Correlation Of Fuel Or Power Supply With Component Movements In A Disabling And Enabling Sequence Patents (Class 431/153)
  • Patent number: 6849990
    Abstract: A safety arrangement, which is incorporated with a piezoelectric lighter, includes two axle holders, each having a blocking member, provided on two inner sides of the casing respectively, and an ignition cap including a pivot arm extended downwardly into an ignition cavity of casing and two pivot axles outwardly extended from two sides of the pivot arm into the axle holders respectively so as to pivotally and radially support the ignition cap on the casing wherein the blocking members normally bias against the pivot axles respectively to block up a downward movement of the ignition cap. When the ignition cap is radially slid, the pivot axles are rotatably moved to release the blocking up of the ignition cap with respect to the blocking members respectively, such that the ignition cap is capable of sliding downwardly to depress a piezoelectric unit so as to ignite the piezoelectric lighter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Inventor: Kin Chung Li
  • Patent number: 6843243
    Abstract: A gas cooking appliance includes at least one gas cooking element and a gas lockout valve assembly in line with the at least one gas cooking element. The gas lockout valve assembly includes a valve and a motor configured to open or close the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Brian M. Steurer
  • Patent number: 6840759
    Abstract: An igniter includes a child resistant safety locking trigger. The trigger is provided with a release slider which is movable along the trigger body along a path arranged at an angle to the path of travel of the trigger body when being depressed for activation of the igniter. A stop member within the igniter prevents operation of the trigger until the release slider is moved to a release position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Ronson Corporation
    Inventors: Louis V. Aronson, II, Adam Grabicki, Lee J. Hadfield
  • Patent number: 6837705
    Abstract: A roll and press gas lighter is rendered child resistant by an impeding element (26) mounted on the lighter body such that its surface (26?) is preferably substantially flush with a low friction surface (16?) which forms the outer periphery of the thumbwheels (16). The impeding element preferably comprises a protective strip which extends around the sparkwheel (15). In use the engaging surface (26?) of the impeding element is engaged by the user's thumb simultaneously with the low friction surface, increasing the force required to rotate the sparkwheel and hence the child resistance of the lighter. The degree of child resistance of the lighter is determined inter alia by the smoothness of the thumbwheels and the position of the impeding element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Swedish Matach Lighters B.V.
    Inventor: Carel Sewalt
  • Patent number: 6837704
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide an electronic pilot ignition with safety switch comprising a hollow body, a safety switch installed freely on the center of the hollow body, a pedestal on the safety switch and a brake bar inside a slide slot of the pedestal to move right or left in the slide slot, wherein the top of the brake bar exposes to the pedestal and the bottom of the brake bar stretches horizontally to an indentation slot of the hollow body to have the indentation slot block the brake bar, so that the safety switch can not be moved forward. A brake component is installed freely in an open slot of the pedestal near the brake bar, the brake component can be moved forward or backward inside the open slot and wedges to one of the open slot of the brake bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Inventor: Huang-Hsi Hsu
  • Patent number: 6837703
    Abstract: A construction for an igniter is provided that enables prevention of accidental ignition without the provision of a separate lock member. An igniter includes an igniter main body (2); an expulsion nozzle for expelling gas; a gas tank (6) for storing fuel; a valve mechanism (8) for opening and closing a gas channel between the gas tank and the expulsion nozzle; an ignition device (15) for generating an ignition discharge voltage; and an operating member (20) for performing the ignition operation. At least one of the valve mechanism (8) and the ignition device (15) are provided so as to be movable in the direction that the operating member (20) is pressed, accompanying a pressing operation of the operating member (20). Ignition is enabled by blocking the movement of the movable member from among the valve mechanism (8) and the ignition device (15) during the pressing operation of the operating member (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Tokai Corporation
    Inventor: Masaki Saito
  • Patent number: 6832910
    Abstract: A piezoelectric lighter includes a flame-generating device (30) including a gas jet releasing mechanism (36) and spark-generating mechanism piezoelectric mechanism (50). The lighter includes two actuating elements (32, 34; 140, 150, 170, 180; 210, 220; 240, 250) capable of moving along a longitudinal axis (XX′) under the action of a force exerted by the user, at least one (32; 140; 170; 210; 240) of the actuating elements, called first actuating element, being capable of moving independently of the second actuating element (34; 150; 180; 220; 250) and to act on at least on one (50) of the mechanisms, called first mechanism, the second actuating element being adapted to act on the second mechanism (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Pollyconcept Holding SA
    Inventor: Aman Kai man Chung
  • Publication number: 20040224270
    Abstract: A childproof safety disposable lighter includes a casing, a supporting frame detachably mounted on the casing, an ignition unit which is supported by the supporting frame and includes a striker wheel mounted between two driving wheels, and a pair of safety shells, which are coaxially positioned with the striker wheel and facing two outer sides of the two driving wheels respectively, being integrally, upwardly, and rearwardly extended from two supporting walls of the supporting frame respectively, wherein each of the safety shells is in circular shape having an outer smooth surface and a radius slightly larger than that of the driving wheels so that the two safety shells encircle the outer sides of the two driving wheels respectively to form two physical barriers of the driving wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventor: John Jiin Chung Yang
  • Patent number: 6814569
    Abstract: A safety mechanism in a utility lighter which includes a lever spring and cam mechanism having a fuel release lever and the safety button. When the cam mechanism is in the locked position, the lever spring blocks the stopper tab preventing depression of the trigger, and the fuel release lever closes the fuel release valve. As the safety button is depressed, the lever spring is moved out of alignment with the stopper tab to permit depression of the trigger, the hub rotates, and the fuel release lever is actuated to open the fuel-release valve. As the safety button is released, the lever spring urges the cam mechanism into the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Inventor: Kil Yong Sung
  • Publication number: 20040219467
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a lighter including a housing having a handle at one end and a nozzle at another end and including a fuel supply connected for selective fluid communication with the nozzle. A release member is cooperatively connected to the housing to initiate the flow of fuel from the fuel supply to the nozzle. An ignitor, such as a piezoelectric mechanism, is provided for generating a spark proximate the nozzle. A trigger spaced from the release member is operatively connected to the housing for actuating the ignitor for the generation of a spark igniting the fuel present at the nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Applicant: BIC Corporation
    Inventors: Guy Laforest, Paul Adams, Brian Tubby, Richard M. Orazietti, Floyd B. Fairbanks
  • Patent number: 6808387
    Abstract: A dual-action safety arrangement for a piezoelectric lighter includes an axle holder provided at an inner side of a casing and an ignition cap, which is slidably mounted on a ceiling of the casing in a radially movable manner about an operation axle held at the axle holder, including a depressing arm extended to rest on top of a piezoelectric unit. To ignite the piezoelectric lighter, the ignition cap must be radially and rearwardly slid to actuate a gas emitting nozzle for releasing the gas from a liquefied gas storage and simultaneously depressed to depress a movable operating part of the piezoelectric unit to generate sparks to ignite the gas emitted from the gas emitting nozzle so as to ignite the piezoelectric lighter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Inventor: Wen Qian Li
  • Patent number: 6808386
    Abstract: A gas lighter with a locking device of q-shape for reliably preventing ignition of the lighter when the actuator is in its locked position, and allowing ignition of the lighter when the locking device is moved from the locked position to a second unlocked position. The piezoelectric device has a step, and an end portion of the locking device contacts with the step in its locked position. When the users operate the locking device, the end portion of the locking device can be disengaged from the step. When the locking device is in its unlocked position, the actuator of the gas lighter can be pressed down to ignite the gas lighter. When the external force is missing, the locking device returns to a normal locking position by the spring force of the piezoelectric device. According to the present invention, the safety of the gas lighter is improved and the potential safety hazard due to an unintentional operation is eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Ningbo Xinbai Electronics Manufacture Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Xinhua Huang
  • Publication number: 20040202976
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a lighter. The lighter includes a housing having a supply of fuel, an actuating member movably associated with the housing to selectively ignite the fuel, and a latch moveable between a first latch position and a second latch position to vary the amount of force required to move the actuating member to ignite the fuel. When a user attempts to move the latch before moving the actuating member, a first latch force is required to move the latch from the first latch position to the second latch position. When a user attempts to move the actuating member before moving the latch, a second latch force is required to move the latch from the first latch position to the second latch position. The second latch force is different that the first latch force, and is preferably greater than the first latch force. Various other features that improve the functioning of the lighter may be provided separately or in combination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Applicant: BIC Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Adams, Anthony Sgroi, Jeffrey F. Ukleja
  • Publication number: 20040191714
    Abstract: An ignition unit, which is incorporated with a disposable childproof lighter, includes a striker wheel for urging against a flint, two driven gear elements coaxially mounted at two sides of the striker wheel, and two driving caps mounted between the driven gear elements and the striker wheel. Each of the driving caps has an outer circumferential slipping surface and a driving cavity for receiving a gear wheel of each driven gear element wherein the driving caps are arranged to engage with the gear wheels to drive the driven gear elements to rotate respectively, so as to drive the striker wheel to rotate for striking against a flint to produce sparks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventor: Chun Wen Luo
  • Publication number: 20040191715
    Abstract: In an igniter (1) which is ignited by operation of an actuator 20 and is provided with a lock member (25) which locks an actuator (20) when the igniter is unused and automatically returns to the locking position after use of the igniter, operability is improved and assembly is simplified. A lock member (25) which is moved in the igniting direction together with the actuator (20) is installed to be movable between a locking position and a lock release position. A lock portion (25b) of the lock member (25) extending in the locking direction interferes with an engagement portion of the igniter body to lock igniting action of the actuator (20). The lock member (25) is urged to the locking position by an urging member (26). With the lock released by operation of the lock member (25), the actuator (20) is slid together with the lock member (25) to ignite the igniter (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Yasuaki Nakamura, Toshinori Morishita
  • Publication number: 20040191713
    Abstract: A childproof safety disposable lighter includes a casing, a supporting frame detachably mounted on the casing, an ignition unit which is supported by the supporting frame and includes a striker wheel mounted between two driving wheels, and a pair of safety shells, which are coaxially positioning with the striker wheel and facing two outer sides of the two driving wheels respectively, being integrally, upwardly, and rearwardly extended from two supporting walls of the supporting frame respectively, wherein each of the safety shells is in circular shape having an outer smooth surface and a radius slightly larger than that of the driving wheels so that the two safety shells encircle the outer sides of the two driving wheels respectively to form as a physical barrier of the driving wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventor: John Jiin Chung Yang
  • Patent number: 6796791
    Abstract: A lighter includes a device generating a flame whereof one part called actuator is mobile along a longitudinal axis between a neutral position, wherein the device cannot generate a flame, and an active position, wherein the device can generate a flame, and a safety mechanism mobile between a locked position, wherein the safety mechanism locks the actuator in its neutral position and a released position allowing the actuator to move toward its active position. The safety mechanism includes a safety member having a part which, when the safety mechanism is in the locked position, is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the actuator in the direction thereof so as to be arranged against a stop and, when the safety mechanism is in released position, is arranged facing a housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Pollyconcept Holding SA
    Inventor: Aman Kai man Chung
  • Patent number: 6786715
    Abstract: A gas lighter in which the lighter is locked not to be accidentally ignited by preventing rotation of the side wheel and the lock can be released by an action which can be included in a series of the igniting actions of operating the side wheel to rotate the file wheel to generate a spark and depressing the actuator lever to eject the fuel gas so that even a large-handed person can be easily operate the gas lighter. The ignition means comprises a file wheel, a pair of side wheels fixed to the opposite faces of the file wheel to be rotated integrally therewith and a flint which is in abutment against a lower portion of the file wheel. The rotary shaft of the side wheels are supported for rotation and movement in a direction in which the flint is retracted. An engagement projection formed on the periphery of the side wheels is engaged with an engagement portion on a cap to prevent rotation of the file wheel, thereby locking the lighter not to be ignited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Tokai Corporation
    Inventor: Masaki Saito
  • Publication number: 20040166453
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a lighter. The lighter includes a housing having a supply of fuel, an actuating member movably associated with the housing to selectively ignite the fuel, and a latch moveable between a first latch position and a second latch position to vary the amount of force required to move the actuating member to ignite the fuel. When a user attempts to move the latch before moving the actuating member, a first latch force is required to move the latch from the first latch position to the second latch position. When a user attempts to move the actuating member before moving the latch, a second latch force is required to move the latch from the first latch position to the second latch position. The second latch force is different that the first latch force, and is preferably greater than the first latch force. Various other features that improve the functioning of the lighter may be provided separately or in combination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Applicant: BIC Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Adams, Anthony Sgroi, Jeffrey F. Ukleja
  • Publication number: 20040146824
    Abstract: A roll and press gas lighter is rendered child resistant by an impeding element (26) mounted on the lighter body such that its surface (26′) is preferably substantially flush with a low friction surface (16′) which forms the outer periphery of the thumbwheels (16). The impeding element preferably comprises a protective strip which extends around the sparkwheel (15). In use the engaging surface (26′) of the impeding element is engaged by the user's thumb simultaneously with the low friction surface, increasing the force required to rotate the sparkwheel and hence the child resistance of the lighter. The degree of child resistance of the lighter is determined inter alia by the smoothness of the thumbwheels and the position of the impeding element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Applicant: SWEDISH MATCH LIGHTERS B.V.
    Inventor: Carel Sewalt
  • Publication number: 20040146823
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a improved technology of electronic lighter, it includes the gas valve assembly on casing, piezoelectric assembly and press trigger, characterized in that a strengthener is provided between piezoelectric assembly and press trigger; there is a push key on press trigger and a reset spring between push key and side wall of press trigger with a lobe at its bottom which has a position corresponding to the top of strengthener. The present invention has properties of effective controlling the operation state of press trigger, preventing from mistake manipulation, heightening the safety of lighter and pushing the press trigger with ease for being supplemented with a strengthener and realizing its matching with push key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventor: Yintu Jiang
  • Patent number: 6767205
    Abstract: A torch and mount assembly wherein the torch, which has a plurality of gas receiving nipples is carried in a housing through which it extends. The housing has a plurality of walls forming a substantially air tight enclosure. In at least one wall of the housing are one or more leakproof fittings which are connected to similar leakproof fittings for the nipples by means of preferably flexible gas conduits within the housing. In the system, gaseous mixtures are applied from a source or sources to the fittings in the housing wall remote from the high temperatures of the torch, while the conduits within the housing are protected from mechanical and thermal stresses. An inert gas from a suitable source is introduced under pressure into the interior of the housing to reduce leakage from the torch into the housing. The atmosphere within the housing is heated, and the constituents of the housing atmosphere are monitored to aid in detecting leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Fitel USA Corp.
    Inventors: Hodge E. Jenkins, Lazhar Mazlout, Tadeusz Olewicz, Fred P. Partus
  • Patent number: 6764300
    Abstract: A roll and press gas lighter is rendered child resistant by a protective strip (26, 35) which extends around the sparkwheel (15) and impedes the action of the user's thumb. The wheel assembly (13) is mounted for reciprocal motion and upwardly biased by the flint spring (19), and is depressed by the user during operation. The thumbwheel (16) may have a smooth periphery to increase the force required to rotate it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Swedish Match Lighters B.V.
    Inventor: Carel Sewalt
  • Patent number: 6764299
    Abstract: A child-resistant lighter is disclosed which includes an actuator and a latch member coupled thereto. The latch member includes a finger actuation portion and a body portion integrally formed therewith. The body portion has a free end. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention when in an inoperative position, the free end of the latch member is aligned with a blocking surface of the lighter body, thus, preventing inadvertent lighting of the lighter. When in an operative position, the free end of the latch member is pivoted out of alignment with the blocking surface so that the lighter can function. During pivoting, as the finger actuation portion moves in a first direction, the free end moves in an opposite, second direction. The first direction is substantially forward and the second direction is substantially rearward. In another embodiment, the latch member can be slidable coupled to the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: BIC Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Adams, Richard M. Orazietti, Floyd Fairbanks
  • Publication number: 20040137394
    Abstract: A safety mechanism in a cigarette lighter that utilizes a multi-button system: a button and a button cover. The button has at least two elevations and is placed adjacent to the button cover. The button cover is coupled to one of the elevations of the button. A blocking element limits the downward movement of the button cover sufficiently to prevent activation of the piezo unit. To operate the lighter, the user must apply pressure to the button to operate release fuel and to operate the piezo unit to generate a spark.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventor: Kil Yong Sung
  • Publication number: 20040137393
    Abstract: The invention provides a safety stopper for use with a striker of the type used by welders and fabricators to light welding torches. The striker defines an open area. The safety stopper includes a cover shaped to cover a substantial portion of the open area, and shaped to expose the striker strike plate and flint. The safety stopper also includes attachment means for attaching the cover to the striker, such that the cover defines a clear path for movement of a first push-tab of the striker with respect to a second push-tab of the striker, and such that the cover, when attached to the striker, defines a clear path for movement of the first push-tab with respect to the second push-tab; such that when the striker, with the safety stopper attached, is carried hands-free attached to an operator's belt, the safety stopper reduces the chances of the operator being thrown off balance by the striker catching on an external object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventor: Lawrence C. Little
  • Publication number: 20040131985
    Abstract: A construction for an igniter is provided that enables prevention of accidental ignition without the provision of a separate lock member. An igniter includes an igniter main body (2); an expulsion nozzle for expelling gas; a gas tank (6) for storing fuel; a valve mechanism (8) for opening and closing a gas channel between the gas tank and the expulsion nozzle; an ignition device (15) for generating an ignition discharge voltage; and an operating member (20) for performing the ignition operation. At least one of the valve mechanism (8) and the ignition device (15) are provided so as to be movable in the direction that the operating member (20) is pressed, accompanying a pressing operation of the operating member (20). Ignition is enabled by blocking the movement of the movable member from among the valve mechanism (8) and the ignition device (15) during the pressing operation of the operating member (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventor: Masaki Saito
  • Patent number: 6755642
    Abstract: A safety piezoelectric lighter incorporates with a safety arrangement which includes an ignition cap having a locker cavity. A locking unit includes a locking latch extended from an inner wall of the casing and a locker arm disposed in the locker cavity of the ignition cap. An operation button slidably mounted on the ignition cap for moving the locker arm to an unlocked position. A resilient element is arranged for applying an urging pressure against the locker arm so as to normally retain the locker arm in a locking position that the locker arm is biased against the locker latch so as to block up the ignition cap from being slid downward for ignition. A user must operate the operation button for moving the locker arm away from the locking latch, so that the ignition cap is capable of being slid downward to ignite the piezoelectric lighter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Inventor: Guo Quan Zhang
  • Publication number: 20040121276
    Abstract: A lighter having a fuel container (4) incorporated in a casing (2), the former being connected with a fuel outlet (6) and an ignition device (7, 8) which can be activated by means of a switch (9) also regulating, if applicable, the fuel flow from the fuel outlet (6). A safety device (13) is associated with the switch which locks the switch if the safety device is not activated virtually simultaneously with the switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Inventor: Peter V. Erdmann
  • Patent number: 6751987
    Abstract: Burners (14) are used to make glass bodies (19) from OMCTS. The burners have six concentric regions. Putting certain gases through the regions results in thicker bodies than can be achieved with existing techniques and with improved efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Laura J. Ball, Raymond E. Lindner, Mahendra Kumar Misra, Dale R. Powers, Michael H. Wasilewski
  • Publication number: 20040115579
    Abstract: A cigarette lighter includes a body, a valve, a nozzle, an ignition device, a lever, a latch and an alarm. The body stores fuel. The valve is in communication with the body and movable between a closed position for keeping the fuel in the body and an open position for transferring the fuel from the body. The nozzle is in communication with the valve for spraying the fuel. The ignition device is mounted on the body for igniting the fuel sprayed from the nozzle. The lever is connected between the valve and the ignition device so that the valve is in the closed position when the ignition device is idle and that the valve is in the open position when the ignition device is actuated. The latch is movably mounted on the body between a locking position for preventing actuation of the ignition device and a releasing position for allowing actuation of the ignition device. The alarm is for contact with the latch for providing an alert in the releasing position of the latch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventor: Arlo H. T. Lin
  • Patent number: 6746234
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a lighter including a housing having a handle at one end and a nozzle at another end and including a fuel supply connected for selective fluid communication with the nozzle. A release member is cooperatively connected to the housing to initiate the flow of fuel from the fuel supply to the nozzle. An ignitor, such as a piezoelectric mechanism, is provided for generating a spark proximate the nozzle. A trigger spaced from the release member is operatively connected to the housing for actuating the ignitor for the generation of a spark igniting the fuel present at the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: BIC Corporation
    Inventors: Guy Laforest, Paul Adams, Brian Tubby, Richard M. Orazietti, Floyd B. Fairbanks
  • Patent number: 6739867
    Abstract: Of the type of lighters that have a gas tank (1) equipped with an exit valve (2) leading to a burner (6), where a push-button (15) simultaneously determines the opening of the valve (2) and the operation of a piezoelectric ignition generator (7), whose central characteristic is the incorporation of a track mechanism (16), operated by a second push-button (14) using the tension of a spring (20), so that said track mechanism can stop the functioning of the valve (2), in turn obstructing ignition, even though it acts on the push-button (15), which is necessary for the functioning of the lighter and simultaneously act on the push-buttons (14) and (15), thus producing ignition. The lighter has been designed to obstruct the manoeuvres necessary to produce ignition when in the hands of a child.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Flamagas SA
    Inventor: Juan Lucas Puig-Grós
  • Publication number: 20040096791
    Abstract: The present invention provides an ignition actuation mechanism for the manual actuator of a spark producing device in a fuel gas lighter to increase the actuation force immediately before spark discharge without unreasonably increasing the actuation force at the initial stages of movement of the manual actuator to reduce that chances of inadvertent ignition by small children, but maintaining good operability for adult users. Movement of the manual actuator is always resisted by a first elastic member while a second elastic member is positioned to resist movement of the manual actuator at a maximum of 30N to 50N after 60% or more of the total movement of the manual actuator required to produce a spark has occurred. Preferably the second elastic member is one or more flexible fingers molded from polyacetal resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Toshihiro Ichikawa, Youichi Ozawa
  • Publication number: 20040096792
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pocket lighter of the type that comprises a fuel container (1), a valve (2), which regulates the opening and closing of said container, a pyrophoric flint (6), a revolving toothed wheel (8), which can produce sparks that are directed towards the valve (2), spring means (7), which exert a force that applies the flint against the toothed wheel, and two disks (10) having end journals (12) that move in respective housings (13). The inventive lighter is characterised in that, in addition to acting as the force transmission element between the finger and the wheel (8), the disks (10) also serve as a rotor for a braking device in which the stator is formed by an element (15) that rubs against said rotor. More specifically, the stator of the braking device comprises a spring (15) which acts on a smooth surface of the rotor (10) in a radial or tangential direction. The spring (15) may form part of the actual structure of the button (14) or it may be independent of said button.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventor: Juan Lucas Puig-Gros
  • Patent number: 6735981
    Abstract: Burners and methods for producing fused silica members. The burner includes seven gas-emitting regions, including four regions for emitting a mixture of oxygen and combustible gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas A. Collins, Chunhong He, Christine E. Heckle, Raymond E. Lindner, Michael H. Wasilewski
  • Patent number: 6736630
    Abstract: A lighter includes a casing with liquid gas received therein and an igniting member is located in the casing for igniting the gas released from a light hole in a top of the casing. An activation piece is pivotably connected between two walls of the casing and a cap is connected to the activation piece and engaged between the two walls of the top of the casing. A stop is located at an edge of the cap and contacts an edge of the casing to prevent the cap from being pushed before it is slid to skip the stop from the edge of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Inventor: Tsuneo Miyanaga
  • Patent number: 6733277
    Abstract: A locking lever for a lighter actuation mechanism prevents the actuator from operating when in a locked position. Operation of the lever causes a portion of the lever to be withdrawn from a housing portion of the lighter and permit the actuator to be moved and operated. The lever mechanism is spring loaded so that the end of the lever normally extends into the lighter housing in a locked position. A top portion of the lever is flattened and curved to prevent intuitive operation by a child, while permitting an adult to easily disengage the locking mechanism. An end portion of the locking lever has a sloped profile to move the lever in an upward direction when the actuator device is returned to a normal position after operating the lighter. When the lighter actuator returns to a normal position, the spring loaded lever again extends into the housing of the lighter to prevent accidental operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Ningbo Xinhai Electronics Manufacture Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Xinhua Huang
  • Publication number: 20040081931
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a lighter comprising a housing having a supply of fuel, an actuating member movably associated with the housing to selectively perform at least one step in igniting the fuel, and a latch member slidably associated with the housing to selectively change the actuating member from a high-force mode to a low-force mode. The actuating member may be operable to perform the at least one step in igniting the fuel when in the high-force mode and when in the low-force mode. Various other features which improve the functioning of the lighter may be provided separately or in combination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Inventors: Anthony Sgroi, Paul Adams
  • Patent number: 6725690
    Abstract: A concentric multi-tubular burner for synthesizing glass particles having a center port group constituted by a combination of jet ports of raw material gas, combustible gas and oxygen gas, wherein an outer wall of the oxygen gas jet port in the center port group protrudes more toward a burner head than an inner wall of the oxygen gas jet port. The flow rate of oxygen gas jetted from the oxygen gas jet port of the center port group is controlled to be in a proper range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Enomoto, Yuichi Ohga, Nobuya Akaike, Haruhiko Aikawa, Takashi Matsuo, Motonori Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6726469
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a lighter. The lighter includes a housing having a supply of fuel, an actuating member movably associated with the housing to selectively ignite the fuel, and a latch moveable between a first latch position and a second latch position to vary the amount of force required to move the actuating member to ignite the fuel. When a user attempts to move the latch before moving the actuating member, a first latch force is required to move the latch from the first latch position to the second latch position. When a user attempts to move the actuating member before moving the latch, a second latch force is required to move the latch from the first latch position to the second latch position. The second latch force is different that the first latch force, and is preferably greater than the first latch force. Various other features that improve the functioning of the lighter may be provided separately or in combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: BIC Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Adams, Anthony Sgroi, Jr., Jeffrey F. Ukleja
  • Patent number: 6722877
    Abstract: A utility lighter having a housing and a spark generator operable to generate a spark generally adjacent an exit opening of the housing. Movement of a trigger from its inoperative position to its operative position in a normal mode of operation of the lighter operates the spark generator to generate a spark. A disabling mechanism is positionable relative to the housing between a first position corresponding to a disabled mode of operation of the lighter in which the lighter is ineffective to generate a spark and a second position corresponding to the normal mode of operation of the lighter. The trigger is movable between its inoperative and operative positions in both the disabled mode and the normal mode of the lighter. In the disabled mode of the lighter the disabling mechanism is adapted to disable the trigger from operating the spark generator in the operative position of the trigger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Inventors: Boqi Wang, Lixiang Mao, Dongliang Li
  • Patent number: 6716024
    Abstract: In a standard lighter, a flame is obtained by rotating driving wheels of a striker wheel onto a spark stone. A pair of brake discs are mounted on an axis of a wheel assembly. Each of the pair of brake discs has a same diameter as that of the driving wheels. The pair of brake discs rotate freely relative to the driving wheels. The axis is loosely mounted in mounting slots and can move vertically. A gas release lever has a pair of extension portions placed beneath the pair of brake discs to interrupt or stop rotation of the pair of brake discs. To rotate the driving wheels, a considerable amount of extra force is required to overcome frictional force on the pair of brake discs, and would reduce a risk of fire damage caused by a child's inadvertent activation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Inventor: Jong-Koo Jon
  • Publication number: 20040063055
    Abstract: A safety arrangement for a utility lighter includes a stop post extended from a pusher button and a locking member which includes a switching member slidably mounted on a sidewall of the casing along a safety slot and a stopper extended from the switching member to the internal cavity through the safety slot to align with the stop post. The switching member is arranged to slidably drive the stopper between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein at the locked position, the stop post is blocked by the stopper so as to block a downward movement of the pusher button for ignition, and at the unlocked position, the switch member is arranged to drive the stopper to move to an offset position that allows the pusher button to be depressed so as to depress the movable part of the piezoelectric unit for igniting the utility lighter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventor: John Jiin Chung Yang
  • Publication number: 20040058289
    Abstract: A sparkwheel lighter with a child resistant flint-type ignition mechanism, which includes in addition to those items commonly found in sparkwheel lighters, a cylindrical sparkwheel supported on an axle for rotation in contact with the flint for producing sparks when the sparkwheel file is rotated with respect to the flint, so that force applied to the thumbwheels to rotate the sparkwheel causes the thumbwheels to tilt over the sparkwheel to prevent direct actuation thereof by a user's thumb.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Inventors: Ying Fang Huang, Mark K. Suzumoto
  • Publication number: 20040053179
    Abstract: A gas lighting rod comprises a gas release valve (41) and a piezo-electric igniting system (14) both operated by a spring-loaded operating member (10), and a spring-loaded safety member (25) which has to be operated to release the operating member. The operating member (10) is aligned transversely and the safety member (25) comprises a pivoted lever having a lock/release arm (26) extending generally along the axis of the operating member (10) and interacting therewith and a control arm (27) engaged on the other side of the pivot (28, 55) and from the opposite side of the lighting rod from the operating member (10). The lock-release arm (26) is substantially enclosed within the operating member, and its end is sloped such that its engagement with the operating member (10) tends to urge it into the locked position if the user attempts to operate the operating member without first fully operating the safety member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Applicant: SWEDISH MATCH LIGHTERS B.V.
    Inventor: Thierry Rogelet
  • Publication number: 20040043346
    Abstract: In a standard lighter, the flame is obtained by rotating the driving wheels of the striker wheel onto the spark stone. A pair of brake discs is mounted on the axis of the wheel assembly. Each of the brake discs has the same diameter as that of driving wheels. The brake discs can rotate freely, relative to the driving wheels. The axis is loosely mounted on the mounting slots, and can move vertically. The gas release lever has a pair of extension portions placed beneath the brake discs to interrupt or stop rotation of the brake discs. To rotate the driving wheels, a considerable amount of extra force is required to overcome the frictional force on the brake discs, and would reduce the risk of fire damage caused by a child's inadvertent activation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventor: Jong-Koo Jon
  • Patent number: 6695610
    Abstract: The present invention involves a lighter for preventing unintended use. In one aspect, a striker wheel including a rotation limiting means is provided, where an arc formed by the rotation limiting means is preferably greater than about 100° and less than or equal to about 220°. The rotation limiting means may comprise a single or multiple protrusions, a shield extending from one or more outer grip wheels, or a cover attached to a periphery of the striking wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Trend & Aim International Limited
    Inventor: Kelvin Chiu Yuet Tsang
  • Publication number: 20040033462
    Abstract: A safety gas lighter with a ratchet-pawl mechanism comprises a lighter body, a fuel supply means, an ignition means and a safety device. The safety device includes a pivoting axle, an internal ratchet rotating together with the axle and being attached to one side of the axle, a pawl member having engage pawls, being selectively engaged with ratchet teeth of ratchet and also having two cylinders protruding from the pawl member, and a safety hood, one side of which is installed by fitting coupling holes over cylinders and one end of the axle and another side of which on another end of the axle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2003
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Inventor: Fu Quan Zhang
  • Patent number: 6692247
    Abstract: The invention relates to a roll and press lighter which is rendered child resistant by a fixed extension of the body which surrounds or bisects the lever so as to impede the user's thumb. The adult user must operate the lighter in such a way that the flesh of the user's thumb is able to depress the lever below the level of the fixed extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Swedish Match Lighters B.V.
    Inventor: Carel Sewalt