US3814571A

US3814571A - Piezoelectric smoker{40 s lighter

Info

Publication number: US3814571A
Application number: US00234949A
Authority: US
Inventors: K Goto
Original assignee: Mansei Kogyo KK
Current assignee: Mansei Kogyo KK
Priority date: 1970-12-19
Filing date: 1972-03-15
Publication date: 1974-06-04
Anticipated expiration: 1991-06-04
Also published as: GB1378641A; AU3693471A; DE2162814A1; CH531144A; CA953527A; AU456568B2; BE776883A; FR2118784A5

Abstract

A piezoelectric smoker''s lighter includes a fuel reservoir having a fuel spouting valve, and a chassis provided with a high voltage generating device, with the chassis having at least a portion thereof which is adapted to engage in a contacting relationship with the fuel reservoir and a portion which is adapted to be secured in a fixed manner to a bottom portion of the casing by a securing means.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Goto [ 1 PIEZOELECTRIC SMOKER'S LIGHTER [75] lnventor: Kenjiro Goto, Tokyo, Japan [73] Assignee: Mansei Kogy Kabushiki Kaishya,

Kawaguchi-shi, Japan [22] Filed: Mar. 15, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 234,949

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 19, 1970 Japan 45-127743 Dec. 19, 1970 Japan 45-127741 [52] US. Cl. 431/132, 431/255 [51] Int. Cl. [58] Field of Search.....:

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Goto .1 431/255 Goto 431/255 [m 3,814,571 [451 June 4,1974

3,494,710 2/1970 lnugaki 431/255 3.506386 4/1970 Goto 431/255 3,540,823 11/1970 Ebine et a1 431/255 3,576,383 4/1971 FUller 431/255 3,603,709 9/1971 Retzier 431/132 3,734,680 5/1973 Maruyama 431/132 3.741,714 6/1973 Yoshinaga 431/255 Primary ExaminerCarroll B. Dority, Jr. Atmrney, Agent, or Firm-Armstrong, Nikaido & Wegner [57] ABSTRAT A piezoelectric smokers lighter includes a fuel reservoirhaving a fuel spouting valve, and a chassis provided with a high voltage generating device, with the chassis having at least a portion thereof which is adapted to engage in a contacting relationship with the fuel reservoir and a portion which is adapted to be secured in a fixed mannerv to a bottom portion of the casing by a securing means.

8 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures PATENTED N 1914 3,814,571

SHEEI 1 UF 5 FIG. 11

1 PIEZOELECTRIC SMOKERS LIGHTER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a piezoelectric smokers lighter. Generally, the piezoelectric smokers lighter has in a casing a chassis including a high voltage generating device, an electrode support, and a fuel reservoir providing a valve assembly independently therein. In such a lighter, the chassis and the fuel reservoir are arranged in contact with each other in the casing, but such an arrangement often causes a deflective or divergent relative movement between these parts in the course of use, because they did not have any engaging portions for avoiding the deflection or divergence. As the result, it is impossible to maintain a spark gap formed between electrodes in a fixed, constant, and steady condition, and it becomes uncertain as to whether a gaseous fuel flowing out of the reservoir at the spark gap will ignite. The lighter has structurally disposed therein an elastic plate between the chassis and the reservoir for preventing them from the deflecting or divergent relative movement.

This alone is, however, not enough to regulate reliably an arrangement of the electrodes.

Another problem with the prior art lighter is the creation of a method for producing an efficient spark from a high voltage producing device in a piezoelectric element and across the spark gap. The lighter often accidentally produces a spark from the high voltage device at an improper location; for example, around a lead wire guiding element of the piezoelectric assembly, or near a discharge electrode mounting element, due to its improper insulation. It therefore requires a complicated manufacturing process, or large amounts of insulated materials, for these elements in order to prevent an accidental spark.

A further problem with the prior art lighter is that the gaseous fuel spouting from the reservoir ran against the electrode support and fully occupied the spark gap space with a vaporized gas, and thus made ignition essentially impossible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is intended to solve the abovementioned problems.

An object of the present invention is to provide a piezoelectric smoker's lighter which secures in a fixed manner an arrangement comprised of a chassis, including a high voltage generating device and a fuel reservoir, including a valve assembly in a casing thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a piezoelectric smokers lighter which will regulate the spark gap formed between electrodes, one of which is mounted on an electrode support provided in the chassis with the other mounted on the reservoir at a predetermined distance by engaging the chassis with the reservoir.

Still another object of the present invention is to.provide a piezoelectric smokers lighter so constructed as to avoid an accidental spark and which results in a high voltage being effeciently generated from a piezoelectric element to the electrodes.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such a lighter construction wherein a spark gap formed between a pair of electrodes is not exclusively occupied with a gaseous fuel issued from the reservoir, and

wherein a high voltage spark bridges the spark gap and ignites a mixture of the gaseous fuel and air under optimum conditions.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the drawings.

' BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS v The accompanying drawings illustrate embodiments of the present invention in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view in partial section of 'one preferred embodiment of piezoelectric smokers lighter according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a chassis for the I lightershown in FIG. 1; I

FIGS. to are exploded perspective views of the essential parts of the lighter in FIG. 3 with FIG. 5 being an assembly comprised of a high voltage generating device, a chassis and a manipulator;

FIG. 6 a chassis;

FIG. 7 a valve regulating means;

FIG. 8 a support means for the valve regulating means;

FIG. 9 a fuel reservoir including therein a valve assembly; and

FIG. 10 a casing;

FIG. 11 is a fragmented sectional view from the rear side of the lighter taken along line A-A in FIG. 3;

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of another modified form of piezoelectric smokers lighter in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. l3, l4, and 15 show one preferred embodiment of piezoelectric assembly according to the present invention, FIG. 13 being a schematic view;

FIG. 14 is an elevational view; and

FIG. 15 a plan view.

FIG. 16 is a top view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 and 16, the construction and operation of a piezoelectric smokers lighter according to the present invention will be explained.

Reference numeral 1 shows a casing. The casing 1 contains a fuel reservoir 2 for liquified gas fuel and a chassis 3 provided with a high voltage generating deto engage therewith, and pivots about a pin 7 provided in the chassis 3. The chassis 3 has a concave portion 8 in a front part thereof, so .that the latter engages with a protrusion 9 provided on an upper plain surface 2a of the reservoir 2, and also has an engaging portion 10 in its lower part so as to engage with a lower step portion 2b of the reservoir 2. Designated at 11 is a manipulator which is pivoted on an axis 12 together with an impact means 13 and an impact force storing spring 14 and which locates a projection 11a in position for engaging the valve regulating member 6.' Numeral 11b shows members which are fixed on the sidewalls of the manipulator 11 for limiting the transverse movement of the manipulator in the casing. An end of the impact force storing spring 14 engages a pin 15 provided in the manipulator 11 and the other end thereof abuts to an upper portion of the impact means 13. The cam means is designated by 16 and is pivoted on a cam shaft 17. The cam means 16 has two arms, 16a and 1611, one of which forms a trap portion 166 for engaging with a pin 130 located on the impact means 13. The cam shaft 17 also mounts thereon

return springs

18 and 19 for the manipulator 11 and the cam means 16. The return spring 18 has one end which engages a pin 21 abutted to an under part of the impact means 13, and another end which engages a supplemental plate of the chassis 3. One end of the return spring 19 engages the arm 16a of the cam means 16, and the other end engages the supplemental plate 20. Numeral 22 is an electrode support composed of an insulated material which has opposite extrusions 22a to be secured in a fixed manner to the chassis 3, with a guiding slit (not shown) for directing and supporting a discharge electrode 23 and a lead wire 24 from a piezoelectric assembly 25. Numeral 26 shows a resistor which is connected with the lead wire 24. Numeral 27 shows a bottom plate for covering a bottom opening of the casing 1, which arranges an elastic member 28 to push the fuel reservoir 2 upwardly and thus cause the reservoir 2 to be secured to the chassis 3 in a fixed manner. Though the casing and the bottom plate of the casing are shown independently in this embodiment, there is no difference from a lighter in which a casing is united with a bottom plate. An end of the bottom plate 27 is inserted into a slit 1a of the casing 1 and the opposite side is secured with a bottom plate 3a of the chassis 3 through an intermediate plate by setting a screw 29 with a lower part of the piezoelectric assembly 25.

ln operation, upon pushing the manipulator 11 downwardly, the pin 21 abutted to the impact means 13 engages the arm 16b of the cam means l6, and then causes the cam means 16 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction to disengagethe impact means 13 from the arm 16b of the cam means 16. During the above operation, the impact force storing spring 14 is compressed by the pin 15 arranged in the manipulator 11 to apply an impact force to the impact means 13. The disengagement of the impact means 13 from the arm 16a of the cam means 16 causes the impact means 13 to impart an abrupt blow to the piezoelectric assembly 25 by the impact force accumulated in the impact force storing spring 14 so as to produce a high voltage in the piezoelectric assembly 25 and produce a spark at the spark gap formed between a pair of electrodes 50 and 23. At the same time, the projection 11a of the manipulator 11 operates the valve regulating member 6 pivoted about the pin 7 of the chassis 3 so that the valve regulating member 6 raises the movable. nozzle 5a upwardly to release a vaporized gas fuel from the reservoir 2 to the atmosphere, thereby causing the high voltage spark across the spark gap to ignite the fuel issued from the reservoir 2. With release of the pushing force imposed on the manipulator 11, it returns to the initial position by the force of the return spring 18, the cam means 16 returns to the initial position by the force of the return spring 19, and the impact means 13 also returns to the position to engage with the cam means 16.

With respect to another embodiment in FIGS. 3 to 11, reference numeral 101 shows a casing which contains a fuel reservoir 102 for a liquified gas fuel and a chassis 103 provided with a high voltage generating device. The fuel reservoir 102 has a fuel injecting and spouting valve 104 which includes a movable nozzle 104a and forms thereon an upper plain portion 102a. a shoulder portion 102b and a lower step portion 1020. The movable nozzle 104a serves as an opposite electrode inan operation of the lighter. A valve regulating member 105 is supported by a support means 106 mounted on the shoulder portion 102b of the fuel reservoir 102 and has an opening 105a adapted to engage with the movable nozzle 104a and also locate edges 105b, serving as an end journal, to swivel on arc-shaped portions 106a of cut-out portions l06b-of the support means 106 which serves as an end'bearing. The support means 106 has in its horizontal surface an opening 106(- for inserting the nozzle 104a therethrough, and opposite upright walls 106d forming the cut-out portions 10Gb together with upright walls 106s. In addition, in a vertical surface of the support means 106, there is a groove 106f to accommodate a lead wire 129 extending from a piezoelectric assembly. Though the'fuel reservoir and the support means are shown separately in this embodiment, they may be united with each other as one unit. The chassis 103 provides an electrode support 107 in a front part thereof for mounting thereon of a discharge electrode 108, for the locating of extrusions 109 on the under edges thereof so as to engage with the cut-out portions 106b of the support means 106 thereby causing a spark gap to be formed between the

electrodes

104a and 108 thus to maintain the gap in a constant condition. Also, in the lower part of the chassis 103, there is an engaging portion 103a which engages with the lower step portion 102c of the reservoir 102 to be secured in a fixed manner between the

portions

103a and 102a. The electrode support 107 engages with the chassis 103 through opposite protrusions 107i) and has a guiding slit 107a so that the lead wire 129 connects with the electrode 108 in the slit 107a. Designated at 110 is a holding member having an elastic biasing portion 110a which supports in a fixed manner, the electrode support 107 to the chassis 103. Pro vided on an upper part of the casing 101 is a manipulator 111 which has a portion 111a in a front part thereof adapted to cover the movable nozzle 104a and to direct a gaseous fuel to the outside of the casing 101 during operation of the lighter, and which also forms a guiding groove 111b for the guidance of a'portion 101a of the casing 101 in a gear part thereof. The manipulator 111 is pivotably supported on an axis 112 together with an impact means 113 and an impact force storing spring 114, and is positioned beneath curved edges lllc to engage with and. operate two legs 105e, 1050 of the .valve regulating member 105. An end of the impact force storing spring 114 engages with turnover edges 111d of the manipulator 111 and the other end thereof engages to an upper part of the impact means 113. The impact means 113 forms a concave portion 113 a about a central portion thereof which is adapted to cause the impact means 113 to rapidly travel to the piezoelectric assembly; Numeral 115 shows a cam means which is comprised of three members, with the first member being an annular collar 115a which moves slidably and rotatably in guide openings 103b of the chassis 103 along inclined edge portions of the manipulator 111, the second being a cylinder shaped collar 11512 which moves slidably and rotatably along an impacting surface of the impact means 113 and the third being a shaft 1150 inserted into the first and

second collars

115a and 115b. Pivotably mounted on a pin 118 is a return spring 116 for the cam means 115, one end of which engages the cam means 115 and the other end thereof engages a supplemental plate 117. Also pivotably mounted on the pin 118 is a return spring 119 for the manipulator 111, one end of which engages a pin 120 provided in the manipulator 111 and the other end thereof engages the supplemental plate 117. Designated at 121 is a bottom plate for covering a bottom opening of the casing 101, one end of which engages with a slit 101b of the casing 101 and the opposite side of which is fixed to an intermediate bottom plate 103a of the chassis 103 through an elastic plate 122 by setting a screw 123 with a seat 125 of the piezoelectric assembly. Though the casing and the bottom plate are shown independently in this embodiment, they can be united with each other to form a single unit. Arranged between the fuel reservoir 102 and the bottom plate 121 of the casing 101 is an elastic member 124 which is adapted to push upwardly the reservoir 102 and secure the latter in a fixed manner to the chassis 103. The seat 125 fixed to the bottom plate 1030 provides thereon a pair of piezoelectric elements 126 covered by an insulated cover 127 and provided with an impact receiving member 128 thereon. Numeral 130 is a cap for the seat 125 and which has a threaded portion to engage with a threaded portion of the seat 125 so as to secure the impact receiving member 128 in a fixed manner with the piezoelectric elements 126. Arranged between the piezoelectric elements 126 is a terminal plate 131 which connects electrically with the lead wire 129.

In operation, when the manipulator 111 is depressed, it pivots around the axis 112 and compresses the impact force storing spring 114 to store an impact force therein, and the impact means 113 is maintained away from the piezoelectric elements 126 by the cam means 115 while receiving the impact force from the impact force storing spring 114. With further depression, the cam means 115 moves in the guide opening 103b of the chassis 103 along the impacting surface of the impact means 113 by pushing of the inclined edge portions of the manipulator 111, and then disengages from the impacting surface to the concave portion 113a of the impact means 113 and thus the impact means 113 imparts an abrupt blow to the piezoelectric elements 126 by the impact force accumulated in the impact force storing spring 114 so as to produce a high voltage in said elements 126 and to spark the same between the

electrodes

104a and 108. At the same time, the valve regulating member 105 lifts up the movable nozzle 104a through its tip portion by the operation of the curved edges lllc of the manipulator 111, and then the movable nozzle 104a releases a gaseous fuel from the reservoir 102. As a result, the fuel flowing out of the movable nozzle 104a is ignited by the high voltage spark discharged between the

electrodes

104a and 108. With release of the pushing force imposed on the manipulator 111, it is returned to the initial position by the force of the return spring 119, the impact means 113 is reset on the cam means by the force of the return spring 119, nd the cam means 115 is also returned to the impacting surface of the impact means 113.

In FIG. 12 is shown a further embodiment in accordance with the present invention, reference numeral 201 showing a casing which contains a fuel reservoir 202 and a chassis 203' provided with a high voltage generating device. The fuel reservoir 202 includes a fuel injecting and spouting valve 204 having a movable nozzle 204a which serves as an opposite electrode in the operation of the lighter, and has an upper plain surface 202a, a shoulder portion 202b and a lower step portion 2020. The valve 204 inclines about 220, in a direction away from an electrode support 207 provided in the chassis 203 so as not to cause the gaseous fuel spouting from the fuel reservoir 202 to flow against the electrode support 207. A support means 206 is mounted on and abutted against the upper plan surface 202a and the shoulder portion 20217 of the reservoir 202 and supports a valve regulating member 205 thereon. Though the reservoir and the support means are shown independently in this embodiment, there is no difference from a lighter in which the reservoir is united with the support means. The valve regulating member 205 supported on the support means 206 has an opening 205a adapted to engage with the movable nozzle 204a and,

edges 205 are positioned to serve as an end journal to swivel around on arc-shaped portions 206a of the support means 206 which serves as an end bearing. The support means 206 has in its horizontal surface an opening 206C for inserting the nozzle 204a therethrough and opposite upright walls 206d form cutout portions 206b together with upright walls 2066 thereof. In addition, in a longitudinal surface of thesupport means 206, there are step portions 206 for abutting against bifurcated vertical legs 205a of the valve regulating member 205 in the operation of the lighter, and a groove 206g to accommodate a lead wire 229 extending from a piezoelectric assembly. The chassis 203 arranges the electrode support 207 in its front part, extrusions 203a to engage with the cut-out portions 206b of the support means 206 below the electrode support 207, and an engaging portion 203b so that the latter engages with the lower step portion 2020 of the fuel reservoir 202. The electrode support 207 carries a holding member 208 for holding the support 207 which includes an elastic biasing portion 208a, and prepares a guiding slot 207a for supporting the discharge electrode 209 and for connecting the same with the lead wire 229. Numeral 210 shows a manipulator which covers an upper opening of the casing 201 and provides a fuel flowing direction controlling means 211 in a forward portion thereof in which the controlling means 211 controls a gaseous fuel flowing out of the movable nozzle 204ain the outward direction and also directs the remainder of the flowing gas in a rearward direction to escape through a clearance formed between the electrode support 207 and the controlling means 211, and thus it will produce a mixture of the gaseous fuel and air such as to maintain optimum conditions between the

electrodes

204a and 209. In a lower portion of the manipulator 210, there are curved edges 210a for operating the valve regulating member 205. Designated at 212 is a guiding groove for the mav nipulator 210, to guide the latter along a guiding portion 213 of the casing 201 in a manner such that they are brought out of touch with each other. An axis 214 is provided in the chassis 203 and pivotably mounts thereon the manipulator 210 together with an impact means 115 and an impact force storing spring 216. One

end of the impact force storing spring 216 engages with a turnover portion 210b of the manipulator 210 and the other end thereof engages with an upper surface of the impact means 215. The impact means 215 provides a pin 215a engaging with a cam means 218 and a central concave portion 215b to prevent the imapct means 215 from collision with a shaft 217 arranged in the chassis 203. The cam means 218 having two

arms

218a and 218b is pivoted about the shaft 217 and is adapted to maintain the impact means 215 away from a pair of piezoelectric elements 228 and to release it toward said elements 228 in the operation of the lighter. Carried on the shaft 217 is a return spring 219 for the cam means 218, an end of which engages with a lower portion of the cam means 218 and the other end thereof enages with a supplemental plate 220 provided in the chassis 203. Numeral 221 is a return spring for the manipulator 210 and engages with a pin 2l0c provided in the manipulator 210 and abutted against the under surface of the impact means 215 at one end thereof and engages the supplemental plate 220 of the chassis 203 at the other end thereof. A bottom plate of the casing 201 is designated by 222, one end of which engages with a recess 201a of the casing 201 and the other end of which fits against a lower end of the casing 201 and is fixed with a bottom plate 223 of the chassis 203 by setting a screw 224 to a seat 225 of the piezoelectric assembly. Provided between'the bottom plate 222 of the casing 201 and the bottom plate 223 of the chassis 203 is an elastic plate 226, one end of which engages with a recess 201b prepared in the casing 201, serving as one of the fixing elements for affixing not only the chassis 203 to the casing 201 but the casing 201 to the bottom plate 222. In addition, an elastic member 227 provided between the fuel reservoir 202 and the bottom plate 222 of the casing 201 always pushes the reservoir 202 upwardly and thus maintains the engagement of the reservoir 202 with the chassis 203 in a fixed condition. The seat 225 of the piezoelectric assembly contains an insulated enclosure 230 with the pair of piezoelectric elements 228 therein, and has arranged thereon a partially threaded cap member 231 which has a hole to insert the impact receiving head of an impact receiving member 232 therethrough, and which compresses the latter together with the piezoelectric elements 228 by. screwing up against the seat 225. The insulated enclosure 230 enclosing the piezoelectric elements 228 has an opening 233 for drawing a lead wire 229 out. In addition to the opening 233 there is a guiding groove 234 for guiding a terminal plate 235 which connects electrically with the lead wire 229.

In operation, when the manipulator 210 is pushed in a downward direction, the impact force storing spring 216 is compressed so as to supply the compressive force to the impact means 215 by the manipulator 210. With further pushing of the manipulator 210, the pin 2100 of the manipulator 210 depresses and rotates the arm 218b of the cam means 218 in a counterclockwise direction and then causes the other arm 218a of the cam means 218 to disengage the impact means 215 therefrom, whereby the impact means 215 rotates around the axis 214 to impart an abrupt blow to the piezoelectric element 228 by energy stored in the spring 216 to generate a high voltage in said elements 228 and to spark the same at the spark gap formed between the

electrodes

204a and 209. At the same time, the manipulator 210 operates the valve regulating member 206 through the 'curved edges 210a thereof to release the gaseous fuel from the movable nozzle 204a and thus the gaseous fuel flowing out of the nozzle 204a is ignited by the spark discharged between the

electrodes

204a and 209. With release of the pushing force imposed on the manipulator 210, it is returned to the initial position by means of the return spring 221, and the impact means 215 engages with the cam means 218 which has been already returned in the inital position by the force of the return spring 219.

FIGS. 13 to 15 show another embodiment of the pi ezoelectric assembly. Numeral 301 shows an enclosure of insulated material which contains a pair of

piezoelectric elements

302 and 303, and which has an opening 304 for drawing a lead wire 305 out. The opening 304 has formed therein a groove 306 through which a terminal plate 307 may be inserted between the

piezoelectric elements

302 and 303 which have disposed thereon an impact receiving member 308 and a seat member 309 thereunder. The diameter of the terminal plate 307 is larger than that of the opening 304 and isv smaller than the width of the groove 306. Designated at 310 is a resistor which connects with the lead wire 305 covered by an insulated tube 311. Also, the insulated tube 311 is covered by an outer sheath 312 of a resin or the like. In a process of assembly, the terminal plate 307 is inserted between the

piezoelectric elements

302 and 303 through the groove 306 of the opening 304 in such a manner-that an axis of the opening 304 does not correspond with an axis of the lead wire 305, and then the outer sheath 312 is adapted to regulate these axes to correspond with each other, thereby causing the terminal plate 307 to move slightly in an upward direction for preventing the terminal plate 307 from escaping from the groove 306. In such a construction as is set forth above, it is apparent that an unexpected spark will not occur in an area around the piezoelectric assembly.

As described heretofore in connection with various embodiments, the lighter according to the present invention arranges a chassis which has a high voltage generating device, and a fuel reservoir which has a valve assembly. The chassis has two engaging portions in its upper and lower parts. They engage with the upper and lower engaging portions respectively provided on the fuel reservoir. Further, the elastic member arranged between the fuel reservoir and the bottom portion of the casing always pushes the reservoir against the chassis so as to secure in a fixed position, the engaged relationship between the two parts. As a result, such an arrangement will prevent the relative deflective or divergent movement of elements in the lighter, and also maintain the spark gap formed between the electrodes in a constantly fixed condition to obtain a suitable ignition for the lighter.

What is claimed is:

-1. A piezoelectric smokers lighter comprising a casing including a sidewall and a bottom plate, said bottom plate provided with a through bore; a fuel reservoir in said casing for storing gas including a step portion thereon; a gas valve having a burner nozzle on said reservoir for releasing gas therefrom; chassis means arranged in relation to said reservoir within said casing for supporting a piezoelectric assembly and a manipulator wherein said manipulator operates said piezoelectric assembly;

said chassis means having separate portions for engaging said step portion of said reservoir within said casing to form a fixed positional relationship between said reservoir and said chassis; a pair of electrodes arranged within said casing and electrically connected with said piezoelectric assembly one of said electrodes being said burner nozzle and the other being fixed to said chassis; an elastic means positioned on said bottom plate for pushing said reservoir upwardly against said chassis means when said reservoir is installed within said casing whereby the positional relationship between said piezoelectric assembly and said gas valve is fixed; and, screw means for engaging said piezoelectric assembly through said through bore to fixedly secure said reservoir within said casing.

2. A piezoelectric smoker's lighter as set forth in claim 1, wherein said bottom plate is provided with a recess thereon so that said elastic means is fixedly arranged in said recess.

3. A piezoelectric smokers lighter as set forth in claim 1, including an electrode support arranged on the upper portion of said chassis to support one of said electrodes and a holding member arranged on said chassis and having an electric biasing portion adapted to engage said electrode support so as to secure said electrode support in a fixed manner.

4. A piezoelectric smoker's lighter as set forth in claim I, wherein said casing includes a sidewall prochassis means.

5. A piezoelectric smokers lighter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said manipulator includes means for controlling the direction of fuel flow.

6. A piezoelectric smokers lighter as set forth in claim 5, wherein said casing includes a guiding portion for cooperating with said manipulator, said manipulator having a corresponding guiding groove which is directed by said guiding portion.

7. A piezoelectric smokers lighter as set forth in claim 5, including means on the sidewall of said manipulator for limiting the transverse movement of said manipulator in the casing.

8. A piezoelectric smokers lighter as set forth in claim 5, wherein said means for controlling the direction of said fuel flow is located above said pair of electrodes in the inoperative position of said manipulator.

Claims

1. A piezoelectric smoker''s lighter comprising a casing including a sidewall and a bottom plate, said bottom plate provided with a through bore; a fuel reservoir in said casing for storing gas including a step portion thereon; a gas valve having a burner nozzle on said reservoir for releasing gas therefrom; chassis means arranged in relation to said reservoir within said casing for supporting a piezoelectric assembly and a manipulator wherein said manipulator operates said piezoelectric assembly; said chassis means having separate portions for engaging said step portion of said reservoir within said casing to form a fixed positional relationship between said reservoir and said chassis; a pair of electrodes arranged within said casing and electrically connected with said piezoelectric assembly one of said electrodes being said burner nozzle and the other being fixed to said chassis; an elastic means positioned on said bottom plate for pushing said reservoir upwardly against said chassis means when said reservoir is installed within said casing whereby the positional relationship between said piezoelectric assembly and said gas valve is fixed; and, screw means for engaging said piezoelectric assembly through said through bore to fixedly secure said reservoir within said casing.

2. A piezoelectric smoker''s lighter as set forth in claim 1, wherein said bottom plate is provided with a recess thereon so that said elastic means is fixedly arranged in said recess.

3. A piezoelectric smoker''s lighter as set forth in claim 1, including an electrode support arranged on the upper portion of said chassis to support one of said electrodes and a holding member arranged on said chassis and having an electric biasing portion adapted to engage said electrode support so as to secure said electrode support in a fixed manner.

4. A piezoelectric smoker''s lighter as set forth in claim 1, wherein said casing includes a sidewall provided with an inner groove thereon and a bottom plate; said bottom plate having an extrusion adapted to engage with said groove and a through hole through which said fixing means extends to engage with said chassis means.

5. A piezoelectric smoker''s lighter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said manipulator includes means for controlling the direction of fuel flow.

6. A piezoelectric smoker''s lighter as set forth in claim 5, wherein said casing includes a guiding portion for cooperating with said manipulator, said manipulator having a corresponding guiding groove which is directed by said guiding portion.

7. A piezoelectric smoker''s lighter as set forth in claim 5, including means on the sidewall of said manipulator for limiting the transverse movement of said manipulator in the casing.

8. A piezoelectric smoker''s lighter as set forth in claim 5, wherein said means for controlling the direction of said fuel flow is located above said pair of electrodes in the inoperative position of said manipulator.