Torch lighters and flame-coloring inserts therefor

A portable, handheld torch lighter, comprising:

• a) a lighter body including a fuel reservoir for storing fuel;
• b) a lighter head extending upwardly from the lighter body to an outlet of the head for directing flow of fuel released from the fuel reservoir toward the outlet;
• c) an integrated ignition system for selectively releasing the fuel from the fuel reservoir and igniting the fuel flowing through the head to produce a flame projecting along a flame path from the outlet;
• and
• d) a replaceable flame-coloring insert including an insert body removably mounted to the lighter head adjacent the outlet and treated with a flame colorant positioned in the flame path for coloring the flame when heated, the insert body including a base portion extending circumferentially about the outlet and a plurality of retaining tabs projecting from the base portion and spaced circumferentially apart from each other about the outlet, the retaining tabs received in the lighter head in a friction fit for removably mounting the insert body to the lighter head.

A portable, handheld torch lighter, comprising:

• a) a lighter body including a fuel reservoir for storing fuel;
• b) a lighter head extending upwardly from the lighter body to an outlet of the head for directing flow of fuel released from the fuel reservoir toward the outlet;
• c) an integrated ignition system for selectively releasing the fuel from the fuel reservoir and igniting the fuel flowing through the head to produce a flame projecting along a flame path from the outlet;
• and
• d) a replaceable flame-coloring insert including an insert body removably mounted to the lighter head adjacent the outlet, the insert body including a generally planar, annular base portion extending circumferentially about the outlet and oriented normal to the flame path, and a plurality of colorant protrusions spaced circumferentially apart from each other and projecting radially inwardly from the base portion into the flame path, the plurality of colorant protrusions treated with a flame colorant for coloring the flame when heated.

A flame-coloring insert for a torch lighter, comprising:

• a) a generally planar, annular base portion including an aperture extending therethrough;
• b) a plurality of retaining protrusions projecting from the base portion radially outward of the aperture, spaced circumferentially apart from each other about the aperture, and insertable into a head of the lighter for removably mounting the insert to the lighter with the aperture in alignment with a flame path of the lighter;
• and
• c) a plurality of colorant protrusions projecting radially inwardly from the base portion into the aperture for positioning in the flame path when the insert is mounted, the plurality of colorant protrusions spaced circumferentially apart from each other about the aperture and lying in a common plane with the base portion, and each colorant protrusion treated with a flame colorant for coloring a flame projecting along the flame path when the colorant is heated by the flame.