Abstract: A pocket lighter having a safety mechanism, with a push button; a cavity in which part of the push button is housed; and a free body in the cavity, between the latter and the push button, and depending on the position of the push button there are defined spaces which may be occupied by the said free body, and passages between said spaces, through which the free body may pass. The latter, after the lighter has been ignited, occupies a first space in which it blocks operation of the push button and to remove it from the first space it is necessary to combine certain movements of the push button with others of the lighter; these movements are of sufficient complexity to make it impossible for a child to operate the lighter.