus inexpensive to manufacture and can be made available to consumers at an affordable price.

Thus there is provided in accordance with the invention a radiant-energy tool such as a flashlight or fire starter that is more versatile than conventional such tools. The tool remedies the drawbacks of conventional tools noted above and in particular is easier to use under a variety of conditions than any such tools known heretofore. Moreover, the flashlight in accordance with the invention can be used as a task light or as r a clip-on light and is compact yet has a reach long enough to be brought close to an area requiring illumination in a crowded environment; and the fire starter in accordance with the invention is easy to use, highly adaptable and safe.

Many modifications of the preferred embodiments of the a invention disclosed above will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of this disclosure. For example, the length of the extension 14 or 114 can be varied within wide limits. Also, the tool can be made in different sizes, the flashlight can be powered by batteries larger or smaller than AAA P-id.

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7485/39624-CIP size, and differnent fuels can be employed in the fire starter.

Moveover, as indicated above, the housing 12 or 112 may be attached to a portion of the extension 14 or 114 different from the illustrated places of attachment; or the housing 12 or 112 and extension 14 or 114 can be merged into a single elongate member, at least a portion of which is flexible and can retain a given shape indefinitely. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except by the appended claims.

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Claims (3)

1. A fire starter comprising: a housing adapted to accommodate a flammable fluid; and an elongate extension having a proximal portion connected to the housing and a distal portion opposite the proximal portion; the elongate extension conducting the fluid from the housing to the distal portion to support a flame at the distal portion; the extension being formed so that it can be easily flexed by hand to assume a plurality of different shapes and can retain a given shape indefinitely; o whereby the housing and the distal portion can each be conveniently positioned and oriented independently of the other; and 1 wherein the housing is formed with a groove for storing the extension.

2. A radiant-energy tool according to claim 1 wherein the groove extends around the housing and the extension can be wrapped around the housing for storage in the groove.

3. A fire starter substantially described herein with reference to Figs. 17 to 25 of the accompanying drawings. DATED this Twenty-sixth Day of April 1996 20 Noel E Zeller Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERGUSON 0006 0500m 00 000 000 0000 00 [N:\LIBHH1OO512:lam I i_; Radiant-Energy Tool with Flexible Extension ABSTRACT A radiant-energy tool a flashlight or fire starter) comprises a housing (12) adapted to accommodate an energy source a battery pack or a fuel tank) and an elongate extension (14) having a proximal end (16) connected to the housing (12) and a distal end (18) opposite the proximal end (16) adapted to release radiant energy. The extension (14) connects the energy source to the distal end (18) and is formed of a material that can be easily flexed by hand to assume a plurality of different shapes and that can retain a given shape indefinitely. The housing (12) and the distal end (18) of the extension (14) can each be conveniently positioned and oriented independently of the other. The housing (12) is formed with a peripheral groove (22) for accommodating the extension (14) so that the extension (14) can be wrapped around the housing (12) for storage and to provide a compact configuration for use. I prli r ro e D roi oo o D o o r Figure 1 0*00 0000 0000 *o 0 _8174T/CMS f L