JP2002048341A - Safety mechanism of flint lighter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the safety mechanism of a flint lighter capable of preventing wrong use by children but not deteriorating operability. SOLUTION: The flint lighter ignites fuel ejected from an ejecting nozzle 3 by opening a valve structure 2 pushing up the ejecting nozzle 3 by the pushing operation of an operation lever 5 while a flint 13 is firing by scratching the flint 13 with a file 15 turned by an operation roller 6, wherein the maximum operating load of an operation lever 5 is set in the range of 0.08 to 0.20 Mpa by arranging a metal leaf spring 16 or leaf spring (plastic spring) integrally molded with the operation lever between the operation lever 5 and the lighter main body 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a flint type lighter, and more particularly, to an operation load (a load that becomes a resistance of operation).
The present invention relates to a safety mechanism for a flint type lighter that increases safety by increasing the size of the lighter.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional flint type lighter, a flint is rubbed with a file by a rotating operation of a firing operating portion to ignite, and a pressing operation of an operating lever, which is a gas operating portion, causes ejection against a spring load of a nozzle spring. The nozzle is lifted, the gas passage is opened, and fuel gas is ejected to ignite the fuel. When the ignition operation is performed, the load (that is, the operation load) that resists the operation of the operation lever is mainly caused by the resistance force (spring load) of the nozzle spring. ), And the load immediately before the gas is discharged and becomes ignitable is 0.02.
It is usually in the range of from MPa to 0.05 MPa.
When the load of the ignition operation is this level, the operation is light and easy to use. However, the ignition operation load is up to 0.02MP
At about a to 0.05 MPa, a person such as a child who does not know the proper usage can inadvertently ignite depending on the situation, which is not preferable for safety.

[0003] In piezo type lighters, US Patent No. 5,971,
As shown in the specification of No. 751, in order to prevent misuse by children, there is known a structure in which an elastic resistance member is assembled under an operation lever for pressing a piezoelectric mechanism to increase an operation load. I have. However, in a flint type lighter that performs an ignition operation in cooperation with a flint operation unit and a gas operation unit, such a child resistance structure of a piezo type lighter cannot be directly applied.

As shown in US Pat. No. 5,437,549, a flint type lighter is known which employs a two-action resistance structure as a safety mechanism that cannot easily push an operation lever. But,
In such a two-action resistance structure, the ignition operation is not easy because the mechanism is complicated.

Further, in the flint type lighters disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,217,364 and US Pat. No. 5,217,365, a spring is mounted below an operating lever. However, in this case, the operation lever does not lift the ejection nozzle, but presses down the valve with the force of the spring to shut off the gas when not operating, and releases the valve depression by operating the operation lever to eject the gas. The spring below the operating lever is not intended to prevent misuse by persons who do not know the proper usage.

[0006]

As described above, since the conventional flint type lighter has a light ignition operation load, it cannot prevent misuse of children. The child resistance structure shown in U.S. Pat.No. 5,971,751 is unique to a piezo type lighter, and is not directly applicable to a flint type lighter, and U.S. Pat.
The flint-type lighter of the two-action resistance structure shown in Japanese Patent No. 9 is not easy to operate. Further, even in the flint type lighter shown in U.S. Pat.No. 5,217,364 and U.S. Pat.No. 5,217,365, it does not disclose a means for preventing misuse by a person who does not know an appropriate use method. Absent.

The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and a rotary operation of a firing operation unit rubs a flint with a file to ignite, and a pressing operation of an operation lever serving as a gas operation unit causes a spring of a nozzle spring to operate. In a flint type lighter of the type in which the ejection nozzle is lifted against the load, the gas passage is opened, and the fuel gas is ejected to ignite, the safety is improved so that a person who does not know the appropriate usage method cannot inadvertently ignite, and And a safety mechanism that does not impair operability.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A safety mechanism for a flint type lighter according to the present invention rubs a flint with a file by rotating a firing operation section to ignite, and resists a spring load by pressing down a gas operation section. In a flint type lighter that lifts an ejection nozzle to open a gas passage to eject fuel gas to ignite, an elastic member is provided between the gas operation unit and the lighter main body so as to increase a load that is a resistance of operation of the gas operation unit. Are arranged.

By arranging the elastic member between the gas operating portion and the lighter main body so as to increase the operating load (the load that is a resistance to the operation of the gas operating portion), the ignition operation becomes heavy, and the proper operation is achieved. It is one of the measures to improve safety so that a person who does not know the method cannot inadvertently ignite or accidentally ignite. Further, the mechanism is simpler than that of the two-action resistance structure, so that it is easy to use for any user.

[0010] The elastic member may be a leaf spring.

The leaf spring may be made of metal.

Further, the leaf spring may be made of a synthetic resin. For example, the gas operating portion and the leaf spring may be integrally formed of polyacetal resin.

It is preferable that the operation load (the load acting as a resistance to the operation of the gas operation unit) reaches a maximum of 0.08 MPa to 0.20 MPa. To increase safety, it is better that the operation load is large, but if it is too large, the operability deteriorates.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a plan view (a) of a flint type lighter according to a first embodiment and a longitudinal sectional view (b) of an upper portion of the lighter, and FIG. 2 is a first view of a leaf spring. FIG. 3A is a longitudinal sectional view showing the upper part of the lighter in operation, and FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the example shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the flint type lighter controls the supply and cutoff of the fuel gas by opening and closing a gas passage from the lighter body 1 above the lighter body 1 for storing the fuel gas. A valve mechanism 2 for controlling the gas ejection amount, an ejection nozzle 3 for ejecting the fuel gas supplied via the valve mechanism 2, an ignition mechanism 4, and a valve mechanism 3 which is lifted up to open the valve mechanism 3 to open the valve nozzle 3. An operation lever 5 is provided as a gas operation unit for ejecting fuel gas, and an operation roller 6 is provided as an ignition operation unit for operating the ignition mechanism 4 to ignite.

The valve mechanism 2 has a structure known per se. A nozzle screw 8 is mounted on a nozzle bottom 7 constituting a gas passage and a valve seat, and the ejection nozzle 3 can move in the axial direction through the nozzle screw 8. , The lower portion of the ejection nozzle 3 reaches a valve seat position of the nozzle bottom 7, and a valve rubber 9 is attached to the lower end. Then, the ejection nozzle 3 is urged toward the valve seat by the nozzle spring 10 disposed inside the nozzle screw 8, and the valve rubber 9 is seated on the valve seat of the nozzle bottom 7 to close the gas passage and eject the gas. The gas passage is opened by raising the nozzle 3, and the ejection amount is adjusted by rotating the adjustment ring 11 and turning the nozzle screw 8.

The firing mechanism 4 is also a structure known per se. A flint (flint) 13 is loosely held in the holder 12, and the bottom of the holder 12 has a direction in which the flint 13 projects from the upper end of the holder 12. A spring 14 is arranged to urge the operating roller 6 above the holder 12.
A file 15 integrated with the
The flint 13 urged by the abutment comes into contact with the file 15, and the operating roller 6 is rotated to rotate the file 15, so that the file 15 rubs the flint 13 and ignites.

The operation lever 5 has at one end a nozzle engaging portion which is engaged with a neck formed at the tip of the injection nozzle 3, and a holder of the ignition mechanism 4 having a central portion protruding above the lighter body 1. The straddle pin is pivotally supported by the lighter main body 1 at the fulcrum pin position while straddling the upper part, and a pressing portion for an ignition operation is formed at the other end, and by pushing down this pressing portion, the injection nozzle 3 is raised. Then, the valve mechanism 2 is opened, and the fuel gas is ejected from the injection nozzle 3. A metal leaf spring 16 is arranged between the operation lever 5 and the lighter main body 1 so as to increase a load (operation load) that is a resistance of a pressing operation of the operation lever 5.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the leaf spring 16 has a through hole at one end and a single-spring type having a substantially U-shaped bent portion at the other end, and has a through hole. The flat portion overlaps the lower surface of the operation lever 5, and the bent portion is arranged to overlap below the pressing portion of the operation lever 5, and is loosely fitted to the upper portion of the holder 12 of the ignition mechanism 4 through the through hole. In addition, besides, FIG.
A double-spring type leaf spring 16 'as shown in
The spring shape can be changed variously. It is also possible to use an elastic member other than a leaf spring.

The leaf spring 16 acts on the nozzle spring 10 when the operation load of the operation lever 5 raises the ejection nozzle 3.
Is designed to reach a maximum of 0.08 MPa to 0.20 MPa immediately before the gas is blown out, in total of the spring load by compressing the plate and the spring load by compressing the leaf spring 16.

A cap 17 is mounted on the upper portion of the lighter main body 1 so as to cover the ignition space. The cap 17 has a crater 18 formed on the axis of the ejection nozzle 3, and has an air window 19 in a predetermined arrangement on an upper portion and a side portion.

The flint type lighter performs an ignition operation by pushing down the pressing portion of the operating lever 5 in a direction (downward) indicated by an arrow in FIG. 3 while pushing around the operating roller 6 with a finger. That is, the operating roller 6 is pushed and turned, the file 15 is rotated, and the flint 13 is rubbed and ignited. Then, the ejecting nozzle 3 is lifted by the pressing operation of the operating lever 5, the valve mechanism 2 is opened, and the ejecting nozzle 3 is opened. The fuel gas is ignited by ejecting fuel gas from the fuel cell.

In this embodiment, a leaf spring 16 made of metal is arranged between the operation lever 5 and the lighter main body 1 so that the operation load of the operation lever 5 is 0.08 MPa to 0.20 MPa at maximum.
Since the value of “a” is reached, the ignition operation becomes heavy, and misuse by a child can be prevented.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 4 is a plan view (a) of a flint type lighter according to a second embodiment and a longitudinal sectional view (b) of an upper portion of the lighter, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view (a) and a side view (b) of the operating lever, and FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the upper part of the lighter in an activated state.

In the flint type lighter of the second embodiment, the operating lever as the gas operating portion and the leaf spring are formed as an integrally molded product of a synthetic resin. This is similar to the flint type lighter of the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the configuration and operation unique to the second embodiment will be mainly described.

The operating lever 50 of the flint type lighter of this embodiment is formed of, for example, polyacetal resin, and the lever main body is the same as that of the operating lever 5 of the first embodiment. At one end, a nozzle engaging portion to be engaged with a neck formed at the tip of 3 is formed at one end, and a central portion straddles the upper portion of the holder 12 of the firing mechanism 4 projecting to the upper portion of the lighter main body 1 at a fulcrum pin position. The lighter main body 1 is swingably supported, and the other end is provided with a pressing portion for an ignition operation. By pushing down the pressing portion, the injection nozzle 3 is raised, the valve mechanism 2 is opened, and the injection nozzle is opened. 3, and a resin spring 51 in the form of a leaf spring is integrally formed below the lever body.

The resin spring 51 has an operating load of the operating lever 50, and a spring load caused by compressing the nozzle spring 10 when the ejection nozzle 3 is lifted.
51 and a maximum of 0.08 MPa to 0.20 MPa immediately before the gas is blown out
The material, dimensions and shape are designed to reach a.

[0029]

According to the safety mechanism of the flint type lighter of the present invention, the operation load is increased by an elastic member disposed between the gas operating portion and the lighter main body, and the ignition operation is made heavy. Since the use can be prevented and the ignition can be performed by the one-action type operation, the convenience for ordinary users other than children can be maintained. In addition, the mechanism is not complicated and the assembling is easy only by disposing the elastic member.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is a plan view of a flint type lighter according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first example of a leaf spring in the flint type lighter according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
Perspective view (b) of the example of

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an upper portion of the flint type lighter according to the first embodiment of the present invention in an activated state;

FIG. 4A is a plan view of a flint type lighter according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view (a) and a side view (b) of an operation lever integrally formed with a resin spring in a flint type lighter according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an upper portion of a flint type lighter according to a second embodiment of the present invention in an activated state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Lighter main body 2 Valve mechanism 3 Injection nozzle 4 Ignition mechanism 5 Operation lever (gas operation part) 6 Operation roller (ignition operation part) 13 Flint 14 Spring 15 File 16 Leaf spring 50 Operation lever (Gas operation part) 51 Resin spring (Plate) Spring)

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Toshinori Morishita 3-4 Subashiri Shimohara, Koyama-cho, Sunto-gun, Shizuoka F-term in the Tokai headquarters plant (reference) 3K095 AA02 AA23 AB06 BA01 CA09 DA03

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A rotating operation of a firing operation unit rubs a flint with a file to ignite, and a pressing operation of a gas operation unit raises an ejection nozzle against a spring load to open a gas passage to eject fuel gas. In a flint type lighter to be ignited, an elastic member is arranged between the gas operating portion and the lighter main body so as to increase a load which is a resistance of operation of the gas operating portion, wherein a safety mechanism for the flint type lighter is provided. 2. The safety mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is a leaf spring. 3. The safety mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the leaf spring is made of metal. 4. The leaf spring is made of synthetic resin.
2. A safety mechanism for a flint type lighter according to item 1. 5. The safety mechanism for a flint type lighter according to claim 4, wherein the gas operating portion and the leaf spring are integrally formed from a polyacetal resin. 6. The load acting as a resistance to the operation of the gas operating section reaches a maximum of 0.08 MPa to 0.20 MPa.
A safety mechanism for a flint type lighter according to any one of claims 1 to 5.