Abstract: A lighter comprises a housing having a nozzle, wherein the housing is adapted to receive a gas and/or fuel reservoir device. The lighter comprises a connecting device, wherein the connecting device is configured to couple the gas and/or fuel reservoir device to the nozzle. The connecting device is adjustable along a longitudinal axis of the lighter.

Abstract: A lighter comprising a container suitable for containing a liquified gas or a mixture of a liquid and a gas, characterized by a compressible member which is arranged in the container.

Abstract: Fuel supplies for fuel cells are disclosed. The fuel supplies can be a pressurized or non-pressurized cartridge that can be used with any fuel cells, including but not limited to, direct methanol fuel cell or reformer fuel cell. In one aspect, a fuel supply may contain a reaction chamber to convert fuel to hydrogen. The fuel supplies may also contain a pump. The fuel supply may have a valve connecting the fuel to the fuel cell, and a vent to vent gas from the fuel supply. Methods for forming various fuel supplies are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lighter which a user actuates by at least two different modes of operation. In the first mode, a plunger member is positioned to allow a biasing member to oppose movement of an actuating assembly so that a user releases fuel and ignites the lighter only if a high-actuation-force is applied to the actuator. In this first mode, the lighter resists operation by unintended users by requiring a user to have a predetermined level of strength to actuate the lighter. In the second mode, the plunger member is moved to a different position so that the biasing member does not oppose movement of the actuating assembly to the same extent as the first mode so that a user may release fuel and ignite the lighter if a low-actuation-force is applied to the actuator. Moving the plunger member from the first position to the second position preferably requires the user to have a predetermined level of cognitive abilities and/or physical characteristics in order to resist use by unintended users.

Abstract: Fuel supplies for fuel cells are disclosed. The fuel supplies can be a pressurized or non-pressurized cartridge that can be used with any fuel cells, including but not limited to, direct methanol fuel cell or reformer fuel cell. In one aspect, a fuel supply may contain a reaction chamber to convert fuel to hydrogen. The fuel supplies may also contain a pump. The fuel supply may have a valve connecting the fuel to the fuel cell, and a vent to vent gas from the fuel supply. Methods for forming various fuel supplies are also disclosed.

Abstract: A gas cigarette lighter comprising: a fuel reservoir preferably manufactured from a rigid amorphous polymer material, a top wall through which a well passes, a threaded ring screwed into a tapped portion of the well, and a gas dispensing device including at least one tubular element fitted into the threaded ring. The tubular element has a bottom portion that extends at least to the bottom end of the well and receives a microporous membrane which provides a gas flow rate that is substantially constant.

Abstract: A gas cigarette lighter including a fuel reservoir made of an amorphous polymer material and having a top wall through which a well passes, the well being provided with a gas dispensing device which includes a tubular element engaged in the well in leaktight manner. The top wall of the reservoir is provided with an annular groove extending around the well, the tubular element of the dispensing device is engaged in the well, and the top wall is reinforced by a ring engaged in the annular groove, the top wall forming an annular wall between the groove and the well, which wall is clamped between the ring and the tubular element.

Abstract: Gas lighter comprising a reservoir, for containing a fuel, the reservoir having an upper wall through which a well and a gas-dispensing device passes. The gas-dispensing device includes at least one tubular element arranged in the well. The tubular element including at least one snap-fitting member designed to cooperate with a retaining element secured to the upper wall of the reservoir in the well when the tubular element is assembled with the reservoir.

Abstract: A lighter of the disposable type, ignition of which requires depression of an actuator that is resistant to the manipulations of unintended users. The lighter is normally maintained in a position that prevents depression of the actuator through the incorporation of a mechanism that increases the difficulty of operation. The safety mechanism requires displacement in two directions in order to allow full depression of the actuator and activation of an ignition means. When the mechanism is so displaced through the application of force by a user, it cannot remain displaced without continuous application of such force and will return to the normal, blocking, position when the force is removed.

Abstract: A lighter of the disposable type, ignition of which requires depression of an actuator that is resistant to the manipulations of unintended users. The lighter is normally maintained in a position that prevents depression of the actuator through the incorporation of a mechanism that increases the difficulty of operation. The actuation inhibiting mechanism requires a downward displacement and a tilted displacement in order to allow full depression of the actuator and activation of an ignition mechanism. Preferably, at least one biasing element is provided so that when the actuator is displaced through the application of force by a user, it returns to the initial blocking position when the force is removed.

Abstract: A lighter of the disposable type, ignition of which requires depression of an actuator that is resistant to the manipulations of unintended users. The lighter is normally maintained in a position that prevents depression of the actuator through the incorporation of a mechanism that increases the difficulty of operation. The safety mechanism requires a tilted displacement in order to allow full depression of the actuator and activation of an ignition means. When the mechanism is so displaced through the application of force by a user, it cannot remain displaced without continuous application of such force and will return to the normal, blocking, position when the force is removed.

Abstract: A cigarette lighter for use with a volume of fuel includes a body. At least one projection extends from the body and defines at least one opening, which includes a first area bounded on at least one side by a curved leg and a second area bounded on at least one side by a flat leg. An ignition system includes a flint, a knurled wheel, and at least one elongated stub coaxial with the knurled wheel. A cross-section of the at least one stub has at least one flattened face.

Abstract: A reservoir for gaseous fuel in a liquid phase includes an elongate cylindrical wall closed by two transverse end walls, a lower end wall provided with a draw-off orifice and an upper end wall equipped with a draw-off member such as a valve and a pressure reducer, and has an internal volume occupied by an absorbent medium. A chamber is provided above the absorbent medium, between the absorbent medium and the upper end wall of the reservoir. The volume of the chamber is at least equal to the volume of the liquid fuel not absorbed by the absorbent medium after turning the reservoir upside down. The draw-off orifice is equipped with a draw-off tube of fine bore, which is positioned upstream of the pressure reducer and is housed axially in the chamber. The length of the draw-off tube is at least equal to the height of the fuel in the liquid phase that may be in the chamber when the reservoir is in an inverted position.

Abstract: The means for neutralizing the lever for opening the burner valve consist of a pusher mounted so as to slide under the lower face of the rear end of the control lever and movable between a withdrawn active position in which a part integral with the body of the lighter is situated just below it, making any maneuver of the control lever impossible in the direction for opening the valve, and an advanced and nonobstructing position, in which the aforementioned part of the body of the lighter is no longer in the path described by the pusher when the control lever is maneuvered in the direction for opening the valve, making this maneuver possible, means being provided for ensuring that the pusher is momentarily kept in the nonobstructing position before actuation of the control lever and other means being provided to ensure that it returns to the active neutralization position immediately after this actuation.

Abstract: A childproof lighter has a housing adapted to hold a supply of combustible fuel, a valve in the housing between the nozzle and the supply and actuatable to emit the fuel, and an igniter on the housing adjacent the valve. An actuating element is depressible longitudinally downward between an upper position and a lower position and is coupled to the valve and igniter for actuating same when depressed into the lower position. This actuating element is formed with a longitudinally downwardly projecting skirt itself formed with a longitudinally projecting and laterally elastically deflectable tongue in turn formed with a laterally projecting catch formation forming a longitudinally downwardly directed stop surface displaceable on elastic deformation of the tongue between an outer position and an inner position.

Abstract: A lighter has a body forming a reservoir holding a supply of a flammable gas under pressure and a valve on the body openable to allow the gas to escape from the reservoir as a jet extending along an axis and normally urged axially open by the pressure of the gas. A pressure reducer is provided on the reservoir upstream of the valve and an igniter on the body can light the jet when the valve releases it. An operating lever pivoted about an axis orthogonal to the jet axis has a front end normally bearing axially downward on the valve and a rear end. A first spring braced between the body and the lever rear end rotationally biases the lever front end downward on the valve with a predetermined first force greater than the force exerted oppositely on the valve by the gas.

Abstract: A lighter has a body forming a reservoir holding a supply of a flammable gas under pressure, a valve on the body openable to allow the gas to escape from the reservoir as a jet extending along an axis and normally urged open by the pressure of the gas, and an igniter on the body for lighting the jet. An operating lever pivoted on the body about an axis orthogonal to the jet axis has a front end normally bearing axially downward on the valve and a rear end and is formed as front and rear segments joined only by a central elastic web permitting the segments to move limitedly elastically relative to each other. Stops limit relative movement of the lever segments. A spring braced between the body and the lever rear end rotationally biases the lever front end downward on the valve with a predetermined first force greater than the force exerted oppositely on the valve by the gas.

Abstract: A gas appliance has a housing, a reservoir of a gasifiable combustible in the housing, and a nozzle in the housing connected to the reservoir provided with a valve openable for emitting an ignitable stream of the combustible. An igniter in the housing has a relatively stationary first generator part forming a first terminal, a first electrode at the nozzle connected to the first terminal, and a relatively movable second generator part forming a second terminal and movable on the stationary part to generate a potential between the terminals. A depressible button or element displaceable on the housing between upper and lower end positions is connected to the movable generator part for opening the valve and generating the potential between the terminals when moving into the lower end position.

Abstract: A gas lighter has a rocking lever that is pushed down to open a gas-feed valve and/or fire a spark into a jet of gas emitted by the feed valve. A blocking slide on the housing is displaceable transversely between an outer neutralizing position preventing axial downward depression of the lever service end and an inner retracted freeing position permitting the lever service end to be downwardly depressed so that when the blocking slide is in the neutralizing position the lighter cannot be lit. The blocking slide has an outer service end exposed adjacent the lever service end, an inner end engageable axially between the rocking lever and the housing, and a bendable stem extending between the blocking-slide ends. Biasing structure on the housing continuously urges the blocking slide into the blocking position so that the blocking slide must be retained in the freeing position for actuation of the one control means and lighting of the lighter.