Claims
- 1. A flame producing lighter which comprises:
- a housing defining reservoir for containing a combustible gaseous medium under pressure;
- valve means arranged for selective actuation between a normally closed position which prevents exit of said gaseous medium from said reservoir, and an open position which permits exit of gaseous medium from said reservoir through said valve means;
- means for selectively producing sparks at a location proximate the gaseous medium exit opening of said valve means thereby selectively causing ignition of said gaseous medium;
- means normally positioned for preventing actuation of said valve means to the open position, said valve actuation prevention means being movable out of said position only by application of an external force; and
- means for receiving said valve actuation prevention means to facilitate actuation of said valve means and ignition of said gaseous medium, said receiving means including a plurality of non-interfering positions whereby actuation of said valve means to the open position is permitted thereby selectively permitting exit of said combustible gaseous medium from said valve means and ignition of said gaseous medium by sparks produced by said spark-producing means; and
- means for selectively moving said valve actuation prevention means to any one of said plurality of non-interfering positions, said moving means being movable laterally towards either one of two opposite sides of said housing and subsequently being movable upwards towards one of said non-interfering positions of said receiving means.
- 2. The flame producing lighter according to claim 1 wherein said valve means is actuated to the open position by actuator means and said means for preventing actuation of said valve means to the open position comprises means for preventing pivotal movement of said actuator means by interference with the movement thereof, said valve actuation interference means being selectively movable to any one of said plurality of positions of said receiving means so as to be out of interference with said valve actuator means.
- 3. The flame producing lighter according to claim 2 wherein said valve actuation interference means is normally retained in a valve actuation interference position, the movement thereof to any one of said plurality of positions out of interference with said valve actuator means being resiliently provided.
- 4. The flame producing lighter according to claim 3 wherein the resilient movement of said valve actuation interference means causes said valve actuation interference means to return to its position beneath said valve actuator once the valve actuator is released, thus preventing the valve means from opening.
- 5. The flame producing lighter according to claim 4 wherein said receiving means comprises a plurality of guide notches, each located in the respective side of said valve actuator, and said valve actuation interference means is a safety latch movable laterally towards either one of two opposite sides of said valve actuator and upwards towards one of said guide notches until said valve actuator is depressed, whereby said gaseous medium exits and the safety latch moves back under the valve actuator when the valve actuator is released.
- 6. The flame producing lighter according to claim 5 wherein said means for selectively producing sparks comprises flint material and a rotatable spark-producing wheel having a toothed surface positioned and arranged to selectively frictionally contact said flint material.
- 7. The flame producing lighter according to claim 5 wherein said means for selectively producing sparks comprises electric spark-producing means.
- 8. The flame producing lighter according to claim 5 wherein said means for selectively producing sparks comprises piezoelectric spark-producing means.
- 9. A fuel cutoff safety mechanism for use in combination with a lighter comprising:
- means for normally preventing actuation of a fuel supply;
- a depressable valve actuator which, upon depression, enables fuel to flow out from said fuel supply;
- a safety latch normally positioned so as to interfere with depression of said valve actuator and which normally prevents depression of said depressable valve actuator; and
- means for receiving said safety latch in any one of a plurality of non-interfering positions thereby permitting depression of said valve actuator,
- wherein application of a biasing force to said safety latch moves said safety latch laterally towards either one of two opposite sides of said valve actuator and subsequently upwards out of said interfering position and into one of said plurality of non-interfering positions so that selective actuation of said fuel supply and a corresponding production of sparks by spark-producing means ignites fuel from said fuel supply.
- 10. The fuel cutoff safety mechanism according to claim 9 wherein said plurality of positions is two.
- 11. The fuel cutoff safety mechanism according to claim 10 wherein a portion of said safety latch is normally positioned between said valve actuator and a main body housing of said lighter, thereby preventing depression of said valve actuator.
- 12. The fuel cutoff safety mechanism according to claim 11 wherein lateral movement of said safety latch in either of two opposite directions provides a void between said valve actuator and said main body housing, said void being sufficient in size to enable said valve actuator to be depressed at least partially into said void.
- 13. The fuel cutoff safety mechanism according to claim 12 wherein upwards movement at either side of said valve actuator, subsequent to said lateral movement, of said safety latch towards a non-interfering position of said latch receiving means located at least partially adjacent to either side of said valve actuator, said safety latch being resiliently maintained in said non-interfering position by pressure exerted by said safety latch on said valve actuator, enables said lighter to be placed in an unlocked configuration in which said valve actuator is capable of being depressed, thereby permitting fuel to flow.
- 14. A flame developing lighter comprising:
- a housing;
- fuel supply means for supplying fuel to be ignited;
- ignition means for igniting fuel;
- valve means for selectively permitting flow of said fuel;
- means for maintaining said lighter in a normally locked configuration in which fuel is prevented from flowing through said valve means; and
- means for selectively unlocking said lighter from said normally locked configuration, said selectively unlocking means being movable laterally towards either one of two opposite sides of said housing and subsequently being movable upwards towards a top of said lighter into one of a plurality of unlocked positions, and said selectively unlocking means being symmetrical, and operable by a user's same finger as used to actuate the lighter without requiring repositioning of the lighter in the user's hand.
- 15. The flame developing lighter of claim 14 wherein said means for selectively unlocking said lighter comprises a valve actuator which normally prevents escape of fuel from said fuel supply when in a first position and is depressable to a second position which permits actuation of said fuel supply means thereby permitting fuel to flow out from said fuel supply means, said maintaining means including a safety latch which normally prevents depression of said depressable valve actuator, wherein selective application of a biasing force by the operator to said safety latch permits depression of said valve actuator.
- 16. The flame developing lighter according to claim 15 wherein a portion of said safety latch is normally positioned between said valve actuator and said housing, thereby preventing depression of said valve actuator.
- 17. The flame developing lighter according to claim 16 wherein lateral movement in either direction of said safety latch provides a void between said valve actuator and said housing, said void being sufficient in size to enable said valve actuator to be depressed at least partially into said void upon application of said biasing force.
- 18. The flame developing lighter according to claim 17 wherein upwards movement at either of two sides of said valve actuator, subsequent to said lateral movement, of said safety latch towards an unlocked position of said maintaining means located at least partially adjacent to said valve actuator, said safety latch being resiliently maintained in said unlocked position by pressure exerted by said safety latch on said valve actuator, enables said lighter to be maintained in an unlocked configuration in which said valve actuator is capable of being depressed, thereby permitting fuel to flow.
- 19. The flame developing lighter according to claim 18 wherein said ignition means comprises a spark-producing wheel and a flint urged against said wheel and wherein sparks are produced by rotation of said wheel.
- 20. The flame developing lighter according to claim 18 wherein said ignition means comprises electric spark-producing means.
- 21. The flame developing lighter according to claim 18 wherein said ignition means comprises piezoelectric spark-producing means.
- 22. An improved flame producing lighter of the type having a housing, a fuel supply, valve means for selectively supplying fuel from said fuel supply to a fuel nozzle and spark-producing means for producing sparks, wherein the improvement comprises means for selectively permitting actuation of said valve means thereby selectively permitting exit of fuel from said fuel supply through said valve means and ignition of said fuel by sparks produced by said spark-producing means, said means for selectively permitting actuation including pivotally mounted actuator means having an unlocked position and a locked position and a safety latch movable laterally to either side of said actuator means and then movable upwards towards either one of two guide notches in said actuator means, said safety latch preventing pivotal movement of said actuator means from said locked position to said unlocked position by interference with the movement thereof, wherein depression of said actuator means in said unlocked position provides fuel flow.
- 23. A flame developing lighter comprising:
- a housing;
- fuel supply means for supplying fuel to be ignited;
- ignition means for igniting fuel;
- valve means for selectively permitting flow of said fuel; and
- control means for preventing the combination of production of fuel flow and flame generation so as to prevent production of a flame and for permitting substantially simultaneous production of fuel flow and spark generation to produce a flame, said control means being bidirectionally actuatable to any one of a plurality of positions whereby the combination of production of fuel flow and flame generation is permitted, at least a portion of said control means being movable laterally towards either one of two opposite sides of said housing and subsequently being movable upwards towards a top of said housing into one of said positions whereby fuel flow and spark generation is permitted.
- 24. The flame developing lighter of claim 23 wherein said control means comprises:
- a valve actuator which normally prevents escape of said fuel from said fuel supply when in a first position and is depressable to a second position which permits actuation of said fuel supply means thereby permitting fuel to flow out from said fuel supply means; and
- a safety latch which normally prevents depression of said depressable valve actuator,
- wherein selective application of a biasing force by the operator to said safety latch permits depression of said valve actuator.
- 25. The flame developing lighter according to claim 24 wherein a portion of said safety latch is normally positioned between said valve actuator and said housing, thereby normally preventing depression of said valve actuator.
- 26. The flame developing lighter according to claim 25 wherein lateral movement of said safety latch in either of two directions provides a void between said valve actuator and said housing, said void being sufficient in size to enable said valve actuator to be depressed at least partially into said void.
- 27. The flame developing lighter according to claim 26 wherein upwards movement along either side of said valve actuator, subsequent to said lateral movement, of said safety latch towards a position at least partially adjacent to said valve actuator, said position being resiliently maintained by pressure exerted by said safety latch on said valve actuator, provides said lighter in one of a plurality of unlocked configurations in which said valve actuator is capable of being depressed, thereby permitting fuel to flow.
- 28. The flame developing lighter according to claim 27 wherein said ignition means comprises a spark-producing wheel and a flint urged against said wheel and wherein sparks are produced by rotation of said wheel.
- 29. The flame developing lighter according to claim 27 wherein said ignition means comprises electric spark-producing means.
- 30. The flame developing lighter according to claim 27 wherein said ignition means comprises piezoelectric spark-producing means.
- 31. A flame producing lighter resistant to unauthorized use and normally maintained in a locked configuration comprising:
- a housing;
- fuel supply means for supplying fuel to be ignited;
- ignition means for igniting fuel;
- valve means for controlling the flow of said fuel;
- a valve actuator which normally prevents escape of said fuel when in a first position and is depressable to a second position which permits actuation of said fuel supply means thereby permitting fuel to flow out from said fuel supply means;
- a safety latch having an interfering portion which is normally positioned between said valve actuator and said housing, said interfering portion normally preventing depression of said depressable valve actuator and normally maintaining said lighter in said locked configuration;
- latch receiving means for receiving said interfering portion of said safety latch in any one of a plurality of non-interfering positions thereby permitting depression of said valve actuator, said latch receiving means being located at least partially adjacent to said valve actuator and on each side thereof,
- wherein lateral movement of said safety latch in either direction provides a void between said valve actuator and said housing, said void being sufficient in size to enable said valve actuator to be depressed at least partially into said void, and further wherein upwards movement of said safety latch along either side of said valve actuator, subsequent to said lateral movement, into said latch receiving means enables said latch to be resiliently maintained in said latch receiving means by pressure exerted by said valve actuator on said safety latch, so as to provide said lighter in said unlocked configuration in which said valve actuator is capable of being depressed, thereby permitting fuel to flow.
- 32. The flame producing lighter according to claim 31 wherein said ignition means comprises a spark-producing wheel and a flint urged against said wheel and wherein sparks are produced by rotation of said wheel.
- 33. The flame producing lighter according to claim 31 wherein said ignition means comprises electric spark-producing means.
- 34. The flame producing lighter according to claim 31 wherein said ignition means comprises piezoelectric spark-producing means.
- 35. A flame producing lighter which comprises:
- a housing defining reservoir for containing a combustible gaseous medium under pressure;
- valve means arranged for selective actuation between a normally closed position which prevents exit of said gaseous medium from said reservoir, and an open position which permits exit of gaseous medium from said reservoir through said valve means;
- means for selectively producing sparks at a location proximate the gaseous medium exit opening of said valve means thereby selectively causing ignition of said gaseous medium;
- means normally positioned for preventing actuation of said valve means to the open position, said valve actuation prevention means being movable out of said actuation prevention position only by application of an external user applied force, said valve actuation prevention means being retained in said valve actuation prevention position at least until said force is applied thereto; and
- means for selectively moving said valve actuation prevention means to any one of a plurality of non-interfering positions whereby actuation of said valve means to the open position is permitted thereby selectively permitting exit of said combustible gaseous medium from said valve means and ignition of said gaseous medium by sparks produced by said spark producing means, said moving means being movable laterally towards either one of two opposite sides of said housing and subsequently being movable upwards towards a top of said housing into one of said non-interfering positions.
- 36. The flame producing lighter of claim 35 further comprising a depressable valve actuator, depression of said valve actuator causing actuation of said valve means, wherein said valve actuation prevention means is normally positioned between said valve actuator and a wall of said housing so as to normally prevent depression of said valve actuator.
- 37. A flame producing lighter which comprises:
- a housing defining reservoir for containing a combustible gaseous medium under pressure;
- valve means arranged for selective actuation between a normally closed position which prevents exit of said gaseous medium from said reservoir, and an open position which permits exit of said gaseous medium from said reservoir through said valve means;
- means for selectively producing sparks at a location proximate the gaseous medium exit opening of said valve means thereby selectively causing ignition of said gaseous medium; and
- valve actuation prevention means movable laterally towards either one of two opposite sides of said housing and subsequently movable upwards towards a top of said housing from a first default position whereby actuation of said valve means to the open position is prevented, to one of a plurality of other positions whereby actuation of said valve means is permitted, said valve actuation prevention means being movable from said default position to any of said other positions only by application of an external user applied force.
- 38. The flame producing lighter of claim 37 further comprising a depressable valve actuator, depression of said valve actuator causing actuation of said valve means, wherein said valve actuation prevention means is normally positioned between said valve actuator and a wall of said housing so as to normally prevent depression of said valve actuator.
- 39. A flame producing lighter which comprises:
- a housing defining reservoir for containing a combustible gaseous medium under pressure;
- valve means for controlling flow of said gaseous medium;
- means pivotally mounted for selective actuation of said valve means between a normally closed position which prevents exit of said gaseous medium from said reservoir, and an open position which permits exit of gaseous medium from said reservoir through said valve means;
- means for selectively producing sparks at a location proximate the gaseous medium exit opening of said valve means thereby selectively causing ignition of said gaseous medium; and
- means positioned between said valve actuation means and at least a portion of said housing and configured, dimensioned and adapted to interfere with depression of said valve actuation means for preventing actuation of said valve means to the open position, said valve actuation prevention means being movable laterally towards either of two opposite sides of said valve actuation means and subsequently movable upwards towards a top of said housing to one of a plurality of positions out of interference with said valve actuation means only by application of an external user applied force and returnable automatically to said valve actuation prevention position after said valve means is moved to the open position and said valve actuation means released.
- 40. The flame producing lighter of claim 39 wherein said interference means is a safety latch comprising:
- a movable finger actuated portion adapted to be moved so as to place said lighter in an unlocked configuration;
- an interfering portion connected to said finger actuated portion for interfering with depression of said actuation means;
- a central portion having an opening therein adapted for placement around a spring and serving to retain said safety latch in proximity with said actuation means; and
- a pair of extension legs for facilitating deflection and stabilization of said safety latch within said lighter.
- 41. The flame producing lighter of claim 39 wherein said plurality of positions is two, one on each side of said valve actuation means and at least partially defined by a notch in each side of said valve actuation means.
- 42. A flame producing lighter which comprises:
- a housing defining reservoir for containing a combustible gaseous medium under pressure;
- valve means for controlling flow of said gaseous medium;
- means pivotally mounted for selective actuation of said valve means between a normally closed position which prevents exit of said gaseous medium from said reservoir, and an open position which permits exit of gaseous medium from said reservoir through said valve means;
- means for selectively producing sparks at a location proximate the gaseous medium exit opening of said valve means thereby selectively causing ignition of said gaseous medium;
- means for receiving said valve actuation means so as to facilitate fuel flow through the valve means and ignition thereof, said receiving means having a plurality of positions which do not interfere with said valve actuation means; and
- means positioned beneath at least a portion of said valve actuation means so as to interfere with the pivotal movement of said valve actuation means for preventing actuation of said valve means to the open position, said valve actuation prevention means being movable laterally towards either of two opposite sides of said valve actuation means and subsequently movable upwards towards a top of said housing out of interference with said valve actuation means to one of said plurality of non-interfering positions only by application of an external user applied force, said valve actuation prevention means being retained in said valve actuation prevention position until said force has been applied to said valve actuation prevention means so as to move said valve actuation prevention means to one of said plurality of non-interfering positions.
- 43. The flame producing lighter of claim 42 wherein said interference means is a safety latch comprising:
- a movable finger actuated portion adapted to be moved so as to place said lighter in an unlocked configuration;
- an interfering portion connected to said finger actuated portion for interfering with depression of said actuation means;
- a central portion having an opening therein adapted for placement around a spring and serving to retain said safety latch in proximity with said actuation means; and
- a pair of extension legs for facilitating deflection and stabilization of said safety latch within said lighter.
- 44. A flame developing lighter comprising:
- a housing;
- fuel supply means for supplying fuel to be ignited;
- ignition means for igniting said fuel;
- valve means for selectively permitting flow of said fuel proximate the ignition provided by said ignition means;
- a valve actuator which normally prevents escape of said fuel from said fuel supply means when in a first position and is depressable to a second position which permits actuation of said fuel supply means thereby permitting fuel to flow out from said fuel supply means; and
- a safety latch which normally prevents depression of said depressable valve actuator, at least a portion of said safety latch being normally positioned between said valve actuator and said housing, thereby preventing depression of said valve actuator,
- wherein selective application of a force by the operator to said safety latch moves said safety latch laterally towards either of two opposite sides of said valve actuator and subsequently upwards towards a top of said housing out of said position between said valve actuator and said housing and into one of a plurality of non-interfering positions substantially adjacent said valve actuator in which said latch may be releasably locked to permit depression of said valve actuator.
- 45. The flame developing lighter of claim 44 wherein said safety latch comprises:
- a movable finger actuated portion adapted to be moved so as to place said lighter in an unlocked configuration;
- an interfering portion connected to said finger actuated portion for interfering with depression of said valve actuator;
- a central portion having an opening therein adapted for placement around a spring and serving to retain said safety latch in proximity with said valve actuator; and
- a pair of extension legs for facilitating deflection and stabilization of said safety latch within said lighter.
- 46. The flame developing lighter according to claim 45 wherein lateral movement of said safety latch in either of two directions provides a void between said valve actuator and said housing, said void being sufficient in size to enable said valve actuator to be depressed at least partially into said void.
- 47. A flame producing lighter which comprises:
- a housing defining reservoir for containing a combustible gaseous medium under pressure;
- valve means for controlling flow of said gaseous medium;
- actuator means pivotally arranged for selective actuation of said valve means between a normally closed position which prevents exit of said gaseous medium from said reservoir, and an open position which permits exit of gaseous medium from said reservoir through said valve means;
- means for preventing pivotal movement of said actuator means by interference with the movement thereof, said valve actuation interference means being selectively movable laterally towards either of two opposite sides of said actuator means and subsequently movable upwards towards a top of said housing to one of two positions out of interference with said valve actuator means, said valve actuation interference means being normally retained in a valve actuation interference position, the movement thereof to either one of said positions out of interference with said valve actuator means being resiliently provided so as to return said valve actuation interference means to its position in interference with said valve actuator when said valve actuator is released, thus preventing said valve means from opening; and
- means for selectively producing sparks at a location proximate the gaseous medium exit opening of said valve means thereby selectively causing ignition of said gaseous medium.
- 48. The flame producing lighter of claim 47 wherein said valve actuation interference means is a safety latch comprising:
- a movable finger actuated portion adapted to be moved so as to place said lighter in an unlocked configuration;
- an interfering portion connected to said finger actuated portion for interfering with depression of said actuator means;
- a central portion having an opening therein adapted for placement around a spring and serving to retain said safety latch in proximity with said actuator means; and
- a pair of extension legs for facilitating deflection and stabilization of said safety latch within said lighter.
- 49. A fuel cut-off safety mechanism for use in combination with a lighter which comprises:
- means for normally preventing actuation of a fuel supply;
- means for selectively permitting actuation of said fuel supply including a depressible valve actuator which upon depression actuates said fuel supply thereby permitting fuel to flow out from said fuel supply; and
- a safety latch which normally prevents depression of said depressible valve actuator, said safety latch being normally positioned between said valve actuator and a main body housing of said lighter so as to prevent depression of said valve actuator, said safety latch being arranged such that lateral movement of said safety latch in either direction provides a void between said valve actuator and said main body housing, the void being sufficient in size to enable said valve actuator to be depressed at least partially thereinto; and
- a notch on each side of said valve actuator for receiving said safety latch, wherein upward movement of said safety latch on either side of said valve actuator, subsequent to said lateral movement, into one of said notches causes said safety latch to be resiliently maintained therein by force exerted by said safety latch on said valve actuator, thereby placing said lighter in an unlocked configuration wherein said valve actuator is capable of being depressed thereby permitting fuel to flow, said safety latch including:
- a movable finger actuated portion adapted to be moved so as to place said lighter in an unlocked configuration;
- an interfering portion connected to said finger actuated portion for interfering with depression of said actuation means;
- a central portion having an opening therein adapted for placement around a spring and serving to retain said safety latch in proximity with said actuation means; and
- a pair of extension legs for facilitating deflection and stabilization of said safety latch within said lighter.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Cross-Reference to Related Applications
This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 07/239,734 filed on Sep. 2, 1988, entitled "Selectively Actuatable Lighter", incorporated herein by reference.
US Referenced Citations (67)
Foreign Referenced Citations (4)
Number |
Date |
Country |
296281 |
Dec 1988 |
EPX |
2198092 |
Mar 1974 |
FRX |
2220047 |
Sep 1974 |
FRX |
2633702 |
Jan 1990 |
FRX |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (3)
Entry |
EPC Search Report (no date given). |
International Search Report (no date given). |
Computer Search Results (no date given). |
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
239734 |
Sep 1988 |
|