EP1252467B1

EP1252467B1 - Gas lighter devices

Info

Publication number: EP1252467B1
Application number: EP00948206A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Thierry Rogelet
Original assignee: Swedish Match Lighters BV
Current assignee: Swedish Match Lighters BV
Priority date: 2000-01-15
Filing date: 2000-08-07
Publication date: 2004-06-30
Anticipated expiration: 2020-08-07
Also published as: ATE270415T1; EP1252467A1; WO2001051855A1; GB0000853D0; JP2003519770A; AU2000261767A1; DE60011943D1; ES2223551T3; DE60011943T2

Abstract

The invention relates to a child-resistant gas helper comprising a gas container having a gas valve, a spark mechanism, an operating mechanism operable to open the gas valve and operate the spark mechanism, a first safety element which normally prevents operation of the operating mechanism and a second safety element which normally prevents operation of the first safety element and the operating mechanism comprises an operating button which is movable generally transversely to the body of the gas helper, and the second safety element is coupled to the first safety element, and normally, prevents movement of the first safety element but is movable against a restoring force to a position in which movement of the first safety element is not prevented. The second safety element is preferably operated by a pulling action by the user and is preferably arranged on the side of the gas helper opposite the operating button. The second safety element may be movable by rotation.

Description

Cigarette lighters have been commonplace for many decades. Originally they used liquid fuel, but for many years now, the standard fuel has been gas. A gas lighter thus consists essentially of a small pressurized fuel gas container and an operating mechanism which is operable to open a valve to allow gas to escape and also to generate a spark to ignite the gas. The spark generation may use either a traditional flint or a piezo-electric device.

In addition to cigarette lighters, devices known as gas helpers or gas lighting rods have become popular. A gas helper has broadly similar functional components to a cigarette lighter, but is larger and more rod-like than a cigarette lighter and is typically used for such purposes as lighting burners on gas cookers and lighting barbecues and camp fires.

It is well known that children are liable to play with lighters (whether cigarette lighters or gas helpers), and serious accidents can occur as a result. Lighters must therefore be designed to minimize the chance of a child being able to use them, ie to light them. In other words, they should be child-resistant, though perfect child-proofing is of course impossible. Ideally, an adult should be able to use the lighter easily and a child should find it impossibly difficult to use. But in practice this obviously cannot be achieved, and a lighter is regarded as child-resistant if it provides a balance between these two conflicting requirements which is as good as is reasonably feasible and which fulfils minimum child resistance criteria.

Gas lighters predominantly typically use a piezo spark mechanism and are operated by means of an operating mechanism including an operating element or button which, when depressed, opens the gas valve and operates the spark mechanism. The usual way of achieving child-resistancy is to make the operation of the lighter more complicated, in a way which the adult user can readily cope with but which a child is unlikely to achieve accidentally or, indeed, deliberately. One common technique is to provide a safety mechanism, distinct and separate from the operating mechanism, which has to be operated in order to allow the operating mechanism to operate. That is, the operating mechanism is prevented from operating unless it is released by first operating the safety mechanism.

Several gas helpers incorporating such safety mechanisms are shown in US 5 697 775, Tokai. In those gas helpers, the operating mechanism comprises an operating button which is moved generally parallel to the long axis of the gas helper, and the safety mechanisms comprise various elements which interfere with movement of the operating button and are moved generally transversely to the body of the gas helper so as to release the operating button.

A further gas helper incorporating a safety mechanism is shown in our. earlier UK patent application, GB 98.27117.7. In that gas helper, the operating mechanism comprises an operating button which is movable generally transversely to the body of the gas helper; the safety mechanism is located roughly opposite the operating button, and comprises a safety button which has to be depressed to release the operating button. More specifically, the safety button is coupled to one arm of a cranked lever which is pivoted at the point where the two arms meet. The other end of the second arm normally engages with the operating button to prevent its depression; depressing the safety button causes that second arm to move out of engagement with the operating button, which is thereby released for movement.

It has been found desirable to increase the level of safety of the Tokai gas helpers beyond that afforded by the safety mechanisms described therein. An additional safety mechanism for gas helpers of the general type shown in US 5 697 775, Tokai has therefore been proposed in JP 11-125424, Tokai. Specifically, that shows a gas helper in which the operating mechanism comprises an operating button which is moved generally parallel to the long axis of the gas helper; a first safety element which has to be pushed transversely across from one side of the gas helper to release the operating button for movement; and a second safety element on the opposite side of the gas helper and which has to be pushed generally parallel to the long axis of the device to release the first safety element for movement.
The two buttons are separated from each other and the gas helper is complicated to use and requires an unnatural action and additional learning for the user.
A child resistant gas lighter with flint or piezoelectric ignition is disclosed by EP-A-0 551 654, and includes a second safety element which is slidably mounted on the lighter body and in use is moved upwards to progressively engage a first safety element.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improvement in child-resistant lighters of the type shown in our earlier application, GB 98.27117.7.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a child-resistant gas helper comprising an operating mechanism, a first safety element normally engaging with the operating mechanism to prevent the operation thereof, and a second safety element mounted on the first safety element; wherein in a first, locked position, the second safety element engages with the lighter body to prevent the operation of the first safety element, and in a second, unlocked position, the second safety element is disengaged from the lighter body to allow the operation of the first safety element.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a child resistant gas helper comprising a gas container having a gas valve, a spark mechanism, an operating mechanism operable to open the gas valve and operate the spark mechanism, a first safety element which normally prevents operation of the operating mechanism and, when operated, allows the operating mechanism to operate, and a second safety element which normally prevents operation of the first safety element and, when operated, allows the first safety element mechanism to operate, characterized in that the operating mechanism comprises an operating button which is movable generally transversely to the body of the gas helper, and the second safety element is coupled to the first safety element, and normally prevents movement of the first safety element and is movable against a restoring force to a position in which movement of the first safety element is not prevented; and further characterised in that the operating mechanism and the second safety element are arranged such that in normal use they are operable respectively by different digits of one hand of a user.

Preferably the second safety element is slidably mounted on the first safety element.

The second safety element is preferably operated by a pulling action by the user and is preferably arranged on the side of the gas helper opposite the operating button. The second safety element may be movable by rotation.

Preferably the movement of the second safety element is limited to a specific stroke.
According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a child resistant gas helper comprising a gas container having a gas valve, a spark mechanism, an operating mechanism operable to open the gas valve and operate the spark mechanism, a first safety element which normally prevents operation of the operating mechanism and, when operated, allows the operating mechanism to operate, and a second safety element, characterized in that the operating mechanism comprises an operating button which is movable generally transversely to the body of the gas helper, and to operate the lighter movement of either of the first or second safety elements is required in a first direction followed by a subsequent movement of either of the first or second safety elements in a second direction.

The second direction is preferably orthogonal to the first direction. The first and/or second directions may be rotational.

Preferably one of the first and second directions requires a pulling action by the user. Also one of the first and second directions may require a pushing-in action by the user.

A gas helper embodying the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which:

Figs 1A to 1D are longitudinal sections through the gas helper at various stages of its operation;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the whole gas helper showing manipulation by the hand of a user;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the mounting of the second safety element on the first safety element, and

Fig. 4A to 4C are longitudinal sections of a further embodiment of the gas helper of the present invention through its various stages of operation.

The present gas helper is a development of the gas helper shown in our earlier case GB 98.27117.7, which describes the basic construction of the gas helper. Essentially, the gas helper comprises a body 50 having a gas container 40 at one end and a nozzle 45 at the other end. An operating element 10 can be pressed into the body against a spring (not shown), to open a valve (not shown) between the gas container and the nozzle, and to operate a piezo-electric element (not shown) to generate a spark to light the gas. A safety element comprises a cranked lever 25 having two

arms

26 and 27 and pivoted about the junction of the two arms. Arm 26 normally prevents the operating element 10 from being pressed into the body 50, as shown in Fig. 1A. When the arm 27 is pressed, this rotates the lever 25, so bringing arm 26 into alignment with a channel 17 in the operating element 10 as shown in Fig. 1B, so allowing that element to be operated as shown in Figs. 1C and 1D.

The second safety element comprises a button 60 mounted on the arm 27 of the first safety element 25. The button 60 is urged by spring 62 to the position shown in Fig. 1A, in which position it abuts against the casing part 63, so preventing the arm 27 from being operated (depressed). To operate the lighter, the button 60 must be manually pulled towards the left by the user as shown in Fig. 1. This moves it out of engagement with the casing part 63, as shown in Fig. 1B. The arm 27 can now be depressed, as shown in Fig. 1C, and the operating button 10 can now be depressed, as shown in Fig. 1D, to light the gas helper.

With the particular design of gas lighter shown in the embodiment of figs 1A to 1D, and as shown specifically in fig. 2, the user would grip the gas lighter with the index finger arranged to operate the operating button 10, the thumb naturally positioned on the opposite side of the operating button and positioned to operate the safety button 60 and the remaining three fingers arranged behind the operating button 10, and gripping the body 50 of the lighter. The safety button 60 can therefore be pulled back by the thumb of the user followed by a pushing-in action on the safety element 25 still with the thumb, and then the user may press the operating button with the index finger, whilst the safety element remains pressed in. Thus the user can operate the lighter with one hand and without having to adjust the position of the hand on the gas lighter and the gas lighter can be ignited and used quickly without undue delay.
The gas lighter is however difficult for children to use. The dimensions of the gas lighter make it difficult for a child to operate the gas lighter with one hand because a child's fingers are not normally long enough to extend around to simultaneously operate the safety and operating buttons of the gas lighter. It is therefore very difficult for a child to operate the lighter by reproducing this operating action of an adult, which a child is most inclined to try to do. It is also very difficult for the child to learn how to operate the lighter in other ways by experimentation because of the additional action required to release the first safety element.
In the embodiment shown the user has to maintain the safety button 60 in the pulled position whilst the safety element is depressed and the safety element must be maintained in the depressed position whilst the operating button is pressed. When the operating button 10 is released it returns to its rest position by means of a spring (not shown), either provided by the piezo element or by a separate spring or both, and the arm 27 is released from the slot 17 in the operating button 10 and is urged back to its rest position by its return spring 28. In this position the safety button is able to return to its rest position under the action of the spring 62. Guides means 61 prevent the safety button 60 from returning under the action of its spring 62 whilst the lever 25 is depressed. The guide means 61 also acts as a stop to limit the extent of depression of the arm 27.

Fig. 3 shows in more detail the manner in which the button 60 is mounted on the lever 25 and urged away from the pivot point of the lever 25 by a spring 62. The rearward movement of the button 60 is limited by a stop means 64.
In an alternative embodiment the safety button 60 could be slid out of position by pushing by the user rather than by a pulling action.
In a further alternative embodiment the safety button 60 could be arranged on either side of the gas lighter, that is to say, on either one or both of the adjoining two sides, rather than on the side directly opposite the operating button as in the embodiment shown.
In a further embodiment the safety button could be arranged to rotate out of the blocked position. The safety button could be oval shaped or circular with a projection which moves out of engagement with part of the body of the lighter when it is rotated. This rotation could be within the plane of the wall of the body of the lighter about an axis passing through the wall of the body of the lighter, or alternatively into the plane of the body of the lighter about an axis parallel to the wall of the lighter body.
Figures 4A to 4C show a further embodiment whereby the safety button 160 is shown in the blocking position in fig. 4A and comprises a spherical ball-shaped support 161 mounted in a socket 162 formed in the first safety arm 125. The safety button 160 also comprises an abutting stem 164 which abuts against a stop 165 to prevent movement of the first safety arm 125. The ball-shaped support 161 is exposed on the outside of the lighter for operation by the user.
When the user rotates the button 160 forwardly, from right to left in the figures, the support 161 is rotated in the socket 162 and the abutting stem is consequently pivoted out of abutment with the stop 165 as shown in fig. 4B.
When the user then pushes downwardly (in the figures) on the first safety arm 125, as shown in fig. 34D the first safety arm 125 is depressed and the operating button is released for operation by the user. The users hand is arranged to grip the lighter in the same way and thus the safety button 160 and the first safety arm 125 may be operated by the user's thumb in a sequential rotating forward, followed by a pushing-in, actions to enable the index finger to then subsequently press-in the operating button to operate the lighter. It will be appreciated that other sequences and directions of operation of the safety button and the first safety arm 125 could be envisaged within the scope of the invention.

Claims

A child-resistant gas helper comprising an operating mechanism (10), a first safety element (25, 125) normally engaging with the operating mechanism to prevent the operation thereof, and a second safety element (60, 160) mounted on the first safety element;
wherein in a first, locked position, the second safety element (60, 160) engages with the lighter body (50, 63) to prevent the operation of the first safety element, and in a second, unlocked position, the second safety element is disengaged from the lighter body to allow the operation of the first safety element.
A child resistant gas helper comprising a gas container (40) having a gas valve, a spark mechanism, an operating mechanism (10) operable to open the gas valve and operate the spark mechanism, a first safety element (25, 125) which normally prevents operation of the operating mechanism and, when operated, allows the operating mechanism to operate, and a second safety element (60, 160) which normally prevents operation of the first safety element and, when operated, allows the first safety element mechanism to operate,
characterized in that the operating mechanism comprises an operating button (10) which is movable generally transversely to the body (50) of the gas helper, and the second safety element (60, 160) is coupled to the first safety element (25, 125), and normally prevents movement of the first safety element and is movable against a restoring force (62) to a position in which movement of the first safety element is not prevented;
and further characterised in that the operating mechanism (10) and the second safety element (60, 160) are arranged such that in normal use they are operable respectively by different digits of one hand of a user.
A child-resistant gas helper according to claim 1, characterised in that the operating mechanism (10) and the second safety element (60, 160) are arranged such that in normal use they are operable respectively by different digits of one hand of a user.
A child-resistant gas helper according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the second safety element (60, 160) is slidably mounted on the first safety element (25, 125).
A child-resistant gas helper according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the operating mechanism comprises an operating button (10) and the second safety element (60, 160) is arranged on the side of the gas helper opposite the operating button (10).
A child resistant gas helper comprising a gas container (40) having a gas valve, a spark mechanism, an operating mechanism (10) operable to open the gas valve and operate the spark mechanism, a first safety element (25, 125) which normally prevents operation of the operating mechanism and, when operated, allows the operating mechanism to operate, and a second safety element (60, 160), characterized in that the operating mechanism comprises an operating button (10) which is movable generally transversely to the body (50) of the gas helper, and to operate the lighter movement of either of the first or second safety elements is required in a first direction followed by a subsequent movement of either of the first or second safety elements in a second direction.
A child-resistant gas helper according to claim 6, characterised in that the operating mechanism (10) and the second safety element (60, 160) are arranged such that in normal use they are operable respectively by different digits of one hand of a user.
A child-resistant gas helper according to either of claims 6 or 7, characterised in that the second direction is orthogonal to the first direction.
A child-resistant gas helper according to either of claims 6 or 7, characterised in that one of the first and second directions is limited by a blocking member (61, 165).
A child-resistant gas helper according to claim 9, characterised in that the blocking member (61, 165) is integral with the body (50).