Abstract:
A safety lighter with improved rotary wheel hoods surrounding the striker wheel. The hoods must be urged downwardly and simultaneously rotated to engage and rotate the striker wheel. By varying the arrangement of the annular inner and outer surfaces of the hoods having either smooth surfaces or protuberances thereon with the annular unrecessed lateral portions of the striker wheel having either smooth surfaces or protuberances thereon, a multiplicity of embodiments may be achieved. Each embodiment requires a varying level of downward pressure and rotational forces to cause the lighter to spark and ignite.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of lighters, such as cigarette lighters. More particularly the invention relates to safety lighters having rotary striker wheels. U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,625, which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes, discloses a state of the art safety lighter with an improved striker wheel and striker wheel mounting frame. The lighter has an igniter having a striker wheel which rotates about an axis in response to force applied to the wheel by a user&#39;s finger. The annular recessed center portion of the striker wheel&#39;s outer annular surface has protuberances formed thereon (or grooves formed therein), while the annular unrecessed lateral portions of the striker wheel&#39;s outer annular surface are smooth. Further, the striker wheel is mounted to the lighter in slots. The striker wheel is pressed from a first position having insufficient spring force to cause the lighter flint to spark when the striker wheel is rotated into a second position having sufficient spring force to cause the lighter flint to spark when the striker wheel is rotated. 
     While the depression of the striker wheel from a first position to a second position is an effective safety mechanism, the present invention provides an improvement whereby the rotoring striker wheel remains in the same position and rotates about the same horizontal axis. There is no up or down displacement of the striker wheel. Rather, the present invention utilizes rotary hoods which are displaced from a first position to a second position to engage the outer edges of the striker wheel to translate rotary motion to the wheel and ignite the lighter. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a lighter comprising an igniter having a striker wheel which rotates about an axis in response to force applied to the wheel by a user&#39;s thumb (or any other finger or hand part). The striker wheel has an outer annular surface having an annular recessed center portion and annular unrecessed lateral portions. 
     The annular recessed portion has a rough surface with protuberances formed thereon (or grooves formed therein). The annular unrecessed lateral portions of the striker wheels may be smooth or have protuberances thereon, depending upon the embodiment. 
     Rotary wheel hoods circumferentially surround the annular unrecessed lateral portions of the striker wheel. The hoods have inner and outer annular surfaces. The hoods also have a central opening formed therethrough to rotatably receive the central axle of the striker wheel. The central opening has a diameter greater than the diameter of the central axle. Thus, the rotary wheel hoods are movable from a first position where the inner surface of the hoods do not contact the striker wheel to a second position where the inner surface of the hoods engage the striker wheel along the annular unrecessed lateral portions and impart rotational movement to the striker wheel to create sparks. The sparks ignite the lighter when the igniter is activated. The inner and outer surfaces of the hoods may be smooth or have protuberances thereon, again, depending upon the embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1A is an exploded view of the safety lighter of the present invention showing (a) a striker wheel with protuberances on the outer portions and (b) a striker wheel having a smooth surface on the lateral portions. The rotary wheel hoods have smooth inner and outer surfaces. 
     FIG. 1B is an exploded view of the safety lighter of the present invention showing (a) a striker wheel with protuberances on the outer portions and (b) a striker wheel having a smooth surface on the lateral portions. The rotary wheel hoods have smooth inner surfaces and protuberances on the outer surface. 
     FIG. 1C is an exploded view of the safety lighter of the present invention showing (a) a striker wheel with protuberances on the outer portions and (b) a striker wheel having a smooth surface on the lateral portions. The rotary wheel hoods have protuberances on the inner surface and a smooth outer surface. 
     FIG. 2A is an exploded detail view of that portion of the lighter shown in FIG.  1 A and more clearly shows the inventive aspects of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2B is an exploded detail view of that portion of the lighter shown in FIG.  1 B and more clearly shows the inventive aspects of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2C is an exploded detail view of that portion of the lighter shown in FIG.  1 C and more clearly shows the inventive aspects of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3A a  is an assembled perspective detailed view of the portion of the lighter shown in FIG. 2A having protuberances on the lateral portion of the striker wheel showing no pressure being applied to the smooth inner and outer surfaces of rotary wheel hoods. 
     FIG. 3A b  is an assembled perspective detailed view of the portion of the lighter shown in FIG. 2A having smooth lateral portion surfaces of the striker wheel showing no pressure being applied to the smooth inner and outer surfaces of the rotary wheel hoods. 
     FIG. 3B a  is an assembled perspective detailed view of the portion of the lighter shown in FIG. 2B having protuberances on the lateral portions of the striker wheel showing no pressure being applied to the rotary wheel hoods having smooth inner surfaces and protuberances on the outer surfaces. 
     FIG. 3B b  is an assembled perspective detailed view of the portion of the lighter shown in FIG. 2B having smooth surfaces on the lateral portion of the striker wheel showing no pressure being applied to the rotary wheel hoods having smooth inner surfaces and protuberances on the outer surfaces. 
     FIG. 3C a  is an assembled perspective detailed view of the portion of the lighter shown in FIG. 2C having protuberances on the lateral portions of the striker wheel showing no pressure being applied to the rotary wheel hoods having protuberances on the inner surfaces and smooth outer surfaces. 
     FIG. 3C b  is an assembled perspective detailed view of the portion of the lighter shown in FIG. 2C having smooth surfaces on the lateral portions of the striker wheel showing no pressure being applied to the rotary wheel hoods having protuberances on the inner surfaces and smooth outer surfaces. 
     FIG. 4A a  is a partial side elevation view of the inventive aspects of the invention of FIG. 3A a , partially broken away and sectioned. 
     FIG. 4A b  is a partial side elevation view of the inventive aspects of the invention of FIG. 3A b , partially broken away and sectioned. 
     FIG. 4B a  is a partial side elevation view of the inventive aspects of the invention of FIG. 3B a , partially broken away and sectioned. 
     FIG. 4B b  is a partial side elevation view of the inventive aspects of the invention of FIG. 3B b , partially broken away and sectioned. 
     FIG. 4C a  is a partial side elevation view of the inventive aspects of the invention of FIG. 3C a , partially broken away and sectioned. 
     FIG. 4C b  is a partial side elevation view of the inventive aspects of the invention of FIG. 3C b , partially broken away and sectioned. 
     FIG. 5A a  is the view shown in FIG. 3A a  but with pressure being applied to the rotary wheel hoods. 
     FIG. 5A b  is the view shown in FIG. 3A b  but with pressure being applied to the rotary wheel hoods. 
     FIG. 5B a  is the view shown in FIG. 3B a  but with pressure being applied to the rotary wheel hoods. 
     FIG. 5B b  is the view shown in FIG. 3B b  but with pressure being applied to the rotary wheel hoods. 
     FIG. 5C a  is the view shown in FIG. 3C a  but with pressure being applied to the rotary wheel hoods. 
     FIG. 5C b  is the view shown in FIG. 3C b  but with pressure being applied to the rotary wheel hoods. 
     FIG. 6A a  is the side view shown in FIG. 4A a  but with pressure being applied to the rotary wheel hoods. 
     FIG. 6A b  is the side view shown in FIG. 4A b  but with pressure being applied to the rotary wheel hoods. 
     FIG. 6B a  is the side view shown in FIG. 4B a  but with pressure being applied to the rotary wheel hoods. 
     FIG. 6B b  is the side view shown in FIG. 4B b  but with pressure being applied to the rotary wheel hoods. 
     FIG. 6C a  is the side view shown in FIG. 4C a  but with pressure being applied to the rotary wheel hoods. 
     FIG. 6C b  is the side view shown in FIG. 4C b  but with pressure being applied to the rotary wheel hoods. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the attached drawings which are referred to herein. The same reference numeral will be used to identify identical elements throughout the drawings. 
     FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate components commonly mounted on a lighter body  601  in which lighter fuel is contained. Such components include nozzle  608  having a head and a downwardly extending tube disposed toward the front of the lighter body  601 , flame adjustment wheel  607  and thumb adjustment actuator  615  which is connected to the flame adjustment wheel, mounting frame  614 , windshield  621 , nozzle actuating lever  616 , and an igniter comprising flint spring  617 , flint  618 , and striker wheel  620 . 
     The tube of the nozzle is connected in communication relationship with the interior of the lighter body where, as mentioned above, fuel is stored. The nozzle may be moved from a lower position to an upper position. When the nozzle is in its lower position, fuel cannot be ejected from it. When the nozzle is in the upper position, fuel is ejected from it. In normal operation, a lighter&#39;s striker wheel is rotated and the rear of lever  616  is depressed virtually simultaneously, which causes the nozzle to be raised and a spark to be created when the teeth of the striker wheel fictionally engage the flint  618 . The spark ignites the fuel and a flame is maintained so long as the rear of the lever is continued to be depressed downward. 
     Frame  614  is mounted on the lighter body with hollow frame stem  614 D inserted in hole  601 A of the lighter body. Nozzle actuating lever  616  is mounted on the frame with pivots  616 A inserted into slots  614 B. Striker wheel  620  is formed in the shape of a wheel having an annular center portion  619  of its outer annular surface recessed relative to the annular lateral portions  620 A of the striker wheel&#39;s outer annular surface. The striker wheel is mounted on frame  614  with the wheel&#39;s axle  620 B fitting into holes  614 C. Flint  618  and flint spring  617  are mounted in hole  614 A of the mounting frame in the conventional fashion so as to urge the flint  618  toward protuberances  619 A which are disposed on the annular recessed surface  619  of the striker wheel. 
     The protuberances  619 A on annular recessed center portion  619  are a series of saw-tooth-shaped teeth, each having a first surface which is substantially perpendicular to the tangent of the circle from which the protuberances extend. This first surface faces in the clockwise direction as the lighter is viewed from the side shown in FIG. 4A a . Each tooth also has a second surface, which slopes toward the counter-clockwise direction of the wheel when the lighter is viewed from its side with the front (or nozzle) end of the lighter toward the left as shown in FIG. 4A a.    
     FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate that same general arrangement may be utilized in each embodiment of the invention. The principal difference with each embodiment relates to the rotary wheel hoods  922  and the annular unrecessed lateral portions  620 A of striker wheel  620 . 
     Turning now to the inventive rotary wheel hoods  922 , it may be seen that the hoods are cap-like shrouds which circumferentially surround the annular unrecessed lateral portions  620 A of the striker wheel  620 . The hoods have inner  922 D and outer  922 C annular surfaces. Each hood has a central axle opening  922 A formed therethrough to rotatably receive the central axle  620 B of the striker wheel. The diameter of the axle opening  922 A is greater than the diameter of the axle  620 B. Further, the inner diameter d i  of the rotary wheel hood  922  is greater than the diameter d w  of the annular unrecessed lateral portions  620 A of the striker wheel  620 . Thus, the striker wheel  620  cannot be actuated or rotated even if the rotary wheel hoods  922  are rotated. Only by pressing or urging downwardly upon the outer annular surface  922 C of the hoods  922  while simultaneously rotating the hoods may the striker wheel  620  be rotated about its axle  620 B. 
     As may be seen in the various figures, the inner annular surface  922 D may be smooth or may have protuberances thereon. In the same way the outer annular surface  922 C may be smooth or may have protuberances thereon. Likewise, the annular unrecessed lateral portions  620 A of the striker wheel  620  may have protuberances (arrangement b, FIG. 1A) or be smooth (arrangement a, FIG.  1 A). 
     FIG. 1A illustrates both inner and outer annular surfaces of the hoods  922  as being smooth, but the annular unrecessed lateral portion  620 A of the striker wheel  620  may be smooth (b) or have protuberances (a). The amount of pressure which must be applied to the hoods  922  to cause rotation of the striker wheel  620  will vary depending upon the arrangement of the smoother versus protuberanced surfaces of the hoods and the smooth versus protuberanced surfaces of the annular unrecessed lateral portions  620 A of the striker wheel  620 . 
     FIG. 1B illustrates hoods  922  having smooth inner surfaces  922 D and outer surfaces  922 C having protuberances. Again, the striker wheel is shown having protuberances in arrangement (a) while in arrangement (b) these unrecessed lateral portions  620 A are smooth. Flint  618  and spring  617  are assembled into hole  614 A of the mounting frame. Under action of spring  617 , the upper end of the flint  618  is urged against the under side of the recessed portion  619  of the striker wheel  620 . In this first position, if a child rotates outer surface  922 C of the hood  922  in the clockwise direction, only the hood  922  will rotate while the striker wheel  620  will not rotate because the diameter of the axle opening  922 A of the hood  922  is larger than that of the axle  620 A and the inner diameter d i  of the hood  922  is greater than the diameter d w  of the annular unrecessed lateral portions  620 A. 
     FIG. 1C shows hoods  922  having protuberances on the annular inner surfaces  922 D and annular outer surfaces  922 C being smooth. Arrangement (a) of the striker wheel  620  shows lateral portions with protuberances and arrangement (b) shows lateral portions being smooth. Operation in the first position of the hoods, with no downwardly urging pressure, is the same as in FIGS. 1A and 1B. 
     FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate detailed views of the upper portion of the lighters of FIGS. 1A-1C, respectively, and more clearly show the inventive aspects of the hoods  922 . Operation has been discussed previously. 
     FIG.  3 A( a ) shows an assembled perspective detailed view of the portion of the lighter shown in FIG. 2A (arrangement (a)) illustrating smooth outer hood surfaces  922 C, smooth inner hood surfaces  922 A, and protuberances on annular unrecessed lateral portions  620 A of striker wheel  620 . Further shown are the frame  614  and the ignition lever  616 . FIG.  3 A( b ) illustrates an assembled perspective detailed view of the portion of the lighter shown in FIG. 2A arrangement (b) showing smooth outer hood surfaces  922 C, smooth inner hood surfaces  922 A, and smooth surfaces on annular unrecessed lateral portions  620 A of striker wheel  620 . 
     FIG.  3 B( a ) corresponds as noted above with FIG. 2B arrangement (a), and FIG.  3 B( b ) corresponds with FIG. 2B arrangement (b). FIG.  3 C( a ) corresponds as noted above with FIG. 2C arrangement (a), and FIG.  3 C( b ) corresponds with FIG. 2C arrangement (b). 
     FIGS.  4 A( a ) and ( b );  4 B( a ) and ( b ); and  4 C( a ) and  4 ( b ) illustrate partial side elevation views of the inventive aspects of the invention shown in FIGS.  3 A( a ) and ( b );  3 B( a ) and ( b ); and  3 C( a ) and ( b ), respectively. It should be noted in these partial side elevation views that no downward pressure has been applied to the hoods  922 . The figures simply illustrate that the axle  620 B is smaller in diameter than the axle opening  922 A allowing the hoods to freely rotate without causing rotation of the striker wheel  620 . The inner surface  922 D of the hood does not urge against annular unrecessed lateral portions  620 A of the striker wheel  620 . Flint  618  may be seen pressing against striker wheel  620  as a result of the compressive force of spring  617 . Nozzle  608  and lever  616  are also shown. 
     FIGS.  5 A( a ) through  6 C( b ) illustrate the operation of the present inventive safety lighter in a second operative position. The reference symbol P designates a downward force vector being applied to the annular outer surfaces  922 C of hoods  922 . FIGS.  5 A( a )- 5 C( b ) are detailed perspective views which correspond to FIGS.  3 A( a )- 3 C( b ), respectively, but show the application of pressure P. FIGS.  6 A( a )- 6 C( b ) illustrate partial side elevation views of the inventive aspects of the invention of  3 A( a )- 3 C( b ), respectively, partially broken away and sectioned, showing pressure being applied to the rotary wheel hoods. 
     To ignite a flame, it is necessary to press downwardly upon the annular outer surfaces  922 C of the rotary wheel hood  922  while simultaneously rotating the hoods in a clockwise direction. As a result of the downward force vector upon the hoods, the annular inner surfaces  922 D of the hoods  922  are moved to a second position and urged against the annular unrecessed lateral portions  620 A of the striker wheel  620 . The striker wheel  620  will rotate in this second position against the flint  618  and generate sparks. The simultaneous action of pressing lever  616  raises nozzle  608  to release gas to ignite a flame. Release of pressure on the hoods allows them to rebound to the first safety position away from the unrecessed lateral portions of the striker wheel as shown in FIGS.  3 A( a )- 4 C( b ). 
     Above there has been described a unique safety lighter. It should be understood that various changes of the details, materials, arrangements of parts and uses which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention will occur to and may be made by those skilled in the art upon the reading of this disclosure, and such changes are intended to be included within the principles and scope of this invention.