Patent ID: 6186773
Filing Date: 2001-02-13
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, said safety mechanism comprising:a trigger for activating the piezoelectric unit to create a spark, the trigger being slidably mounted in the lighter housing and having a stopper tab;a cam mechanism having an operable position, a locked position and a hub, the hub having three projecting members, the projecting members being a fuel-release lever, a cam lever, and a return spring, the fuel-release lever, engaging the fuel-release valve, for opening the fuel-release valve, the cam lever, aligned with the stopper tab, for impeding depression of the trigger, the return spring for urging the cam mechanism into the locked position, a cam support pin, projecting from the lighter housing, for mounting the hub;a safety button having a first end and a second end, the first end protruding through the lighter housing and the second end adjoined to the cam mechanism, as the safety button is depressed the cam mechanism rotates, as the cam mechanism is rotated the cam lever is moved so that the cam lever is not aligned with the stopper tab and the trigger can be depressed and the fuel-release lever is also moved opening the fuel-release valve, as the safety button is released the return spring urges the cam mechanism into the locked position.