US3695814A - Gas cigarette lighter - Google Patents

Abstract

In this novel gas cigarette-lighter arrangement comprising an external case having any desired, refined or luxury appearance, to be kept permanently, and an inner, unitary structure of the so-called ''''los'''' type, i.e. adapted to be thrown away and replaced by a new one when the gas initially introduced into the reservoir thereof is exhausted, said inner structure comprises as conventional a head and a reservoir with the mechanism usually associated therewith, such as the pressure reducing device, the valve and the flint and wheel system, and is characterized by a cover pivotally mounted to said head and so arranged that its opening movement causes a forked lever to lift the valve stem and burner member by engaging from underneath the projection usually formed on said member.

Description

Oct. 3, 1972 United States Patent Genoud PrimaryExaminerEdward G. Favors Attorney-Waters, Roditi, Schwartz & Nissen m u A r a Rn. S m Lo mm m J G: If. m n Aw Gi mm [57] ABSTRACT In this novel gas cigarette-lighter arrangement comprising an external case having any desired, refined or luxury appearance, to be kept permanently, and an inner, unitary structure of the so-called-los type, i.e. adapted to be thrown away and replaced by a new one when the gas initially introduced into the reservoir thereof is exhausted, said inner structure comprises as a t a D v. H r o i h m n m o 9 n 5 3 FQZC ,89F... X-QD- wnM n. 0-] W .mL mw EA 1]] 2 0 223 .l[[

M 16 1970 F conventional a head and a reservoir with the mechanism usually associated therewith, such as the pressure reducing device, the valve and the flint and [52] US. wheel system and is characterized by a cover pivotany [51] Illt. mounted to Said head and so arranged a its p g [58] Field of Search...............431/ 131, 254, 130, 255 movement causes a forked level. to lift the valve stem and burner member by engaging from underneath the projection usually formed on said member.

' References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS V 2Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 3,484,825 Hocq ....43l/l3l X 3,186,193 Projahn .................431/l3l X PATENTEDnms m2 I" 1 A I BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to gas cigarette-lighters and has specific reference to lighters of this type comprising a permanent case-forming portion and a lost composite portion, the latter being adapted to be replaced completely by another, new one when the gas contained in the reservoir is exhausted.

Cigarette-lighters are known wherein the reservoir is built-in and adapted to be recharged when exhausted or empty; furthermore, in lighters of this type the pyrophoric flint and the spark wheel must be replaced periodically as they wear out.

Other gas cigarette-lighters are known wherein the reservoir is detachable and adapted when empty to be replaced with a new gas-filled one incorporating the pressure-reducing device and the valve. Therefore, with these lighters the flint and spark wheel must also be replaced periodically when worn.

Other gas cigarette-lighters of the lost type are known which are simply thrown away completely when the gas initially introduced into the reservoir is exhausted, the useful life of the flint and wheel being calculated to last only as long as the gas content of the reservoir. These so-called lost lighters are nevertheless objectionable, in spite of their practical characteristics, in that they lack personality and cannot, for obvious reasons, have a luxurious or relatively luxurious external dressing; on the other hand, their body requires a good finish since it is externally apparent.

Finally, other known gas cigarette-lighters are based on a different conception permitting of obtaining an article of normal external appearance, having any desired getup, more or less luxurious dressing and/or finish, and wherein the complete internal mechanism, including the reservoir, the pressure reducing device, the valve, the flint and the spark wheel, constitute a unitary structure constructed like a lost lighter is adapted to be replaced completely when the gas charge initially introduced into the reservoir is exhausted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION shovel" movement; thus, this lever is caused to engage from beneath the projection usually carried by or formed on the valve stem so as to open the valve member in combination with a head to which said cover is pivotally mounted and through which extends the mechanism associated with the reservoir.

A clearer understanding of this invention will be had from the following description given by way of example with reference tothe accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS F IG. 1 is a general view of the gas cigarette-lighter of this invention as seen in vertical section taken along the line 1-1 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational and sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 3, and

FIG. 3 is a plan view from above with a fragmentary section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The gas cigarette-lighter according to this invention comprises a head '1 having pivotally mounted thereto a cover 2 and to which a body or case 3 is adapted to be fitted from beneath. v

A unitary structure constituting by itself a so-called lost lighter and comprising in the conventional manner a reservoir 4 preferably of injection-moulded plastic material is adapted to fit in the case 3, under the head 1. The reservoir 4 comprises:

a well 5 projecting into the inner space of the reservoir and having a bottom bore from which emerge a wick 6 this well is adapted to receive the valve body 7 and the valve member 8 of which the upper end comprising a flange 9 constitutes the burner;

a blind recess 10 formed in a tubular element depending within the reservoir and enclosing the flint l1 urged by a spring 12 side wings 13 are also provided for constituting the bearings of a pivot pin 14 of a flint wheel rotatably rigid with driving or thumb wheels 15,

and a bottom plate 16.

The head 1 has secured thereto at 17 one end of a blade spring 18 formed with an aperture registering with the head of the valve burner, this spring surrounding an anchor pin 19 also acting as the hinge pin of the movable cover 2.

Moreover, also mounted on this pin 19 is an arm 20 moving bodily with the cover 2 and pivotally connected to one end of a connecting link 21 having its other end pivotally connected in turn to a lever 22 fulcrummed at 23 to the head 1; the forked end 24 of this lever 22 is adapted, as a consequence of the shovel like movement imparted thereto by the elements 20, 21 during the opening movement of said cover 1, to engage the projection or flange 9 of valve member 8 from beneath to as to lift this member.

A pair of blade springs 25, 26 are provided for resiliently holding the head 3 within the case 3. Spring 25 is secured permanently to the underface of head 1 and spring 26 is so hooked to this head 1 that it can tilt and thus release the claws 27 formed on this spring from recesses 28 formed in the registering portion of reservoir 4.

It will be seen that when the cover is closed the above-described lost assembly can be introduced freely into the head 1, or be removed therefrom, due to the lower and retracted position of the forked lever 22- 24.

The above-described lost assembly is completed by an adjustment wheel 29 adapted to be rotated from the exterior after partially extracting the case 3 from the head 1. However, if desired, this adjustment wheel 29 may also be actuated directly from the exterior by slightly increasing its diameter and forming a cor responding notch in the upper portion of the case.

Although a specific form of embodiment of this invention has been described and illustrated herein by way of example, it will readily occur to those conversant with the art that various modifications and variations may be brought thereto without departing from the basic principles of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim as new is:

l. A gas cigarette-lighter comprising a lighter head portion; a lighter cover; arm and linkage means pivotally mounting said cover to said head portion for opening and closing movement thereof; lever means pivotally mounted on said head and operatively engaged with said arm and linkage means said lever means having at least one forked end; a gas reservoir fastened to said head portion; valve and pressurereducing mechanism associated with said reservoir extending through said head portion, said valve mechanism comprising a tubular valve member including a burner-forming head end having a projection formed thereon, said arm and linkage means, upon opening of said cover, imparting lateral and concurrent arcuate shovel-like movement to said lever means whereby the forked end engages said projection on the burner-forming head so as to open said valve member.

2. A gas cigarette-lighter as claimed in claim 1, comprising a case forming an external body for said lighter, said reservoir and said valve and pressure-reducing mechanism constituting a unitary assembly detachably insertable into said case.

i l t i

Claims (2)

1. A gas cigarette-lighter comprising a lighter head portion; a lighter cover; arm and linkage means pivotally mounting said cover to said head portion for opening and closing movement thereof; lever means pivotally mounted on said head and operatively engaged with said arm and linkage meanS said lever means having at least one forked end; a gas reservoir fastened to said head portion; valve and pressure-reducing mechanism associated with said reservoir extending through said head portion, said valve mechanism comprising a tubular valve member including a burner-forming head end having a projection formed thereon, said arm and linkage means, upon opening of said cover, imparting lateral and concurrent arcuate shovel-like movement to said lever means whereby the forked end engages said projection on the burner-forming head so as to open said valve member.

2. A gas cigarette-lighter as claimed in claim 1, comprising a case forming an external body for said lighter, said reservoir and said valve and pressure-reducing mechanism constituting a unitary assembly detachably insertable into said case.

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