U.S. patent application number 09/865121 was filed with the patent office on 2002-11-28 for utility lighter.
Invention is credited to Chen, Peter.
Application Number | 20020177091 09/865121 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25344770 |
Filed Date | 2002-11-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020177091 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen, Peter |
November 28, 2002 |
Utility lighter
Abstract
A utility lighter includes a locking stopper fitted in a locker
groove of a button body of an ignition button in an inwardly
movable manner and a resilient element mounted between the locking
stopper and the ignition button to normally urge and retain the
locking stopper positioning between a pusher head of the ignition
button and a locking flange of a piezoelectric unit housing of the
utility lighter, so as to block an downwardly movement of the
ignition button and prevent the ignition operation of the
piezoelectric unit. In order to ignite the utility lighter, an
adult user's thumb must intentionally push the locking stopper
inwardly until the locking stopper is unblocked by the locking
flange and then push down the ignition button at the same time.
Inventors: |
Chen, Peter; (El Monte,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
David and Raymond Patent Group
1050 Oakdale Lane
Arcadia
CA
91006
US
|
Family ID: |
25344770 |
Appl. No.: |
09/865121 |
Filed: |
May 23, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
431/153 ;
431/255; 431/344; 431/345 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F23Q 2/287 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
431/153 ;
431/255; 431/345; 431/344 |
International
Class: |
F23D 011/36; F23Q
007/12; F23D 014/46; F23D 014/28 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A utility lighter, comprising: a casing having a liquefied gas
storage, a piezoelectric unit housing and a pusher cavity defined
therein; a gas emitting unit extended from and communicated with
said liquefied gas storage in said casing; an elongated nozzle tube
extended from said casing for encircling said gas emitting unit; a
piezoelectric unit fitted in said piezoelectric unit housing for
generating piezoelectricity, wherein said piezoelectric unit
comprises a movable operating part upwardly extended from said
pusher cavity and an ignition tip extended adjacent to said gas
emitting tip; an ignition button which is slidably fitted in said
pusher cavity of said casing and coupled with a top end of said
piezoelectric unit, wherein said ignition button comprises a button
body and a pusher head provided on top of said button body and
exposing above said piezoelectric unit housing; and a safety device
comprising a locking flange provided at an edge portion of an outer
wall of said piezoelectric unit housing, a locking stopper disposed
between said button body, and said locking flange in an inwardly
movable manner, and a resilient means mounted between said locking
stopper and said ignition button for normally urging and retaining
said locking stopper positioning between said pusher head and said
locking flange of said piezoelectric unit housing so as to block a
downward movement of said ignition button and prevent an ignition
operation of said piezoelectric unit.
2. A utility lighter, as recited in claim 1, wherein said ignition
button is provided at a top side of said casing, which further
comprises a handle portion, adapted for a user to hold said utility
lighter with four fingers gripping around a bottom side of said
handle portion of said casing and a thumb resting on said top side
to operate said ignition button.
3. A utility lighter, as recited in claim 1, wherein said locking
flange is a top edge, having a predetermined thickness, of an outer
wall of said piezoelectric unit housing.
4. A utility lighter, as recited in claim 2, wherein said locking
flange is a top edge, having a predetermined thickness, of an outer
wall of said piezoelectric unit housing.
5. A utility lighter, as recited in claim 1, wherein said locking
stopper comprises two guiding arms transversally extended from two
inner sides of said pushing button thereof respectively, wherein
said guiding arms are slidably received in two slider tracks
respectively indented on two outer sidewalls of said button body
transversally, so as to ensure said inward movement of said locking
stopper with respect to said ignition button.
6. A utility lighter, as recited in claim 2, wherein said locking
stopper comprises two guiding arms transversally extended from two
inner sides of said pushing button thereof respectively, wherein
said guiding arms are slidably received in two slider tracks
respectively indented on two outer sidewalls of said button body
transversally, so as to ensure said inward movement of said locking
stopper with respect to said ignition button.
7. A utility lighter, as recited in claim 3, wherein said locking
stopper comprises two guiding arms transversally extended from two
inner sides of said pushing button thereof respectively, wherein
said guiding arms are slidably received in two slider tracks
respectively indented on two outer sidewalls of said button body
transversally, so as to ensure said inward movement of said locking
stopper with respect to said ignition button.
8. A utility lighter, as recited in claim 4, wherein said locking
stopper comprises two guiding arms transversally extended from two
inner sides of said pushing button thereof respectively, wherein
said guiding arms are slidably received in two slider tracks
respectively indented on two outer sidewalls of said button body
transversally, so as to ensure said inward movement of said locking
stopper with respect to said ignition button.
9. A utility lighter, as recited in claim 5, wherein a free end of
each of said guiding arms forms a triangular engagement latch
adapted for receiving in an engagement socket formed at an inner
end of said respective slider track, wherein said two guiding arms
are slidably extended underneath along said two slider tracks
respectively to enable said two engagement latches being reachable
with respect to said two engagement sockets respectively.
10. A utility lighter, as recited in claim 6, wherein a free end of
each of said guiding arms forms a triangular engagement latch
adapted for receiving in an engagement socket formed at an inner
end of said respective slider track, wherein said two guiding arms
are slidably extended underneath along said two slider tracks
respectively to enable said two engagement latches being reachable
with respect to said two engagement sockets respectively.
11. A utility lighter, as recited in claim 7, wherein a free end of
each of said guiding arms forms a triangular engagement latch
adapted for receiving in an engagement socket formed at an inner
end of said respective slider track, wherein said two guiding arms
are slidably extended underneath along said two slider tracks
respectively to enable said two engagement latches being reachable
with respect to said two engagement sockets respectively.
12. A utility lighter, as recited in claim 8, wherein a free end of
each of said guiding arms forms a triangular engagement latch
adapted for receiving in an engagement socket formed at an inner
end of said respective slider track, wherein said two guiding arms
are slidably extended underneath along said two slider tracks
respectively to enable said two engagement latches being reachable
with respect to said two engagement sockets respectively.
13. A utility lighter, as recited in claim 5, wherein a locker
groove is provided on a front side of said button body and said
locking stopper, having a shape and size adapted for fitting in
said locker groove, further comprises a pushing button and a
blocking tongue downwardly extended from said pushing button,
wherein said locking stopper is normally positioned in a locking
condition to block between said pusher head and said locking
flange.
14. A utility lighter, as recited in claim 6, wherein a locker
groove is provided on a front side of said button body and said
locking stopper, having a shape and size adapted for fitting in
said locker groove, further comprises a pushing button and a
blocking tongue downwardly extended from said pushing button,
wherein said locking stopper is normally positioned in a locking
condition to block between said pusher head and said locking
flange.
15. A utility lighter, as recited in claim 9, wherein a locker
groove is provided on a front side of said button body and said
locking stopper, having a shape and size adapted for fitting in
said locker groove, further comprises a pushing button and a
blocking tongue downwardly extended from said pushing button,
wherein said locking stopper is normally positioned in a locking
condition to block between said pusher head and said locking
flange.
16. A utility lighter, as recited in claim 10, wherein a locker
groove is provided on a front side of said button body and said
locking stopper having a shape and size adapted for fitting in said
locker groove, further comprises a pushing button and a blocking
tongue downwardly extended from said pushing button, wherein said
locking stopper is normally positioned in a locking condition to
block between said pusher head and said locking flange.
17. A utility lighter, as recited in claim 13, wherein said button
body further has at least a side button wall downwardly extended
from said pusher head and said movable operating part of said
piezoelectric unit is extended to fit inside button body, wherein
said resilient means comprises at least a compression having one
end attached to said side button wall and another end urging
against an inner surface of said pushing button so as to normally
urge and retain said locking stopping positioning between said
pusher head and said locking flange of said piezoelectric unit
housing, unless a sideward force is applied to inwardly presses
said pushing button until said blocking tongue is disaligned with
said locking flange, and thus a downward force applied on said
ignition button is able to push down said ignition button
simultaneously to depress said movable operating part of said
piezoelectric unit to ignite said utility lighter.
18. A utility lighter, as recited in claim 14, wherein said button
body further has at least a side button wall downwardly extended
from said pusher head and said movable operating part of said
piezoelectric unit is extended to fit inside button body, wherein
said resilient means comprises at least a compression having one
end attached to said side button wall and another end urging
against an inner surface of said pushing button so as to normally
urge and retain said locking stopping positioning between said
pusher head and said locking flange of said piezoelectric unit
housing, unless a sideward force is applied to inwardly presses
said pushing button until said blocking tongue is disaligned with
said locking flange, and thus a downward force applied on said
ignition button is able to push down said ignition button
simultaneously to depress said movable operating part of said
piezoelectric unit to ignite said utility lighter.
19. A utility lighter, as recited in claim 15, wherein said button
body further has at least a side button wall downwardly extended
from said pusher head and said movable operating part of said
piezoelectric unit is extended to fit inside button body, wherein
said resilient means comprises at least a compression having one
end attached to said side button wall and another end urging
against an inner surface of said pushing button so as to normally
urge and retain said locking stopping positioning between said
pusher head and said locking flange of said piezoelectric unit
housing, unless a sideward force is applied to inwardly presses
said pushing button until said blocking tongue is disaligned with
said locking flange, and thus a downward force applied on said
ignition button is able to push down said ignition button
simultaneously to depress said movable operating part of said
piezoelectric unit to ignite said utility lighter.
20. A utility lighter, as recited in claim 16, wherein said button
body further has at least a side button wall downwardly extended
from said pusher head and said movable operating part of said
piezoelectric unit is extended to fit inside button body, wherein
said resilient means comprises at least a compression having one
end attached to said side button wall and another end urging
against an inner surface of said pushing button so as to normally
urge and retain said locking stopping positioning between said
pusher head and said locking flange of said piezoelectric unit
housing, unless a sideward force is applied to inwardly presses
said pushing button until said blocking tongue is disaligned with
said locking flange, and thus a downward force applied on said
ignition button is able to push down said ignition button
simultaneously to depress said movable operating part of said
piezoelectric unit to ignite said utility lighter.
21. A utility lighter, as recited in claim 13, wherein said locker
groove has a wider upper portion and a narrower lower portion and
said pushing button having a shape and size adapted for fitting in
said upper portion of said locker groove while said blocking tongue
has a width narrower than a width of said pushing button for
fitting in said lower portion of said locker groove.
22. A utility lighter, as recited in claim 14, wherein said locker
groove has a wider upper portion and a narrower lower portion and
said pushing button having a shape and size adapted for fitting in
said upper portion of said locker groove while said blocking tongue
has a width narrower than a width of said pushing button for
fitting in said lower portion of said locker groove.
23. A utility lighter, as recited in claim 15, wherein said locker
groove has a wider upper portion and a narrower lower portion and
said pushing button having a shape and size adapted for fitting in
said upper portion of said locker groove while said blocking tongue
has a width narrower than a width of said pushing button for
fitting in said lower portion of said locker groove.
24. A utility lighter, as recited in claim 16, wherein said locker
groove has a wider upper portion and a narrower lower portion and
said pushing button having a shape and size adapted for fitting in
said upper portion of said locker groove while said blocking tongue
has a width narrower than a width of said pushing button for
fitting in said lower portion of said locker groove.
25. A utility lighter, as recited in claim 18, wherein said locker
groove has a wider upper portion and a narrower lower portion and
said pushing button having a shape and size adapted for fitting in
said upper portion of said locker groove while said blocking tongue
has a width narrower than a width of said pushing button for
fitting in said lower portion of said locker groove.
26. A utility lighter, as recited in claim 20, wherein said locker
groove has a wider upper portion and a narrower lower portion and
said pushing button having a shape and size adapted for fitting in
said upper portion of said locker groove while said blocking tongue
has a width narrower than a width of said pushing button for
fitting in said lower portion of said locker groove.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to lighters, and more
particularly to a utility lighter which is advantageous in
practical use, wherein the utility lighter comprises a safety
device for normally locking an ignition button of the utility
lighter to prevent the utility lighter from being ignited
accidentally or by children.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Arts
[0004] Utility lighters, such as barbecue lighters or candle
lighters, have been known and sold throughout the world. The
advantageous of such utility lighters is that each lighter
comprises an elongated nozzle tube to ignite candles or a stove
while a user stays away therefrom.
[0005] The conventional utility lighter A, as shown in FIG. 8A,
comprises a trigger A1, which is positioned below a handle A2
thereof and operatively arranged to be depressed for igniting the
lighter A, and a finger guide A3 encircling a finger cavity for
fitting a user's index finger to engage therethrough to press a
trigger A1. In order to ignite the utility lighter A, the user's
index finger must engage through the finger guide A3 to press on
the trigger A1. Since the index finger is weaker than the thumb
that the female or senior users may find difficulty to operate the
utility lighter A.
[0006] Most accidental fire cases were started by the ignorant
usage of the lighter, especially a barbecue lighter used at home
such as pilot light for stoves or outdoor activities such as
fireplaces or camping. Those accidental fires are causes by
ignorance of human mistakes, especially among young children.
[0007] For safety reasons, the conventional utility lighter A
generally employs a lock switch A4 that requires the user to push
and switch it to an unlocked position for ignition, or otherwise
the trigger will be locked up while the lock switch A4 is
positioned at a locked position. In fact, such lock switch A4 can
only prevent accidental ignition but cannot stop children from
igniting it. Usually, the lock switch A4 is simply placed at one
side of the utility lighter A. In most cases, children can easily
figure out how to ignite these utility lighter A by switching the
lock switch A4 to its unlocked position. Thus, the utility lighter
A requires a double-action operation by the user's thumb and index
finger operating the lock switch A4 and the trigger A1
respectively.
[0008] Moreover, the user, after each ignition, must switch back
the lock switch A4 back to its locked position in order to lock up
the trigger A1, so that if the user forgets to switch the lock
switch A4 back to its locked position, the utility lighter A has no
safety at all. In most cases, children can easily figure out how to
ignite these utility lighters A by switching the lock switch A4 to
its unlocked position.
[0009] Thus, the utility lighter requires a double-action operation
by the user's thumb and index finger respectively operating the
lock switch and the trigger button at the same time. Another type
of conventional utility lighter B, as shown in FIG. 8B, resolves
the above problem by employing a safety switch B4 for locking up
the ignition trigger B1 so as to prevent the ignition trigger B1 of
the lighter B from accidentally being depressed thereby causing an
unintended ejection. The safety switch B4 is perpendicularly
mounted on the casing of the utility lighter B with respect to the
trigger B1, wherein a resilient element is mounted under the safety
switch B4 for rebounding the safety switch B4 to its original
position, so as to re-lock the utility lighter B after every
ignition. Therefore, in order to ignite the barbecue lighter B, a
user's thumb must press the safety switch B4 downward while the
user's finger must depress the trigger B1.
[0010] However, such utility lighter B does not work for the smart
children today. Stronger child can use one hand to press down the
safety switch B4 and the other hand to depress the trigger B1. It
is reported that some children even press the safety switch B4
against a rigid hard surface with their bodies so that they have
both hands to depress the trigger B1. In other words, the improved
conventional utility lighter B is still not safe enough to prevent
under age children from using the utility lighter.
[0011] As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the ignition triggers A1, B1 of
the conventional utility lighters A and B are respectively provided
at the bottom side of the handles A2, B2. In order to operate the
conventional utility lighter, the user generally requires to hold
the handle A2, B2 with his or her hand and uses his or her index
finger to depress the trigger A1, B1 like operating a pistol. In
fact, most children like to play with the utility lighter because
it likes to operate a pistol. To the kids, the utility lighter is
an exciting fire gun that attracts the children to play.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0012] A main object of the present invention is to provide a
utility lighter that the user can only use one thumb to operate
both the safety lock and the trigger so as to provide secure safety
that prevents the utility lighter from being ignited accidentally
and the under age children from using the utility lighter.
[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
utility lighter wherein the ignition of the utility lighter of the
present invention requires a simple single-action operation by an
adult's thumb instead of the conventional double-action
operation.
[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
utility lighter wherein the a piezoelectric unit of the utility
lighter is normally maintain in a locking position, so as to
prevent any unwanted ignition of the lighter.
[0015] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
utility lighter wherein a safety device of the utility lighter can
automatically return to a locking condition after each ignition
operation, so as to prevent any lighting operation of the
piezoelectric unit by locking up the downward movement of the thumb
button.
[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
utility lighter wherein the safety device of the present invention
is employed with the ignition button which eliminates the need of
constructing any conventional switch button or locking button
additionally that may unreasonable increase the manufacturing
cost.
[0017] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
utility lighter wherein the ignition button which is provided at a
top side of the casing is used to substitute the trigger of the
conventional utility lighter that eliminates the similarity of
operating a pistol so as to prevent attracting children to play
with. Moreover, the thumb-operated type ignition button of the
present invention is easier to operate by the powerful thumb of an
adult than the index finger operated type trigger of the
conventional utility lighter. A child may use more than one fingers
to depress a trigger to increase the applying force while his or
her single small thumb is not strong enough to operate the ignition
button of the present invention.
[0018] Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the
present invention provides a utility lighter, comprising:
[0019] a casing having a liquefied gas storage, a piezoelectric
unit housing and a pusher cavity defined therein;
[0020] a gas emitting unit extended from and communicated with said
liquefied gas storage in the casing;
[0021] an elongated nozzle tube extended from the casing for
encircling the gas emitting unit;
[0022] a piezoelectric unit fitted in the piezoelectric unit
housing for generating piezoelectricity, wherein the piezoelectric
unit comprises a movable operating part upwardly extended from the
pusher cavity and an ignition tip extended adjacent to the gas
emitting tip;
[0023] an ignition button which is slidably fitted in the pusher
cavity of the casing and coupled with a top end of the
piezoelectric unit, wherein the ignition button comprises a button
body and a pusher head provided on top of the button body and
exposing above the piezoelectric unit housing; and
[0024] a safety device comprising a locking flange provided at an
edge portion of an outer wall of the piezoelectric unit housing, a
locking stopper disposed between the button body and the locking
flange in an inwardly movable manner, and a resilient means mounted
between the locking stopper and the ignition button for normally
urging and retaining the locking stopper positioning between the
pusher head and the locking flange of the piezoelectric unit
housing so as to block a downward movement of the ignition button
and prevent an ignition operation of the piezoelectric unit.
[0025] In order to ignite the utility lighter of the present
invention, an adult user's thumb must intentionally push in the
locking stopper until the locking stopper is pressed to move
inwardly away from the locking flange and push down the ignition
button at the same time.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a utility lighter according
to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of the
utility lighter according to the preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
[0028] FIG. 3 is sectional view of the utility lighter according to
the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 4 is a partially exploded perspective view of a utility
lighter according to an alternative mode of the above preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0030] FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the utility lighter in a
locked condition according to the alternative mode of the above
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0031] FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of the utility lighter in an
unlocked condition according to the alternative mode of the above
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0032] FIG. 7 is a top view illustrating a safety device having an
alternative resilient unit for the present invention.
[0033] FIGS. 8A and 8B are perspective views of two conventional
utility lighters.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0034] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawings, a utility
lighter according to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention is illustrated. The utility lighter comprises a casing 10
comprising a rear handle portion 101 and a front extension potion
102. The casing 10 further has a liquefied gas storage 11, a
piezoelectric unit housing 12 and a pusher cavity 13 defined
therein, wherein the piezoelectric unit housing 12 is provided
adjacent to the liquefied gas storage 11 and a pusher cavity 13 is
located right above the piezoelectric unit housing 12.
[0035] The liquefied gas storage 11 comprises a liquefied gas
container 14 received therein. The utility lighter further
comprises a gas emitting unit 21 extended from and communicated
with the liquefied gas storage 11 in the casing 10 and an elongated
nozzle tube 20 extended from the casing 10 for encircling the gas
emitting unit 21.
[0036] The gas emitting unit 21, as shown in FIG. 3, comprises a
gas emitting nozzle 141 mounted on top of the liquefied gas
container 14 to provide liquefied gas through the gas emitting
nozzle 141, a gas emitting tip 22 positioned inside a distil end of
the elongated nozzle tube 20, and a gas tube extended between the
gas emitting nozzle 141 to the gas emitting tip 22 inside the
elongated nozzle tube 20 to deliver liquefied gas from the gas
emitting nozzle 141 to the gas emitting tip 22.
[0037] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the utility lighter comprises a
piezoelectric unit 30 which is fitted in the piezoelectric unit
housing 12 for generating piezoelectricity, wherein the
piezoelectric unit 30 comprises a movable operating part 31
upwardly extended from the pusher cavity 13 and an ignition tip 32
which is extended to the distil end of the elongated nozzle tube 20
to produce sparks towards the gas emitting tip 22 to ignite the gas
emitted from the gas emitting tip 22.
[0038] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the utility lighter also
comprises an ignition button 40 which is slidably disposed in the
pusher cavity 13 of the casing 10 in a vertically movable manner.
The ignition button 40, which is attached to a top end of the
piezoelectric unit 30, comprises a button body 41 and a pusher head
42 provided on top of the button body 41 and exposing above the
piezoelectric unit housing 12, wherein a locker groove 43 is
provided on of the button body 41. Also, a flame regulator 15 is
coupled with the gas emitting nozzle 141 to control the flow of gas
through the gas emitting nozzle 141, as shown in FIG. 3.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 2, the locker grooves 43, which is formed
on an outer side of the button body 41, has a wider upper portion
431 and a narrower lower portion 432. The button body 41 further
has two side button walls 411, 412 parallelly and downwardly
extended from the pusher head 42. The movable operating part 31 of
the piezoelectric unit 30 is extended to fit inside button body 41.
On an upper portion of an outer surface of each side button wall
411, 412, at least a spring hole 413, 414 is provided thereon.
[0040] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the utility lighter of the
present invention further comprises a safety device 50 which
comprises a locking flange 123 provided at an edge portion of an
outer wall 122 of the piezoelectric unit housing 12, a locking
stopper 51 disposed between the button body 41 and the locking
flange 123 in an inwardly movable manner, and a resilient means 52
mounted between the locking stopper 51 and the ignition button 41
for normally urging and retaining the locking stopper 51
positioning between the pusher head 42 and the locking flange 123
of the piezoelectric unit housing 10 so as to block a downwardly
movement of the ignition button 40 and prevent the ignition
operation of the piezoelectric unit 30.
[0041] According to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, a top edge, having a predetermined thickness, of an
outer wall 122 of the piezoelectric unit housing 12 is embodied and
functioned as the locking flange 123.
[0042] According to the preferred embodiment, the locking stopper
51 comprises a pushing button 511 having a shape and size adapted
for fitting in the upper portion 431 of the locker groove 43 and a
blocking tongue 512 downwardly extended from the pushing button
511. The blocking tongue 512 has a width narrower than a width of
the pushing button 511 for fitting in the lower portion 432 of the
locker groove 43. Normally, when the locking stopper 51 fits in the
locker groove 43, the locking stopper 51 is positioned in a locking
condition, that is blocked between the pusher head 42 and the
locking flange 123.
[0043] The locking stopper 51 further comprises two guiding arms
513, 514 transversally extended from two inner sides of the pushing
button 511 thereof respectively, wherein the guiding arms 513, 514
are slidably received in two slider tracks 415, 416 respectively
indented on two outer sidewalls of the button body 41 transversally
so as to ensure the inward movement of the locking stopper 51 with
respect to the ignition button 40.
[0044] As shown in FIG. 2, the resilient means 52 comprises two
compression springs 521, 522 each having one end inserted into the
respective spring hole 413, 414 and another end urging against an
inner surface of the pushing button 511. By means of the two
compression springs 521, 522 of the resilient means 52, the locking
stopper 51 is normally urged and retained in the locking condition,
i.e. positioning between the pusher head 42 and the locking flange
123 of the piezoelectric unit housing 12. Therefore, the ignition
button 40 is normally locked up by blocking its downwardly movement
with the locking stopper 51. Even an adult is unable to press down
the blocked ignition button 40 as usual with his or thumb to ignite
the piezoelectric lighter of the present invention.
[0045] In order to ignite the utility lighter of the present
invention, as shown in FIG. 3, an adult user's thumb must
intentionally push in the locking stopper 51 until it is unblocked
with respect to the locking flange 123 and then press down the
ignition button 40 at the same time.
[0046] In other words, according to the present invention as shown
in FIG. 3, in order to ignite the utility lighter, a sideward force
F1 and a downward force F2 must be applied to the pushing button
511 and the pusher head 42 simultaneously and no switch is need to
operate. When the sideward force F1 inwardly presses the pushing
button 511, the blocking tongue 512 is disaligned with the locking
flange 123, such that the downward force F2 can push down the
ignition button 40 simultaneously to depress the movable operating
part 31 of the piezoelectric unit 30 to ignite the utility
lighter.
[0047] Once the downward force F2 applied on the ignition button 40
is released, the compressed piezoelectric unit 30 will rebound to
its original condition which pushes the ignition button 40 back to
its original position. Then, the two compression springs 521, 522
of the resilient means 52 will automatically push out the locking
stopper 51 to return to its original position, i.e. positioning
between the pusher head 42 and the locking flange 123 of the
piezoelectric unit housing 12.
[0048] Referring to FIG. 4, an alternative mode of the above
preferred embodiment is illustrated. Basically, the utility lighter
of the alternative mode comprises identical components and
structure as recited in the above preferred embodiment, except
that, as shown in FIG. 4, the locking stopper 51' comprises two
guiding arms 513', 514' transversally and elastically extended from
two inner sides of the pushing button 511' thereof respectively,
wherein a free end of each of the guiding arms 513', 514' forms a
triangular engagement latch 515', 516' adapted for receiving in an
engagement socket 121', 122' formed at an inner end of the
respective slider track.
[0049] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the two guiding arms 513', 514'
are slidably extended underneath the two bottom sides of the pusher
head 42' along the slider tracks 415', 416' respectively to enable
the two engagement latches 515', 516' being reachable with respect
to the two engagement sockets 121', 122' respectively.
[0050] Normally, as shown in FIG. 5, the two compression springs
521', 522' bias against the inner surface of the pushing button
511', i.e. positioning between the pusher head 42 and the locking
flange 123 of the piezoelectric unit housing 12'. During the
locking position, the two engagement latches 515', 516' rest below
the two bottom sides of the pusher head 42' without engaging with
the two engagement sockets 121', 122'. Therefore, the ignition
button 40' is normally locked up by blocking its downwardly
movement with the locking stopper 51. Even an adult is unable to
press down the blocked ignition button 40' as usual with his or her
thumb to ignite the utility lighter of the present invention.
[0051] To ignite the utility lighter of the present invention, as
shown in FIG. 6, a sideward force F1 can first apply to the pushing
button 511' inwardly so as to push the locking stopper 51 inwardly
until the two engagement latches 515', 516' of the two guiding arms
513', 514' thereof are engaged with the two engagement sockets
121', 122' respectively. During such unlocking condition, the
pushing button 511' and the blocking tongue 512' are both retained
in an inner position where the blocking tongue 512' is disaligned
with the locking flange 123', so that the user may simple apply a
downward force F2 to push down the ignition button 40' to depress
the movable operating part 31' of the piezoelectric unit 30' to
ignite the utility lighter.
[0052] Furthermore, when the downward force F2 is applied on the
ignition button 40', the downward force F2 will also release the
engagement of the two engagement latches 515', 516' with the two
engagement sockets 121', 122'. So, while releasing the downward
force F2 on the ignition button 40', the two compression springs
521', 522' of the resilient means 52' will automatically push out
the locking stopper 51' to return to its original locking position
as recited above.
[0053] It is worth to especially mention that, as shown in FIG. 1,
the ignition button 40 is provided at a top side of the casing 10,
positioning between the handle portion 101 and the extension
portion 102. Unlike the conventional utility lighters A and B. as
mentioned in the background and shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the
ignition triggers A1, B1 are respectively provided at the bottom
side of the handles A2, B2. In order to operate the conventional
utility lighter, the user generally requires to hold the handle A2,
B2 with his or her hand and uses his or her index finger to depress
the trigger A1, B1 like operating a pistol. In fact, most children
like to play with the utility lighter because it likes to operate a
pistol. To the kids, the utility lighter is an exciting fire gun
that attracts the children to play.
[0054] However, according to the utility lighter of the present
invention, the ignition button 40 which is provided at a top side
of the casing 10 substitutes the ignition trigger A1, B1 of the
conventional utility lighter A, B that eliminates the similarity of
operating a pistol so as to prevent attracting children to play
with. To operate the utility lighter, a shown in FIG. 1, the user
must use his or her four fingers grip around an arc-shaped finger
rest portion 103 provided at a bottom side of the handle 102 while
his or her thumb rests on the top side of the handle 102 and is
free to operate the ignition button 40 as shown in FIG. 3. Since
the thumb is more powerful and active than the index finger, the
thumb-operated type ignition button 40 of the present invention is
easier to operate by the powerful thumb of an adult than the index
finger operated type ignition trigger A1, B1 of the conventional
utility lighter A. B. A child may use more than one fingers to
depress an ignition trigger A1, B1 to increase the applying force
while his or her single small thumb is not strong enough to push in
the locking stopper 51 and depress the ignition button 40 of the
present invention simultaneously.
[0055] In view of above, the ignition operation of the utility
lighter requires a simple single-action operation by an adult's
thumb which has more power and bigger size than the index finger
and thus can actuate the flame regulator 15 by the user's index
finger at the same time. So, the utility lighter is advantageous in
practical use. Thus, the size of a child's thumb is impossible to
apply the sideward force F1 and the downward force F2 on the
pushing button 511 and the pusher head 42 simultaneously, so as to
guarantee the safety of children. Moreover, it can automatically
reset the locking stopper 51 to the locking position after each
ignition of the utility lighter by means of the resilient means 52.
In other words, the utility lighter of the present invention is
normally locked. Even after an ignition, no additional action has
to take to re-lock the utility lighter.
[0056] FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative mode of the resilient
means 52, wherein a curved spring strip 520 is capable of
substituting the two compression springs 521, 522, as shown in
FIGS. 2 and 4, for biasing against the locking stopper 51 outwardly
by pressing to ends of the spring strip 520 against the pushing
button 511 while the curved middle portion urging against the
pusher head 42 of the ignition button 40.
* * * * *