Patent Application
20150167974
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a lighter, and particularly to a gaseous fuel lighter with mechanical starter having a first member and a second member removably connected to each other to form an integral unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional portable lighters consist of a metal or plastic container filled with a flammable fluid or pressurized liquid gas, a means of ignition, and some provision for extinguishing the flame. In general, a spark is created by striking metal against a flint, or by pressing a button that compresses a piezoelectric crystal (piezo ignition), generating an electric arc. In naphtha lighters, the liquid is sufficiently volatile, and flammable vapor is present as soon as the top of the lighter is opened. Butane lighters combine the striking action with the opening of the valve to release gas. The spark ignites the flammable gas causing a flame to project from the lighter. With respect to butane lighters, the flame continues until the valve is released and closed. A metal enclosure with air holes generally surrounds the flame, and is designed to allow mixing of fuel and air while providing the lighter with some wind resistance. The high energy jet in butane lighters allows mixing to be accomplished by using Bernoulli's principle, so that the air hole in this type tend to be much smaller and farther from the flame.
One common issue of butane lighters is that the striking action of the metal to flint can cause the lighter to wear out after repeated usage. As the components wear down, such wear and tear can cause spark generation by the lighter to become increasingly difficult. Further, most butane lighters are not easily refillable, and as a result, they are usually disposed of after shortly after usage. In addition, most lighters do not provide an integral unit including separable members that once disengaged, cooperatively slidably engage with a force sufficient to repeatedly generate a spark to ignite a flame, regardless of wear and tear. Thus, a gaseous fuel lighter with mechanical starter solving the aforementioned problems is desired.
A gaseous fuel lighter with mechanical starter includes an ignition member and a striking member, adapted to be removably attached, to form an integral unit. The ignition member includes a fuel chamber, a fuel releasing head in communication with the fuel chamber, and a regulating valve assembly positioned intermediate to the ignition member and the fuel releasing head. The ignition member also includes a switch, operatively connected to the regulating valve assembly, to open and close the regulating valve assembly, and a striking element positioned proximate to the fuel releasing head. The striking member includes a friction member.
To ignite the gaseous fuel lighter, the user simultaneously slides the striking element against the friction member, creating a spark and engages the switch to open the regulating valve assembly. Fuel is released through the fuel releasing head. As such, the fuel, spark, and surrounding air mix, igniting a flame.
The ignition member includes a first locking member. The striking member includes a second locking member adapted for locking engagement with the first locking member, to form a removably connected integral unit.
In an embodiment, the striking member has cap configuration, adapted to encase a portion of the ignition member. The friction member is formed along an inner surface of the cap. The striking element extends generally outward from ignition member. and is integrally formed on the fuel releasing head.
These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.
The gaseous fuel lighter with mechanical starter, generally referred to by reference number 10 in the drawings, provides a convenient portable lighter with nostalgic undertones of traditional matchsticks and flint boxes in a small form factor.
As shown in
The refillable fuel inner chamber 16 is configured to contain a select amount of fluid or gas, sufficient to generate a flame during the lighting process, and further sufficient to sustain a flame once the gaseous lighter 10 is lit. As shown, the inner chamber 16 is in communication with the first opening 20. As such, the first opening 20 permits access to the inner chamber 16 for fuel refilling. As shown, the inner chamber 16 is formed in the body 17, and functions as a tank facilitating selective refilling of fuel and supplying the same to generate the desired flame.
The filling valve 18 is disposed intermediate to the inner chamber 16 and first opening 20, to facilitate the filling process, and to prevent fuel from leaking out of the inner chamber 16 through the first opening 20. As shown, the fill valve 18 includes a filling valve screw 21, and a sealing ring 23. The sealing ring 23 provides a secure sealing connection between the filling valve 18 and first opening 20, preventing fuel leakage from the first opening 20. The filling valve screw 21 has a threaded connection with the body 17 of the ignition member 12. The filling valve screw 21 is adapted to open and close the first opening 20. Accordingly, the filling valve screw 21 can be rotated in a first direction to open the filling valve 18, and rotated in an opposing second direction to close the filling valve 18.
The regulating valve assembly 26 is in threaded engagement with the inner chamber 16. The regulating valve assembly 26 permits a user to selectively deliver the fuel to the releasing head 36 via the fluid conduit or hose 34. As shown, the regulating valve assembly 26 can include a one way plug 24 provided intermediate to the inner chamber 16 and regulating valve assembly 26. The one way plug 24 enables fuel or gas flow to enter through the inlet 25 of the regulating valve assembly 26, when the regulating valve assembly 26 is in an open position. In addition, the plug 24 prevents the fuel from traveling back into the inner chamber 16 through the inlet 25.
The regulating valve assembly 26 is operatively connected to a control mechanism 28 to regulate the rate of fuel flow through the regulating valve assembly 26 from the inner chamber 16. As shown, the control mechanism 28 can be a fuel regulating wheel 28 or switch 28, adapted to selectively regulate the fuel flow rate through the regulating valve assembly 26. Rotational movement of the fuel regulating wheel 28 opens and closes the regulating valve assembly 26 thereby controlling the flow rate of fuel from the inner chamber 16.
The fuel release switch 30 or button 30 is operatively connected to the regulating valve assembly 26, permitting a user to selectively activate fuel flow through the regulating valve assembly 26. As illustrated, the fuel release switch 30 can be an on/off switch, or, as shown in
To open and close the regulating valve assembly 26, a user applies pressure to the button 30. As such, a force from the abutting member 31 is exerted on the regulating valve assembly 26, forcing the regulating valve assembly 26 into a generally open position. This releases fuel from the inner chamber 16, through the regulating valve assembly 26, and into the conduit 34. The spring 32 provides biasing force on the button 30 such that after the button 30 is released, the spring 32 forces the button 30, into a generally closed position. As previously stated, the fuel release button or switch 30 can also function as a slidable on/off switch, to open and close the regulating valve assembly 26.
The fuel hose or conduit 34 is connected to regulating valve 26 and provides a passageway 35 for fuel to travel from the inner chamber 16 to the fuel releasing head 36. As shown the conduit 34 has a generally elongated body extending from the regulating valve assembly 26 to the fuel releasing head 36. The fuel conduit 34 can be constructed from a plastic, such as PVC. The fuel releasing head 36 facilitates the release of fuel from the fuel conduit 34. The fuel releasing head 36 can be constructed from any other material suitable to withstand the heat generated by a flame, such as for example, copper. As shown, the fuel releasing head 36 includes an opening 40.
The ignition member 12 further includes a striking element 42. The striking element 42 can be steel, or any other metal, or material suitable and resilient to generate a spark when placed in sliding frictional contact with a cooperative surface. As shown, the striking element 42 extends generally outward from the body 17 of the ignition member 12. As such, the striking element 42 is disposed proximate to the fuel releasing head 36, such that when the striking element 42 is placed in frictional contact with a surface, a spark is formed proximate to the fuel releasing head 36.
Continuing to
In
The striking member 14 includes an inner surface 78 having an edge 76 formed along the inner surface 78. Adjacent to the edge 76, one or more second locking members 80 or abutments are provided for locking engagement with the first locking members 50, of the ignition member 12. As illustrated in
In operation, or lighting mode, a user ignites the gaseous fuel lighter by striking the striking element 42 against the friction member 44. First, the user disengages the ignition member 12 and striking member 14 from locked engagement. The user aligns the ignition member 12 in sliding engagement with the striking member 14 such that the striking element 42 is aligned in contact with the friction member 44 of the striking member 14. The user slides the ignition member 12 along the friction member 44. Friction between the striking element 42 and friction member 44 generate one or more sparks. Simultaneously, the user activates fuel release by engaging the switch 30. This is accomplished by either depressing the button 30, compressing the spring 32 or by turning the on and off switch 30 into the on position. Activation of fuel release switch 30 applies a force on the regulating valve assembly 26, opening the valve assembly 26 and releasing fuel through the conduit 34 and connected fuel releasing head 36.
As fuel is released through the fuel releasing head 36, it contacts air, and the one or more sparks created by the friction between the friction member 44 and the striking element 42, creating a flame. As the user maintains a depressing pressure on the button 30 and spring 32, or keeps the switch in an on position, the regulating valve assembly 26 is held in an open position releasing fuel. The user can selectively adjust the release of gas through the opening, and thus the flame height with the regulating wheel or switch 28. Once the user releases the button 30, the spring 32 provides a biasing force closing the regulating valve assembly 26, thereby shutting off the flame. To lock the ignition member 12 and striking member 14 of the lighter 10 into an integral unit, the positions the surfaces 70 and 78 into engaging relation, and slides locking members 80 into locking engagement with the locking members or grooves 50.
It is to be understood that the gaseous fuel lighter 10 encompasses a variety of alternatives. In an embodiment shown in
The striking member 114 and ignition member 112 are configured for removable engagement. The striking member 114 can have a top, or cap configuration, removably connectable to a generally upper portion of the ignition member 112 such that in a connected configuration, the cap encases a portion of the ignition member 112. As shown, the friction member 44 is provided along an inner surface 178 of the striking member 114, configured to receive sliding movement of the striking element 142.
In operation, the user engages the switch 130, moving the switch 130 into an “on” position, releasing the fuel through the center point of the fuel releasing head 136. Simultaneously the user slides the striking element 142 of the ignition member 112 along the surface of the friction member 144, of the striking member 114, creating a spark. Fuel released from the fuel releasing head 136 mixes with air, and the spark, igniting a flame. The fuel regulating switch 128 can be used to control fuel flow. The user switches the switch 130 into an “off” position to extinguish the flame.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
