Abstract:
A lighter is disclosed as including a body and an button, the body including a piezo electric unit and a container for containing fuel under pressure, the body further including an at which a flame may he produced upon movement of the button relative to the body, and the button is slidable relative to the body parallel to a longitudinal axis of the body, and the button has an outer surface which may be operated by a user to slide the button relative to the body, and the outer surface of the button is generally orthogonal to the end of the body, and wherein the button is generally as long as the body.

Description:
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §§119 and/or 365 to 01202964.5 filed in China on Jan 12, 20001; the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     This invention relates to a lighter, and in particular a lighter which is not easily operable by a child. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There are in existence a large number of lighters. Because of the relatively simple way in which such lighters can be operated, it is considered desirable to incorporate safety mechanism into such conventional lighters to prevent unintentional use thereof, e.g. by children. Lighter incorporating self-retrieving safety mechanisms are disclosed in, e.g. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,538,417 and 6,099,297. Such safety mechanisms are usually very complex and thus costly and complicated to manufacture. 
     It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a lighter with an actuating mechanism which cannot be easily operable by a young child, so that the actuating mechanism effectively acts as a safety mechanism for preventing unintentional use of the lighter by young children. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to at least provide a useful alternative to the trade and public. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lighter including a body and an actuator, wherein said body includes a spark generator and a container adapted to contain fuel under pressure, said body further including a longitudinal end at which a flame is adapted to be produced upon movement of said actuator relative to said body, wherein said actuator is movable relative to said body substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of said body, wherein said actuator includes an outer surface which is operable by a user to move said actuator relative to said body, wherein said outer surface of said actuator is generally orthogonal to said longitudinal end of said body, and wherein said actuator is generally as long as said body. 
     According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lighter including a body and an actuator, wherein said body includes a spark generator and a container adapted to contain fuel under pressure, said body further including a longitudinal end at which a flame is adapted to be produced upon movement of said actuator relative to said body, wherein said actuator is movable relative to said body substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of said body, wherein said actuator is provided outside a lateral side of said body, and wherein said actuator is generally as long as said body. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a lighter according to a first embodiment of the present invention in a normal state; 
     FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the lighter shown in FIG. 1 in an operating state; 
     FIG. 3A is a cross sectional view of the lighter taken along the line A—A in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3B is a cross sectional view of the lighter taken along the line B—B in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 shows the steps of formation of a windscreen cap of the lighter shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 shows the structure of a first arrangement of a actuating button of the lighter shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 shows the structure of a second arrangement of a actuating button of the lighter shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 7A is an enlarged partial side view of a thumb-engagement area of the lighter shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 7B is an enlarged partial front view of the thumb-engagement area of the lighter shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged view showing the engagement between a lead wire and an upper part of a piezo unit of the lighter shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIGS. 9A and 9B show the operation of the lighter shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 10 shows the operation of a lighter according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of the lighter shown in FIG. 10 in a normal state; and 
     FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of the lighter shown in FIG. 10 in an operating state. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 1 to  3 B show various cross sectional views of a lighter according to the present invention, generally designated as  100 . The lighter includes a body  102  whose transverse cross section is generally oval in shape. At a top longitudinal end of the body  102  is a windscreen cap  103  made of a metallic material. Within the body  102  is provided a cavity  104  for containing fuel under pressure. Such fuel may be introduced into the cavity  104  via a valve  106  provided proximate an end cap  108  of the body  102 . The valve  106  is biased by a spring  110  towards a closed configuration, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, whereby exit of fuel from the cavity  104  via the valve  106  to the outside environment is normally prevented. The valve  106  may be moved, in the usual manner, to an open configuration, against the biasing force of the spring  110 , to allow fuel under pressure to be introduced into the cavity  104 . 
     A tube  112  leads from the cavity  104  to an electrically conductive nozzle  114 , whereby the fuel in the cavity  104  is supplied to the nozzle  114 . The nozzle  114  is biased by a spring  116  to a closed position, as shown in FIG. 1, whereby exit of fuel from the cavity  104  via the nozzle  114  to the outside environment is normally prevented. 
     Provided within the body  102  are a piezo electric unit  118  and a hammer  120  for generating spark. The piezo electric unit  118  includes an upper portion  117 , which is an electrically conductive back mass made of zinc alloy. Leading from and contacting with the upper portion  117  is an electrically conductive lead wire  122 . As can be seen very clearly in FIG. 8, the lead wire  122  has a bent lower end  123 , for ensuring better physical and electrical contact with the upper portion  117  of the piezo electric unit  118 . An electrically conductive horizontal extension  124  is in contact with an upper end of the lead wire  122 , so that the extension  124  and the lead wire  122  are movable simultaneously. A lever  126  made of an electrically conductive material is engaged with a neck portion  127  of the nozzle  114 , and is pivotable to move the nozzle  114  to a raised open position, as shown in FIG. 2, in which fuel inside the cavity  104  is allowed to exit to the outside environment via the nozzle  114 . 
     A hammer  120  is in electrical connection with an electrically conductive block  128  on the end cap  108 . The block  128  leads, via an electrically conductive lead wire  128   a  to an end  128   b  closely proximate the exit end of the nozzle  114 . 
     Mounted on a lateral side of the body  102  is an actuating button  130 , which is roughly as long as the body  102 . The actuating button  130  is engaged with the extension  124  for simultaneous movement. On a curved outer surface  134  of the button  130  are a number of ridges  136  protruding outwardly of the outer surface  134 . The ridges  136  run parallel to one another and are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L—L of the body  102 . The outer surface  134 , which is orthogonal to the longitudinal end of the lighter  100 , may be engaged by fingers of a user to slide the button  130  relative to the body  102  between a normal position, as shown in FIG. 1, to an operating position, as shown in FIG.  2 . It can be seen that the direction of movement of the button  130  relative to the body  102  is parallel to the longitudinal axis L—L of the body  102 . On a lateral side of the body  102  opposite to the actuating button  130  is provided with a thumb-engagement area  138 , details of which will be discussed below. 
     In the normal position as shown in FIG. 1, the nozzle  114  is in the closed position in which no fuel exits from the nozzle  114 . When the button  130  is slid downwardly relative to the body  102  to the operating position as shown in FIG. 2, the extension  124  pivots the lever  126 , which in turn raises the nozzle  114  to the open position, so that fuel under pressure in the cavity  104  exits the nozzle  114  to the vicinity between the end  128   b  of the lead wire  128   a  and the nozzle  114 . 
     At the same time, the upper portion  117  is moved downward by the lead wire  122  to come into contact with the hammer  120  of the piezo electric unit  118 , against the biasing force of a reset spring  132 . In this way, the nozzle  114 , the lever  126 , the extension  124 , the lead line  122 , the upper portion  117 , the lower portion  120 , the block  128 , the lead wire  128   a  and the end  128   b  form an electric circuit which is only open in the small gap between the end  128   b  and the nozzle  114 . When an electrically conductive head metal  133  of the upper portion  117  is hammered by the hammer  120 , the piezo unit  118  will undergo an instantaneous minor compression/deformation, whereupon an electric arc will be produced in the gap between the end  128   b  and the nozzle  114 , such that a spark is generated, which ignites the fuel leaving the nozzle  114 , so that a flame is produced at the top longitudinal end of the lighter  100 . 
     Upon release of the downward pushing force on the button  130 , the reset spring  132  will return the button  130  to its normal position as shown in FIG.  1 . The lever  126  will also be returned to its normal closed position as shown in FIG. 1, under the biasing force of the spring  116 . No fuel can now exit the cavity  104  via the nozzle  114 . 
     As shown in FIG. 4, a small rectangular metal plate  103   a  from a long strip of metal plate is worked on to form the cap  103 . Unwanted portions of the small metal plate  103   a  are punched away, e.g. by a punching machine, to form a punched metal plate  103   b . The punched metal plate  103   b  has a generally oval central portion  103   c  with a circular aperture  103   d.  The central portion  103   c  is joined with two generally rectangular platelets  103   e ,  103   f . Each of the platelets  103   e ,  103   f  is bent to form a curved plate, and they are then bent toward each other to form the windscreen cap  103 . 
     FIG. 5 shows a first example of an actuating button  130   a , with an exploded view of the components shown in a dotted oval. This actuating button  130   a  may be used in the lighter  100 . The actuating button  130   a  includes a curved outer button  140   a  which is as long as the body  102 . A number of slots  142   a  are provided on the outer button  140   a.  These slots  142   a  run parallel to one another and are perpendicular to the length of the button  130   a . Engaged with the outer button  142   a  is a rib cage  144   a  with a number of ribs  146   a  running parallel to one another. When the outer button  140   a  is engaged with the rib cage  144   a , each rib  146   a  is received within a respective slot  142   a  and protrudes beyond a curved outer surface  148   a  of the outer button  140   a.  Also engaged with the rib cage  144   a  and the outer button  140   a  is an inner button  150   a , which is secured with the lead wire  122  and the extension  124 , as discussed above. 
     FIG. 6 shows the structure of a second example of an actuating button  130   b , with an exploded view of the components shown in a dotted oval. The button  130   b  includes an outer button  140   b  engaged with an inner button  150   b , the extension  124  and the lead wire  122 . Formed integrally with the outer button  140  are a number of ridges  146   b  running parallel to one another and perpendicular to the length of the outer button  140   b.  These ridges  146   b  protrude beyond a curved outer surface  148   b  of the outer button  140   b . Both the ribs  146   a  of the button  130   a  and the ridges  146   b  of the button  130   b  can enhance the engagement between the fingers of a user and the button  130   a ,  130   b.    
     As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the thumb-engagement area  138  is generally oval in shape and includes a number of small circular recesses  152 . Each circular recess  152  is formed of an upper stepped portion  154   a  and a lower stepped portion  154   b . These circular recesses  152  serve to increase the friction, and thus enhance the engagement, between the thumb of the user and the body  102  of the lighter  100 . The circular recesses  152  may also be arranged to form a pattern, as shown in FIG.  7 B. 
     As can be seen in FIGS. 9A and 9B, a user may hold the lighter  100  by engaging his/her thumb  160  with the thumb-engagement area  138 , while some of the remaining fingers  162  rest on the ridges  136  of the button  130 . The button  130  may then be moved by the remaining fingers  162  downwardly relative to the body  102  of the lighter  100 , or put another way, the body  102  may be moved by the thumb  160  upwardly relative to the button  130 , to produce a flame, in the manner discussed above. 
     It is found in practice that the movement of the hand and fingers required to slide the button  130  relative to the body  102  to actuate the lighter  100  cannot be performed by most small children, e.g. ones under the age of three. The present arrangement thus effectively acts as a safety mechanism for preventing unwanted operation by most small children. 
     In the lighter  100  discussed above, a flame is produced when the button  130  is moved away from the top end of the lighter  100 . An alternative embodiment is shown in FIGS. 10 to  12 , to be discussed below. As can be seen in FIG. 10, in a lighter  200  according to this alternative embodiment, a body  202  may be moved downwardly relative to a button  230 , or put another way, a button  230  may be moved upwardly relative to a body  202 , to the position as shown in FIGS. 10 and 12, to produce a flame. An advantage of this arrangement is that an upper end  204  of the button  230  may act as a windscreen. 
     As can be seen in FIGS. 11 and 12, the general structure of the lighter  200  is similar to the lighter  100  discussed above. Only the main differences will thus be discussed below. The button  230  is mounted on a lateral side of the body  202  for relative sliding movement therebetween. Secured with the button  230  is a horizontal extension  224  which, in the normal position as shown in FIG. 11, is positioned below a lever  226 . When the button  230  is moved upward relative to the body  202 , the extension  224  will pivot the lever  226  to raise a nozzle  214 , against the biasing force of a spring  216 , to an open position (as shown in FIG. 12) in which fuel under pressure in a cavity  204  may exit via the nozzle  214 . 
     When the button  230  is moved upwardly, against the biasing force of a spring  270 , a hammer  220  of a piezo electric unit  217  is also brought upwardly, against the biasing force of a spring  232 , to hammer a head metal  219  of the piezo electric unit  217 , against the backing force of a back mass  218 , to generate a spark between an end  228   b  of a lead wire  228   a  and the nozzle  214 , in the same manner as in the lighter  100  discussed above. The spark will then ignite the fuel exiting the nozzle  214  to produce a flame. 
     Upon release of the upward pushing force on the button  230 , the button  230  and the hammer  220  of the piezo electric unit  217  will return to the normal position shown in FIG. 10, upon the biasing force of the springs  270  and  232 . The nozzle  214  will also return to the normal position shown in FIG. 10, upon the biasing force of the spring  216 . 
     It should be understood that the above only illustrates examples whereby the present invention may be carried out, and that various modifications and/or alterations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention. 
     It should also be understood that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any appropriate sub-combinations.