US2529094A - Cigarette lighter assembly - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 7, 1950 P. B. MILLER CIGARETTE LIGHTER ASSEMBLY Filed Aug. 1, 1949 INVENTOR. P/m'e 5/4/20 M///e/ flTTOR/V Patented Nov. 7, 1950 CIGARETTE LIGHTER AssEMBL Price Bland Miller, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to Miller Liter Company, Kansas City, Mo., acorporation .of Missouri ApplicationAugust 1, 1949,.Serial No. 107,866

5 Claims.

This invention relates to cigarette and cigar "lighters and has for its primary object the provision of a casing made from transparent material permitting the user to know at all times when the supply of fuel therefor needs replenishing and the provision of manually operatile means for saturating a wick compartment lorm'ing a part of the lighter with the fuel only when desired and when the same becomes neces- S ry.

The most important object of the present invention is to improve upon the lighter constructions forming the subject matter of my co-pending application, Serial No. 700,310, filed Septem- 'ber 30, l946,'now Patent 2,515,092, issued on July Another important object of the present invention relates to the construction of the cigarette lighter housing itself. including the arrangement of the various chambers and compartments therein, all for the purpose of presenting an efficient, positively operating and inexpensive construction. I

A further object of the present invention is to provide a cigarette lighter having a specially formed valve construction capable of being manually operated exteriorly of the housing and having a form that will positively prevent leaking of the'fuel from the tank therefor intothe wick compartment eXceptWhen the valve is opened.

A still further object of the present invention relates to the way in which the inlet opening for the fuel compartment for the casing is closed by the flint assembly, the latter being entirely removable from the case not only .for the purpose of filling thelighter with fuel, but for replenish'ing the flints .as the same become necessary.

Other objects relate to details of construction including the particular form of the flint assembly; the manner in which the top wall of the lighter is removably mounted; and the way in which a swingable lid is provided for the lighter that completely encloses the top wall thereof and encloses the valve plunger, the wick and the friction wheel of the lighter when the lid is in a closedposition.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a cigarette lighter assembly made in accordance with my present invention.

Fig. .2 is a substantially central vertical crosssectional view taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse, cross-sectional view taken 2 on'line IIIIII of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

.Fig. A is a fragmentary, detailed, cross-sectional view taken on line IVIV of Fig. 2,; and

Fig. 5 is'a stretched-out perspective view showing the component parts of the lighter.

One of the inherent defects of conventional cigarette lighters is the inability of the user of knowing precisely when the fuel supply thereof must be replenished. Secondly, .insuch conventional lighters, the wick compartment and the absorbent material therein are normally filled with the fuel. Consequently, particularly when the lighter is initially filled with fuel, leakage occurs and the wick becomes so fully saturated that much of the fuel is lost and oftentimes covers the entire exterior of the lighter itself.

It is also desirable that all parts of .the lighter become completely enclosed when the same is not in use and, therefore, theseimportant objects, as well as others, are attainedby the lighter about to-be described.

Abody, broadly designatedby the numeral l0,

. is shown completely assembled in Fig. 2 of the drawing and the various parts thereof are clearly illustrated in Fig. 5.

Body .10 includes a fuel compartment l2 that is molded or otherwise formed into an unitary structure open at its top and provided with a continuous up-standing flange I4 at its uppermost edge. 7

Fuel compartment [2 is preferably oval-shaped in cross-section for p rposes of convenience in handling and in carrying in pockets and purses. It is contemplated that the entire body I0 be made from a relatively light material such as plastic and that at least the fuelcompartment 4 2 be fully transparent to the end that the supply of fuel it therewithin can always be seen by the user. A centermost section 18 of the body I0 is, however, preferably formed from translucent material as is a lid section 20. For purposes of attractiveness however, the lid 20 may be made from materials differing from that of sections 42 and 18 such as a metal substance or other opaque material. Similarly, the section l8 may be entirely opaque if desired.

The section l8 of the case or housing 10 is provided with a bottom wall 22 that serves as a normally horizontal partition for the case II] when the various sections thereof are in the assem'bled condition. Sections I2 and I8 are interconnected with the partition wall 22 entirely covering the open top of fuel compartment l2,

the bottom wall 22 of the centermost section I8 being provided with a continuous groove 24 for receiving the up-standing flange I4 of fuel compartment I2. To the end that the compartment I2 is rendered liquid-tight, a press-fit between flange I4 and groove 24 is contemplated, together with a suitable fusing or adhesion of flange I4 in groove 24. The centermost section I8 of the case I8 is provided with an open top wick compartment 26 having the partition wall 22 as the bottom thereof and an internally tapped bore 28 next adjacent the compartment 26 for receiving a flint assembly broadly designated by the numeral 38.

The bore 28 is open at its top and bottom, thereby presenting an inlet Opening for the compartment I2 and permitting pouring of the fuel I6 thereinto when the assembly 38 is removed from bore 28 as illustrated in Fig. 5.

The compartment 26 is provided with a filling of absorbent material 32 that terminates below the uppermost open end of compartment 26 as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. A top wall or plate 34 is provided for the section I8, said plate being elongated and conforming to the cross-sectional contour of the body I8 and being provided with a circular opening 36 adjacent one end thereof for clearing the flint assembly 38.

The top wall 34 has an U-shaped member 38 depending from the lowermost face thereof made from any suitable resilient material. The member 38 is adapted to fit within the uppermost end of the compartment 26 with the legs thereof extending thereinto and bearing tightly against the proximal side walls of compartment 26. The ends and the bottom of the member 38 are open and such member 38 yieldably holds a filling 48 of absorbent material having a. slightly greaterdensity than the material 32. The member 38 is held in place and attached to the top wall 34 by means of a short up-standing tube 42 adapted to receive an elongated wick 44 that extends downwardly through the material 48 and into the material 32 when the top plate 34 is in place in covering reflationshipto the body section I8.

Top wall 34 is also provided with an opening 46 on that side of wick 44 opposite to the opening 36 in register with an opening 41 in the bight of member 38 for clearing head 48 of an elongated 'reciprocable plunger 58 that extends downwardly through the materials 48 and 32 and terminates at its lowermost end within the wick compartment Partition'22 has an opening 52 in alignment with the openings 46 and 41 for clearing the lowermost end of plunger 58. The lowermost end of the head 48 presents a shoulder 54 for receiving the uppermost end of a spring 56 that is coiled about the-plunger 58 and bears at its lowermost end upon the uppermost face of partition 22 within wick compartment 26. The lowermost end of the opening 52 in partition 22 has an outwardly flared seat 58 forreceiving a washer-like valve 68 of resilient material that circumscribes the lowermost end of the plunger 58. This end of plunger 58 is specially formed to hold the valve 68 in the position illustrated in Fig. 2 and in conformity with the contour of the valve seat 58. To this end, plunger 58 has an outwardly flared flange portion 62 and a bulb-shaped portion 64, said portion 64 also serving to hold the valve 68 against upward movement on plunger 58. It is seen that valve 68 is normally held in the closed position with respect to opening 52 by the action of spring 56 and that the fuel I6 will not flow into the wick compartment 26 except by downward manual movement of plunger 58 by the operator pushing upon head 48. A relatively tight sliding fit between the head 48 and the openings 46 and 4? prevents liquid seepage to the uppermost face of wall 34.

The flint assemblies 38 includes an elongated tubular member 66 slightly longer than the bore 28 within which it is disposed and having external threads 68 that mesh with the internal threads of bore 28 when the assembly 38 is in place. The uppermost end of the tube 68 is provided with an out-turned flange 18 having a kerf 12 for permitting removal of the assembly 38 as desired. The body section I8 is provided with an outwardly facing shoulder #4 adjacent the uppermost end of bore 28 for receiving a gasket 16 that underlies the flange I8 of tube 66.

A plug I8 is threadably mounted in the lowermost end of the tube 66 and is provided with a end for receiving an elongated coil spring 82. -A

second tubular member 84 is telescoped into the uppermost end of the tube66, tube 84 being open at its bottom and split into a pair of substantially semi-circular halves as ShOWn in Figs. 2 and 4.

Tube 84 is internally threaded at its lowermost end for receiving the uppermost threaded end of plug 18. The uppermost end of the tube 84 slidably receives flint 86 that is yieldably held against a friction wheel 88 by means of a follower 98 that is received by the uppermost end of the spring 82. In addition to being held in place by the plug I8, tube 84 is held in the tube. 66 by a press-fit that is enhanced by the split ends thereof bearing against the innermost walls of tube 66 by the inherent resiliency of the material from which tube 84 is formed. The uppermost end of the tube 84 is bifurcated, one leg 92 being shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing for receiving the friction wheel 88 therebetween that is in turn journaled onashaft94.

The lid 28 of case I8 is designed to completely cover the uppermost face of the top wall 34 and isprovided with a downwardly extending boss 96 adjacent one end thereof that is received by a cavity 98 in the body section I8. Cavity 98 is at one end of the section I8 opposite to the bore 28 and an opening I88 formed in section I8 in registering relationship with the bottom wall of cavity 98, receives a tube I82 by a press-fit.

The uppermost end of the tube I82 has a U-shaped bracket I84 thereon with the legs thereof provided with openings I86 for receiving a shaft I88 that passes through theboss 96 of lid 28. Tube I02 has a coil spring I I8 therein for holding a pin II 2 biased upwardly against the proximal lowermost end of the boss 96. Accordingly pin II2 and spring III] yieldably hold'the lid 28 in the closed position shown in Fig. 2 as well as in an open position when the lid 28 is swung on pivot pin I88 to expose the uppermost I face of wall 34 and the parts thereon.

the head 48 respectively. The lowermost face.

of the lid 28 rests flatly upon the wall 34 when lid 28 is in the closed position shown in Fig. 2,

thereby completely enclosing all of the upstanding parts on wall 34.

It is apparent from the foregoing that the lighter is placed in use by swinging the lid 28 to an open position and actuating the wheel 88 weeps;

to project particles'o'f flint 86 toward the'wick 44'; The flame-may be either blown "out Or -extingui'shed by the-closing of lid 2-0 as 'desired. When the wick 44 becomes dry, the operatorm'erely pressesdownwardly upon the head 48 of plunger 50 to open valve 60 and thereupon tips the entire lighter to permit the fuel 1-5 to flow through opening 52 and into the fuel compartment 26 to saturate materials 32 and M] as well as the wick 44. 1

When the supply of "fuel l6 becomes low, the operator merely removes the entire assembly 30 by use of a toolor-eoi-n in the slot 1-2. The-entire tube 66, together with the tube 84 and plug 78 can then be removed from the bore 28 and the fuel poured into bore 28. When assembly 30 is without the bore 28, the operator may remove the plug 18, spring '82 and follower 90 torepl'ace flints 86. It is apparent that at no time will there be excess fuel on the exterior of the lighter or adjacent the uppermost 'face of wall 34 because the operator may predetermine the amount of fuel I6 that is permitted to fiow into the wick compartment 26.

The entire lighter may be made extremely attractive by varying the colors of the various sections l2, l8 and and in all respects the lighter is light, handy, simple to use and maintain and completely devoid of bulkiness.

It is also manifest that the lighter forming the subject matter hereof is capable of many changes and modifications and accordingly, it is desired to be limited only by the spirit of the invention as contemplated by the accompanying claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a lighter of the kind described, a hollow, perforated case having a partition dividing the same into a fuel compartment and-a wick compartment, said partition having an opening formed therein interconnecting the compartments; a valve normally closing said opening and movable to and from an open position; a reciprocable plunger connected with said valve and extending through said wick compartment and the perforation of said case to a point exteriorly of the case for moving the valve to said open position; a filling of loose, fibrous, absorbent material in the wick compartment; and a resilient holder on the top wall extending into the wick compartment and frictionally bearing against said wall thereof for holding the top wall in place and a relatively dense fibrous pad of absorbent material carried by said holder in circumscribing relationship to a portion of the wick in the wick compartment.

2. In a lighter of the kind described, a hollow case having a wall structure setting off a fuel compartment and a separate wick compartment, said wall structure having an opening formed therein interconnecting the compartments; a valve head normally closing said opening and movable into the fuel compartment to an open position from a place against the wall structure; a reciprocable plunger having a shoulder therein, said plunger being joined to said valve head and extending to a point exteriorly of said case for moving the valve head to said open position; a relatively dense fibrous pad of absorbent material mounted in the wick compartment in circumscribing relationship to the plunger adjacent said perforation for impeding escape of fuel thru the perforation as the plunger is reciprocated; and a spring coiled about the plunger entirely within a fuel compartment between said partition and said bottom wall, and a normally vertical-partition joining said top Wall and the horizontal partitiompresenting a'wick compartment having a loose fl-l-lingof fibrous, absorbent material therein, and a flint assembly compartment, said top wall and said horizontal partition "each having a pair of spaced openings therein, one opening of the top wall and one opening of the horizontal partition registering with the wick compartment and having an elongated, reciprocable plunger extending therethrough; a valve on the plunger for said one opening in the horizontal partition, the other opening of the top wall and the other opening of the horizontal partition registering with said flint assembl compartment and having a flint assembly extending therethrough; flint supporting means forming a part of said assembly; a friction wheel carried by said supporting means exteriorly of said top wall; a wick extending through said top wall and into the said wick compartment between the plunger and the friction wheel; and a lid swingably to and from a position covering said top Wall, said lid being provided with separate cavities for receiving each of said friction wheels, the proximal end of said wick and the proximal end of said plunger respectively,

4. In a lighter of the kind described, a hollow case having a top wall, a, bottom wall, a normally horizontal partition between the walls, presenting a fuel compartment between said partition and said bottom wall, and a normally vertical partition joining said top wall and the horizontal partition, presenting a wick compartment having a loose filling of fibrous, absorbent material therein, and a flint assembly compartment, said top Wall and said horizontal partition each having a pair of spaced openings therein, one opening of the top wall and one opening of the horizontal partition registering with the wick compartment and having an elongated, reciprocable plunger extending therethrough; a valve on the plunger for said one opening in the horizontal partition, the other opening of the top wall and the other opening of the horizontal partition registering with said flint compartment and having a flint assembly extended therethrough; flint supporting means forming a part of said assembly; a friction wheel carried by said supporting means exteriorly of said top wall; a wick extending through said top wall and into the wick compartment, said top wall being separate from the remainder of the case; a resilient holder on the top wall extending into the wick compartment and frictionally bearing against said walls thereof for holding the top wall in place; and a relatively dense fibrous pad of absorbent material carried by said holder in circumscribing relationship to a portion of the wick in the wick compartment.

5. In a lighter of the kind described, a hollow case having a top wall, a bottom wall, a normally horizontal partition between the walls, presenting a fuel compartment between said partition and said top wall and a normally vertical partition joining said top wall and the horizontal partition, presenting a wick compartment having a loose filling of fibrous, absorbent material therein, and

a flint assembly compartment, said top wall and said horizontal partition each having a pair of spaced-openings therein, one opening of the top wall and one opening of the horizontal partition registering with the wick compartment and hav: ing an elongated, reciprocable plunger extending therethrough; and a valve head on the plunger for said one opening in the horizontal partition, the other opening of the top wall and the other opening of the horizontal partition registering with said flint assembly compartment and having a flint assembly extending therethrough, said flint assembly comprising a removably mounted tubular member, a tube having internal threads positioned in the upper portion of said tubular member, extending outwardly therefrom and having a flint and a flint wheel carried by the outwardly 1 xtendin por i n, Spring and follower assembly for urging the flint against the flint wheel, and an exteriorly threaded plug closing the inner end of the tubular member and in threaded engagement REFERENCES CITED I r The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name I Date 2,438,632 Bushman Mar. 30, 1947 I FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 79,997 Switzerland June 18, 1938 100,850 Austria Aug. 25, 1925 242,905 Switzerland June 15, 194:6 526,095 France June 24, 1921 853,002

France Nov. 18, 1939

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