Patent ID: 7004750
Filing Date: 2006-02-28
Classification: F23Q

Abstract:
1. An ignition unit for a disposable childproof lighter which comprises two supporting walls and a flint supported by a resilient element at a position between said two supporting walls and a flint supported by a resilient element at a position between said two supporting walls, wherein said ignition unit, which is adapted for rotatably mounting between said two supporting walls, comprises: a striker wheel having a plurality of striking teeth evenly provided on an outer circumferential surface thereof for urging against said flint; a pair of driven gear elements for coaxially mounting said striker wheel between said two supporting walls, wherein each of said driven gear elements comprises a gear wheel having an outer circumferential surface and a support shank integrally and coaxially protruded from an inner side of said gear wheel, wherein said two support shanks, which are smaller than said two gear wheels in diameter, are coaxially mounted on two sides of said striker wheel to define two supporting gaps between said two sides of said striker wheel and said two gear wheels respectively, and said two gear wheels are arranged for respectively and rotatably mounting to said two supporting walls in such a manner that said striker wheel is capable of being driven to rotate when said two gear wheels are driven to rotate; a pair of driving caps, each comprising a driving ring and an inner sidewall extending from a circular edge of said driving ring, wherein each of said driving ring has a smooth outer circumferential slipping surface, an inner circumferential surface, and a circular driving cavity formed within said driving ring and said inner sidewall, each of said driving cavities having a diameter larger than that of said gear wheels of said driven gear elements, and a plurality of driven gear teeth spacedly provided on said outer circumferential surface of each of said gear wheels and a plurality of driving teeth which are spacedly provided on said inner circumferential surface of each of said driving caps and are normally engaged said driven gear teeth respectively, such that said gear wheels are driven to rotate by said driving caps, wherein said slipping surface of each of said driving caps, having a round shaped, is radially projected to form said outer circumferential surface of said driving ring, wherein a thickness of said driving ring is gradually reduced from a mid-portion to two outer edges thereof so as to form said round slipping surface of said driving cap, such that said slipping surfaces of said driving caps enhance a contacting area for an adult's thumb pressing thereon and arrange for preventing a young child from frictionally engaging with said driving caps, wherein each of said inner sidewalls has a central support hole for said support shank of said respective driven gear element passing through while said respective gear wheel is received in said driving cavity, wherein said two inner sidewalls of said driving caps are disposed between said two supporting gaps respectively so as to hold said two driving caps in a position between said striker wheel and said two driven gear elements respectively, wherein said two driving caps are normally engaged with said gear wheels of said driven gear elements respectively in such a manner that when said driving caps are intentionally rotated, said driven gear elements and said striker wheel are driven to rotate, so as to drive said striker wheel to rotate for striking against said flint to produce sparks.