Electronic candle lighter

Abstract

A battery powered electronic candle lighter that generates an arc of electricity across electrodes to ignite a candle wick. The candle wick is positioned within the arc gap and the lighter is activated to generate an arc. The arc can be maintained by holding the arc generation button depressed. The very high temperature of the electrical arc ignites the materials within the candle wick to cause combustion. The electronic candle lighter of the present invention also has safety functionality to prevent accidents and misuse.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for igniting candles comprising;
 an electrical power source;   an electronic circuit;   a first switch; and   first and second electrodes at a first end of a housing,   wherein the electrical power source, the switch, and the first and second electrodes are operatively coupled to the electronic circuit; whereby activation of the electronic circuit by actuating the first switch produces an electrical arc between the first and second electrodes.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the electrical power source and electronic circuit are positioned in the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the housing has an elongated shape. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the housing is sufficiently elongated to be held by hand and to extend the first and second electrodes safely into a candle with a wick in a recess while the hand remains outside the recess. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the electrical power source is rechargeable. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  further comprising a charging base having an opening to receive the second end of the housing and thereby charge the power source via the contact terminals. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5  further comprising an electric connection port for receiving a wire electrically coupled to a power supply to recharge the power source. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the apparatus further comprises an electrically illuminated status indicator operatively coupled to the electronic circuit. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising contact terminals at a second end of the housing. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a second switch, wherein both the first and second switches are actuated to produce the electrical arc. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the first switch is actuated a predetermined number of times before the second switch will operate. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the after the first switch is actuated the predetermined number of times the second switch is actuatable for a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the heat generated by the electric arc is sufficient to light a candle wick. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein after actuation of the first switch, the electrical arc is switched off after a predetermined time.