Apparatus and methods for lighting tobacco-containing articles

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are provided for lighting a tobacco-containing article. The tobacco-containing article includes a tobacco-containing element having an electrically conductive end portion and the apparatus for lighting a tobacco-containing article having a conductive tip, includes an electrical power source having a positive electrode and a negative electrode, wherein the positive electrode and the negative electrode are adapted to complete a circuit upon contact with the conductive tip of the tobacco-containing article so as to light the tobacco-containing article.

1 . A tobacco-containing article comprising an elongate tobacco-containing element having an electrically conductive end portion.  
   
   
       2 . A tobacco-containing article according to  claim 1 , wherein said electrically conductive end portion comprises at least one metallic element.  
   
   
       3 . A tobacco-containing article according to  claim 2 , wherein said at least one metallic element comprises metallic fibers.  
   
   
       4 . A tobacco-containing article according to  claim 3 , wherein said metallic fibers are mixed with tobacco.  
   
   
       5 . Apparatus for lighting a tobacco-containing article having a conductive tip, comprising an electrical power source having a positive electrode and a negative electrode, wherein said positive electrode and said negative electrode are adapted to complete a circuit upon contact with said conductive tip of said tobacco-containing article so as to light said tobacco-containing article.  
   
   
       6 . Apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein said electrical power source comprises a battery.  
   
   
       7 . Apparatus according to  claim 5 , further comprising a safety cover removably mounted over said positive electrode and said negative electrode.  
   
   
       8 . Apparatus according to  claim 5 , further comprising a cigarette container onto an outer surface of which said electrical power source is mounted, said cigarette container containing cigarettes having conductive tips.  
   
   
       9 . Apparatus according to  claim 5  and wherein said electrical power source is mounted onto a housing of a mobile communicator.  
   
   
       10 . Apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said positive and negative electrodes are located on an external surface of said mobile communicator.  
   
   
       11 . Apparatus for lighting a tobacco-containing article, comprising: 
 an electrical power source having positive and negative electrodes; and    a heating element slidably mounted with respect to said positive and negative electrodes for being selectably brought into operative engagement therewith for receiving power from said power source, thereby to be heated sufficiently to light said tobacco-containing article.    
   
   
       12 . Apparatus according to  claim 11 , further comprising a cigarette container onto an outer surface of which said electrical power source is mounted.  
   
   
       13 . Apparatus according to  claim 11 , further comprising a mobile communicator onto an outer surface of which said electrical power source is mounted.  
   
   
       14 . A method for lighting a tobacco-containing article having an electrically conductive tip, the method comprising contacting said tip of said tobacco-containing article with electrodes of an electrical power source so as to close a circuit through said tip, thereby heating said tip sufficiently to light said tobacco-containing article.  
   
   
       15 . A method for lighting a tobacco-containing article, comprising: 
 slidably positioning an electrical resistance heating element into operative engagement with electrodes of an electrical power source, thereby to heat said electrical heating element sufficiently so as to light said tobacco-containing article; and    bringing said tip of said tobacco-containing article into contact with said electrical heating element so as to light said tobacco-containing article.