GB973329A - Pyrophoric lighter actuating mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

973,329. Cigar lighters. RONSON CORPORATION. Dec. 27, 1962, No. 48716/62. Heading F4F. A lighter actuating mechanism comprises a clutch member 24 for rotation of a sparking wheel 46, the clutch member including a pliant friction surface 37 brought into frictional contact with the abraded periphery of the sparking wheel when the fiinger-piece 12 is manually depressed. The clutch member 24 is attached to or formed integrally with a nylon or polyacetal closure cap 14 pivoted about the pivot pin 18 of the sparking wheel 46 and including a snuffer portion 22 provided with a metal insert 58 containing a spring- loaded ball 60 which depresses a burner 44 to close a gas valve assembly 54. The clutch member 24 is divided by slots 28, 29 into two frame members 30, 32 and a central clutch element 36, the base of which either forms or supports the friction surface 37. The central clutch element 36 has a transverse groove 38 to give it a spring-biased hinged connection 39. When the clutch element is undepressed there is a small clearance 47 between the friction surface 37 and the sparking wheel periphery. A pin 62 passes through elongated transverse holes 40, 42 in the frame members and a circular transverse hole 44 in the clutch element 36 and is attached to tabular protrusions at the end of the finger-piece 12. A horizontal slot 64 in the end of the fingerpiece remote from the sparking wheel engages a horizontal pin 66 in the lighter body. A leaf spring 68 biases the finger-piece 12 upwards. On initially depressing the finger-piece 12 the friction surface 37 is forced down against the sparking wheel 46 so that further movement of the finger-piece causes the sparking wheel to rotate against a flint. In the fully depressed position of the finger-piece 12 the clutch element 36 is disengaged from the sparking wheel so that on releasing the finger-piece the sparking wheel remains stationary. In a modification, Fig. 8 (not shown), the spring-loaded ball in the snuffer portion 22 is replaced by a spring-loaded pliable heat resisting sheet material which closes the end of the burner 55, thus obviating the need for a gas valve assembly, and the horizontal slot 64 in the finger-piece is replaced by an arcuate slot having an initial horizontal section to provide initial clutch engagement action. In a further modification, Fig. 9 (not shown), the finger-piece 12 is pivoted about a pin and a transverse pin through the clutch element slides in an arcuate slot in the finger-piece and the clutch element is attached to the closure cap by a leaf spring. In a further embodiment, Fig. 12 (not shown), the clutch element is not attached to the closure cap but hung by a transverse pin linking the finger-piece and a metal closure cap, the finger-piece engaging this pin by a horizontal slot.