US2791110A - Pyrophoric lighter - Google Patents

Description

A. B. GELLMAN PYROPHORIC LIGHTER May 7, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jul 20, 1954 v fllmzwzzt 471% gyefmo I IIIIIIIII Ill A. B. GELLMAN 2,791,110

PYROPHORIC LIGHTER 7 May 7, 1957 Filed July 20, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 MW i g 1 9 20 7, 1957 A. B. GEL1.MAN 2,791,110

PYROPHORIC LIGHTER Filed July 20, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheetl g azgm ;r2%/(@m 27 de it/WM 7 4.

. fimeya United States Patent PYROPl-IORIC LIGHTER Allen B. Gellman, Glencoe, Ill.

Application July 20, 1954, Serial No. 444,492

14 Claims. (Cl. 67--7.1)

This invention relates to a pyrophoric lighter.

One of the features of this invention is to provide an improved pyrophoric lighter comprising a casing adapted to contain fuel and including an outlet for ignitible gaseous fuel with the casing having an open top surrounding this outlet, a mechanical assembly received in this open top including manually operable igniting means for igniting the gaseous fuel at the outlet, means for removably securing the assembly to the casing, and means accessible from the exterior of the lighter for effecting removal of the assembly from the casing.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of an improved pyrophoric lighter comprising a casing adapted to contain fuel and including an outlet for ignitible gaseous fuel and a refueling opening, a mechanical assembly normally movably associated with the casing including manually operable igniting means for igniting the gaseous fuel with the assembly serving to close the refueling opening when in place on the casing and expose the opening when the assembly is removed therefrom, and means removably fastening the assembly to the casing.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of an improved pyrophoric lighter comprising a casing adapted to contain fuel and including an outlet for ignitible gaseous fuel, a pyrophoric clement holder adjacent to the outlet, an abradant wheel adapted to contact an element in the holder, apparatus including a manually depressible member for rotating the wheel to direct fueligniting sparks toward the outlet, and spring urged means bearing on the element to hold it against the wheel and bearing on the depressible member to hold it in position, 4

the depression of this member to rotate the wheel serving to increase the spring tension on the pyrophoric element and thus increase the pressure of the element against the wheel during rotation thereof.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of such a lighter wherein means are provided for increasing the leverage of the spring means pressure on the pyrophoric element as the element becomes worn, in order to compensate at least partially for reduced spring tension brought about by yielding of the spring means due to this wear.

Yet a further feature of the invention is the provision of such a lighter wherein the manually depressible operating member has a generally flat portion on the top surface thereof adapted for manual engagement to effect the desired depression thereof and further has a raised portion on the top surface thereof to prevent manual engagement of the member thereat.

And another feature is the provision of such a lighter wherein the operating arrangement includes a first member having side wall portions, a second member movably mounted on the first member for causing operation of the igniting means and having side wall portions extending within walls of the first member, and means for spacing the side walls apart to allow pieces of said pyrophoric element to fall therethrough preventing scratching of said side walls.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention as illustrated by one embodiment thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings. Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken longitudinally through the lighter;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the lighter, illustrating the position of the igniting mechanism during igniting of the fuel;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the lighter, showing the mechanical assembly that includes the manually operable igniting means separated from the casing;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view, taken substantially along line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 5-5 of Fig. 1; v

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 66 of Fig. 1; I

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 7-7 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 8-8 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the depressible operating member, removed from the rest of the assembly;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 1010 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary elevational view showing one position of the flint follower;

Fig. 12 is similar to Fig. 11 showing another position of the flint follower;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary view taken substantially along line 13-13 of Fig. 12; and

Fig. 14 is a side elevation of the lighter.

The pyrophoric lighter shown in the accompanying drawings includes a casing 10 adapted to contain a mass of cotton 11 or other absorbent material for absorbing and storing fuel such as a volatile hydrocarbon. The casing also contains a wick 12 adapted to extend through an upper deck 13 that extends across and is attached to the upper portion of the casing. This upper deck is provided with downwardly extending sides and front end 13a and upwardly extending rear end 13b that may be attached to the inner surfaces of the upper part of the casing 10 by any means desired, as by cement or soldering in order. to make the joints vapor-tight.

The deck 13, which may be of metal, plastic or the like, is provided with a front hole formed of downwardly extended walls 13c which are threaded internally in order to receive the threaded bottom end of a wick boss 14. This boss 14 holds the upper end of the wick 12. A pair of slots 14]) (Fig. 4) are provided in the top of the boss to receive the fingers of a suitable boss removing tool.

On the opposite end of the deck 13 there is provided a larger hole 13d defined by downwardly turned flanges Across the bottom of the flanges 132 there is fastened a permeable member such as a piece of felt 15. The ho1e13d, before the felt is in place, may be used for stuffing the interior of the casing with the absorbent material 11. The hole 134 is normally closed by a plug of resilient material 15, preferably a plug of a hydrocarbon resistant synthetic material such as neoprene.

The deck 13 is preferably positioned below the upper edge of the casing 10. Telescopically and removably received within this upper edge is a mechanical assembly 17 which includes manually operable igniting means for igniting the fuel at the exposed end 12a of the wick 12.

The mechanical assembly 17 includes a bottom part or cradle 18 having a bottom wall 18a and side walls 18b. The plug 16 has a necked down boss 16a which is snapped through an opening 18 in the bottom wall of cradle 18. When mechanical assembly 17 is removed from casing 10, opening 13d is exposed permitting filling of the casing with a suitable fuel.

The rear end of the cradle 18 is provided with spring tongue 180 preferably formed as a part of the cradle. This tongue is adapted to extend under an inwardly projecting flange 13g, as shown in Fig. 1, in order to hold this end of the cradle and thus the mechanical assembly 17 in place. The opposite end of the cradle 18 is provided with a pair of inwardly formed spring clips 18d which engage the lower of the two annular grooves 14a in the surface of wick boss 14. The provision of two grooves 14a reduces the chance of the mechanical assembly accidentally being removed from casing 10. If the assembly is inadvertently forced outwardly so that spring clips 18d are forced from the lower of the two grooves 14b, they will catch in the upper groove preventing complete removal. A manually engageable tab 18a on cradle 18 extends outwardly of casing at the front end thereof to facilitate removal of assembly 17.

When inserting the mechanical assembly in place, the

tongue 18c is placed under the flange 13g. Then the opposite end of the assembly is forced downwardly until the cradle 18 rests on top of the deck 13. At this point the spring clips 18a engage the lower of the grooves 14a of wick boss 14 to hold these parts assembled. When it is desired to disassemble the parts, the manually engageable tab 180 is engaged by the tip of the finger and the forward end of assembly 17 forced outwardly to disengage spring clips 18:! from wick boss 14. The mechanical assembly 17 may then be readily removed from the casing 10.

As can be seen in Figs. 5, 6 and 8, the upper sides 10a of the casing 10 serve to hide the side walls 18b of the cradle 18. In addition, no rivets are used in the construction of the lighter and thus the lighter has a smooth, unbroken appearance, as is shown in Fig. 8, which greatly enhances its attractiveness.

In order to ignite fuel in the exposed end 12a of the wick 12, the bottom wall 18a of the cradle 18 has provided thereon adjacent to the wick boss 14 a cylindrical holder 19 for a pyrophoric element or flint 20. This holder 19 communicates with a hole 18h in the bottom wall 18 through which the flint 20 extends when the flint is relatively new. The rear side of the holder 19 is provided with a slot 19a extending from the bottom of the holder to a point short of the top thereof.

In order to strike sparks from the flint 20, there is provided an abradant wheel 21 mounted on a pivot pin 22. The pivot pin 22 passes through a cylindrical bushing 23 upon which the wheel 21 is mounted. The pin 22 is flat on each end, as is shown in Fig. 4, with the ends of the pin being spaced inwardly slightly of the outer surfaces of the side walls 181) of the cradle 18.

Also mounted on the bushing 23 are the inner ends 240 of the snufler arm 24 which carries on its forward end a snuffer cap 24b. These inner ends are formed with pinion teeth 240, as is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Attached to the inner surface of one of these inner ends 24:: of the arm 24 is a pawl plate 25 including the usual inwardly struck tongue adapted to engage depressions 21a in the adjacent side of the abradant wheel 21. The pawl plate 25 is also mounted around the bushing 23. The flint wheel assembly including the pivot illustrated by the pin 22, bushing 23, arm 24 and pawl plate 25 operates in the customary manner to cause rotation of the wheel 21 when the snutfer arm is raised from the position shown "in Fig. 1 toward the position shown in Fig. 2, in order to strike sparks from the flint 20 and to direct these sparks, illustrated at 26, toward the exposed end of the wick 12.

In order to rotate the snuffer arm and thus the abradant wheel 21 in this manner, there is provided a manually operable, elongated channel shaped piece 27 that is adapted to be depressed by the thumb of the user of the lighter. This thumb piece 27 is rotatably mounted about a pivot pin 28 passing through a bushing 29 located at the rear end of the lighter. This pivot pin 28 has flat ends located slightly inwardly of the outer surfaces of the side walls 18b of the cradle 18 so that these ends are hidden by the upper sides 10a of the casing 10.

The opposite end of the thumb piece 27 is provided with rack teeth 27b formed in the sides 27a of the thumb piece. These rack teeth are adapted to mesh with the pinion teeth 24c on the end of the snutfer arm 24. With this arrangement, when the thumb piece 27 is depressed around the pivot pin 28 the meshing teeth 27!) and 240 cause the snuffer arm 24 to be raised from the position shown in Fig. l to the position shown in Fig. 2. This movement exposes the end 12a of the wick that extends beyond the wick boss 14 and also strikes sparks 26 from the flint 20 to ignite the fuel in the wick.

The downward movement of thumb piece 27 is positively stopped when the side walls 27a of the thumb piece engage flint follower pivot pin 32, Fig. 2. The relation of the parts at this point is such that the snuffer cap 24 has moved through an angle of about 95 and the top portion 242 thereof is spaced from the front end of thumb piece 27. This arrangement of the parts is important in that it prevents the top of the snuffer cap from striking the, thumb piece, which, if it were permitted to happen, would damage the snutfer cap and might result in it being out completely through.

The thumb piece 27 is retained in its normalupper position by means of a hairpin spring 30. This spring 30 has one end 300 bearing upwardly on the inner surface of the top part 27c of the thumb piece 27. End 30a of the hairpin spring is formed with a terminal loop 30d which fits between side walls 27a of the thumb piece to keep the spring centered. The spring then has a plurality of turns passing around the bushing 29 and the other end 30b bears downwardly on the adjacent end of a flint follower or lever 31.

In order for the depressible thumb piece 27 to be operated with the greatest case it should be pressed at the forward end and grooves 27d are provided in the flat upper surface to facilitate this. If the thumb piece 27 is pressed at the rear, near pivot pin 28, it will operate only with difficulty, if at all. To deter users from pressing on the rear portion an upwardly extending tail 272 H is provided above and slightly forwardly of the pivot pin 28. The sides of the tail 27c are tapered inwardly and join along a ridge 276' while the forward surface thereof is tapered rearwardly and meets ridge 270 at substantially a point 27e", both the ridge and the point being relatively sharp to discourage pressing thereon, but without causing injury.

The flint follower 31 is in the form of a lever that is pivotally mounted on a pin 32 which extends between the side walls 18b of the cradle 18. This pin 32, like the other pins, has flat ends spaced inwardly slightly on the outer surfaces of the side walls 18b so that thepin will be hidden by the upper side walls 10a of the casing 10. The flint follower 31 extends through an opening 18 in the bottom wall 18a of the cradle 18.

The flint follower 31 which may be a casting or a stamping is of generally trigger shape and is so proportioned that the pivot pin 32 is nearer the rear end of the-follower than it is the front end. The follower is inclined downwardly and forwardly. from the horizontal, as is shown in Fig. 1, when the flint 20 is relatively new and unworn. The front end of the follower 31 is pro vided with an upwardly curved portion 31:: adapted to bear against the bottom of the flint 20. The opposite end of the follower 31 is provided with an elongated groove 31b in the upper surface thereof.

The extreme inner end of the lower part 30b of the spring 30 is provided with a curved portion 30c to provide a curved bearing part 300' in order to bear against the groove 31b on the flint follower 31. With this arrangement, downward pressure of the spring 30 22 :for the abradant wheel 21.

causes the front end of the flint follower 31 to bear against the flint and hold it firmly against the abradant wheel 21. The pressure exerted on the abradant wheel 21 by the flint 20 at the start of the lighter operation is relatively light, facilitating the initial movement of the flint wheel. As the thumb piece 27 is depressed, the spring 30 is distorted further so that the pressure of the follower 31 on the flint 20 and thus the pressure of the flint 20 on the abradant wheel is increased as the wheel rotates. This provides a smooth, single motion operation and greatly increases the concentration of the sparks so as to insure proper ignition of the fuel in the end portion 12a of the wick.

A serrated portion 31c is provided on the lower surface of flint follower 31 generally to the rear of pivot pin 32. Pressure may be applied to the portion 310 to rotate the flint follower against the action of Spring 30 permitting the removal of a used flint and the insertion of a new one.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 11 and 12, it will be seen that in Fig. l a new flint 20 is in place in flint holder 19, in Fig. ll, the flint is shown as partially used, while in Fig. 12 the flint is almost completely worn away and should be replaced. As flint 20 wears away, flint follower 31 rotates about pivot 32 under the influence of spring 30 to urge the flint against abradant wheel 21. It is well known that as a spring flexes toward its unstressed position, as spring 30 does during the wearing away of flint 20, the force exerted by the spring decreases. tia-lly for this decrease in spring pressure applied to the flint follower 31, the flint follower and the spring are so arranged that as the flint wears away the bearing part 3% of the spring moves rearwardly in slot 31b of the flint follower. This increases the length of the lever arm through which the force exerted by the spring acts, in turn increasing the force applied to flint 20.

If the user of the lighter should [fail to replace the flint 29 when it becomes completely worn away, the flint engaging portion 31:: of the follower will strike the annular ring portion 1% at the top of flint holder 19 which acts as a stop, preventing the follower from contacting the abradant wheel 21. This prevents damage to the wheel.

The bottom surface of the snuifer arm 24 is provided with a cut-away portion formed by curved part 2411.

One of these is provided on each side of the snuifer arm 24 and these curved portions cooperate with the adjacent upper surface of the side walls 13b of the cradle 18 to provide openings 33 on opposite sides of the protruding end 12a of the wick 12. These openings not only provide air to the wick for easier ignition of the fuel, but are also ornamental in appearance.

In order to provide suflicient clearance for the downwardly extending portion of the flint follower 31, the upper deck 13 is recessed over a considerable area beneath this follower, as is indicated at 131'.

In many prior lighters where one part moves within another part, as the thumb piece 27 and snuifer arm 24 move within the side walls 18b of the cradle in the lighter shown herein, small particles of the flint often become lodged between the adjacent side walls scratching them and impairing the appearance of the lighter. Some lighters are constructed with the parts loosely fitted together and this, to a certain extent, reduces the problem of scratching. On the other hand, the loose action of such lighters is quite sloppy and, in addition to making the operation of the lighter more diflicult, causes undue wear on the various bearing surfaces.

As best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the side walls 181) of the cradle are provided with inwardly struck bosses 181, 18 and 18k. Bosses 18i are generally arcuate in shape and surround the openings which receive pivot pin Bosses 18 are similarly arcuate in shape and surround the openings which re- In order to compensate at least parceive pivot pin 28 carrying thumb piece '27. Bosses 18k are elongated in form and positioned adjacent the forwardend of thumb piece 27. Bushings 23 and 29 engage the-side walls 1% of the cradle within the annular bosses 181 and lsj, respectively, and pivot pins 22 and 28 are riveted over outside walls 1811 as previously'described to hold the various parts tightly together. Thus, it will be seen that the bosses 181, 18j and 18k maintain the side walls 24a of the snulfer arm and 27a of the thumb piece spaced away from the side walls 18b of the cradle throughout substantially their entire extent, to eliminate scratching of these surfaces.

The lighter of this invention provides a separate casing adapted to contain fuel and a mechanical assembly which includes the manually operable igniting means for igniting fuel from the casing. This mechanism and the casing may be manufactured separately. Furthermore, an outside shell having any desired decorative appearance may also be manufactured separately and decorated separately. The fact that the lighter mechanism is interchangeable with the casing is a considerable improvement over prior structures. This is true both from the standpoint of production, use, service and flexibility of design. There is another important advantage in that the removable mechanism that includes the igniting parts may be removed completely when fuel is introduced into the casing. As the mechanism is completely removed, there is no Way that the mechanism, including the flint and the abradant wheel, can become flooded with fuel. This is a distinct advantage over conventional lighters, as when such flooding occurs it is necessary to dry the flooded parts or otherwise remove the excess fuel before the lighter will operate. Furthermore, in the lighter as described herein, the fuel filling orifice is opened up automatically when the mechanism is removed, as is illustrated in Fig. 3 and when the mechanism is replaced this opening is automatically closed and sealed vapor-tight by means of the resilient material 16. Thus, there is no way for the fuel to contact the flint, abradant wheel or other operating parts. The entire fuel, therefore, is conserved for ignition purposes and is not dissipated in any other manner. This means that there may be relatively long intervals between refuelings.

Another very important advantage of the lighter described and disclosed herein is that the same removable mechanical assembly containing the flint, abradant wheel and operating parts may be used on other types of ligh ers. Thus, it may be used with a pocket lighter and also with a larger table lighter. Similarly, the casing 10 may be designed to use a fuel that is gaseous at all times, such as butane. Thus, if desired, the lighter illustrated herein may be altered by eliminating the top deck 13 and positioning a butane tank within the casing 10 so that the outlet to the tank replaces the outlet shown, including the wick boss 14 and the wick contained therein.

The interchangeability of the casings and the mechanical assemblies of a plurality of lighters is a very important feature as one assembly can be sold with several casings so that the purchaser can have the advantage of many diiferent lighters, all of different design. ,Thus, he can change the casings from time-to-time, as he sees fit and it will have the same results as if he owned a number of different lighters. Furthermore, servicing is much simpler as it is not now necessary to return the entire lighter when a casing is to be replaced or refinished. Similarly, if the mechanical assembly requires servicing, this assembly may be replaced with'a new one easily and rapidly.

The lighter mechanism or mechanical assembly itself is an important advance over prior lighters in that the single spring 30 is used to force the flint 29 against the abradant wheel 21 and to hold the thumb piece 27 in normally fully extended position. Furthermore, as the I thumb piece 27 is depressed to rotate the wheel 21, the spring pressure is increased to hold the flint 20 against the wheel 21 with greater force while the wheel is being rotated. This insures an adequate supply of sparks at all times to ignite the fuel in the wick. Furthermore, by arranging the flint follower 31 and the spring 30 as shown in the drawings, the length of the lever arm on which the spring acts is lengthened as the flint becomes worn and the spring 30 yields. Thus, the reduction of the spring pressure due to wear of the flint is at least partially compensated for as previously described. This means that the total force exerted by the flint 20 on the abradant wheel 21 is approximately constant at all times regardless of the degree of wear in the flint. Thus in the embodiment shown, the lever arm acted upon by the spring means and the spring means portion acting on the lever arm have at least one of these elements increased in effective length as the flint follower or lever rotates due to wear of the flint in order that the leverage of the spring means is increased to compensate at least partially for the reduced spring tension brought about by the yielding of the spring.

Another very important advantage of the structure disclosed herein is that it is quite easy to replace a worn flint with a new one. All that is necessary here is to remove the mechanical assembly 17 from the lighter, rotate the flint follower 31 in a counterclockwise direction as shown in Fig. l, and remove the worn flint and replace it with a new one. The follower 31 may then be released so that the front end bears against the bottom of the new flint 20, as shown in Fig. 1, and then the assembly may be replaced.

Having described my invention as related to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, it is my intention that the invention be not limited by any of the details of description, unless otherwise specified, but rather be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as set out in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A pyrophoric lighter, comprising: a casing adapted to contain fuel and including an outlet for ignitible fuel, the casing having an open top surrounding said outlet; a boss extending upwardly within said casing, said outlet extending through said boss; a mechanical assembly telescopically received .in said open top including manually operable igniting means for igniting said fuel at said outlet; spring means on said assembly and engageable with said boss for removably securing said assembly to said casing; and manually engageable means accessible from the exterior of said lighter for efiecting removal of said assembly from said casing.

2. A pyrophoric lighter, comprising: a casing adapted to contain fuel and including an outlet fitting at one end thereof for ignitible fuel. the casing having an open top surrounding said outlet fitting and an upper deck below said open top; a mechanical assembly telescopically received in said open top and upon said deck and including manually operable igniting means for igniting said fuel at said outlet; a retaining member at the end of the casing top opposite said outlet fitting; means on one end of said assemblyengaging the retaining member to hold this end in place; a clip on the other end of the assembly normally engaging said outlet fitting to hold the other end in place; and a manually engageable tab member accessible from the exteriorof the casing for effecting removal of said assembly from said casing.

3. A pyrophoric lighter, comprising: a casing adapted to contain fuel and including an outlet for ignitible fuel and a refueling opening; a mechanical assembly normally rnovably associated with said casing including manually operable igniting means for igniting said fuel at said outlet, the assembly normally in position extending across said refueling opening when in place on said casing and exposing the opening when removed therefrom; a resilient closure carried by said assembly positioned over said opening and pressed across said opening by said assembly 8 when the assembly is in place; and means removably fastening said assembly to the casing in said position.

4. A pyrophoric lighter, comprising; a casing adapted to contain fuel and including an outlet for ignitible, fuel; a pyrophoric element holder adjacent to said outlet; an abradant wheel adapted to contact an element in said holder; apparatus for rotating said wheel to direct fuel igniting sparks toward said outlet; a rotatable lever rotatable about a pivot, the lever having one end on one side of said pivot normally bearing against a pyrophoric element in said holder and another end on the other side of said pivot; a spring engaging an area on said other end of the lever to urge the lever against said element and thus the element against said abradant wheel; and means for effectively moving the area of engagement of the spring on the lever away from said pivot as the lever rotates due to wear of the pyrophoric element with result ing yielding of the spring in order to increase the effective leverage of the spring pressure to compensate at least in part for said yielding.

5. A pyrophoric lighter, comprising: a casing adapted to contain fuel and including an outlet for ignitible fuel; a pyrophoric element holder adjacent to said outlet; an abradant wheel adapted to contact an element in said holder; apparatus for rotating said wheel to direct fuel igniting sparks toward said outlet; a rotatable lever rotatable about a pivot, the lever having one end on one side of said pivot normally bearing against a pyrophoric element in said holder and another end on the other side of said pivot provided with a convex trough-shaped surface on the side of the lever corresponding to the side bearing against the pyrophoric element; a spring engaging an area on said surface to urge the lever against said element and thus the element against said abradant wheel; and means for effectively moving the area of engagement of the spring on the lever away from said pivot as the lever rotates due to wear of the pyrophoric element with resulting yielding of the spring in order to increase the effective leverage of the spring pressure to compensate at least in part for said yielding.

6. A pyrophoric lighter, comprising: a casing adapted to contain fuel and including an outlet for ignitible fuel having a boss through which a wick projects, the casing having an open top surrounding said outlet and an upper deck below said open top; a mechanical assembly telescopically received in said open top and upon said deck; an inwardly-projecting lip at one end of the casing top above said deck; means on one end of said assembly engaging the lip to hold this end in place; a spring clip on the other end of the assembly normally engaging said boss to hold this other end in place; a pyrophoric element holder in said assembly normally arranged adjacent to said outlet; an abradant wheel in said assembly adapted to contact an element in said holder; apparatus in said assembly including a manually depressible member for rotating said wheel to direct fuel igniting sparks toward said outlet; a rotatable lever rotatable about a pivot, the lever having one end on one side of said pivot normally bearing against a pyrophoric element in said holder and another end on the other side of said pivot; a spring engaging an area on said other end of the lever to urge the lever against said element and thus the element against said abradant wheel; and means for effectively moving the area of engagement of the spring on the lever away from said pivot as the lever rotates due to wear of the pyrophoric element with resulting yielding of the spring in order to increase the effective leverage of the spring pressure to compensate at least in part for said yielding.

7. A pyrophoric lighter, comprising: a casing adapted to contain fuel and including an outlet for ignitible fuel having a grooved boss through which a wick projects, the casing having an open top surrounding said outlet and an upper deck below said open top, the upper deck containing a refueling opening; a mechanical assembly telescopically received in said open top and upon said deck and the assembly closing said opening when in place on the casing and exposing the opening when removed therefrom; a resilient closure across the opening when the assembly is in place; an inwardly-projecting lip at one end of the casing top above said deck; means on one end of said assembly engaging the lip to hold this end in place; spring clips on the other end of the assembly normally engaging said grooved boss to hold this other end in place; a manually engageable member on said assembly and accessible from the exterior of the casing for effecting removal of said assembly from said casing; a pyrophoric element holder in said assembly normally arranged adjacent to said outlet; an abradant wheel in said assembly adapted to contact the element in said holder; apparatus in said assembly including a manually deprcssible member for rotating said wheel to direct fuel igniting sparks toward said outlet; a rotatable lever rotatable about a pivot, the lever having one end on one side of said pivot normally bearing against a pyrophoric element in said holder and another end on the other side of said pivot provided with a convex trough-shaped surface on the side of the lever corresponding to the side bearing against the pyrophoric element; a spring engaging an area on said surface to urge the lever against said element and thus the element against said abradant wheel; and means for effectively moving the area of engagement of the spring on the lever away from said pivot as the lever rotates due to wear of the pyrophoric element with resulting yielding of the spring in order to increase the effective leverage of the spring pressure to compensate at least in part for said yielding.

8. In a pyrophoric lighter having a fuel supply, an outlet for ignitible fuel, a pyrophoric element and a rotatable abradant wheel for directing fuel igniting sparks toward said outlet, means of the character described for effecting operation of said wheel, comprising: mounting means upon which said abradant wheel is operatively supported; an elongated, manually depressible operating lever for said wheel having one end adjacent thereto and the opposite end spaced therefrom and adjacent to said mounting means; means operatively attached to the mounting means pivotally supporting said opposite end of the operating lever about a fixed axis, the lever having a generally flat operating portion on the top surface thereof at the end adjacent to said wheel adapted for manual engagement to effect movement of said lever about said pivotal support; and a raised spur-like projection on the top surface of said lever at the end thereof adjacent to said pivotal support fixed axis to discourage manual engagement of said operating lever adjacent to said axis.

9. In a pyrophoric lighter having a supply of ignitible fuel, an outlet therefor and means for igniting the fuel at said outlet, an operating arrangement, comprising: an elongated depressible operating member for said igniting means having spaced side portions at the sides of said member extending downwardly from the bottom surface thereof; a pivot pin at one end of said member for pivotal mounting thereof; and an elongated spring extending adjacent to said pin toward the end of said member opposite to said pivoted end, the forward end of said spring having a loop thereon engageable with at least one of said side portions for positioning said forward end approximately centrally between said side portions.

10. In a pyrophoric lighter having a supply of ignitible fuel, an outlet therefor and means for igniting said fuel at said outlet including a flint and abradant member adjacent to said outlet, a manually operable apparatus for operating said igniting means, comprising: a first member having side portions; a second member movably mounted with respect to said first member and having side portions adjacent to said first member side portions; and spacing means of relatively small area struck from one of first member side portions and second member side "'10 portions and contacting an adjacent side portion for spacing said side portions from each other to prevent binding thereof and aid in the relatively free movement of said side portions with respect to each other.

11. In a pyrophoric lighter having a supply of ignitible fuel, an outlet therefor and a means for igniting the fuel at said outlet, a manually operated arrangement for effecting operation of said igniting means, comprising: a cradle member having upwardly extending side walls with openings therethrough at the rear thereof; an annular boss struck inwardly in each said side walls surrounding said openings; a thumb piece for effecting operation of said igniting means and having downwardly extending side walls adapted to fit within the side walls of said cradle and contact said bosses, the bosses thereby serving to space the side walls of the thumb piece from the side walls of the cradle, there being openings in the side walls of the thumb piece in register with the openings in the side walls of said cradle; 'a bushing fitted within the openings in the side walls of said thumb piece and engaging the inner surface of the side walls of said cradle within said annular boss; and a pin extending through said bushing and the openings in the side walls of said cradle, the ends of said pin being riveted to secure the parts together.

12. In a pyrophoric lighter having a supply of ignitible fuel, an outlet therefor and a means for igniting the fuel at said outlet, a manually operated arrangement for effecting operation of said igniting means, comprising: a first member having side wall portions; a snuffer member movably mounted on said first member and adapted to cover said fuel outlet, said snuffer member having side wall portions extending within the walls of the first member; an operating member movably mounted on said first member, movement thereof causing operation of said igniting means, said operating member having side wall portions extending within the side wall portions of the first member, said operating member being in driving engagement with said snuffer member to lift said snuffer member during operation of said igniting means; and spacing means of relatively small area struck from one of the side wall portions of said first member and each of the side wall portions of said snuffer member and said operating member for spacing said side wall portions of the first member from the side wall portions of the snuffer member and operating member and to aid in the relatively free movement of the snuffer member and operating member.

13. In a pyrophoric lighter having a supply of ignitible fuel, an outlet therefor at the front of the lighter and a means for igniting the fuel at said outlet, a manually operated arrangement for effecting operation of said igniting means, comprising: a cradle member having upwardly extending side walls with openings therethrough at either end thereof; an annular boss of relatively small area struck inwardly in said side walls surrounding each of said openings; a snuffer arm having side walls with openings therethrough in register with the side walls of said cradle member at the end thereof adjacent the outlet of said fuel supply; a bushing fitted Within the openings in the side walls of said snuffer arm and engaging the inner surface of the side walls of said cradle; a pin extending through said bushing and the openings in the side walls of said cradle, the ends of said pin being riveted to secure the parts together; a thumb piece having downwardly extending side walls adapted to fit within the side walls of said cradle, there being openings in the side walls of said thumb piece in register with the openings in the side walls of said cradle at the rear end thereof; a bushing fitted within the openings in the side walls of said thumb piece and engaging the inner surface of the side walls of said cradle; a second pin extending through said last mentioned bushing and the openings in the side walls at the rear of said cradle, the ends of said pin being riveted to secure the parts together; and an elongated boss of relatively small area struck in the side walls of one of said cradle and thumb piece adjacent the movable forward end of said thumb piece, said bosses serving to space said side walls of the cradle member away from the side walls of the snutfer arm and thumb piece to aid in the relatively free movement of the snutfer arm and thumb piece. i

14. In a pyrophorie lighter having a fuel supply, an outlet for ignitible fuel, a pyrophoric element and a rotatable abradant wheel for directing fuel igniting sparks toward said outlet, means of the character described for effecting operation of said wheel, comprising: a manually depressible operating element for said wheel and having teeth along the forward edge thereof; a pivotally mounted snuffer element covering sajdoutlet and having teeth along the rear edge thereof engaging the teeth on said operating element for movement thereby to uncover said outlet during rotation of said wheel; a lever mem- A 7 her normally spaced beneath said depressible member and engaging said pyrophoric element for engaging the element with said abradant wheel; and a pivot pin upon which the lever member is mounted, the depressible member striking the pivot pin during downward movement of the depressible member to limit the extent of both said downward movement and said movement of the snuffer element.

References 'Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Aronson Mar. 31, 1930 2,022,227 Aronson Nov. 26, 1935 2,022,228 Kinzinger Nov. 26, 1935 2,053,649 Aronson Sept. 8, 1936 2,419,889 Florman Apr. 29, 1947 2,559,497 Fortin July 3, 1951 2,617,286 Prusack Nov, 11, 1952 2,660,042 Wagner Nov. 24, 1953 2,690,662 Silverberg Oct. 5, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 264,194 Germany Sept. 20, 1913 407,025 Germany Dec. 9, 1924 490,899 Canada Mar. 3, 1953

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