Electric arc lighter

A handheld electric arc lighter comprising:

• a body;
• at least two spaced apart electrodes supported on the body, wherein the at least two electrodes generate at least one electrical arc therebetween in response to a voltage applied thereacross;
• an electrical power source within the body and operatively electrically connected to the at least two electrodes and providing the voltage thereacross;
• a solid elongate flexible combustible material;
• a receptacle inside the body containing a spooled coil of the solid elongate flexible combustible material;
• a passageway guiding the solid elongate flexible combustible material from the spooled coil in the receptacle through the body to an end of the solid elongate flexible combustible material located at an outlet on the body;
• the outlet being located between said at least two electrodes and within said at least one electrical arc between said at least two electrodes;
• the outlet and said at least two electrodes being arranged such that said at least one electrical arc directly ignites combustion of the end of the solid elongate flexible combustible material;
• and
• a feeding mechanism within the body engaging the solid elongate flexible combustible material at a position thereon spaced from the end thereof and feeding the solid elongate flexible combustible material from the spooled coil and through the passageway to the outlet for direct ignition thereof by the at least one electrical arc to form a flame;
• wherein the feeding mechanism comprises a set of counter-rotating meshing gears each on a respective side of the passageway and arranged to draw the combustible material therebetween from the spooled coil.

A handheld electric arc lighter comprising:

• a body;
• at least two pairs of spaced apart electrodes supported on the body, wherein the at least two pairs of spaced apart electrodes are arranged at apexes of a square and generate electrical arcs therebetween in response to a voltage applied thereacross;
• an electrical power source within the body and operatively electrically connected to the at least two pairs of spaced apart electrodes and providing the voltage thereacross;
• a solid elongate flexible combustible material;
• a receptacle inside the body containing a spooled coil of the solid elongate flexible combustible material;
• a passageway guiding the solid elongate flexible combustible material from the spooled coil in the receptacle through the body to an end of the solid elongate flexible combustible material located at an outlet on the body;
• the outlet being located within the square so as to be between said at least two pairs of spaced apart electrodes and within said electrical arc between said at least two pairs of spaced apart electrodes;
• the outlet and said at least two pairs of spaced apart electrodes being arranged such that said electrical arcs directly ignite combustion of the end of the solid elongate flexible combustible material;
• and
• a feeding mechanism within the body including elements engaging sides of the solid elongate flexible combustible material at a position thereon spaced from the end thereof with the elements being movable so as to feed the solid elongate flexible combustible material from the spooled coil through the passageway to the outlet for direct ignition thereof by the electrical arcs to form a flame.