Flame producing assemblies

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a flame producing assembly (1) comprising a main body (10) having a proximal end (12) and a distal end (14). The flame producing assembly (1) is configured to produce a flame at the proximal end (12). The flame producing assembly (1) further comprises a flame signal trigger (20), counting electronics (30), a flame indicator (40) and a power supply (50). The flame signal trigger (20) is configured to generate an electrical signal when a flame is currently produced by the flame producing assembly (1). The counting electronics (30) is configured to calculate a number of flames and/or use time of flames produced by the flame producing assembly (1). The flame indicator (40) is configured to output visual feedback indicative of a number of flames and/or use time of flames produced or producible by the flame producing assembly (1).

1 . A flame producing assembly comprising:
 a main body having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the flame producing assembly is configured to produce a flame at the proximal end,   a flame signal trigger comprising a sensor configured to detect an ignition of a flame produced by the flame producing assembly and configured to generate an electrical signal when a flame is currently produced by the flame producing assembly,   counting electronics configured to calculate a number of flames and/or use time of flames produced by the flame producing assembly,   a flame indicator configured to output visual feedback indicative of a number of flames and/or use time of flames produced or producible by the flame producing assembly, and   a power supply comprising a nanogenerator configured to supply the flame producing assembly with power by converting thermal or mechanical energy into electrical energy during use of the flame producing assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The flame producing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the nanogenerator comprises a thermoelectric nanogenerator. 
     
     
         3 . The flame producing assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the thermoelectric nanogenerator is arranged at the proximal end and configured to convert excess heat energy of a flame produced during operation of the flame producing assembly into electrical energy. 
     
     
         4 . The flame producing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the nanogenerator comprises a piezoelectric nanogenerator. 
     
     
         5 . The flame producing assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the piezoelectric nanogenerator is arranged on an outer surface of the main body and configured to convert mechanical excess energy exerted by a user on the main body-during use of the flame producing assembly into electrical energy. 
     
     
         6 . The flame producing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the flame indicator comprises a display which is arranged on an outer surface of the main body. 
     
     
         7 . The flame producing assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the display comprises a segmented display strip with at least two segments for indicating a number of flames and/or use time of flames produced or producible with the flame producing assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The flame producing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the flame indicator is in electrical communication with the counting electronics and wherein the counting electronics is configured to provide the flame indicator with an input signal for outputting visual feedback indicative of a number of flames and/or use time of flames produced or producible by the flame producing assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The flame producing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the flame signal trigger is formed by a thermoelectric nanogenerator configured to detect an ignition of a flame produced by the flame producing assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The flame producing assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the thermoelectric nanogenerator is in electrical communication with the counting electronics and wherein the counting electronics is configured to determine an ignition of a flame produced by the flame producing assembly, when the electrical energy received from the thermoelectric nanogenerator exceeds a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         11 . The flame producing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the counting electronics comprise a processor unit configured to receive and process electrical signals generated by the flame signal trigger. 
     
     
         12 . The flame producing assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the processor unit-is configured to count the number of flames and/or the use time of flames produced and/or producible by the flame producing assembly based on the received electrical signals. 
     
     
         13 . The flame producing assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the processor unit is configured to drive the flame indicator to output visual feedback indicative of a number of flames and/or use time of flames produced or producible by the flame producing assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The flame producing assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the counting electronics further comprises a memory for storing the number of flames and/or the use time of flames calculated by the processor unit. 
     
     
         15 . The flame producing assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the thermoelectric nanogenerator comprises thermoelectric generating material coated on a wind guard of the flame producing assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The flame producing assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the display is one of an electronic-ink display, an electrophoretic bistable display, a TFT display, or an LED display. 
     
     
         17 . The flame producing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a magnetic sensor arranged in proximity to a spark wheel of the flame producing assembly, the magnetic sensor configured to generate an electrical signal upon rotation of the spark wheel. 
     
     
         18 . The flame producing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is arranged in proximity to a gas release actuator of the flame producing assembly, the sensor configured to generate an electrical signal upon actuation of the gas release actuator. 
     
     
         19 . The flame producing assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the sensor is a mechanical switch arranged distally below the gas release actuator. 
     
     
         20 . The flame producing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the flame producing assembly is one of a lighter, a butane gas cylinder, a gas-powered soldering iron, or a utility blowtorch.