Patent ID: 6666679
Filing Date: 2003-12-23
Classification: F23Q

Abstract:
A utility lighter, comprising:a. a handle portion and an extended nozzle portion; b. a fuel tank contained in said handle portion for supplying gaseous fuel through a gas pipe in said nozzle portion to an outlet port at an distal end of said nozzle portion; c. a valve assembly contained in said handle portion and connected between said fuel tank and said gas pipe for controlling the supply of said gaseous fuel; d. a trigger movably mounted in an opening of said handle portion and actuating upon said valve assembly through a pivoted lever member such that when the trigger is depressed, said valve assembly is opened to release gaseous fuel from said fuel tank through said gas pipe to said outlet port of said nozzle portion; e. a piezo-electric ignitor unit contained in said handle portion and having a telescoping inner shaft and a telescoping sleeve, the relative movement of which causing electric sparks to be generated at said outlet port of said nozzle portion through electrical conducting wires in said nozzle portion, wherein the telescoping inner shaft is fixed to and remains stationary with said handle portion, and the telescoping sleeve is connected to and moving together with said trigger; f. a safety locking member pivotally mounted to said handle portion and movable between a locking position at which it prevents movement of said trigger and said telescoping sleeve of said piezo-electric unit, and an unlocking position at which it permits movement of said trigger and said telescoping sleeve of said piezo-electric unit, wherein said safety locking member has a protruding end engageable with a proximal end of said telescoping sleeve of said piezo-electric ignitor unit for preventing movement of said telescoping sleeve and said trigger when said safety locking member is at said locking position; and g. means for biasing said safety locking member towards said locking position such that said safety locking member remains at its locking position unless being actually moved to said unlocking position; h. whereby only when said safety locking member is actually moved to said unlocking position, said trigger can be depressed to cause said valve assembly to open to release gaseous fuel at said outlet port of said nozzle portion and also cause said piezo-electric ignitor unit to generate electrical sparks at said outlet port of said nozzle portion, to thereby produce a flame.