Combustion – Frictional – chemical or percussive type igniter – Spark projecter – e.g. – flint and abrasive striker – etc.
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-15
2001-02-13
Lazarus, Ira S. (Department: 3743)
Combustion
Frictional, chemical or percussive type igniter
Spark projecter, e.g., flint and abrasive striker, etc.
C431S344000, C431S143000, C431S276000, C431S273000, C431S124000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186774
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The present invention pertains to lighters and more particularly to gas lighters in which the ignition device is quickly removable from a disposable fuel reservoir.
2. Prior Art
Modern gas lighters are presently in use for such tasks as lighting cigars and cigarettes, and starting fires. The vast majority of gas lighters are designed to have a very limited useful life. These gas lighters become useless once the reservoir of fuel, typically butane has been expended, and are disposed of by the user, and replaced with a completely new lighter. These typical lighters also have a limited supply of flint or other similar material, which is used to generate a spark to ignite the fuel. Presently, gas lighters are designed with full knowledge that the lighter will be disposed of, and oftentimes, there is still useful flint in the lighter which is wastefully disposed of as well. However, for lighters which are expensive, or have other significant meaning to the user, such as a the lighter being a gift or a collectible, it is very desirable to keep the lighter and replace the fuel and flint when they have been expended.
There are presently several known methods for accomplishing the replacement of fuel and flint in a gas lighters which are not designed to be disposed of when empty. These are lighters which call for the use of numerous valves for the refueling process. U.S. Pat. No. 3,895,904 to Kimball shows a modular type gas lighter which calls for the use of numerous valves to refuel the reservoir. The device shows two subassemblies to be detached to perform the refueling ritual. The user is required to perform the task of bringing a butane supply source to the reservoir and matably engaging the reservoir inlet valve with the butane supply source. Not only is this a time consuming process, but a very dangerous process as well, for if the inlet valve is unclean or fails, the flammable butane is uncontrollably released into the atmosphere.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,938,942 to Torassa discloses a pyrophoric gas lighter comprising a head which slips over the hollow stem of a replacement can. The lighter head is attached to the fuel container solely by sliding the lighter head onto the operating step of the fuel replacement can. The invention is unable to withstand routine handling as the lighter head and the replacement can are easily detachable. Furthermore, this device is potentially dangerous, as all the loads applied to this lighter, via routine handling and use, are directly imparted on the valve stem of the pressurized container. This valve stem will undoubtedly fatigue with time, use and handling, causing all the fuel to be released in one uncontrolled hazardous event.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,295,819 to Sugiyama discloses a gas lighter wherein a container filled with a gas evolving liquid is detachably attached to one side of the lighter body. The lighter body has on its upper portion an ignition device comprising a flint and an ignition file, and a member which is made to engage and disengage the nozzle of the bomb. The fuel container can unexpectedly detach from the lighter, as it is not securely locked in contact with the lighter body. Also, the device lacks the ability to replace the ignition means if it becomes worn or otherwise inoperable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been accomplished to overcome all of the deficiencies and disadvantages above mentioned.
It is an object of this invention to provide a completely modular lighter which is assembled from a fuel reservoir, an ignition module, a flint, a lighter frame, all of which are detachable from one another.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a removable ignition module such that if the flint is depleted or the ignition module becomes worn due to usage and needs replacing, this can be simply and quickly accomplished by replacing the flint or the entire ignition module.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a replaceable fuel reservoir that locks in place with the lighter frame, such that the processes of refueling the lighter from a fuel reservoir is unnecessary, and the fuel reservoir is locked in place such that it can only be removed by the intentional act of the user.
The present invention avoids the problems and hazards associated with prior lighters. The present invention allows for the replacement of any portion of the lighter. There is also inherent safety with the present invention, as the user is not required to do the physical task of refilling the fuel reservoir, and the problems associated with unclean or inoperative inlet valves used in prior lighters is eliminated. Furthermore, the user does not need to keep a fuel supply on hand, which oftentimes becomes a hazard in itself as it ages.
Briefly, the present invention may be described as a completely modular lighter assembly. The lighter has an upper assembly, a lower assembly, a lighter frame, an ignition module, and a mechanism to releasably attach the upper assembly to the lower assembly.
The upper assembly is constructed from a lighter frame and an ignition module detachably attached to the lighter frame. The ignition module makes use of a movable sphere movably urged into a hollow in the upper assembly. This permits the entire ignition module to be removed from the upper assembly for purposes of replacing the assembly or replacing the flint in the assembly. Of course, the flint is utilized in the ignition module and is contacted by a striker to produce sparks and ignite the fuel.
The entire upper assembly is detachably connected to the lower assembly. The lower assembly is equipped with at least one mating member which is attached at one end to the lower assembly and has a pressure plate attached to the other end. The upper assembly is provided with a hollowed out portion having the following characteristics. There is an insertion end, a raceway, a groove, and a terminal end. The pressure plate and mating member are inserted into the insertion end and the upper assembly and lower assembly are rotated in opposite directions, until the mating member and pressure plate are at the terminal end. At this point the upper assembly and lower assembly are locked in place. Of course, applying forces in the opposite of the aforesaid will release the assemblies.
The lower assembly is provided with a fuel reservoir. The lower assembly is discarded when empty. The lower assembly is equipped with a fuel transfer mechanism that prevents fuel from being released when the upper and lower assemblies are not attached, and allows the flow of gas or fuel when the upper and lower assemblies are attached. This transfer mechanism is a pressure sensitive valve that includes a plunger, a spring, a collar, a rubber ring, a reducer, and a cap. The entire assembly is placed into the lower assembly's receiving hole. The spring is placed about the plunger, then the collar and rubber ring are placed about the plunger. The plunger is then placed into the receiving hole and is held in place by the cap which is secured to the lower assembly. The cap has a hole, and the plunger assembly has a hole having an entrance portion and an exit portion. The plunger is movable between two positions. The first position is an inactive position where the upper assembly and the lower assembly are apart. In this position, fuel is not permitted to leave the lower assembly, as the entrance portion of the hole in the plunger is effectively blocked by the collar, and the seal between the plunger and the collar is sealed by the rubber ring.
The second position is an active position in which the fuel is permitted to escape the lower assembly. This position is achieved when the lower assembly is connected to the upper assembly. The upper assembly is provided with a plunger forcing post. This post fits through the hole in the cap and forces downwardly on the plunger, and compresses the biasing means. As a result, the entrance portion of the plunger hole is no longer sealed by the collar and rubber ring. In the active position
Hodgson Russ Andrews Woods & Goodyear LLP
Lazarus Ira S.
Lee David
LandOfFree
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