Combination cigarette lighter and casing for a motorcycle

Abstract

A combination cigarette lighter and a casing in which the cigarette lighter is carried to be attached to the existing framework of a motorcycle without requiring any structural changes thereto. The casing is located on the motorcycle within easy reach so that riders may conveniently light their cigarettes while on the go away from home. An end cap is pivotally connected to the casing and rotated between a closed configuration at which to cover the cigarette lighter and an open configuration at which the cigarette lighter is removed from or returned to the casing. A ball and detent locking feature is provided by which to retain the end cap in either of the closed or open configurations relative to the casing so as to prevent the end cap from flapping back and forth and possibly disturbing the operator of the motorcycle.

I claim:  
     
         1 . In combination: 
 a motorcycle having a battery;    a cigarette lighter casing having a hollow housing;    a cigarette lighter removable received within the hollow housing of said cigarette lighter casing; and    a mounting bracket by which to connect said cigarette lighter casing to said motorcycle so that said cigarette lighter is carried within said casing by said motorcycle to be removed from said housing to light a cigarette.    
     
     
         2 . The combination recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a tubular socket located within the hollow housing of said cigarette lighter casing to removably receive said cigarette lighter, said tubular socket having an electrical contact to which an electrical current is supplied to heat the cigarette lighter within said socket.  
     
     
         3 . The combination recited in  claim 2 , further comprising an electrical wire connected between the battery of said motorcycle and the electrical contact of said tubular socket, the hollow housing of said cigarette lighter casing having a hole formed therein and said electrical wire running through said hole.  
     
     
         4 . The combination recited in  claim 2 , wherein said tubular socket has a series of flexible clips and said cigarette lighter has a series of ribs projecting therefrom, at least one of said series of flexible clips engaging at least one of said series of clips by which said cigarette lighter is releasably retained by said socket within the hollow housing of said cigarette lighter casing.  
     
     
         5 . The combination recited in  claim 1 , wherein said mounting bracket has a base and at least one arm depending from said base, the base of said mounting bracket connected to said cigarette lighter casing and the arm of said mounting bracket connected to said motorcycle.  
     
     
         6 . The combination recited in  claim 5 , wherein said mounting bracket has a pair of arms depending from said base for connection to said cigarette lighter casing, said pair of arms forming an angle therebetween so that said mounting bracket has a Y-shape.  
     
     
         7 . The combination recited in  claim 1 , wherein said cigarette lighter casing also has an end cap pivotally connected to said hollow housing and adapted to be rotated from a closed position to cover said cigarette lighter in said housing to an open position at which said cigarette lighter is removed from or returned to said housing.  
     
     
         8 . The combination recited in  claim 7 , wherein the hollow housing of said cigarette lighter casing has a slot formed therein and said end cap has a hinge extension projecting therefrom, said hinge extension located within said slot and pivotally connected to said housing.  
     
     
         9 . The combination recited in  claim 8 , further comprising a ball, the hinge extension of said end cap having first and second detents formed therein, said ball being received in the first detent of said hinge extension for retaining said end cap in the closed position, and said ball being received in the second detent of said hinge extension for retaining said end cap in the open position.  
     
     
         10 . The combination recited in  claim 9 , further comprising a spring and a bore formed in the hollow housing of said cigarette lighter casing for receiving the spring, said spring urging said ball into receipt by one of said first and second detents formed in the hinge extension depending upon whether said end cap is rotated to the closed or open position relative to said housing.  
     
     
         11 . In combination: 
 a motorcycle;    a cigarette lighter casing having a hollow housing and an end cap pivotally connected to said housing;    a cigarette lighter removably received within the hollow housing of said cigarette lighter casing, said end cap being rotated between a closed position at which to cover said cigarette lighter within said housing and an open position at which said cigarette lighter is removed from or returned to said housing;    a mounting bracket by which to connect said cigarette lighter casing to said motorcycle so that said cigarette lighter is carried within said casing by said motorcycle to be removed from said housing to light a cigarette; and    means by which to retain said end cap in each of said closed and open positions relative to the hollow housing of said cigarette lighter casing.    
     
     
         12 . The combination recited in  claim 10 , wherein said hollow housing has a slot formed therein and said end cap has a hinge extension projecting therefrom, said hinge extension located within said slot and pivotally connected to said housing.  
     
     
         13 . The combination recited in  claim 11 , wherein said retaining means includes a ball and first and second detents formed in the hinge extension of said end cap, said ball being received in the first detent of said hinge extension for retaining said end cap in the closed position, and said ball being received in the second detent of said hinge extension for retaining said end cap in the open position.  
     
     
         14 . The combination recited in  claim 13 , wherein said retaining means also includes a spring and a bore formed in the hollow housing of said cigarette lighter casing for receiving the spring, said spring urging said ball into receipt by one of said first and second detents formed in said hinge extension depending upon whether said end cap is rotated to said closed or open position relative to said housing.