U.S. patent number 3,816,056 [Application Number 05/290,629] was granted by the patent office on 1974-06-11 for combination of a wrist watch and a cigarette lighter.
Invention is credited to Roland Clough Brown.
United States Patent |
3,816,056 |
Brown |
June 11, 1974 |
COMBINATION OF A WRIST WATCH AND A CIGARETTE LIGHTER
Abstract
The Watch Match invention is an improvement on a wrist watch by
attaching it to a cigarette lighter to obtain many obvious
advantages. The invention clamps fuel tanks over the top and under
the bottom of the watch case and arranges the lighter ignition
mechanism on the left side at the top with the refill fuel valve on
the right side at the top. The flint replacement screw with spring
and the screws which connect and clamp the fuel tanks together
enter from the bottom side, out of view, when the Watch Match is
worn. Gas is favored over liquid fuel for safety reasons. Flint or
electric ignition systems are included. The Watch Match cannot be
mislaid when worn, and is then available for common use in time
telling or in igniting smoking materials as well as in emergencies
to supply light in the dark or to ignite a fire. With the Watch
Match one is never without a match.
Inventors: |
Brown; Roland Clough (Del Mar,
CA) |
Family
ID: |
23116882 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/290,629 |
Filed: |
September 20, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
431/253 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G04B
47/006 (20130101); F23Q 2/325 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F23Q
2/32 (20060101); F23Q 2/00 (20060101); G04B
47/00 (20060101); F23q 002/32 () |
Field of
Search: |
;431/253 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Favors; Edward G.
Claims
What is claimed as new and useful is as follows:
1. In combination with a wrist watch, a lighter comprising a first
tank of annular configuration, a second tank configurated as a
disc, means provided for fluid communication between said tanks,
means for clamping said tanks respectively to the top and bottom
sides of said wrist watch, the first tank having a flame fuel port,
ignition means positioned on said first tank opposite said fuel
port with automatic valve fluid communication means to said second
tank positioned on opposite side of said wrist watch, and clamping
means for securing said tanks to said wrist watch case.
Description
The instant invention relates to a new, useful and unique
attachment of a wrist watch to a cigarette lighter as an
improvement over either one separately. In the attachment, the
lighter is always instantly available for use on the watch. No
groping search through pockets or purse is necessary to find the
lighter.
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an
instant flame at the wrist to give out light to see the way or read
the time, map or paper in the dark, or to ignite combustible
material in a pipe, cigar or cigarette, or even to kindle a fire in
an emergency.
In conjunction with the above primary object, it is also a
significant object of the instant invention to provide an
improvement in a lighter that fits easily on a wrist watch without
interfering with the watch function or marring the watch case in
any way.
Also, a general objective permits utilization of the invention with
modern type watches, actuated by a woundup mainspring or energy
cell which, in turn, powers a balance wheel, tuning fork or
crystal, or a no hands face with a rectangular time record digital
readout window display, allowing an increase in the size and hence,
capacity of the top ring tank.
Likewise, a significant object of the instant invention is to use a
safe tank filling fuel when refueling on the wrist for the lighter
like gas.
A further object of the instant invention is to provide the lighter
with either a flint spark or electric ignition for the fuel.
Since liquid fuel in excess when filling or by leakage might
infiltrate the works of the watch, or spill on the wrist, the
danger of excessive heat to the sensitive watch mechanism, case and
crystal as well as of burns to the hair and skin of the user, rule
out the use of liquid fuel in the Watch Match unless refilled in a
replaceable tank.
Basically, the instant invention presupposes the fact that the
owner of a wrist watch wishes to buy a Watch Match lighter to fit
the watch and be secured to it by small screws from the backside,
located in holes in the disc tank which fits under the watch case.
In this arrangement, the multiple screw fastening of the lighter to
the watch case is hidden from view, and from all appearances, the
Watch Match improvement is a single unit. The screws are located at
the four corners between the rim of the watch case and the lugs
that extend outward to accomodate the strap pins and the pins and
strap loops.
Likewise, the instant invention frees one from the frustrations of
a misplaced or lost lighter, and saves the time spent in searching
through pockets of the countless articles in women's purses,
because the Watch Match is always in one place, ready to serve an
instant need for a light or to ignite.
These, together with other objects and advantages which will become
subsequently apparent, reside in the details of assembly and
operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed,
reference being made to the accompanying drawing forming a part
hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and
in which:
FIG. 1 is an enlarged top view of the assembled Watch Match;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged bottom view of the assembled Watch Match;
and
FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on planes passing
through section line 3--3 to produce what is essentially a broken
open side view of the assembled Watch Match.
Referring now specifically to the drawing in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the
wrist watch case 1 has four lugs 2 for attachment of the strap ends
3 shown broken off and held in place by pins 4 and a stem 5 for
winding the watch works 6 and setting or setting alone in automatic
watches. Superimposed on the wrist watch is a properly-sized Watch
Match lighter, generally of wrist watch contour shape, showing fuel
fill valve 7, flame adjustment wheel 8, flame fuel port 9,
snap-back cover 10, thumb actuator 11, boss 12 for fastening screw
13 to secure disc fuel tank 14 to the top ring tank 15, flint 16,
flint spring screw 17, gas passage screw 18, gasket 19 to curb fuel
leakage and rasp wheel 20 used with the flint ignition system. The
top ring tank is essentially a torus of very flattened elliptical
section with roughly the perimeter of the wrist watch face as its
directrix with added bosses, made from pressed metal in top and
bottom halves, joined along the edges, ground smooth, pickle
bathed, and then plated, finally drilled and tapped for the filling
and flame fuel port valves, ignition mechanism anchorage and bosses
for fastening screws or alternate snapon-snapoff clips and gas
passage screw.
To assemble the Watch Match to the wrist watch, first place the top
ring tank in position over the watch face with the flame adjustment
wheel to the left top and the fuel fill valve to the right top
side, allowing the four bosses to slip into the recesses between
the rim of the watch and the strap loops at the four corners formed
by the lugs and the rim of the watch case. Next turn the watch
over, holding the lighter top in position. Now place the fuel disc
tank on the back of the watch, lining up the screw holes with the
bosses already in position as parts of the lighter top. Insert and
draw up loosely the gas passage screw opposite the flame fuel fill
valve above. Then insert the other screws. Note that the flint
spring screw is inserted loosely opposite the rasp wheel after
inserting a flint. Now draw all screws up snugly to secure the disc
fuel tank to the top ring tank and around the wrist watch. The gas
passage screw when drawn up tight opens a fuel valve in the bottom
of the top ring tank and allows fuel to flow into and fill the disc
fuel tank to provide more fuel tank capacity. When this screw is
loosened to remove the disc fuel tank in dismantling for watch
repairs, the fuel valve closes automatically. No direct connection
is made to the wrist watch case in any way in assembly so that no
preparation of the wrist watch case is necessary, nor is the wrist
watch damaged or marred by being connected to the Watch Match of
proper size. To dismantle the Watch Match, reverse the above
assembly operation.
To operate the Watch Match first fill the lighter with fuel, then
slide the thumb actuator toward you which causes the snapback cover
to uncover the flame fuel point, while spinning the rasp wheel
across the exposed und of the flint, producing a spark which causes
ignition of the escaping fuel which instantly produces a flame in
the atmosphere. With the electric lighter this action makes a
circuit connection from a battery source which produces the glow
from a resistance element or the make-break spark of a switch, all
of miniature size, to ignite the fuel. The length of the flame may
be adjusted by turning the flame adjustment wheel with the index
finger. After use the thumb actuator is released, allowing the
snapback cover to close, extinguishing the flame. To replace the
flint, remove the wrist watch from the wrist and unscrew the flint
spring screw, being careful not to lose the spring which may fly
out as the screw is removed. Then shake out any residual of the old
flint. Insert a new flint and the spring and the screw, tightening
to produce a spark with an easy stroke on the thumb actuator.
Generally, the metal case of the lighter is made of metal and
chrome, silver or gold-plated or enameled to match the watch. It
may also be set with semi-precious or precious stones on the face
to suit the vanity of the user.
Some of the many advantages of the improved lighter in a wrist
watch attachment enable the user by use of the small flame light to
see the way in the dark in an emergency to avoid obstacles and
prevent falls and injury, to read print or the time on the face of
the watch in the dark, to protect the watch crystal from scratches
and breakage and to avoid the common habit of misplacing the
lighter in a pocket or a purse.
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that a unique attachment
of a wrist watch and a properly-sized Watch Match has been devised
by means of a top ring tank and ignition mechanism and a disc fuel
tank, clamped at the top and the bottom of the wrist watch case
respectively but without any direct connection to the wrist watch
case being required. Incidentally, while not detailed above, a
Watch Match of proper size can be fitted to women's as well as
men's wrist watches, to pocket, pendant, ball and double-faced
watches as well as to desk, travel and alarm clocks. Also, the
ignition mechanism may be an electric battery-powered high
resistance wire or sparking device instead of a mechanical flint
friction sparking device.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles
of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes
will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired
to limit the invention to the exact fabrication and operation shown
and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and
equivalents may be resorted to as, for example, lighters that
simply snap on and snap off the watch case, single fuel tank
lighters for top or bottom side, other locations of the ignition
mechanism, prefilled, reuseable liquid fuel tanks and a special
wrist watch case incorporating all fuel tank and spark mechanism
features in new models featured from time to time, all falling
within the scope of the invention as claimed.
* * * * *