Claims
- 1. A utility lighter comprising:
- a housing having a handle proximate a first end and a nozzle with an outlet proximate a second end, the housing further including a fuel supply connected for selective fluid communication with the nozzle;
- a valve actuator associated with the fuel supply for selectively releasing fuel from the fuel supply;
- an ignitor assembly operatively connected to the housing for generating a spark at the nozzle outlet;
- an actuating assembly connected to the housing proximate the handle and associated with the valve actuator to dispense fuel from the fuel supply and to activate the ignitor assembly; and
- a linking member positioned between the actuating assembly and the valve actuator to provide controlled release of fuel from the fuel supply prior to the generation of a spark by the ignitor assembly.
- 2. The utility lighter of claim 1 which further comprises a latch member operatively connected with the handle and including a blocking portion connected for biased movement relative to the actuating assembly and normally biased into engagement with the actuating assembly to prevent operative movement thereof, wherein the user may selectively bias the blocking portion out of engagement with the actuating assembly to permit operation of the actuating assembly.
- 3. The utility lighter of claim 1, wherein the actuating assembly comprises a trigger extending from the handle and movable to activate the valve actuator and the ignitor assembly.
- 4. The utility lighter of claim 3, wherein the actuating assembly further comprises a biased pivoting member operatively associated with the trigger and the ignitor assembly for activating at least the ignitor assembly when the trigger is moved toward the first end of the housing.
- 5. The utility lighter of claim 4, wherein the linking member is positioned between the biased pivoting member and the valve actuator such that when the biased pivoting member is moved toward the first end of the housing by the trigger, the linking member substantially immediately operates on the valve actuator to release fuel from the fuel supply.
- 6. The utility lighter of claim 5, wherein the linking member is a spring having a distal end associated with the biased pivoting member and a proximal end associated with the valve actuator, wherein the biased pivoting member acts on the distal end of the spring to move the proximal end of the spring to activate the valve actuator when the biased pivoting member is moved toward the first end by the trigger.
- 7. The utility lighter of claim 6, wherein the proximal end of the spring is normally spaced relative to the valve actuator when the trigger is not activated.
- 8. The utility lighter of claim 6, wherein the proximal end of the spring is normally in contact with the valve actuator when the trigger is not activated.
- 9. The utility lighter of claim 6, wherein the spring is a leaf spring fixedly positioned at the distal end around a portion of the biased pivoting member for pivotal movement therewith and positioned adjacent the valve actuator at the proximal end for contact with the valve actuator, wherein when the biased pivoting member is moved toward the first end of the housing by the trigger, the proximal end of the leaf spring moves the valve actuator to selectively release fuel from the fuel supply.
- 10. The utility lighter of claim 6, wherein the spring is a compression spring in contact at the distal end with the biased pivoting member and positioned adjacent the valve actuator at the proximal end for contact with the valve actuator, wherein when the biased pivoting member is moved toward the first end of the housing by the trigger, the proximal end of the compression spring moves the valve actuator to selectively release fuel from the fuel supply.
- 11. The utility lighter of claim 4, wherein the linking member is positioned between the trigger and the valve actuator such that when the trigger is moved toward the first end of the housing, the linking member substantially immediately operates on the valve actuator to release fuel from the fuel supply.
- 12. The utility lighter of claim 11, wherein the linking member is a spring having a distal end associated with the trigger and a proximal end associated with the valve actuator, wherein movement of the trigger toward the first end of the housing acts on the distal end of the spring to move the proximal end of the spring to activate the valve actuator.
- 13. The utility lighter of claim 12, wherein the proximal end of the spring is normally spaced relative to the valve actuator when the trigger is not activated.
- 14. The utility lighter of claim 12, wherein the proximal end of the spring is normally in contact with the valve actuator when the trigger is not activated.
- 15. The utility lighter of claim 12, wherein the spring is a leaf spring integral with and extending from the trigger and positioned adjacent the valve actuator at the proximal end for contact therewith, wherein when the trigger is moved toward the first end of the housing, the proximal end of the leaf spring moves the valve actuator to selectively release fuel from the fuel supply.
- 16. The utility lighter of claim 12, wherein the spring is a compression spring in contact at the distal end with the trigger and positioned adjacent the valve actuator at the proximal end for contact therewith, wherein when the trigger is moved toward the first end of the housing, the proximal end of the compression spring moves the valve actuator to selectively release fuel from the fuel supply.
- 17. The utility lighter of claim 1, wherein:
- the fuel supply comprises a container housed in the handle, a valve operatively connected to the container for dispensing fuel to the nozzle, and the valve actuator for opening and closing the valve; and
- the handle comprises locating means for positively locating a distal end of the container in the handle.
- 18. A utility lighter comprising:
- a housing having a handle proximate a first end, a nozzle proximate a second end and an electrically conductive housing portion disposed generally between the first and second ends, the second end of the housing including first and second electrodes forming a spark gap proximate the nozzle, wherein the first electrode is formed by the electrically conductive housing portion;
- a fuel supply connected for selective fluid communication with the nozzle;
- a valve actuator associated with the fuel supply for selectively releasing fuel therefrom;
- an electric ignitor assembly operatively connected to the housing for generating a spark in the spark gap, the electric ignitor assembly being operative to generate a voltage between first and second electrical contacts thereof, the first electrical contact being in contact with the electrically conductive housing portion and the second contact being electrically connected to the second electrode;
- an actuating assembly connected to the housing proximate the handle and operative to activate the valve actuator and the electric ignitor assembly; and
- a linking member positioned between the actuating assembly and the valve actuator to provide controlled release of fuel from the fuel supply so that fuel reaches the nozzle at least substantially simultaneously with the creation of a spark by the electric ignitor assembly.
- 19. The utility lighter of claim 18, wherein the electric ignitor assembly is a piezoelectric mechanism.
- 20. The utility lighter of claim 19, wherein the nozzle forms the second electrode.
- 21. The utility lighter of claim 20, wherein the electrically conductive housing portion includes a tab extending toward the nozzle to define the spark gap between the nozzle and the tab.
- 22. The utility lighter of claim 18 which further comprises a non-electrically conductive isolator cap for directing the travel of sparks across the spark gap, said isolator cap being disposed around at least a portion of the nozzle.
- 23. A utility lighter comprising:
- a housing having a handle proximate a first end, a nozzle proximate a second end and an electrically conductive housing portion disposed generally between the first and second ends, the second end of the housing including first and second electrodes forming a spark gap proximate the nozzle, wherein the first electrode is formed by the electrically conductive housing portion and the second electrode is formed by the nozzle;
- a fuel supply connected for selective fluid communication with the nozzle;
- a valve actuator associated with the fuel supply for selectively releasing fuel therefrom;
- an electric ignitor assembly operatively connected to the housing for generating a spark in the spark gap, the electric ignitor assembly being operative to generate a voltage between first and second electrical contacts thereof, the first electrical contact being in contact with the electrically conductive housing portion and the second contact being electrically connected to the nozzle;
- an actuating assembly connected to the housing proximate the handle and operative to activate the valve actuator and the electric ignitor assembly; and
- a non-electrically conductive isolator cap for directing the travel of sparks across the spark gap, said isolator cap being disposed around at least a portion of the nozzle.
- 24. The utility lighter of claim 23, wherein the isolator cap is disposed inside of said electrically conductive housing portion.
- 25. The utility lighter of claim 24, wherein the isolator cap includes a longitudinal channel extending therethrough, with the nozzle being positioned within the channel, and a plurality of legs extending distally from a central portion of the isolator cap with a gap formed between each leg, the nozzle outlet being substantially centrally located between the plurality of legs.
- 26. The utility lighter of claim 25, wherein the isolator cap includes four legs and the electrically conductive housing portion includes a tab which extends toward the nozzle between two of the legs.
- 27. A utility lighter comprising:
- a housing having a handle proximate a first end and a nozzle with an outlet proximate a second end, the housing further including a fuel supply container spaced from and connected for selective fluid communication with the nozzle, said container including a valve operatively connected to the container for dispensing fuel, and a valve actuator for opening and closing the valve to selectively release fuel from the fuel supply container, the valve being associated with a valve connector, which is positioned between the valve and the nozzle, when the container is properly positioned within the handle;
- an ignitor assembly operatively connected to the housing for generating a spark at the nozzle outlet;
- an actuating assembly connected to the housing proximate the handle and associated with the valve actuator to dispense fuel from the container and to activate the ignitor assembly; and
- locating means positioned on an inner surface of the handle for positively locating a distal end of the container at a point which is about transversely aligned with the valve connector.
- 28. The utility lighter of claim 27, wherein said locating means comprises at least one protrusion extending from the inner surface of the handle.
- 29. The utility lighter of claim 28, wherein the container includes at least one recess disposed on an exterior of the container at a distal end thereof and said at least one protrusion mates with said at least one recess to positively position the container within the handle.
- 30. The utility lighter of claim 27, wherein said locating means comprises at least one protrusion extending from an exterior of the container.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This is a continuation-in-part of Application No. 08/787,399, filed Jan. 22, 1997.
US Referenced Citations (34)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
2036387 |
May 1995 |
RUX |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
787399 |
Jan 1997 |
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