US2046066A - Cigarette lighter - Google Patents

Description

Patented June 30, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT UFFICE 1 Claim.

My invention relates to cigarette lighters and particularly to those of the catalytic type. The invention is particularly applicable to lighters in which a mass of catalytic material supplies of itself the heat for igniting a cigarette.

Lighters of this type are known in which the catalyst in the form of a block is arranged in the path of vapors escaping from a body of easily vaporizable fluid. These lighters have several disadvantages. Because of the highly compressed nature of the block, it is either necessary to form a large number of perforations therein; as otherwise only a small portion of the catalytic material is contacted by the vaporized fuel. Further, such blocks are relatively fragile, and often break since the cigarette comes into direct contact therewith.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an arrangement in which the catalytic material is held in a very strong and solid position, and yet is provided in the form of broken portions or lumps so that the vaporized fluid can pass through the mass and contact with all parts thereof. A

A further object is to arrange this material in such a manner that it is thoroughly insulated from the casing of the lighter.

Another object of the invention is to arrange the device in such a fashion that the lighter is filled with fuel by separating the catalytic mass and the fuel chamber. For this purpose the, catalytic mass is mounted in a holder which slides over the end of the fuel chamber and the lower end of the fuel chamber is closed. By this arrangement there is no danger of flooding and poisoning the catalyst with liquid fuel when the lighter is filled.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a cover for the casing which is spaced from the upper portion thereof, which carries the catalytic mass, and thereby is insulated to prevent the conduction of heat to the hands of the user.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear more fully from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which forms a part thereof.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows my lighter in side elevation in the position of use with the cover removed.

Fig. 2 is an exploded view in perspective of the lighter parts.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the lighter in closed position.

Fig'. 4 is an enlarged cross section through the catalytic portion.

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4 of a second form of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a similar view of a further modification.

Referring to the drawing, the lighter has a hollow base 2, the upper portion of which is cylindrical while the lower portion tapers outwardly. Slidable Within this base is the fuel chamber or cylinder 4, this chamber tting into the base and being limited in its inward movement by a shoulder I 0. A second shoulder 6 is small enough to pass into and lit tightly within the base 2, so that the cylinder is held firmly in the base. The catalyst is mounted in a holder 8 which is slidable on the upper or open end of the fuel chamber 4, but limited in its inward movement by shoulder I0. The lower end of the fuel chamber is closed as at I2, and the chamber is filled with a suitable absorbent material such as cotton at I4.

The catalytic mass consists of lumps of catalytic material, such as platinum black admixed with clay, fullers earth or the like, shown at IB. This material is arranged between upper and lower perforated discs of mica I8 and 20. Obviously, the lumps must be of such size that they will not pass through the perforations in the discs. The discs I8 and 20 are spaced by two rings of spring metal 24 which fit tightly within the holder 8 and tend to spring outwardly against the wall of the holder. The discs are further held in place by an inwardly turned flange 2B around the upper end of the holder and a third spring metal ring 28 below the lower disc 20.

The lighter is closed by a cover 30 whose inside diameter is slightly larger than the outside diameter of the holder 8. This cover is substantially as long as the fuel chamber 4 and its lower end lits slidably on the top portion of the base 2. The cover is thus held rigidly with respect to the holder 8 leaving a slight space 32 therebetween.

The holder 8 may be provided with an inwardly depressed portion 34 to cause it to grip the fuel cylinder more securely.

The operation of lighters of this type is well known and it is not believed that any description thereof will be necessary. Because of the broken nature of the catalytic material, the vaporized fuel contacts very thoroughly with the catalyst. This insures eicient operation. The catalytic material is held in place by the mica which will not conduct the heat and thus prevents the loss of heat to the body of the lighter. The catalyst therefore reaches the required degree of heat more quickly and the use of the lighter requires Vpractically no delay to wait for the catalyst to heat up. Furthermore, this mica is a strong and useful construction and Y:is a much moresatisfactoryV arrangementthan the use of thin wires as has been proposed heretofore.

The cover 3U is in substantially insulated relation to the body of the lighter and thereforeV any heat which may by chance reach the body is not transmitted to the cover. It is only at the bottom` of the fuel chamberthat there is any conduction of heat and this will be relatively slight. c v Y As it is necessary to remove the holder 8 in order to ll the lighter, the catalytic material is removed When the lighter is to be filled. There is therefore no danger of flooding the catalytic Vmass with fuel and therebypoisoning the same whenthe lighter is filled. This disadvantage has been a rather serious one in lighters filled from the bottom. It will be obvious that the same result might be accomplished even if Vthe bottom ofthe fuel cylinder wereopen, as Vthe holder 8 will separate from the cylinder 4 more easily than the base 2. Therefore, if the base and holder are pulled apart, the catalyst will be separated from the fuel chamber. The essence of this part Y of my invention, then, is that the easiest mode of access tothe fuel chamber is by removal of the catalyst. v Y, Y It is obvious that my invention can be embodied in, other modifications. In the form shown in Fig. 5, the' holder 8 is provided withan upper disc'of Ymica i8. The catalyst i6' is` held inV place by a cup 36 of metal provided with perforations 38. This cup is provided around its l upper edge with a flange 40 and is held in place in spaced relation by spaced posts 46 leaving therebetween elongated openings 48. The lower disc is held in position by a ring 28, The wall Vof the Vholder between the rings 44 is provided with Vperforations 5U to admit air into contact `with the catalytic mass. Y

While 1 have described herein some embodiments of my invention, I wish it to be under-Y stood that I do not intend to limit myself thereby VVexcept within Vthe scope of the appended claim;

`Iclaim:VA "j Y n g y VYIny a lighter, a base,`a member having a fuel chamber therein telescoping with said base, said member being closed at its lower end, frictional means to hold saidfmemberV and base together, a holder having a plurality of perforations in the walls thereof, said holder telescoping with the other end of said member, friction means to hold said holder and member together, said rst 30 Ymeans holding more tightly than said second means, catalytic material supported in said holder and having at least a portion thereof below said perforations.V

' IRVING FLORMAN.Y

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