Child resistant lighter

Combustion – Correlation of fuel or power supply with component movements...

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C431S255000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06206689

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a lighter employing an ignition system which presents increased difficulty of operation by unintended users, and more particularly, relates to a piezoelectric lighter with such a system.
2. Background Art
Disposable gas lighters are available in a variety of forms. One common element of disposable lighters is an actuator pad or lever used to initiate the flow of fuel. An actuator pad is operated in conjunction with a spark producing mechanism so that the flow of fuel is ignited soon after it commences. For example, lighters employing conventional spark wheels require a user to rotate a toothed spark wheel against a flint in order to generate a spark. The user then depresses the actuator pad, to release gas and produce a flame.
Another means of ignition for disposable lighters employs a piezoelectric mechanism. In this type of ignition mechanism, a piezoelectric element, such as a crystal, is struck by a plexor in order to produce an electric spark. The spark is conducted to a location near the opening of the valve to ignite the gaseous fuel. The actuator pad, upon forced depression by a user, commences both the flow of the fuel and the ignition process. An example of such a piezoelectric ignition mechanism is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,262,697, entitled “Piezoelectric Mechanism For Gas Lighters.”
As with spark wheel ignition mechanisms, measures have been introduced to increase the difficulty of activation to inhibit unintended activation of piezoelectric mechanisms or activation by unintended users (e.g., children younger than five years of age). One typical method is to incorporate a separate latch member disposed under the actuator pad, which inhibits depression of the actuator pad. Examples of such mechanisms are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,435,719, 5,584,682, and 5,636,979.
There remains, however, a need in the art for other mechanisms, which increase the difficulty of unintentional operation or operation by unintended users, and at the same time are user-friendly for intentional operation by intended users.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention a lighter resistant to operation unintentionally or resistant to use by unintended users is disclosed. The lighter comprises a housing having a fuel compartment, a valve for supplying fuel from the fuel compartment, an actuator, an ignition mechanism, and a latch member. The actuator is mounted for movement with respect to the lighter body. The ignition mechanism is coupled to the actuator and the actuator is movable from a first position to an actuation position along a longitudinal, actuation axis. This movement of the actuator causes the release of fuel and causes the ignition mechanism to ignite the fuel. The latch member is pivotally coupled to the actuator. The latch member includes a finger actuation portion and a body portion with a free end.
When the latch member is in an inoperative state or position, the free end of the body portion of the latch member is aligned with a blocking surface of the housing to limit movement of the actuator along the actuation axis. Moving the finger actuation portion in a first direction causes the free end of the body portion to move in a second direction opposite the first direction. This movement of the finger portion also causes the free end to become unaligned with the blocking surface of the housing. In this operative, state or position, movement of the actuator from the first position to release fuel and the actuation position to actuate the ignition mechanism to ignite the fuel is permitted.
In one embodiment, the first direction and the second direction are transverse or sideways.
In yet another embodiment, The actuator further defines a longitudinally extending channel, and the latch member is received by the channel.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the latch member has cam surfaces for pivotally coupling the latch member to the actuator. In another embodiment, the body portion of the latch member further includes a central member and resilient arms that extend upward from the central member. In yet another embodiment, a biasing element is disposed between the resilient arms and the central member for biasing the latch member into the inoperative position.


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copy of lighter sample.
Digital Photos of AIM Lighter (4 sheets), purchased in Aug. of 1999.

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