1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to piezoelectric lighters, and more particularly to an interchangeable piezoelectric lighter which is adapted for selectively interchanging a type of flame between a visible flame, a torch flame, and a windproof flame.
2. Description of Related Arts
Piezoelectric lighters have been known and sold throughout the United States. The conventional piezoelectric lighters are generally classified into two categories which is the visible flame type piezoelectric lighter and the torch flame type piezoelectric lighter. The visible flame type piezoelectric lighter, such as a cigarette lighter, allows gas emitted from the nozzle directly burned in the air to produce a regular visible flame. A windproof type piezoelectric lighter, has a re-igniting properties wherein an ignition element is heated up when igniting the lighter in such a manner that once the flame is blown out, the ignition element remains in high temperature and re-ignites the emitted gas to regain the flame. Thus, a torch lighter is adapted for providing a high temperature torch flame wherein the torch flame is more powerful than the visible flame so as to increase the burning purpose of the lighter.
For smokers, especially cigar and pipe smokers, do not ready like to use the torch flame type piezoelectric lighter since the high temperature torch flame will destroy the taste of the tobacco. However, it is a hassle for the smoker to light a cigarette or a cigar outdoors while using the visible flame type piezoelectric lighter. Thus, it is inconvenient for the smokers to carry different types of lighter at once.
Moreover, an improved piezoelectric lighter is adapted for selecting the flame by manipulating an ignition button wherein when a downward force is applied on the ignition button to depress the ignition button, such lighter provides a torch flame and when the downward force is released, the lighter provides a visible flame. However, a user must manipulate the ignition button and leads to different operational results depending on the user, which may be considered disadvantageous in practical use. Thus, the lighter must require other parts to incorporate therewith for controlling a flow of gas. Generally, a lighter cap is incorporated with the lighter for actuating a valve thereof such that when the lighter cap is opened, the gas is released from the gas chamber through the valve. This adverse result affects the ease of leaking the gas from the gas chamber. So, such improved lighter still has drawbacks in practical use and hence there has been a demand for an interchangeable lighter which is improved in both safety and operability.
A main object of the present invention is to provide an interchangeable piezoelectric lighter which is adapted for selectively interchanging a type of flame between a visible flame, torch flame, and a windproof flame.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an interchangeable piezoelectric lighter which produces both visible flame, windproof flame, and torch flame for selectively lighting a cigarette, cigar and pipe conveniently.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an interchangeable piezoelectric lighter wherein the visible flame, the torch flame, and the windproof flame are selectively produced by controlling a flame interchanging means such that no mechanism is required for users to manipulate in order to select the flame such as the ignition button.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an interchangeable piezoelectric lighter wherein the lighter is improved in both safety and operability. A user selects a desired flame by manipulating the flame interchanging means and then ignites the lighter in one single action, which is advantageous in practical use.
Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides an interchangeable piezoelectric lighter, comprising:
Referring to
The piezoelectric unit 14, which is disposed in the casing 10, comprises a movable operating part 141 extended upwardly and an ignition tip 142 extended to a position towards to the gas valve 13, wherein when the movable operating part 141 is depressed downwardly, the ignition tip 142 generates sparks to ignite the gas emitted from the gas valve 13 at the same time.
The ignition button 15 is attached to a top end of the movable operating part 141 of the piezoelectric unit 13 and operatively connected to the gas valve 13 via a gas lever 16. Accordingly, when the ignition button 15 is pushed downward, the movable operating part 141 of the piezoelectric unit 14 is compressed for generating piezoelectricity through and out the ignition tip 142. At the same time, the gas lever 16 is simultaneously pressed by the ignition button 15 to release gas through the gas valve 13 so as to ignite the releasing gas by the spark from the ignition tip 142.
The interchangeable piezoelectric lighter further comprises a flame interchanging means 20 for selectively interchanging a flame of the piezoelectric lighter, comprising a valve switcher 21 movably received in the switcher cavity 12 in a rotatably movable manner wherein the valve switcher 21 comprises at least two gas nozzles 211 selectively and coaxially aligning with the gas valve 13 for the flow of gas passing therethrough so as to produce different flames.
The valve switcher 21 has a lower portion exposed to an exterior of the casing 10 wherein a plurality of flanges 214 are spacedly protruded on an outer circumferential surface of the lower portion of the valve switcher 21 for being rotated easily and an upper portion rotatably received in a cover 18 which is supported on the casing 10. The cover 18 has a through hole 181 provided thereon and arranged to align with gas valve 13 for the flame passing through. Thus, a cap 19 is pivotally mounted on the cover 18 for protecting the valve nozzle 211.
The flame interchanging means 20 further comprises a gas adapter 22 fitted in the switcher cavity 12 wherein the valve switcher 21 is supported thereon and a gas emitter 22, made of conductive material, having an inlet end operatively extended from the gas valve 13 and a gas releasing end penetrated through the gas adapter 22 so as to selectively align with one of the gas nozzles 211, 212.
According to the preferred embodiment, the valve switcher 21 having a circular shaped rotatably and sealedly mounted on the gas adapter 22 wherein the valve switcher 21 comprises three gas nozzles 211, which are a visible gas nozzle 211a, a torch nozzle 211b, and a windproof nozzle 211c, axially provided on the valve switcher 21 respectively, so as to selectively align with the gas emitter 23. Each of the three gas nozzles 211 has a nozzle head 213 appearing from a ceiling of the valve switcher 21 and a gas inlet 212 provided on a bottom surface of the valve switcher 21 and adapted for sealedly aligning with the gas releasing end of the gas emitter 23 such that the releasing gas is adapted for transmitting from the gas valve 13 to the respective gas nozzle 211 through the gas emitter 23, as shown in
Accordingly, a gas conduit 17, which is made of non-conductive material such as plastic, is connected between the gas valve 13 and the gas emitter 23 wherein the ignition tip 142 is extended to a position close to the gas emitter 23 in such a manner that the piezoelectricity generated by the piezoelectric unit 14 is transmitted to the gas emitter 23 by conduction for igniting the releasing gas from the gas valve 13. However, the piezoelectricity cannot transmit to the gas valve 13 through the gas conduit 17 because the gas conduit 17 functions as a resistance for resisting the piezoelectricity transmitting therethrough.
The flame interchanging means 20 further comprises a guiding unit 24 for guiding the gas emitter 23 aligned with the respective gas nozzle 211 wherein the guiding unit 24 comprises at least a protrusion 241 upwardly provided on a top surface of the gas adapter 22 and at least a corresponding indention 242 formed on a bottom surface of the valve switcher 21 in such a manner that the protrusion 241 is fittedly engaged with the indention 242 when the gas emitter 23 is aligned with the respective gas nozzle 211, so as to ensure the alignment thereof.
The interchangeable piezoelectric lighter further comprises a supporting frame 30 comprising a central shaft 31 upwardly extended from the switcher cavity 12 wherein the valve switcher 21 is rotatably supported by the central shaft 31 and a resilient element 32 coaxially mounted on the central shaft 31 for applying an urging force against the gas adapter 22.
Accordingly, the valve switcher 21 has a center slot 210 coaxially formed on a bottom surface thereof and the gas adapter 22 has a center through hole 220 coaxially formed thereon in such a manner that the central shaft 31 is penetrated through the center through hole 220 of the gas adapter 22 and rotatably inserted into the center slot 210 of the valve switcher 21.
The resilient element 32, which is a compression spring, is adapted for applying an urging force against the gas adapter 22 to push it upwardly wherein the resilient element 32 has two ends biasing against a base of the central shaft 31 and a bottom surface of the gas adapter 22. Accordingly, the resilient element 32 normally urges and retains the gas adapter 22 in a higher position that the top surface of the gas adapter 22 is tightly contacted with a bottom surface of the valve switcher 21, so as to ensure the gas emitter 23 sealedly aligned with the respective gas nozzle 211 for gas transmitting therebetween.
In order to operate the interchangeable piezoelectric lighter, a user is able to select a type of flame by rotating the valve switcher 21 until the respective gas nozzle 211 is aligned with the gas emitter 23. Then, a downward force must be applied on the ignition button 15 to compress the piezoelectric unit 14 to ignite the piezoelectric lighter of the present invention, as the same as the ignition of the conventional lighter. So, the user does not have to manipulate any part of the lighter to select the flame during the ignition process, which is advantageous in practical use. Thus, for safety purpose, the gas is released from the gas valve 13 which is actuated by the ignition button 15 such that when the downward force is released on the ignition button 15, the gas valve 13 is shut off for preventing the gas releasing accidentally.
Accordingly, the valve switcher 21′ has an elongated guiding slot 210′ transversely formed on the bottom surface thereof wherein a head portion of the central shaft 31′ of the supporting frame 30′ is fitted into the elongated slot 210′ in such a manner that the valve switcher 21′ is adapted for slidably moving on the gas adapted 22′ in a horizontally movable manner. Thus, the guiding slot 210′ has a predetermined length adapted for each of the gas nozzles 211′ coaxially aligning with the gas emitter 23′ and for reinforcing the displacement of the valve switcher 21′ so as to prevent the valve switcher 21′ departing from the gas adapter 22′ when the valve switcher 21′ is being pushed.
So, the user is able to select the type of flame by pushing the valve switcher 21′ horizontally so as to line up the one of the gas nozzles 211′ to the gas emitter 23′. Then the user can simply ignite the piezoelectric lighter of the present invention by pressing the ignition button 15′ downwardly as the conventional lighter.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20020155408 A1 | Oct 2002 | US |