JP2011080699A - Lighter - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lighter which draws attentions of smokers using the lighter on non- or less-smoking and which helps smokers to quit or reduce smoking. <P>SOLUTION: The lighter includes: a lighter body storing fuel; a fuel injection nozzle injecting fuel from the lighter body; a valve mechanism releasing/blocking the injection of the fuel to the nozzle; an ignition means for throwing sparks for ignition and igniting fuel injected from the injection nozzle; and an operation means performing operation to inject the fuel by the valve mechanism and ignite the injected fuel by the ignition means. The lighter further includes an ignition restriction means providing restriction to prevent ignition until a predetermined time passes after the ignition with respect to the operation means is performed manually by a user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a lighter capable of promoting smoking cessation and smoke saving when used by a smoker.

  In a disposable lighter or the like generally used for smoking, a lighter body having an open upper end, a fuel storage part that is formed inside the lighter body and stores fuel, and a fuel disposed above the fuel storage part An injection nozzle, a valve mechanism that opens or shuts off the injection of fuel into the nozzle, an ignition means that emits an ignition spark and ignites fuel injected from the injection nozzle, and the valve mechanism causes the fuel to be injected. And an operation means for operating to ignite the combustion injected by the ignition means (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2001-173952 A

  However, traditional lighters are only able to ignite cigarettes simply by igniting them, and for this reason, smoking that is always intended to stop smoking or smoke Even those who were injured could accidentally smoke cigarettes by unconsciously setting fire with a lighter. In other words, in the past, the lighter was merely used as an ignition means, and the use of the lighter did not alert smoking cessation or smoke saving.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a lighter capable of helping smokers to stop smoking and smoke by alerting smokers when using the lighter.

  A lighter according to the present invention comprises a lighter main body for storing fuel, a fuel injection nozzle for injecting fuel from the lighter main body, a valve mechanism for opening or blocking fuel injection to the nozzle, and an ignition spark. Ignition means for igniting the fuel emitted from the injection nozzle, and operation means for operating the valve mechanism to inject fuel into the fuel injected by the ignition means. And an ignition restriction means for restricting ignition so that a predetermined time elapses after an ignition operation is performed on the operation means by a user's manual operation.

  With the configuration of the present invention, even if a user who is quitting smoking or saving smoke tries to ignite the lighter accidentally unintentionally, the ignition operation is continued until a predetermined time elapses just by performing the first ignition operation. If the lighter cannot be ignited, the user will be aware that the lighter cannot be ignited and that it is not ready to smoke. Let me remind you to refrain from smoking. In addition, after a predetermined time has elapsed from the ignition operation, ignition is performed by another ignition operation. Even in this case, it is preferable to set so that the ignition restriction by the ignition restriction means is performed when a predetermined time has elapsed after a predetermined delay time has elapsed since the first ignition operation.

  In the lighter according to the present invention, it is preferable that the means for enabling ignition after a predetermined time elapses after the ignition operation is a means for preventing the ignition operation itself by the operation means until the predetermined time elapses.

  In this case, since the ignition operation itself cannot be performed until a predetermined time elapses, no fuel injection or ignition is performed, so that waste of fuel and the like can be saved.

  In the lighter according to the present invention, it is preferable that the means for enabling ignition after a predetermined time elapses after the ignition operation is means for preventing fuel injection by the valve mechanism until the predetermined time elapses.

  In this case, even if the ignition operation state is accidentally continued or repeated, fuel is not discharged to the outside, so that waste of fuel can be eliminated.

  In the lighter according to the present invention, it is preferable that the means for enabling ignition after a predetermined time elapses after the ignition operation is means for preventing ignition by the ignition means until the predetermined time elapses.

  The purpose of the present invention can be achieved by making it possible to prevent ignition with respect to ignition means that is easy to electrically control, and the design of the means for preventing ignition does not require the use of a mechanical structure. Because it is good, it can be done easily.

  In the lighter according to the present invention, the means for enabling ignition after elapse of a predetermined time after the ignition operation is prevented from igniting until the predetermined time elapses after the ignition operation by the user's operation means. It is preferable that the ignition operation by the operation means within the second predetermined time after the elapse of time is configured to be ignited.

  According to the present invention, even if the lighter is operated accidentally without being conscious of smoking habits, it does not ignite immediately at that time, so that it is used that it is smoking cessation or smoke saving It becomes effective to be able to promote smoking cessation or smoke reduction by becoming aware of the person.

The side view which shows the outline of embodiment of the lighter based on this invention The perspective view which shows the whole lighter of FIG. The perspective view which shows principal parts, such as the ignition control means of the lighter of FIG. The side view which shows an ignition control state in the lighter of FIG. FIG. 1 is a side view showing a state where ignition control is released in the lighter of FIG. 1 and the operation lever can be pushed down.

  Hereinafter, a lighter according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a lighter 1 includes a lighter main body 2 in which fuel gas is stored, a fuel injection nozzle 3 and a valve mechanism portion that are arranged on the upper part of the lighter main body 2 and inject the fuel gas. 4, a fuel supply means 5 having an operating lever 6 for opening and closing the valve mechanism 4 by pulling up the nozzle 3 of the fuel supply means, an ignition means 7 for generating a spark for ignition, and the fuel supply means A flame adjusting member (not shown) is provided for adjusting the flame length by adjusting the amount of gas ejected from the nozzle.

  The lighter main body 2 has a tank main body 2A (not transparent or translucent or may not be made of synthetic resin) formed of, for example, a transparent or translucent synthetic resin, and the upper surface of the tank main body 2A. The upper lid and the bottom lid are hermetically fixed to the bottom, and a fuel storage chamber 8 for storing fuel gas such as butane gas is provided therein. Further, the tank body 2A has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape whose outer shape is vertically long.

  Further, in the tank body 2 </ b> A, a control means storage chamber 10 that is partitioned by a partition wall 9 is provided separately from the fuel storage chamber 8. The control means storage chamber 10 is provided with a button-type battery 12, a switch 13, a timer element 14, a motor control circuit board 15, a small motor 16, a pinion gear 17, and a rack gear 18 that constitute an ignition restriction means 11 described later. Yes. Here, the switch 13 is exposed to the outside from the control means storage chamber 10 of the tank main body 2A and can be pushed in manually, and when it is not pushed in, returns to the normal position. .

  Below, the ignition control means 11 which concerns on this invention in this embodiment is demonstrated.

  The lighter 1 includes a flint and a rotating drum provided separately by pressing down the operating lever 6 with the thumb for the operation to ignite the user with one hand and rotating the rotating drum as the ignition means 7 with the thumb. It is ignited by generating a spark by frictional contact.

  The operation lever 6 is rotated about the horizontal axis, and is elastically biased to the non-operation position by a spring mechanism (not shown), and is returned to the non-operation position when not pushed down manually. It has become. The operating lever 6 corresponds to the operating means in the present invention. The operating lever 6 is manually pushed down to pull up the nozzle 3 to switch the closed valve mechanism 4 to the open state so that fuel gas can be injected from the nozzle 3. The sparks generated by the ignition means 7 ignite the fuel gas injected from the nozzle 3.

  In the lighter 1, a protrusion 19 extending downward is provided at an end portion of the operation lever 6. In a normal state, when the operation lever 6 is pushed down, the projection 19 hits the rack gear 18 so that the operation lever 6 cannot be pushed down further at a position where fuel cannot be injected. The rack gear 18 is arranged so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction, and is movable in the front-rear direction by rotating the pinion gear 17 meshed therewith. The pinion gear 17 is rotated forward and backward by a small motor 16, and the small motor 16 is driven to rotate in a desired manner by a drive signal from the motor control circuit board 15.

  The timer element 14 is a chip component, and operates the small motor 16 by a switching operation in which the switch 13 is pushed and operated manually to rotate the pinion gear 17 in one direction, thereby moving the rack gear 18 to a normal position ( A restriction release position in which the protrusion 19 of the operation lever 6 is slid forward from a position where the protrusion 19 of the operation lever 6 is regulated downward (the protrusion 19 of the operation lever 19 is more than the restriction position). The control signal to be moved to a position where the fuel can be injected by the operation lever 19) is transferred to the motor after a predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes) after the switch 13 is switched. The circuit is configured to output to the control circuit board 15.

  Further, when the second predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes) elapses from the time when the rack gear 18 moves to the restriction release position, the timer element 14 causes the small motor 16 to be driven in reverse to turn the pinion gear 17 in the opposite direction. The circuit is configured to output to the motor control circuit board 15 a control signal for operating the rack gear 18 so as to return from the restriction release position to the restriction position.

  Therefore, in the configuration of this embodiment according to the present invention, the projection 19 of the operation lever 6 is regulated by the rack gear 18 even when the user who uses the lighter 1 pushes down the operation lever 6 in a normal case. It cannot be ignited. As a result, even when the user is trying to stop smoking or smoke, the operation lever 6 is operated even if the lighter 1 is ignited unconsciously, such as by picking up a cigarette in accordance with the conventional smoking habits. Since the lighter 1 cannot be operated as it is because it cannot be operated to the ignition position, it is recognized that the lighter 1 cannot be ignited as it is. It is necessary to wait without performing an ignition operation while a predetermined time elapses before moving to the restriction release position. The user can use the lighter 1 for ignition only when the rack gear 18 is moved to the restriction release position. In the lighter 1, when the second predetermined time elapses from the time when the rack gear 18 moves to the restriction release position, the timer element 14 automatically controls the rack gear 18 to return to the restriction position.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and may be as follows, for example.

  (1) In the above embodiment, the control lever that performs the fuel injection operation is restricted so that the lighter cannot be ignited for a predetermined period of time. In the case of a lighter constituted by ignition means, a switch similar to the switch 13 of the above embodiment may be operated to switch to a state where ignition can be performed by the electronic ignition means after a predetermined time has elapsed. Also in this case, it is preferable that the electronic ignition means is switched to a state where it cannot be ignited again after the second predetermined time has elapsed since switching to the state where ignition is possible.

  (2) In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the operation lever can be switched between the restriction state and the restriction release state using the rack and pinion mechanism has been described. However, such a restriction state and a restriction release state are mechanically displayed. The means is not limited to this, and various mechanisms can be used.

  (3) In the above embodiment, the switch 13 provided on the side surface of the lighter 1 can be switched to an ignitable state by operating the switch 13. However, for example, the operation lever 6 is pushed down. The electronic ignition means may be configured not to operate as in (1) until a predetermined time elapses after the detection means capable of detecting whether or not the push-down operation is performed. In this case, detection of whether or not the operation lever 6 has been pushed down may be performed by, for example, a touch sensor that detects whether or not the operation lever 6 has been touched manually. Alternatively, it may be performed by a touch sensor that detects whether or not the user has held the writer main body by hand.

  (4) In the above embodiment, the lighter is restricted so that it cannot be ignited during normal use, but the operation lever is restricted so that it cannot be operated. However, the fuel supply valve mechanism is restricted so that fuel cannot be supplied. It is good also as a structure performed by the mechanism which can be switched to the state which cancels | releases the regulation, and the state which can supply fuel.

  (5) In the above embodiment, only the operation lever is used as the operation means. However, in the case of (1), the operation means is also used for the configuration for operating the electronic ignition means.

  (6) In the above embodiment, a mechanical mechanism using a small motor as a drive source is used. However, the mechanical drive source is not limited to a small motor, and for example, a mechanical drive force is obtained. Various elements such as a piezoelectric element that can be used can be used as appropriate.

  (7) In the lighter according to the present invention, the user can change the setting appropriately for the predetermined time for restricting the ignition until the predetermined time elapses after the ignition operation is performed on the operation means by the user's manual operation. In order to do so, the lighter may be provided with operation buttons and control means that allow the change. Similarly, the second predetermined time may be changed. Thereby, the predetermined time or the like can be appropriately changed according to the user's preference and necessity. Further, the writer may be provided with a display means such as a liquid crystal display so that the predetermined time to be changed can be displayed to change the predetermined time. A message relating to smoking cessation or smoke saving may be displayed on the display means.

  (8) In the lighter according to the present invention, with respect to the lighter provided with the display means as shown in (7) above, the elapsed time from when the user actually ignited the lighter can be displayed on the display means. Also good. This display makes it easy to see at a glance how long the user has quit smoking since the lighter ignited. Can be done. In addition, the time starting point of the elapsed time of the target to be displayed as described above may be a time point when the operating means is operated for the ignition operation when it is in a non-use state for a relatively long time, or the above-described implementation The predetermined time indicated in the form or the time when the second predetermined time has elapsed may be used.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Lighter 2 Lighter main body 3 Fuel injection nozzle 4 Valve mechanism part 6 Operation means 11 Ignition control means

Claims (5)

A lighter body that stores fuel, a fuel injection nozzle that injects fuel from the lighter body, a valve mechanism that opens or shuts off injection of the fuel into the nozzle, and a spark for ignition that is injected from the injection nozzle An ignition means for igniting the fuel, and an operation means for operating the fuel to be injected by the valve mechanism and for igniting the combustion injected by the ignition means,
A lighter comprising ignition restriction means for restricting ignition so that a predetermined time elapses after an ignition operation is performed on the operation means by a user's manual operation. The lighter according to claim 1,
The lighter capable of igniting after elapse of a predetermined time after the ignition operation is a means for preventing the ignition operation itself by the operation means until the predetermined time elapses. The lighter according to claim 1,
The lighter capable of igniting after elapse of a predetermined time after the ignition operation is a means for preventing fuel injection by the valve mechanism until the predetermined time elapses. The lighter according to claim 1,
The lighter capable of igniting after elapse of a predetermined time after the ignition operation is a means for preventing ignition by the ignition means until the elapse of the predetermined time. The lighter according to claim 1, wherein
The means for enabling ignition after elapse of a predetermined time after the ignition operation is prevented from igniting until a predetermined time elapses after the ignition operation by the user's operation means, and the second time after the elapse of the predetermined time. A lighter configured to ignite an ignition operation by an operation means within a predetermined time.

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