Patent ID: 6168420
Filing Date: 2001-01-02
Classification: F23Q

Abstract:
A safety mechanism for a utility lighter, the utility lighter comprising a lighter housing, a lighting rod projecting from the lighter housing, a fuel tank, located within the lighter housing, for holding the fuel, a fuel-release valve being spring loaded so as to be urged into the closed position, a gas tube connected to the valve and extending through the lighting rod, and a conventional piezoelectric unit for creating a spark, said safety mechanism comprising: a trigger, slidably mounted in the lighter housing, for activating the piezoelectric unit, the trigger having a stopper tab; a lever spring having an engaged position and a disengaged position, the lever spring being aligned with the stopper tab in the engaged position for impeding depression of the trigger; a cam mechanism having an actuated position, a locked position, a cam support pin, projecting from the lighter housing, for mounting the hub, and a hub, the hub having two projecting members, the projecting members being a fuel-release lever and a safety button, the fuel-release lever is attached to the fuel-release valve, and opens the fuel-release valve, the safety button having a top end and a bottom end, the top end protruding through the lighter housing and the bottom end being attached to the hub, depressing the safety button depresses the lever spring and rotates the hub, as the lever spring is depressed the lever spring is not aligned with the stopper tab and the trigger can be depressed, as the cam mechanism rotates the fuel-release lever translates opening the fuel-release valve, as the safety button is released the lever spring urges the cam mechanism into the locked position.