US2695508A

US2695508A - Pocket gas lighter

Info

Publication number: US2695508A
Application number: US217479A
Authority: US
Inventors: Francis E Gruber
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1951-03-26
Filing date: 1951-03-26
Publication date: 1954-11-30
Anticipated expiration: 1971-11-30

Description

F. E. GRUBER POCKET GAS LIGHTER Nov. 30, l 954 Filed March 26, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2.

FIG.

FIC5.3.

Bmaentor FRANCIS E. GRUBER attorney NOV. 30, 1954 GRUBER 2,695,508

POCKET GAS LIGHTER Filed March 26, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A x? "B I5 I /C C g:

I6 I 25 '6 A 5 In 2o 31wcntor FRANCIS E. GRUBER United States Patent ()fiice 2,695,508 lfetestz? 89% ea 125ifewer; 'fdes provi ing asectional construction" lighter which formsthe 1o Ofthin sheet metal to giy and 'whichfIfiQY be separately which includes the operat with'itsl'operating means; 7 he I extendsover the no'Zzleof the ligh r. te h he n zzle sIem veable,"

Afnrther featu e residesdin'providing a plastic o1; 11011 3 L v i i el lighter el iq qqi i s, er the P viding a coveringfor the lightrofi different colorsfwh'ich to firiishthe'li'ghter iii answered"; r covering also covers and Protectsjth" lighter sothat'these bartsdon6t need to be; finished because the'pl'astic 'easifi'g provides the the'outside su'rfaceof'tl' elighterf enhances. the appearance of. the. lighter where it {If desired i in It is also a'f eature to prov de: a lighter which is small in dimensions and of. such a; character that the lighter ma bfe expandedat; thebenter to provide as aCe' fofan ink jCtioii valye SO that Wherith tank of the lighter is empty,

thefihjec'fiqn valvdmay"bennetsvered by aslfding p'l'ate earned in'the side wall ofthe' pl'astic'casing, whighfwhe'n' the injection valve which pierces the cartridge and- 'ple'rmits the}:1 liquid fuel to 'b'e"disc'hai'ged"into the tank 'o'f the lig tela'. tun",

A further feature resides in providing a closure valve for the nozzle of the lighter which is operated by the hood whichcovers the nozzle when the same moves into closed'position. This Closure valve includes a stem projecting out of the open end of the nozzle'arrcl which is formed with a he'adjon the inner endthereofi A suitable,

rubber washer is; positioned below the'head of;th rod so. that when the rod is pressed: downwardiin the; nozzle,

he, rubber v lv dosesthemell openin sleadin om, the gas chamber of; the lighter andshutsoff-:the. flQW, 05-.

gas.- (A shutofivelve similar. in; gh me t to th svalve; which'i provide w th a'vi l er s em and a velvehea is sel sedl-i EatentN 1,757 2 1 te M 6, 1930,)

It is also a feature to provide a simpletmeansofoperating the flint wheel which iiicludes', a. b ll. r: f: oft r m ta han th t ,1 dr fl which s adap edf o, b on i; he: hQQL v of: heili h ee mfthe; li hts; sv

thi ght'er the teeth Q15: he flin w ses gheel btetelfwhr as when as 11 toward it into closed 'Qsiti e ea es nirolls. ove h e t t b i Wil '1 ull in 33,!

In the drawings" fdi'h'lll'l E e i st fi .l

i h? i t n I ed"detaji l' section through the in; mberi'with the'jnjec't'ion valve r eh;

, .l Hates in ina l q m (a n of the drawings" thefueli cartridge" h threaded at 21, and. by mean'sbf the nut-22: which engages the threads'grlfthe" tank-C eon'nected arid locked to" "the "upper" shell mern' her 23 which carries the operating mechanism adapte dto""thr'owfa"spark to' i'gnite 'the" gas escaping "fromf the nozzle of the-lighter; "Thus the li'ghterA is formed in: sections "consisting "of the lower section formed by' "th ta'nk-"C and theupper section carried by theremovablef shell portion 23! 'Ihe'hcrew'24 cl ose sthe lower end of the flint tube 18 "andjs' "ports 'th'sp'r'ing 'ZS/iii position to'heafrfaga s't Th 1Q fl 3 9 0 the h r A caIr QQ b the means off'the hellportipn zyipcliides the h'arid f "f b'l'e s pi otedat'zgfi khe sige'w ls of the 'slots 35,1which e formed in the depending sid Wall s;

ssjaf't a hp wsp'i 15135, wh'eii the lever 21 depressed against the spring 29, the hood 30 s towere the q eiti f? Pi s Simultaneously with the depressing of the lever 27 the flint wheel 32 is rotatedby the roller clutch member 37 which is confined within'the recess 38 of the hood 30 and is caused to be locked against the teeth of the wheel 33 as the hood 30 is elevated. This operation causes a spark from the pyrophoric element 26 to be directed over the open end of the nozzle 39. V

The nozzle 39 forms the opening from the fuel chamber of the cartridge C to permit gas tocscape through the hollow nozzle 39 when the hood 30 is elevated. The gas valve D which includesthe nozzle 39 is removably positioned in the sleeve 40. The sleeve 40 is soldered or welded at 41 to the casing member 15 of the cartridge C. The sleeve 40 is threaded at 42, and the valve assembly D is held in place by the nut 43 which engages the threads 42 .of the sleeve 40. ,The packingring or gasket 44 forms a tight joint at the top of the sleeve 45 which supports the inner members of the valve assembly Dgas well as the nozzle'39. I v p l I The lower end of the sleeve 45 is formed with a recess 46 in which the porous valve pellet 47 is positioned be tween the filter discs 48 which are positione,d 'on either side of the pellet 47. A cork or othersuitable retaining member 49 supports the cord-like wick 50 positioned in contact with the lower filter disc 48, and in this manner the wick 50 acts'to keep the discs 48' and the valve pellet 47 moist from the liquid fuel contained in the cartridge C.

The small axial hole 51 formed in the sleeve 45 is adapted to be normally closed by the valve member 52 when the head 53 is pressed against the valve member 52 by the valve stem 54. The valve stem 54 is pressed into closed position by the projecting member 55 formed on the inside of the hood 30.

The spring member 29 normally holds the lever 27 in the position illustrated in Figure 4 and imparts spring tension against the valve stem 54 and the valve head 53 to close the small passageway 51 and prevent the escape of gas from the fuel chamber C when the lighter is not in use.

It will therefore be apparent that when the lever 27 is depressed, the hood 30 is automatically elevated, the flint wheel 32 is rotated to throw a spark over the nozzle 39 simultaneously with the opening of the valve head 53 when pressure is relieved from the stem 54 by the elevating of the hood 3i and the member 55. The pressure of the gas Within the cartridge C automatically opens the valve head 53, and the gasket 52 raises with thevalve head 53 permitting gas to escape around the valve head 53 out through the small opening 51 and passing around the-stem 54 of the valve. As long as the hood 30 remains elevated once the gas is ignited as it escapes from the nozzle 39,-the flame will continue to burn. However, when the hood 3% is released into closed position as illustrated in Figure 4, the valve head 53 is automatically closed by the member 55 striking the other end of the stem 54 and the flow of gas from the tank C is shut off, which also extinguishes the flame by reason of shutting off the flow of gas.

I In the pocket lighter A as illustrated, it is desirable that the construction and the dimensions of the same be kept small and compact. The drawings illustrate the lighter in a large form to more clearly show the details of the construction of the lighter and to show the position of the flel injection valve B together with the detail parts there- The fuel injection valve B is illustrated in section in Figure and is positioned in the thimble member 56 which is welded at 57 to the inwardly turned flange 58 formed in the Wall of the tank C to form a gas tight joint between the thimble and the flange 58.

The thimble 56 is formed with a check valve seat 59 which is adapted to support the ball check valve 60. Inturned lips 60 hold the ball from moving out of the ball socket 59. The inner end of the check valve support is pointed at 61 to provide piercing means for piercing a cartridge which is used to fill the lighter tank C when the same is engaged by the threads 62 which are formed on the inner wall of the thimble. The threads 62 also support the closure cap 63 which is provided with a sealing gasket 64 on its inner end to provide an additional sealing means over the pointed end 61 of the check valve. The ball check valve 60 normally closes the opening through the valve by the pressure of the gas within the tank C.

The fuel cartridge E is illustrated in Figure 6. This cartridge has a restricted neck portion 64' which is formed with a thread 65. When it is desired to fillthe-tank C with fuel, the metal cover 12 is raised to expose the cap 63 and the cap" is removed. Then the" cartridge "E is threaded into the injection valve by engaging the threads 62 with the threads 65 on the neck of the cartridge as the cartridge is threaded home, pierces the closed end 66 of the cartridge, and the contents of the cartridge E are forced by pressure by the compressed liquid fuel therein past the check valve 69 and into the compartment of the tank C of the lighter. In filling the tank C from the supply cartridge E, the cartridge E is allowed to remain screwed into the injection valve B for a short time to allow all of the contents to pass into the tank C. Then the cartridge E is removed and the cap 63 replaced to insure a sealing of the injection valve after which the cover 12 is slid into closed position as illustrated in Figure 1.

The injection valve B is not illustrated in Figure 4. However, the dotted outline indicates the position of the valve and the thimble 56. The thickness of the lighter A through the center thereof provides sufficient room for the injection valve thimble 56 and the valve itself without increasing the other dimensions of the lighter A.

The outstanding features of the lighter reside in a simple light Weight fuel tank C which is covered by theplastic casing 10 as well as the removable mechanism by.

loosening the nut 22 which provides a sectional lighter, and the removable valve mechanism D which maybe readily removed by loosening the nut 43 and lifting the sleeve 45 out of the fixed sleeve 40. These details are important in providing a practical lighter which may be readily repaired or assembled in an economical manner.

Further, the free wheeling clutch 37 for operating the flint wheel 32 provides an economical means which is strong and durable and positive in its action in the operation of the flint wheel 32. a

The closure valve 53 with its operating stem 54 is also of primary importance in closing the small passageway 51.

Furthermore, the retarder valve for the gas which includes the filter discs 43 positioned on either side of the porous pellet 47 together with the moistening wick are also of primary importance. more clearly defined in a copending application.

These features are of primary importance in the use, operation, manufacture and maintenance of the lighter, and with this small number of parts a lighter with .a large number of lights can be carried in the pocket of the user and requires only periodic-filling from a cartridge E.

I claim: a

1. A pocket gas lighter having a. sealed cartridge body for supporting liquid fuel under pressure which gasifies when released to the outer atmosphere, a removable valve unit including a burner nozzle, a valve stem and valve, a pyrophoric lighter means and operating lever with a free wheeling clutch for engaging the flint wheel of the pyrochoric lighter, a hood for covering said burner nozzleand adapted to engage said valve stem to hold said valve in normally closed position and releasable when said lever operates said pyrophoric lighter means, a plastic cover open at the top adapted to cover the major portion of said lighter and expose the operating lever thereof at the top, a recess formed in one of the walls of said body a slidable shutter plate moveably positioned between said' valve mounted in a wall thereof, an outer plastic casing having an opening therein in alignment with said injection valve, a shoulder formed on the lower edge of said opening, a cover plate slideably mounted between said outer casing and said cartridge body adapted to cover or expose said opening and said injection valve and abut said shoulder in closed position, guide means formed on the inner surface of said outer casing for said cover plate, a

fuel outlet nozzle, and spark producing mechanism mounted on said cartridge body member.

3. A pocket gas lighter comprising a gas container tank having enclosing wall members adapted to hold a supply of liquid fuel under pressure which gasifies when released to the outer atmosphere, a detachable, valve unit for said tank,.a detachable lighter and leverv operating unit for However, this valve is said tank, a filler valve secured in one of said wall members of said tank, a plastic cover for enclosing the sides of said tank and the sides of said lighter and lever unit, said plastic cover having an opening formed therein in alignment with said filler valve, and a slidable shutter plate mounted between the wall of said plastic cover and said tank adapted to cover or expose said filler valve, said shutter plate having a lip portion formed thereon for moving the same and for engagement with the lower edge of said opening of said plastic cover.

4. In a pyrophoric lighter a tank adapted to hold a supply of liquified fuel under pressure, an upper open shell member secured to the top of said tank, a valve nozzle mounted on said tank and extending into said shell member, pyrophoric gas igniting means mounted on said shell member adjacent said nozzle, lever means mounted on said shell for operating said pyrophoric means, a plastic casing open at the top thereof adapted to receive said tank and said shell, said tank having an opening formed in one of the side walls thereof and having flanges extending into said tank, a thimble member connected to said flanges, a transfer valve mounted in said thimble, said casing having an opening aligned with said opening of said tank, recesses formed on the inner surface of said casing adjacent said opening therein, a plate member slidably positioned between said casing and said tank and in said recesses, a lip formed on said plate adapted to engage the lower edge of said opening of said casing to position said plate in closed position.

5. In a pyrophoric lighter, a tank adapted to hold a supply of liquified fuel under pressure, an upper open shell member secured to the top of said tank, a valve nozzle secured to said tank and said shell member for allowing gas to escape from said cartridge, pyrophoric ignition means mounted on said open shell adapted to ignite gas issuing from said nozzle, lever means for actuating said valve nozzle, an outer plastic casing adapted to enclose and support said tank, the upper end of said casing being open and the upper edge thereof being substantially in line with the upper edge of said! open shell, a recess formed on the inner surface of said plastic casing, said casing having an opening formed therein, a transfer valve positioned in said tank in line with said opening, a slidable plate mounted in said recess adapted to cover or expose said opening and said transfer valve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,757,231 Battey May 6, 1930 2,034,750 Deming Mar. 24, 1936 2,424,781 Vanetzian July 29, 1947 2,454,501 Camm Nov. 23, 1948 2,561,270 Felt July 17, 1951 2,571,435 Flamm Oct. 16, 1951 2,617,286 Prusack Nov. 11, 1952 2,620,643 Nissen Dec. 9, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 156,987 Austria Sept. 11, 1939 585,239 Great Britain Feb. 3, 1947