US3832126A - Liquefied gas fueled lighter - Google Patents

Abstract

A liquefied gas fueled lighter comprising a housing, a normally closed gas fuel discharge valve and a piezoelectric high voltage generation device disposed within the housing, an actuating member, a hammer rotatably secured to the actuating member, means for slidingly interconnecting the actuating member and the housing whereby the actuating member may be substantially linearly displaced from a first position to a second position whereat the rotation of the hammer will result in the hammer striking the piezoelectric device, a spring interposed intermediate the hammer and the actuating member, means for opening the normally closed fuel gas discharge valve and for subjecting the spring to a compressive force having at least a predetermined magnitude and selective direction as the actuating member is displaced from the first to the second position thereof, and means for releasing the hammer when the actuating member is at the second position whereby the hammer will be forcefully propelled towards and impact against the piezoelectric device whereby a spark will be generated proximate the fuel gas discharge valve for igniting the discharged gas fuel.

Description

United States Patent [191 Moriya Aug. 27, 1974 LIQUEFIED GAS FUELED LIGHTER [75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: Mansei Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha,

Kawaguchi-shi, Saitama, Japan [22] Filed: May 26, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 257,187

Nobuyoshi Moriya, Urawa, Japan [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Primary Examiner-Carroll B. Dority, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A liquefied gas fueled lighter comprising a housing, a

. ingly interconnecting the actuating member and the housing whereby the actuating member may be substantially linearly displaced from a first position to a second position whereat the rotation of the hammer will result in the hammer striking the piezoelectric device, a spring interposed intermediate the hammer and the actuating member, means for opening the normally closed fuel gas discharge valve and for subjecting the spring to a compressive force having at least a predetermined magnitude and selective direction as the actuating member is displaced from the first to the second position thereof, and means for releasing the hammer when the actuating member is at the second position whereby the hammer will be forcefully propelled towards and impact against the piezoelectric device whereby a spark will be generated proximate the fuel gas discharge valve for igniting the discharged gas fuel. p

- 26 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures LIQUEFIED GAS FUELED LIGHTER The present invention relates to cigarette lighters which employ piezoelectric high voltage generating devices to ignite the fuel stream.

Piezoelectric high voltage generating devices are known which include a rotatable or linearly reciprocable hammer or striker element, an actuating member or finger piece which is rotatable or displaceable in the same direction as the hammer element and a spring which is interposed intermediate the hammer and the actuating member for accumulating the impacting energy. In such conventional devices, the direction of displacement of the actuating member as the hammer is cocked is directly opposite to the direction of the biasing force of the cocked energy accumulating spring. As a result the force, which must be applied to the actuating member, is generally considerably larger than the biasing force of the cocked energy accumulating spring.

Additionally, when such devices are activated the actuating member is displaced into the lighter. Accordingly some unoccupied space must be reserved within the lighter housing for receiving the displaced actuating member and the size of such devices must therefore be relatively large.

lt is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved structure for energizing a piezoelectric high voltage generating device which requires only a small operating force.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such an energizing structure which can be small in size.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a liquified gas fuel lighter wherein the hammer may be substantially cocked even in the inoperative position.

The present invention is intended to solve the above mentioned problems. According to the present invention, the device, which may be a cigarette lighter includes an actuating member having a hammer rotatably mounted thereon, and an energy accumulating spring which is interposed therebetween. A frame member includes a piezoelectric element and a cam member which controls the displacement of the hammer whereby when the actuating member is displaced linearly, the hammer will be rotated relative to the actuating member whereby the spring will be compressed. The hammer will be thereby cocked. Further displacement of the actuating member releases thehammer whereupon the hammer will be propelled toward and impact against the piezoelectric element thereby generating a spark for igniting the gas stream. The actuating member of the present invention is displaced so that at least a portion thereof extends beyond the casing when the lighter is utilized. Accordingly, space need not be reserved within the casing for accommodating the displaced actuating member so that the size of the lighter can be reduced. The direction of the required operating force is substantially perpendicular to the direction of the biasing force of the cocked energy accumulating spring. Accordingly, intermediate means in the form of between the axis of rotation of the hammer and the engaging surface of the hammer is greater than the distance between the axis and the working point of the energy accumulating spring on the striker. As a result the operating force is stepped up and accordingly the force which is required is substantially reduced. The stroke of the actuating member will thereby be increased but since the actuating member is displaced outwardly beyond the housing the size of the lighter need not be increased.

Further, the cigarette lighter may preferably include a rotatable cam member. Rotation of the cam member in a first clockwise direction is limited by a stop and a spring is provided for returning the cam member to a predetermined position whether the cam member has been rotated in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction. The cam member is adapted to be rotated by the hammer against the force of the cam return spring thereby lifting the hammer, when the actuating member is displaced. When the hammer has been cocked, the hammer is released from the cam member whereby it will be propelled towards and impact against the piezoelectric device. The cam member is then returned to its original position by the cam return spring and upon release, the actuating member is returned to its inoperative position. The hammer engages .the cam member rotating it counterclockwise out of its path as it is so displaced. When the hammer reaches its initial inoperative position, the cam member is released and returns to its predetermined position. The hammer is thus reset.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following portion of this specification and from the accompanying drawings which illustrate, in accord with the mandate of the patent statutes, a presently preferred embodiment incorporating the teachings of the invention. I

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a cigarette lighter in an inoperative condition having a piezoelectric highvoltage generating device made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device disclosed in FIG. 1 in the cocked position.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 in operating condition.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the essential parts of the cigarette lighter of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the cam return spring used in the cigarette lighter and illustrates the action of the cam return spring.

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1 and 4, a cigarette lighter incorporating the teachings of the present invention is illustrated. The cigarette lighter includes a casing l which houses a fuel reservoir 2 having a normally closed discharge valve 3 and a refill valve (not shown) and a U-shaped metal frame member 4 which has twoparallel vertical side walls 40, 4b. The

a cam are provided for redirecting and stepping up the frame member 4 encloses a piezoelectric element unit 5 and pivotally supports a U-shaped cam member 6. Secured to the frame member 4 is an electrode support 7 which includes a discharge electrode 8. The discharge electrode 8 forms a spark gap with the nozzle 9 of the fuel discharge valve. An actuating member 10 has two pairs of projections 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b each having a collar which may be in the form of a roller 13a, 13b, 14a, 14b secured to the upwardly extending side walls'of the actuating member. These rollers are slidingly received by two pairs of guide slots 15a, 15b, 16a, 16b formed in the two parallel upwardly extending sides 4a, 4b of the frame member 4. The guide slots 15a, 15b, 16a, 16b guide the displacement of the actuating member 10'. A valve operating plate 18, pivotible about a fulcrum 19, engages, at one end 18a thereof, the lower front end 17a, 17b of the actuating member 10 and engages, at its other end 18b, the lower end of the fuel valve nozzle 9. Horizontal displacement of the actuating member from left to right results in the valve operating plate 18 being pivoted in a clockwise direction about its fulcrum whereby the fuel nozzle 9 will be elevated thereby rising the normally closed fuel discharge valve 3. A spring 20 which is mounted on a pin 21 secured to the frame member 4 will return the actuating member to its inoperative position when the actuating member is released.

The rotatable hammer 22 and an energy accumulating spring 23 such as a torsion coil are mounted on a transverse pin 11 which is integrally joined to one pair of the projections 11a, 11 b of the actuating member 10. The accumulating spring extends between the hammer 22 and the inner surface of the actuating member 10. In the inoperative position the hammer or striker-22 rests upon the pressure plate 24 of the piezoelectric element unit and accordingly, the energy accumulating spring may be compressively located intermediate the hammer 22 and the actuating member when the lighter is in the inoperative condition. The hammer can therefore be substantially cockedprior to the displacement of the actuating member and such displacement will thereby only be required to elevate the hammer whereby it can be propelled towards and impact against the piezoelectric device to release the energy of the accumulating spring and to open the gas discharge valve. The striker 22 includes projections 25a, 25b including collars or rollers 26a, 26b which project outwardly from the vertical sides thereof and which are adapted to engage with the upwardly projecting camming surfaces 27a, 27b of the cam member 6. The rotation of the cam member about pin 29 which is secured to opposing side walls of the casing is limited by pin 31 which is also integral with the side walls of the casing and which engages stops 28a, 28b on the cam member. The cam member 6 is held in a predetermined position (FIG, 1) by means of a cam return spring 30 such as a v torsion coil mounted on the cam member support pin 29. In the inoperative position of the cigarette lighter, the two legs 30a, 30b of the cam return spring 30 are adjacent and abut against pin 31 which is integral with the frame member 4 and located therebetween a pin 32 carried by the cam member 6. In the inoperative position, pivot pin 29 and pins 31 and 32 are aligned. The

collars 26a, 26b of the hammer engage with the cam member 6 to the left of the protrusions 27a, 2712' so that the distance between the pivot pin 29-and the collars 26a, 2612 may be greater than the shortest distance be tween the pivot pin 29 and the hammer 22 at the same level as the collars 26a, 26b.

A clockwise rotation of the cam member 6 and its intregral outwardly projecting pin results in the pin 32 engaging the upper leg 30a of the cam return spring 30 thereby rotating the upper leg in a clockwise direction. The clockwise rotation of the lower leg 30b is pre-] vented by pin 31 which is mounted on the frar'nemembeer 4 so that the extended spring 30 exerts a counterclockwise biasing ,force. counterclockwise rotation of the cam member 6 results in the cam pin 32 rotating the lower leg 30b of the cam return spring 30 in the counterclockwise direction while the counterclockwise rotation of the upper leg 30b is limited by pin 31 so that the extended spring 30 exerts a clockwise biasing force. In operation, referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, when the actuating member 10 is displaced horizontally from left to right and the collars 13a, 13b, 14a, 14b are displaced along the guide slots 15a, 15b, 16a, 16b of the frame member 4, the hammer collars 26a, 26b engage the upwradly extending peaks 27a, 27b of the cam member 6 and thereby rotate the cam member 6 in the clockwise direction until the stops 28a, 28b on the cam member 6 engage with the pin 31 on the frame member 4 to prevent further rotation of the cam member 6. Upon further displacement of the actuating member 10 (FIG. 2) the hammer collars 22 climb up the upwardly extending peaks 27a, 27b of the cam member 6 until the collars are positioned proximate the top of the peaks and the energy accumulating spring has been compressed a predetermined amount. Further displacement of the actuating member 10 (FIG. 3) causes the hammer 22 to be released from the cam member whereby the hammer 22 will be propelled towards and impact against the pressure plate 24 of the peizoelectric element unit 5 to produce a high voltage which is discharged at the spark gap defined by the electrode 8 and the nozzle 9 of the discharge valve 3 .to ignite the fuel flowing from the resevoir 2 and being discharged from the nozzle. When the hammer 22 is released the cam member 6 is returned to its original position by the cam return spring 30 so that the cam member 6 will not obstruct the path of the hammer 22. When the operating force applied to the actuating member 10 is released the latter is returned to its initial or inoperative position by the actuating member return spring 20. As the actuating member is so displaced to the left the hammer 22 depresses the upwardly extending cam peaks 27a, 27b by rotating the cam member 6 in the counterclockwise direction against the force exerted by the cam return spring 30. When the striker 22 reaches its initial position, the cam member 6 is returned to the predetermined position by the return spring 30 and the hammer is thus reset.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim is:

l. A liquefied gas fueled lighter comprising a housing,

a normally closed gas fuel discharge valve and a piezoelectric high voltage generation device disposed within said housing,

an actuating member,

hammer means rotatably secured to said actuating member means for slidingly interconnecting said actuating member and said housing whereby said actuating member may be substantially. lineraly displaced from a first position to a second position, where, the rotation of said hammer means will result in said hammer means striking said piezoelectric de vice,

spring means interposed intermediate said hammer means and said actuating member,

means for opening said normally closed fuel gas discharge valve and for subjecting said spring means to a compressive force having at least a predetermined magnitude and selective direction as said ac tuating member is displaced from said first to said second position whereby said hammer means will become cocked and means for releasing said hammer means when said actuating member is at said second position whereby said hammer means will be forcefully propelled downwardly to strike said piezoelectric device whereby a spark will be generated proximate said fuel gas discharge valve for igniting the discharged gas fuel.

2. A liquefied gas fueled lighter according to claim 1, wherein the path of fuel gas discharged from said discharge valve will be blocked by said actuating member when it is at said first position and will be unobstructed by said actuating member when it is at said second position.

3. A liquefied gas fueled lighter according to claim 1, wherein said subjecting and releasing means comprises a selectively configured cam member mounted on said housing and said hammer means further includes means for engaging said cam member.

4. A liquefied gas fueled lighter according to claim 3,

wherein said cam member is rotatably mounted on said housing and the axis of rotation of said cam memberis spaced from a line defined by the axis of rotation of said hammer means and said engaging means.

5. A liquefied gas fueled lighter according to claim 3, wherein said spring means comprises a torsion coil and the distance between the axis of rotation of said hammer means and said engaging means is substantially greater than the distance between said axis of rotation of the hammer means and the point of engagement of said spring means with said actuating member.

6. A liquefied gas fueled lighter according to claim 4, wherein the distance between the axis of rotation of said cam member and said engaging means is greater than the shortest distance between the axis of rotation of said cam member and said hammer means whereby rotation of said cam member will elevate said hammer means and thereby compress said spring means.

7. A liquefied gas fueled lighter according to claim 4 further comprising means for maintaining said cam member at a selected predetermined position, means for limiting the ro-. tative displacement of said cam member when said cam member is rotated in one direction, and

means for returning said cam member to said predetermined position after said cam member has been rotativcly displaced in either said one or the other direction.

8. A liquefied gas fueled lighter according to claim 7, wherein saidreturn means comprises a bifurcated torsional coil selectively configured so that the two portions thereof are forcefully drawn together and said cam member further comprises pin means for individually engaging and displacing said two portions, further comprising second pin means for rotationally supporting said cam member and for supporting said return means.

9. A liquefied gas fueled lighter according to claim 3, wherein said engaging means comprises roller means secured to said hammer means.

10. A liquefied gas fueled lighter according to claim 7, wherein said cam member includes camming surface means for rotatively displacing said hammer means to said cocked position after the rotative displacement of tatably supporting said hammer member.

13. A liquefied gas fueled lighter according to claim 1, wherein said hammer means engages said piezoelectric device and said spring means is compressively located intermediate said hammer means and said actuating member when said actuating member is at said first position.

' 14. A liquified gas fueled lighter comprising a housing, 7

a normally closed gas fuel discharge valve and a piezoelectrie high voltage generation device disposed within said housing,

a displaceable actuating member selectively configured to define a smoothly continuous casing with said housing, when in a first position,

means for slidably interconnecting said actuating member and said housing whereby said actuating member may be substantially linearly displaced from said first position to a second position extending beyond said housing thereby forming a discontinuous casing therewith,

displaceable hammer means rotatably mounted on said actuating member,

means responsive to displacement of saidactuating member from said first position toward said second position for opening said normally closed fuel gas discharge valve and for displacing said hammer means into spaced relationship with said piezoelectric device and for subjecting said hammer means to a biasing force of predetermined magnitude, and

means for releasing said hammer means as said actuating member approaches said second position whereby said hammer means will be forcefully displaced into impact engagement with said piezoelectric device whereby a spark will be generated proximate said fuel gas discharge valve for igniting the discharged gas fuel.

15. A liquefied gas fueled lighter according to claim 14, wherein the path of fuel gas discharged from said discharge valve will be blocked by said actuating member when it is at said first position and will be unobstructed by said actuating member when it is at said second position.

means for maintaining said cam member at a selected predetermined position,

means for selectively limiting the rotative displacement of said cam member when said cam member is rotated in one direction, and

means for returning said cam member to said predetermined position after said cam member has been rotatively displaced in either said one or the other direction.

18. A liquefied gas fueled lighter according to calim 17, wherein said return means comprises a bifurcated torsional coil selectively configured so that the two portions thereof are forcefully drawn together and said cam member further comprises pin means for individually engaging and displacing said two portions and further comprising second pin means for rotationally supporting said cam member and for supporting said return means.

19. A liquefied gas fueled lighter according to claim 14, wherein said hammer means engages said piezoelectric device and the releasing means for said hammer means is compressively located intermediate said hammer means and said actuating member when said actuating member is at said first position.

20. A liquefied gas fueled lighter comprising a housmg,

a normally closed gas fuel discharge valve and a piezoelectric high voltage generation device disposed within said housing,

a substantially linearly displaceable actuating member,

pivotally displaceable hammer means mounted said actuating member and linearly displaceable in conjunction therewith,

means for slidably interconnecting said actuating member and said housing whereby said actuating member may be substantially linearly displaced from a first position to a second position,

spring means interposed intermdiate said hammer means and said actuating member, for biasing said hammer member into compressive relation with said piezoelectric device when said actuating member is in its first position,

means responsive to displacement of said actuating member from said first position toward said second position for opening said normally closed fuel discharge valve and for displacing said hammer member into spaced relationship with said piezoelectric device with a concommitant increase in said counteroperating biasing force thereon,

means for releasing said hammer means as said actuating member approaches said second position whereby said hammer means will be forcefully displaced into compressive impact engagement with said piezoelectric device whereby a spark will be generated proximate to said fuel gas discharge valve for igniting the discharged gas fuel.

21. ln a liquefied gas fueled lighter a structure for energizing a piezoelectric ignition device comprising housing means for enclosing the piezoelectric device,

an actuating member.

hammer means rotatably secured to said actuating member,

means for slidingly interconnecting said actuating member and said housing means whereby said actuating member may be substantially linearly displaced from a first position to a second position where the rotation of said hammer means will result in said hammer means striking the piezoelectric device,

spring means interposed intermediate said hammer means and said actuating member,

means for subjecting said spring means to a compressive force having at least a predetrmined magnitude and selective direction as said actuating member is displaced from said first to said second position, and

means for releasing said hammer means when said actuating member is at said second position whereby said hammer means will be forcefully propelled downwardly to strike the piezoelectric device.

22. A liquefied gas fueled lighter according to claim 21, wherein said hammer means engages said piezoelectric device and said spring means is compressively located between said hammer means and said actuating member when said actuating member is in said first position.

23. A liquefied gas" fueled lighter according to claim 22, further comprising means for elevating said hammer means above said piezoelectric device as said actuating member is displaced from said first to said second position.

24. A liquefied gas fueled lighter according to claim 8, wherein said pin means is situated on the line connecting said second pin means for rotationally supporting said cam member and said means for limiting the rotative displacement of said cam member when said cam member is in its non-operative position.

25. A liquefied gas fueled lighter according to claim 10, wherein said cam member has a pair of side walls to form said camming surface means and said pin means is situated between said side walls and secured thereto.

26. A liquefied gas fueled lighter according to claim 20, wherein said means for slidably interconnecting said actuating member and said housing includes a transverse pin on which said hammer means is pivotably arranged so that said hammer means may be linearly displaced in accordance with the displacement of said actuating member, and further comprising guide means in the direction of the displacement of said actuating member for guiding and limiting the movement of said transverse pin within said housing.

Claims (26)

1. A liquefied gas fueled lighter comprising a housing, a normally closed gas fuel discharge valve and a piezoelectric high voltage generation device disposed within said housing, an actuating member, hammer means rotatably secured to said actuating member means for slidingly interconnecting said actuating member and said housing whereby said actuating member may be substantially lineraly displaced from a first position to a second position, where, the rotation of said hammer means will result in said hammer means striking said piezoelectric device, spring means interposed intermediate said hammer means and said actuating member, means for opening said normally closed fuel gas discharge valve and for subjecting said spring means to a compressive force having at least a predetermined magnitude and selective direction as said actuating member is displaced from said first to said second position whereby said hammer means will become cocked and means for releasing said hammer means when said actuating member is at said second position whereby said hammer means will be forcefully propelled downwardly to strike said piezoelectric device whereby a spark will be generated proximate said fuel gas discharge valve for igniting the discharged gas fuel.

2. A liquefied gas fueled lighter according to claim 1, wherEin the path of fuel gas discharged from said discharge valve will be blocked by said actuating member when it is at said first position and will be unobstructed by said actuating member when it is at said second position.

3. A liquefied gas fueled lighter according to claim 1, wherein said subjecting and releasing means comprises a selectively configured cam member mounted on said housing and said hammer means further includes means for engaging said cam member.

4. A liquefied gas fueled lighter according to claim 3, wherein said cam member is rotatably mounted on said housing and the axis of rotation of said cam member is spaced from a line defined by the axis of rotation of said hammer means and said engaging means.

5. A liquefied gas fueled lighter according to claim 3, wherein said spring means comprises a torsion coil and the distance between the axis of rotation of said hammer means and said engaging means is substantially greater than the distance between said axis of rotation of the hammer means and the point of engagement of said spring means with said actuating member.

6. A liquefied gas fueled lighter according to claim 4, wherein the distance between the axis of rotation of said cam member and said engaging means is greater than the shortest distance between the axis of rotation of said cam member and said hammer means whereby rotation of said cam member will elevate said hammer means and thereby compress said spring means.

7. A liquefied gas fueled lighter according to claim 4 further comprising means for maintaining said cam member at a selected predetermined position, means for limiting the rotative displacement of said cam member when said cam member is rotated in one direction, and means for returning said cam member to said predetermined position after said cam member has been rotatively displaced in either said one or the other direction.

8. A liquefied gas fueled lighter according to claim 7, wherein saidreturn means comprises a bifurcated torsional coil selectively configured so that the two portions thereof are forcefully drawn together and said cam member further comprises pin means for individually engaging and displacing said two portions, further comprising second pin means for rotationally supporting said cam member and for supporting said return means.

9. A liquefied gas fueled lighter according to claim 3, wherein said engaging means comprises roller means secured to said hammer means.

10. A liquefied gas fueled lighter according to claim 7, wherein said cam member includes camming surface means for rotatively displacing said hammer means to said cocked position after the rotative displacement of said cam member has been limited by said limiting means.

11. A liquefied gas fueled lighter according to claim 1, wherein said actuating means includes two opposing, outwardly extending pairs of collar means and said housing includes a U-shaped frame member having two opposing pairs of selectively configured guide slots defined therein for receiving said two pairs of collar means and thereby controlling the linear displacement of said actuating member.

12. A liquefied gas fueled lighter according to claim 11, further comprising pin means for supporting one of said pairs of actuating member collar means and for rotatably supporting said hammer member.

13. A liquefied gas fueled lighter according to claim 1, wherein said hammer means engages said piezoelectric device and said spring means is compressively located intermediate said hammer means and said actuating member when said actuating member is at said first position.

14. A liquified gas fueled lighter comprising a housing, a normally closed gas fuel discharge valve and a piezoelectric high voltage generation device disposed within said housing, a displaceable actuating member selectively configured to define a smoothly continuous casing with said housing, when in a first position, means for slidably interconnecting said actuating memBer and said housing whereby said actuating member may be substantially linearly displaced from said first position to a second position extending beyond said housing thereby forming a discontinuous casing therewith, displaceable hammer means rotatably mounted on said actuating member, means responsive to displacement of said actuating member from said first position toward said second position for opening said normally closed fuel gas discharge valve and for displacing said hammer means into spaced relationship with said piezoelectric device and for subjecting said hammer means to a biasing force of predetermined magnitude, and means for releasing said hammer means as said actuating member approaches said second position whereby said hammer means will be forcefully displaced into impact engagement with said piezoelectric device whereby a spark will be generated proximate said fuel gas discharge valve for igniting the discharged gas fuel.

15. A liquefied gas fueled lighter according to claim 14, wherein the path of fuel gas discharged from said discharge valve will be blocked by said actuating member when it is at said first position and will be unobstructed by said actuating member when it is at said second position.

16. A liquefied gas fueled lighter according to claim 14, wherein said subjecting means comprises a selectively configured cam member mounted on said housing and said hammer means is rotatably secured to said actuating member and includes means for engaging said cam member.

17. A liquefied gas fueled lighter according to claim 16 further comprising means for maintaining said cam member at a selected predetermined position, means for selectively limiting the rotative displacement of said cam member when said cam member is rotated in one direction, and means for returning said cam member to said predetermined position after said cam member has been rotatively displaced in either said one or the other direction.

18. A liquefied gas fueled lighter according to calim 17, wherein said return means comprises a bifurcated torsional coil selectively configured so that the two portions thereof are forcefully drawn together and said cam member further comprises pin means for individually engaging and displacing said two portions and further comprising second pin means for rotationally supporting said cam member and for supporting said return means.

19. A liquefied gas fueled lighter according to claim 14, wherein said hammer means engages said piezoelectric device and the releasing means for said hammer means is compressively located intermediate said hammer means and said actuating member when said actuating member is at said first position.

20. A liquefied gas fueled lighter comprising a housing, a normally closed gas fuel discharge valve and a piezoelectric high voltage generation device disposed within said housing, a substantially linearly displaceable actuating member, pivotally displaceable hammer means mounted on said actuating member and linearly displaceable in conjunction therewith, means for slidably interconnecting said actuating member and said housing whereby said actuating member may be substantially linearly displaced from a first position to a second position, spring means interposed intermdiate said hammer means and said actuating member, for biasing said hammer member into compressive relation with said piezoelectric device when said actuating member is in its first position, means responsive to displacement of said actuating member from said first position toward said second position for opening said normally closed fuel discharge valve and for displacing said hammer member into spaced relationship with said piezoelectric device with a concommitant increase in said counteroperating biasing force thereon, means for releasing said hammer means as said actuating member approaches said second position whereby said hammer means will be forcefully displaced into compreSsive impact engagement with said piezoelectric device whereby a spark will be generated proximate to said fuel gas discharge valve for igniting the discharged gas fuel.

21. In a liquefied gas fueled lighter a structure for energizing a piezoelectric ignition device comprising housing means for enclosing the piezoelectric device, an actuating member, hammer means rotatably secured to said actuating member, means for slidingly interconnecting said actuating member and said housing means whereby said actuating member may be substantially linearly displaced from a first position to a second position where the rotation of said hammer means will result in said hammer means striking the piezoelectric device, spring means interposed intermediate said hammer means and said actuating member, means for subjecting said spring means to a compressive force having at least a predetrmined magnitude and selective direction as said actuating member is displaced from said first to said second position, and means for releasing said hammer means when said actuating member is at said second position whereby said hammer means will be forcefully propelled downwardly to strike the piezoelectric device.

22. A liquefied gas fueled lighter according to claim 21, wherein said hammer means engages said piezoelectric device and said spring means is compressively located between said hammer means and said actuating member when said actuating member is in said first position.

23. A liquefied gas fueled lighter according to claim 22, further comprising means for elevating said hammer means above said piezoelectric device as said actuating member is displaced from said first to said second position.

24. A liquefied gas fueled lighter according to claim 8, wherein said pin means is situated on the line connecting said second pin means for rotationally supporting said cam member and said means for limiting the rotative displacement of said cam member when said cam member is in its non-operative position.

25. A liquefied gas fueled lighter according to claim 10, wherein said cam member has a pair of side walls to form said camming surface means and said pin means is situated between said side walls and secured thereto.

26. A liquefied gas fueled lighter according to claim 20, wherein said means for slidably interconnecting said actuating member and said housing includes a transverse pin on which said hammer means is pivotably arranged so that said hammer means may be linearly displaced in accordance with the displacement of said actuating member, and further comprising guide means in the direction of the displacement of said actuating member for guiding and limiting the movement of said transverse pin within said housing.

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