Patent Publication Number: US-6659764-B2

Title: Palm actuation lighter

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to a lighter, and more particularly to a palm actuation lighter, wherein a user must apply a compressing force on two actuation arms to ignite the palm actuation lighter, such that the physical barrier of the ignition operation can prevent the palm actuation lighter from being ignited accidentally or by children. 
     2. Description of Related Arts 
     Utility lighters, such as piezoelectric lighters or barbecue lighters, have been known and sold throughout the world. The advantage of such utility lighters is economy, cheap, and easy operation. 
     A conventional utility lighter comprises an ignition button which is positioned on a lighter casing and operatively arranged to be depressed for igniting the utility lighter. However, the operationally structure of the utility lighter creates a repercussion that the utility lighter may cause undesirable ignition, especially by children. 
     Due to the safety purpose, both the government and the consumers in United States demand a safety device employed in every lighter to prevent unwanted ignition accidentally or by a child. Most of the utility lighters are employed with a safety lock that normally locks up a depression of the ignition button so as to prevent the utility lighter from unwanted ignition. However, the structure of such safety lock is more complicated that highly increases the manufacturing cost of the utility lighter. Furthermore, most of the children are smart enough figure out how to unlock the safety lock in order to ignite the utility lighter. 
     Besides, since the design of the ignition button is conventionally constructed on the lighter casing, the appearance of the utility lighter will be restrictively limited by the ignition button in such a manner that the push-down type ignition button prevents the industry designers to create any ornament design. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     A main object of the present invention is to provide a palm actuation lighter, which comprises an actuation arm pivotally mounted to a lighter body, wherein an adult must apply a compressing force on the actuation arm to pivotally move the actuation arm towards the lighter body for ignition, such that the actuation arm forms as a physical barrier for preventing the palm actuation lighter from being ignited accidentally or by children. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a palm actuation lighter, wherein the adult must use his or her fingers and thumb to apply the compressing force on the lighter body and the actuation arm respectively, so that the children are unable to physically ignite of palm actuation lighter. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a palm actuation lighter, which can be designed and crafted to a variety of shapes and models without affecting the operation of the lighter, so as to enhance the aesthetic appearance of the palm actuation lighter. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a palm actuation lighter, wherein the ignition of the palm actuation lighter of the present invention merely requires a simple single-action operation by the adult instead of the conventional double-action operation. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a palm actuation lighter, wherein the mechanical design of the palm actuation lighter is fitted to employ in a conventional piezoelectric lighter and the barbecue lighter without altering the original structure of the present invention. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a palm actuation lighter, wherein no expensive or complicated mechanism is required to employ in the palm actuation lighter, so as to minimize the manufacturing cost of the palm actuation lighter of the present invention. 
     Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a palm actuation lighter, which comprises: 
     a lighter body receiving a fuel storage and having an ignition cavity provided therein; 
     an ignition system, which comprises: 
     a gas emitting nozzle communicating with the fuel storage for controlling a flow of gaseous fuel; and 
     a piezoelectric unit disposed in the ignition cavity, wherein the piezoelectric unit comprises a main piezoelectric body, a movable operating part slidably extended therefrom, and a spark generating tip extended to a position close to the gas emitting nozzle, wherein when the movable operating part is depressed with respect to the main piezoelectric body, the spark generating tip generates sparks to ignite the gaseous fuel emitted from the gas emitting nozzle; and 
     two elongated actuation arms having two opposed outer side gripping surfaces respectively while the lighter body is positioned between the side gripping surfaces, wherein the actuation arms are arranged to compress the piezoelectric unit by a compression force applied on the side gripping surfaces so as to ignite the palm actuation lighter, thereby the actuation arms function as a physical barrier to prevent a hand of a child from compressing the piezoelectric unit while an adult is able to compress the actuation arms by using at least two fingers and a thumb of the adult on the side gripping surfaces respectively so as to ignite the palm actuation lighter. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a palm actuation lighter according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the palm actuation lighter according to the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3A is a sectional view of the palm actuation lighter according to the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3B is a sectional view of the palm actuation lighter in an ignition position according to the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a palm actuation lighter according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the palm actuation lighter according to the above second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a palm actuation lighter according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a palm actuation lighter according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the palm actuation lighter comprises a lighter body  10  receiving a fuel storage  11  and having an ignition cavity  12  provided therein, an ignition system  20 , and two actuation arms  31 ,  32 . 
     The ignition system  20  comprises a gas emitting nozzle  21  communicating with the fuel storage  11  for controlling a flow of gaseous fuel and a piezoelectric unit  22  disposed in the ignition cavity  12  wherein the piezoelectric unit  22  comprises a main piezoelectric body  221 , a movable operating part  222  slidably extended therefrom, and a spark generating tip  223  extended to a position close to the gas emitting nozzle  21  in such a manner that when the movable operating part  222  is depressed with respect to the main piezoelectric body  221 , the spark generating tip  223  generates sparks to ignite the gaseous fuel emitted from the gas emitting nozzle  21 . 
     The two elongated actuation arms  31 ,  32  have two opposed outer side gripping surfaces  311 ,  321  respectively wherein the lighter body  10  is positioned between the side gripping surfaces  311 ,  321 . The actuation arms  31 ,  32  are arranged to compress the piezoelectric unit  22  by a compression force applied on the side gripping surfaces  311 ,  321  so as to ignite the palm actuation lighter. Therefore, the actuation arms  31 ,  32  function as a physical barrier to prevent a hand of a child from compressing the piezoelectric unit  22  while an adult is able to compress the actuation arms  31 ,  32  by using at least two fingers and a thumb of the adult on the side gripping surfaces  311 ,  321  respectively so as to ignite the palm actuation lighter. 
     According to the preferred embodiment, the palm actuation lighter is shaped as a pair of pliers, wherein the two actuation arms  31 ,  32  are pivotally connected with each other about a pivot joint  301  in such a manner that the lighter body  10  is mounted between the two actuation arms  31 ,  32 . As shown in FIG. 1, each of the actuation arms  31 ,  32  has a head covering portion  312 ,  322  defining above the pivot joint  301  to enclose the gas emitting nozzle  21  and a handle portion  313 ,  323  forming below the pivot joint  301  wherein the side gripping surfaces  311 ,  321  are provided on two outer sides of the handle portions  313 ,  323  of the actuation arms  31 ,  32  respectively. 
     Accordingly, the gas emitting nozzle  21  is enclosed by the head covering portions  312 ,  322  of the actuation arms  31 ,  32  at a normal position and the lighter body  10  is mounted between the handle portions  313 ,  323  of the actuation arms  31 ,  32  in such a manner that when the compression force is applied on the side gripping surfaces  311 ,  321  of the actuation arms  31 ,  32 , the piezoelectric unit  22  is compressed to ignite the palm actuation lighter while the head covering portions  312 ,  322  of the actuation arms  31 ,  32  are pivotally moved at a position that the gas emitting nozzle  21  is exposed to outside. In other words, the gas emitting nozzle  21  is normally enclosed by the head covering portions  312 ,  322  of the actuation arms  31 ,  32 , so as to protect the gas emitting nozzle  21  from being damaged. 
     As shown in FIG. 3A, the piezoelectric unit  22  is transversely positioned between the actuation arms  31 ,  32  wherein a bottom end of the piezoelectric main body  221  is biased against one of the actuation arms  31  while a top end of the movable operating part  222  of the piezoelectric unit  22  is adapted to bias against another actuation arms  32  such that the piezoelectric unit  22  is arranged to be compressed by the pivotal movements of the actuation arms  31 ,  32 . Moreover, the piezoelectric unit  22  provides a press resistance force that resists the compression force applied by an under age child on the actuation arms  31 ,  32  while the adult is capable of pressing the actuation arms  31 ,  32  to compress the piezoelectric unit  22  so as to ignite the palm actuation lighter, as shown in FIG.  3 B. 
     For enhancing the press resistance of the palm actuation lighter, the piezoelectric unit  22  is inclinedly supported between the actuation arms  31 ,  32  such that a greater compression force must be applied on the actuation arms  31 ,  32  in order to compress the piezoelectric unit  22 . Accordingly, the piezoelectric unit  22  is inclinedly supported between the actuation arms  31 ,  32  to adjust the press resistance force of the piezoelectric unit  22 . When the piezoelectric unit  22  is positioned perpendicularly between the actuation arms  31 ,  32 , the compression force must be equal to the press resistance force. However, when the piezoelectric unit  22  is positioned inclinedly, the adult may require less compression force to compress the actuation arms  31 ,  32 . Therefore, the press resistance force of the piezoelectric unit  22  can be selectively adjusted by the transverse position between the actuation arms  31 ,  32 . Moreover, the inclined position of the piezoelectric unit  22  can reduce a distance between the actuation arms  31 ,  32  so as to minimize the size of the palm actuation lighter. 
     In order to mount the lighter body  10  between the actuation arms  31 ,  32  in position, each of the actuation arms  31 ,  32  has an elongated guiding slot  314 ,  324  provided at an inner side thereof, wherein two side portions of the lighter body  10  are received in the guiding slots  314 ,  324  of the actuation arms  31 ,  32  respectively. 
     Accordingly, one of the side portions of the lighter body  10  is securely attached to the respective actuation arm  31  within the guiding slot  314  while another side portion of the lighter body  10  is movably disposed in the guiding slot  324  of another actuation arm  32  in such a manner that by compressing the actuation arms  31 ,  32 , two ends of the piezoelectric unit  22  is guided to be compressed by two inner walls of the guiding slots  314 ,  324  of the actuation arms  31 ,  32  respectively. 
     As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3A, the palm actuation lighter further comprises means  40  for providing an additional press resistance force so as to resist the compression force applied on the actuation arms  31 ,  32 . The resistance means  40  comprises a deformable resistance element  41  supported in the ignition cavity  12  to resist the compression force. The deformable resistance element  41 , according to the preferred embodiment, is a compression spring, coaxially mounted on the movable operating part  222  of the piezoelectric unit  22  and placed between a ceiling of the main piezoelectric body  221  and the inner wall of the guiding slot  324  of the respective actuation arm  32 , in such a manner that the compression force applied on the actuation arms  31 ,  32  must overcome not only the press resistance force of the piezoelectric unit  22  but also the additional press resistance force of the deformable resistance element  41 , so as to compress the piezoelectric unit  22  for ignition. 
     It is worth mentioning that the deformable resistance element  41  can be a rubber post mounted between the top end of the piezoelectric unit  22  and the inner wall of the guiding slot  324  of the respective actuation arm  32 , so that the deformable resistance element  41  can provide the additional press resistance force for stopping the under age children from the usage of the palm actuation lighter by the limitation of their physical capability. 
     In order to ignite the palm actuation lighter, the adult must use at least two fingers and a thumb thereof to hold and compress the actuation arms  31 ,  32  at the side gripping surfaces  311 ,  321  thereof respectively to compress the piezoelectric unit  22 , as shown in FIG.  3 B. However, the under age child, having a smaller hand&#39;s size, do not have enough physical strength to apply the compression force of the actuation arms  31 ,  32 , especially when the deformable resistance element  410  is employed in the lighter body  10 . 
     By releasing the compression force on the actuation arms  31 ,  32 , the compressed piezoelectric unit  22  is rebounded and the deformable resistance element  41  is restored to regain its original form so as to pivotally push the actuation arms  31 ,  32  returning back to the normal position instantly. 
     As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a palm actuation lighter of a second embodiment illustrates an alternative of the first embodiment of the present invention, wherein the palm actuation lighter is embodied as a barbecue lighter. 
     According to the second embodiment, the palm actuation lighter further comprises an elongated nozzle tube  13 ′ extended from the lighter body  10 ′ and contains a gas tube  131 ′ therein, wherein the gas tube  131 ′ is extended from the gas emitting nozzle  21 ′ to a distil end of the elongated nozzle tube  13 ′ to form an ignition tip. 
     As shown in FIG. 5, one of the actuation arms  31 ′ is constructed as the lighter body  10 ′ to receive the ignition system  20 ′ therein while another actuation arm  32 ′ is attached to the lighter body  10 ′ ( 31 ′) in a sideward movable manner wherein the side gripping surfaces  311 ′,  321 ′ are provided on an outer side of the lighter body  10 ′( 31 ′) and an outer side of the actuation arm  32 ′ respectively, such that when the compression force is applied on the actuation arm  32 ′ and the lighter body  10 ′( 31 ′), the piezoelectric unit  22 ′ is compressed to ignite the palm actuation lighter. 
     The piezoelectric unit  22 ′ is inclinedly supported between the inner wall of the actuation arm  32 ′ and the inner side of the lighter body  10 ′( 31 ′) to provide a press resistance force therebetween, so as to ensure the safety function of the palm actuation lighter. 
     The palm actuation lighter further comprises means  40 ′ for providing an additional press resistance force so as to resist the compression force applied on the lighter body  10 ′( 31 ′) and the actuation arm  32 ′, wherein the resistance means  40 ′ comprises a deformable resistance element  41 ′ which is supported in the ignition cavity  12 ′, coaxially mounted on the movable operating part  222 ′ of the piezoelectric unit  22 ′ and placed between a ceiling of the main piezoelectric body  221 ′ and the inner wall of the actuation arm  32 ′, in such a manner that the compression force must overcome not only the press resistance force of the piezoelectric unit  22 ′ but also the additional press resistance force of the deformable resistance element  41 ′, so as to compress the piezoelectric unit  22 ′ for ignition. 
     As shown in FIG. 6, a palm actuation lighter of a third embodiment illustrates another alternative of the first embodiment, wherein the palm actuation lighter of the third embodiment is constructed as a vice grip. 
     Accordingly, the lighter body  10 ″ is mounted between the actuation arms  31 ″,  32 ″ wherein the piezoelectric unit  22 ″ is inclinedly supported therebetween, in such a manner that when the compression force is applied on side gripping surfaces  311 ″,  321 ″ of the actuation arms  31 ″,  32 ″, the piezoelectric unit  22 ″ is compressed to ignite the palm actuation lighter. 
     The palm actuation lighter further comprises means  40 ″ for providing an additional press resistance force so as to resist the compression force applied on the actuation arms  31 ″,  32 ″. The resistance means  40 ″ comprises a deformable resistance element  41 ″ mounted between the two actuation arms  31 ″,  32 ″. 
     As shown in FIG. 6, the deformable resistance element  41 ″ is a coiled spring having two ends substantially attached to the actuation arms  31 ″,  32 ″ respectively in such a manner that the palm actuation lighter is shaped as the vice grip. Therefore, the under age children are impossible to ignite the palm actuation lighter by limiting their physical strength. 
     Moreover, the palm actuation lighter further comprises an ignition switch  50 ″ provided on one of the actuation arms  31 ″,  32 ″ for selectively switching the ignition system  20 ″ in an on and off manner. Therefore, when the ignition system  20 ″ is switched off by the ignition switch  50 ″, the palm actuation lighter functions as a vice grip for providing a hand strength exercise to the adult. Once the ignition system  20 ″ is switched on by the ignition switch  50 ″, the adult is able to use his or her fingers and thumb to grip on the side gripping surfaces  311 ″,  321 ″ of the actuation arms  31 ″,  32 ″ respectively to compress the actuation arms  31 ″,  32 ″ so as to compress the piezoelectric unit  22 ″ for ignition. 
     Without violating the very spirit of present invention, some variations based on the above mentioned embodiments should be considered as equivalence. For example, the palm actuation lighter can be shaped into any aesthetic appearance wherein the ignition operation thereof requires at least two fingers and a thumb of the adult to compress the actuation arms. Therefore, the palm actuation lighter can be constructed to any desirable shape to minimize the under age child&#39;s attention from the non-lighter-liked shape of the present invention and to enhance the aesthetic appearance thereof. Thus, the present invention can stop the under age children from the usage of the palm actuation lighter by the limitation of their physical capability.