Lighting apparatus

Abstract

A lighting device configured to produce a flame at a flame point upon operation of an actuator. Extending between the actuator and the flame point is a flexible extension, which is configured to be manipulated into a desired non-linear configuration, and remain in such desired non-linear configuration during production of the flame and positioning of the flame near a location to be lighted.

1 . A lighting device, comprising: 
 a flame point;    an actuator, where the lighting device is configured so that a flame is produced at the flame point upon operation of the actuator; and    a flexible extension extending between the actuator and the flame point, the flexible extension being configured to be manipulated into a desired non-linear configuration, and remain in such desired non-linear configuration during production of the flame and positioning of the flame near a location to be lighted.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , where the actuator is disposed upon a user-grippable handle of the lighting device.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2 , further comprising a fuel reservoir disposed within the user-grippable handle, the fuel reservoir being configured to house a volume of fuel, where such fuel is ignited to produce the flame at the flame point upon operation of the actuator into an actuating position.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 2 , where the lighting device is configured so that operation of the actuator into an actuating position causes fuel to flow through the flexible extension and out of a fuel nozzle located at the flame point, and causes an igniting spark to be produced at or near the fuel nozzle.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , where the flexible extension includes a flexible gooseneck structure.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 5 , where the flexible gooseneck structure is formed from a plurality of interfitted segments.  
   
   
       7 . A lighting device, comprising: 
 a handle;    a fuel reservoir disposed within the handle;    a trigger secured to the handle; and    a flexible fuel line extending from the handle and terminating in a flame point spaced apart from the handle;    where the lighting device is configured so that operation of the trigger effects an ignition operation to produce a flame at the flame point, said flame being fed by fuel flowing from the fuel reservoir through the flexible fuel line to a fuel nozzle located at the flame point,    and where the flexible fuel line is configured to enable manipulation of the flexible fuel line into a desired configuration, the flexible fuel line being further configured to remain in such desired configuration during a lighting operation.    
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 7 , where the flexible fuel line includes a flexible gooseneck structure.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8 , where the flexible gooseneck structure is formed from a plurality of interfitted segments.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 7 , where operation of the trigger into an actuating position causes fuel to flow out of the fuel nozzle and causes an igniting spark to be produced at or near the fuel nozzle.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising a flow rate adjustment mechanism operable to adjust a rate at which fuel flows out of the fuel nozzle upon operation of the trigger into the actuating position.  
   
   
       12 . A lighting device, comprising: 
 a handle;    a fuel reservoir disposed within the handle;    a trigger secured to the handle; and    a flexible fuel line extending from the handle and terminating in a flame point spaced apart from the handle;    where the lighting device is configured so that operation of the trigger effects an ignition operation to produce a flame at the flame point, said flame being fed by fuel flowing from the fuel reservoir through the flexible fuel line to a fuel nozzle located at the flame point,    and where the flexible fuel line is configured to enable positioning of the flame point in a plurality of different positions relative to the handle.    
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 12 , where the lighting device is a portable handheld device, and where the trigger is disposed on the handle to enable a user to hold the lighting device and operate the trigger with a single hand.  
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 12 , where the flexible fuel line is configured to enable manipulation of the flexible fuel line into a desired configuration, the flexible fuel line being further configured to remain in such desired configuration during a lighting operation.  
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 14 , where the desired configuration is curved.  
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 14 , where the flexible fuel line includes a flexible gooseneck structure.  
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 16 , where the flexible gooseneck structure is formed from a plurality of interfitted segments.