Abstract:
A torch includes a tank adapted to contain a fuel, a firebowl atop the tank defining a fill opening, and an operating device that fits over the firebowl as a snuffer. A closing device may be fitted into the fill opening. The closing device may be movable between a lowered closed position and a raised open position. The closing device defines at least one recess for receiving a portion of an operating device that moves the closing device between the open and closed positions.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/231,819 titled, “TORCH WITH OPERATING DEVICE”, filed on Sep. 5, 2008, which claims priority of Danish Patent Application No. PA200701284, titled “TORCH WITH OPERATING DEVICE,” filed Sep. 7, 2007, the contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates to liquid fueled torches in general and, more specifically, to liquid fueled torches with a wick. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Liquid fueled torches may be utilized for a number of purposes such as decorative lighting and dispersing scented oils. Liquid fueled torches may also be used to disperse insect repellant oils and/or chemicals. 
         [0004]    Liquid fueled torches may be reusable and refillable. However, the refilling operation may necessitate the handling of dirty or sooty components. Additionally, when the refueling operation requires removal of a wick holding component, the potential for coming into contact with the torch fuel via the wick is increased. The problem can be exacerbated by the fact that users often refill torches just prior to use, when it may not be convenient to have to clean soot or fuel from the hands. 
         [0005]    Ensuring that the torch is properly reassembled can also be problematic. Owing to the unpleasant nature of refilling a torch, various components may not be reassembled properly. This can be a danger where, for example, a wick holder or fuel port is not properly refastened or closed. A fuel spill could result in this case which could also create a fire hazard if the torch is operational. 
         [0006]    What is needed is a device for addressing the above and related issues. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention disclosed and claimed herein, in one aspect thereof, comprises a torch. The torch includes a tank adapted to contain a fuel, a firebowl atop the tank defining a fill opening, and an operating device that fits over the firebowl as a snuffer. A closing device may be fitted into the fill opening. The closing device may be movable between a lowered closed position and a raised open position. The closing device defines at least one recess for receiving a portion of an operating device that moves the closing device between the open and closed positions. Some embodiments may have a spring that biases the closing device toward the open position such that the closing device rises upon being urged toward the open position. 
         [0008]    In some embodiments, the torch includes at least one protrusion extending inwardly from an interior wall of the fill opening, and at least one protrusion extending outwardly from the closing device. The at least one protrusion on the fill opening meshes with the at least one protrusion on the fill device to selectively retain the closing device in the closed position. A stopper may be mounted around a portion of the closing device. The stopper seals an interior of the tank when the closing device is in the closed position. A spring acting against the stopper to bias the closing device toward the open position may also be provided. The closing device may be removable from the fill opening, and the tank may be adapted to contain a liquid fuel. 
         [0009]    The closing device may further comprise a wick holder. An outer diameter of the wick holder may be less than an inner diameter of the fill opening. A stopper may be provided along a portion of the wick holder such that the stopper seals the tank when the closing device is in the closed position and is withdrawn from the fill opening when the closing device is in the open position. A spring acting between the stopper and the inner diameter of the fill tube may bias the stopper out of the fill hole. 
         [0010]    The present invention disclosed and claimed herein, in another aspect thereof, is a torch comprising a tank defining a fill hole on a top surface thereof, an axle in the top of the tank defining a wick opening, and a closing device selectively rotatable on the axle between an open position and a closed position whereupon the closing device covers the fill hole. 
         [0011]    In some embodiments, the torch includes an operating device closable over the top of the tank as a snuffer, the operating device having a projection that interfaces with a mating projection on the closing device to move the closing device between the open and closed positions. The torch may also include a locking cam positioned to retain the closing device in the closed position. The closing device may provide a sealing protrusion on a lower surface thereof that protrudes to seal in the fill hole when the closing device is in the closed position. 
         [0012]    The invention of the present disclosure, in another aspect thereof, includes a torch comprising a tank defining a wick holder and a fill hole, a closing device that selectively substantially seals the fill hole when in a closed position, the closing device being operable by a lever external to the tank, and a safety pin biased to prevent opening of the closing device. In some embodiments, the torch comprises an axle interposing the closing device and the external lever, wherein the safety pin meshes with the axle to prevent opening of the closing device. A lid may be fitted to the tank and be operable as a snuffer. The lid disengages the safety pin from the axle when placed on the tank. 
         [0013]    In some embodiments, the closing device seals the fill hole from inside the tank. The closing device may further comprises a stopper mounted to an arm, the arm connecting to an axle that meshes with the safety pin such that the safety pin selectively prevents rotation of the axle. The torch may further comprise a lever external to the tank that selectively opens and closes the closing device, and a pin that selectively retains the lever in a closed position. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1A  is a cross-sectional view of a torch according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
           [0015]      FIG. 1B  is a cross-sectional view of the torch of  FIG. 1A  opened for filling. 
           [0016]      FIG. 1C  is a superior cross-sectional of the torch of  FIG. 1  taken along the line  1 C. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2A  is a cross-sectional view of another torch according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2B  is a superior view of the torch of  FIG. 2A  with lid removed. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3A  is a cross-sectional view of another torch according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3B  is a side view of the torch of  FIG. 3A . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    Referring now to  FIG. 1A , a cross-sectional view of a torch  100  according to aspects of the present disclosure is shown. The torch  100  includes a tank  102  with an interior  106  and exterior  107 . A flammable liquid or fuel  103  is stored on the inside  106  of the tank  102 . A wick  105  passes from the inside  106  to the outside  107  of the tank  102 . The tank  102  provides a fill opening  108  within a fire vessel  112 . The wick  105  draws fuel  103  from the inside  106  of the tank  102  for combustion in the fire vessel  112 . The fuel  103  may be lamp oil or another flammable liquid and may include scents and/or repellants such as citronella. The tank  102  and fire vessel  112  may be an integral unit and may be made from a suitably fire resistant material such as rolled steel. 
         [0022]    A fill opening  108  is provided in or near the fire vessel  112 . In one configuration, the fill opening  108  contains a closing unit  109 . In this embodiment, the closing unit  109  comprises a stopper  110  positioned around a portion of a wick holder  111 . The stopper may be toroidal or annular in shape. The stopper  110  will substantially seal the inside  106  of the tank  102  from the fire vessel  112  when in the closed position as shown in  FIG. 1 . The stopper  110  fits against an interior wall  118  of the fill opening  108 . The stopper  110  may be made from plastic, rubber, or another suitably heat resistant material. 
         [0023]    The wick holder  111  provides a pair of projections  115  that interfit with projections  117  provided by the interior wall  118  of the fill opening  108  to retain the closing unit  109  in the closed position. A spring  119  may be provided that biases the closing unit  109  to create a pop-up effect or operation with opened. Depending upon the depth of the tank  102  and/or the length of the wick  105 , a spacer  120  may be provided along the interior wall  118  to hold the spring  119  in the proper location. 
         [0024]    The torch may have an operating device  104 , such as a lid, which may be manually operated. In the present embodiment, the lid  104  provides two lowering projections  113  that interfit with a pair of recesses  114  on the closing device  109 . As shown in  FIG. 1B , when the lid  104  is turned (e.g., as shown by the arrow R), the two lower gripping projections  115  on the lowermost part  116  of the wick holder  111  are shifted such that the two lower gripping projections  115  can rise relative to the gripping projections  117  on the inner wall  118  of the filling opening  108 . The spring  119  ensures that the wick holder  111  is shifted upward. It can be seen that, when the closing unit  109  is in the open position, the stopper  110  is lifted free from the fill opening  108 . 
         [0025]    The closing unit  109  may be lifted completely out of the fill opening  108  for refilling the torch  100 , or the lid  104  may be removed from the fill unit as described below. The spring  119  will hold the closing unit  109  and stopper  110  sufficiently clear of the fill hole to allow refilling without necessarily removing the closing unit  109 . When filling or refilling is complete, the closing unit  109  may be reclosed by reversing the process. In this manner, the stopper  110  is returned to its original position and may prevent accidental spilling of the fuel  103 . 
         [0026]    Referring now also to  FIG. 1C , a superior cross sectional of the torch of  FIG. 1  taken along the line  1 C is shown. Here it may be seen how the recesses  114  interfit with the projections  111  of the lid  104 . In the present embodiment, the closing unit  109  may be opened or closed by rotating the lid  104  in a clockwise fashion. The lid  104  may be removed from the closing unit  109  by rotations counterclockwise to free the projections  113  from the recesses  114 . The lid  104  may be reattached to the closing device  109  by reversing the process. The lid  104  provides also means to extinguish the torch  100 . 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIG. 2A , a cross-sectional view of another torch according to aspects of the present disclosure is shown.  FIG. 2A  and an appurtenant sectional plan in  FIG. 2B , taken along the line  2 B, shows a torch  200  with a lid  204  and a wick  205 . The tank and fuel are not shown. The wick  205  is mounted in a wick holder  211 , which is a part of a tank  202 . The torch  200  in provides a separate filling opening  208 . The lid  204  provides a downward pointing projection  220  that may push a corresponding projection  221  onto a rotatable cover  222 . 
         [0028]    In the embodiment shown, the cover  222  is rotatable in the direction shown by arrow  223  the closed position  224  and an open position  225  (shown in dotted line). In the present embodiment, the point of rotation is near the middle of the wick  205 . The wick  205  is shown here sitting in a bushing  226  in the wick holder  211 , where the bushing  226  functions as an axle for the rotation the cover  222 . The cover  222  of the present embodiment provides a sealing protrusion  227  that seals the filling opening  208  when the cover  222  is in the closed position  224 . A locking cam  228  may ensure that extra pressure is put on the cover  222  when this is in the closed position  224 . As with previous embodiments, the lid  204  may also be used as a snuffer for extinguishing the wick  205 . 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIG. 3A  a cross sectional view of another torch according to aspects of the present disclosure is shown. As with previous designs, the torch  300  has a lid  304  and a wick  305  mounted in a wick holder  311 , which may be a part of the tank  302 . A separate filling opening  308  has a closing unit  329 . In the present embodiment, the closing unit  329  includes a stopper  330  mounted on an arm  333 . The closing unit  329  can be turned away from the opening such that the stopper  330  moves from being in a closed position  324  to being in an open position  325  (indicated with dashed lines). 
         [0030]    In order for the closing unit  329  to move from the closed position  324  to the open position  325 , the lid  304  must be placed on the tank  302 . A safety pin device  331  is mounted in a biased position to mesh with an axle  332 , about which the closing unit rotates. When the lid  304  is placed on the tank  302 , the lid presses on the safety pin  331  and moves it away from the axle  332 . The shape and flexibility of the pin  331  may provide the appropriate bias or a spring (not shown) may be provided. 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIG. 3B , it can be seen that the axle  332  leads out through the side of the tank  302  and is mounted with a lever  334 . An external pin  335  holds the lever  334  such that the stopper  330  is held in the closed position  324 . The lever  334  may be flexed and moved over the pin  335  to allow the closing unit  329  to be opened (when the lid  304  is attached as described above) by moving the lever  334  downward. 
         [0032]    The torches of the present disclosure may be used for a variety of purposes such as decorative lighting and dispersing scented oils. The torches may also be used to disperse insect repellant oils and/or chemicals. In some embodiments, the torches may be used alone by placing in a desired location and lighting. In other embodiments, decorative containers or poles may be used to enhance the appearance and/or utility of the torches. The torches may be used as table-top torches, patio torches, or may be used as pole-mounted lawn torches among other uses. 
         [0033]    Thus, the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and attain the ends and advantages mentioned above as well as those inherent therein. While presently preferred embodiments have been described for purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes and modifications will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Such changes and modifications are encompassed within the spirit of this invention as defined by the claims.