US3489501A - Lighter - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 13, 1970 o. HOLFELD ETAL LIGHTER Filed June 11, 1968 7/ 7 29 20 26 Fig 2 Inventor:

Orro lldbfeap was? PITE24E United States Patent US. Cl. 431-273 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A lighter includes a tank for combustible fuel and has a bottom wall having an exterior side. The bottom wall is provided with an undercut groove in its interior side. An aperture extends inwardly through the bottom wall from the exterior side and is located within the confines of the groove. A flint is intended to bo received in this aperture. A slide member is guided in the undercut groove for sliding movement between a first position covering the aperture and a second position uncovering the aperture and in which it is removable from the undercut groove. A biasing spring is carried by the slide member and normally received in the aperture bearing against the sliding member and in biasing engagement with the flint in the aperture, the biasing spring being withdrawable from the aperture when the slide member is first moved to the aforementioned second position and subsequently removed from the groove.

Background of the invention The present invention relates to a lighter in general, and more particularly to a lighter utilizing a flint for purposes of igniting the combustible fuel.

conventionally, lighters which utilize a flint and a spark wheel which produces sparks from the flint by being rotated in frictional engagement therewith, are provided with an internal bore in which the flint is received, a helical spring received in the bore bearing against the flint, and a screw which is threaded into the bore so as to compress the spring and cause the same to exert a biasing action upon the flint. This, however, requires that the bore be tapped over at least part of its length, necessitating a separate manufacturing step in which the required screw thread is provided and thus increasing the expense of manufacturing the lighter. Furthermore, to turn the screw it is usually necessary to provide a tool or another suitable type of implement, neither of which may be handy when the user of the lighter is in need of them to either tighten the screw or remove it for the purpose of replacing a used-up flint.

Attempts at replacing this type of arrangement with another construction have not beensuccessful for various reasons and it is for this reason that until now there has existed in the industry a need for providing a reliable, inexpensive and simple alternative arrangement.

It is thus a general object of the present invention to provide such an arrangement.

A further object of the invention is to provide such an arrangement wherein not only the screw and the threading of the bore are eliminated, but wherein the bottom wall of the lighter, from which access is to be had to the aperture accommodating the flint may be completely or substantially free of projections.

An additional object of the invention is to provide such an arrangement wherein, by virtue of the freedom of the bottom wall from significant projections, no casing is necessary for the lighter.

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Summary of the invention In pursuance of these and other objects which will become apparent hereafter, we provided in accordance with one feature of our invention, a lighter which includes a tank adapted to contain combustible fuel and which includes an interior wall having an exterior side. An undercut groove is provided in this exterior side and an aperture extends inwardly through the bottom wall from the exterior side thereof, being located within the confines of the groove. The aperture is adapted to accommodate a flint. A slide member is guided in the undercut groove for sliding movement therewithin between a first position in which it covers the aperture and a second position in which it uncovers the aperture and in which the slide member is removable from the undercut groove. Finally, a biasing spring is carried by the slide member and is normally received in the apertured bearing against the slide member and being in biasing engagement with the flint located in the aperture. The slide member is withdrawn from the aperture in response to initial movement of the slide member to the aforementioned second position thereof and subsequent removal of the slide member from the undercut groove.

It will be understood that the slide member is movable parallel to itself, that is it is not turned, and this eliminates the possibility that back-pressure exerted by the flint Via the biassing spring upon the slide member. Inasmuch as the tank of the lighter, in which the aforementioned arrangement is provided, may advantageously be manufactured from synthetic plastic materal, the entire manufacturing process is very simple and uncomplicated because the various undercuts necessary can be produced by the manufacture of the tank. The slide member may be utilized for purposes other than the primary purpose outlined above, as will be developed below in more detail.

In view of the fact that the slide member can be used to completely close the groove in the exterior side of the tank bottom wall, this bottom wall may be completely or almost completely smooth so that the necessity for providing a casing surrounding the bottom wall is eliminated which has heretofore existed in such lighters for protective and/or aesthetic purposes.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawing FIG. 1 is a side-elevational view of a lighter embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through the lower portion of the lighter of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the slide member utilized in FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the lighter shown in FIG. 1

Description of the preferred embodiments Discussing now the drawing in detail, and firstly FIG. 1 thereof, it will be seen that the lighter illustrated therein consists basically of a tank 1 which advantageously may be of synthetic plastic material, and an ornamental sleeve 2 which is suitably provided on the tank 1 leaving the bottom wall 3 thereof free. An ignition arrangement is provided of conventional construction and consists of a sleeve portion 4, a depressible button 5 and an extinguisher cap 6 which is located above the non-illustrated 3 burner. In the present embodiment, the lighter is assumed to use gaseous fuel and to permit adjustment of the flame of the lighter, the latter is provided with a thumb wheel 7 which in conventional manner acts upon the outlet valve of the lighter. A spark wheel 8 is rotated when the button is depressed and, by frictionally engaging the flint 9, produces sparks for igniting the fuel. A helical spring 10 serves to press the flint 9 against the wheel 8, and an arrangement 11 maintains the spring 10 in place.

As shown particularly in FIG. 2, the tank 1 has a hollow interior 12 through which a tubular portion 13 extends which is provided with a bore 24 in which the flint 9 and the biasing spring 10 are to be received. The word bore is of course not intended to indicate the manner in which this passage or aperture is produced.

A projection 14 also extends from the bottom wall 3 of the tank 1 into the interior 12 and accommodates a filler valve 15 which includes a sealing ring 16 and a shaft 17 which is pressed in direction outwardly of the tank 1 by a spring 18. The shaft 17 is provided with channels 19 comprising a longitudinally extending channel and a transversely extending channel and, when a supply container is placed onto the free end 20 of the shaft 17 and pressure is exerted on this container in a sense deflecting the shaft 17 inwardly, the valve is opened and new combustible fuel can enter the interior 12 through the channels 19.

In accordance with the invention, and as most clearly shown in FIG. 4, the bottom wall 33 of the tank 1 is provided with a longitudinally extending undercut groove 21 which is open at one end 22 and which is bounded at its lateral sides by side walls 23. The depth of the groove 21 is uniform throughout. The bore 24 extends inwardly through the bottom wall 3 from within the confines of the groove 21. A second but shallower groove 25 constitutes an extension in longitudinal direction of the groove 21 and is also of uniform depth throughout. The groove 25 extends to the opening 26 in which the filling valve 15 is received.

In the region of its open end 22 the undercut groove 21 is formed with a projection 27 which thus defines an undercut 28. A similar projection 29, defining an undercut 30, is provided at the opposite end of the groove 21.

The groove 21 accommodates a slide member 31 which is so configurated that its exterior surface 32 conforms to the exterior of the bottom wall 3 so that, when the slide member 31 is in closure position, the bottom wall 3 is uninterrupted. At one end the slide member 31 is provided with a projection 33 which extends into the undercut 28; at its other end the slide member 31 is provided with portions 34 extending into the undercut 30. A projecting tongue 35 on the slide member 31 overlies the opening 26 for the filling valve when the slide member 31 is in its closed position. Because of manufacturing tolerances in the length of the shaft 17 of the filling valve 15, the tongue 35 is provided with a depression 36 to allow for tolerance variations.

That major side of the slide member 31 which faces the bottom wall 3 is provided .with a longitudinally extending groove 37 having lateral undercuts 38 also extending in longitudinal direction. The groove 37 is provided with an open end its cross-section is reduced at 44, that is in the region of the open end. The exterior side of the slide member 31 is advantageously provided with a knurled section 45.

As shown clearly in FIG. 2, a guide pin 39 is mounted in the groove 37 by being connected with a disk member 40 which extends into the respective undercuts 38. The helical biasing spring 10 surrounds the drive pin 39 and the disk member 40 is provided on its surface facing the bottom of the groove 37 with a wart-like projection 41. The bottom wall of the groove 37 is formed with one, two or more (two shown) depressions here identified with reference numerals 42 and 43 in which the projection 41 can engage with a snap action. FIG. 2 shows that 4 the disk member 40 is not only movable longitudinally of the groove 37, but also has slight play therein in direction transversely of the longitudinal extension of the groove 37 so that the projection 41 may leave whichever one of the depressions it is received in at the time, and may move to thenext depression to snap thereinto.

It has already been pointed out that the tank 1 advantageously consists of synthetic plastic material. The same is true of the slide member 31 and both may with advantage be injection-molded during which manufacturing process the various undercuts can be produced in simple manner by utilizing removable mold inserts. This presents no problem because all undercuts extend in the same direction and are located at different levels.

In use of the lighter herein illustrated, and more specifically to effect filling of the tank 1 with combustible fuel, the slide member 31 is moved outwardly, that is towards the left in the drawing, until the projection 31 snaps into the depression 43. The openings 26 for the filling valve 15 thus becomes accessible; however, the projections 33 and 34 are still engaged in the respective undercuts and thus reliably retain the slide member 31 in the groove 21.

If, now, a flint is to be inserted into the bore 24, or if the used fiint therein is to be replaced with a new one, the slide member is moved forward towards the left until the projections 33 and 34 move out of the undercuts 28 and 30, thus making it possible to, withdraw the slide member 31 together with the guide pin 39 and the helical spring 10 carried thereon downwardly away from the bottom wall 3. The guide pin is, of course, still connected with the slide member 31 because of its association with the disk member 40 which is retained in the undercut groove 37 of the slide member 31. After the flint is inserted, or the replacement of the flint is carried out, the described steps are reversed.

It is important in accordance with the present invention that the guide pin 39 is connected with ,the slide member 31 at all times, but that the latter is yet capable of movement parallel with itself without effecting in any way the biasing spring 10. This is due to the fact that the guide pin 39 is movable longitudinally in the undercut groove 37 of the slide member 31. The guide pin 39 is secured to the slide member 31 by introducing the disk member 40 into the open end of the undercut groove 37 under considerable pressure. The disk member 40 thus moves past the point 34 of reduced cross-section of the groove 37, and once thus introduced it can no longer become inadvertently disconnected from the slide member 31. Reduction of the cross-section of the groove 37 at the point 34 can be effected in various ways, for instance by configurating the disk member in the necessary manner during the manufacture thereof, utilizing the inherent elasticity of the material, or else by subjecting the slide member 31 to a subsequent hot or cold deforming treatment.

It will be appreciated that various modifications are possible and will offer themselves readily to those skilled in the art, without departing in any way from the concept and scope of the present invention. Clearly, the projections of the slide member 31 could be provided at the two longitudinal sides of the latter and could extend into correspondingly configurated undercuts in the side walls of the groove 21. Also, whereas the slide member 31 has been shown as performing a dual function in holding the spring 10 as well as covering the valve 15, it can be used only for holding the spring 10 just as it can be used additionally for covering the recess provided in the bottom wall 3 in which one or more spare flints may be stored, which recess will become accessible depending upon requisite sliding movement of the slide member 31. The disk member 40 may be round, quadratic, or of any other desirable outline, and it, together with its projection 31 and the guide pin 39, may be of one-piece construction and may consist of various different materials, such as brass, synthetic plastic material or the like.

If desired, a separate cover member can be provided which may overlie the slide member 31 completely or partially to provide a further safeguard against accidental movement of the slide member. However, this can be omitted, in the manner illustrated in the exemplary embodiment, particularly if the resting means is used which has been illustrated and which utilizes the pressure exerted by the biassing spring itself to provide the snapaction arresting construction.

It will be appreciated that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a. useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated as embodied in a lighter, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by tion and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a lighter, in combination, a tank adapted to contain combustible fuel and including a side wall and a bottom wall rigid therewith and having an exterior side; an elongated undercut groove provided in said exterior side of said bottom wall; an aperture extending inwardly through said bottom wall from said exterior side thereof normal to the elongation and within the confines of said groove, said aperture being adapted to accommodate a flint; and elongated slide member slidable in said undercut groove for sliding movement between a first position in which it is connected with said tank and covers said aperture, and a second position in which it is removable from said groove axially of said aperture for uncovering the latter; a biasing spring being normally received in said aperture bearing against said slide member; and holding means on said slide member for holding said spring attached thereto at least when said slide member is in said second position thereof so as to enable movement of said spring together with said slide member into or removing it from said aperture axially of the latter when said slide member is in said second position.

2. In a lighter, as defined in claim 1, wherein said slide member is configurated so as to completely fill said undercut groove in said first position, said slide member having an outer side substantially flush with said exterior side of said bottom wall.

3. In a lighter as defined in claim 1, said undercut groove having an other end spaced from said open end and an end and being provided with an undercut recess at each of said ends, and wherein said slide member includes a pair of engaging portions each arranged to extend into one of said undercut recesses when said slide member is in said first position thereof.

4. In a lighter, as defined in claim 1, said holding means including detent means adapted to engage said slide member, and wherein said biasing spring is operative for urging said detent means into such engagement.

5. In a lighter as defined in claim 4, further including at least one depression provided in said slide member and adapted to register with said aperture, and said detent means including a projection associated with said biasingspring and being urged by the same to snap into said depression when the latter registers with said aperture in response to requisite sliding movement of said slide member.

6. In a lighter as defined in claim 5, said slide member having an inner side facing said aperture and being provided with a longitudinally extending undercut channel, said depression being located within the confines of said channel in the bottom thereof, and wherein said detent means includes a disc member received in said undercut channel for longitudinal sliding movement therein and with slight play in direction normal to the elongation of said channel, said disc member having said projection thereon facing said bottom of said channel, and said detent means further comprising a guide pin secured to said disc member for movement therewith and extending into said aperture, said biasing spring being a helical spring surrounding said guide pin in said aperture and urging said guide pin and said disc member towards said bottom of said channel.

7. In a lighter as defined in claim 6, said channel having an open terminal portion for insertion of said disc member.

8. In a lighter as defined in claim 7, said channel having in the region of said open terminal portion a reduced cross-section so configurated as to prevent undesired removal of said disc member from said channel.

9. In a lighter as defined in claim 1, said bottom wall being provided with a filling opening communicating with the interior of said tank for admitting fluid thereinto, said filling opening being spaced from said aperture and being so positioned as to be covered by said slide member when the same is in said first position and to be uncovered by said slide member when the same is in an intermediate position intermediate said first and second positions thereof.

10. In a lighter as defined in claim 1 said bottom wall being provided with a hole adapted to accommodate spare flints, said hole being so positioned as to be covered by said slide member when the same is in said first position and to be uncovered by said slide member when the same is in an intermediate position intermediate said first and second positions thereof.

11. In a lighter as defined in claim 3, wherein said undercut recesses are located in different but parallel planes, and wherein said engaging portions are located in corresponding planes respectively corresponding to the planes of said undercut recesses.

12. In a lighter as defined in claim 1, wherein said holding means consists of an undercut channel extending in direction of elongation of said slide member, and a corresponding engaging portion on said biasing spring adapted to engage and be retained in said undercut channel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,424,781 7/1947 Vanetzian 431-276 X 2,470,734 5/ 1949 Wolanske 43 127 6 FOREIGN PATENTS 652,937 5/1951 Great Britain. 841,653 5/ 1952 Germany.

EDWARD J. MICHAEL, Primary Examiner

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