Lighter that includes a pivoting ignition subset

A gas lighter that includes a reservoir for holding a flammable gas, a valve mounted on a top surface of the reservoir for allowing a release of the gas from the reservoir, a valve actuator having a push button on a first end and a connector at a second end for connecting the valve actuator to the valve; a first spring biased against a lower surface of the push button actuator and a wall of the reservoir; a spark wheel coaxially mounted with corresponding cheeks that are capable of rotating; a hood disposed completely or partially over the spark wheel and cheeks; at least two support arms, each arm having a first end coaxially mounted with the cheeks and a second end having a pivoting connection to bearings located on the reservoir; a sleeve disposed under the under the spark wheel; a second spring disposed in the sleeve; and a flint stone disposed in the sleeve.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a national stage application of International Application No. PCT/IB2010/002027 filed on Jul. 1, 2010, the entire contents of this application are incorporated herein by reference.

The embodiments of the present invention relate to a gas lighter that includes a safety ignition system that is not easily usable by a young child less than five years old.

BACKGROUND OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

A person of ordinary skill in the art will readily understand that a gas lighter generally includes a gas reservoir that contains a liquefied petroleum gas, a valve on the reservoir that allows the fuel to be emitted from the reservoir with a determined flow, a system of opening and closing of the valve as well as an ignition system. A lighter known in the art typically includes a pyrophoric stone flint that cooperates with a spark wheel to produce sparks that light the gas emitted from the reservoir. The spark wheel is typically assembled on an axis between two cheeks attached to the axis, and both are generally protected by a hood. The spark wheel typically has a cylindrical shape and the cheeks have a shape of a disc having an external diameter appreciably higher than that of the spark wheel. The periphery of the cheeks typically includes asperities making the surface rough. Therefore, a user can easily actuate the spark wheel with a finger, for the finger does not slip on the cheeks.

A person of ordinary skill in the art will also readily understand that for a gas lighter having the features described above, when the spark wheel, in contact with the stone, is put in rotation by the intermediary of the cheeks and the finger of the user, a shower of sparks is created and followed, by the action of this same finger on the fork of opening of the gas (referred to in the art as the “roll and press” system), of a release of a quantity of gas. The shower of sparks ignites gas then by producing a flame above the hood. A typical lighter as described above therefore only requires a positive action from the user to produce and maintain a flame and requires only one tangential movement starting the rotation of the spark wheel in a first step, and then ending in an action on the gas opening fork to produce a flame. There have been efforts to increase the difficulty of using such lighters so that children less than five years old cannot produce flames using the lighters as described above. For example, WO 97/01734 describes a lighter that uses smooth cheeks to make it more difficult for children to rotate the cheeks. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,414 (“the '414 patent”), is directed to a lighter that includes a striker wheel6disposed between two plates7,8that have a greater diameter and are freely rotatable with respect to the striker wheel6. In the '414 patent, a user actuates the striker wheel6by friction thanks to the deformation11of the pulp of the thumb10of the user, i.e., children are not able to similarly actuate the lighter because the pulp of their fingers is not sufficiently thick.

Other U.S. patents disclose childproof mechanisms to make it more difficult for children to use them. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,490,773 is directed to a “Pocket Lighter” and includes features directed to a spark wheel's rotary shaft that is capable of being disposed in first and second positions in the housing (seeFIG. 1, reference numerals12and13) where the first position shown inFIG. 8causes the spark wheel to be blocked from turning and the second position shown inFIG. 9allows the spark wheel to be unblocked to allow it to strike the flint to cause the required sparking. In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,748, is directed to a “Gas Safety Lighter Comprising a Pyrophoric Flint and Spark Wheel Ignition System” and includes features related to an axis of a valve lever mounted movably with respect to the body of the lighter between an active position (shown inFIG. 8) permitting the operation of the valve mounted on the reservoir and a rest position (shown inFIG. 5) in which action on the lever does not permit operation of the valve.

The lighters described above and in related prior art references require an additional device to inhibit access to the cheeks of the spark wheel, they render the driving of the spark wheel to be more difficult, they block the movement of the gas opening fork, and the parts of the ignition system and gas opening system are usually visible by and accessible by children. These lighters typically have a complex structure that lead to high manufacturing costs. Moreover, the use of some of these lighters is difficult or complicated even for adults.

At least for these reasons, there is a need for a lighter that is easily usable by an adult, but more difficult to use by a child such as a lighter having a pivoting ignition subset as described in more detail below.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a lighter having a reliable but safe ignition system.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a lighter that operates as close as possible to traditional lighters by first carrying out the action of unlocking the lighter, which in the case of an embodiment of the present invention, includes extracting the spark wheel out of the hood, at the same place as the action of lighting the lighter so that the user does not need instructions to use the lighter.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a lighter of which a part integrating the functions of lighting and gas opening constitutes a single subset being capable of assembly prior to and apart from the final assembly of the lighter.

An embodiment of the present invention is directed to a gas lighter that includes a reservoir for holding a flammable gas, a valve mounted on a top surface of the reservoir for allowing a release of the gas from the reservoir, a valve actuator having a push button disposed on a first end and a connection assembly disposed on a second end for connecting the valve actuator member to the valve, a first spring biased against a lower surface of the push button and a wall of the reservoir, a spark wheel coaxially mounted with at least two cheeks capable of rotating, a hood disposed completely or partially over the cheeks, at least two support arms, each arm having a first end coaxially mounted with the cheeks and a second end having a pivoting connection to bearings disposed on the reservoir, a sleeve orthogonally disposed under the under the spark wheel, a second spring disposed in the sleeve and a flint stone disposed in the sleeve, on a top surface of the second spring.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a gas lighter that includes a reservoir for holding a flammable gas, a valve mounted on a top surface of the reservoir for allowing a release of the gas from the reservoir, a valve actuator having a push button disposed on a first end and a connection assembly disposed on a second end for connecting the valve actuator to the valve, a first spring biased against a lower surface of the push button and a wall of the reservoir, a spark wheel coaxially mounted with at least two cheeks capable of rotating, a hood disposed completely over the cheeks, at least two support arms, each arm having a first end coaxially mounted with the cheeks and a second end having a pivoting connection to bearings disposed on the reservoir, a sleeve orthogonally disposed under the under the spark wheel, a second spring disposed in the sleeve and a flint stone disposed in the sleeve, on a top surface of the second spring.

An embodiment of the present invention is directed to a gas lighter that includes a reservoir for holding a flammable gas, a valve mounted on a top surface of the reservoir for allowing a release of the gas from the reservoir, a valve actuator having a push button disposed on a first end and a connection assembly disposed on a second end for connecting the valve actuator to the valve, a first spring biased against a lower surface of the push button and a wall of the reservoir, a spark wheel coaxially mounted with at least two cheeks capable of rotating, a hood disposed completely or partially over the cheeks, at least two support arms, each arm having a first end coaxially mounted with the cheeks and a second end having a pivoting connection to bearings disposed on the reservoir, a sleeve orthogonally disposed under the under the spark wheel, a second spring disposed in the sleeve, and a flint stone disposed in the sleeve, on a top surface of the second spring, where when the lighter is in operation from an initial rest position to a final lighting position, the entire lighting and valve opening subset as shown at least inFIGS. 4A, 4B, 5A and 5Bincluding the spark wheel, cheeks and sleeve rotate relative to the reservoir.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

With references to the drawings, and as understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art, a lighter shown inFIGS. 1-8above includes a reservoir1that contains a liquefied petroleum gas and a valve2mounted on preferably a top surface of the reservoir1for allowing gas to be emitted from the reservoir1. The lighter also includes a flint stone15that cooperates with a spark wheel5that is turned either directly or by a least a cheek6connected coaxially to the spark wheel5. The embodiments of the present invention as described further below include an ignition system and gas opening system that are capable of moving relative to the reservoir1, are capable of swiveling about an axis7and are independent of the gas reservoir.

FIGS. 1-5Bshow a first embodiment of a lighter for the present invention.FIGS. 1-3show the lighter in different positions, e.g.,FIG. 1shows the lighter in a rest position,FIG. 2shows the lighter in an intermediate position, andFIG. 3shows the lighter in a final lighting position.FIGS. 4A, 4B, 5A and 5Bshow the lighting and valve opening features of the ignition system in different views including a cross-sectional view inFIG. 4Band an exploded view inFIG. 5B. Each of these figures show features included in the first embodiment of the present invention. For example, reference numeral1shows a fuel reservoir; reference numeral2shows an opening/closing valve that allows gas to be emitted when opened and to be contained in the reservoir when the valve is closed; reference numeral3shows the head of the valve2where the gas is emitted and ignited; reference numeral4shows the fork, as best shown inFIGS. 5A and 5B, that includes an opening that allows a valve stem to pass through the opening, the fork, as also shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, operates on a lower shoulder of the head3of the valve2to open the valve2; reference numeral5shows the spark wheel, best shown inFIG. 5B; reference numeral6shows the cheeks, best shown inFIG. 5Bshowing preferably two cheeks disposed on both sides of the spark wheel5, with one cheek6preferably having a male connection on an interior side as shown and the other cheek6having a female connection on an interior side as shown; reference numeral7shows an axis that the ignition system rotates around; reference numeral8shows the push button that is connected to the fork4for opening and closing the valve2; reference numeral9shows the hood that covers the spark wheel5and cheeks6when the lighter is in the rest position as shown inFIG. 1; reference numeral10shows a spring connected to the push button8; reference numeral11shows the external generally cylindrical sleeve that holds the spring14; reference numeral12shows the support arms that connect the spark wheel5/cheeks6assembly to the sleeve11, i.e., the arms12include pivots, preferably split pivots as shown inFIG. 4A, at their base which cooperate with cylindrical bearings (not shown) inside the body of lighter to ensure the swing of the lighting system around axis7; reference numeral13shows a pin (best shown inFIGS. 4B and 5B) or securing assembly to hold the spring14in place when the spring14is disposed inside the sleeve11; reference numeral14shows the spring14disposed inside the sleeve11; and reference numeral15shows the flint stone where one end abuts the spring14and the other end comes into contact with the spark wheel5.

Now that we have an understanding of the features shown in the first embodiment, we will now explain the operation of the lighter according to the present invention. In an initial rest position as shown inFIG. 1, the spark wheel5and cheeks6are disposed entirely inside hood9, at a given distance below the upper level of the hood9; the spark wheel5and cheeks6are maintained in this position by the force of the spring10acting under push button8as shown inFIG. 1.

The first stage of lighting includes applying a vertical radial force with a finger to the top of the hood9so that the pulp of the finger of an adult, after deformation between the two higher edges of the hood9, reaches the periphery of the spark wheel5or the cheeks6and ensures a sufficient pressure to it. By a horizontal movement H1of the finger thus supported on the top of the hood9with the pulp of the finger on the top of the spark wheel5, the horizontal movement H1extracts the spark wheel5from its retracted position to be in a partially released position, shown inFIG. 2, in which the periphery of the spark wheel5and cheeks6protrude from the hood9. This extraction movement of the spark wheel5is obtained by the swing of the lighting-gas opening subset around the axis of swing7, without releasing gas as a result of the functional play “d” between the upper end of fork4and the lower part/shoulder of the head3of the valve2.

If a rotation force is exerted on the cheeks6according to a movement R2(shown inFIG. 2), while maintaining a sufficient radial force, this allows the rotation of the spark wheel5around its axis and thus the generation of a shower of sparks directed to the gas outlet3of the jet from the valve2. This rotational movement is preferably followed immediately by the fall of the finger on the push button8according to a vertical movement V3(shown inFIG. 3), leading to an additional swing of the lighting-gas opening system around its axis of swing7, this last portion of swing being accompanied by the rising of the gas opening jet by the action of fork4upon the shoulder of head3.

FIG. 1-3show the rotation of the spark wheel5, cheeks6, sleeve11and related components in relation to axis7. As shown inFIG. 1and described above, the spark wheel5and cheeks6are disposed in a forward position inside the hood9when the lighter is in the rest position, and the sleeve11is disposed in an aft position.FIG. 2shows the lighter in an intermediate vertically upright position, with the periphery of the spark wheel5and cheeks6protruding from the hood9and the sleeve11also aligned in a vertically upright position as a result of its rotation around axis7.FIG. 3shows the lighter in a final lighting position, where the spark wheel5and cheeks6are disposed in an aft position and the sleeve11being disposed in a forward position.

The preferred design of the lighter as shown inFIGS. 1-3allows the ignition system to be less visible by and accessible to children therefore making it more difficult for children to use the lighter. A person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that as used herein a hood disposed “completely” over the spark wheel5and cheeks6means that the spark wheel5and cheeks6are disposed inside the hood9as viewed from the side of the lighter shown inFIG. 1where the outer boundary of the cheeks6is disposed inside the outer boundary of the hood9. Similarly, a person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that as used herein a hood disposed “partially” over the spark wheel5and cheeks6means that the spark wheel5and cheeks6are disposed partially outside the outer boundary of the hood9as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, where the outer boundary of the cheeks6is disposed partially outside the outer boundary of the hood9. A person of ordinary skill in the art looking at the lighter shown inFIG. 1from the top or the front of the lighter, e.g., in front of push button8, will be able to see the spark wheel5and cheeks6to access and extract them to start the ignition process.

The present invention according to the first embodiment as shown inFIGS. 1-3also makes it possible to provide an ignition subset as shown inFIGS. 4A, 4B, 5A and 5B. The ignition subset preferably includes all the components shown inFIGS. 4A, 4B, 5A and 5Bbut may also include other features known in the art. An advantage of such a system is it provides an ignition system and gas opening system that are independent of the gas reservoir. In addition, this system enables a person of ordinary skill in the art to assemble the ignition subset prior to the final assembly of the lighter. Moreover, the ignition subset shown in these figures integrates both functions of lighting and gas opening when the ignition subset is assembled to swing or rotate about an axis7and otherwise rotate in relation to the body and the reservoir1of the lighter.

The ignition subset shown inFIGS. 4A and 4Bincludes an overall structure generally having the shape of a cross. As shown inFIG. 5A, the spark wheel5is disposed in between the cheeks6, with each cheek6shown inFIG. 5Bbeing capable of being connected together and to the spark wheel5so that spinning of the cheeks6effect a spinning of the spark wheel5. When the push button8is pushed down as shown inFIG. 3such action brings the flint stone15in contact with the rotating spark wheel5to bring about the shower of sparks to light the gas being emitted from opened valve2. The ignition subset shown inFIGS. 4A, 5A and 5Binclude arms12that support the spark wheel5and cheeks6, and include a preferably split pivot connection shown inFIG. 4athat allow the ignition subset to snap onto or connect to the cylindrical bearings disposed on the reservoir body. This pivoting connection allows the ignition subset to rotate about the axis7and provide the benefits of making the spark wheel5and cheeks6less accessible to children when the lighter is in the rest position shown inFIG. 1. A preferred shape of the arms12is shown inFIG. 4Aand includes arms12generally having a crescent-wrench shape with the head of the wrench including the split pivots as shown to connect the arms12to known in the art bearings disposed on the reservoir body. On the other end of the arms12or end connected to the cheeks6, means known in the art are provided to allow the cheeks6to connect to the arms12. A person of ordinary skill in the art will readily understand that other means may be used to connect the arms12to the reservoir body to allow the ignition subset to rotate around axis7. A person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the complete lighting and valve opening subset as shown inFIGS. 4A, 4B, 5A and 5Bis capable of pivoting around axis7not just the spark wheel itself. In addition, a person of ordinary skill in the art will also understand that the fork4, push button8, arms12and sleeve11are shown as one unit; however, these features do not have to be manufactured as one component, i.e., they may be separate components that are separately connected to form the desired assembly. When assembled, the lighting subset is placed in a cavity of the reservoir so that it can rotate around an axis7.

A second embodiment of the present invention includes features in common with the first embodiment. For example, the second embodiment of the present invention includes a fuel reservoir19, opening/closing valve20, a head30of the valve20, fork40, spark wheel50, cheeks60, push button80, hood90, spring100, and arms120. In addition,FIGS. 6-8are similar toFIGS. 1-3asFIG. 6shows a lighter in its rest position, with the spark wheel50inside the hood90,FIG. 7shows a lighter in the intermediate position, with the spark wheel50in position out of hood90, andFIG. 8shows a lighter in its position of maintaining the flame after lighting, with the spark wheel50at the beginning of return towards its retracted position under the effect of the spring100, for the holding action according to the force V3shown inFIG. 8ensures valve20remains open. In addition, as shown inFIG. 6, the gas opening fork40pivots in a conventional way around an axis materialized on the fork40by pivots in freedom of rotation in cylindrical bearings70.

In an initial rest position as shown inFIG. 6, spark wheel50and its cheeks60are entirely disposed inside hood90, at a given distance below the upper level of the hood90. The spark wheel50and its cheeks60are maintained in this position as a result of the action of spring100, in which the spring100has an end preferably connected to a wall of the reservoir body and another end connected to the push button80. In addition, the second embodiment of the present invention includes a leaf spring130having one end preferably disposed in a reservoir wall and a second end that acts against the sleeve110thereby making it more difficult for a child to extract the spark wheel50and cheeks60from the hood90. As shown inFIGS. 6-8, the leaf spring130is disposed adjacent to spring100and acts in tandem with spring100. The lighting subset includes a hollow cylindrical sleeve110containing the flint stone spring (not shown) and the flint stone (not shown) compressed against the spark wheel50. The lighting subset rotates freely around an axis of rotation for the spark wheel50and cheeks60materialized by cylindrical bearings disposed in the arms120providing this hollow support. The lighting subset is placed in a cavity of the reservoir so that it can swivel around an axis of swing from an initial position in which, under the action of the spring100and leaf spring130, it maintains the cheeks60—spark wheel50subset entirely inside the hood90, to a back position in which the subset—spark wheel50cheek60is extracted partially out of the hood90.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, the first stage of lighting includes applying a vertical radial force with a finger to the top of the hood90so that the pulp of the finger of an adult, after deformation between the two higher edges of the hood90, reaches the periphery of the spark wheel50or the cheeks60and ensures a sufficient pressure to it. By a horizontal movement H1FIG. 6) of the finger thus supported on the top of the hood90with the pulp of the finger on the top of the spark wheel50, the spark wheel50and cheeks60are extracted from their retracted position shown inFIG. 6to be in a partially released position, with the periphery of the spark wheel50and cheeks60protruding from the hood90as shown inFIG. 7. This extraction of the spark wheel50is obtained by the back swing of the lighting subset in its cavity around its axis.

When a rotational force is exerted on the cheeks60according to a movement R2FIG. 7), while maintaining a sufficient radial force, this allows the rotation of the spark wheel50around its axis and thus the generation of a shower of sparks in direction of the gas outlet from the head30of valve20. This rotational movement is followed immediately by the fall of the finger on the pusher of the fork40according to a vertical movement V3FIG. 8), leading to the rotation of the fork40around its axis, this action being accompanied by the rising of the gas opening jet by the action of the fork40on the shoulder of the head30. During this vertical movement V3, the lighting subset returns in its initial position under the action of the spring100and leaf spring130which urges the spark wheel50and cheeks60back into their initial, retracted position under the hood90.

FIGS. 9 and 10show another embodiment of the present invention, focused on a preferred design of the lighter's hood9to render the extraction of the spark wheel5and cheeks6, and further rotation of the spark wheel5, more difficult by a child without affecting the operation of the lighter by an adult. In an initial rest position as shown inFIGS. 9 and 10, the spark wheel5and cheeks6are disposed completely inside hood9, at a given distance below the upper level of the hood9. In order to prevent a child from introducing its finger inside the hood9in the portion above the outlet of gas22, non-deformable access minimization ribs9aand9b, extending from sides of the hood9as shown onFIGS. 9 and 10, preferably partially covering the front, upper portion of the cheeks6on the side of the gas outlet3making such front upper section inaccessible to a user's finger. The non-deformable access minimization ribs9aand9bpreferably extend transversally above the front portion of the periphery of the cheeks6as shown inFIGS. 9 and 10so that the access minimization ribs9a,9bpartially cover the front, upper portion of the cheeks6on the side of the gas outlet to limit the access by children to the ignition subset. When extended transversely, the access minimization ribs9aand9b, when separate as shown inFIG. 9, extend at least above the spark wheel5and over the upper portion of the cheek6. Furthermore, the shape of each access minimization rib9a,9bmay include the shape shown inFIGS. 9 and 10, i.e., a generally rectangular shape having a lower side (not shown) having a generally concave shape that corresponds to the shape of the outer periphery of the cheeks6. In addition, non-deformable access minimization ribs9aand9bare shown inFIG. 9as two separate ears; however, the scope of the invention includes one non-deformable access minimization rib that includes a solid rectangular structure from one side of the hood9to the other side of the hood9, not including a break in the element as shown inFIG. 9. In addition, the scope of the invention also includes non-deformable access minimization ribs9aand9bthat have other shapes and configurations as long as such shape extends transversely above the front portion of the periphery of the cheeks.

FIGS. 11-14show features related to another embodiment of the present invention, withFIGS. 11 and 12including features related to the design of the periphery of the cheeks6as known in the art, andFIGS. 13 and 14showing features related to the design of the periphery of the cheeks according to an embodiment of the present invention. The features showed inFIGS. 13 and 14show features that render the extraction and further rotation of the ignition subset more difficult by a child without affecting the operation of the lighter by an adult.

As known in the art, the cheeks6shown inFIG. 11have an outer diameter greater than the spark wheel5and the peripheries of the cheeks6are typically of the serrated type, where each tooth6aincludes a triangular section shown inFIG. 11and a length extending from one tooth6ato the adjoining tooth6a, over the entire circumference of the cheek6. Such cheeks shown inFIGS. 11 and 12improve the tangential action of the pulp of the finger of an adult that allows an adult to extract and/or rotate the spark wheel5. In a lighter of the present invention having the spark wheel5disposed completely or partially inside the hood, one way for a child to rotate the ignition subset would be to introduce the nail of one of his fingers in between the teeth6aof the cheeks6as shown inFIG. 11.

An embodiment of the present invention provides means shown inFIGS. 13 and 14for preventing the nail of a child from reaching and getting a grip on the asperities at the periphery of the cheeks6. Each tooth6aof the cheek6is connected to the next by a narrow rib6bhaving a width equal to the length from one tooth to the adjacent tooth's vertical leg at a point below the peak of the tooth6a, but having an elevation almost identical to the elevation of the tooth6a. A preferred embodiment includes a rib6bthat is slightly curved forming an overall cheek anti-grip rib6caround the entire periphery of the cheek6preferably located on the spark wheel5side of each cheek. Such a design decreases a child's ability to grip the inner ring of the cheek6. The preferred embodiment for the rib6bis best shown inFIG. 14, which shows the cheek anti-grip rib6clocated only on the spark wheel5side of each cheek6and having an elevation almost identical to the elevation of the tooth6a. Other embodiments of the rib6cmay include ribs that traverse the entire width of the tooth, where each rib preferably includes a concave shape, or ribs6bdescending in height from an interior to an exterior side of the cheek or from an exterior to an interior side of the cheek6.FIG. 13shows a preferred design of the cheek6having approximately 32 teeth, separated by ribs6b. A person of ordinary skill in the art will readily understand that the design may include more than or less than 32 teeth, have teeth with different heights and types of ribs.

A person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the aspects of the present invention are not limited to the features in the specification as described above or shown in the drawings. The specification is written to enable a person of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the aspects of the present invention, without undue experimentation; however, the specification is not written to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present invention.

A person of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that the following features can be used either alone, partially grouped, or fully combined:

In an initial rest position for the lighter, the hood (9,90) is disposed completely over the cheeks (6,60).

When the lighter is in operation from an initial rest position to a final lighting position, the spark wheel (5,50), cheeks (6,60) and sleeve (11,110) rotate relative to the reservoir (1,19).

The valve actuator (4), the first spring (10), the spark wheel (5), the cheeks (6), the support arms (12), the sleeve (11), the second spring (14), and the flint stone (15) are an integral unit. Alternatively, an ignition system including the spark wheel (50), cheek (60), sleeve (110), second spring (14) and flint stone (15) are independent of the gas opening system including the valve actuator (40) and the valve (20).

The lighter according to any of preceding claims, wherein in the initial rest position, from a side view of the lighter, the spark wheel (5,50) and cheeks (6,60) are not visible under the hood.

The lighter according to any of preceding claims, wherein in a final lighting position for the lighter, the hood (9,90) is disposed partially over the cheeks (6,60), and the push button (8,80) is depressed.

The pivoting connection includes a split pivot connection.

In the initial rest position, the flint stone (15) is not in contact with the spark wheel.

In an intermediate position for the lighter, the hood (9,90) is disposed partially over the cheeks (6,60).

The cheeks (6,60) include a plurality of teeth (6a) around the periphery, where each tooth is connected to an adjacent tooth by a rib (6b,6c) disposed on an interior edge of the cheek.

Each rib (6b,6c) includes a concave shape.

Each rib (6b,6c) has a height approximately equal to the height of each tooth (6a).

The hood includes an access minimization member extending transversely from one side to the other side of the hood (9) to cover an upper portion of the cheeks (6).

The access minimization member covers a front upper portion of the cheeks (6) on the side of the gas outlet (22).

The access minimization member includes one member having a generally rectangular shape extending from one side of the hood to the other side of the hood.

The access minimization member includes at least two members (9a,9b), each member having a general rectangular shape extending from one side of the hood but not connected to the other member.

The first spring (10,100) is biased against a lower surface of a push button actuator.

The flammable gas includes liquefied petroleum gas.

In the initial rest position, the push button (8,80) is not depressed and the valve (2,20) is in a closed position.

The final lighting position, the valve (2,20) is in an open position.

In the initial rest position, the first spring (10,100) is in an extended state.

In the final lighting position, the first spring (10,100) is in a compressed state.

In the final lighting position, the flint stone (15) is in contact with the spark wheel (5,50).