US2973634A - Lighter - Google Patents

Description

March 1961 H. P; BELLAVANCE 2,973,634

LIGHTER Filed April 15, 1959 INVENTOR. HAROLD R BELLAVANCE ATTORNE YS LIGHTER Harold P. Bellavance, Attleboro, Mass., assignor to United Findings Co., Inc., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Apr. is, 1959, Ser. No. 806,687

2 Claims. (Cl. 677.1)

This invention relates to a lighter of the pyrophoric type and is particularly adapted for the so-called table lighter.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an inexpensive lighter which may be assembled from a minimum of parts and with simple and inexpensive operations.

Another object of this invention is to provide a lighter having a fuel reservoir which may be filled by the removal of a unit carrying the ignition mechanism.

Another object of this invention is to provide a construction in which the assembly of the ignition mechanism on the fluid reservoir will seal the fluid reservoir, the ignition mechanism being removable for filling the fuel reservoir.

Another object of this invention is to provide a construction in which the top of the fuel reservoir may be molded with an arrangement provided by the molding for assembly of the ignition mechanism and at the same time a closure for the filling opening of the fuel reservoir.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction'as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of a table lighter which incorporates the invention therein;

Figure 2 is a sectional view through a fragmental portion including the ignition mechanism of the lighter;

Figure 3 is a top plan view with the ignition mechanism removed.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the locking pin for holding the ignition mechanism in position.

In proceeding with this invention, I provide a cup or recess in a base with a top wall to cover this recess, thus forming a fuel reservoir. A suitable wick extends through this top wall and at a point spaced from the wick I provide a recess extending inwardly from the top wall toward the fuel reservoir, leaving a bottom wall for the recess and in this bottom wall an opening is provided to the fuel reservoir. A block carrying a plug of a size to substantially fit the recess is inserted in the recess so as to have the plug enter the opening and seal the reservoir, and on this block I mountignition mechanism including a snuffer cap which will cover the wick and extinguish the same should the same be lighted. The ignition mechanism is in such proximity to the wick that when actuated, the wick will be lighted. A lock cooperating .with the ignition carrying block in the recess secures the block in the recess or the lock may be so actuated as to free the block so that it may be easily withdrawn as a unit for filling the fuel reservoir.

With reference to the drawings, designates a solid base which may conveniently be formed of a plastic material of a transparent character such as methyl methacrylate often called Lucite. This base has a top surface 11 into which there is provided a cup 12 having bottom and side walls 13 and 14 with some sort of fuel Un ed; tat syPat O Patented Mar. 7, 1961 absorbing substance 15 'within the hollowed out portion 12. A top 16 also formed of a similar plastic of a transparent character sets into a recess 17 in the top surface 11 about the cup and is secured in a position to cover the cup-like recess or fuelreservoir 12. This top 16 is of a substantial thickness having a top wall or surface 18 with downwardly sloping sides 19. A wick hole 20 extends through this top wall 16 and a tubular bushing 21 extends through the top through the hole 20 and is provided with an enlarged boss 22 at its upper end with a beveled edge 23. A wick 24 extends through this bushing and boss 21 and 22 and is located within the fuel compartment '12.

At a location spaced from this Wick and boss a recess 25 extends inwardly from the upper surface 18 of the top wall toward the reservoir 12 to an extent so as to leave a bottom wall 26 separating the recess from the reservoir, and through this botom wall 26 there is provided an opening 27 which will afford access to the reservoir for filling the same. I

The ignition mechanism is mounted on a unit which will fit into this recess 25 and is shown as a block 28 to be slidably guided into position by the sides of the recess and is provided with a plug 29 to enter the opening 27 and seal the same. This block is locked in the recess 25 by having a bore 30 extending into one end and a pin 31 slidably mounted in the upstanding wall 32 of the top 16. This pin 31 has a handle portion 33 projecting beyond the outer surface of the portion 32 so that the same may be easily grasped to be pushed into the bore 30 or pulled to retract the pin therefrom. The pin is flattened as at 34 along a portion intermediate its length providing'abutments 35 and 36 which will engage a washer 37 placed over the pin and in a position so that the washer may engage either the wall portion 32 to prevent withdrawal of the pin when the abutment 36 engages the washer or to limit insertion of the pin when the washer engages the block 28 and the abutment 35 engages the washer.

This block 28 carries usual ignition mechanism includ ing a pyrophoric material 38 in a bore which is actuated by a spring held in position by a screw 39 threaded into '25 and thus the walls of this recess serve to guide the block into position both for locating the plug 29 in its hole 27 for sealing the reservoir and also for locating the snulfer cap so that it will accurately engage with the boss and seal the wick. The block is cut away as at 41 so as to permit the projecting portion of the pin 31 free movement in this cutaway area as the block is moved to and from position in the recess.

It will be apparent that for assembling the ignition mechanism it is merely necessary to put the block 28 in the recess and push in the pin 31 by handle 33 and all parts will assume their correct position. For filling the fuel reservoir, it is merely necessary to withdraw the pin and pull out the block by grasping the ignition mechanism carried thereby, pour in liquid fuel through the opening 27 and replace the ignition unit, thus sealing the fuel in its reservoir 12.

The top 16 may be molded to correct size with the recess 25 and holes 20, 27 and locking pin hole therein without further operation, thus making assembly a simple operation.

I claim:

1. A lighter comprising a fuel reservoir, a top over said reservoir of substantial thickness having a recess extending from its outer surface toward said reservoir there being a bottom wall of said recess having an opening therethrough to said reservoir, a block of a size to fit into said recess provided with a plug to seal said opening when the block is inserted in said recess, said block having a hole therein and ignition mechanism carried by said-block, said block being of a size to closely 'fit said recess and be guided by the side walls thereof to position said plug into said opening and a pin slidably mounted in the wall of said recess to enter .said hole andtlock the block in said recess, said pin having a finger piece accessible from the outer surface of said top, said pin being provided with a notch and a washer embracing said pin located in said notch and between said-block and the side wall of said recess to limit the sliding movement of said pin in both directions.

2. A lighter comprising a-fuel reservoir, a top over 15 2,791,110

4 voir, said top being solid and of a thickness greater than the depth of said recess and provided with a hole of an axial dimension greater than the depth of said recess extending completely through said solid top at a location spaced from said recess, a wick in said hole, a block of a size to fit into said recess provided with a plug to seal said opening when the block is insertedin said recess and provided with ignition mechanism including a snuffer cap to cover said wick, said block and ignition mechanism .being a unit separately removable from the top and wick for filling said reservoir through said opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Gellman May 7, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 948,988 France Feb. 7, 1949

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