Safety lighter

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6663382
  • Patent Number
    6,663,382
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, April 19, 2001
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, December 16, 2003
    21 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Bennett; Henry
    • Barrow; James
    Agents
    • Chan; Raymond Y.
    • David and Raymond Patent Group
Abstract
A safety lighter includes two wheels axles coaxially supported on two sides of a spark wheel respectively. Two driving wheels, each having a receiving cavity provided on an out side of said driving wheel, are supported by two driven bodies of the wheel axles respectively wherein each driving wheel is adapted for turning on the respective driven body in a free rotating manner. Two positioning discs are disposed in the receiving cavities of the two driving wheels and firmly supported by the two driven bodies of the two wheel axles respectively wherein the positioning discs are adapted to hold the two driving wheels in position respectively, so as to prevent lateral movements of the driving wheels with respect to the wheel axles.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION




1. Field of Invention




The present invention relates to disposable lighter, and more particularly to a safety lighter for preventing the minor to ignite the lighter so as to guarantee the safety of children.




2. Description of Related Arts




The traditional disposable lighters are popular because they are easy to ignite and operate.




However, for protecting the safety and benefit of children, starting from 1993 to 1994, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission declared that it should stop selling the traditional disposable lighter. In view of protecting the safety of children, it is absolutely necessary and reasonable to do so. Therefore, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission imposed an important regulation that “Child below 4 years old cannot light the lighter”.




Accordingly, various kinds of disposable lighter having switching mechanism for rendering the lighter being child resistant are developed. Typical examples include the U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,414 issued to Zellweger and the U.S. Pat. No. 5,547,370 issued to Hwang. In order to improve the drawbacks of both the Zellweger's and Hwang's patents, a safety lighter was invented, U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,674, which was issued on Jun. 22, 1999 and assigned to the applicant of the present invention.




According to the disclosure of the U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,674, the driving wheels are arranged loosely rotatable around the driven bodies when the driving wheels have not been depressed. When a depressing force is applied downwardly to the driving wheels, the driving grooves are pressed to engage with the driven spurs of the two driven bodies. Therefore, when the driving wheels are depressed and turned, the two driven bodies are driven to strike the spark wheel against the flint. However, since the driving holes of the driving wheels must be larger than the driven bodies so as to render the driving wheels being loosely rotatable around the driven bodies normally. In other words, the driving wheels are loosely put on the driven bodies, so that laterally movement may be occurred for the unstable driving wheels during the rotation around the smaller driven bodies that may adversely affect the ignition operation of the lighter.




SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION




A main object of the present invention is to provide a safety lighter that can prevent the minor, especially under 4 years old, to ignite the lighter so as to guarantee the safety of children, wherein the driving wheels are better supported in a stable and a free rotatable manner that can guide the rotation of the driving wheels effectively.




Another object of the present invention is to provide a safety lighter having two positioning discs provided on two outer sides of two driving wheels respectively, so as to prevent lateral movements of the two driving wheels with respect to the wheel axles and ensure the spark wheel being driven by the driving wheels.




Another object of the present invention is to provide a safety lighter wherein the spark wheel can be easily mounted on a central position between the two supporting walls. Since the spark wheel is supported by the two wheel axles on both sides respectively, the two wheel axles can substantially prevent the spark wheel to move aside, so that the spark wheel can permanently remain in a central position, between the two wheel axles.




Another object of the present invention is to provide a safety lighter, which does not require incorporating with any additional element in order to provide safety feature for preventing the children to ignite the lighter. Moreover, the assemble of the spark wheel and the two wheel axles are as simple and easy as studding two inner ends of the two wheel axles to the two side holes of the spark wheel respectively. Therefore, the manufacturing cost and process of the present invention can thus be remained as usual.




Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a safety lighter, comprising:




a supporting frame disposed on a gas reservoir having a valve which is actuated by a gas lever pivotally mounted on the supporting frame for actuating the valve to release gas within the gas reservoir therefrom, wherein the supporting frame comprises two supporting walls parallelly protruded on opposite sides of the gas lever and each of the supporting walls has a supporting hole provided thereon; and




an ignition means comprising:




a flint supported by a resilient element;




a spark wheel which is rotatably mounted on the supporting frame and has a striking surface in contact with the flint, wherein the flint is retained urging against the striking surface of the spark wheel by means of the resilient element for generating sparks directed toward the valve when the striking surface is driven to strike against, and that two sides of the spark wheel each has an axle hole, a periphery of each of the axle holes having a plurality of evenly spaced engaging indentions;




two wheel axles, each having a round supporting axle for rotatably inserting into one of the supporting holes, a driving axle for inserting into one of the axle holes of the spark wheel, wherein a periphery of the driving axle has a plurality of evenly spaced protrusions adapted for firmly engaging with the engaging indentions of the axle hole of the spark wheel, and-a round driven body integrally formed between the supporting axle and the driving axle, wherein a plurality of axial driven spurs are evenly spaced and protruded on an outer circular surface of the driven body;




two driving wheels, which are supported by the two driven bodies of the two wheel axles respectively, each having an outer knurling surface, a central driving hole having a diameter larger than that of the driven body so as to enable the driving wheel to loosely rotate around the driven body without being depressed, and a receiving cavity which is indented on an outer side of the driving wheel and has a diameter larger than that of the central driving hole, wherein a plurality of axial driving grooves are evenly spaced and indented around a periphery of the driving hole, thereby when a depressing force is applied downwardly to the two driving wheels, the driving grooves thereof are pressed to engage with the driven spurs of the two driven bodies, so that when the driving wheels are depressed and turned, the two driven bodies are driven to strike the spark wheel against the flint; and




two positioning discs, which are disposed in the receiving cavities of the two driving wheels and supported by the two driven bodies of the two wheel axles respectively, each having a center hole adapted for fittedly engaging with an outer portion of the respective driven body, whereby the two driving wheels are guided to rotate between two sides of the spark wheel and the two positioning discs respectively so as to prevent lateral movement of the driving wheels during rotation.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is an exploded perspective view of a safety lighter according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 2

is a sectional end view of the safety lighter according to the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 3

is a partial side view of a driving wheel of the safety lighter according to the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the relationship between the driving wheel and the respective driven body.





FIG. 4

is an exploded perspective view of a safety lighter according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 5

is s sectional end view of the safety lighter according to the above second embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 6

is a partial side view of the driving wheel of the safety lighter according to the above second preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the relationship between the driving wheel and the respective driven body.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




Referring to

FIGS. 1 through 3

of the drawings, a safety lighter according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the safety lighter comprises a supporting frame


20


and an ignition means


40


. The supporting frame


20


is disposed on a gas reservoir


11


having a valve


12


which is actuated by a gas lever


30


pivotally mounted on the supporting frame


20


for releasing gas therefrom. The supporting frame


20


is protruded from a frame cover


21


which is sealedly secured onto the gas reservoir


11


filled with liquid petroleum gas such as butane therein.




The supporting frame


20


comprises a pair of supporting walls


22


,


23


protruded on opposite sides of the gas lever


30


. The gas lever


30


is pivotally mounted between the two supporting walls


22


,


23


by means of two pivots


31


,


32


protruded from two opposite sides of the gas lever


30


. The gas lever


30


has a front end


33


extending frontward to engage with a nozzle


121


of the gas valve


12


and a depressible rear end


34


extending rearwards of the frame cover


21


for enabling the depressing of the depressible rear end


34


for lifting up the gas nozzle


121


to open the gas valve


12


.




The ignition means


40


comprises a flint


41


supported by a resilient element


42


and a spark wheel


43


which is rotatably mounted on the supporting frame


20


. The spark wheel


43


has an outer circular striking surface


431


contacting with the flint


41


.




The flint


41


and the resilient element


42


are received in a flint housing


24


which is underneath the spark wheel


43


and provided on the frame cover


21


between the two supporting walls


22


,


23


. An upper portion of the flint


41


must be retained exposing outside the flint housing


24


and urging against the striking surface


431


of the spark wheel


43


by means of the resilient element


42


for generating sparks directed toward the gas valve


12


when the striking surface


431


is driven to turn against the flint


41


.




Each of the supporting walls


22


,


23


has a circular supporting hole


221


,


231


provided therein for mounting the spark wheel


43


between the two supporting walls


22


,


23


. Each side of the spark wheel


43


has an axle hole


44


,


45


which periphery has a plurality of evenly spaced engaging indentions


441


,


451


.




The ignition means


40


further comprises two wheel axles


46


,


47


and two driving wheels


48


,


49


. Each of the driving wheels


48


,


49


has an outer knurling surface


481


,


491


adapted for better contact by a user. Each of the wheel axle


46


,


47


has a round supporting axle


461


,


471


for rotatably inserting into the respective circular supporting hole


221


,


231


of the two supporting walls


22


,


23


, a driving axle


462


,


472


for inserting into the respective axle hole


44


,


45


of the spark wheel


43


, wherein a periphery of the driving axle


462


,


472


has a plurality of evenly spaced protrusions


462




a,




472




a


adapted for firmly engaging with the respective engaging indentions


441


,


451


of the corresponding axle hole


44


,


45


of the spark wheel


43


, and a round driven body


463


,


473


integrally formed between the supporting axle


461


,


471


and the driving axle


462


,


472


, wherein the driven body


463


,


473


has a diameter at least equal to a maximum size of the driving axle


462


,


472


and larger than that of the supporting axle


461


,


471


. Axial driven spurs


463




a,




473




a


are evenly spaced and protruded on an outer circular surface of the driven body


463


,


473


.




The two driving wheels


48


,


49


are supported by the two driven bodies


463


,


473


of the two wheel axles


46


,


47


respectively. Each of the driving wheels


48


,


49


has a central driving hole


482


,


492


having a diameter larger than that of the driven body


463


,


473


and a plurality of axial driving grooves


483


,


493


evenly spaced and indented around a periphery thereof, so as to enable the driving wheel


48


,


49


to loosely rotate around the driven body


463


,


473


when the driving wheels


48


,


49


has not been depressed. Each of the driving wheels


48


,


49


has a diameter larger than that of the central driving hole


482


,


492


and has a circular receiving cavity


484


,


494


coaxially indented in an outer side of the driving wheel


48


,


49


. Thereby, when a depressing force applied downwardly to the two driving wheels


48


,


49


presses the driving grooves


483


,


493


to engage with the driven spurs


463




a,




473




a


of the two driven bodies


463


,


473


, so that when the driving wheels


48


,


49


are depressed and turned, the two driven bodies


463


,


473


are driven to strike the spark wheel


43


against the flint


41


.




The ignition means


40


further comprises two positioning discs


401


,


402


which are disposed in the receiving cavities


484


,


494


of the two driving wheels


48


,


49


and supported by the two driven bodies


463


,


473


, wherein each positioning disc


401


,


402


has a center hole


401




a


,


402




a


adapted for fittedly engaging with an outer portion of the respective driven body


463


,


473


. In order words, the two positioning discs


401


,


402


are supported by the two driven bodies


463


,


473


of the two wheel axles


46


,


47


by inserting the driven bodies


463


,


473


into the center holes


401




a


,


402




a


respectively. Whereby, the two driving wheels


48


,


49


are guided to rotate between two sides of the spark wheel


43


and the two positioning discs


401


,


402


respectively so as to prevent lateral movement of the driving wheels


48


,


49


during the rotation with respect to the wheel axles


46


,


47


.




Accordingly, each driving wheel


48


,


49


has a U-shaped cross section and comprises a circular wheel member


486


,


496


and a driving ring


487


,


497


integrally and perpendicularly extended from a circular edge of the wheel member


486


,


496


, wherein the central driving hole


482


,


492


is provided at the center of the wheel member


486


,


496


and the receiving cavity


484


,


494


is defined on the outer side of the wheel member


486


,


496


and within the driving ring


487


,


497


.




A diameter of each receiving cavity


484


,


494


is gradually decreasing from an outer portion of the driving wheel


48


,


49


to an inner portion thereof so as to define a slanted inner circumferential wall


485


,


495


of the receiving cavity


484


,


494


of the driving wheel


48


,


49


. In other words, the driving ring


487


,


497


has a thickness gradually decreasing from its outer portion to an inner portion thereof, so that the contacting area of the outer knurling surface


481


,


491


of each of the driving rings


487


,


497


of the two driving wheels


48


,


49


is maximized, as large as the previous U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,674 while providing the receiving cavity


484


,


494


.




A diameter of each of the positioning discs


401


,


402


is smaller than that of the respective receiving cavity


484


,


494


so as to ensure the driving wheels


48


,


49


rotating in a free rotation manner. Thus, a width of the driven body


463


,


473


should be larger than that of the positioning disc


401


,


402


, such that the positioning disc


401


,


402


is securely mounted on the respective driven body


463


,


473


of the wheel axle


46


,


47


.




Since each driving wheel


48


,


49


is securely sandwiched between the wheel axle


46


,


47


and the positioning disc


401


,


402


, the driving wheels


48


,


49


are locked up on the driven bodies


463


,


473


in position respectively so as to prevent any lateral movement of the driving wheels


48


,


49


with respect to the wheel axles


46


,


47


. However, each driving wheel


48


,


49


is adapted for turning on the respective driven body


463


,


473


in a free rotating manner so as to prevent any unwanted ignition of the safety lighter.




According to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in

FIGS. 1

to


3


, each of the axle holes


44


,


45


of the spark wheel


43


has totally four engaging indentions


441


,


451


perpendicularly and outwardly extended so as to form a cross shaped cross section. Moreover, the two axle holes


44


,


45


can be inwardly extended to form a through hole. Relatively, each of the two driving axles


462


,


472


has totally four protrusions


462




a,




472




a


perpendicularly and outwardly extended to form a cross shaped cross section, wherein the two cross shaped driving axles


462


,


472


are arranged to fittedly insert into the two cross shaped axle holes


44


,


45


of the spark wheel


43


respectively until the two driving bodies


463


,


473


are pressed against the two sides of the spark wheel


43


. Therefore, when either one of the two driving axles


462


,


472


rotates, the spark wheel


43


can be exactly driven to rotate without slipping. The two driving axles


462


,


472


may be made in tapered form, so as to facilitate the manufacturer to plug the slightly smaller ends thereof into the two axle holes


44


,


45


of the spark wheel


43


respectively.




As shown in

FIG. 2

, the more deeper of the driving axle


462


,


472


to be inserted into the respective axle hole


44


,


45


, the engagement of the driving axle


462


,


472


with the spark wheel


43


will be tighter. Furthermore, the spark wheel


43


is rigidly supported between the two wheel axles


46


,


47


according to the present invention, so as to rotatably mount between the two supporting walls


22


,


23


. In other words, the spark wheel


43


is permanently located at a central position between the supporting walls


22


,


23


and aligned on top of the flint


41


. The two wheel axles


46


,


47


substantially limit and hold the spark wheel


43


in a central position that absolutely prevents the spark wheel


43


from moving aside. Therefore, the best striking on the flint


41


can be always achieved.




According to the first preferred embodiment, the driven spurs


463




a,




473




a


on the driven bodies


463


,


473


are in wave form, which are adapted to fittedly engage with the driving grooves


483


,


493


of the driving hole


482


,


492


of the two driving wheels


48


,


49


respectively when the two driving wheels


48


,


49


are downwardly depressed. Therefore, to depress and strike on the two driving wheels


48


,


49


at the same time can drive the two wheel axles


46


,


47


to turn. Then, the two wheel axles


46


,


47


drive the spark wheel


43


to rotate and strike against the flint


41


to generate sparks.




Referring to

FIGS. 4

to


6


, a second preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, which is similar to the above first embodiment, except that an alternative mode of the ignition means


40


is disclosed. The ignition means


40


also comprises two wheel axles


46


′,


47


′ and two driving wheels


48


′,


49


′. Similarly, each of the wheel axles


46


′,


47


′ has a round supporting axle


461


′,


471


′ for rotatably inserting into the respective circular supporting hole


221


,


231


of the respective supporting wall


22


,


23


, a driving axle


462


′,


472


′, and a driven body


463


′,


473


′, wherein the driving axle


462


′,


472


′ and the driven body


463


′,


473


′ have the same diameter and the protrusions


462




a


′,


472




a


′ on the driving axle


462





472


′ and the driven spurs


463




a


′,


437




a


′ on the driven body


463


′,


473


′ are longitudinal semi-circular protruding ribs evenly spaced and extended from the driving axle


462


′,


472


′ to the driven body


463


′,


473


′. An isolating rim


464


′,


474


′ can be formed between the driving axle


462


′,


472


′ and the driven body


463


′,


473


′, so that the driving axle


462


′,


472


′ can be precisely inserted into the respective axle hole


44


′,


45


′ of the spark wheel


43


′ until the isolating rim


464


′,


474


′ is pressed against the corresponding side of the spark wheel


43


′.




Relatively, the engaging indentions


441


′,


451


′ on the axle holes


44


′,


45


′ of the spark wheel


43


′ and the driving grooves


483


′,


493


′ on the driving holes


482


′,


492


′ of the driving wheels


48


′,


49


′ are also arranged in semi-circular shaped for engaging with the semi-circular protruding ribs as mentioned above. The second preferred embodiment works and operates similar to the above first preferred embodiment. Moreover, like the above first embodiment, each of the two driving wheels


48


′,


49


′ of the second embodiment also provides a central driving hole


482


′,


492


′ having a diameter larger than that of the driven body


463


′,


473


′ so as to enable the driving wheel


48


′,


49


′ to loosely rotate around the driven body


463


′,


473


′ without being depressed, and a circular receiving cavity


484


′,


494


′ which is indented in an outer side of the driving wheel


48


′,


49


′ and has a diameter larger than that of the central driving hole


482


′,


492


′, wherein a plurality of axial driving grooves


483


′,


493


′ are evenly spaced and indented around a periphery of the driving hole


482


′,


492


′, thereby when a depressing force is applied downwardly to the two driving wheels


48


′,


49


′, the driving grooves


483


′,


493


′ thereof are pressed to engage with the driven spurs


463




a


′,


473


′ of the two driven bodies


463


′,


473


′, so that when the driving wheels


48


′,


49


′ are depressed and turned, the two driven bodies


463


′,


473


′ are driven to strike the spark wheel


43


′ against the flint


41


′.




The ignition means


40


further comprises two positioning discs


401


′,


402


′, which are disposed in the receiving cavities


484


′,


494


′ of the two driving wheels


48


′,


49


′ and supported by the two driven bodies


463


′,


473


′ respectively, each having a center hole


401




a


′,


402




a


′ adapted for fittedly engaging with an outer portion of the respective driven body


463


′,


473


′, whereby the two driving wheels


48


′,


49


′ are guided to rotate between two sides of the spark wheel


43


′ and the two positioning discs


401


′,


402


′ respectively so as to prevent lateral movement of the driving wheels


48


′,


49


′ during rotation with respect to the wheel axles


46


′,


47


′.



Claims
  • 1. A safety lighter, comprising:a supporting frame disposed on a gas reservoir having a valve which is actuated by a gas lever pivotally mounted on said supporting frame for actuating said valve to release gas within said gas reservoir therefrom, wherein said supporting frame comprises two supporting walls parallelly protruded on opposite sides of said gas lever and each of said supporting walls has a supporting hole provided thereon; and an ignition means comprising: a flint supported by a resilient element; a spark wheel which is rotatably mounted on said supporting frame and has a striking surface in contact with said flint, wherein said flint is retained urging against said striking surface of said spark wheel by means of said resilient element for generating sparks directed toward said valve when said striking surface is driven to strike against, and that two sides of said spark wheel each has an axle hole, a periphery of each of said axle holes having a plurality of evenly spaced engaging indentions; two wheel axles, each having a round supporting axle, being rotatably inserted into said supporting holes respectively, a driving axle inserted into one of said axle holes of said spark wheel respectively wherein a periphery of each of said driving axles has a plurality of evenly spaced protrusions adapted for firmly engaging with said engaging indentions of said axle hole of said spark wheel, and a round driven body integrally formed between said supporting axle and said driving axle, wherein a plurality of axial driven spurs is evenly spaced and protruded on an outer circular surface of said driven body; two driving wheels, which are supported by said two driven bodies of said two wheel axles respectively, each having an outer knurling surface, a central driving hole having a diameter larger than that of said driven body so as to enable said driving wheel to loosely rotate around said driven body without being depressed, and a receiving cavity which is indented on an outer side of said driving wheel and has a diameter larger than that of said central driving hole, wherein a plurality of axial driving grooves is evenly spaced and indented around a periphery of said driving hole, thereby when a depressing force is applied downwardly to said two driving wheels, said driving grooves thereof are pressed to engage with said driven spurs of said two driven bodies, so that when said driving wheels are depressed and turned, said two driven bodies are driven to strike said spark wheel against said flint; and two positioning discs which are disposed in said receiving cavities of said two driving wheels and supported by said two driven bodies of said two wheel axles respectively, wherein each of said positioning discs has a center hole adapted for fittedly engaging with an outer portion of said driven body, wherein said two driving wheels are guided to rotate between two sides of said spark wheel and said two positioning discs respectively so as to prevent lateral movement of said driving wheels during rotation.
  • 2. A safety lighter, as recited in claim 1, wherein a diameter of each said receiving cavity of said driving wheels is gradually decreasing from an outer portion of said driving wheel to an inner portion thereof so as to define a slanted inner circumferential wall of said receiving cavity of said driving wheel.
  • 3. A safety lighter, as recited in claim 2, wherein a diameter of said positioning disc is smaller that that of said receiving cavity so as to ensure said driving wheels rotating in a free rotation manner.
  • 4. A safety lighter, as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said axle holes of said spark wheel has totally four engaging indentions perpendicularly and outwardly extended, and each of said two driving axles has totally four protrusions perpendicularly and outwardly extended, wherein said two driving axles are arranged to fittedly insert into said two axle holes of said spark wheel respectively until said two driving bodies are pressed against said two sides of said spark wheel.
  • 5. A safety lighter, as recited in claim 3, wherein each of said axle holes of said spark wheel has totally four engaging indentions perpendicularly and outwardly extended, and each of said two driving axles has totally four protrusions perpendicularly and outwardly extended, wherein said two driving axles are arranged to fittedly insert into said two axle holes of said spark wheel respectively until said two driving bodies are pressed against said two sides of said spark wheel.
  • 6. A safety lighter, as recited in claim 1, wherein said two axle holes are inwardly extended to form a through hole.
  • 7. A safety lighter, as recited in claim 5, wherein said two axle holes are inwardly extended to form a through hole.
  • 8. A safety lighter, as recited in claim 1, wherein said driven spurs on said driven bodies are in wave form, which are adapted to fittedly engage with said driving grooves of said driving holes of said two driving wheels respectively when said two driving wheels are downwardly depressed.
  • 9. A safety lighter, as recited in claim 3, wherein said driven spurs on said driven bodies are in wave form, which are adapted to fittedly engage with said driving grooves of said driving holes of said two driving wheels respectively when said two driving wheels are downwardly depressed.
  • 10. A safety lighter, as recited in claim 5, wherein said driven spurs on said driven bodies are in wave form, which are adapted to fittedly engage with said driving grooves of said driving holes of said two driving wheels respectively when said two driving wheels are downwardly depressed.
  • 11. A safety lighter, as recited in claim 7, wherein said driven spurs on said driven bodies are in wave form, which are adapted to fittedly engage with said driving grooves of said driving holes of said two driving wheels respectively when said two driving wheels are downwardly depressed.
  • 12. A safety lighter, as recited in claim 6, wherein said driven spurs on said driven bodies are in wave form, which are adapted to fittedly engage with said driving grooves of said driving holes of said two driving wheels respectively when said two driving wheels are downwardly depressed.
  • 13. A safety lighter, as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said driving axles and each of said driven bodies have a same diameter, and said protrusions on each of said driving axles and said driven spurs on each of said driven bodies are longitudinal semi-circular protruding ribs evenly spaced and extended from said driving axle to said driven body.
  • 14. A safety lighter, as recited in claim 3, wherein each of said driving axles and each of said driven bodies have a same diameter, and said protrusions on each of said driving axles and said driven spurs on each of said driven bodies are longitudinal semi-circular protruding ribs evenly spaced and extended from said driving axle to said driven body.
  • 15. A safety lighter, as recited in claim 13, wherein an isolating rim is formed between said driving axle and said driven body of each of said wheel axles such that said driving axle is able to be precisely inserted into said respective axle hole of said spark wheel until said isolating rim is pressed against said corresponding side of said spark wheel.
  • 16. A safety lighter, as recited in claim 14, wherein an isolating rim is formed between said driving axle and said driven body of each of said wheel axles such that said driving axle is able to be precisely inserted into said respective axle hole of said spark wheel until said isolating rim is pressed against said corresponding side of said spark wheel.
  • 17. A safety lighter, as recited in claim 13, wherein said engaging indentions on said axle holes of said spark wheel and said driving grooves on said driving holes of said driving wheels are also arranged in semi-circular shaped for engaging with said semi-circular protruding ribs.
  • 18. A safety lighter, as recited in claim 16, wherein said engaging indentions on said axle holes of said spark wheel and said driving grooves on said driving holes of said driving wheels are also arranged in semi-circular shaped for engaging with said semi-circular protruding ribs.
CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATION

This is an improved non-provisional application of another non-provisional application, U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,674, issued on Jun. 22, 1999, assigned to the applicant of the present invention.

US Referenced Citations (4)
Number Name Date Kind
5096414 Zellweger Mar 1992 A
5547370 Hwang Aug 1996 A
5913674 Shimizu Jun 1999 A
6220853 Luo Apr 2001 B1
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number Date Country
WO 9804869 Feb 1998 WO