US3479125A - Cigarette lighter - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 18, 1969 s. H. NEWMAN 3,479,125

CIGARETTE LIGHTER Filed Nov. 28, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR jfflA/LE/ ,4. A/Eu/Mm/ ATTORNEYS Nov. 18, 1969 s. H. NEWMAN 3,479,125

CIGARETTE LIGHTER Filed Nov. 23, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR T'A LEY NEWMA BY Alb-(4W4 ATTORNEY Nov. 18, 1969 s. H. NEWMAN CIGARETTE LIGHTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 28, 1966 VENTOR ll. V'Il/Mfl ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,479,125 CIGARETTE LIGHTER Stanley H. Newman, Schwartz & Frolrch, 19 E. 70th St., New York, N.Y. 10021 Filed Nov. 28, 1966, Ser. No. 597,256 Int. Cl. F23q 2/04 US. Cl. 431254 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to cigarette lighters of the type using an inflammable gas (such as butane) as a fuel and, more particularly, to a lighter which has a minimum number of major parts and is readily produced by mass production methods.

Such cigarette lighters are commonly known as gas lighters and may be so distinguished from the wick or liquid fuel lighters of the prior art.

In gas lighters, the gas is usually contained in a sealed storage tank with a valve and burner system connected to the tank to permit the stored gas to be released in a controlled fashion when desired. The released gas is usually ignited by a spark in the conventional way. Most prior art lighters were made from a number of individual parts which were fitted together to provide a head mechanism which was used in cooperation with a valve and burner system to ignite the gas released from the storage chamber. Such a prior lighter is shown in US. Patent No. 2,943,471, issued July 5, 1960, to me.

The prior art lighters were usually assembled from a number of individual parts and this entailed a substantial amount of either hand labor or relatively costly machine tools. Also, most prior art lighters were manufactured primarily from metal stampings, castings or machinings. As a result, the individual components had to be assembled together in order to provide a reliable lighter mechanism.

By means of the present invention, an improved lighter construction is provided which permits major subassemblies of the mechanism to be molded from plastic. The other components may be easily inserted into the molded plastic components and readily assembled into a realiable yet inexpensive lighter.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved gas lighter construction which is simple and economical to manufacture. It is a further object to provide an improved lighter assembly which is so economical that it may be thrown away after a single supply of fuel has been used up.

The above-stated objects of the present invention will be apparent from the description of the embodiment shown in the drawings. Although a single preferred embodiment is depicted in the drawings and described in the specifications, it is to be understood that this embodiment is merely for the purpose of illustrating the invention and it is not intended to so limit the invention other than as set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side perspective view of a lighter in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an exploled view of the lighter of FIG- URE 1 showing the various components used in the assembly of the lighter;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view taken generally along the lines 33 of FIGURE 1 showing the interior of the lighter;

FIGURE 4 is a partially fragmentary side view of the lighter taken along lines 4-4 of FIGURE 3 showing the interior of the lighter;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional side view taken along lines '55 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along lines 66 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 4 showing valve mechanism in an open position; and

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary sectional view showing an alternate detent design for holding the valve activator in an open position.

Referring to the drawings and to FIGURE 1 in particular, a lighter 10 in accordance with the present invention is shown. The lighter 10 is generally comprised of a fuel storage casing 12, a support body 14, a sparkwheel 16, a valve activator 18 and a cap 20.

As shown in FIGURES 2 and 7 the lighter 10 further includes a valve assembly 22. The valve assembly 22 consists of a backing plug 24, a valve seal 26, a spring 28 positioned between the plug 24 and the valve seal 26, a spring 28 positioned between the plug 24 and the valve seal 26, a wick holder 30 which holds a wick 32 in position, and a pressure piece 34. The valve assembly 22 is inserted into a bore 35 in the body 14.

The function and operation of the valve assembly will be described in detail later.

In addition to the valve assembly 22 the lighter 10 also comprises a flint holder tube 36 and a sparkwheel tube 40 in the body 14. A spring 42 and a flint 44 are positioned in the flint tube 36 so that the flint bears against the underside or surface of the sparkwheel 16. A shaft 38 is fitted into the sparkwheel tube 40 and the sparkwheel 16 is mounted thereon.

The valve activator 18 further includes a lever arm 46, an activator shaft 48, a burner tube 50 which extends through the shaft 48, and a valve cam 52 which extends from the lower portion of the shaft 48. The body 14 also has therein a tube 54 into which the shaft 48 is inserted.

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference may be had to FIGURES 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. As shown in FIGURE 4 in particular, the body 14 is seated on the upper edge portion of the fuel casing 12. Any suitable materials may be used for the body and the casing. However, I have found that a moldable plastic is especially suitable since it is possible to mold such material easily, quickly and most economically. A supply of fuel F (such as butane) is contained in liquid form in the casing 12. The wick 32 which is advantageously made of a thin highly absorbent material such as felted paper extends into the supply of fuel F.

The upper portion of the wick 32 is passed through an opening 56 in the lower portion of the body 14. The Wick opening 56 advantageously intersects the bore 35 which accommodates the valve assembly 22. A shaft portion 58 on the wick holder 30 is inserted into the valve bore 35 and passed through the upper portion of the wick 32. After passing through the wick 32, the shaft 58 is continued through the bore 35 into a loose fit section of the bore 35 having an opening 60. A shoulder portion 62 is also pro-- vided on the wick holder 30. The shoulder portion 62 is adjacent to and bears against the wick 32 and compresses it against the surface 64 of the wick opening 56. In order to increase pressure on the wick and thereby reduce the supply of fuel available at opening 60, the pressure piece 34 has a screw surface and is so mounted in the body 14 to bear against a flange portion 66 of the wick holder 30. The amount of compression which may be placed on the Wick by the shoulder 62 is limited by the spacing of the flange 66 from the surface 68 in the bore 35.

Shaft 58 is preferable loosely fitted in the opening 60. Accordingly, gaseous fuel may flow from the wick and through the opening 60 when that opening is exposed to atmospheric ambient pressure whereby the liquified fuel is permitted to volatilize. In order to control the flow of gaseousfuel through the opening 60 a boss 70 is provided surrounding the opening 60. Covering the opening 60 and positioned adjacent to the boss 70 is the valve seal 26. Fitted into the end portion of the valve seal 26 is a seal member 72 which is preferably made of a deformable elastomeric material such as synthetic rubber. Advantageously, the cross-sectional area of the seal 72 is slightly gerater than the cross-sectional area of the boss 70. This greater cross-sectional area of the seal 72 insures the seal when pressed against the boss will tightly fit and prevent any possible flow of gas to the atmosphere from the opening 60 when such is not so desired. In order to-hold the seal 72 in tight fitting engagement with bore 70, the spring 28 is positioned about a hub 76 on the valve seal 26.

The spring and hub are fitted into backing plug 24 which is force fitted or held by other means securely in place in the bore 35.

The valve seal 26 is also provided with a flange portion 78. Advantageously the flange 78 is positioned in the bore 35 at that point where the bore intersects the tube 54 which accommodates the shaft 48 of the valve activator 18. The flange 78 is positioned adjacent to the valve cam 52 and when the valve lever arm 46 is rotated in the direction of the arrow V (as shown in FIGURE 3) the cam 52 is rotatably moved into contact with the flange 78. As the rotation of the cam 52 continues after contasting the flange 78 the valve seal 26 is forced out of contact with the boss 70.

As the valve seal 26 is moved from the boss 70, the opening 60 is left uncovered. As shown more clearly in FIGURES and 7, a passageway 80 in the body 14 connects the bore to the opening 82 in the burner tube 50. Since the burner tube is exposed to atmospheric ambient pressure, the completion of the communication from the opening 82 through the passageway 80 to the opening permits fuel from the wick 32 to volatilize and flow through the burner tube as a gaseous fuel.

Sparkwheels are generally sections of circular cylinders. The sparkwheel 16 embodied in the present invention is also of this construction. However, in the present invention the sparkwheel 16 is not mounted as in the prior art about a horizontal axis, but it is mounted about a vertical axis. In addition, the flint 44 is not brought to bear against the curved surface of the wheel, but it is brought to bear against the flat under surface of the wheel. By this unique arrangement the size of the lighter is made more compact and the mounting arrangements of the wheel and the location of the flint are simplified, particularly to facilitate mass production.

In actual operation the sparkwheel 16 is rotated in the direction of the arrow W of FIGURE 3 by rubbing the thumb of the user against the wheel. As the wheel turns, it generates a field of sparks due to the contact with the flint 44. The users thumb as the sparkwheel is being rotated also contacts the valve activator 18 by pressing against the lever arm 46. This causes the activator shaft 48 to rotate bringing the cam 52 into engagement with the flange 78 on the valve seal 26. The valve assembly 22 is therefore opened and flow of gaseous fuel is provided to the burner tube 50. As the gas leaves the opening 82 itis mixed with air which enters through ports 84 in the cap 20. The mixture of gas and air is then ignited by the field of sparks generated between the sparkwheel 16 and the fiint 44. The burning mixture exits from the lighter 10 through the flame opening 86 in the cap 20. When the user releases the thumb pressure on the lever 46, the spring 28 of the valve seal 26 urges that member back into position so that the seal 72 covers the opening 60 and abuts in closing relation with the boss 70. This, of course, cuts off the flow of gaseous fuel and causes the flame to be extinguished.

A detent 88 may be provided on the under surface 90 of the cap 20, whereby the lever arm 46 may be held in a locked position so'that the valve assembly will be open and the flame may continue to burn without the necessity of the user keeping his thumb on the lever arm 46. This construction is shown in the fragmentary View of FIGURE 8. In the normally closed valve position, the lever arm 46 is at station A. As the user rotates the lever 46 is moves against and then below the detent 88 to the position shown at station B. As pressure is continued to be applied to the lever 46, it rides under the detent 88 and then upwardly to the position shown at station C. Since the return force of the spring 28 is not suflicient to overcome the holding action of the detent 88, the lever 46 will remain at station C until pressure is applied manually to return it to the position of station A. Thus, as long as the lever 46 is at station C, the flame will continue to burn.

Due to the unique compact construction of the present lighter it is readily adaptabl to be molded from suitable plastic material. The valve activator 18 with its various integral components may efiiciently be molded from a high strength impact plastic such as polyoxymethylene. Such a material is sold under the trademark Deliin, a product of Du Pont Corporation of Wilmington, Del.

The backing plug 24 and the valv seal 26 may able be made of polyoxymethylene. However, as stated previously, the seal member 72 is advantageously made of a synthetic rubber having desirable elastomeric properties.

The sparkwheel shaft 38 may also be made from polyoxymethylene and, therefore, the size of the anchorage of the shaft in the cap 20 may be kept to a minimum. The cap 20 is provided with a small opening 92 into which is fitted a hub 94. A flange 96 is also provided on the shaft 38 and this serves as a bearing surface between cap 20 and the sparkwheel 16. A slight recess is provided in the sparkwheel 16 to accommodate the flange 96. Thus, it will beseen that the selection of proper material permits the sparkwheel to be located in a horizontal position.

As shown in FIGURE 4, the sparkwheel, because of its horizontal position, may be made of a supporting plastic body 104 and a metallic abrading surface 106.

In order to insure further positive closure of the valve system, a post 100 may be provided on the upper portion of the valve activator 18. A spring 102 (as shown in FIG- URE 2 in particular) is affixed to the post 100 and also about the hub 94 of the sparkwheel shaft 38. When the lever arm 46 is swung in the direction of arrow V there will be a pressure applied by the spring 102 urging that the lever return to its addressed position, thus insuring proper sealing between the seal member 72 and the boss 70.

It will be seen from the foregoing description of the embodiment of the present invention that a lighter has been provided which may be manufactured from the minimum number of parts and quickly and easily assembled thus providing a-low-cost lighter but one which is sturdy in construction and reliable in operation.

It is claimed:

1. A cigarette lighter of the type described herein using a stored liquified gas as fuel, said lighter having a longitudinal axis which is vertically disposed when the lighter is being used, said lighter comprising a fuel storage chamber, a supporting body member for mounting a fuel valve, burner, valve activator, fuel transfer means and a sparkwheel and flint, said body having a first opening therein for the valve, said first opening being horizontally disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of the lighter and passing completely through said body, a second opening for the burner, said second opening being vertically disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of the lighter and said first and second openings in communication with each other, a third opening for receiving a shaft for mounting the sparkwheel, said third opening being vertically disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of the lighter and said sparkwheel being horizontally disposed with respect to said axis, and a tubular chamber for holding a flint in contact with one surface of the sparkwheel, said valve comprising a valve seat, a seal, a resilent closure for the seal, an opening communicating with the fuel transfer means and the valve seat, said opening being normally closed by the seal under the action of the closure, the burner and valve activator being integral formed and including a through fuel flow opening therein, cam means integral with the burner for moving the seal out of contact with the valve seat whereby fuel from the transfer means may flow through the fuel flow opening, a lever for rotating the burner and the integral cam means, said valve activator lever being operable independent of the sparkwheel.

2. A cigarette lighter as'described in claim 1 wherein th fuel transfer means includes an absorbent wick, one

end portion of which is placed in the fuel in the storage chamber and the second end portion is positioned adjacent the opening communicating with the fuel transfer means and the valve seat.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS EDWARD J. MICHAEL, Primary Examiner

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