JP3110920B2 - Lighter safety device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a safety device for a lighter,
In particular, the present invention relates to a safety device that disables an ignition operation of an operation member when not in use and prevents inadvertent ignition by children or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A lighter is a convenient one that can be easily ignited by operating an operation member. However, it is not preferable in safety for a person who does not know proper use such as a child to ignite carelessly. .

[0003] Therefore, a lighter with improved safety is required so that a child or a person who does not know how to properly use the lamp may inadvertently ignite. Lighters equipped with various safety devices have been proposed. Have been. Most of these safety devices are provided with a lock mechanism for preventing the operation member from being pushed down, so that the operation member cannot be pushed down without releasing the lock mechanism. However, there are difficulties in using them, and further improvement is desired for practical use.

[0004] Regarding the above point, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-25215
The lighter safety device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H11-64103 includes a lock member for preventing the operation member for the ignition operation from being pushed down, moves the lock member to the release position and ignites, and then locks the lock member by the ignition operation to the lock position. There is disclosed a structure for automatically returning to the state shown in FIG.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned safety device, the operating member for performing the ignition operation has a structure adapted to be applied to a type of lighter which performs an operation of pushing down in the vertical direction, and its locking mechanism is also used. A mechanism that restricts the operation of the operating member only in the vertical direction, and the mechanism in the operating direction is rotated for a lighter that performs an ignition operation by rotating the operating member, so the mechanism cannot be applied as it is. Things.

In the type in which the operating member rotates, the operating member protrudes outside the lighter main body, so that it is difficult to dispose a safety mechanism below the operating member or on the tank side. ing.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention is applied to a type of lighter in which an operating member is rotated by a slide operation, and after the lock mechanism is released and used, the lock mechanism is automatically provided without re-locking again. It is an object of the present invention to provide a lighter safety device that has a functioning auto return function and is excellent in operability and reliability.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a lighter safety device according to the present invention covers an upper end portion of a lighter main body in a cap shape, and a downwardly extending leg is turned around the lighter main body by a rotation shaft. An operating member movably supported,
A tank side portion forming an upper side wall of the lighter main body; and a lock member attached to a leg portion of the operation member. An arc-shaped guide groove is formed at an upper end of the tank side portion and an end is formed at a center end thereof. A concave portion formed with a concave portion, wherein the lock member has a base portion whose movement is regulated by a regulating groove, a stopper portion connected above the base portion and engageable with the guide groove and the end groove portion, and the stopper portion. A knob portion which is disposed outside in association with the lock portion and moves the stopper portion from the locked position engaged with the end groove to the unlocked position engaged with the guide groove along the regulating groove; And a spring member that urges the base portion in the center direction at the lock position and the unlock position to hold the state, and the stopper portion is concave when the lock member is at the lock position. Engage the groove The rotation of the operation member is stopped, and the rotation of the operation member is enabled when the lock member is operated to the unlock position. The rotation of the operation member moves the lock member to the lockable position at the other end of the guide groove. It is characterized by the following.

It is preferable that the spring member of the lock member is constituted by a spiral spring having one end connected to a base and the other end fitted and fixed to the leg of the operation member in a curved deformation state. .

[0010]

According to the safety device for a lighter of the present invention, when the stopper portion of the lock member is engaged with the end concave groove connected to the center of the guide groove of the lighter body, the operation is performed by the engagement. The member cannot rotate, and the ignition operation cannot be performed. In this locked state, the engagement between the stopper portion and the end groove is held by the spring member, and the locked state is maintained.

When the knob of the lock member is moved from the lock position to the unlock position along the regulating groove,
The stopper portion is disengaged from the end concave groove and moves to the arcuate guide groove, so that the operating member is in a unlocked state in which the operating member can rotate, and when the operating member is rotated in this state, it is linked to this. Fuel is discharged from the fuel supply means, and ignition is performed by the ignition means.

The locking member also moves integrally with the pivoting movement of the operating member, and the stopper moves along the guide groove and reaches the end. It returns to the lockable position on the opposite side of the direction.
Then, when the operating member is released, the operating member returns,
The stopper portion of the lock member is moved to a position where it engages with the end groove by the urging force of the spring member, and automatically returns to a locked state in which the rotation of the operation member is disabled, thereby preventing inadvertent ignition. .

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional structure of a main part of a lighter provided with a safety device according to an embodiment, FIG. 2 shows the same cross-sectional structure with a lock member removed, and FIG. 3 shows a front structure in an exploded state.

The lighter 1 includes a lighter main body 3 having a fuel supply means 2 having a nozzle 10 for storing fuel and ejecting a fuel gas at an upper portion, an ignition means 4 for igniting the fuel, the fuel supply means 2 and an ignition means. An operating member 5 for operating the means 4 and a lock member 6 for controlling the turning operation of the operating member 5 are provided.

The lighter body 3 is formed of a synthetic resin and has a tank body 13 in which fuel gas such as butane gas is stored.
And a tank side surface portion 14 formed integrally with the tank body 13 and forming a peripheral wall of the lighter 1. At the upper end of the tank body 13, a known fuel supply means 2 for controlling the amount of injected fuel is provided, and a lever 11 for opening and closing gas injection by a nozzle 10 provided on the fuel supply means 2 is substantially horizontally. The lever 11 is provided so that one end becomes a fulcrum and the other end is ejected when the other end is lifted upward. A combustion cylinder 12 is provided around the upper part of the nozzle 10.
Are arranged.

The igniting means 4 comprises a piezoelectric unit 17 disposed in parallel with the fuel supply means 2 so as to be vertically oriented, and its operating rod 17a is urged upward by a spring (not shown). And the operation rod 17a
Is pushed down, a high voltage for discharge is applied to the combustion cylinder 12.
The discharge is applied to the electrodes and the gas ejected from the nozzle 10 is ignited.

The operating member 5 covers the peripheral wall of the lighter main body 3, that is, the upper end of the tank side surface portion 14 in a cap shape, and the lower end portion is formed in a downwardly curved arc shape. The upper surface is also formed in an arc shape. A leg extending downward at the center of the operating member 5
A rotating shaft 18 is provided at the lower end of the leg portion 15 in a horizontal direction, and the rotating shaft 18 is formed on the tank side surface portion 14 at a position slightly higher than the lever 11. 14a
(See FIG. 2), and the operation member 5 is configured to rotate about a rotation shaft 18. Further, an engagement piece 15a is protruded from the lower end of the leg 15 so that the engagement piece 15a is engaged with the other end of the lever 11 and lifted in accordance with the rotation of the operation member 5. To operate. An operating portion 15b is provided at the rear of the intermediate portion of the leg portion 15 so as to abut on an upper end portion of the operating rod 17a of the piezoelectric unit 17,
The operating member 5 is urged to rotate in the return direction by receiving the upward urging force of the operating rod 17a via the operating portion 15b.

The lighter main body 3 has a tank side surface.
An arc-shaped guide groove 20 is formed at the upper end of the inner side surface of the 14 along this upper end shape, and an end groove formed by bending downward at the center end of the guide groove 20. 21 are articulated.

A lock member 6 for restraining the operation member 5 from rotating (sliding) is also made of synthetic resin, and a tank of the lighter body 3 is provided beside the leg 15 of the operation member 5 of the lighter body 3. It is arranged between the side portion 14.
The lock member 6 has a pin 23 projecting from an inner surface of a base 6 a extending in a vertical direction along a side surface of the leg 15, and the pin 23 is engaged with a regulating groove 24 formed on a side surface of the leg 15. The regulation groove
24 restricts the upward movement from the lock position and the lateral movement therefrom.

Above the base portion 6a, a stopper portion 25 which projects laterally and is inserted into the guide groove 20 of the lighter body 3 is provided.
The stopper 25 slides in the arcuate guide groove 20 with the lock position engaged in the end groove 21 at the end of the guide groove 20. Further, a connecting portion 26 extending outside the operation member 5 (tank side portion 14) is formed laterally above the stopper portion 25, and an outer end of the connection portion 26 extends along the outer surface of the operation member 5. Release operation knob 27
Is provided. The connecting portion 26 extends through a rectangular cutout opening 5a formed in the side surface of the cap of the operation member 5, and the cutout opening 5a is formed by the base 6a having a regulating groove.
It is formed in a size that can move within a range associated with moving along 24.

On the other hand, one end of a spring member 30 formed by a spiral spring is connected to the lower end of the base 6a of the lock member 6, and a fulcrum 30a serving as a fixed point is formed at the other end of the spring member 30. The fulcrum portion 30a has a portion protruding in a laterally oval shape and is inserted into a fulcrum-shaped fulcrum hole 28 opened on the side surface of the leg portion 15, and is supported so as not to rotate. The spring member 30 has a linear shape in a free state, has a restoring elastic force by fixing the fulcrum portion 30a while spirally deforming the spring member 30, and the elastic force acts to pull the base 6a downward. ing.
The shape of the spring member 30 can be changed to a U-shape, a V-shape, a bow shape, or the like, in addition to a spiral shape.

The operation of the safety device for the lighter 1 configured as described above will be described in detail.

First, FIG. 1 shows a locked state, that is, a non-use state, in which the stopper 25 of the lock member 6 is engaged with the concave groove 21 at the end of the guide groove 20, and the engagement causes the operation member 5 to move. Rotation to the right in the figure is impossible, and the ignition operation cannot be performed. In this locked state, the stopper portion 25 is urged downward by the spring member 30, the engagement with the end concave groove 21 is maintained, and the locked state is maintained.

Next, when it is desired to use the lighter 1, as shown in FIG. 4, when the knob 27 of the lock member 6 is raised and moved to the right, the stopper 25 is moved to the end groove.
It is located in the arc-shaped guide groove 20 deviating from 21. At this time,
Since the operation member 5 is acted on in the return direction by the urging force of the operation rod 17a of the piezoelectric unit 17 in the upward direction, the operation member 5 does not rotate by the unlocking operation of the knob 27 of the lock member 6. Further, the pin 23 of the base 6a of the lock member 6 moves along the restriction groove 24 by the above-described lock release operation, and the urging force of the spring member 30 acts only downward even in this state. The pin 23 is locked to the lower edge of the portion, and the lock member 6 does not return to the locked position even if the hand is released from the knob portion 27, and is held at the unlocked position.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5, when the operating member 5 is operated rightward, the operating member 5
, And the lock member 6 held by the leg 15 also rotates integrally. Then, the stopper portion 25 of the lock member 6 moves outward in the arc-shaped guide groove 20. In response to the rotation of the operating member 5, the operating portion 15b of the leg 15 pushes down the operating rod 17a of the piezoelectric unit 17, and the engaging piece 15a lifts the lever 11 to eject gas, and the piezoelectric unit 17 Is ignited by the high-pressure discharge from the jet gas.

When the operation member 5 is further rotated, the stopper 25 of the lock member 6 is moved to the end face of the outer end of the guide groove 20.
The stopper 25 is moved to the left relative to the operation member 5 to release the holding at the unlock position, and the pin 23 of the base 6a is moved from the horizontal portion of the regulating groove 24 to the vertical portion. Side, and further movement of the operation member 5 is restricted.

When the operation member 5 is released to extinguish the fire,
Due to the return force of the spring acting on the operation rod 17a of the piezoelectric unit 17 and the nozzle 10, the operation member 5 rotates in the return direction, that is, in the left direction, the lever 11 returns to the horizontal state, and the ejection of fuel is stopped. When the operation member 5 returns to the center position, the stopper 25 of the lock member 6
Is moved to the center side end, and when it is fitted to the end concave groove 21, it is immersed and engaged by the urging force of the spring member 30, and automatically returns to the initial locked state.

According to this embodiment, the lock member 6 is connected to the operation member 5.
While being integrally moved with respect to the rotation of, the lock member is relatively moved to the lock position and the unlock position, and both states are urged by the spring member 30 so that the lock position and the unlock position are changed. Is securely held, is not unlocked due to its own weight, contact with other articles, etc., does not return to the locked position during the ignition operation, and does not hinder the ignition operation. Further, by automatically returning the lock member 6 to the lockable position in conjunction with the ignition operation, the lock member 6 is prevented from being left in the unlocked position, and reliability is improved.

A knob for releasing the locked state
By requiring the operation in two directions of 27, for example, careless ignition operation due to mischief of a child or the like cannot be performed, thereby enhancing safety. Since the lock member 6 itself has the spring member 30, the self-return function can be provided with a simple structure.

Further, the lock member 6 is provided on the tank side portion 14.
Since the operation groove is not formed, malfunctions due to dust and the like can be prevented, and the shape of the knob 27 of the lock member 6 can be designed as a part of the lighter design. Additional product value can be increased.

On the other hand, the lock member 6 has an integral structure together with the spring member 30 and the knob portion 27. When the lighter 1 is assembled, the lock member 6 can be integrated with the operation member 5 to form a unit, so that assembly is easy and automation is possible. Become. Further, the assembling of the lock member 6 to the operation member 5 is performed by the lock member 6.
By simply engaging or fitting the fulcrum portion 30a, the pin 23, and the connecting portion 26, it is possible to easily obtain an urging force and at the same time assemble.

[0032]

According to the safety device for a lighter of the present invention as described above, a lock member is mounted on the leg of the operating member for rotating operation, and the lock member is biased by the spring member to the regulating groove. A lock release operation is performed along the guide member, and an arcuate guide groove with which the stopper of the lock member is engaged and an end groove for locking the end of the guide groove are provided on the upper portion of the lighter main body. The lock mechanism can be easily provided for the movable operation member, and the locked state can be reliably maintained and the reliability can be improved. Further, after ignition, the lock member automatically returns to the lock position in conjunction with the operation of the operation member, so that the safety of the lighter is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional front view of a main part of a lighter provided with a safety device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional front view of the essential part showing a state where a lock member is removed.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a main part in an exploded state.

FIG. 4 is a sectional front view of a main part in an unlocked state.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional front view of a main part showing an intermediate state of an ignition operation.

FIG. 6 is a sectional front view of a main part showing a terminal state of an ignition operation.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional front view of a main part showing a transition to a re-lock state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Lighter 2 Fuel supply means 3 Lighter body 4 Ignition means 5 Operating member 6 Lock member 6a Base 14 Tank side part 15 Leg part 17 Piezoelectric unit 18 Rotating shaft 20 Guide groove 21 End groove 24 Restriction groove 25 Stopper part 27 Knob Part 30 Spring member

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An operating member which covers an upper end of a lighter main body in a cap shape, and a leg extending downward is rotatably supported by the lighter main body by a rotation shaft, and a tank side surface forming an upper side wall of the lighter main body. And a lock member attached to a leg of the operation member, wherein an arc-shaped guide groove is formed at an upper end of the tank side surface portion and an end groove is formed at an end portion on the center side thereof, and the lock member is provided. A base portion whose movement is regulated by the regulating groove, a stopper portion which is connected above the base portion and is engageable with the guide groove and the end groove, and which is disposed outside in association with the stopper portion; A lock-operable knob for moving the stopper along the restriction groove from a lock position engaged with the end groove to an unlock position engaged with the guide groove; The base A spring member which is urged in the direction of the center to hold the state is integrally formed, and when the lock member is at the lock position, the stopper portion engages with the concave groove to inhibit the rotation of the operation member. And a lighter that enables the operation member to rotate when the lock member is operated to the unlock position, and moves the lock member to the lockable position at the other end of the guide groove by the rotation of the operation member. For safety devices. 2. The lock member according to claim 1, wherein the spring member is a spiral spring having one end connected to the base and the other end fitted and fixed to the leg of the operation member in a curved deformation state. The safety device for a lighter according to claim 1.