Abstract:
A gas lighter which operates by depressing an operating lever to lift a gas pipe thereby opening a gas release valve while a spark is generated by simultaneous rotation of a striker wheel in engagement with a flint has a safety mechanism for ensuring that the valve is closed when the operating lever is released. The safety mechanism includes a spring element which urges the operating lever out of engagement with the gas pipe in the released position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A traditional gas-fuel lighter is shown in FIG. 1. The lighter has an actuator lever 11 with a groove 111 at its forward end engaging the neck part 121 of gas pipe 12. When the plate 112 of lever 11 is pushed down, pins 113 on the lever rotate in apertures 171, 181 on a pair of supports 17, 18 on the top of the lighter body 16. This operation will make the groove 111 move upwards and lift the gas pipe 12 up so that a valve which is located beneath the gas pipe 12 will also be opened and spray gas out from the lighter. Meanwhile, a spark will be generated through mutual friction of a striker wheel 13 and a flint 15 lifted by a spring 14 to ignite the gas and provide a flame. The user just rotates the striker wheel 13 with his or her thumb and at the same time presses the plate 112 down to create and maintain the flame. This simplified lighter&#39;s price is commonly about 25 cents in Taiwan and 50 cents in the United States. Because of its advantages of being cheap and convenient, the product has prevailed worldwide despite its tendency to stick in a open condition and thereby present a danger of conflagration particularly if operated by children. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a safety lighter which prevents unexpected conflagrations effectively by means which urges the operating lever out of engagement with the gas pipe when the lever is released ensuring that the gas pipe can drop and thereby close the gas valve. 
     The invention is developed for safety purposes and includes an elastic spring element fitted between the lighter body and the operating lever to urge the lever out of engagement with the gas pipe when it is released. When the lighter is operated, forward and downward pressure on the operating lever causes the groove in the front of the lever to engage and lift the gas pipe against the pressure of the spring element. 
     In one embodiment, the operating lever has mounting pins pivotally located in three-legged apertures formed in supports on the light body. The spring element urges the pins into the rearmost legs of the apertures to disengage the gas pipe. Downward and forward pressure on the lever when the lighter is operated moves the pins into the forward legs, causing the legs to engage the gas pipe. 
     In another embodiment, the operating lever has dependent lugs which move forward and back over uprights on the lighter body to engage and disengage the gas pipe. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1. is an exploded view of a traditional gas fuel lighter; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a first embodiment lighter according to the invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the top of the lighter with its component parts in a released condition; 
     FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the lighter in a first phase of operation; 
     FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIGS.3 and 4 showing the lighter in a second phase of operation; 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a second embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a third embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 7-1 is a perspective view of part of the mounting structure for an operating lever of the lighter shown in FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 7-2 is a perspective view from below the operating lever; 
     FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the FIG. 7 embodiment in a released position; 
     FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 with the lighter in a first phase of operation; and 
     Fig. 10 if a view similar to FIGS. 8 and 9 with the lighter in a second phase of operation. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the first embodiment of lighter which has gas pipe 22, a flame regulator 22a, a cover 22b, a striker 23, a spring 24, a flint 25 and a lighter body 26 which are all substantially conventional. The primary differences are that elastic leaf spring element 29 is fitted between the operating lever 21 and the lighter body. Also, the supports 27, 28 which are located separately at opposite sides on top of the lighter are drilled with corresponding T-shaped apertures 271, 281. The apertures 271, 281 thus have respective legs 271a, 271b, 271c and 281a, 281b, 281c. The operating lever has pins 213 which fit in the respective apertures 271, 281. As shown in FIG. 3, in the released position of the operating lever 21, pressure of leaf spring 29 causes the two pins 213 of lever 21 to engage in the rear legs 271a, 281a of apertures 271, 281. The groove 211 in the forward part of lever 21 is disengaged from the neck part 221 of gas pipe 22. When operating the safety lighter as shown in FIG. 4, the thumb should first push the plate 212 of lever 21 to make the lever groove 211 engage with the gas pipe 22. With this motion, the two pins 213 of lever 21 are moved out from the rear legs 271a, 281a of apertures 271, 281 and into the upper legs 271b, 281b. Thus, the groove 211 at forward part of lever 21 will be engaged with the neck part 221 of gas pipe 22. As shown in FIG. 5, the thumb should then push downwards on the plate 212 while at the same time rotating striker wheel 23 to rub the flint 25 which is lifted by spring 24, so as to produce a spark. The two pins 213 of lever 21 will move to the bottom legs 271c, 281c from upper legs 271b, 281b. With this action, the groove 211 will lift the gas pipe 22 up and this operation will release gas from the valve which is located beneath the gas pipe for creating a flame by means of spark generated through mutual friction of striker wheel 23 and flint 25 and retain the flame while lever 21 is depressed. 
     Release spring 29 which is located under the bottom part of plate 212 will generate a rearward and upward rebound force on lever 21 when the lever is released. This causes the two pins 213 to move from the bottom legs 271c, 281c of apertures 271, 281 in an upward and rearward direction back into the rear legs 271a, 281a. The groove 211 will be disengaged and removed away from the neck part 211 of gas pipe 22. 
     The safety lighter thus features a mechanism for precisely snapping the groove 211 away from nect part 221 of gas pipe 22 and minimize sticking of the lighter in the flaming state when the lever is released. Also, the lighter needs a two stage manipulation to create a flame which makes it more difficult to be operated by children. 
     The safety lighter of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is similar to the first embodiment with the exception that instead of lever 61 having a leaf spring, there is instead a coil spring 69. 
     FIGS. 7 to 10 show a third embodiment of the invention wherein a horizontal leaf spring 79 is fitted between operating lever 71 and the back edge of the flint holder 761 at the top of the lighter body 76. In addition to this, uprights 762, 763 are provided on opposite sides of the flint holder. As shown in FIG. 7-1, the joins between the forward parts and upper parts of the uprights 762, 763 should form right angles 762a, 763a. The joins between the rear parts and upper parts of the uprights should form curves 762b, 763b. As shown in FIG. 7-2 protuberances 713a, 714a are provided on the bottom surfaces of the respective arms 713, 714 of lever 71. 
     As shown in FIG. 8, in the release position of the safety lighter, due to the resilience of leaf spring 79, the two protuberances 713a, 714a of lever 71 rests against the outside edges of curves 762b, 763b of the uprights and the lever 71 is disengaged from gas pipe 72. 
     As shown in FIG. 9, a user should firstly use his thumb to push the lever 21 towrd the gas pipe 72. This operation will cause the two protuberances 713a, 714a to slide over the upper surfaces of the uprights and then snap against the outside edges of the right angles 762a, 763a. Consequently, the groove 711 at the forward end of the lever 71 will be engaged with the neck part 721 of gas pipe 72. When the user turns the striker wheel 73 to rub the flint 75 which is lifted by spring 74 for generating a spark, the thumb simultaneously pushed downward on the plate 712 of lever 71. As shown in FIG. 10, the two protuberances 713a, 714a remain against the outside right angles edges 762a, 763a of the uprights while the operating lever is pivoted. Thus, the groove 711 of lever 71 will lift the gas pipe 72 and the valve located beneath the gas pipe will be opened to produce a gas flow and flame when ignited by the generated spark. After application of the lighter, the thumb is withdrawn from the plate 712 and the lever 71 will be moved backward by the resilience of leaf spring 79. This operation will cause the two protuberances 713a, 714a to slide back over the upper surfaces of the uprights and return into engagement with the curve edges 762b, 763b. Meanwhile, the groove 711 will be removed from the neck part 721 of gas pipe 72.