Casing for lighter and lighter comprising the casing

Abstract

A casing for lighters comprises a first housing (7) for the lighter (2) having an upper opening (8) for the insertion thereof, means (9) for detecting the activation of the valve means (4) housed in the first housing (7) and having an emitter (12) adapted to generate a visual and/or audible signal upon a pressure of the pushbutton (5) of the lighter. The detecting means (9) comprise a normally open electric circuit (20) operatively associated with the emitter (12) and having contact terminals (21) arranged at the upper open edge (8) of the first housing (7) to be closed upon the contact with the user's finger at the pressure of the pushbutton (5) or upon the contact with the pushbutton (5).

1 . A casing for lighters, wherein a lighter ( 2 ) comprises a reservoir ( 3 ) for a fuel fluid and valve means ( 4 ) provided with a pushbutton ( 5 ) for dispensing the fluid, which casing ( 1 ) comprises:
 a first housing ( 7 ) for the lighter ( 2 ) having an upper opening ( 8 ) for the insertion thereof;   means ( 9 ) for detecting the activation of said valve means ( 4 ) housed in said first housing ( 7 ) and having an emitter ( 12 ) adapted to generate a visual and/or audible signal upon a pressure of the pushbutton ( 5 ).   characterized in that said detecting means ( 9 ) comprise a normally open electric circuit ( 20 ) operatively associated with said emitter ( 12 ) and having contact terminals ( 21 ) arranged at said upper open edge ( 8 ) of said first housing ( 7 ) to be closed upon the contact with the user's finger at the pressure of the pushbutton ( 5 ) or upon the contact with the pushbutton ( 5 ).   
     
     
         2 . Casing as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that said emitter ( 12 ) comprises a generator ( 16 ) of an audio signal having a programmable memory board ( 17 ) for the insertion of a customizable audio signal. 
     
     
         3 . Casing as claimed in  claim 2 , characterized by comprising a second housing ( 15 ) for said emitter ( 12 ) arranged below said first housing ( 7 ). 
     
     
         4 . Casing as claimed in  claim 3 , characterized in that said second housing ( 15 ) has one or more openings ( 18 ) for the output of the audio signal. 
     
     
         5 . Casing as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that said emitter ( 12 ) comprises a light associated with the outer wall ( 19 ) of said casing ( 1 ). 
     
     
         6 . Casing as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that said detecting means ( 9 ) comprise an actuator ( 10 ) associated with one of its inner wall and connected to said emitter ( 12 ). 
     
     
         7 . Casing as claimed in  claim 6 , characterized in that said actuator ( 10 ) is positioned on the bottom wall ( 11 ) of said first housing ( 7 ) to be actuated following the sliding of the lighter ( 2 ) promoted by the pressure of the pushbutton ( 5 ). 
     
     
         8 . Casing as claimed in  claim 7 , characterized in that said actuator ( 10 ) comprises a pressure switch ( 13 ). 
     
     
         9 . Casing as claimed in  claim 3 , characterized in that said detection means ( 9 ) comprise an accelerometer integrated in said first housing ( 7 ) or said second housing ( 15 ) and adapted to detect a swing movement of the housing and to activate said emitter accordingly ( 12 ). 
     
     
         10 . A lighter comprising:
 a reservoir ( 3 ) for a fuel fluid;   valve means ( 4 ) for dispensing the fluid having a pushbutton ( 5 ) for dispensing a jet of said fuel fluid;   ignition means ( 6 ) of the fluid jet;   a casing ( 1 ) provided with a first housing ( 7 ) suitable to fit or to define said reservoir ( 3 ), said first housing ( 7 ) being sized to maintain said valve means ( 4 ) accessible from the outside;   characterized in that said detecting means ( 9 ) comprise a normally open electric circuit ( 20 ) operatively associated with said emitter ( 12 ) and having contact terminals ( 21 ) adapted to be closed upon the pressure of said pushbutton ( 5 ) or upon the contact with said pushbutton ( 5 ).   
     
     
         11 . Lighter as claimed in  claim 10 , characterized in that said first housing ( 7 ) is adapted to snugly fit said reservoir ( 3 ) and comprises an upper open edge ( 8 ) for inserting said reservoir ( 3 ). 
     
     
         12 . Lighter as claimed in  claim 11 , characterized in that said electrical circuit ( 20 ) has contact terminals ( 21 ) located at said upper open edge ( 8 ) of said first housing ( 7 ) to be closed following the contact with the user's finger upon the pressure of said pushbutton ( 5 ) or after contact with said pushbutton ( 5 ). 
     
     
         13 . Lighter as claimed in  claim 12 , characterized in that said pushbutton ( 5 ) has an upper face ( 24 ) facing upwards during use, and a lower face ( 22 ) facing said upper open edge ( 8 ) of said casing ( 1 ) and provided with at least one electrical contact ( 23 ) adapted to be brought into contact with said terminals ( 21 ) of said electrical circuit ( 20 ) for closing it upon the pressure of said pushbutton ( 5 ). 
     
     
         14 . Lighter as claimed in  claim 13 , characterized in that said first housing ( 7 ) comprises means ( 9 ) for detecting the movement of said reservoir ( 3 ) thereinside, said detection means ( 9 ) being adapted to generate a visual and/or audible signal in the case of a predetermined minimum displacement of said reservoir ( 3 ) within said first housing ( 7 ).