Patent ID: 7563094
Filing Date: 2009-07-21
Classification: F23Q

Abstract:
1. A utility lighter, comprising: a handle casing having a fuel storage compartment formed therein for storing a predetermined amount of liquefied gas; a gas releasing valve provided at said fuel storage compartment for releasing said gas therein in a controllable manner; a bendable extension arm having an upper end and a lower end extended from said handle casing, wherein said extension arm has a deformable receiving channel which is extended from said lower end to said upper end and is adapted to be curved when said extension arm is selectively bent between said upper end and said lower end; a torch nozzle provided at said upper end of said extension arm to communicate with said gas releasing valve through said receiving channel for releasing said gas through said torch nozzle; a piezoelectric unit, which is supported in said handle casing, having a depressible part and a spark-generating element extended at a position that when said depressible part of said piezoelectric unit is depressed, said spark-generating element generates a spark at said torch nozzle to ignite said gas emitting therefrom so as to generate a torch flame; an actuation device provided at said lighter casing to operatively couple with said depressible part of said piezoelectric unit and said gas releasing valve, wherein when said extension arm is selectively bent at a desired curvature to adjust a torch pointing direction of said torch nozzle, said actuation device is actuated to depress said depressible part of said piezoelectric unit and to simultaneously release said gas at said gas releasing valve to produce said torch flame at said nozzle torch at said torch pointing direction, wherein said actuation device comprises an actuation button movably supported at said handle casing to depress said depressible part of said piezoelectric unit and to simultaneously release said gas releasing nozzle, and a safety arrangement comprising a blocking member slidably mounted at said handle casing between said safety position and an ignition position, and a resilient element supported in said handle casing for applying an urging force against said blocking member to retain said blocking member at said safety position, wherein at said safety position, said blocking member is retained at position to block said actuation button being depressed, and at said ignition position, said blocking member is transversely slid away from said actuation button such that said actuation button is adapted to be depressed for ignition; a heat insulating member provided at said upper end of said bendable extension arm to support said torch nozzle for blocking heat generated by said torch flame so as to prevent said heat transmitting to said bendable extension arm; a heat dissipating windshield, which is made of heat conductive metal, having a surrounding wall mounted at said upper end of said bendable extension arm to enclose said torch nozzle and a top opening which is aligned with an emitting end of said torch nozzle and is arranged when said gas is emitted at said emitting end of said torch nozzle to form said torch flame towards said top opening of said heat dissipating windshield, said heat of said torch flame is conducted and dissipated around said surrounding wall of said heat dissipating windshield for minimizing said heat being transmitted towards said bendable extension arm, wherein said spark-generating element is extended at a position to communicate with said surrounding wall of said heat dissipating windshield such that said surrounding wall enhances a spark initiating surface for igniting said gas emitting from said torch nozzle when said depressible part of said piezoelectric unit is depressed; and a gas by-pass element having a top safety chamber mounted with said flexible has tube, a bottom safety chamber, and a gas by-pass passageway extended between said top safety chamber and said bottom safety chamber, wherein said bottom safety chamber is detachably engaged with said gas releasing valve, in such a manner that said gas releasing valve is normally disengaged from said gas by-pass element, and when said gas releasing valve is lifted up, said gas releasing valve is pushed to engage with said bottom safety chamber for allowing said gas to reach said flexible gas tube via said gas by-pass passageway for generating an ignition at said nozzle torch nozzle, and when said gas releasing valve restores to an original position when said ignition is completed, said gas releasing valve disengages from said gas by-pass element for releasing residual gas retained within said flexible gas tube.