BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a construction of a gas lighter of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a construction of a cover and a tank of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a construction of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a magnified view of Part A in FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a magnified view of Part B in FIG. 3.
FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a construction of a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a magnified view of Part C in FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, a first preferred embodiment of a gas lighter of the present invention includes a hollow tank 1, a cover 2, and an internal unit 3. A chamber 21 disposed in the cover 2 at where in relation to the tank 1 and a chamber 11 in the tank 1 define a cavity to accommodate the internal unit 3 of the gas lighter. On end wall at the top of the opening of the tank 1 is pivoted to the cover 2 by means of a hinge 4. The hinge 4 is comprised of a first articulation plate 41 and the second articulation plate 42 with both articulated to each other by means of an articulation pivot 43. The first articulate 41 is locked to the inner sidewall of the cover 2 and the second articulation plate 42 is locked to the inner sidewall of the tank 1.
An elastic press member extends from the second articulation plate 42 in the tank 1 towards one end at the bottom of the tank 1 to tightly compress the internal unit. As illustrated in the preferred embodiment, the internal unit 3 can be removed and restored manually without depending on hand tool while preventing the moving of the internal unit 3 in the tank 1 during the normal operation of the gas lighter due to the improper matching between the internal unit 3 with the tank 1.
To ensure proper compression, the relation between a part extended from the second articulation plate 42 in the tank 1 towards one end at the bottom of the tank 1 and the tank 1 indicates a fork shape. Accordingly, when the internal unit 3 is inserted into the chamber 11 of the tank 1, the body of the internal unit 3 compresses the fork elastic press member and the resultant counter force is applied on the internal unit 3 to accomplish the tight matching. Under the condition, a certain distance is usually kept between the lower end surface of the second articulation plate 42 and bottom of the inner side of the tank 1 for the second articulation plate 42 to be immune from force externally applied in the course of the operation of the gas lighter. Alternatively, in a second preferred embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5, a protrusion 422 is disposed at the part extended from the second articulation plate 42 in the tank 1 towards one end at the bottom of the tank 1. Once the internal unit 3 is inserted into the chamber 11 of the tank 1, the protrusion as compressed by the body of the internal unit 3 exercises proper counter-force on the body of the internal unit 3 to accomplish tight matching. The second articulation plate 42 is given with the best form in the preferred embodiment by having it comprised of three integrated parts with the upper part articulated to the first articulation plate 41 in the cover 2; the mid part being related to a fixation section locked to a slot disposed on the end wall of the tank 1; and its lower part being related to an elastic press member to accomplish tight match with the internal unit. The second articulation plate 42 in the preferred embodiment may be related to another type of construction as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 for a third preferred embodiment of the present invention. The upper part is articulated to the first articulation plate 41 in the cover 2; its middle part related to a fixation section is locked to a slot on the end wall of the tank 1; and its lower end related to an elastic press member tightly compresses to match with the internal unit and either solder to or adhered to the middle part, i.e., the fixation section of the second articulation plate. The purpose of the construction is to overcome the difficulty encountered in the process of integrating the press ember at the lower part of the second articulation plate 41 that is flexible, the flexible middle part, and the upper part. In the third preferred embodiment, the first articulation plate 41 in the cover 2 is comprised of three integrated parts. Wherein, the lower part is articulated to the second articulation plate 42 in the tank 1; its middle part related to a fixation section is locked to the slot disposed on the wall, and the part 411 extended from the upper part and the inner sidewall of the cover 2 define a cavity 5 to accommodate a locating member 31 of the internal unit 3. The locating member 31 is articulated to one end of the body of the internal unit 3. Similarly, the first articulation plate 41 may be provided in other forms, e.g., the middle part is fastened with a screw, soldered, or adhered to the cover 2.
Patent Application
20080014538
