US20080076083A1

US20080076083A1 - Safety lighter

Info

Publication number: US20080076083A1
Application number: US11/526,105
Authority: US
Inventors: Chi-Hsuan Hsu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-09-25
Filing date: 2006-09-25
Publication date: 2008-03-27

Abstract

A safety lighter includes a gas tank, a wheel racket, a file wheel assembly, and a metal cap. A wheel racket being provided at the top of the gas tank further includes two file-wheel seats having a slot extended up therefrom and a multiplicity of match-up seats. The file wheel assembly made by pressing together a file wheel with relatively smaller shaft diameter and two side wheels having external teeth at the circumference edge and with shaft diameter greater that that of the file wheel has its salient shaft pivotally connected to the slot. The metal cap being slipped on the external portion of the wheel racket has an extension portion provided at a location adjacent to the file wheel assembly. Under normal condition, the extension portion of the metal cap meshes with the side wheels of the file wheel assembly and the external teeth of the file wheel having relatively small shaft diameter such that it is not easy to ignite the lighter by turning the file wheel assembly to rub against the flint since it is propped up by the extension portion. When it comes to ignite the lighter, one needs only to exert a small force to press down the file wheel assembly and the slot will guide the salient shaft of the file wheel assembly to slide downward. After pressing down, the file wheel assembly will separate the prop-up engaging of the extension portion of the metal cap and turn the file wheel assembly to rub against the flint to generate flame to achieve the ignition action. Therefore, the lighter is capable of avoiding the children playing with the lighter to cause hazard.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an improvement of safety lighter, and more particularly, to a safety lighter having safety protecting structure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The simple-type lighter provides consumers with conveniency and low cost, and claims to be a great breakthrough in the contemporary era ever since the first use of fire in human history. However, the lighter brings forth concerns on safety consideration. FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a common simple-type lighter structure of the prior art. As shown in FIG. 1, the structure of an early lighter structure includes a gas tank (100), a wheel racket (200), a file wheel (300), and a metal cap (400). The gas tank (200) being a hollow chamber for filling liquid gas includes a nozzle (1001) having a neck portion (1002) provided at a closed portion secured thereon. The wheel racket (200), having two file wheel seats (2001) extended therefrom with a small hole (20011) provided at each of the file wheel seat (2001) respectively, caps on the top of the gas tank (100) correspondingly. An adjusting wheel (2004) having internal teeth slips on the corresponding base of the flame nozzle (1001). A pressing plate (2003) making use of the matching portion (20031) slips in the holes (20012) provided at the bottom portion of the file wheel seat (2001). A flint spring (3002) and a flint (3001) are placed in a securing seat (2002). Subsequently, salient shafts (3000) of the file wheel (300) slips on the corresponding holes (20011) of the file wheel seat (2001). Afterwards, the metal cap (400) caps on the overall top portion to form the simple-type lighter that is popular nowadays. However, as the lighter is very easy to ignite, children without crisis consciousness might often cause hazard by playing with it.
Subsequently, there are lighters with various kinds of safety structural designs appeared on the market. FIG. 2 is an exploded view of another safety lighter structure of the prior art, and FIG. 3A˜3C are schematic cross-sectional views showing the actions of the safety lighter structure in FIG. 2 of the prior art. As shown in FIG. 2, the main structure is substantially the same as that of the one shown in FIG. 1, therefore, it is not necessary to go into detail. What is different between them is that a penetrating hole (20012) is provided at a side of the wheel racket (200) and a safety pin (2004) is placed into the wheel racket (200) through the penetrating hole (20012), and a spring (200130 is disposed below an extension portion of the safety pin (2004). A hook portion (20042) and a salient portion (20043) are provided at the front end and at the rear section respectively of the safety pin (2004). As shown in FIG. 3A˜3C, a prop-up portion (20032) and a flange (20031) is provided at the lower front end and at the rear end respectively of a pressing plate (2003). As shown in FIG. 3A, in general, the top surface of the rear section of the above-mentioned safety pin (2004) props against the flange (20031) below the rear section of the above-mentioned pressing plate (2003). Besides, the pressing plate (2003) is unable to make use of the “Principle of Lever” to pull the neck portion (1002) of the nozzle (1001) so as to open the gas to spray off and adjust the quantity of the spray gas by the adjusting wheel (2005). As shown in FIG. 3B, if one pushes the safety pin (2004) in from right to left side in horizontal direction, the flange (20031) below the pressing plate (2003) will separate the prop-up on the top surface of the extension portion (20041) of the safety pin (2004). This will cause the pressing plate (2003) appear as shown in FIG. 3C to have the pressing plate (2003) easily press down to open the gas to spray off the nozzle. As the pressing plate (2003) is released, the safety pin (2004) is capable of withdrawing from the right side instantly due to the resilience of the spring (20013). This will cause the prop-up portion (20032) at the front end of the pressing plate (2003) hook up the hook portion (20042) at the front end of the safety pin (2004) for positioning, thereby restore the protecting structure of the safe prop-up action of the pressing plate (2003).
FIG. 4 is an exploded view of further another safety lighter structure of the prior art, and FIG. 5A˜5B are schematic cross-sectional views showing the actions of the safety lighter structure in FIG. 4 of the prior art. As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5A˜5B, the main structure is substantially the same as that of the one depicted early, therefore, it is not necessary to go into detail. What is different between them is that the salient shaft (3000) of the file wheel (300) is extended slightly and two sheets of safety wheel plate (3003) is slipped on the salient shaft wherein the outside diameter of safety wheel plate (3003) is greater than the maximum outside diameter of the file wheel (300). When it comes to use, the children mostly can turn only the safety wheel plate (3003) having relatively larger outside diameter but not turning the file wheel (300) to rub the flint (3001) to ignite. This is because that the fingers of the children is not as strong as those of the adult.
As we can see the U.S. Pat. No. 6,676,405B2, the lighter mainly makes use of two metal cap to cover the two wheels wherein the outside diameter is designed to be greater than that of the file wheel. The lighter also utilizes a spring, which is used for rub-to-ignite, to form a file wheel. Moreover, a ring-shaped protecting piece is provided at the exterior of the file wheel. When it comes to use, one firstly presses down the two covered exterior lids and their interior two side wheel. In the meantime, one exerts force to push down the ring-shaped protecting piece making the two metal exterior covers (covered around the exterior portion of the two side wheels) rub against the side wheels to drive the two side wheels, then press down to make the ring-shaped protecting piece and the file wheel lower down to contact the flint. Afterwards, one turns the file wheel assembly to achieve the object of ignition. Although this kind of structure can protect the children from easily playing with the lighter, the demerits of the structure are that the elements are complicated and the cost is high.
In accordance with the above-mentioned structures of the safety lighters, one can see that there are some disadvantages: 1. Some structures are inconvenient in operation causing not easy in igniting; 2. Some structures are complicated in design making the cost become too high; 3. Some structures are inconvenient to use by “sense of touch” that might cause the car driver divert his/or her attention on driving when he/or she intend to use the lighter.
Therefore, it has been an urgent plan and improvement project for the designers to resolve the above-mentioned problems by designing a safety lighter structure that is simple in structure, convenient in use without changing the user's habit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In light of the above-mentioned demerits of the prior art, the invention provides a safety lighter that aims to ameliorate at least some of the demerits of the prior art or to provide a useful alternative.
The primary objective of the invention is to provide a safety lighter making use of the two file-wheel-seat of the wheel racket having a slot to pivotally connected to a file wheel such that the extension portion of the metal cap meshes with the side wheels, which have external teeth at their circumference, of the file wheel assembly for increasing the interference of the turning of the file wheel assembly, thereby, it is not easy to ignite the lighter by turning the file wheel assembly to rub against the flint, thus it is capable of achieving high safety efficacy.
The secondary objective of the invention is to provide a safety lighter such a portion of the waste metal is retained for using for the extension portion and the salient pieces. Therefore, the invention is capable of increasing the efficacy of saving material without increasing any material cost nor any mold or cutting cost in the overall working process.
The further objective of the invention is to provide a safety lighter where the metal cap has a second match-up portions that is capable of positively make the engagement of the metal cap and the wheel racket even more secure without worrying about the dislocation, deformation or coming off due to impact or dropping from a high position so as to assure that the metal cap is not apt to come off, thereby, increase the efficacy of the overall safety protection. Moreover, the above-mentioned guided surface (241), which is appeared in arcuate and slant face, provides a guidance to facilitate the slip-on engagement of the metal cap (4), thereby again increase the efficacy of the overall safety protection
In order to achieve the above-mentioned objectives, a safety lighter is provided. The lighter includes a gas tank, a wheel racket, a file wheel assembly, and a metal cap. A wheel racket being provided at the top of the gas tank further includes two file-wheel seats having a slot extended up therefrom and a multiplicity of match-up seats. The file wheel assembly made by pressing together a file wheel with relatively smaller shaft diameter and two side wheels having external teeth at the circumference edge and with shaft diameter greater that that of the file wheel has its salient shaft pivotally connected to the slot. The metal cap being slipped on the external portion of the wheel racket has an extension portion provided at a location adjacent to the file wheel assembly. Under normal condition, the extension portion of the metal cap meshes with the side wheels of the file wheel assembly and the external teeth of the file wheel having relatively small shaft diameter such that it is not easy to ignite the lighter by turning the file wheel assembly to rub against the flint since it is propped up by the extension portion. When it comes to ignite the lighter, one needs only to exert a small force to press down the file wheel assembly and the slot will guide the salient shaft of the file wheel assembly to slide downward. After pressing down, the file wheel assembly will separate the prop-up engaging of the extension portion of the metal cap and turn the file wheel assembly to rub against the flint to generate flame to achieve the ignition action. Therefore, the lighter is capable of avoiding the children playing with the lighter to cause hazard
The accomplishment of this and other objectives of the invention will become apparent from the following description and its accompanying drawings of which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a common simple-type lighter structure of the prior art.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of another safety lighter structure of the prior art.

FIG. 3A˜3C are schematic cross-sectional views showing the actions of the safety lighter structure in FIG. 2 of the prior art.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of further another safety lighter structure of the prior art.

FIG. 5A˜5B are schematic cross-sectional views showing the actions of the safety lighter structure in FIG. 4 of the prior art.

FIG. 6 is a schematic-and-isometric view of the safety lighter structure of the first preferred embodiment of invention.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the safety lighter structure of the first embodiment of invention.

FIG. 8A˜8B are schematic cross-sectional views showing the actions of the safety lighter structure in FIG. 7 of the invention.

FIG. 9A is an exploded view of the safety lighter structure of the second embodiment of invention.

FIG. 9B is an exploded view of the safety lighter structure of the second embodiment of invention.

FIG. 9C is a partially enlarged view of the matching seat structure of the cap of the safety lighter structure of the second embodiment of invention.

FIG. 10A˜10B are schematic cross-sectional views showing the actions of the safety lighter structure of the second embodiment of invention.

FIG. 11A is a schematic developed diagram of the stamping mold of the metal cap of the first embodiment of invention.

FIG. 11B is a schematic developed diagram of the stamping mold of the metal cap of the second embodiment of invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 6 is a schematic-and-isometric view of the safety lighter structure of the first preferred embodiment of invention; and FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the safety lighter structure of the first embodiment of invention. As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the structure of the lighter of the invention includes a gas tank (1), a wheel racket (2), a file wheel (3), and a metal cap (4). Among them, the gas tank (1), the wheel racket (2), and the file wheel assembly (3) are substantially the same as those in the prior art that is shown in FIG. 1 except that a slot (211) is provided at each of the two file-wheel seats (211) extended up from the wheel racket (2). A multiplicity of match-up seats (24) being provided at the edge of the wheel racket (2) have a guided surface (241) (see also FIG. 9C) appeared in arcuate and slant face. The file wheel assembly (3) integrally formed by two side wheels (301) and a file wheel (302) through press-to-combine process and having external teeth surrounding the circumference thereof has a salient shaft (31) pivotally connected to the corresponding slot (211). By making use of a first match-up portion (42), the metal cap (4) matches the recess (20) of the wheel racket (2) to cover the exterior portion of above-mentioned two file-wheel-seat (21). A multiplicity of sheet extension portions (41) are provided at the location adjacent to where the metal cap (4) meets the file wheel assembly (3). Moreover, a multiplicity of second match-up portions (421) are provided at the metal cap (4) corresponding to the multiplicity of match-up seat (24) of the wheel racket (2). Under normal condition, the extension portion (41) of the metal cap (4) meshes with the side wheels (301), which have external teeth at their circumference, of the file wheel assembly (3) (see also FIG. 8A) for increasing the interference of the turning of the file wheel assembly (3) such that it is not easy to ignite the lighter by turning the file wheel assembly (3) to rub against the flint (3001).
FIG. 8A˜8B are schematic cross-sectional views showing the actions of the safety lighter structure in FIG. 7 of the invention. As shown in FIG. 8B, when it comes to ignite the lighter, one needs only to exert a small force to press down the file wheel assembly (3) and the slot (211) provided at the two file-wheel-seat (21) will guide the salient shaft (31) of the file wheel assembly (3) to slide downward. After pressing down, the file wheel assembly (3) will separate the prop-up engaging of the extension portion (41) of the metal cap (4) and turn the file wheel assembly (3). In this way, the file wheel assembly (3) is capable of rubbing against the flint (3001) to generate flame to achieve the ignition action. Since the file wheel assembly (3) of this lighter structure of invention is not easy to turn around to achieve ignition action, the lighter is capable of avoiding the children playing with the lighter to cause hazard. Therefore, the lighter of the invention is capable of achieving the object of lowering the occurrence of accident, thereby, the lighter of the invention possesses the safety protection structure.
FIG. 9A is an exploded view of the safety lighter structure of the second embodiment of invention, FIG. 9B is an exploded view of the safety lighter structure of the second embodiment of invention, and FIG. 9C is a partially enlarged view of the matching seat structure of the cap of the safety lighter structure of the second embodiment of invention. As shown in FIG. 9A, FIG. 9B, and FIG. 9C, majority of the lighter structure of this second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment except that extra salient pieces (411) are provided at the file wheel (302) at the center section of the extension portion (41) of the metal cap (4). Under normal condition, the salient pieces (411) engages with the file wheel (302) and appears in prop-up status. FIG. 10A˜10B are schematic cross-sectional views showing the actions of the safety lighter structure of the second embodiment of invention. As shown in FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B, similar to the foregoing process, when it comes to ignite the lighter, one can slightly press down the file wheel assembly (3) to let the extension portion (41) of the metal cap (4) and the salient pieces (411) together release the engagement of the prop-up meshing side wheels (301) and the external teeth of the file wheel. Afterwards, one turns the file wheel assembly (3) to make the file wheel (302) rub against the flint (3001) to generate flame, thus achieve the ignition action. This improved structure again increases the efficacy of much better safety engaging prop-up to avoid the children playing with the lighter to cause hazard. Therefore, the lighter of the invention is capable of achieving the object of lowering the occurrence of accident, thereby, the lighter of the invention possesses the second safety protection structure.
As shown in FIG. 9C, it emphasizes that as shown in the first and the second embodiments, the match-up seats (24) extended from the wheel racket (2) is disposed in corresponding with the second match-up portions (421) that is capable of positively make the engagement of the metal cap (4) and the wheel racket (2) even more secure without worrying about the dislocation, deformation or coming off due to impact or dropping from a high position so as to assure that the metal cap is not apt to come off, thereby, increase the efficacy of the overall safety protection. And, the above-mentioned guided surface (241), which is appeared in arcuate and slant face, provides a guidance to facilitate the slip-on engagement of the metal cap (4), thereby again increase the efficacy of the overall safety protection.
FIG. 11A is a schematic developed diagram of the stamping mold of the metal cap (4) of the first embodiment of invention. As shown in FIG. 11A, normally, after stamping, the waste metal D′ of the metal cap (4) is discarded, but in the invention, a portion of the waste metal D′ is retained for using for the extension portion (41) and the salient pieces (411). Therefore, the invention is capable of increasing the efficacy of saving material without increasing any material cost nor any mold or cutting cost in the overall working process.
FIG. 11B is a schematic developed diagram of the stamping mold of the metal cap of the second embodiment of invention. As shown in FIG. 11B, normally, after stamping, the waste metal D′ of the metal cap (4) is discarded, but in the invention, a portion of the waste metal D′ is retained for using for the extension portion (41) and the salient pieces (411). Therefore, the invention is capable of increasing the efficacy of saving material without increasing any material cost nor any mold or cutting cost in the overall working process.
It will become apparent to those people skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing description, it is intended that all the modifications and variation fall within the scope of the following appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A safety lighter comprising:

a gas tank for filling liquid gas;

a wheel racket further comprising two file-wheel-seat and a securing seat, the file-wheel-seat has a slot extended up therefrom and the securing seat is for placing a spring and a flint;

a file wheel assembly made by pressing together a file wheel with relatively smaller shaft diameter and two side wheels having external teeth at the circumference edge and with shaft diameter greater that that of the file wheel; and

a metal cap characterized by that the metal cap is slipped on the external portion of the wheel racket, and the metal cap has an extension portion provided at the corresponding external teeth of the file wheel assembly.

2. The safety lighter as claimed in claim 1 characterized by that the wheel racket provides a multiplicity of match-up seats.

3. The safety lighter as claimed in claim 1 characterized by that the top surface of the match-up seats of the wheel racket appears a guided surface having arcuate shaped surface.

4. The safety lighter as claimed in claim 1 characterized by that the top surface of the match-up seats of the wheel racket appears a guided surface having slant surface.

5. The safety lighter as claimed in claim 1 characterized by that an extra salient pieces are provided corresponding to the file wheel at the extension portion of the metal cap.

6. The safety lighter as claimed in claim 1 characterized by that a multiplicity of second match-up portions are provided at the metal cap corresponding to the multiplicity of match-up seat of the wheel racket.