MXPA01008754A - Utility lighter - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a utility lighter (10) including a housing (12) having a handle (14), a nozzle (18) with an outlet (64), and a fuel supply (22). An electric ignitor assembly (34) is connected to a first electrical pathway (P1) and a second electrical pathway (P2). The first electrical pathway includes a first gap (62) proximate the outlet. The second electrical pathway has operative and inoperative ocnfigurations. In the inoperative configuration, the resistance of the second electrical pathway is less than the resistance of the first electrical pathway such that electrical current generated by the electric ignitor assembly selectively travels in the second electrical pathway. In the operative configuration, the resistance of the second electrical pathway is greater than the resistance of the first electrical pathway such that the electrical current selectively travels in the first electrical pathway and jumps across the first gap to form a spark to ignite fuel from the fuel supply.

Description

UTILITARY LIGHTER TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to utility lighters for general purpose such as those used to light candles, grills, chimneys and fires.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Lighters, such as those used to ignite products such as cigars, cigars and pipes, have been developed over the years. Commonly these lighters use a rotating friction element or a piezoelectric element to generate a spark close to a fuel injector that is in a container. Piezoelectric mechanisms have been widely accepted. A piezoelectric mechanism is described in U.S. Patent No. 5,262,697 ("the '697" patent). The publication of the '697 patent is incorporated herein by reference. Lighters have also evolved from small hand lighters to lighters for different uses and in various ways. These lighters are also hand-held, but are more useful for general purposes such as lighting candles, grills, fireplaces and fires.

Previous attempts at these designs simply depend on extended handles or actuator handles to house a common lighter at the end. Examples of this concept can be found in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,259,059 and 4,462,791. In addition, various utility lighters have had some form of operation of the mechanism to prevent accidental operation of the lighter by adults. Often, these mechanisms take the form of on / off switches that can prevent the action of the lighter. However, the on / off switches must be moved by the user between the "on" and "off" positions, and as a result there are disadvantages. For example, an adult user may forget to change the switch to the "off" position after using it and execute this feature inefficiently. The published PCT application WO 92/08931 shows a safety device for a gas lighter having a piezoelectric mechanism. The safety device includes a switch, which when moved to the first position allows the spark generated by the piezoelectric mechanism to be discharged in a place far from the released gas. This prevents the ignition of the gas. When the switch is moved to a second position, the spark is discharged to a location close enough to the gas flow to allow the ignition of the released gas, and consequently, the normal operation of the lighter. The safety mechanism discussed in WO 92/08931 has the same disadvantages as other on-off switches. The published PCT application WO 98/31774 ("the publication '774") and the two pending US patent applications related to serial number 08 / 787,399 of January 22, 1997 ("the application' 399") and the number 08 / 917,134 of August 25, 1997 ("the application '134), describe a utility lighter The descriptions of" the applications' 399 and' 134"are incorporated herein by reference In one embodiment, the utility lighter has an actuator valve to release the fuel and the piezoelectric mechanism to generate a spark near the injector An actuator assembly facilitates the depression of the valve actuator and the activation of the piezoelectric mechanism A fastening or engaging member normally locks the actuator assembly in an inoperative position. The clamping member works by mechanically preventing the fastener assembly from releasing the gaseous fuel in combination with the compression of the piezoelectric mechanism. to prevent the generation of the spark. Although the mechanical locking means described in the '774 publication satisfactorily resist inadvertent action, it may be desirable to have an electrical locking mechanism to resist inadvertent action. Thus, there is still a need for a utility lighter that resists involuntary action by electrical blocking means, either alone or in combination with mechanical locking means.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These objects and advantages as well as other objects and advantages are achieved in a lighter which generally includes the housing of an injector with a discharge and a fuel feeder connected for a selective hydraulic communication with the injector. An electrical igniter assembly having first and second electrical contacts is operatively connected to a first electrical path. The first electrical access path includes a first opening located close to the discharge of the injector. A second electric route has operant and inoperative configurations. The inoperative configuration, the resistance of the second power path is less than the resistance of the first power path such as the electric current generated by the electric igniter assembly that selectively travels on the second power path. In the operant configuration, the resistance of the second electric path is greater than the resistance of the first electric path as the electric current selectively travels on the first electric path and jumps through the first opening to form a spark and ignite the fuel selectively released from the fuel feeder. In the inoperative configuration, the second electrical path may be a continuous route to short circuit the electric igniter assembly. The second electrical path can also include a second opening that is smaller than the first opening in the inoperative configuration, so that the resistance of the second electrical path remains smaller than that of the first access path. In the operant configuration, the second electrical path and the second opening is larger than the first opening. Preferably, the second opening is at least approximately twice the length of the first opening in the operant configuration. In one embodiment, the igniter has a contact or pressure button to change the second electrical path from the inoperative configuration to the operant configuration. The contact button is operatively associated with a resilient member, such as a spring. When the contact button is pressed, the second opening is formed, which is longer than the hole for the spark. If the resilient member is made of an electrically conductive material, the resilient member can be part of the second electrical path. The lighter may include an actuator assembly connected to the housing to deliver fuel from the fuel feeder and to activate the electric igniter assembly. The lighter may also include a fastener member, which is operatively connected to the handle and includes a locking portion connected to deflect movement relative to the actuator assembly. This blocking portion is normally biased to a clutch with the actuator assembly to thereby prevent operable movement. Thus, the user will be able to selectively deflect the blocking portion out of the clutch with the actuator assembly to allow operation of the operable assembly, as well as through the use of a trigger extending from the handle. In another aspect of this invention, the blocking portion engages part of the actuator assembly only when the commutator member is between the first and second positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The preferred features of the present invention are discussed in the accompanying drawings, in which reference characters denote similar elements through various views, wherein: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the utility lighter of this invention in a partial cross-section showing several internal elements; Figure 2 is an enlarged and partially fragmented perspective view of the lighter shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side elevational view, enlarged and partially fragmented, similar to Figure 1 with certain portions omitted to more clearly show the ignition preventing assembly, the actuator assembly and the fastening member; Figure 4A is a schematic drawing of the ignition preventing assembly showing the first and second electrical paths with the second electric path as a short circuit; Figure 4B is a schematic drawing of the ignition preventing assembly showing the first and second electric routes, with the second electric route with an opening; Figure 5 is a side view of the fastening member Figure 6 is a perspective view of a connector rod; Figure 7 is a side elevational view, enlarged and partially fragmented similar to Figure 3 showing an alternative embodiment of the assembly that prevents ignition; Figure 8 is a side elevational view, enlarged and partially fragmented similar to Figure 3 showing another embodiment of the assembly that prevents ignition; Figure 9 is a side elevational view of the portion of a utility lighter according to the present invention detailing a different embodiment of the trigger and fastener member; Figure 9A is a raised and enlarged side view of the circular region of Figure 9 after the trigger has been activated; Figure 9B is a raised and enlarged side view of the circular region of Figure 9 after the trigger has been released; Figure 10A is a side elevational view of a portion of the utility lighter according to the present invention having another embodiment of the ignition preventing assembly. Figure 10B is a perspective view of the assembly preventing the ignition of Figure 10A; Figure HA is a side elevational view of a portion of the utility lighter according to the present invention having another embodiment of the assembly that prevents ignition; Figure 11B is a perspective view of the assembly preventing the ignition of the figure HA; Figure 12A is a side elevational view of a portion of a utility lighter according to the present invention having another embodiment of the ignition preventing assembly; Figure 12B is a perspective view of the assembly preventing the ignition of Figure 12A; Figure 13A is a side elevational view, partly fragmented, describing another embodiment of the ignition preventing assembly, actuator assembly, and fastener member of the present invention; Figure 13B is a perspective view of the ignition preventing assembly of the actuator assembly and of the fastener member of Figure 13A; Figure 14A is a side elevational view of a portion of the utility lighter according to the present invention having another embodiment of the fastening member and a pivoting pivoting member; and Figure 14B is a perspective view of the clamping member and the pivoting pivoting member of Figure 14A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Returning to Figure 1, a preferred embodiment of a utility lighter 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention is shown understanding that those with ordinary skills in the art will recognize the various modifications and substitutions that may be made to the elements. The lighter 10 generally includes a housing 12 which can be formed mainly of polymeric materials or rigidly molded plastics such as the terpolymer acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or the like. The housing 12 includes a handle 14 close to the first end 16. An injector 18 is positioned at the second end 20 to emit the fuel and feed the flame as will be described herein. It will be noted that the terms, first end 16 and second end 20, are only used for convenience and do not form part of the invention. The handle 14 preferably has a fuel supply container 22, which can be a conventional butane cell. A conduit 24, such as a plastic tube, is fixed to a fluid connector 26 and then placed near or connected to a valve 28 in the fuel supply container 22. The opposite end of the tube 24 connects to the injector 18. It is also it will be noted that a lighter that does not have its own fuel supply container, for example a device that generates a spark to ignite an external fuel source, is also contemplated in the present invention. The valve 28 is operated by a valve actuator 30, which is pivotally connected to the fuel supply container 22. When the valve actuator 30 is depressed, for example moved to the end 16, the fuel is released by the valve 28, and flows through the connector 26 and the tube 24, and finally the injector 18. A suitable fuel supply container 22 is described in the US patent number 5,520,197 ("the '197 patent"). The description of the '197 patent is incorporated herein by reference. An actuator assembly is provided to facilitate oppression of the valve actuator and to activate an electrical ignition assembly 34 to generate a spark close to the injector 18. Preferably, the actuator assembly contains a trigger member 38, a pivoting pivoting member 80, and a connecting rod 46 operatively connected to the ignition assembly 34. Additionally, in the present invention a different number of electrical ignition assemblies such as battery or solar energy circuits are contemplated. Although not necessary for all aspects of the present invention, the preferred electrical ignition assembly 34 is a piezoelectric mechanism. More specifically, the preferred piezoelectric mechanism is of the type discussed in the '697 patent, the description thereof has been incorporated herein by reference. The piezoelectric mechanism 34 described particularly and schematically in the '697 patent has been illustrated in Figures 1-3. The details necessary to understand this invention have been shown in the drawings. In summary, however, the piezoelectric mechanism 34 is a telescopic assembly that can be depressed to generate a voltage between the first and second electrical contacts with and generally located between the electrical contacts 48, 50. The electrical contact 48 to which it is generally reference as an anvil and electrical contact 50 makes contact with a shock pad located on the opposite side of the piezoelectric crystal. The first electrical contact or anvil 48 is in direct contact with an electrically conductive wand 51, which is placed on the outer side of a portion of the housing 12 at a junction 52, as best illustrated in Figure 3. The wand conductive 51 is preferably made of metal. The second electrical contact 50 is connected to an insulated wire 54 having two exposed ends 56, 58. The exposed end 56 is connected to the contact 50 while the exposed end 58 is connected to the injector 18. The injector 18 may also include a spring diffuser, which is essentially an electrically conductive spiral spring, wherein the space between the coils adjacent to the spring is designed to allow the air to mix with the released fuel to ensure an adequate air / fuel mixture that allows combustion. Consequently the injector 18 acts as a first electrode and for this purpose is preferably formed of an electrically conductive metal such as copper or zinc. As used herein, the term "electrode" includes a terminal point in an electrical path. The conductive wand 51 is electrically connected to the contact 48 at the junction 52. On the opposite side, a tab or antenna 60 is stamped from the proximal end 20 of the wand 51 to act as a secondary electrode and create a hole for the spark 62 with an outlet 64 of the injector 18. The first electrode (the injector 18 or the diffusion spring), the wire 54, the piezoelectric mechanism 34, the rod 51, and the second electrode (the tongue or antenna 60) form the first route electric An opening 66 at the end of the conductive wand 51 allows the fuel to pass from the lighter. Also in a conventional manner, the side openings 68, only one of which is shown in Figure 1, can be provided to allow air intake. An electrically insulating cap 70 is preferably located in at least a portion of the injector 18 and generally between the injector 18 and the conductive wand 51. This electrically insulating cap 70 prevents sparks from being generated between the injector 18 and any the surfaces of the conductive wand 51 other than the tab 60. With reference to figures 1-3, a first embodiment of the ignition preventing assembly 200 according to the present invention, includes a second electrical path operatively connected to the piezoelectric mechanism 34. The second electrical path includes a third electrode 202 and a fourth electrode 204. The third electrode 202, which can be attached to the housing 12, is connected to the first end of the wire 206. The second end of the wire 206 is attached to an electrically conductive wand 51 at a junction 208. As described above, the electrical contact 48 is in direct contact with the electrically conductive wand 51 at a junction 52. Thus, the third electrode 202 is electrically coupled to the electrical contact 48. The fourth electrode 204 is attached to the holding member 36 at a resilient front end without support 40 and is connected to the first end of the wire 210. A second end of the wire 210 is attached to the electrical contact 50. Thus, the third and fourth electrodes 202, 204 are electrically coupled to the piezoelectric mechanism 34. When the third and fourth electrodes 202, 204 are in contact or close to contact, as might be the case when the fastening member 36 is not depressed, the second electrical path produces a short circuit in the piezoelectric mechanism 34 or the effective resistance of the second electrical path is significantly smaller than that of the first electrical path, so that any electrical energy generated by the activation of the piezoelectric mechanism 34 flows away from The first electric route selectively.

Figures 2 and 5 best illustrate the construction and connection of the fastening member 36 to the housing 12. It has been found that the fastening member 36 can be formed of a polymer that exhibits resilience or flexion during operation. A polymer as such, for example, is polyacetal. Although other constructions can also be used incorporating other type of members or springs, a construction design is a fixed resilient member with a cantilevered connection of one end 108 to the handle 14. Specifically, a protruding portion 110 fixed to the end 108 of the holding member 36 is contained within a slot 112 in the handle 14. The front end 40 of the fastening member 36 remains disconnected from the housing 12 and can be resiliently pressed downward to electrically disengage the third and fourth electrodes 202, 204. As the front end 40 is depressed, a second opening 205 between the third and fourth electrodes 202, 204 begins to form or grow. When the second opening 205 is sufficiently long, the electrical energy released by the piezoelectric mechanism 34 will selectively travel through the first electrical path and a spark will be generated in the spark hole 62. Preferably, the second opening 205 is approximately twice or larger than the spark hole 62, when the fastening member 36 is fully depressed to ensure that the spark occurs in or near the spark hole 62. Figures 4A and 4B schematically show an assembly which prevents ignition according to the present invention. The P represents a piezoelectric mechanism 34 and P? represents the first electric route. As discussed above, the first electrical path includes an injector 18 which acts as the first electrode and a tab 60 which acts as the second electrode defining between them the hole for the spark 62. The first electrical path has an affective resistance R. The second electrical route, discussed previously, is represented by P2, and has an effective resistance of R2. When the third and fourth electrodes 202, 204 are in contact or close to being in contact, R2 is very small compared to Ri, and the second electrical path becomes short circuit or indeed a short circuit. Any current generated by the actuation of the piezoelectric mechanism 34 will selectively flow through the second electrical path. This diverts the electrical current away from the first electrical path Pi, and prevents the generation of a spark in the spark hole 62, thereby preventing ignition of the released fuel. When the second opening 205 is formed between the electrodes 202 and 204, if the width of the opening 205 is less than the width of the hole for the spark 62, the second opening 205 has less resistance than the spark hole 62 so that the spark jump through. Thus, any current created by the action of the piezoelectric mechanism 34 selectively creates a spark through the second opening 205, and prevents ignition of the released fuel. However, when the second opening 205 is longer than the spark hole 62, the second opening 205 has greater resistance than the spark hole 62. Thus, any current created by the action of the piezoelectric element 34 selectively travels in the first electric path, and creates a spark through the hole for the spark 62 to ignite the released fuel. In summary, in the second electrical path, there are three possible configurations of the third and fourth electrodes 202, 204. In the first configuration, the third and fourth electrodes 202, 204 are electrically coupled and the second electrical path produces a short circuit for any energy Electricity released by the piezoelectric mechanism 34. It is important to note that since the front end 40 is resilient, the third and fourth electrodes 202, 204 are normally pushed to be electrically coupled or close to being coupled. In the second configuration, the fastening member 36 has been partially depressed so that the third and fourth electrodes 202, 204 are separated by the second opening 205. However, when this opening is smaller than the spark gap 62, the current electrical released by the piezoelectric mechanism 34 still travels through the second electrical path to create a spark that occurs away from the injector 18, the output of the fuel released, no ignition is obtained [sic] In the third configuration, the fastener 36 is sufficiently depressed so that the second opening 205 is sufficiently longer than the hole for the spark 62, so that the electric current released with the activation of the piezoelectric mechanism 34 selectively travels through the first electric route. As a result, a spark is formed in the hole for the spark 62 and ignition of the fuel released from the injector 18 occurs. Although the ignition preventing assembly 200 adequately resists unwanted activation by itself, it is possible to couple the ignition advance mechanism 200 with mechanical locking means to resist undesired activation. An example of the mechanical locking means coupled with the ignition preventing assembly 200 is shown in Figures 1-3. Specifically, the fastening member 36 normally blocks the action in an inoperative position so that the trigger 38 may not be fully oppressed or pulled by the user. The front end 40 of the fastening member 36 has an attached latched tongue 42 normally in clutch with the structure of the retainer member 44 on a connecting rod 46 that is specifically shown in Figure 6. When the latched tongue 42 is engaged against the member structure catch 44, which may contain a recess in the connecting rod 46, the connecting rod 46 may not be moved in a forward direction to compress and operate the piezoelectric mechanism 34. Thus, the holding member 36 prevents sufficient movement of the trigger 38 towards the valve actuator 30 for preventing the release of electrical energy by the piezoelectric mechanism 34. The operation of the lighter 10 can be appreciated from the revision of figure 2 and 3. In addition to the trigger 38 and the connecting rod 46, the assembly actuator 32 includes a pivoting pivoting member 80 operably connected therebetween. As can be seen in Figures 1 and 3, specifically, the pivoting member 80 is mounted to a push pin 82, so that the member 80 is pushed in the opposite direction to the clock hands. Alternatively, the pivoting member 80 can be urged by a return spring positioned between the two telescopic members. The return spring exerts a pushing force on the rod 46 which is in physical contact with the pivoting member 80. A return spring is described in the '697 patent. The pivoting pivoting member 80 further includes a pair of arms 84, 86 generally extending from the pin 82. The arm 84 may include a knob 88 for depressing the valve actuator 30 when the user pulls the trigger 38. Alternatively, a portion of the trigger 38 can be used to directly engage the valve actuator 30. The trigger 38 preferably includes an extension 90 that contains a channel 92 for sliding movement relative to the housing 12. The extension 90 further includes a slot 94 within of this, which receives a pin 96 rigidly or molded connected with the housing 12. In the position shown in Figure 3, the pin 96 acts as a detent against one end of the slot 94 to prevent further movement forward of the trigger 38. The opposite end of the slot 94 can act as a detent in the other direction. Other types of features that limit forward or backward movement can also be used. As also shown in Figure 3, the arm 86 of the pivoting member 80 bears against one end of the connecting rod 46. The connecting rod 46 is supported by support members suitable for sliding movement in the forward and backward direction, such as the support members 98 molded into the housing 12. More support members are provided within the housing 12 for various purposes, such as the support members 100., 102 for supporting the ignition assembly or the piezoelectric mechanism 34, and the fastening members 104, 106 (which are also shown in Figure 5) for holding the fuel conduit 24 and the connector 26 respectively. The lighter 10 may also include a connector mechanism, such as a leaf spring, which is provided to facilitate the presence of fuel at the outlet of the injector 64 when the spark is created through the spark hole 62. The fuel travels through line 24 at a determined speed based on factors such as fuel pressure, size of conductor 24, and the flow rate of valve 28, among other factors. Thus, it is desirable to consider these factors in the design of connecting mechanisms, which helps to ensure that the fuel reaches the outlet of the injector 64 before the spark is generated. Preferably, the connector mechanism is positioned between the actuator assembly and the valve actuator. When the actuator assembly moves or is pressed in, it acts on the connector mechanism. The connector mechanism, being directly associated with the valve actuator, presses the valve to release the fuel. In the application '134 an example of the connecting mechanism is discussed. The operation of the lighter 10 will now be described generally in Figure 1. The user grasps with one hand the handle 14 with the index finger on the trigger 38 and the thumb on the front end 40 of the fastening member 36. Press and hold down the front end 40 of the fastening member 36 has two consequences. The first, the second opening 205 is formed between the third and fourth electrodes 202, 204. The second, the latched tongue 42 disengages the connecting rod 46 (FIG. 3) and allows full movement of the trigger 38. Then the user can pull the trigger 38, which causes the oppression of the valve actuator 30 in this way by releasing fuel from the fuel supply vessel 22 through the valve 28, the connector 26 and the conduit 24. By this means, the gaseous fuel, like the butane, is released from the injector 18 at the outlet 64. As will be better understood from FIG. 3, the action of the trigger 38 rotates at the same time to the arm 86 of the spring-loaded pivot 80 in the clockwise direction, opposite to the connecting rod 46. The connecting rod 46 moves forward and presses the piezoelectric mechanism 34 to generate a voltage between the electrical contacts 48, 50. The electric current passes from the co contact 48 to the electrically conductive wand 51 and contact 50 to the wire 54 or 210. Current will flow through the wire 210 if the second opening 205 is zero or smaller than the spark hole 62. As a result, the will generate a spark or be generated between the third and fourth electrodes 202, 204. As this spark is far from the outlet of the injector 64, the released fuel does not ignite. If the fastening member 36 has been depressed enough, so that the second opening 205 is longer than the spark hole 62, the current flows through the wire 54, which is connected to the electrically conductive injector 18. this means a spark is generated in the spark hole 62 to ignite the air / gas mixture [sic] near the injector outlet 64. As the user presses the front end 40 of the fastener member 36 sufficiently, the trigger can be pulled several times and the piezoelectric mechanism 34 can act repeatedly to generate a spark and ignite the released fuel, but the first action will not produce a flame. When the user releases the trigger 38, the spring-loaded pivot 80 is pushed clockwise to disengage the valve actuator 30, which is also pushed outward, to close the valve 28 and interrupt the supply of the injector 18. When the user releases the front end 40 of the fastening member 36, the third and fourth electrodes 202, 204 are again in contact or approaching to be in contact to prevent the generation of a spark in the spark hole 62. Additionally, the latched tongue 42 is re-engaged to the structure of the recess member or retainer 44 on a connector rod 46, thereby preventing movement of the connector rod 46 with respect to the ignition assembly 34 and limiting movement of the trigger 38 inwardly. Hereby, as the front end 40 of the fastening member 36 is normally pushed upward, so that the latched tongue 42 engages the connector member 46, a user can not accidentally leave the lighter 10 where the trigger 38 can simply being pulled to activate the lighter without pressing the fastener member 36 again. Also, the relative difficulty of the operation of the fastener member and the trigger practically at the same time further increases the skills necessary to operate the lighter. It may be noted again that the ignition preventing assembly 200, as described above, is sufficient to limit the undesired action of the utility lighter 10 without the mechanical locking mechanism. Figure 7 shows an alternative embodiment to the present invention of the assembly that prevents ignition. The ignition preventing assembly 220 includes a second electrical path with a wire 226 that connects a third electrode 222 to the electrical contact 48 and a wire 228 connecting a fourth electrode 224 to the electrical contact 50. As is apparent from the comparison of FIG. 3 With Figure 7, the main difference between the ignition preventing assembly 200 and the ignition preventing assembly 220 is that in the formation, the third electrode 202 is connected to the anvil 48 through the electrically conductive housing 51, and in the latter the third electrode 222 is directly connected to the anvil 48. Figure 8 shows another embodiment of the assembly that prevents ignition according to the present invention. The ignition preventing assembly 240 includes a third electrode 242, a fourth electrode 244, and a slide 246. A wire 248 connects the third electrode 242 directly to the anvil 48 and a wire 250 connects the fourth electrode 244 to the electrical contact 50 to form the second electric route. The third electrode 242 can be attached to the lower part of the slide 246 and the fourth electrode 244 can be attached to the housing 12. As shown in FIG. 8, the third and fourth electrodes 242, 244 are normally in contact with each other or They are close to each other. As a result, the second electrical path produces a short circuit in the piezoelectric mechanism 34 or has a significantly lower resistance so that the electric current generated by the piezoelectric mechanism 34 flows through the second electrical path to avoid generation of the spark in the spark hole 62. However, the slider 246 is slidable along the housing 12 in the direction of the arrow A to move the third and fourth electrodes 242, 244 out of contact and form a second opening 205 therebetween. . When the second opening 205 is sufficiently longer than the spark hole 62, any electric current generated by the action of the piezoelectric mechanism 34 flows through the first electrical path to generate a spark through the spark hole 62. Preferably, the second opening 205 is approximately twice the length of the spark hole 62 or more so that a spark is generated through the spark hole 62. A thrust spring 252 pushes the slider 246 so that the third and fourth electrode 242, 244 are usually substantially in contact with one another. The push spring 252 has one end attached to a pole member 254 of the slide 246 and another end fixed to the housing 12 in a rod 256. It will be noted that the slide 246 can be used in lieu of the fastener 38. Alternatively, it can be used with the fastener 38, with the fastener 38 developing the mechanical locking function. In Figure 8 it should be apparent that the ignition preventing assembly 240 can be modified, so that the slide 246 can be moved in a direction other than that of the arrow A to disconnect the third and fourth electrodes 242, 244. The Figure 9 shows one embodiment of a fastener member that does not need continuous oppression. It should be noted that Figure 9 is a simplified drawing in which the assembly preventing ignition is omitted. A fastening member 260 has a resilient front end 262 that flexes backward when depressed. An optional leaf (or spiral) spring 264 supports the front end 262 and pushes the front end 262 in an upward position. As the front end 262 is depressed, a resilient tongue 266 dependent on the fastening member 260 flexes to engage a hook 268 located in the housing 12 to lock the fastening member 260 in the depressed position. As the trigger 38 is pulled back to operate the lighter 10, an upper end 270 with shoulder 272 of the trigger 38 disengages the tongue 266 of the hook 268. The tongue 266 now engages the shoulder 272 of the trigger 38 (FIG. 9A) to prevent the fastener member 260 returns to the upward position. Note that the natural flexure of the tongue 266 allows it to bend enough to accommodate any full range of movement of the trigger 38. Preferably, the tongue 266 is made of a strip of resilient metal. Further, as the shoulder 272 is located higher than the hook 268, the clutch between the shoulder 272 and the tongue 266 occurs at a higher elevation than the clutch between the hook 268 and the tongue 266 (Figure 9B). As a result, the hook 268 can not re-engage the tongue 266 when the trigger 38 is released. Thus, the fastening member 260 returns to the upward position when the trigger 38 is released. Figures 10A and 10B show still another embodiment of the mechanism that prevents ignition. The ignition preventing mechanism 280 contains a wire 288 that connects an electrically conductive spring 302 to the electrical contact 50, and the wire 290 connected to the electrical contact 48. In this embodiment, the second electrical access path is composed of a wire 290 , a spring 302 and a wire 288. The spring 302 is disposed between the movable plate 284 and the stationary plate 282. The contact button 286 is provided for user manipulation, and contains an extension 298 connected to the movable plate 284. The extension 298 is dimensioned to be received in the central opening 300 in the stationary plate 282, and moves with respect to the plate 282. When the user presses the contact button 286, the extension 298 and the movable plate 284 are depressed towards down through the stationary plate 284 and the compression spring 302. As the spring 302 is compressed, the second opening 205 is formed in the second electrical path. As shown in Figure 10, the second opening 205 is defined by the third electrode 294 of the wire 290 and the fourth electrode 296 of the spring 302. When the user releases the contact button 286, the spring 302 pushes the contact button 286 and the movable plate 284 upwards, and puts the fourth electrode 296 in contact with or substantially in contact with the third electrode 294 to restore an effective short circuit in the second electrical path. As was the case with other embodiments of the ignition preventing assembly, the ignition preventing assembly 280 can optionally be coupled with mechanical locking means to resist unwanted activation. An extension member 298 of the button 286 has a blocking leg 304, which engages a circuit breaker 306 in the gaff 38 to prohibit movement of the trigger 38 when the button 286 is not depressed. When the button 286 is pressed, the extension member 298 slides down and the blocking leg 304 continues to engage the circuit breaker 306 (and consequently prevent the trigger 38 from being pulled) until the opening between the third electrode 294 and the fourth electrode 296 is sufficiently long to ensure that the electric current generated by activation of the piezoelectric mechanism 34 travels through the first electrical path to create a spark in the hole for the spark 62.

Figures HA and 11B show another embodiment of the present invention which is substantially similar to the ignition preventing assembly 280. The ignition preventing assembly 310 is comprised of a wire 288 connected to the electrical contact 50 in the piezoelectric mechanism 34 and the wire 290 connected to the electrical contact 48. The wire 288 is connected to the upper part of the spring 302 or movable plate 284 next to the wire 290, so that in the normal position, the end 294 of the wire 290 and the end 296 of the wire 288 are in contact with each other or are close to making contact with each other to form an effective short circuit on the second electric route. Oppression of the contact button 286 creates a second opening 205 between the third electrode or end 294 and the fourth electrode or end 296. When the button 286 is sufficiently depressed, the second opening 205 will be longer than the spark hole. 62 so that the electrical energy of the piezoelectric mechanism 34 will travel along the first electrical path to generate a spark in the hole for the spark 62. It can be noted that when the push spring 302 is not part of the second electrical path , it can be made of non-metallic material. Figures 12A and 12B show mechanical locking means for resisting unwanted activation, particularly suitable for operation with an ignition preventing assembly that is substantially similar to the ignition preventing assembly 280, 310. An extension member 322 of the button 286 it has a blocking element 324 that forbids the action of the trigger 38 only when the button 286 is partially depressed as will be described in more detail below. The blocking element 324 has a first lateral section 326 extending perpendicularly from the extension member 322, the middle section 328 extending parallel to the extension member 322, and a second lateral section 330 extending from the middle section 328 in the opposite direction to the first side section 326. The trigger 38 has a flap 332 that extends partially along the entire length of the trigger 38. The length of the middle section 328 is large enough to move the flap 332. The blocking element 324 and the trigger 38 are arranged so that when the button 286 is not depressed, the trigger 38 can be pulled without any interference from any part of the blocking element 324. However, because the third and fourth electrodes 282, 284 are in electrical contact and short circuit with the piezoelectric mechanism 34 when the button 286 is not depressed, the spark is not generated in the hole for the spark 62. C When the button 286 is only partially depressed, the second side section 330 of the blocking element 324 aligns with the fin 332 to obstruct the movement of the fin 332 and prohibit the trigger 38 from being pulled. Thus, the activation of the lighter 10 is prevented when the button 286 is partially depressed. Due to the length of the middle section 328 with respect to the height of the trigger 38, the trigger 38 can be pulled and moved freely through the middle section 328 without any interference from the blocking element 324 when the button 286 is fully depressed . In this way the normal operation of the lighter is achieved. Preferably, the trigger 38 can not be pulled until the opening between the third and fourth electrodes is larger than the spark hole 62. Figures 13A and 13B show another embodiment of the mechanism that prevents movement of the trigger 38 only when the fastener 36 is partially depressed. When the fastener 36 is not depressed, a blocking element 334 of an extension member 336 travels within the channel 338 of the connecting rod 340. The complete movement of the trigger 38 is possible because the pivoting pivoting member 80 can rotate as a blocking element 334 which travels on channel 338. Although the connecting rod 340 compresses the piezoelectric mechanism 34, the short circuit caused by the third and fourth electrodes 294, 296 prevents generation of the spark in the spark hole 62. When the fastener 36 is partially depressed, the blocking member 334 moves down and out of the channel 338 The interference between the wall 342 of the connecting rod 340 and the blocking element 334 prevents movement of the connecting rod 340. The movement of the trigger is canceled because the pivoting pivoting member 80 can not rotate. When the clip 36 is fully depressed, the blocking element 334 moves out of the clutch with the wall 342 and the connecting rod 340 can move without any interference from the blocking element 334. Preferably, the blocking member 334 moves out of the clutch with the wall 342 when the second opening 205 between the third and fourth electrodes is sufficiently larger than the spark hole 62, so that the effective resistance of the second electrical path is longer than the effective resistance of the first electrical path. Figures 14A and 14B show another embodiment of the fastener 36, the pivoting pivoting member 80, and the trigger 38. The fastener 36 has an L-shaped tongue 350 which engages a lateral projection 352 on an arm 86 of the pivoting pivoting member. 80 when the fastener 36 is not depressed. The clutch between the tongue 350 and the lateral projection 352 inhibits the rotation of the pivoting pivoting member 80, and consequently, the movement of the trigger 38. As the fastener 36 is depressed, the downward movement of the tongue 350 eliminates the alignment between the tongue 350 and the lateral projection 352. As a result, the pivoting pivoting member 80 can rotate when the trigger 38 is pulled. Preferably, the trigger 38 can not be pulled until the second opening 205 between the third and fourth electrode is greater than spark hole 62. While various descriptions of the present invention are described above, it should be understood that several features may be used alone or in any combination. In this way, the present invention should not be limited to the specific preferred embodiments described therein. In addition, it should be understood that those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains may devise variations. Accordingly, all convenient modifications readily achievable by one skilled in the art from the description set forth herein that are within the spirit and scope of the present invention are included as other embodiments of the present invention. The scope of the present invention, accordingly, is defined as set forth in the attached clauses.

Claims (38)

1. A lighter that is composed of: a housing having an injector with an outlet and a fuel supply connected for selective communication of the fluid with the injector; an electric igniter having first and second electrical contacts operably connected to the first electric path, said first electric path contains a first opening close to the outlet; a second electrical path operatively connected to the electrical ignition assembly, said second electrical path having an operable configuration and an inoperative configuration; in the inoperative configuration, the resistance of the second electric path is less than the resistance of the first electric path so that the electric current generated by the electric ignition assembly travels in the second electric path, and in the operating configuration, the resistance of the second electric path is greater than the resistance of the first electric path so that the above-mentioned electric current selectively travels on the first electric path and jumps through the first opening to form a spark and ignite the fuel from the fuel supplier.

2. The lighter of claim 1, wherein in the inoperative configuration, the second electrical path is a continuous path to form a short circuit in the electrical ignition assembly.

3. The lighter of claim 1, wherein the second electrical path includes a second opening.

The lighter of claim 3, wherein the second opening is larger than the first opening in the operant configuration.

The lighter of claim 4, wherein the second opening is at least twice the length of the first opening in the operant configuration.

6. The lighter of claim 1 further comprising an actuator assembly operatively connected to the housing for distributing fuel from the fuel supply and for activating the ignition assembly. .

The lighter of claim 6 is further comprised of a fastener member operably connected to the housing and includes a locking portion connected for the thrust movement relative to the actuator assembly and normally pushed to the clutch with the actuator assembly to prevent the operative movement of the latter. , wherein the user can selectively move the blocking portion out of the clutch with the actuator assembly to allow operation of the actuator assembly.

The lighter of claim 7 wherein the holding member is a contact button or a sliding member.

The lighter of claim 1 further comprising a button wherein the selective movement of the button creates a second opening in the second electrical path to change the resistance of the second electrical path.

The lighter of claim 9, wherein the button is a holding member that can be rotated by the user to create the second opening.

11. The lighter of claim 9, wherein the button is a slider that is slidable by the user to create the second opening.

12. The lighter of claim 9, wherein the button is a contact button that the user can press to create the second opening.

13. A lighter that consists of: a housing that has an injector with an outlet and a fuel supplier connected for selective hydraulic communication with the injector: an electric lighter that releases electrical energy with activation and that has a first electric route with the first and second electrodes, the flow of electric current through the first electric path generating a spark between the first and second electrodes near the injector outlet; an actuator assembly operably connected to the housing to distribute fuel from the fuel supply and activate the assembly of the lighter; and a mounting preventing ignition electrically coupled to the igniter assembly to prevent the generation of a spark at the injector outlet, the ignition preventing assembly having: a second electric route for the electrical energy released; and a switching member that can move between a first position in which electric current flows through the first electrical path, and a second position in which electric current flows through the second electrical path, wherein the switching member it is normally pushed in the second position and a user can selectively move the switching member to the first position to allow generation of the spark at the injector outlet. .

The lighter of claim 13 wherein the electrical ignition assembly includes a piezoelectric mechanism and the housing includes an electrically conductive wand in direct contact with the electrical contact on the piezoelectric mechanism. .

The lighter of claim 14 wherein the injector is formed of electrically conductive material and is electrically connected to the piezoelectric mechanism to form the second electrode, so as to form a spark hole between the injector and the electrically conductive wand. .

The lighter of claim 15 wherein the electrically conductive wand includes a tab extending toward the injector and the spark hole is formed between the tab and the injector.

The lighter of claim 16 further includes an electrically insulating cap located around at least a portion of the injector to prevent unwanted sparking between the injector and the electrically conductive wand.

18. The lighter of claim 13 wherein the second electrical path includes the third and fourth electrodes.

19. The lighter of claim 18 wherein the third electrode is attached to the housing and electrically connected to the piezoelectric mechanism.

20. The lighter of claim 19 wherein the electrical connection between the third electrode and the piezoelectric mechanism is through the electrically conductive wand.

21. The lighter of claim 19 wherein the fourth electrode is attached to the commutator member and electrically connected to the piezoelectric mechanism.

22. The lighter of claim 21 wherein the third and fourth electrodes are in contact when the commutator member is in the second position.

23. The lighter of claim 18 wherein the second electrical path includes a second opening between the third and fourth electrodes of varying size.

24. The lighter of claim 23 wherein the second opening is larger than the spark hole when the switch member is in the first position.

25. The lighter of claim 24 wherein the second opening is at least about twice as large as the spark hole when the commutator member is in the first position.

26. The lighter of claim 13 wherein the switch member further includes a locking portion connected for push movement relative to the actuator assembly, and normally pushed into the clutch with the actuator assembly to prevent operable movement thereof, wherein the user it can selectively move the blocking portion out of the clutch with the actuator assembly to allow operation of the actuator assembly.

27. The lighter of claim 26 wherein the actuator assembly includes a trigger extending from the handle and operating to drive the ignition assembly when pulled in a first direction.

28. The lighter of claim 27 wherein the locking portion engages a trigger breaker to prevent operable movement of the trigger.

29. The lighter of claim 27 wherein the actuator assembly further includes a pivoting pivoting member connected between the trigger and the connecting rod.? , the connecting rod being operably connected to the electric ignition assembly to activate the electric ignition assembly when a user pulls the trigger.

30. The lighter of claim 29 wherein the locking portion of the switch member includes a latched tongue normally pushed to engage a structure of the retainer member on the connecting rod to prevent operable movement relative to the electrical ignition assembly.

The lighter of claim 27 wherein the switch member further comprises a resilient tongue extending from the switch member and the housing includes a hook configured and sized to engage the tongue when the switch member is in the first position.

The lighter of claim 31 wherein the trigger further includes a shoulder configured and dimensioned to disengage the tongue of the hook and engage the tongue when the trigger is pulled.

33. The lighter of claim 32 wherein the shoulder engages the tongue closest to the switch member so that the hook engages the tongue to prevent the tongue and hook from engaging again when the trigger is released.

34. The lighter of claim 13 wherein the switch member further includes a locking portion connected for push movement relative to the actuator assembly and normally pushed out of engagement with the actuator assembly to allow operable movement therefrom, wherein the portion The clutch engages the actuator assembly only when the commutator member is between the first and second positions.

35. The lighter of claim 13 wherein the switch member is a contact button and the second electrical path includes a resilient member operably associated with the contact button so that the movement of the contact button to the first position compresses to the resilient member.

36. The lighter of claim 35 wherein the resilient member is made of an electrically conductive material.

37. The lighter of claim 35 wherein the compression of the resilient member forms a second opening, the second opening being larger than the spark gap when the contact button is in the first position.

38. A lighter comprising: a housing with an injector with an outlet; an electric igniter having the first and second electrical contacts operably connected to a first electric path, the first electric path comprises a first opening close to the outlet; a second electric route operably connected to the electric ignition assembly, the second electric route having an operant configuration and an inoperative configuration, wherein in the inoperative configuration, the resistance of the second electric route is less than the resistance of the first route electrical so that the electric current generated by the electrical ignition assembly selectively travels on the second electric path; and wherein in the operant configuration, the resistance of the second electric path is greater than the resistance of the first electric path so that the electric current selectively travels on the first electric path and jumps through the first opening to form a spark that burns the fuel of a fuel supplier.