Mounted On Fuel Tank Adjacent Flame Holder Patents (Class 431/277)
  • Publication number: 20030232297
    Abstract: A lighter has a frame, a first turn wheel rotatably supported by the frame, a second turn wheel rotatably supported by the frame, a spark wheel constructed and arranged to rotate with the first turn wheel but not with the second turn wheel, and a flint constructed and arranged to be contacted by the spark wheel during rotation of the spark wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventor: Sameer Pareek
  • Patent number: 6663382
    Abstract: A safety lighter includes two wheels axles coaxially supported on two sides of a spark wheel respectively. Two driving wheels, each having a receiving cavity provided on an out side of said driving wheel, are supported by two driven bodies of the wheel axles respectively wherein each driving wheel is adapted for turning on the respective driven body in a free rotating manner. Two positioning discs are disposed in the receiving cavities of the two driving wheels and firmly supported by the two driven bodies of the two wheel axles respectively wherein the positioning discs are adapted to hold the two driving wheels in position respectively, so as to prevent lateral movements of the driving wheels with respect to the wheel axles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Inventor: Kin Chung Li
  • Publication number: 20030194669
    Abstract: A child resistant disposable lighter includes a shielding frame including a U-shaped frame body and a pair of shielding guards. The frame body, which is mounted on a supporting frame, has two sidewalls positioned at two outer sides of the supporting walls respectively. Each sidewall of the frame body has a slanted top edge rim extended tangentially with respect to each respective driving wheel to encircle a front portion thereof. Each shielding guard is integrally extended from the two sidewalls of said frame body and defined an ignition cavity between the two shielding guards to rotatably receive the driving wheels in the ignition cavity. A center of each shielding guard is positioned eccentrically to a center of the respective driving wheel so as to position at least the front and top portions of the driving wheels below the shielding guards to prevent a child to ignite the lighter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventor: Ming-Yu Chang
  • Publication number: 20030180676
    Abstract: A lighter incorporates with a fuel supply arrangement which includes a replaceable fuel cartridge detachably received in a receiving cavity of a casing for storing a liquefied fuel, and a gas releasable valve extended from the replaceable fuel cartridge for controlling a flow of gas from the replaceable fuel cartridge. Therefore, a user is able to refill the fuel by simply replacing a used replaceable fuel cartridge with a new replaceable fuel cartridge which is fully pre-filled with fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventor: Yiling Xie
  • Patent number: 6612831
    Abstract: Gas lighter having a safety mechanism. The lighter includes a lighter body housing a tank of liquefied gas under pressure. A valve allows passage of gas. A burner is connected to the valve. A push-button is disposed on the body and is adapted to be pressed by a user's finger. A lever is used for acting on the valve. The lever is adapted to cooperate with the push-button. A wheel is used for engaging a flint. The wheel includes at least one driver. A spring is arranged below the flint for biasing the flint against the wheel. An axle is used upon which the wheel is rotatably mounted. A mechanism is used for preventing the rotation of the wheel. The mechanism is adapted to engage at least one tooth on the at least one driver so as to prevent the rotation of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Hameur
    Inventors: Henri Ansquer, André Le Borgne
  • Publication number: 20030108836
    Abstract: A lighter includes a housing a housing that forms a fuel reservoir. The housing has a fuel outlet extending from the housing. A valve assembly controls the flow of fuel exiting from the fuel outlet. A flint is mounted on the exterior of the housing for lighting fuel released from the fuel reservoir. A flint actuator includes a spark disk to engage the flint and a driver disk fixedly connected to the spark disk. A third disk is disposed between the driver disk and the spark disk and is freely rotatable therebetween. The third disk has a diameter greater than the driver disk. A plate is disposed between the driver disk and the housing and has a radially outwardly protruding portion between the housing and the driver disk, which is aligned with the driver disk and extends radially outwardly a greater distance than the driver disk from a central axis of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: OneWorld Enterprises Limited
    Inventor: Gary A. Fisher
  • Patent number: 6565353
    Abstract: An improved ignition system incorporated with a lighter includes a flint supported by a flint-spring between two supporting walls of the lighter. A striker wheel having a circumferential coarse striking surface positioned right above the flint is rotatably mounted between the two supporting walls. At least a driving wheel, having a plurality of gear teeth, is coaxially attached to a side of the striker wheel. A pusher button slidably disposed in a pusher cavity in a vertically movable manner. At least a trigger protrusion is outwardly protruded from a front wall of the pusher button wherein the trigger protrusion has at least an engaging tooth adapted for slidably engaging the gear teeth of the driving wheel to drive the striker wheel to rotate. And, a resilient element normally retaining and urging the pusher button in an upper normal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Inventor: John Jiin Chung Yang
  • Patent number: 6551096
    Abstract: A flint-type ignition mechanism comprising a freely rotatable support member; a spark wheel combined with the supporting member so as to be integrally rotatable with same; an elastic member installed around the support member; a thumb wheel having a gear-type inner face installed around the elastic member so that it can idle, the thumb wheel switching between the concentric and eccentric position; and a disk-shaped engaging member which rotates together with the supporting member and has engagement stoppers on the peripheral surface of the exterior circumference thereof for engaging the gear type inner face of the thumb wheel. When the thumb wheel is switched to the eccentric position by a deformation of the elastic member, the stoppers engage together and the spark wheel rotates together with the thumb wheel, causing it to be in the ignite-state. In the ignite-state, rotation of the thumb wheel rotates the spark wheel for ignition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Tokai Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Saito, Toshihiro Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 6527545
    Abstract: This invention provides cutter/lighter combination devices wherein the cutter is equipped with a blade attached to a holder that moves on a track. The end of the blade holder distal from the blade edge protrudes from a notch in the side of the case. When the protruding portion of the blade carrier is pushed forward in the direction of the case, the blade moves forward across the aperture to cut any object which has been inserted into the aperture. The blade edge may be any shape, so long as the cutting edge is not present in the aperture in the absence of pressure on the blade carrier to force the blade edge to move the blade across the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Inventor: David W. Cook
  • Publication number: 20030003412
    Abstract: An improved ignition system incorporated with a lighter includes a flint supported by a flint-spring between two supporting walls of the lighter. A striker wheel having a circumferential coarse striking surface positioned right above the flint is rotatably mounted between the two supporting walls. At least a driving wheel, having a plurality of gear teeth, is coaxially attached to a side of the striker wheel. A pusher button slidably disposed in a pusher cavity in a vertically movable manner. At least a trigger protrusion is outwardly protruded from a front wall of the pusher button wherein the trigger protrusion has at least an engaging tooth adapted for slidably engaging the gear teeth of the driving wheel to drive the striker wheel to rotate. And, a resilient element normally retaining and urging the pusher button in an upper normal position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventor: John Jiin Chung Yang
  • Patent number: 6494709
    Abstract: A child resistant device, incorporated with a disposable lighter, includes a pair of shelter wheels, each having a U-shaped cross section, supported on two sides of two driving wheels respectively and partially covering circumferential teeth surfaces of the two driving wheels respectively to define an actuating edge at an uncovered portion of the circumferential teeth surface of each of the driving wheels. Therefore, the disposable lighter only allows an adult's thumb to press on the shelter wheels until the surface skin of the adult's thumb contact with the actuating edges to rotate the driving wheels so as to ignite the disposable lighter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Inventor: Wen Qian Li
  • Patent number: 6485291
    Abstract: A spark-generating device for a lighter that has a sparker configured and adapted to produce sparks, and preferably a cover configured and adapted to substantially prevent operational contact of the sparker by a finger of a user during actuation of the sparker, the device including at least one manipulable member configured and adapted for manipulation and movement by a user and having at least two associations with the sparker. In a first association, the manipulable member is independently movable with respect to the sparker, and in an operable association, the manipulable member is coupled with the sparker to move the sparker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: BIC Corporation
    Inventor: Paul H. Adams
  • Publication number: 20020160329
    Abstract: A lighter having a safety device comprises an internal ratchet, a pawl and a safety hood therein a cavity of the internal ratchet provided an internal toothed ring; on the pawl being in the form of “S”, there are two projecting cylinders and a central hole; on the safety hood being in the form of a semicircle, there are two opened legs and two small holes; the internal ratchet and the spark wheel are side by side mounted on the pivoting axle so that the pawl is located in the internal toothed ring; two end tips of the pawl and the teeth of the internal ratchet are engaged, whereby forming a one-way drive mechanism; the spark wheel, the internal ratchet and the pawl are covered by the safety hood
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventor: Fu Quan Zhang
  • Publication number: 20020160328
    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: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Applicant: TREND & AIM INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
    Inventor: Kelvin Chiu Yuet Tsang
  • Publication number: 20020155407
    Abstract: A safety lighter includes two wheels axles coaxially supported on two sides of a spark wheel respectively. Two driving wheels, each having a receiving cavity provided on an outer side of said driving wheel, are supported by two driven bodies of the wheel axles respectively wherein each driving wheel is adapted for turning on the respective driven body in a free rotating manner. Two positioning discs are disposed in the receiving cavities of the two driving wheels and firmly supported by the two driven bodies of the two wheel axles respectively wherein the positioning discs are adapted to hold the two driving wheels in position respectively, so as to prevent lateral movements of the driving wheels with respect to the wheel axles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventor: Kin Chung Li
  • Publication number: 20020132200
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an improved structure of a safety lighter, comprising a body which also serves as a fuel reservoir; a fuel valve and a press-down button being disposed at the upper end of the body; a spark-producing roller being disposed at the upper end of the body; and a pyrophoric flint being disposed under the spark-producing wheel, characterized in that the suspended and exposed external vertical rim of the press-down button is surrounded by a safety guard with a predetermined height, thereby such safety guard provides a blocking and delay for the user's thumb at the pressing edge, and staggers the time of ignition by striking the pyrophoric flint and the pressing of the press-down button to turn on the gaseous filed in order to generate an invalid strike.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Inventor: Chian Lii Hurng
  • Publication number: 20020119410
    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: February 12, 2002
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Applicant: SWEDISH MATCH LIGHTERS B.V.
    Inventor: Carel Sewalt
  • Patent number: 6431854
    Abstract: A safety fuel lighter with an improved ignitor assembly, including a striker wheel which rotates about an axis in response to force applied to the striker wheel by a user's thumb or finger. The striker wheel has an annular center portion, two outer annular portions sandwiching the center portion, and a bore extending through the center portion and the two outer portions. An axle is positioned within the bore of the striker wheel, where the axle has a diameter which is smaller than the diameter of the bore. A mounting frame has a spring receptacle and a pair of mounting holes for receiving the axle so that the striker wheel can move from a first position to a second position. A spring is received within the spring receptacle and positioned below a flint. The spring exerts a compressive force against the flint and forces the flint into contact with the striker wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Inventor: Ming Fang
  • Publication number: 20020090586
    Abstract: A spark-generating device for a lighter that has a sparker configured and adapted to produce sparks, and preferably a cover configured and adapted to substantially prevent operational contact of the sparker by a finger of a user during actuation of the sparker, the device including at least one manipulable member configured and adapted for manipulation and movement by a user and having at least two associations with the sparker. In a first association, the manipulable member is independently movable with respect to the sparker, and in an operable association, the manipulable member is coupled with the sparker to move the sparker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventor: Paul H. Adams
  • Publication number: 20020039712
    Abstract: A flint-type ignition mechanism comprising a freely rotatable support member; a spark wheel combined with the supporting member so as to be integrally rotatable with same; an elastic member installed around the support member; a thumb wheel having a gear-type inner face installed around the elastic member so that it can idle, the thumb wheel switching between the concentric and eccentric position; and a disk-shaped engaging member which rotates together with the supporting member and has engagement stoppers on the peripheral surface of the exterior circumference thereof for engaging the gear type inner face of the thumb wheel. When the thumb wheel is switched to the eccentric position by a deformation of the elastic member, the stoppers engage together and the spark wheel rotates together with the thumb wheel, causing it to be in the ignite-state. In the ignite-state, rotation of the thumb wheel rotates the spark wheel for ignition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2001
    Publication date: April 4, 2002
    Inventors: Masaki Saito, Toshihiro Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 6352429
    Abstract: A safety lighter with improved rotary wheel hoods surrounding the striker wheel. The hoods must be urged downwardly and simultaneously rotated to engage and rotate the striker wheel. By varying the arrangement of the annular inner and outer surfaces of the hoods having either smooth surfaces or protuberances thereon with the annular unrecessed lateral portions of the striker wheel having either smooth surfaces or protuberances thereon, a multiplicity of embodiments may be achieved. Each embodiment requires a varying level of downward pressure and rotational forces to cause the lighter to spark and ignite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Polycity Enterprise Limited
    Inventor: Tak Chi Sher
  • Patent number: 6273709
    Abstract: A gas lighter includes a gas ignition device having a gearwheel freely and rotatably positioned on a shaft which is rotatably located in openings of body brackets, as well as a flint spring pressed toward the gearwheel. When a finger pad acts on support wheels a spark is prevented from being struck since the gearwheel will not rotate. In order to ignite the gas it is necessary to slightly depress the support wheels so that a portion of the surface of the finger pad contacts the gearwheel. In this case, gearwheel rotation and spark striking occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Inventors: David Vakhtangovich Potskhishvili, Karlo Vakhtangovich Potskhishvili
  • Patent number: 6247920
    Abstract: A refillable pyrophoric lighter having an outer casing with a hinged cover and having an inside unit that is received inside the casing by a frictional fit that is enhanced by at least one transverse rib integrally formed on the outside of the housing of the inside unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Zippo Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Bruce Michael Pfeil
  • Patent number: 6224368
    Abstract: The child safety lighter includes a pair of pivoted elements one of which engages a valve stem for moving a valve between closed and opened positions upon pivoting the element by application of thumb pressure to a first finger-engageable surface. The second element includes a second finger-engageable surface extending about the outer periphery of the first surface whereby the two surfaces combined correspond in shape essentially to a typical thumb press pad of a conventional lighter. The second element is independently pivotal against the bias of a spring. Because the first surface area is reduced and located between the second surface and the spark wheel of the lighter, increased force and dexterity is necessary to pivot the first lever to actuate the lighter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Inventor: Aman K. M. Chung
  • Patent number: 6220853
    Abstract: A disposable childproof lighter includes an ignition means which including a flint supported by a resilient element, a striker wheel, a pair of driven gear elements each coaxially mounted on a side of the striker wheel, and a pair of driving caps each coaxially mounted between the driven gear element and the striker wheel in freely rotating manner. Each driving cap includes a driving cavity formed on an outer side thereof for receiving a gear wheel of the driven gear element in rotatable manner. A plurality of driving teeth are spacedly provided on an inner circumferential surface of the driving cavity for engaging with a plurality of driven gear teeth spacedly provided on an outer circumferential surface of the driven gear element when a downward force is applied to the two driving caps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventor: Ying Wen Luo
  • Patent number: 6186774
    Abstract: A lighter assembly especially suitable for burning butane gas as a fuel is provided in modular form which consists essentially of two unitary subassemblies which may be detachably mounted together to form the assembled lighter. The lighter assembly, which features low cost and structural simplicity, is constructed with the first subassembly comprising a hollow body defining a chamber for storing the fuel, an inlet valve assembly for inserting fuel into said chamber, a burner valve assembly for controlling emission of the fuel from said chamber, and a burner valve actuating arm for opening and closing the burner valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Inventor: Calogero Butera, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6168421
    Abstract: A safety lighter with a safety strike wheel assembly including a center strike wheel, two side turning wheels which are fixedly mounted with the center strike wheel, and two driving wheels which are respectively and loosely mounted to the two side turning wheels. Each side turning wheel has an external toothed surface adapted to be inserted into the strike wheel to secure the two turning wheels to the strike wheel. To operate the safety lighter, a user must press on the driving wheels to have them frictional engage with the two side turning wheels to turn the strike wheel to create a spark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Easton Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Ron Shaorong Hsieh
  • Patent number: 6146128
    Abstract: A cigarette lighter comprises an ignition means which comprises a flint supported by a resilient element, a striker wheel and a pair of side driving wheels. The two side driving wheels are rotatably covered on two end portions of the striker wheel respectively, so that the two end portions of the striker wheel are respectively inserted into the two driving sockets of the two side driving wheels while the flint upwardly extending between the two side driving wheels and urging against the striker wheel. Normally, the two side driving wheels are disengaged with the striker wheel to prevent a minor from driving the striker wheel to rotate, however in order to ignite the Cigarette lighter, an adult must simultaneously press down the two side driving wheels until a top portion of the driving teeth of the two side driving wheels are engaged with a top portion of the striking teeth, and rotate the two side driving wheels to drive the striker wheel to rotate and strike against the flint to generate sparks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Inventors: Xin Feng, Biao Zheng
  • Patent number: 6142767
    Abstract: A cigarette lighter is disclosed. It operates by acting on a push button which opens a valve to release gas from a tank and activate a sparking means for igniting the released gas. The lighter has a "self-retrieving" safety mechanism which is simple and easy for an adult to operate and which can reliably prevent unintentional operation of the lighter, such as by a child. The safety mechanism has an elongated resilient bar provided at one end with an operating member located. The safety mechanism has a normal position in which the safety device prevents operation of the push button and an operating position, to which the safety device can be moved by an operating member in a one step motion, in which the push button can be operated. Upon operation, the safety device automatically returns to its normal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Cli-Claque Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Leung Chan
  • Patent number: 6142768
    Abstract: A cigarette lighter includes an ignition means which includes a flint supported by a resilient element, a spark producing element and a pair of side driving wheels. The two side driving wheels are rotatably covered on two end portions of the spark producing element respectively, so that the two end portions of the spark producing element are respectively inserted into the two driving sockets of the two side driving wheels while the flint upwardly extending between the two side driving wheels and urging against the spark producing element. Normally, the two side driving wheels are disengaged with the spark producing element to prevent a minor from driving the spark producing element to rotate, however in order to ignite the Cigarette lighter, an adult must apply a digital force on said side driving wheels in order to rotate said two side driving wheels to drive said spark producing element to rotate and strike against said flint to generate sparks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Inventors: Xin Feng, Biao Zheng
  • Patent number: 6129543
    Abstract: This invention relates to the field of energy and is directed to a gas lighter with protection from children, that is a lighter in which an ignition mechanism is combined with means for neutralising this mechanism. The lighter comprises a control lever for controlling a burner valve, pivotally mounted on a platform between side ears, a safety device including a cam member positioned in a platform socket and having a protrusion directed toward the control lever for end-to-end cooperation with the lever protrusion, the cam member is formed with a button projecting outward trough a side hole in the platform. The side hole is a horizontally directed slit for receiving the button in a control lever blocking position, in which protrusions of the cam member and of control lever are positioned opposite each other, and is provided with a cut-out for the button in a cam member neutralisation position and for displacing its protrusion relative to the control lever protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Inventors: David Vakhtangovich Potskhishvili, Karlo Vakhtangovich Potskhishvili
  • Patent number: 6123541
    Abstract: A childproof safety disposable lighter includes a safety guide, which is coaxially to the striker wheel, having a smooth surface and elongating from the windshield and encircling both sides of the striker wheel. The radius of the safety guide is slightly greater than the radius of the contact wheel whereby the predetermined space will serve to inhibit the generation of sparks and flames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Inventor: John Jiin Chung Yang
  • Patent number: 6116892
    Abstract: A safety flint type lighter includes a striker blade having a striking surface which is in contact with the flint slidably mounting on a blade-track provided on the inner side of the supporting walls and a resilient element normally retaining and urging itself vertically and driving the striking surface of the striker blade to rapidly slide on the flint for striking spark. A locking latch is downwardly protruded from the top end of said pusher button facing said gas emitting nozzle. Operating the lighter, the pusher button is depressed and pulled outward wherein the depressed locking latch griping the resilient element and bending the resilient element. The resilient element is released at a point and driven the striker blade on the flint for generating spark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Inventor: John Jiin Chung Yang
  • Patent number: 6106280
    Abstract: A structure is provided for preventing detachment of a lighter nozzle cap in a lighter having a main lighter body, a burner located on top of the main lighter body for burning fuel to produce a flame, an operation member located on top of the main lighter body for lighting the burner and a nozzle cap for covering a zone surrounding the burner from above. The structure includes a pair of posts projecting from the top of the main lighter body, each post being formed with a socket, a pair of detachment preventing catches provided one on either side wall of the nozzle cap to be engageable with the sockets, and retaining portions provided at portions of the side walls near the catches for engaging with an upper inner edge of the main lighter body to prevent spreading deformation of the side walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Tokai Corporation
    Inventor: Minoru Kanno
  • Patent number: 6102689
    Abstract: A child resistant lighter comprising a standard lighter construction having a main body, a fuel reservoir, a valve, a valve release means, and a spark wheel assembly, the improvement comprising a locking push button safety device, having an initial and an engaged position, such that in said initial position said valve release means is blocked from opening said valve, and in said engaged position said valve release means is free to be operated to open said valve, and said push button being configured to automatically return to its initial position after operation of said valve release means, therefore by requiring sufficient physical strength and dexterity to operate the push button and by adding additional operational steps, the push button safety device Should hinder or prevent use of the lighter by children or others who don't appreciate the dangers of fire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Inventor: Aman Chung Kai Man
  • Patent number: 6102688
    Abstract: As regards size reduction of a burner that draws up liquid fuel to be burned utilizing capillarity, a wick and an igniter are brought into proximity without causing contact with the flame, either a flame-producing section (61) of the wick (6) being constituted in a tapered shape at the tip portion or the tip portion of a wick holder (77) being formed to differ in height in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Tokai Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Mifune, Yasuaki Nakamura, Takashi Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 6099298
    Abstract: This invention relates to the field of energy and is directed to a gas child-proof lighter, i.e. the lighter in which means for sparking neutralization are combined with a gas ignition mechanism. The gas lighter comprises a gas ignition device including a corrugated wheel secured on a shaft rotatably and movably mounted in profiled openings of body brackets, as well as a flint spring pressed toward the corrugated wheel. The cylindrical shaft of the corrugated wheel is mounted in said opening so as to move along a direction which is transverse relative to a direction of action of the flint spring, and in a direction coinciding with the direction of action of the flint spring. The opening is a convex polygon with a right angle between adjacent walls. The ends of the wall of corrugated wheel are provided with spigots having a polygonal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Inventors: David Vakhtangovich Potskhishvili, Karlo Vakhtangovich Potskhishvili
  • Patent number: 6099297
    Abstract: A cigarette lighter is disclosed. It operates by means a lever which opens a valve to release gas from a tank and a spark means to ignite the released gas.The lighter has a safety mechanism which prevents unintentional operation of the lighter, eg. by a child, but which an adult can easily overcome.The safety device is in the form of a resilient leg, one end of which is attached to the lever and the other end of which, in the non-use position, engages a surface of a block mounted in the body of the lighter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Cli-Claque Campany, Limited
    Inventor: Leung Chan
  • Patent number: 6095795
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of energy and concerns a gas lighter with protection from children, i.e. the lighter an ignition mechanism is combined with means for neutralizing this mechanism. According to the first embodiment, the lighter comprises a control lever 6 of the burner valve 2 pressed by a spring and mounted on a platform between side ears in such a way that its axes 9 are disposed in holes of said ears, and said lever is arranged to move vertically and move longitudinally toward the burner valve, the spring which presses the control lever away from the platform is disposed at an angle in direction away from the platform ears, wherein each axis of the control lever is formed at its location in the hole of the side ear with adjacent slopes, wherein an edge of the adjacent slopes is directed toward a gearwheel of ignition means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Inventors: David Vakhtangovich Potskhishvili, Karlo Vakhtangovich Potskhishvili
  • Patent number: 6077069
    Abstract: A selectively actuatable child resistant lighter device is disclosed which includes a body defining reservoir for containing a combustible gaseous medium such as butane, and having a valve arranged to be selectively actuated between a normally closed position and an open position which permits the exit of the gaseous medium. Such child resistant lighter can selectively produce sparks at a location proximate to the gaseous medium exit to ignite the gaseous medium, and a safety mechanism prevents actuation of the valve to the open position when sparks are produced. Such child resistant lighter device embodies a resiliently releasable safety latch which prevents the actuation of the valve actuator to the open position. The safety latch is selectively movable to a position out of interference with the valve actuator, so that the gaseous medium may be released and ignited by the sparks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Bic Corporation
    Inventors: Floyd B. Fairbanks, Thomas G. Snell, James M. McDonough
  • Patent number: 6074198
    Abstract: This lighter I of the type comprising a reservoir for containing liquefied petroleum gas, a valve (3) mounted on the reservoir and permitting the gas to leave the same, a valve opening mechanism (4, 5), as well as an ignition system comprising a flint (6) co-operating with a spark wheel (7) rotationally operated by at least one circular thumb wheel (10) mounted co-axially with the spark wheel. This lighter is characterized in that each thumb wheel (10) is independent of the spark wheel (7) and can pivot around its axis independently of the spark wheel, and in that rotational frictional engaging means are provided between the spark wheel and the at least one thumb wheel (10) when a force is exercised on the thumb wheel with a radial component having a value greater than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Cricket S.A.
    Inventor: Thierry Rogelet
  • Patent number: 6053727
    Abstract: The invention relates to the field of energy and is directed to a child-proof gas lighter, i.e. the gas lighter in which means for spark-forming neutralization are combined with a gas ignition mechanism. The gas ignition means comprises a gearwheel secured to a spigot and corrugated wheels positioned on a shaft which has a central portion on which the gearwheel is loosely positioned and which is formed as a polyhedron, and end portions to which the corrugated wheels are secured and which are cylindrical and are disposed within openings of brackets of the lighter body or of a holder of a spring-pressed flint. The shaft is mounted within the bracket openings so as to move along a direction of the flint spring action. An opening of the gearwheel is polyhedral, whereby a maximum diameter of the shaft in the area of the gearwheel installation is less than a minimum diameter of the opening of the gearwheel spigot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Inventors: David Vakhtangovich Potskhishvili, Karlo Vakhtangovich Potskhishvili
  • Patent number: 6045354
    Abstract: A selectively actuatable lighter device is disclosed which includes a body defining reservoir for containing a combustible gaseous medium such as butane, and having a valve arranged to be selectively actuated between a normally closed position and an open position which permits the exit of the gaseous medium. Such lighter can selectively produce sparks at a location proximate to the gaseous medium exit to ignite the gaseous medium. Such lighter device embodies a resiliently releasable latch which normally prevents actuation of a valve actuator to the open position thereby preventing actuation of the valve. The latch is selectively movable to a position out of interference with the valve actuator, so that the gaseous medium may be released and ignited by the sparks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: BIC Corporation
    Inventors: James M. McDonough, Michel Doucet
  • Patent number: 5997281
    Abstract: A safety lighter having a safety thumb-wheel design that will prevent accidental ignition and unauthorized use by children. The safety lighter can be ignited with one easy press of the thumb-wheel without any additional manipulation of slides or switches. The safety thumb-wheel design consists of a friction thumb-wheel assembled between two side thumb-wheels on an axle. The two side thumb-wheels has a circular shallow indentation on the face that contacts the friction thumb-wheel. The inside diameter of the circular shallow indentation is slightly larger than the outside diameter of the friction thumb-wheel such that the friction thumb-wheel can be inserted in the circular shallow indentation. When pressing down with moderate force on the two side thumb-wheels, they will engage the friction thumb-wheel, which in turn bears against a flint to create a spark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Inventor: Hou Chong Lei
  • Patent number: 5984669
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tinted flame lighter having a tank (1000) suitable for containing a mixture (L) under pressure of a tinting agent and of a flammable volatile liquid. The lighter includes a porous filter (1020) suitable for expanding the mixture delivered to the outside of the tank for burning while it is at least partially in the liquid state, and means for feeding the porous filter with the mixture in the liquid state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Etienne Lacroix Tous Artifices S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Rosada, Christine Lapene, Christian Authie
  • Patent number: 5971749
    Abstract: A safety disposable lighter includes an ignition means which includes a striker wheel has an axial polygonal driven hole provided therethrough, a wheel axle rotatably mounting between two supporting walls of a supporting frame and having an enlarged central engaging disc fittedly mounted at a center position of the driven hole of the striker wheel, and two driving wheels each having a polygonal driving disc integrally and coaxially protruded at an inner side thereof. Each of the driving wheels has an axial hole having a diameter larger than that of the wheel axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Inventor: Peter Chen
  • Patent number: 5971748
    Abstract: The invention relates to a spark wheel type gas lighter comprising a lighter body, a reservoir, a valve permitting gas to leave the reservoir, an ignition system comprising a pyrophoric flint co-operating with a spark wheel and a spring maintaining the flint against the spark wheel, a lever pivotally mounted on an axis essentially parallel to the axis of rotation of the spark wheel and co-operating with the valve and the axis of the lever is mounted movably with respect to the body of the lighter between an active position permitting the operation of the valve mounted on the reservoir and a rest position in which action on the lever does not permit operation of the valve, the spark wheel can be displaced with respect to the body of the lighter, and operate the lever in its movement, and elastic means act on the lever and/or on the spark wheel to return them to a position of rest in which the lever does not act on the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Cricket
    Inventor: Thierry Rogelet
  • Patent number: 5957680
    Abstract: The lighter of the present invention provides a resiliently deformable guard that covers a portion of the striking wheel assembly. To operate the lighter, a user exerts sufficient pressure to depress the guard before rotating the striking wheel assembly. Additionally, the lighter of the present invention provides blocking members to engage the deformable guard when the user depresses the valve actuator before exerting pressure to depress the guard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: BIC Corporation
    Inventors: Michel J. M. Doucet, Rene D. Frigiere
  • Patent number: 5913674
    Abstract: A safety lighter includes two wheel axles which can be easily and firmly engaged to two sides of the spark wheel respectively, so as to properly support the spark wheel on top of the flint and to ensure the spark wheel being absolutely driven by the two wheel axles. Since the spark wheel is supported by the two wheel axles on both side respectively, the two wheel axles will substantially prevent the spark wheel to move aside, so that the spark wheel can permanently remain in a central position between the two wheel axles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Inventor: Tetsunosuke Shimizu
  • Patent number: 5897307
    Abstract: A disposable lighter having a safety function for preventing unwanted ignition, which eliminates the two driving wheels provided in conventional gas lighter and renders a radius of a striking wheel approximately equal to a curved corner formed at a top end corner of each wing portion of a wind shield so as to sidewardly cover the striking wheel. Therefore, the disposable lighter may only be ignited by the user's thumb on purpose that can prevent the striking wheel from being rubbed with any object to accidentally ignite. Moreover, an underage kid is also unable to ignite the disposable lighter without any adult supervision by preventing the striking wheel be stuck by a minor's thumb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Inventor: Ming Yu Chang