1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a lighter, and more particularly to a lighter with a replaceable fuel cartridge, wherein the lighter is adapted for replacing an empty fuel cartridge with a full fuel cartridge so as to maximize and extend the life span of the lighter while being cost effective.
2. Description of Related Arts
A lighter is common tool that replaces matches for igniting cigarettes and cigars. Generally, there are two types of lighters, namely the regular lighter that produces visible flame and the torch lighter that produces torch. No matter which type of lighter is used, the lighter must comprise a liquefied fuel storage for supplying fuel in order to provide the visible flame or the torch.
A conventional liquefied fuel storage has a releasable valve communicating with a nozzle and a refill valve adapted for filling a fuel therethrough in such a manner that when the lighter is used up its fuel, a user is able to refill the fuel by means of a filling bottle.
It is known that the fuel is a gas form in a normal condition and in a liquid form when it is stored in the liquefied fuel storage of the lighter under a high pressure. In order to refill the fuel, the refill valve must be fit into a tip of the filling bottle such that the filling bottle provides a high pressure to transfer the fuel to the liquefied fuel storage through the refill valve. However, during filling operation, the fuel may leak at the tip of the filling bottle. It is extremely dangerous because the fuel is a flammable mixture such as butane, especially when refuel the lighter in the kitchen near the sink or pilot light.
Thus, it is difficult to prevent the leak of the fuel during filling operation such that the user may inhale the leaking fuel, which is harmful to the user's health.
Moreover, the user is unable to determine whether the liquefied fuel storage is fully filled with fuel such that the user may keep refilling the fuel to the liquefied fuel storage even though it is full. As a result, the excess fuel will be spilled out through the tip of the filling bottle, which is a waste of fuel. Besides, it is hassle for the user to carry the filling bottle everywhere.
A main object of the present invention is to provide a lighter with a replaceable fuel cartridge, wherein the lighter is adapted for replacing an empty fuel cartridge with a full fuel cartridge so as to maximize and extend the life span of the lighter while being cost effective.
Another object of the present invention to provide a lighter with a replaceable fuel cartridge, wherein the fuel cartridge is sealedly mounted to nozzle of the lighter so as to prevent the leakage of the fuel released from the fuel cartridge to the nozzle.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a lighter with a replaceable fuel cartridge, wherein lighter provides a “plug and light” replacement operation of the fuel cartridge such that the user is able to lighten the lighter simply by plugging a new and full fuel cartridge.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a lighter with a replaceable fuel cartridge, wherein the lighter is refilled by replacing the fuel cartridge so as to ensure the lighter is fully pre-filled with fuel after the new fuel cartridge is replaced.
Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a lighter, comprising:
a casing having a receiving cavity and an opening communicating the receiving cavity with outside;
a gas emitting nozzle appearing at a ceiling of the casing;
a fuel supply arrangement, comprising:
a replaceable fuel cartridge detachably received in the receiving cavity through the opening for storing a liquefied fuel;
a gas releasable valve extended from the replaceable fuel cartridge for controlling a flow of gas from the replaceable fuel cartridge; and
a lever arm, which is supported in the casing in a pivotally movable manner, having an actuating end coupling with the gas releasable valve and a driving end arranged to pivotally move the actuating end for releasing the fuel in the replaceable fuel cartridge to the gas emitting nozzle through the gas releasable valve; and
an ignition system supported by the casing for producing a spark toward the gas emitting nozzle to ignite the gas emitted from the gas emitting nozzle.
These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.
Referring to
The fuel supply arrangement 30 comprises a replaceable fuel cartridge 31 detachably received in the receiving cavity 11 through the opening 12 for storing a liquefied fuel, a gas releasable valve 32 extended from the replaceable fuel cartridge 31 for controlling a flow of gas from the replaceable fuel cartridge 31 to the gas emitting nozzle 20 through a flexible gas tube 301, and a lever arm 33, which is supported in the casing 10 in a pivotally movable manner, having an actuating end 331 coupling with the gas releasable valve 32 and a driving end 332 arranged to pivotally move the actuating end 331 for releasing the fuel in the replaceable fuel cartridge to the gas emitting nozzle 20 through the gas releasable valve 32. Accordingly, the flexible gas tube 301 can distribute the pulling or pushing force at the replaceable fuel cartridge 31 during the replacement thereof to prevent an unwanted movement of the gas emitting nozzle 20.
The ignition system 40 is supported by the casing 10 for producing a spark toward the gas emitting nozzle 20 to ignite the gas emitting from the gas emitting nozzle 20.
According to the preferred embodiment, the lighter is embodied to be a flint-type lighter wherein the casing 10 comprises a pair of supporting walls 13 provided on a ceiling of the casing 10, and a flint housing 14 provided on the ceiling of the casing 10 between the two supporting walls 11. The casing 10 further comprises a door 15 slidably mounted at a bottom portion of the casing 10 at the opening 12 in a detachably movable manner for enclosing the receiving cavity 11 so as to support the replaceable fuel cartridge 31 therein.
The gas emitting nozzle 20, according to the preferred embodiment, is a gas nozzle for producing a visible flame. However, the gas emitting nozzle 20 is adapted to be constructed as a torch nozzle to produce a torch, as shown in
The ignition system 40, which is embodied to be a flint type ignition system, comprises a flint 41 supported by the casing 11 and a striker wheel 42 having a circumferential coarse striking surface 421 positioned in contact with the flint 41.
The flint 41 is retained urging against the striking surface of the striker wheel 42 for producing sparks directed toward the gas emitting nozzle 20 when the striking surface is driven to strike against the flint 41, such that the gas emitted from the gas emitting nozzle 20 is ignited.
The flint 41 is supported by a flint-spring 411 wherein the flint 41 and the flint-spring 411 are received in the flint housing 14. The striker wheel 42 is rotatably supported between the two supporting walls 13 wherein the flint 31 is retained urging against the striking surface of the striker wheel 42 by means of the flint-spring 411 for producing the sparks directed toward the gas emitting nozzle 20 when the striker wheel 42 is rotatably driven to strike against the flint 31.
The replaceable fuel cartridge 31 is fully pre-filled with fuel therein wherein the fuel is stored in the replaceable fuel cartridge 31 in a liquefied form under a predetermined pressure and is released through the gas releasable valve 31 as a gas form toward the gas emitting nozzle 20.
The gas releasable valve 32 is sealedly mounted to the replaceable fuel cartridge 31 to communicate with the fuel in the replaceable fuel cartridge 31 in such a manner that the replaceable fuel cartridge 31 with the gas releasable valve 32 is detachably mounted in the casing 10.
The gas releasable valve 32 has a movable operating tip 321 extended upwardly, wherein when the movable operating tip 321 is depressed downwardly, the gas releasable valve 32 releases the fuel from the replaceable fuel cartridge 31. Accordingly, the gas releasable valve 32 is arranged to release the fuel from the replaceable fuel cartridge 31 to the gas emitting nozzle 20 when the driving end 332 of the lever arm 32 is driven upwardly, so as to depress the movable operating tip 321 of the gas releasable valve 32 downwardly by the actuating end 331 of the lever arm 33. In other words, the movable operating tip 321 of the gas releasable valve 32 is normally in an upper closed position, as shown in
The fuel supply arrangement 30 further comprises an actuating cap 34 engaged with the actuating end 331 of the lever arm 33 wherein the actuating cap 34 has an interior chamber 341 to detachably fit the movable operating tip 321 of the gas releasable valve 32 therein and a guiding through slot 342 extended from the interior chamber 341 and aligned with the movable operating tip 321 of the gas releasable valve 32 for transferring the gas from the gas releasable valve 32 to the gas emitting nozzle 20 in such a manner that when the actuating end 331 of the lever arm 33 drives the actuating cap 34 downwardly to depress the movable operating tip 321 of the gas releasable valve 32, the gas releasable valve 32 is arranged to release the fuel from the replaceable fuel cartridge 31 to the gas emitting nozzle 20 through the guiding through slot 342, as shown in
The actuating cap 34 further comprises a sealing member 343 having a ring-shaped coaxially mounted in the interior chamber 341 to sealedly mount the movable operating tip 321 of the gas releasable valve 32, so as to prevent a gas leakage from the actuating cap 34. Accordingly, the sealing member 343, which is preferably made of a deforming material such as rubber, is sealedly sandwiched between an inner wall of the interior chamber 341 and an outer wall of the movable operating tip 321 of the gas releasable valve 32, as shown in
Referring to
The fuel supply arrangement 30′ comprises a replaceable fuel cartridge 31′ detachably received in the receiving cavity 11′ through the opening 12′ for storing a liquefied fuel, a gas releasable valve 32′ extended from the replaceable fuel cartridge 31 for controlling a flow of gas from the replaceable fuel cartridge 31′ to the gas emitting nozzle 20′ through a flexible gas tube 301′, and a lever arm 33′, which is supported in the casing 10′ in a pivotally movable manner, having an actuating end 331′ coupling with the gas releasable valve 32′ and a driving end 332′ arranged to pivotally move the actuating end 331′ for releasing the fuel in the replaceable fuel cartridge to the gas emitting nozzle 20′ through the gas releasable valve 32′. Accordingly, the flexible gas tube 301′ can distribute the pulling or pushing force at the replaceable fuel cartridge 31′ during the replacement thereof to prevent an unwanted movement of the gas emitting nozzle 20′.
The ignition system 40′ is supported by the casing 10 for producing a spark toward the gas emitting nozzle 20′ to ignite the gas emitting from the gas emitting nozzle 20′.
According to the second embodiment, the casing 10′ further comprises a supporting platform 13′ rigidly supported in the casing 10′ wherein the gas releasable valve 32′ is substantially supported on the supporting platform 13′ to communicate with the gas emitting nozzle 20′.
The ignition system 40, which is a piezoelectric type ignition system, comprises a piezoelectric unit 41′, which is disposed in the casing 10′ for generating piezoelectricity, comprising a movable operating part 42′ extended upwardly and an ignition tip 43′ extended to a position closed to the gas emitting nozzle 20′, wherein when the movable operating part 42′ of the piezoelectric unit 40′ is depressed downwardly, the ignition tip 43′ generates sparks to ignite the gas emitted from the gas emitting nozzle at the same time.
Accordingly, a pusher button 16′ is mounted on the ceiling of the casing 10′ in a vertically movable manner wherein the pusher button 16′ is positioned to a top end of the movable operating part 42′ of the piezoelectric unit 41′ and attached to the driving end 332′ of the lever arm 33′ in such a manner that when the pusher button 16′ is depressed downwardly, the movable operating part 42′ of the piezoelectric unit 41′ is compressed and fuel from the replaceable fuel cartridge 31′ to the gas emitting nozzle 20′, so as to ignite the lighter.
It is worth to mention that the ignition system 40, 40′ according to the first and second embodiments are interchangeable. In other words, it is obvious that the first embodiment can be incorporated with the piezoelectric ignition system and the second embodiment can be incorporated with the flint type ignition system without affecting the ignition of the gas emitted from the gas emitting nozzle 20, 20′.
As shown in
The gas releasable valve 32′ further comprises a tubular inserting adapter 322′ extended downwardly and arranged to insert into the replaceable fuel cartridge 31′ for releasing the fuel therein to the movable operating tip 321′.
The replaceable fuel cartridge 31′ is detachably mounted to the gas releasable valve 32′ wherein the replaceable fuel cartridge 31′ has a fuel outlet 311′ for the inserting adapter 322′ sealedly inserting therein so as to guide the fuel in the replaceable fuel cartridge 31′ to the movable operating tip 321′ of the gas releasable valve 32′. The replaceable fuel cartridge 31′ further has a sealing layer 312′ sealedly mounted to the fuel outlet 311′ for sealedly enclosing the fuel in the replaceable fuel cartridge 31′. Accordingly, the inserting adapter 322′ has a tapered end adapted to penetrate through the sealing layer 312′ into the replaceable fuel cartridge 31′. It is worth to mention that the sealing layer 312′, which is made of deforming material such as rubber, having a predetermined thickness, is adapted to seal up an outer wall of the inserting adapter 322′ within the fuel outlet 311′ so as to prevent the gas leakage from the fuel outlet 311′ after the inserting adapter 322′ is inserted into the replaceable fuel cartridge 31′ through the fuel outlet 311′, as shown in
Referring to
The fuel supply arrangement 30″ comprises a replaceable fuel cartridge 31″ detachably received in the receiving cavity 11″ through the opening 12″ for storing a liquefied fuel, a gas releasable valve 32″ extended from the replaceable fuel cartridge 31″ and coupling with the gas emitting nozzle 20″ for controlling a flow of gas from the replaceable fuel cartridge 31″.
The fuel supply arrangement 30″ further comprises a gas releasing lever 33″, which is pivotally mounted on the replaceable fuel cartridge 31″, coupling to the gas releasable valve 32″ for managing an operation of the gas releasable valve 32″.
Preferably, the gas releasing lever 33″ is embodied as a lever arm pivotally extended from the gas releasable valve 32″ and probed into the receiving cavity 11″ in such a manner that after the replaceable fuel cartridge 31″ is inserted into the receiving cavity 11″, the gas releasing lever 33″ is disposed in the casing 10″ with a pivotally moveable manner. That is to say, the gas releasing lever 33″ has an actuating end 331″ coupled with the gas releasable valve 32″ for shifting a movement of the gas releasable valve 32″, and a driving end 332″ extended into the casing 10″ in such a manner that by depressing the driving end 332″, the actuating end 331″ is capable of being lifted to shift the gas releasable valve 32″.
Accordingly, the light according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention further comprises a gas releasing arrangement 50″ supported within the casing 10″ for operating the gas releasing lever 33″ into action. The gas releasing arrangement 50″ comprises an actuator to depress the driving end 332″ of the gas releasable valve 32″.
The actuator comprises a lighter cap 51″ pivotally mounted to the casing 10″ for enclosing the ceiling of the casing 10″, and a driving lever 52″ pivotally supported within the casing 10″ wherein the driving lever 52″ has an upper end coupling with the lighter cap 51″ and a lower end slidably engaged with the driving end 332″ of the gas releasing lever 33″ for actuating the gas releasing lever 33″ into movement. When the lighter cap 51″ is pivotally and upwardly folded to expose the ceiling of the casing 10″, the driving lever 52″ is driven to depress the driving end 332″ of the gas releasing lever 33″ for releasing the gas from the replaceable fuel cartridge 51″.
As shown in
It is worth to mention that the actuator can be an ignition button of the lighter to couple with the driving end 332″ of the gas releasing lever 33″ such that when the ignition button is depressed for producing the sparks, the driving end 332″ of the gas releasing lever 33″ is depressed at the same time for ignition of the lighter.
Accordingly, the gas releasable valve 32″ has a movable operating tip 321″ extended upwardly. Whenever the movable operating tip 321″ is depressed downwardly, the gas releasable valve 32″ releases the fuel from the replaceable fuel cartridge 31″. In the preferred embodiment, the gas releasable valve 32″ is arranged to release the fuel from the replaceable fuel cartridge 31″ to the gas emitting nozzle 20″ when the driving end 332″ of the gas releasing lever 33″ is depressed.
Here, the fuel supply arrangement 30″ comprises a sheltering cap 34″ engaged with the gas releasable valve 32″ wherein the sheltering cap 34″ has an interior chamber 341″ to detachably fit the movable operating tip 321″ of the gas releasable valve 32″ therein and a guiding through slot 342″ extended from the interior chamber 341″ and aligned with the movable operating tip 321″ of the gas releasable valve 32″ for transferring the gas from the gas releasable valve 32″ to the gas emitting nozzle 20″.
As shown in
The sheltering cap 34″ further comprises a sealing member 343″ having a ring-shaped coaxially mounted in the interior chamber 341″ to sealedly mount the movable operating tip 321″ of the gas releasable valve 32″, so as to prevent a gas leakage from the sheltering cap 34″.
It is noted that replaceable fuel cartridge 31″ further comprises means for applying an urging force against the gas releasing lever 33″ to push the actuating end 331″ thereof downwardly. The urging means comprises a resilient element 35″ supported by the casing 10″ and disposed below the driving end 332″ for continuously biasing against the driving end 332″. As a result, under normal circumstance, the driving end 332″ is upwardly biased for ensuring the moveable operating tip 321″ rested in the close position.
Moreover, the sheltering cap 34″ is directly coupled a gas transferring conduit 36″ having another end serviceable to the gas emitting nozzle 20″. It is worth to mention that the gas transferring conduit 36″ is a flexible gas tube, such as rubber, allowing the gas to flow towards the gas emitting nozzle 20″ when the sheltering cap 34″ is pushed upwardly so that during the gas releasing process, the sheltering cap 34″ is capable of freely lead the gas transferring conduit 36″ moving with the casing 10″. Preferably, the fuel supply arrangement 30″ further comprises two guiding wall 37″ supported within the casing 10″ wherein the sheltering cap 34″ is slidably mounted between the guiding walls 37″ such that the guiding walls 37″ guide a movement of the sheltering cap 34″ within a predetermined vertical distance. As shown in
Preferably, the sheltering cap 34″ has a cap shoulder 344″ circularly projected from an outer wall of the sheltering cap 34″. As a result, when the moveable operating tip 321″ is lifted up nudging the sheltering cap 34″ upwardly shifted along the two guiding wall 37″, and then the stopper ridge 371″ inwardly extended from the guiding wall 37″ would be biased against the upwardly proceeding cap shoulder 344″ thus blocking any further upward movement of the sheltering cap 34″.
Meanwhile, in order to secure the durable and reliable performance, the fuel supply arrangement 30″ comprises a resilient member 38″ disposed between the transverse stopper ridge 371″ and the cap shoulder 344″ as shown in
The resilient member 38″ could be embodied as two springs downwardly extended from a bottom end of each stopper ridge 371″, wherein the cap shoulder 344″ is detachably and reciprocally engaged with the springs to be biased even bounced back. Or otherwise, the resilient member 38″ is a coil spring sleeved onto the sheltering cap 34″ and sustained by the cap shoulder 344. Therefore, once the sheltering cap 34″ is upwardly shifted, the coil spring would be stuck between the stopper ridge 371″ and the cap shoulder 344″.
One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.
It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. Its embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.
This is a Continuation-In-Part application of a non-provisional application having an application Ser. No. 10/102,403 and a filing date of Mar. 19, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,945,771.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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2626517 | Ward | Jan 1953 | A |
2692493 | Hepburn | Oct 1954 | A |
2710533 | Fischer et al. | Jun 1955 | A |
2736181 | Seibert et al. | Feb 1956 | A |
3280597 | McLarty | Oct 1966 | A |
3961876 | Chernock | Jun 1976 | A |
4181493 | Piffath et al. | Jan 1980 | A |
4416612 | Tabata | Nov 1983 | A |
5310336 | Segawa | May 1994 | A |
5460521 | Tsai | Oct 1995 | A |
Number | Date | Country |
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52-45459 | Apr 1977 | JP |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20050266364 A1 | Dec 2005 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 10102403 | Mar 2002 | US |
Child | 11197049 | US |