초록 ▼

Methods and apparatuses for cleaning an electrical lighter are provided. A sleeve, e.g., ceramic or metal, surrounds the heater fixture, and a resistive heating element is in thermal proximity with the sleeve. The resistive heating element is either a dedicated element or the cigarette heating eleme

Methods and apparatuses for cleaning an electrical lighter are provided. A sleeve, e.g., ceramic or metal, surrounds the heater fixture, and a resistive heating element is in thermal proximity with the sleeve. The resistive heating element is either a dedicated element or the cigarette heating elements. The sleeve serves as a aerosol barrier and condensate accumulator to protect other components. Periodically, e.g., substantially contemporaneously with a battery recharge, the heating element is activated to thermally liberate condensates deposited on the sleeve during smoking and also heats, and thereby cleans, other components. Also, a cleaning element is optionally inserted into the cigarette receptacle of the electrical lighter or placed at the exit thereof to absorb, attract and/or catalytically break down the thermally liberated condensates. The sleeve also directs a desired flow path for drawn air within an electrical lighter toward the cigarette.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] An apparatus for cleaning or maintaining an electrical lighter having an interior, which lighter heats tobacco and/or a tobacco-containing material inserted into the interior of the electrical lighter to evolve flavors to be delivered to a smoker, which evolved flavors form a conde

[ We claim:] [1.] An apparatus for cleaning or maintaining an electrical lighter having an interior, which lighter heats tobacco and/or a tobacco-containing material inserted into the interior of the electrical lighter to evolve flavors to be delivered to a smoker, which evolved flavors form a condensate within the lighter, the cleaning apparatus comprising:a surface element for collecting condensate from a portion of the evolved flavors not delivered to a smoker;a heating element for heating the surface element to thermally liberate the collected condensates; anda controller for controlling the heating of said heating element a sufficient amount to thermally liberate the condensates, whereby the surface element is cleaned of at least some of the condensates upon heating of said heating element.