Abstract: A lighter including a lighter body containing fuel which is released through a nozzle. An actuating lever is placed on a mounting frame which is disposed on top of the lighter body. Activating the actuating lever causes fuel to flow through the nozzle. A striker rotatably mounted on the mounting frame is engaged to a piece of flint wherein rotating the striker against the piece of flint causes a spark to be generated, which ignites the fuel and causes a flame. A rotatable wheel hood having a safety position and an activation position is placed over the striker whereby placing the rotatable wheel hood in the safety position prevents the user from rotating the striker and causing a spark to be generated. Placing the wheel hood in the activation position allows the user to rotate the striker to generate a spark.

Abstract: A safety lighter with an improved striker wheel and striker wheel mounting frame. The lighter has an igniter having a striker wheel which rotates about an axis in response to force applied to the wheel by a user's finger. The annular recessed center portion of the striker wheel's outer annular surface has protuberances formed thereon (or grooves formed therein), while the annular unrecessed lateral portions of the striker wheel's outer annular surface are smooth. Further, the striker wheel is mounted to the lighter in slots. The striker wheel is pressed from a first position having insufficient spring force to cause the lighter flint to spark when the striker wheel is rotated into a second position having sufficient spring force to cause the lighter flint to spark when the striker wheel is rotated.

Abstract: The lighter of the present invention comprises an igniter having a flint and striker wheel which rotates about an axis in response to force applied to the wheel by a user's thumb (or any other finger or hand part). The striker wheel of the present invention differs from the striker wheels of the prior art in that stoppers extend out from at least one side of the striker wheel. The mounting frame in which the striker wheel is disposed is configured such that at least one of the stoppers engages with the mounting frame when the striker wheel is rotated, thereby limiting the distance that the striker wheel can be rotated, unless the striker wheel is depressed relative to the mounting frame when rotation is attempted. When the striker wheel is depressed, the stoppers avoid engagement with the mounting frame and the striker wheel may be rotated a sufficient distance at a sufficient speed to create sparks against the flint.