EP1445536A1 - Piezoelektrisches Feuerzeug - Google Patents

Piezoelektrisches Feuerzeug Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1445536A1
EP1445536A1 EP04250686A EP04250686A EP1445536A1 EP 1445536 A1 EP1445536 A1 EP 1445536A1 EP 04250686 A EP04250686 A EP 04250686A EP 04250686 A EP04250686 A EP 04250686A EP 1445536 A1 EP1445536 A1 EP 1445536A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
spring
housing
lighter
push button
rod
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP04250686A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Tak Chi Sher
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Polycity Enterprise Ltd
Original Assignee
Polycity Enterprise Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Polycity Enterprise Ltd filed Critical Polycity Enterprise Ltd
Publication of EP1445536A1 publication Critical patent/EP1445536A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23Q—IGNITION; EXTINGUISHING-DEVICES
    • F23Q2/00—Lighters containing fuel, e.g. for cigarettes
    • F23Q2/16—Lighters with gaseous fuel, e.g. the gas being stored in liquid phase
    • F23Q2/164—Arrangements for preventing undesired ignition

Definitions

  • This invention relates to lighters, particularly but not exclusively cigarette lighters.
  • butane lighters comprise a lighter body including a reservoir containing butane or other suitable fuel, a mounting frame affixed upon the lighter body, a nozzle inserted through the mounting frame into connected relationship with the reservoir, a lever for actuating the nozzle, and a piezoelectric igniter or a more conventional mechanical igniter such as a striker wheel, flint and flint-spring combination.
  • the igniter is positioned close to the rear end of the lever so that the igniter and the rear end of the lever may be actuated simultaneously or nearly so.
  • a modem lighter is equipped with a piezoelectric unit which draws a spark when operated.
  • the piezoelectric unit is typically activated by a thumb-operated push cap which not only operates the lever for actuating the nozzle, but also operates the piezoelectric unit to draw a spark, causing a flame to shoot upward from the lighter.
  • Piezoelectric igniters are popular because the spark which they draw is very predictable compared with the older mechanical igniters.
  • modem lighters Another reason for the popularity of modem lighters is that the height of the flame produced by the lighter can be varied over a wide range by varying the amount of fuel allowed to be ejected from the lighter.
  • this feature also makes such lighters dangerous.
  • the lighter produces a flame in an uncontrolled circumstance, particularly when the lighter is set on its high setting, materials such as curtains, clothing or hair may be accidentally ignited.
  • Modern butane lighters are particularly dangerous in the hands of children.
  • a child resistant lighter comprises a piezoelectric igniter contained within a body structure; the lighter having a push button adapted to release gas and actuate the igniter to generate a spark; wherein the igniter comprises an actuator rod and a coaxial housing, the rod being coaxially slidable from an extended position into the housing against the restoring force of a first spring located within the housing to generate a spark, the spring biasing the rod towards the extended position; the housing including an abutment adjacent the actuator rod; wherein a second spring is located around the actuator rod, the second spring being guided longitudinally upon the rod, a first end of the second spring engaging the abutment and a second end of the spring engaging the push button to create a restoring force to urge the button into the fully extended position.
  • the second spring is preferably helical.
  • the lighter of the present invention has a number of advantages.
  • a conventional piezoelectric igniter may be used permitting economical use of readily available components without the need for a complex mechanism which may be difficult to manufacture and potentially unreliable.
  • the igniter and second spring may be conveniently provided as a unitary pre-assembled component allowing existing manufacturing processes to be easily modified to produce child resistant lighters. Expensive tooling modifications may be avoided.
  • a piezoelectric igniter for a childproof lighter comprises an actuator rod and a coaxial housing, the rod being coaxially slidable into the housing against the restoring force of a first spring located within the housing to generate a spark, the spring biasing the rod towards an extended position, the housing including an abutment adjacent the actuator rod, a second spring being located around the actuator rod and engaging the rod preventing radial movement of the spring, a first end of the second spring abutting the abutment.
  • the second spring is preferably helical.
  • the second spring is preferably secured to the actuator rod prior to assembly into a lighter.
  • the spring may be secured by frictional engagement around the rod.
  • the spring may be adapted to engage the rod before it is expanded radially by longitudinal compression during assembly.
  • retaining means such as a small quantity of adhesive material or a retaining lug on the igniter body may be used.
  • the restoring force applied to the second spring on the push button urges the push button outwardly of the lighter body and provides a force which must be overcome before the push button can be depressed.
  • a small amount of slack or free play may show a child how to actuate the lighter and may encourage use of greater force sufficient to cause ignition.
  • the total force applied by the first and second springs is not less than 3.8 kgf, preferably 5.7-6.3 kgf, more preferably 5.8-6.2 kgf.
  • the total force is preferably equal to or greater than 3.5 kgf or preferably 5.5-6.0 kgf.
  • the actuator rod is preferably cylindrical and dimensioned to fit snugly within the hollow of the second helical spring.
  • the external diameter of the rod and internal diameter of the spring may be arranged so that the spring can pass freely over the rod when compressed longitudinally during assembly but engages securely when the longitudinal force is released. Little or no lateral movement or bending of the spring is allowed in use so that the whole of the restoring force is applied axially to the push button.
  • the length of the second helical spring may be greater than the distance between the abutment and the push button so that the spring is partially compressed even when the button is fully extended.
  • Figure 1 shows a conventional butane lighter.
  • the butane lighter includes a push button 1 and a piezoelectric unit 2, 3.
  • Butane fuel is stored in a fuel reservoir 9 in the lighter and can be released to ambient via a valve adjacent or near nozzle 8.
  • Piece 5 is used to help keep the various components in proper alignment, to conveniently encase them in lighter body 10 and to help attach cap 11.
  • Elements 2 and 3 of the piezoelectric unit are moveable with respect to each other and when they do move, they induce an electrical charge through piezoelectric action to produce a flame when the lighter is lit and the fuel is released.
  • a piezoelectric unit 2, 3 is shown in greater detail in Figs. 1A and 1B. In Fig. 1A it is shown in its normal, unactuated state. In Fig 1B it is shown in its actuated (depressed) spark inducing state. In normal operation, when the actuating lever or push button 1 is depressed, the piezoelectric device 2, 3 is actuated causing an electric current to be conducted through a conductor or conducting wire (not shown) to somewhere near the outlet of nozzle 8 as an ignition source.
  • FIG 2 shows a lighter in accordance with the present invention. It is generally similar to the lighter shown in Figure 1, but is provided with a second helical spring 4 which acts against the manual operation of push button or actuating lever 1.
  • the push button 1 and actuator rod 2 of piezoelectric igniter 2, 3 are modified to accommodate a second helical spring 4.
  • helical spring 4 is duly mounted onto push button 1 and piezoelectric unit 2, 3 and the remaining parts are assembled, as also shown in Figures 3B and 3C, with helical spring 4 disposed about actuator rod 2.
  • Actuator rod 2 preferably has a cylindrical or columnar shape.
  • the bottom portion 4B of spring 4 rests on shoulder on abutment 3A of piezoelectric igniter unit 2, 3.
  • the top 4A of spring 4 engages a shoulder or other surface 1B in the interior of push button 1.
  • Push button 1 is shown in a cutaway view in the Figures 2A and 2B and in a bottom view in Figure 2C in order to show better the interior shoulder 1B which is preferably provided at the base of channel 1C of the push button 1 when practicing the invention.
  • Figure 2A shows the igniter, 3 push button or actuating lever 1 and spring 4 combination in its normal, unactuated position.
  • the spring 4 When not assembled into a lighter the spring 4 preferably assumes its full normal length in an at rest position without providing any rebounding force.
  • the spring form in an assembled lighter, is partially compressed so that an outwardly extending force is exerted on the push button 1 at all times.
  • the length of the spring is selected so that the spring is not compressed by the interior surface of the push button 1 in the fully extended position so that an outwardly extending force is only applied to the push button when the latter is depressed in use.
  • the igniter and second spring may be provided as a single component to facilitate manufacture of the lighter.
  • the second spring 4 may be secured to the actuator rod 2 by frictional engagement.
  • the internal diameter of the helical spring may provide a friction fit on the cylindrical actuator rod.
  • the spring may be dimensioned to grip and engage the rod in the normal, extended state but may have a suitable diameter so that it can pass freely over the rod when slightly compressed during assembly of the igniter unit.
  • the spring may be retained by means of an adhesive portion or by engagement with a lug or other locking means on the igniter body.
  • Gas lever 6 has a notch 6B which engages nozzle 8, lifting it when element 2 is pushed downwardly by the action of push button 1. The lifting motion of nozzle 8 causes its associated valve to open and gas to flow from the reservoir 9 in the base of the lighter. Gas flow from nozzle 8 is preferably conducted by a gas pipe 7 to the point of combustion at element 5.
  • the compression of spring 4 provides an upwardly directed restoring force which acts against the inner surface of the push button at all times including when the push button is in the fully extended position. This ensures that there is no slack or free play in the movement of the push button.
  • the piezoelectric igniter 2,3 includes a hammer 23A which impact a headpin 23B above ceramic 23C.
  • the hammer 23A striking the headpin and hence the ceramic causes an electrical discharge to occur.
  • the piezoelectric unit 2,3 typically includes a return spring 23D for urging element 2 away from element 3.
  • the force required to overcome spring 23D is on the order of 1.5 to 2.0 kgf.
  • an auxiliary spring 4 in order to increase the force required to activate the lighter as opposed to merely increasing the spring constant of spring 23D. The reason for this is that increasing the spring constant of spring 23D could tend to shorten the life of the piezoelectric igniter unit 2,3.
  • the use of an auxiliary spring 4 is preferred.
  • the auxiliary spring 4 is selected such that the force required to light the lighter is at least 3.5 kgf and more preferably falls in the range of 5.5 to 6.0 kgf.
  • a child typically does not possess enough strength to be able to operate push button 1 and also overcome the additional resistance provided by spring 4.
  • An adult on the other hand, can impart more than enough force using their thumb to overcome the resistance of spring 4 and cause element 2 of the piezoelectric unit to collide with components 23B and 23C of portion 3 of the piezoelectric unit to generate an electrical discharge and light a flame.
  • a conventional piezoelectric igniter 2,3 may be used. Indeed, in practicing the present invention, the applicant prefers to use a conventional piezoelectric igniter 2,3. In the case of some prior art piezoelectric igniters 2,3, they induce a spark when the top element 2 of the piezoelectric unit is moved about 80% of its full possible stroke into element 3. As indicated above, the spring constant of auxiliary spring 4 is selected such that the total force required to activate the lighter, i.e. when the piezoelectric igniter 2,3 is at least 3.5 kgf.
EP04250686A 2003-02-08 2004-02-09 Piezoelektrisches Feuerzeug Withdrawn EP1445536A1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0302940 2003-02-08
GB0302940A GB2398368A (en) 2003-02-08 2003-02-08 Piezoelectric lighter including child resistant igniter assembly

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1445536A1 true EP1445536A1 (de) 2004-08-11

Family

ID=9952697

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP04250686A Withdrawn EP1445536A1 (de) 2003-02-08 2004-02-09 Piezoelektrisches Feuerzeug

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1445536A1 (de)
GB (1) GB2398368A (de)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1628075A1 (de) * 2004-08-16 2006-02-22 Polyconcept Hong Kong Limited Piezoelektrisches Feuerzeug mit einem Sicherheitsverschluss

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN105805778A (zh) * 2014-12-31 2016-07-27 天长市地震办公室 一种安全打火机

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5854530A (en) * 1996-12-18 1998-12-29 Bic Corporation Piezoelectric lighter which has a higher level of difficulty for operation
US20020197577A1 (en) * 1999-03-03 2002-12-26 Polycity Enterprise Limited Lighter with child resistant actuating lever
US6506046B1 (en) * 2001-10-04 2003-01-14 Zhuoye Lighter (Usa) Ltd. Piezoelectric lighter with safety arrangement

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT1023732B (it) * 1973-05-14 1978-05-30 Braun Ag Dispositivo di accensione piezoelettrico per accendisigari ed altro
FR2498740B1 (fr) * 1981-01-23 1987-07-03 Rv Const Elect Allumeur piezo-electrique du type a percussion et bouton-poussoir
US5971751A (en) * 1997-06-05 1999-10-26 Chun Ching Yeh Safety apparatus of a piezoelectric lighter
US6267582B1 (en) * 1999-11-12 2001-07-31 Guang Lin Pocket lighter

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5854530A (en) * 1996-12-18 1998-12-29 Bic Corporation Piezoelectric lighter which has a higher level of difficulty for operation
US20020197577A1 (en) * 1999-03-03 2002-12-26 Polycity Enterprise Limited Lighter with child resistant actuating lever
US6506046B1 (en) * 2001-10-04 2003-01-14 Zhuoye Lighter (Usa) Ltd. Piezoelectric lighter with safety arrangement

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1628075A1 (de) * 2004-08-16 2006-02-22 Polyconcept Hong Kong Limited Piezoelektrisches Feuerzeug mit einem Sicherheitsverschluss

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0302940D0 (en) 2003-03-12
GB2398368A (en) 2004-08-18

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6267582B1 (en) Pocket lighter
US6533576B1 (en) Lighter with child resistant actuating lever
US3408153A (en) Gas lighter with a manually operable piezoelectric ignition device
AU739235B2 (en) Selectively actuatable piezoelectric ignition mechanism
EP1179160B1 (de) Allzweckfeuerzeug
KR101568202B1 (ko) 다중 작동 접촉 라이터
US6116892A (en) Safety flint-type lighter
US6540506B1 (en) Disposable piezoelectric lighter
US7591645B2 (en) Child resistant roll-and-press lighter
AU779925B2 (en) Igniting operation mechanism of piezoelectric ignition firing rod
EP1445536A1 (de) Piezoelektrisches Feuerzeug
EP1269081A1 (de) Haushaltszünder
CA2455643C (en) Utility lighter
JP3730481B2 (ja) 圧電着火式ライターの着火操作機構
US6106277A (en) Safety arrangement of piezoelectric unit for piezoelectric lighter
US6604939B1 (en) Piezoelectric lighter with safety arrangement
US6431854B1 (en) Gas lighter with safety device
US6856074B2 (en) Piezoelectric ignition mechanism
US20020119409A1 (en) Child-resistant lighter having a flexing latch
US20020150853A1 (en) Child resistant lighter
US6655953B1 (en) Disposable lighter
GB2433775A (en) Lighter comprising a piezoelectric ignitor with a safety mechanism for preventing accidental use

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PT RO SE SI SK TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: AL LT LV MK

AKX Designation fees paid
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: 8566

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 20050212