U.S. patent application number 11/175189 was filed with the patent office on 2007-01-11 for lighting wand.
Invention is credited to Brett R. Di Paolo.
Application Number | 20070009843 11/175189 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37618684 |
Filed Date | 2007-01-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070009843 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Di Paolo; Brett R. |
January 11, 2007 |
Lighting wand
Abstract
A lighting wand has a fuel reservoir with an outlet controlled
by a valve and a spark generator. A first member, such as a thumb
slide provided on the body of the wand, is operable to open the
valve of the fuel reservoir. A second member, such as a trigger, is
operable to actuate the spark generator. The second member is
operable independently of said first member. In consequence, both
the first and second members must be operated simultaneously to
initiate a flame; this makes the wand child resistant.
Inventors: |
Di Paolo; Brett R.;
(Mississauga, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SMART AND BIGGAR
438 UNIVERSITY AVENUE
SUITE 1500 BOX 111
TORONTO
ON
M5G2K8
CA
|
Family ID: |
37618684 |
Appl. No.: |
11/175189 |
Filed: |
July 7, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
431/153 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F23Q 2/164 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
431/153 |
International
Class: |
F23D 11/36 20060101
F23D011/36 |
Claims
1. A lighting wand comprising: a fuel reservoir having an outlet
controlled by a valve; a spark generator; a first member operable
to open said valve of said fuel reservoir; a second member operable
to actuate said spark generator; said second member operable
independently of said first member.
2. The wand of claim 1 wherein said second member is a trigger.
3. The wand of claim 2 wherein said trigger is a sliding
trigger.
4. The wand of claim 3 wherein said first member is a sliding
member.
5. The wand of claim 4 wherein said sliding member slides in a
first direction to open said valve and said sliding trigger slides
in a second direction to actuate said spark generator, said first
direction and said second direction being non-intersecting.
6. The wand of claim 5 wherein said first direction and said second
direction are parallel.
7. The wand of claim 6 wherein said first direction is opposite to
said second direction.
8. The wand of claim 7 further comprising a spring, separate from
said valve, opposing sliding of said sliding member in said first
direction.
9. A lighting wand comprising: a main body; a barrel extending from
said body; a reservoir of lighter fluid housed within said body,
said reservoir having an outlet controlled by a valve; a spark
generator housed within said body, said generator having a pair of
electrodes extending to said barrel; a thumb slide mounted for
sliding along an outer face of said body, said thumb slide coupled
to said valve for opening said valve; a trigger mounted for sliding
movement so as to actuate said spark generator; said thumb slide
spaced from said trigger such that each one of said thumb slide and
said trigger slide without interference from another of said thumb
slide and said trigger.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] This invention relates to a lighting wand.
[0002] Variously designed lighting wands exist. These wands
typically have a valved reservoir for lighting fluid and a spark
generator housed within a main body. A conduit extends from the
reservoir along the inside of a barrel of the wand to proximate the
outer end of the barrel. A pair of electrodes may extend from the
spark generator along the inside of the barrel and terminate
adjacent one another at the end of the conduit. When the valve of
the reservoir is opened and the spark generator actuated, fuel
flows through the conduit and is lit by sparks generated at the tip
of the electrodes.
[0003] Because of the inherent danger of a lighting wand, various
safety mechanisms have been employed to avoid accidental operation
of the wand. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,042,367 to Saito et
al. the trigger controlling the opening of the reservoir valve and
actuation of the spark generator is blocked by a locking member.
Consequently, the trigger may only be pulled after the locking
member has been first displaced. While this arrangement may avoid
accidental lighting of the wand, it might not preclude operation by
a young child.
[0004] Therefore, a need remains for a lighting wand which is more
resistant to use by a young child.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0005] A lighting wand has a fuel reservoir with an outlet
controlled by a valve and a spark generator. A first member, such
as a thumb slide provided on the body of the wand, is operable to
open the valve of the fuel reservoir. A second member, such as a
trigger, is operable to actuate the spark generator. The second
member is operable independently of said first member. In
consequence, both the first and second members must be operated
simultaneously to initiate a flame; this makes the wand child
resistant.
[0006] Accordingly, the present invention comprises a lighting wand
having a fuel reservoir having an outlet controlled by a valve; a
spark generator; a first member operable to open the valve of the
fuel reservoir; a second member operable to actuate the spark
generator; the second member operable independently of the first
member.
[0007] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
be apparent from a review of the following description in
conjunction with the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] In the figures which illustrate an example embodiment of the
invention,
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lighting wand made in
accordance with this invention,
[0010] FIGS. 2 and 3 are side views of a portion of the lighting
wand of FIG. 1, and
[0011] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the area marked 4 in FIG.
3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] Turning to FIG. 1, a lighting wand 10 may have a metal
barrel 12 and a body 14. The body 14 may have two body halves 16
and 18 which sandwich an end of the barrel and may be held together
by screws 20 and a sleeve 22 received on the barrel. A trigger 24
may extend into an opening 26 defined by the body. A thumb slide
30, which may have a knurled outer surface, may be provided on an
outside surface of the body.
[0013] Turning to FIG. 2, which illustrates the wand with body half
16 removed, along with FIG. 4, the wand may have a fuel reservoir
34 with an outlet 36 controlled by a valve 38. As is typical, the
fuel may be a volatile fuel, such as butane, so that when the valve
is opened, fuel vaporizes when outlet 36 is opened. Also as is
typical, a flow controller 32 may be provided such that by
adjusting the flow controller, the maximum flow rate of fuel from
reservoir 34 may be set. A conduit 40 may extend from the outlet 36
into barrel 12, terminating at the perforated end 44 of the barrel.
A flange 46 may be provided on the valve to allow it to be opened.
Thumb slide 30 may be supported within a channel 48 of the body 14
for sliding movement. A depending leg 50 of the thumb slide may
bifurcate to extend around either side of valve stem 52 behind
flange 46 such that the leg 50 of thumb slide 30 forces valve 38
open when the thumb slide 30 is slid in the direction D1 indicated
in FIG. 2. A spring 54 may be provided between the body 14 and
thumb slide 30 to urge the thumb slide in a direction (opposite
direction D1) which closes valve 38.
[0014] The wand may also have a spark generator 60 which may be a
piezo-electric spark generator with a pair of electrodes 62, 64
extending therefrom. The electrodes 62 and 64 may each be insulated
along their length, except at their tip. The electrode 62 may
extend through barrel 12 to the perforated end 44 of the barrel,
terminating at its uninsulated tip adjacent the end of conduit 40.
The other electrode 64 may extend to barrel 12 having its
uninsulated tip abutting the metal barrel 12, so as to be
electrically connected to it. When the piezo-electric spark
generator is compressed, it generates a discharge voltage across
the electrodes 62, 64. This results in an arcing at between the tip
of electrode 62 and barrel 12.
[0015] The trigger 24 may have keys 70 supported in keyways 72 of
the body such that the trigger may slide within the body. The
trigger may be pulled in direction D2 against the natural
resistance of the piezo-electric generator 60 in order to operate
the generator 60.
[0016] FIG. 2 illustrates thumb slide 30 and trigger 24 in their
relaxed positions such that valve 38 is closed and the
piezo-electric generator 60 is quiescent. FIG. 3 illustrates the
thumb slide in its extended position, opening valve 38, and trigger
24 in its compressed position, operating the piezo-electric
generator 60. It will be apparent from FIG. 3 that, due to the
physical spacing of the trigger and thumb slide, each of the thumb
slide and trigger may be operated independently without
interference from the other of the thumb slide and trigger. Thus,
trigger 24 may be pulled to operate the piezo-electric generator 60
regardless of the position of the thumb slide 30 and, similarly,
the thumb slide 30 may be extended against the urging of spring 54
regardless of the position of the trigger.
[0017] If the trigger is pulled while the thumb slide is not being
operated so that valve 38 remains closed, sparks will be generated
at the perforated end 44 of the barrel 12 but, in the absence of
fuel, these sparks will not ignite a flame. Similarly, if the thumb
slide is operated to open valve 38, fuel will pass along the
conduit 40 to the perforated end 44 of the barrel but, if trigger
24 is not being pulled, then in the absence of sparks generated by
generator 60, this fuel will not ignite.
[0018] It will be noted that sliding direction D1 for the thumb
slide and sliding direction D2 for the trigger do not intersect.
Indeed, directions D1 and D2 are parallel, but opposite,
directions.
[0019] As illustrated in FIG. 2, an adult may operate the wand by
grasping body 14 with their thumb atop thumb slide 30 and their
index finger around trigger 24. The user's thumb may then slide the
thumb slide 30 in direction D1 to open valve 38 and the user's
index finger may pull trigger 24 in direction D2 to generate sparks
from the generator 60 which will ignite the fuel. After a flame has
been ignited, if the user releases the trigger, the flame will
persist provided the thumb slide is maintained in an extended
position to keep valve 38 open. Once the thumb slide has been
released, the flame will be extinguished and the wand can only be
lit again by again operating both the thumb slide and trigger.
[0020] Because of the independent operation of the trigger and
thumb slide, they must both be operated simultaneously to initiate
a flame. Simultaneous operation is something that would be very
difficult for a young child to manage (more difficult than would be
a requirement for consecutive operations). Further, moving the
thumb slide in one direction while moving the trigger in the
opposite direction is a relatively complicated operation. As such,
this operation is one unlikely to be managed by a young child. Yet
further, due to the independent operation of the trigger and thumb
slide, these two components may be physically spaced a significant
distance apart making one-handed operation by a young child less
likely. Finally, the force of spring 54 may be chosen such that it
would generally require a young child to use both hands to provide
a sufficient force to open valve 38. This would then preclude the
child simultaneously operating the trigger 24.
[0021] The thumb slide 30 could be replaced with any member that
operates valve 38 independently of the trigger. For example, the
thumb slide could be replaced with a first pivoting lever that acts
against a second lever, such that pushing the top of the first
lever in direction D1 causes the second lever to open valve 38.
Similarly, trigger 24 could be replaced with any member that
operates generator 60 independently of the thumb slide. For
example, sliding trigger 24 could be replaced with a pivoting
trigger having a cam surface which would compress the generator 60
when the trigger is pulled.
[0022] Typically valve 38 of reservoir 34 has a spring of its own
to urge it to a closed position. In some instances, the spring of
valve 38 may be considered to provide a sufficient biasing force
such that spring 54 is unnecessary.
[0023] Optionally, the two electrodes 62, 64 of generator 60 could
both extend into barrel 12 and be insulated along their lengths,
expect at their tips. With this arrangement, and the tips adjacent
one another, operating the generator 60 would cause arcing between
the electrode tips. With this arrangement the barrel need not be
electrically conductive. However, likely the barrel would still be
fabricated of metal so that its perforated end could resist the
heat of the flame. While generator 60 has been described as a
piezo-electric generator, equally any other suitable spark
generator may be provided. For example, the spark generator could
simply comprise a battery and a switch that was closed when the
trigger was pulled to apply a discharge voltage across the
electrodes.
[0024] Other modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the
art and, therefore, the invention is defined in the claims.
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