US2224258A - Cigarette lighter - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 10, 1940. l. FLORMAN CIGARETTE LIGHTER Original Filed March 17, 1937 III,

Patented Dec. 10, 1940 STATES PM: .rrics Application March 17, 1937, Serial No. 131,270 Renewed May 3, 1946 Claims.

My invention relates to cigarette lighters and particularly to such lighters of the pyrophoric type.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a lighter which is operated by a movement similar to that of the opening of the blade of a jack-knife. In other words, the operation is caused by swinging the lighter body out of a easing into which it normally fits. Thisarrangement gives a lighter which is practically without projecting parts, but which is easy to operate and eflicient in its operation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel snufing arrangement in which the snuiier is pivoted on a part which is movable with respect to the wick, and is operated by relative movement between the parts to cover and uncover the wick.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the following description, particularly when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which forms a part thereof.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows the lighter in side elevation in closed position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the lighter in open and operative position.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the wick-carrying por- I tion taken from the left hand side of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section through the lighter.

As shown in the drawing, the lighter comprises a casing member 2, this casing being open at the bottom and at one side, namely the right hand side in Fig. l. The casing is rectangular except that in its upper right hand corner it is provided with substantially semi-circular notches 4 in its opposed back and front walls.

The lighter mechanism, or wick-carrying member, comprises a fuel chamber 6 pivoted at 8 at the lower right hand corner of the casing 2. The fuel chamber can thus swing from a position within the casing 2 shown in Fig. 1 to a position outside of the casing, shown in Fig. 2. The movement of the fuel chamber from one position to the other is utilized to cause the operation of the lighter.

The fuel chamber is filled with a suitable absorbent material such as cotton wadding l0, and a wick 52 extends upwardly from within the fuel chamber to a point above the top wall thereof. The walls of the fuel chamber extend upwardly as at M to form ears between which is mounted a shaft it. The cars i l have at their right hand (c1. (av-7.1)

side upward extensions RS onthe outer surfaces of which are mounted buttons 20 adapted to engage in the semi-circular recesses 4, and providing a grip for pullingthe fuel chamber 6 out 5 of the casing 2.

'Mounted on the shaft i6 is a flint wheel 22 engaging a flint/2d mounted in the upper end of a tube 26 which extends downwardly through the fuel chamber 6 and is closed at its lower end by a plug 28. The flint is held in engagement with 0 the wheel 22 by a coil spring 30 within the tube 2b. The flint wheel 22 is provided on one side with notches 32. These notches are engaged by a spring tongue 35 carried by a U-shaped operating member 36 likewise pivoted on the shaft 15 It, thus giving a one-way connection between the operating member 35 and the flint wheel 22. A spring 38 engaged at one end around a pin ill mounted in the ears M extends around the shaft 16 and engages at its other end the operating 20' member 36, thus normally urging the operating member in a clock-wise direction (Fig. 3).

Mounted on the top wall d2 of the'casing 2 is a fiat leaf spring M which has its free end located adjacent the notches t, this free end having a 25 channel-shaped part providing two vertical portions and a, horizontal part connecting them. The inner vertical portion 48 when the lighter is in inoperative position engages behind the horizontal portion Eilof the operating member 36. 30 Thus when the lighter is moved out manually towards the position shown in Fig. 2- the portion 48 holds the operating member 36 and causes it to turn counter-clockwise around the shaft I6. When the fuel chamber portion has moved a certain distance, the edge of the section 59 slips under the channel section and the spring 38 which has been put under tension throws the operating member 36 in a clockwise direction, thusimpartin motion to the flint wheel 22 and turning the same to ignite the wick.

When the fuel chamber member is returned into the casing, an inclined portion 52 on the transverse part 56 of the operating member 3% engages the channel-shaped end of the leaf spring member M and pushes it upwardly so that the fuel chamber member can return into the casing. When this is done the-lighter is obviously ready for another operation.

In order to extinguish the flame, I provide a snuffer member mounted within the casing. This snufier member is pivoted on a shaft 55, and has a body portion 55 and a snufiing cup 58. A spring Gil engaging at one end the side wall'of the casing and at the other end the main portion 56 of the snufling member normally urges the snuffer in a counter-clockwise direction (Fig. 3) or towards a raised position. The snufling member, however, has downward extensions 62 lying in the Path of the wall of the fuel chamber 6. Thus when the fuel chamber swings in to the casing its wall strikes the extensions 62 and forces the snuffer member down over the wick. When the fuel chamber starts to move out of the casing the pressure is released and the spring 60 will raise the snuifer member off the wick.

While I have described herein one embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not intend to limit myself thereby except within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cigarette lighter comprising a casing, said casing being open at one side, a fuel chamber pivoted in said casing and movable out of the casing through said open side thereof, a wick carried by said fuel chamber, and cooperating means on said casing and said fuel chamber to ignite said wick when the fuel chamber is moved out of the casing, said means comprising a flint wheel, resilient means, a one-way connection between said flint wheel and said resilient means, and means first to put said resilient -means under tension and then to release the same.

2. A lighter comprising a casing open at one side, a fuel chamber pivoted in said casing and movable through said open side out of the casing, a leaf spring member mounted on the top wall of the casing and having a hooked portion on its free end, a wick carried by said fuel chamber, a flint wheel rotatably mounted on said fuel chamber adjacent the wick, means to hold a flint in engagement with said flint wheel, an operating member pivoted on said fuel chamber, a oneway connection between said operating member and said flint wheel, resilient means normally urging said operating member in a direction to move said flint Wheel, said operating member having a portion engageable with said hooked portionwhen the fuel chamber is within the casing, whereby when said fuel chamber is moved out of the casing, said hook first turns said operating member to place said resilient means under tension and then releases the same so that the operating member is moved by said resilient means to turn the flint Wheel and thereby to ignite the wick.

3. A lighter comprising a casing open at one side, a fuel chamber pivoted in said casing and movable through said open side out of the easing, a wick carried by said fuel chamber, a flint wheel rotatably mounted on said fuel chamber adjacent the wick, means to hold a flint in engagement with said flint wheel, an operating member pivoted on said fuel chamber, a one-way connection between said operating member and said flint wheel, resilient means normally urging said operating member in a direction to move said flint wheel, and means operable when said fuel chamber is moved out of the casing first to turn said operating member and place said resilient means under tension and then to release the operating member so that it is moved by said resilient means to turn the flint wheel and thereby to ignite the wick.

4. A lighter comprising a casing Open at one side, a fuel chamber pivoted in said casing and movable through said open side out of the casing, a member mounted in the casing, a wick carried by said fuel chamber, a flint wheel ro- :tatably mounted on said fuelchamber, adjacent.

the wick, means to hold a flint in engagement with said flint wheel, an operating member pivoted on said fuel chamber, means connecting said operating member and said flint wheel, said operating member having a portion engageable with said first member when the fuel chamber is within the casing, whereby when said fuel chamber is moved out of the casing, said first member operates said operating member to turn the flint wheel and thereby to ignite the wick.

5. A lighter comprising a thin substantially rectangular casing, said casing being open at the bottom and at one narrower side, a fuel chamber pivoted in said casing at the corner formed by said bottom and open side, and movable through said open side out of the casing, a leaf spring member mounted on the top wall of the casing and having a hooked portion on its free end, a wick carried by said fuel chamber, a flint wheel rotatably mounted on said fuel chamber adjacent the wick, means to hold a flint in engagement with said flint wheel, an operating member pivoted on said fuel chamber, a one-way connection between said operating member and said flint wheel, resilient means normally urging said operating member in a direction to move said flint wheel, said operating member having a portion engageable with said hooked portion when the fuel chamber is within the casing, whereby when said fuel chamber is moved out of the casing, said hook first turns said operating member and places said resilient means under tension and then releases the same so that the operating member is moved by said resilient means to turn the flint wheel and thereby to ignite the wick.

6. In a lighter as claimed in claim 2, a snuffer member pivoted within said casing, means normally urging said snuffer member to inoperative position, said snuffer member having a portion thereof lying in the path of movement of said fuel chamber when the same is moved into the casing, whereby said fuel chamber engages said portion upon movement into the casing and moves the snuifer member to cover the Wick.

7. In a cigarette lighter, a casing, a fuel chamber pivoted for movement into and out of the casing, a wick carried by said fuel chamber, a snufifer member pivoted in said casing, means normally urging said snuffer member to inoperative position, said snuffer member having a portion thereof lying in the path of movement of said fuel chamber when the same is moved into the casing, whereby said fuel chamber engages said portion upon movement into the cas-.

ing and moves the snuffer member to cover the wick, and means for releasably holding the fuel chamber in the casing.

8. In a cigarette lighter, a casing, a fuel chamber mounted for movement into and out of the casing, a wick carried by said fuel chamber, a snuifer movably mounted in said casing, means normally urging said snufier away from the wick, and means operated by relative movement of said fuel chamber into said casing to move said snuffer towards the wick, and means for releasably holding the fuel chamber in the casing.

. 9. In a cigarette lighter, a casing, a fuel chamber pivoted for movement into and out of the casing, a wick carried by said fuel chamber, a snuffer pivoted in said casing, means normally urging said snuffer away from the wick, and means operated by relative movement of said fuel chamber intosaid casing to move said snuffer towards said wick, and means for releasably holding the fuel chamber in the casing.

10. A cigarette lighter comprising a casing, said casing being open at one side, a fuel chamber pivoted in said casing and movable out of the casing through said open side thereof, a wick carried by said fuel chamber, means operated by relative movement between said casing and said fuel chamber to ignite said wick, a snuffer memher pivoted Within said casing, means normally urging said snuffer member to inoperative position, said snufier member havinga portion thereof lying in the path of movement of said fuel chamber when the same is moved into the casing, whereby said fuel chamber engages said portion upon movement into the casing and moves the snuffer member to cover the wick.

IRVING FLORMAN.

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