U.S. patent application number 12/148379 was filed with the patent office on 2009-10-22 for utility light with illumination arrangement.
Invention is credited to Boqi Wang.
Application Number | 20090263754 12/148379 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41201405 |
Filed Date | 2009-10-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090263754 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wang; Boqi |
October 22, 2009 |
Utility light with illumination arrangement
Abstract
A utility lighter includes a lighter casing having a casing body
and an extension arm, a gas releasing valve provided in the lighter
casing, an ignition nozzle provided at an upper end of the
extension arm to communicate with the gas releasing valve; a
piezoelectric unit, an actuation unit and an illumination
arrangement. The illumination arrangement includes an illumination
holder mounted on the lighter casing; and an illumination unit
mounted on the illumination holder, in such a manner that the
illumination unit is arranged to provide illumination primarily
toward the ignition zone so that a user is able to accurately apply
the ignition of the utility lighter to a target spot as clearly
visualized by illumination of the ignition zone.
Inventors: |
Wang; Boqi; (City of Bell,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DAVID AND RAYMOND PATENT FIRM
108 N. YNEZ AVE., SUITE 128
MONTEREY PARK
CA
91754
US
|
Family ID: |
41201405 |
Appl. No.: |
12/148379 |
Filed: |
April 17, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
431/153 ;
361/260; 362/119; 431/253; 431/255 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F23Q 2/32 20130101; F23Q
2/287 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
431/153 ;
362/119; 361/260; 431/253; 431/255 |
International
Class: |
C10L 11/00 20060101
C10L011/00; F23Q 2/28 20060101 F23Q002/28; F23Q 2/02 20060101
F23Q002/02; F23Q 2/32 20060101 F23Q002/32 |
Claims
1. A utility lighter, comprising: a lighter casing which comprises
a casing body having a fuel storage compartment for storing a
predetermined amount of liquefied gas and an extension portion, and
an extension arm having an upper end and a lower end extended from
said extension portion of said lighter casing, wherein said
extension arm has a receiving channel which is extended from said
lower end to said upper end, wherein said upper end of said
extension arm defines an operation tip as an ignition zone; a gas
releasing valve provided at said fuel storage compartment for
releasing said gas therein in a controllable manner; an ignition
nozzle provided at said upper end of said extension arm to
communicate with said gas releasing valve through said receiving
channel for releasing said gas through said ignition nozzle; a
piezoelectric unit, which is supported in said lighter casing,
having a depressible part and a spark-generating element extended
at a position that when said depressible part of said piezoelectric
unit is depressed, said spark-generating element generates a spark
at said ignition nozzle to ignite said gas emitting therefrom so as
to generate an ignition flame at said operation tip of said
extension arm; an actuation unit provided on said lighter casing
for actuating said piezoelectric unit to generate a spark at said
ignition nozzle, wherein said gaseous fuel is simultaneously
released for generating said ignition flame at said ignition zone
when said actuation unit is actuated; and an illumination
arrangement, which comprises: an illumination holder mounted on
said lighter casing; and an illumination unit mounted on said
illumination holder for providing illumination primarily toward
said ignition zone; thereby, a user is able to accurately apply
said ignition of said utility lighter to a target spot as clearly
visualized by illumination of said ignition zone.
2. The utility lighter, as recited in claim 1, wherein said
illumination holder comprises a retention member attached on said
casing body, and an illuminator housing movably mounted on said
retention member for supporting said illumination unit thereon,
wherein said illuminator housing is pivotally moved between an idle
position and an illumination position, wherein in said idle
position, said illuminator housing is pivotally folded with respect
to said retention member to align with said extension arm for
reducing an overall size of said utility lighter, wherein in said
illumination position, said illuminator housing is pivotally and
outwardly unfolded with respect to said retention member to allow
said illumination unit to generate illumination towards said
ignition zone of said utility lighter.
3. The utility lighter, as recited in claim 2, wherein said
retention member comprises a tubular retention element defining a
through mounting hole extended therealong, wherein said mounting
hole has a diameter slightly larger than a diameter of said
extension portion of said casing body so that said tubular
retention element is fittedly encirclingly mounted at said
extension portion of said casing body when said extension portion
is coaxially inserted into said mounting hole.
4. The utility lighter, as recited in claim 3, wherein said
retention member further comprises a supporting seat integrally
extended from said tubular retention element, wherein said
illuminator housing is pivotally mounted at said supporting seat
for moving between said idle position and said illumination
position.
5. The utility lighter, as recited in claim 4, wherein said
supporting seat comprises a plurality of seat members upwardly
extended from said tubular retention element at two sides thereof
to form a seat cavity within an inner side of each of said seat
members and an upper surface of said tubular retention element,
wherein said illuminator housing is pivotally mounted in said seat
cavity to move between said idle position and said illumination
position.
6. The utility lighter, as recited in claim 2, wherein said
illumination unit comprises at least one LED illuminator mounted at
said illuminator housing in such a manner that when said
illuminator housing is at said illumination position, said LED
illuminator generates illumination as a point source of light
towards said ignition zone.
7. The utility lighter, as recited in claim 3, wherein said
illumination unit comprises at least one LED illuminator mounted at
said illuminator housing in such a manner that when said
illuminator housing is at said illumination position, said LED
illuminator generates illumination as a point source of light
towards said ignition zone.
8. The utility lighter, as recited in claim 4, wherein said
illumination unit comprises at least one LED illuminator mounted at
said illuminator housing in such a manner that when said
illuminator housing is at said illumination position, said LED
illuminator generates illumination as a point source of light
towards said ignition zone.
9. The utility lighter, as recited in claim 2, wherein said
illumination arrangement further comprises an automatic switching
mechanism provided on said illuminator housing to automatically
switch on said illumination unit when said illuminator housing is
moved from said idle position to said illumination position, and to
automatically switch off said illumination unit when said
illuminator housing is moved from said illumination position back
to said idle position, wherein said automatic switching mechanism
contains a switching indention indently formed on an upper surface
of said tubular retention element, and comprises a depressible
switch provided on a bottom surface of said illuminator housing to
align with said switching indention when said illuminator housing
is at said illumination position, such that when said illuminator
housing is at said idle position, said depressible switch is
undepressed to allow said illumination unit to be turned off,
wherein when the illuminator housing is at said illumination
position, said depressible switch is moved to engage with said
switching indention so that said depressible switch is pushed to
depress by said switching indention for turning on said
illumination unit.
10. The utility lighter, as recited in claim 6, wherein said
illumination arrangement further comprises an automatic switching
mechanism provided on said illuminator housing to automatically
switch on said illumination unit when said illuminator housing is
moved from said idle position to said illumination position, and to
automatically switch off said illumination unit when said
illuminator housing is moved from said illumination position back
to said idle position, wherein said automatic switching mechanism
contains a switching indention indently formed on an upper surface
of said tubular retention element, and comprises a depressible
switch provided on a bottom surface of said illuminator housing to
align with said switching indention when said illuminator housing
is at said illumination position, such that when said illuminator
housing is at said idle position, said depressible switch is
undepressed to allow said illumination unit to be turned off,
wherein when the illuminator housing is at said illumination
position, said depressible switch is moved to engage with said
switching indention so that said depressible switch is pushed to
depress by said switching indention for turning on said
illumination unit.
11. The utility lighter, as recited in claim 8, wherein said
illumination arrangement further comprises an automatic switching
mechanism provided on said illuminator housing to automatically
switch on said illumination unit when said illuminator housing is
moved from said idle position to said illumination position, and to
automatically switch off said illumination unit when said
illuminator housing is moved from said illumination position back
to said idle position, wherein said automatic switching mechanism
contains a switching indention indently formed on an upper surface
of said tubular retention element, and comprises a depressible
switch provided on a bottom surface of said illuminator housing to
align with said switching indention when said illuminator housing
is at said illumination position, such that when said illuminator
housing is at said idle position, said depressible switch is
undepressed to allow said illumination unit to be turned off,
wherein when the illuminator housing is at said illumination
position, said depressible switch is moved to engage with said
switching indention so that said depressible switch is pushed to
depress by said switching indention for turning on said
illumination unit.
12. The utility lighter, as recited in claim 9, wherein said
automatic switching mechanism contains a switching indention
indently formed on an upper surface of said tubular retention
element, and comprises a depressible switch provided on a bottom
surface of said illuminator housing to align with said switching
indention when said illuminator housing is at said illumination
position, such that when said illuminator housing is at said idle
position, said depressible switch is undepressed to allow said
illumination unit to be turned off, wherein when the illuminator
housing is at said illumination position, said depressible switch
is moved to engage with said switching indention so that said
depressible switch is pushed to depress by said switching indention
for turning on said illumination unit.
13. The utility lighter, as recited in claim 10, wherein said
automatic switching mechanism contains a switching indention
indently formed on an upper surface of said tubular retention
element, and comprises a depressible switch provided on a bottom
surface of said illuminator housing to align with said switching
indention when said illuminator housing is at said illumination
position, such that when said illuminator housing is at said idle
position, said depressible switch is undepressed to allow said
illumination unit to be turned off, wherein when the illuminator
housing is at said illumination position, said depressible switch
is moved to engage with said switching indention so that said
depressible switch is pushed to depress by said switching indention
for turning on said illumination unit.
14. The utility lighter, as recited in claim 11, wherein said
automatic switching mechanism contains a switching indention
indently formed on an upper surface of said tubular retention
element, and comprises a depressible switch provided on a bottom
surface of said illuminator housing to align with said switching
indention when said illuminator housing is at said illumination
position, such that when said illuminator housing is at said idle
position, said depressible switch is undepressed to allow said
illumination unit to be turned off, wherein when the illuminator
housing is at said illumination position, said depressible switch
is moved to engage with said switching indention so that said
depressible switch is pushed to depress by said switching indention
for turning on said illumination unit.
15. The utility lighter, as recited in claim 12, wherein said
depressible switch has a spherical shape, wherein a diameter of
said switching indention is slightly less than a diameter of said
depressible switch so that when said illuminator housing is at said
illumination position, said depressible switch is pushed to depress
to turn on said illumination unit.
16. The utility lighter, as recited in claim 13, wherein said
depressible switch has a spherical shape, wherein a diameter of
said switching indention is slightly less than a diameter of said
depressible switch so that when said illuminator housing is at said
illumination position, said depressible switch is pushed to depress
to turn on said illumination unit.
17. The utility lighter, as recited in claim 14, wherein said
depressible switch has a spherical shape, wherein a diameter of
said switching indention is slightly less than a diameter of said
depressible switch so that when said illuminator housing is at said
illumination position, said depressible switch is pushed to depress
to turn on said illumination unit.
18. The utility lighter, as recited in claim 3, wherein said casing
body comprises a first body member and a second body member
detachably coupled with said first body member to receive said fuel
storage compartment therebetween, wherein said retention element
also forms a locking ring to securely lock up said first and second
body members.
19. The utility lighter, as recited in claim 8, wherein said casing
body comprises a first body member and a second body member
detachably coupled with said first body member to receive said fuel
storage compartment therebetween, wherein said retention element
also forms a locking ring to securely lock up said first and second
body members.
20. The utility lighter, as recited in claim 17, wherein said
casing body comprises a first body member and a second body member
detachably coupled with said first body member to receive said fuel
storage compartment therebetween, wherein said retention element
also forms a locking ring to securely lock up said first and second
body members.
21. The utility lighter, as recited in claim 1, wherein said
illumination holder comprises a retention member attached on said
casing body, wherein said illumination unit comprises a plurality
of LED illuminators spacedly provided on a peripheral portion of
said retention member for providing illumination toward said
ignition zone as a parallel line source of light.
22. The utility lighter, as recited in claim 21, wherein said
casing body comprises a first body member and a second body member
detachably coupled with said first body member to receive said fuel
storage compartment therebetween, wherein said retention element
also forms a locking ring to securely lock up said first and second
body members.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a lighter, and more
particularly to a utility lighter comprising an illumination
arrangement which is capable of providing illumination toward an
ignition zone to allow a user to apply ignition at exact target
spot as visualized by said illumination of said ignition zone.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Arts
[0004] A conventional utility lighter typically comprises a handle
casing having a fuel storage compartment formed therein, a bendable
extension arm extended from the handle casing, a gas releasing
valve provided at the fuel storage compartment for releasing the
gas therein in a controllable manner, an ignition nozzle provided
at the bendable extension arm; a piezoelectric unit received within
the handle casing, and an actuation unit provided on the handle
casing for actuating the piezoelectric unit to generate a spark at
the ignition nozzle, wherein the gaseous fuel is simultaneously
released for generating an ignition flame at the ignition nozzle
when the actuation unit is actuated. Since the point of ignition at
the ignition nozzle is far away from the handle casing, a user is
able to apply the ignition flame to ignite various objects for a
wide variety of purposes. For example, a user is able to ignite a
stove to initialize generation of stove flame.
[0005] In light of this background, there exists a number of a
discrepancy or insufficiency in association with this kind of
conventional utility lighter. First, when a user wishes to use the
utility lighter in a dim environment, in which the user is unable
to accurately discern the exact target spot of ignition, that user
has to rely on other illumination equipment, such as a flashlight,
to help him locating that exact target spot of ignition. This is
inconvenience, especially when the user is unable to get such a
flashlight or other illumination equipment in specific
situations.
[0006] Second, a major difficulty for manufacturing a utility
lighter having an illumination arrangement is to secure a power
source for illuminators. When a typical replaceable battery (such
as a regular dry cell) is used and mounted within the handle
casing, it would be very difficult for a user to replace that
battery. Moreover, the introduction of a dry cell into the handle
casing would inevitably increase the overall size thereof, making
it bulky and heavy.
[0007] Third, another difficulty for manufacturing a utility
lighter having an illumination arrangement is that when the
structure of the utility light is altered in order to accommodate
the illumination arrangement, the manufacturing cost will
inevitably be increased. Since competition in utility lighters
market is extremely keen, any significant increase in selling price
would put the corresponding manufacturer in a very disadvantageous
market position.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0008] A main object of the present invention is to provide a
utility lighter comprising an illumination arrangement which is
capable of providing illumination toward an ignition zone to allow
a user to apply ignition at exact target spot as visualized by said
illumination of said ignition zone.
[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
utility lighter comprising an illumination arrangement which can be
detachably mounted onto a lighter casing. In other words, the
illumination arrangement does not alter the original structure and
operation of the utility lighter so that the manufacturing cost of
the present invention can be minimized.
[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
utility lighter comprising an illumination arrangement, which
comprises an automatic switching mechanism for optimally providing
illumination to an ignition zone of the utility lighter. Thus, a
user is able to conveniently switch on the illumination unit for
acquiring optimal illumination at the ignition zone.
[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
illumination arrangement for a utility lighter, wherein a user is
able conveniently install and detach the illumination arrangement
to and from the utility lighter.
[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
illumination arrangement for a utility lighter, wherein the
illumination arrangement can be incorporated with any utility
lighter having an extension arm by coaxially inserting the
extension arm into the mounting hole of the illumination
arrangement.
[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
illumination arrangement, which is adapted to incorporate with
other tools, such as screwdriver, pen, and pencil, to provide
illumination at the operation tip of the tool.
[0014] Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the
present invention provides a utility lighter, comprising:
[0015] a lighter casing which comprises a casing body having a fuel
storage compartment formed therein for storing a predetermined
amount of liquefied gas, and an extension arm having an upper end
and a lower end extended from the lighter casing, wherein the
extension arm has a receiving channel which is extended from the
lower end to the upper end, wherein the upper end of the extension
arm defines an ignition zone of the utility lighter;
[0016] a gas releasing valve provided at the fuel storage
compartment for releasing the gas therein in a controllable
manner;
[0017] an ignition nozzle provided at the upper end of the
extension arm to communicate with the gas releasing valve through
the receiving channel for releasing the gas through the ignition
nozzle;
[0018] a piezoelectric unit, which is supported in the lighter
casing, having a depressible part and a spark-generating element
extended at a position that when the depressible part of the
piezoelectric unit is depressed, the spark-generating element
generates a spark at the ignition nozzle to ignite the gas emitting
therefrom so as to generate an ignition flame;
[0019] an actuation unit provided on the lighter casing for
actuating the piezoelectric unit to generate a spark at the
ignition nozzle, wherein the gaseous fuel is simultaneously
released for generating an ignition flame at the ignition zone when
the actuation unit is actuated; and
[0020] an illumination arrangement, which comprises:
[0021] an illumination holder mounted on the lighter casing;
and
[0022] an illumination unit mounted on the illumination holder in
such a manner that the illumination unit is arranged to provide
illumination primarily toward the ignition zone so that a user is
able to accurately apply the ignition of the utility lighter to a
target spot as clearly visualized by illumination of the ignition
zone.
[0023] These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a utility lighter according
to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the utility
lighter according to the above preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0026] FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are schematic diagrams of the utility
lighter according to the above preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0027] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the illumination arrangement
according to the above preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0028] FIG. 5 is an alternative mode of the utility lighter
according to the above preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0029] Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 2, FIG. 3A to FIG. 3B and FIG. 4
of the drawings, a utility lighter according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, in which the
utility lighter comprises a lighter casing 10, a gas releasing
valve 20, an ignition nozzle 30, a piezoelectric unit 40, an
actuation unit 50, and an illumination arrangement 60.
[0030] The lighter casing 10 comprises a casing body 11 having a
fuel storage compartment 111 formed therein for storing a
predetermined amount of liquefied gas, and an extension arm 12
having an upper end 121 and a lower end 122 extended from the
lighter casing 10, wherein the extension arm 12 has a receiving
channel which is extended from the lower end 122 to the upper end
121, wherein the upper end 121 of the extension arm 12 defines an
operation tip thereof as an ignition zone of the utility lighter.
On the other hand, the gas releasing valve 20 is provided at the
fuel storage compartment 111 for releasing the gas therein in a
controllable manner.
[0031] The ignition nozzle 30 is provided at the upper end 121 of
the extension arm 12 to communicate with the gas releasing valve 20
through the receiving channel for releasing the gas through the
ignition nozzle 30.
[0032] The piezoelectric unit 40, which is supported in the lighter
casing 10, has a depressible part 41 and a spark-generating element
42 extended at a position that when the depressible part 41 of the
piezoelectric unit 40 is depressed, the spark-generating element 42
generates a spark at the ignition nozzle 30 to ignite the gas
emitting therefrom so as to generate an ignition flame at the
operation tip of the utility lighter.
[0033] The actuation unit 50 is provided at the lower portion of
the lighter casing 10 for actuating the piezoelectric unit 40 to
generate a spark at the ignition nozzle 30, wherein the gaseous
fuel is simultaneously released for generating the ignition flame
at the ignition zone when the actuation unit 50 is actuated.
[0034] The illumination arrangement 60 comprises an illumination
holder 61 and an illumination unit 62. The illumination holder 61
is mounted at a top side of the lighter casing 10. The illumination
unit 62 is mounted on the illumination holder 61 in such a manner
that the illumination unit 62 is arranged to provide illumination
primarily toward the ignition zone so that a user is able to
accurately apply the ignition of the utility lighter to a target
spot as clearly visualized by illumination of the ignition
zone.
[0035] It is worth mentioning that the illumination unit 62
provides an illumination zone at the operation tip that the
illumination zone covers the ignition zone so that the user is able
to clearly target the ignition flame at the target spot. In
addition, the illumination direction of the illumination unit 62 is
corresponding to the axis of the extension arm 12. Accordingly,
when the user actuates the actuation unit 50 by his or her finger
for ignition, the illumination unit 62 provides enough illumination
at the operation tip of the utility lighter without blocking the
light from the illumination unit 62 by the hand of the user.
[0036] According to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the casing body 11 comprises a first body member 112 and
a second body member 113 which is detachably connected with the
first body member 112 to form a receiving cavity 114 between the
first body member 112 and the second body member 113, wherein the
fuel storage compartment 111 is provided within the receiving
cavity 114. Accordingly, the first and second body members 112, 113
are two half-casings of the casing body 11, i.e. the left side and
right side of the casing body 11. Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 of
the drawings, the casing body 11 further has an extension portion
115 defining a through hole 1151 thereon wherein the extension arm
12 is supported in the receiving cavity 114 and extended therefrom
via the through hole 1151 of the extension portion 115.
[0037] The illumination holder 61 comprises a retention member 611
attached on the casing body 11, and an illuminator housing 612
movably mounted on the retention member 611 for supporting the
illumination unit 62 thereon, wherein the illuminator housing 612
is capable of pivotally moving between an idle position and an
illumination position, wherein in the idle position, the
illuminator housing 612 is pivotally folded with respective to the
retention member 611 to align with the extension arm 12 for
reducing an overall size of the utility lighter, wherein in the
illumination position, the illuminator housing 612 is pivotally and
outwardly unfolded with respective to the retention member 611 to
allow the illumination unit 62 to generate illumination toward the
ignition zone of the utility lighter.
[0038] The retention member 611 comprises a tubular retention
element 6111 defining a through mounting hole 6112 extended
therealong, wherein the mounting hole 6112 has a diameter
substantially the same as or slightly larger than the diameter of
the extension portion 115 of the casing body 11 so that the tubular
retention element 6111 is capable of fittedly mounting onto the
extension portion 115 of the casing body 11 by inserting the
extension portion 115 into the mounting hole 6112. The retention
member 611 further comprises a supporting seat 6113 integrally
extended from the tubular retention element 6111 wherein the
illuminator housing 612 is pivotally mounted onto the supporting
seat 6113 for moving between the idle position and the illumination
position.
[0039] According to the preferred embodiment, the retention element
6111 also forms a locking ring to securely lock up the first and
second body members 112, 113. In other words, when the first and
second body members 112, 113 are coupled with each other, the
extension arm 12 is coaxially inserted into the mounting hole 6112
of the retention element 6111 until the retention element 6111 is
coaxially mounted at the extension portion 115 of the casing body
11 to lock up the first and second body members 112, 113.
Therefore, the extension arm 12 is also securely locked at the
extension portion 115 of the casing body 11.
[0040] It is worth mentioning that the illumination arrangement 60
can be incorporated with the conventional utility lighter by
removing the conventional locking ring thereof and being replaced
by the retention element 6111. Therefore, the illumination
arrangement 60 of the present invention can be formed as an add-on
device to incorporate with any conventional utility lighter having
the extension arm 12.
[0041] More specifically, the supporting seat 6113 comprises a
plurality of seat members 6114 upwardly extended from the tubular
retention element 6111 at two sides thereof to form a seat cavity
within an inner side of each of the seat members 6114 and an upper
surface of the tubular retention element 6111, wherein the
illuminator housing 612 is pivotally mounted in the seat cavity to
move between the idle position and the illumination position.
[0042] The illumination unit 62 comprises a LED illuminator mounted
on the illuminator housing 612 in such a manner that when the
illuminator housing 612 is at the illumination position, the LED
illuminator is capable of generating illumination as a point source
of light toward the ignition zone.
[0043] The illumination arrangement 60 further comprises an
automatic switching mechanism 63 provided on the illuminator
housing 612 to automatically switch on the illumination unit 62
when the illuminator housing 612 is moved from the idle position to
the illumination position, and to automatically switch off the
illumination unit 62 when the illuminator housing 612 is moved from
the illumination position back to the idle position.
[0044] According to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the automatic switching mechanism 63 contains a
switching indention 631 indently formed on an upper surface of the
tubular retention element 6111, and comprises a depressible switch
632 provided on a bottom surface of the illuminator housing 612 to
align with the switching indention 631 when the illuminator housing
612 is at the illumination position. The depressible switch 632 is
adapted to be depressed with respective to the illuminator housing
612 for turning on the illumination unit 62 mounted within the
illuminator housing 612.
[0045] It is worth mentioning that when the illuminator housing 612
is at the idle position, the depressible switch 632 is not subject
to any depression and thus the illumination unit 62 is turned off.
On the other hand, when the illuminator housing 612 is at the
illumination position, the depressible switch 632 is moved to
engage with the switching indention 631 so that the depressible
switch 632 is depressed by the switching indention 631 for turning
on the illumination unit 62. Accordingly, the depressible switch
632 has a spherical shape wherein a diameter of the switching
indention 631 is slightly less than a diameter of the depressible
switch 632 so that when the illuminator housing 612 is at the
illumination position, the depressible switch 632 is depressed to
turn on the illumination unit 62. It is important to point out
that, however, a manual switch can also be installed at the
illuminator housing 612 for manually switching on and off the
illumination unit 62. FIG. 4 illustrates the internal structural of
the illuminator housing 612, which has a plurality of batteries and
terminals mounted therein for providing electricity for the
illumination unit 62.
[0046] Since the illuminator housing 612 is pivotally movable on
the illumination holder 61, the angle of illumination by the
illumination unit 62 is adjustable so as to allow a user to
flexibly or fine tune the angle of illumination in order to suit
his or her own need under particular circumstances.
[0047] Referring to FIG. 5 of the drawings, an alternative mode of
the utility lighter of the present invention is illustrated. The
alternative mode is similar to the preferred embodiment except the
illumination arrangement 60'. According to the alternative mode,
the illumination arrangement 60' comprises an illumination holder
61' and an illumination unit 62'. The illumination holder 61' is
mounted on the lighter casing 10'. The illumination unit 62' is
mounted on the illumination holder 61' in such a manner that the
illumination unit 62' is arranged to provide illumination primarily
toward the ignition zone so that a user is able to accurately apply
the ignition of the utility lighter to a target spot as clearly
visualized by illumination of the ignition zone. This alternative
mode illustrates that the light beam coming out from the
illumination unit 62' is parallel to the extension arm 12 of the
lighter casing 10.
[0048] The illumination holder 61' comprises a retention member
611' attached on the casing body 11 wherein the illumination unit
62' comprises a plurality of LED illuminators 621' spacedly
provided on a peripheral portion of the retention member 611' for
providing illumination toward the ignition zone. More specifically,
the retention member 611' comprises a tubular retention element
6111' defining a through mounting hole 6112' extended therealong,
wherein the mounting hole 6112' has a diameter substantially the
same as the diameter of the extension portion 115 of the casing
body 11 so that the tubular retention element 6111' is capable of
fittedly mounting onto the extension portion 115 of the casing body
11 by inserting the extension portion 115 into the mounting hole
6112. A manual switch can be installed at the illumination holder
61' for switching on and off the LED illuminators 621'.
[0049] Accordingly, the retention element 6111' also forms a
locking ring to securely lock up the first and second body members
112, 113. In other words, when the first and second body members
112, 113 are coupled with each other, the extension arm 12 is
coaxially inserted into the mounting hole 6112' of the retention
element 6111' until the retention element 6111' is coaxially
mounted at the extension portion 115 of the casing body 11 to lock
up the first and second body members 112, 113. Therefore, the
extension arm 12 is also securely locked at the extension portion
115 of the casing body 11.
[0050] It is worth to mention that the illumination arrangement 60,
60' and its alternative mode can be incorporated with another tool
to provide the illumination for the operation tip of the tool. For
example, the illumination arrangement 60, 60' can be mounted to a
screwdriver to provide the illumination for the screw head as the
operation tip. Likewise, the illumination arrangement 60, 60' can
be mounted to a pen or pencil to provide the illumination for the
writing tip as the operation tip.
[0051] One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment
of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described
above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.
[0052] It will thus be seen that the objects of the present
invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. The
embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of
illustrating the functional and structural principles of the
present invention and is subject to change without departure from
such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all
modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the
following claims.
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