Pocket lighter

Abstract: A pocket lighter in which the spark wheel (8) which may produce sparks on rotating in a first direction and rubbing on the pyrophoric stone (6), apart from being rotatable, is movable between a first position in which it is blocked from rotating in the first direction, and a second position in which it may rotate in said first direction, producing sparks directed towards the valve (2). The wheel (8) is urged towards said first position when being actuated to rotate in said first direction and to pass to said second position, said wheel (8) should first be rotated in a direction opposite to said first direction. Preferably the positions of the spark wheel (8) are associated with the positions of the end stubs (12) of the shaft thereof in some housings (13).

Description: The invention relates to a pocket lighter comprising: a fuel reservoir; a valve for regulating the opening and closing of said reservoir and having an outlet port, which, when the lighter is in a vertical position, determines an output level; a pyrophoric stone; a rotatable toothed wheel, adapted to produce sparks directed towards said valve when rotating in a first direction and rubbing on said stone; spring means urging said stone against said wheel; a rotary shaft, coaxial with said wheel, and having two end stubs; and a housing for each of said end stubs. US-A-4 830 603, US-A-5 090 893 and US-A-5 002 482 teach safety mechanisms based on the presence of retractable components inhibiting the depression of the pushbutton and, therefore, the opening of the gas passage. Prior to ignition, it is necessary to actuate an extension of the retractable component, which is accessible from the outside, to place it in a release position. After each ignition, spring means return the retractable component to an inhibition position. US-A-5 092 764 discloses a lighter in which the valve opening is prevented unless an external member is placed in a particular position prior to ignition. In this case depression of the pushbutton is not prevented, but the raising of the burner which would lead to the exit of the gas is blocked. The above described embodiments, further to being in conflict with the small space available for housing the components required for achieving the desired function, require substantial investment in moulds, assembly machinery and facilities. They base the safety on the addition of a further action in the chain of movements leading to ignition. Before rotating the knurled wheel to produce sparks and depressing the pushbutton to open the gas passage, it is necessary to actuate an external actuating means. Actuation of this means has to be easy and obvious, since otherwise the less skilful users, even though they were adults, would be unsuccessful in their attempts. Furthermore, it is obvious that adding the need to carry out a simple operation to a known sequence does not make it too hard for a child to strike a light, bearing in mind that he may have plenty of time, that experimentation is particularly attractive to him and that if the operation may be seen, it will quickly be acquired by mimicry. US-A-4 717 335 discloses a lighter in which rotation of the knurled wheel is prevented by the presence of a structure which rotates with the wheel and which in one point of this movement runs up against a fixed obstacle. Its efficacy is low, since it allows partial rotation of the knurled wheel, during which it is possible to strike an odd spark. In the lighter disclosed in US-A-5 017 128, the obstacle is retractable by actuating external means. Therefore, it has the aforementioned drawbacks of complex manufacture, obviousness of the ignition procedure and rapid learning by mimicry. Documents US-A-5 271 731 and US-A-5 197 870 describe lighters in which the safety mechanisms are associated with the actuating levers. It is an object of the invention to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks and fulfill a United States Federal Order requiring all lighters marketed as from a near-coming date to a half childproof mechanisms. The invention provides a lighter of the type described at the beginning wherein said wheel, apart from being rotatable, may be moved between at least a first position in which it is prevented from rotating in said first direction, said wheel being urged towards said first position when being actuated to rotate in said first direction, and a second position in which it is adapted to rotate in said first direction and produce sparks directed towards said valve; it being necessary, in order to pass from said first position to said second position, to apply to said wheel an effort other than the one with which it is caused to rotate in said first direction. According to a preferred feature of the invention, said rotary shaft is substantially straight and said housings comprise, at least: (a) a first portion, occupation of which by the respective end stubs causes said wheel to be in said first position; said stub being urged towards said safety position when said wheel is rotated in said first direction; (b) a second portion, occupation of which by the respective end stub causes said wheel to be in said second position; and (c) a communication portion between said first portion and said second portion, said communication portions being adapted to be traversed by said end stubs. The invention also contemplates that said housings comprise: a third portion occupation of which by the respective end stub determines a stable position of the stub, in which it is situated when the spring means prevail; and communication portions between said third portion and said first and second portions, said communication portions being adapted to be traversed by said end stubs. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, when the lighter is in a vertical position, said third portion of said housing is at a height above said outlet level which is greater than the height of said first and second portions of said housing above said outlet level. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, each of said housings is of inverted V shape, forming an apex, two arms and respective ends of said arms, there being: an apex region in which said third portion is located; two end regions in which said first and second portions are respectively located; and a portion of each arm constituting said communication portions. Said obstacle is due either to there being at least one shoulder in the proximity of said wheel against to each the teeth of said wheel jam when the wheel is in the said first position or by said teeth of the wheel striking a top edge of the pyrophoric stone, or for both reasons simultaneously. Further advantages and features of the invention will be appreciated from the following description in which, there are described preferred embodiments with references to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view, partly in cross section, of a lighter according to the invention, on a plane of symmetry. Figure 2 is another schematic view, partly in section, on a plane perpendicular to that of the previous figure. Figure 3 is a partial side elevation view, on a smaller scale of the lighter. Figure 4 is a view, on a larger scale, of a housing for an end stub of the rotary shaft of the toothed wheel. Figure 5 is a schematic view of the toothed wheel, one of the end stubs of the rotary shaft thereof, a three part housing for the stub, a partly illustrated actuating disc and the pyrophoric stone, with the end stub occupying the third part of the housing; also shown is a user's finger and an arrow showing the first directional movement of the actuating disc and of the toothed wheel; also shown schematically is the vertical center line of the pyrophoric stone so as better to appreciate the movements of the toothed wheel. Figure 6 is a similar view to the above in which the stub has moved into the first part of the housing from the third part thereof. Figure 7 is a partial view similar to the previous one in which the wheel is also jammed by a shoulder other than the pyrophoric stone. Figure 8 is a similar view to that of Figure 5, although the movement impressed by the user on the actuating disc and on the toothed wheel is opposite to the first direction of movement. Figure 9 is a similar view to that of Figure 6, with the stub having entered in the second part of the housing from the third part thereof. Figure 10 is a view similar to that of Figure 8, but showing a two part housing. Figure 11 is a view similar to that of Figure 9, but also showing a two part housing. The lighter of the invention comprises a fuel reservoir 1 and a valve 2 regulating the opening and the closing of the reservoir 1. The valve 2 has an outlet port 3 which, when the lighter is in the vertical position, determines and outlet level 4, to be referred to hereinafter. In a small housing 5 there is a pyrophoric stone 6 urged by spring 7 (shown very schematically) against a wheel 8 having teeth 9 (Figures 5, 6, 8 and 9), which in practically all embodiments is flanked by two actuating discs 10. The wheel 8 has a rotary shaft 11 provided with to end stubs 12 located in respective housings 13. In the illustrated embodiment, the valve 2 is actuated, as is usual, by the pushbutton 14, on which there is applied the user's finger 15 after causing the wheel to rotate in a first direction. In this first direction, the wheel is adapted to produce sparks directed towards the valve 2 on rubbing against the pyrophoric stone 6. This first direction in Figures 1 and 3 is a clockwise direction, whereas in Figures 5, 6 and 9 it is the direction of the arrow F. In the lighter of the invention, further to the rotary movement with which it is of necessity provided, the wheel 8 may move at least between a first position (Figures 6, 7 and 10) and a second position (Figures 9 and 11). In the first position there is a hindrance to the rotation of the wheel 8 in said first direction. This hindrance affects the teeth 9 of the wheel 8 and may be caused by the pyrophoric stone 6 (Figures 5, 6, 8 and 10) or also by one or more shoulders 16 (Figure 7). In the second position, there is no hindrance to the rotation of the wheel 8 in the first direction and to it producing sparks directed towards the valve 2. In the embodiments shown, the different positions of the wheel are given by a special configuration of the housing 13 for the end stubs 12 of the rotary shaft of the wheel 8, said stubs 12 being aligned with the rotary shaft itself. The housing 13 comprises at least one first part 13a (marked in Figures 5, 9 and 11 and occupied by the end stub 12 in Figures 6 and 10) and a second part 13b (marked in Figures 8 and 10 and occupied by the end stub 12 in Figures 9 and 11). The housing preferably comprises, as shown in Figures 5 to 9, also a third part 13c (marked in Figures 6 and 9 and occupied by the end stub 12 in Figures 5 and 8). In the embodiment of Figures 10 and 11, the housing has only a first part 13a an a second part 13b, it being possible to say that in this case the third part 13c coincides with the first part 13a. When the stub 12 is in the first part 13a (Figures 6 and 10), the wheel 8 is in said first position, in which the rotation of the wheel 8 in the first direction is hindered, either only an upper edge of the stone 6, or by shoulders 16 situated in the proximity of the wheel 8, or by both elements simultaneously. This hindrance to the movement the direction of the arrow F (i.e. in the first direction) is shown in Figure 6 by the schematic representation of a stop T. On the contrary, when the stub 12 is in the second part 13b (Figures 9 and 11), the wheel 8 is in said second position, in which there is no hindrance to its rotation in the first direction and therefore to it being able to rub against the stone 6, producing sparks directed towards the valve 2. In the preferred case in which each housing 13 comprises a third part 13c, this is occupied by the stubs 12 under the free action of the spring 7. Therefore it is a stable position of the stubs 12 (Figures 1, 3, 4, 5 and 8) in which they are regularly located before it is intended to use the lighter. In such stable position (Figure 5), when it is intended to light the lighter, the usual action is for the user's finger 15 to be applied to the actuating discs 10 such as to cause them and the wheel 8 to rotate in the first direction (illustrated by the arrow F), and it is obvious that this operation causes the stubs 12 to run along the communication portion 18 leading them to occupied the first part 13a of the housing 13 (Figure 6) and therewith the wheel moves into its first hindered position (Figures 6 and 7), whereby the lighter may not be lit. Nevertheless, if from the same stable position of the stubs 12 shown in Figure 8, the user pushes the discs 10 and the wheel 8 with his finger 15 in an opposite direction (shown by the arrow X), each end stub 12 moves along a communication portion 19 leading it into the second part 13b of the housing 13 (Figure 9), placing the wheel 8 in the second position, suitable for ignition. It remains in this position even when the wheel is thereafter rotated in the first direction of the arrow F. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, when the lighter is in the vertical position, the third part 13c of the housing 13 is at a greater height above the outlet level 4 than the parts 13a and 13b are above the same outlet level 4. In the preferred embodiment being described, each housing is of inverted V shape. In an area immediately adjacent the apex thereof, there is the third part 13c and in the end areas of the arms of the V there are respectively the first part 13a and the second part 13b. The communication portions between the said parts of the housing are along the arms of the V. Another embodiment of the housing 13 is shown in Figure 4 where the end stub 12 is in the third part 13c. In the embodiment of Figures 10 and 11, the first position 13a is occupied by the stubs 12 when urged by the spring 7. This is the stable position of the stubs 12 in which they are regularly found before attempting to use the lighter. In such stable position (Figure 10), when it is intended to use the lighter, the regular action is for the user's finger 15 to be applied to the actuating discs 10 to cause them and the wheel 8 to rotate in the first direction (contrary to that of the arrow X shown) and it is obvious that in this way the stubs 12 will not come out of the first part 13a of the housing 13 (Figure 6) and therewith the wheel remains in the first hindered position thereof, whereby the lighter may not be ignited. Nevertheless, if from the same stable position of the stubs 12 shown in Figure 10, the user pushes the disc 10 and the wheel 8 with his finger 15 in an opposite direction (shown by the arrow X), each end stub 12 moves alone a communication portion 19 leading it into the second part 13b of the housing 13 (Figure 11), which means that the wheel 8 is in the second position, ready for the ignition. It remains in this position even if it is subsequently caused to rotate in the first direction of the arrow F.

Claims: A pocket lighter comprising: a fuel reservoir (1); a valve (2) for regulating the opening and closing of said reservoir (1) and having an outlet port (2), which, when the lighter is in a vertical position, determines an output level (4); a pyrophoric stone (6); a rotatable toothed wheel (8), adapted to produce sparks directed towards said valve (2) when rotating in a first direction and rubbing on said stone (6); spring means (7) urging said stone (6) against said wheel (8); a rotary shaft, coaxial with said wheel (8), and having two end stubs (12); and a housing (13) for each of said end stubs (12), wherein said wheel (8), apart from being rotatable, may be moved between at least a first position in which it is prevented from rotating in said first direction, said wheel (8) being urged towards said first position when being actuated to rotate in said first direction, and a second position in which it is adapted to rotate in said first direction and produce sparks directed towards said valve (2); it being necessary, in order to pass from said first position to said second position, to apply to said wheel (8) an effort other than the one with which it is caused to rotate in said first direction. The lighter of claim 1, wherein said rotary shaft is substantially straight and said housing (13) comprises at least: (a) a first portion (13a), occupation of which by the respective end stubs (12) causes said wheel (8) to be in said first position; said stub (12) being urged towards said safety position when said wheel (8) is rotated in said first direction; (b) a second portion (13b), occupation of which by the respective end stub (12) causes said wheel (8) to be in said second position; and (c) a communication portion (19) between said first portion (13a) and said second portion (13b), said communication portions (19) being adapted to be traversed by said end stubs (12). The lighter of claim 2, wherein said housing (12) comprises: a third portion (13c) occupation of which by the respective end stub (12) determines a stable position of the stub (12), in which it is situated when the spring means (7) prevail; and communication portions (18) between said third portion and said first and second portions, said communication portions (12) being adapted to be traversed by said end stubs (12). The lighter of claim 3, wherein when the lighter is in a vertical position, said third portion (13c) of said housing (13) is at a height above said outlet level (4) which is greater than the height of said first (13a) and second portions (13b) of said housing (13) above said outlet level (4). The lighter of claim 4, wherein each of said housings (13) is of inverted V shape, forming an apex, two arms and respective ends of said arms, there being: an apex region in which said third portion (13c) is located; two end regions in which said first (13a) and second portions (13b) are respectively located; and a portion of each arm constituting said communication portions (18). The lighter of claims 2, 3, 4 or 5 wherein there is at least one shoulder (16) in the proximity of said wheel (8) causing said hindrance when said end stubs (12) are in said first parts and consequently are in said safety position. The lighter of claims 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 wherein said hindrance is caused by said teeth (9) of the wheel (8) striking a top edge of the pyrophoric stone (6).

Inventors: LLOVERAS CAPILLA XAVIER, LLOVERAS CAPILLA, XAVIER
Applicants: FLAMAGAS, FLAMAGAS S.A.
Application year: 1995
Main classification: F23Q2
IPC codes: F23Q2