US20020064744A1

US20020064744A1 - Gas igniter with flexible extension

Info

Publication number: US20020064744A1
Application number: US09/728,915
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert Tse
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-11-30
Filing date: 2000-11-30
Publication date: 2002-05-30

Abstract

A gas igniter comprises a casing detachably connected to a container, which holds a inserted disposable gas lighter cartridge as a gas reservoir. A flexible extension that can be freely curved at any angle and retained to the given shape to perform ignition even in a tight spot area and the flexible extension can be snap back in the casing for easy storage.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Gas igniter on the market today is structured with a main body and a long rigid extension. It is so hard to perform an ignition for some tight spot area. It can be improved by a flexible extension that can be freely curved at any angle and retained to the given shape. This type of igniter is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,369,556 in which the extend arms protrude on the casing. The user will found that is not comfortable to use. In addition, the bottle gas used for refill is not conveniently found everywhere. Instead of bottle gas, using a disposable lighter as fuel source for refill which can be easily found and inexpensive would be ideal.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished to provide an orthopedically engineered trigger-controlled igniter that is comfortable and convenient to use. It uses a disposable lighter as an insert cartridge for the fuel source, the advantage is disposable lighter cost less, more safe and easy to find in compared with bottle gas.

According to one aspect of the present invention the gas igniter comprising a casing detachably connected to the container which hold a disposable lighter as a gas reservoir, a safety switch which disposed within the sliding track with locking and unlocking position. A push-button and a trigger are disposed for controlling gas supply from the reservoir, an elastic gas flow connector and a piezo electric unit are incorporated into the casing portion assembly. A hollow flexible member extends from the casing with one end and the opposite end connected to a front pipe, the front pipe which mounted with flame nozzle that connected with gas pipe and ground electrode.

In order to actuate the igniter, first, slide the safety switch to unlock position, then push the push-button upward to move the rocking lever to unlock the trigger, and then pull down the trigger, the trigger controlled to depress the gas lever of the disposable gas lighter cartridge and the piezo electric simultaneously causing a flame produced at the flame nozzle that shoot out from the flame port of the front pipe, the trigger will recess back to locking position automatically when the user released the trigger after each use.

Another aspect of the present invention, three elastic members are disposed on the curved side of the igniter provided a comfortable soft grip for the user.

Still another aspect of the invention, the flexible member with a stud which construct on the front pipe can snap into the retaining hole of the elastic member on the casing for easy storage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a prospect view of the igniter with the flexible member snap on [0007]
FIG. 2 is a prospect view of the igniter with the flexible member expanded [0008]
FIG. 3 is a part-sectioned view of the igniter in compact storage position [0009]
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectioned view of the igniter [0010]
FIG. 4[0011] a is an enlarged cross-sectioned view of flexible member and front pipe
FIG. 4[0012] b is an enlarged cross-sectioned view of casing and container
FIG. 5 is a prospect view of a second example of the flexible member [0013]
FIG. 6 is a part-sectioned view of the flexible member shown in FIG. 5[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1. a trigger-controlled gas igniter in accordance with present invention is generally comprised of a [0015] casing 1, formed by two half, a container 2 detachably connected to the casing 1. A flexible member 3 disposed between the casing 1 and the front pipe 4.
Referring to FIG. 4, [0016] partition walls 26 are made inside the casing 1 to hold an elastic gas flow connector 28 which one end connected to the fuel nozzle 27 of the inserted disposable gas lighter cartridge 6 and the opposite end connected to the flame nozzle 14 by a flexible gas pipe 9. A piezo electric unit 11 is mounted within the partition 37, the electrode 21 is connected with the spine 19 by a screw 20. The spine is formed by one or more strands of metal wire, which can be bent easily and retained a given shape and it is a conductive material. The spine 19 connected with the electrode 21 at one end and the opposite end connected to the tubular metal member 13 of the front pipe 4 by a screw 18 secured at the cylindrical nozzle holder 12. A ground electrode 10 of the piezo electric unit is connected to the flame nozzle 14. The spine 19, the ground electrode 10 and the flexible gas pipe 9 are disposed interiorly of the hollow flexible member 3. The cylindrical nozzle holder 12 accommodated the flame nozzle 14 with one end is inserted into the tubular metal member 13, and the other end is inserted to the flexible member 3.
The [0017] tubular metal member 13 has a front-end wall and a flame port 16 through which flame is injected outward is formed in the central portion of the front-end wall. Air intake ports 15 are formed in the upper side portion of the tubular metal member 13 behind the flame port 16. Further, part of the front-end wall is bent inward to form a spark point 17.
Thus, the piezo [0018] electric unit 11 is electrically connected from the spark point 17 through the hollow flexible member 3 to electrode 21 via tubular metal member 13, screw 18, spine 19, and the flame nozzle 14 is connected to the ground electrode 10.
A [0019] safety switch 8 is mounted within the sliding track with locking and unlocking positions, and part of the safety switch 8 traverses the casing 1. Trigger 5 is constructed with three projections 5A, 5B and 5C. Projection 5B extend to stop at the top of the piezo electric unit 111 and the top of a rocking lever 22 at the locking position. Projection 5A extend to stop above the gas lever 7 of the inserted disposable gas lighter cartridge 6. Projection 5C extend to stop at the top of the traverse part of the safety switch 8 inside the casing 1.
A push-[0020] button 24 is disposed in the sliding track (not shown) at the curved side of the casing 1 and connected to tension spring 25. The rocking lever 22 is supported to rotate about a pivot 29 and connected to spring 23.
Referring to FIG. 2 the [0021] casing 1 constructed with two rolled edges 1A and 1B on the curved side from the top and ended at area 1C and 1D, an elastic member 30 is mounted between the two rolled edges at the top of casing 1, an elastic member 31 constructed with a retaining hole 34 for catching stud 33 of front pipe 4 is mounted at the lower part of casing 1. Another elastic member 32 is mounted at the container adjacent to elastic member 31. Thus, these three elastic members 30, 31 and 32 mounted on the curved side formed a soft grip for the comfort of the user.
Referring to FIG. 3, the [0022] flexible member 3 with the stud 33 constructed on front pipe 4 is snapped into the retaining hole 34. At the same time, the flexibility of the elastic member 31 enables the flexible member 3 to be withdrawn from the retaining hole 34 by pulling the front pipe 4 from the casing 1.
A first example of the [0023] flexible member 3 is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The flexible member 3 comprises a flexible pipe formed by elastic material, the spine 19 constructed with one or more strands of metal wire is disposed interiorly of the elastic pipe. Thus, the flexible member 3 can be bent freely and retain a given shape.
A second example of the [0024] flexible member 3 is shown in FIG. 5, the flexible member 3 formed with a plurality of projections in the form of a spiral. This flexible member 3 is formed by spirally winding molded ribbon plate member 36, which consists of long strips of steel molded to a wave shape, so that they closed overlap one another.
The sectional configuration of the molded [0025] ribbon plate member 36, as shown in FIG. 5. has a curved portion 36A extending outwardly in the form of a semicircle, a flat portion 36B extending axially from the curved portion 36A and a rising potion 36C with its outer end portion curved outwardly. The members 36 are formed into a pipe shape by spirally winding them so that the rising portion 36C is inserted inside the curved portion 36A. Thus, the flexible member 3 can be bent and deformed in a range where the outer end of the rising portion 36C can move within the curve portion 36A. The engagement of the rising portion 36C with the inner surface of the curved portion 36A defines the expandable limit and the bendable limit. Thus, with this, better stability is obtained. Note that on the opposite end portions of the flexible member 3 there maybe formed flat cylindrical connection portions which are inserted and fixed to the casing 1 and inserted by cylindrical nozzle holder 12.
The operation of the gas igniter of this embodiment will be described, herein below, this orthopedically engineered igniter fit in the palm of the user very comfortably with the push-[0026] button 24 positioned underneath the thumb and the finger through the casing opening 35 to pull the trigger 5. First, slide the safety switch 8 to unlock position, then slide the push-button 24 upwardly causing the rocking lever 22 moved to the unlock position, projections 5B and 5C are free to move without the blocking of safety switch 8 and rocking lever 22, when the trigger 5 is depressed, the gas lever 7 of the inserted disposable gas lighter cartridge 6 and the piezo electric unit 11 are pressed simultaneously by projections 5A and 5B, the fuel gas is released from the gas reservoir to the flame nozzle 14 through the flexible gas pipe 9, and the piezo electric unit 11 produces an alternating discharge voltage which is applied between the spark point 17 and the flame nozzle 14, whereby the fuel gas injected from the flame nozzle 14 is ignited. When the trigger 5 is released, the rocking lever retreat back to locking position by a spring 23 and the fuel supply is cut off when gas lever 7 is released from projection 5A.

Claims

1. A gas igniter comprising: a casing detachably connected to the container, which hold an inserted disposable lighter for the gas reservoir. A safety switch, a push-button, a trigger and a piezo electric unit are incorporated into said casing. A flexible member in the form of a pipe extended from the said casing with one end and connected to a front pipe with the opposite end. A flame nozzle for ignition mounted in the said front pipe and a flexible gas pipe connected between said flame nozzle and said gas reservoir.

2. The gas igniter as set in claim 1, wherein, said flexible member comprises an elastic pipe, a spine constructed by one or more strands of metal wire disposed interiorly of the elastic pipe that can be easily bent and retained to a given shape.

3. The gas igniter as set in claim 1, wherein, said flexible member as comprises a flexible pipe formed by spirally winding molded ribbon plate member.

4. The gas igniter as set in claim 1, the said flexible member with a stud constructed on said front pipe can be snap back into a retaining hole of an elastic member for easy storage.