Patent ID: 7175425

Claim:
A utility lighter comprising a lighter housing, a lighting rod projecting from the lighter housing, a fuel tank, a valve for releasing fuel from said tank, a gas tube connected to the valve and extending through the lighting rod, an ignition unit for generating a spark, and a safety mechanism comprising: a trigger slidably mounted in said lighter housing capable of engaging said ignition unit; a lever having a surface with at least a first elevation and a second elevation, said lever biased within said lighter housing so as to be capable of engaging a portion of said trigger to prevent said trigger from sliding a sufficient distance to engage said ignition unit; and a safety button slidably mounted on said housing and capable of moving in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of movement of said trigger, said safety button capable of engaging said second elevation of said lever to move said lever against a biasing means engaged with said first elevation of said lever into a position that no longer prevents movement of said trigger, thereby permitting simultaneous activation of said ignition unit and release of fuel from said valve.