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.