GB2099560A - A gas lighter - Google Patents

Abstract

A gas lighter comprises a housing (1) and a burner tube (3) disposed below the housing (1), a cap (13) provided with an outlet (15) being secured to the end of the burner tube and the axis (16) of the outlet nozzle (15) extending at an angle to the burner tube axis (17). The cap has projections (14) that are crimped over a collar (11) of the burner tube (3), a seal (12) being provided between the cap (13) and the collar (11). This provides an efficient seal and the gas is allowed to escape only through the outlet (15). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A gas lighter This invention relates to a gas lighter of the kind (hereinafter referred to as the kind set forth) comprising a housing and a burner tube fitted with an outlet nozzle and disposed below the housing, a cap fitted with the outlet tube being secured to the end of the burner tube near the flame and the axis of the outlet nozzle extending at an angle to the burner-tube axis.

In most gas lighters the axis of the flame outlet opening extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lighter housing. The disadvantage of this is that whenever the material to be ignited is under the lighter, e.g. when lighting a pipe or lighting the flame of a cooker ring or the like, the lighter has to be turned into the opposition position from that normally used in lighting cigarettes. This position is difficult and may often cause burns.

To obviate this disadvantage it has already been proposed to dispose the axis of the flame outlet opening at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the lighter housing. This makes it easier to light things such as a pipe under the lighter and also prevents the user's fingers coming into the hot flame region, particularly in the case of short lighters.

To this end it is known to screw or place a cap fitted with the outlet nozzle on the end of a burner tube near the flame, the axis of the outlet nozzle extending at an angle to the burner-tube axis. It has been shown that a gas lighter of the kind set forth gives very unreliable ignition, because gas escapes through the thread or through the cap, which is inevitably left if the cap is simply placed on top, so that the flame is not restricted to the direction of the outlet nozzle. The downwardly escaping gas will either prevent ignition or will also begin to burn. The result is a sort of annular flame, which can also burn only for a time. The device thus fails to achieve its purpose of producing a flame restricted to one lateral direction.

The aforementioned disadvantages are overcome according to the present invention by the provision of a gas lighter of the kind set forth characterised in that the cap has projections that are flanged over a collar of the burner tube, a seal being provided between the cap and the collar.

This provides an efficient seal and the gas is allowed to escape only through the oblique outlet nozzle. In addition to this important advantage, the cap of the invention is much easier to massproduce than the known cap, since it can be made simply by punching and can be automatically secured to the burner tube.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to one embodiment shown in the single figure of the accompanying drawing, which is a view in section of the top part of a gas lighter of the invention.

In the figure of the drawing a gas tank 2 is disposed in a housing 1 and has a burner tube 3 at its top end. At the side of the tank 2, housing 1 contains a spring 4 which, via a push rod 5, presses a flint 6 against a friction wheel 7. Wheel 7 is laterally connected to actuating wheels 8, by means of which the user's thumb can set the friction wheel 7 in motion and thus draw sparks from flint 6. After rotating the wheel 7, the user's thumb comes against an actuating means 9 in the form of a double-armed lever and having a forked end 10 which extends under a collar 11 of burner tube 3.

A cap 13 is placed on the end of burner tube 3 with interposition of a seal 12. Cap 1 3 is secured to burner tube 3 via projections 14 which are flanged over the collar 11 of cap 13. An outlet nozzle 1 5 is disposed in cap 13 and its axis 1 6 extends at an angle to the axis 1 7 of burner tube 3 and of housing 1 or tank 2.

The gas lighter of the invention is arranged so that the flange 1 8 is guided in a direction which safely protects the operator from burns. In spite of this, flame 18 can easily be applied to an object under the lighter.

Push rod 5 is bent towards burner tube 3 and it is thus possible to bring flint 6 and consequently the place where sparks are produced nearer the outlet nozzle 15, thus ensuring reliable ignition in spite of obliqueness of the outlet nozzle.

1. A gas lighter of the kind set forth characterised in that the cap has projections that are flanged over a collar of the burner tube, a seal being provided between the cap and the collar.

2. A gas lighter constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in the single figure of the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (2)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A gas lighter This invention relates to a gas lighter of the kind (hereinafter referred to as the kind set forth) comprising a housing and a burner tube fitted with an outlet nozzle and disposed below the housing, a cap fitted with the outlet tube being secured to the end of the burner tube near the flame and the axis of the outlet nozzle extending at an angle to the burner-tube axis. In most gas lighters the axis of the flame outlet opening extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lighter housing. The disadvantage of this is that whenever the material to be ignited is under the lighter, e.g. when lighting a pipe or lighting the flame of a cooker ring or the like, the lighter has to be turned into the opposition position from that normally used in lighting cigarettes. This position is difficult and may often cause burns. To obviate this disadvantage it has already been proposed to dispose the axis of the flame outlet opening at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the lighter housing. This makes it easier to light things such as a pipe under the lighter and also prevents the user's fingers coming into the hot flame region, particularly in the case of short lighters. To this end it is known to screw or place a cap fitted with the outlet nozzle on the end of a burner tube near the flame, the axis of the outlet nozzle extending at an angle to the burner-tube axis. It has been shown that a gas lighter of the kind set forth gives very unreliable ignition, because gas escapes through the thread or through the cap, which is inevitably left if the cap is simply placed on top, so that the flame is not restricted to the direction of the outlet nozzle. The downwardly escaping gas will either prevent ignition or will also begin to burn. The result is a sort of annular flame, which can also burn only for a time. The device thus fails to achieve its purpose of producing a flame restricted to one lateral direction. The aforementioned disadvantages are overcome according to the present invention by the provision of a gas lighter of the kind set forth characterised in that the cap has projections that are flanged over a collar of the burner tube, a seal being provided between the cap and the collar. This provides an efficient seal and the gas is allowed to escape only through the oblique outlet nozzle. In addition to this important advantage, the cap of the invention is much easier to massproduce than the known cap, since it can be made simply by punching and can be automatically secured to the burner tube. The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to one embodiment shown in the single figure of the accompanying drawing, which is a view in section of the top part of a gas lighter of the invention. In the figure of the drawing a gas tank 2 is disposed in a housing 1 and has a burner tube 3 at its top end. At the side of the tank 2, housing 1 contains a spring 4 which, via a push rod 5, presses a flint 6 against a friction wheel 7. Wheel 7 is laterally connected to actuating wheels 8, by means of which the user's thumb can set the friction wheel 7 in motion and thus draw sparks from flint 6. After rotating the wheel 7, the user's thumb comes against an actuating means 9 in the form of a double-armed lever and having a forked end 10 which extends under a collar 11 of burner tube 3. A cap 13 is placed on the end of burner tube 3 with interposition of a seal 12. Cap 1 3 is secured to burner tube 3 via projections 14 which are flanged over the collar 11 of cap 13. An outlet nozzle 1 5 is disposed in cap 13 and its axis 1 6 extends at an angle to the axis 1 7 of burner tube 3 and of housing 1 or tank 2. The gas lighter of the invention is arranged so that the flange 1 8 is guided in a direction which safely protects the operator from burns. In spite of this, flame 18 can easily be applied to an object under the lighter. Push rod 5 is bent towards burner tube 3 and it is thus possible to bring flint 6 and consequently the place where sparks are produced nearer the outlet nozzle 15, thus ensuring reliable ignition in spite of obliqueness of the outlet nozzle. CLAIMS

1. A gas lighter of the kind set forth characterised in that the cap has projections that are flanged over a collar of the burner tube, a seal being provided between the cap and the collar.

2. A gas lighter constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in the single figure of the accompanying drawing.