US20020160329A1

US20020160329A1 - Lighter having a safety device

Info

Publication number: US20020160329A1
Application number: US10/125,634
Authority: US
Inventors: Fu Zhang
Original assignee: L and L Lighter Corp
Current assignee: L and L Lighter Corp
Priority date: 2001-04-20
Filing date: 2002-04-19
Publication date: 2002-10-31
Also published as: CN2476741Y

Abstract

A lighter having a safety device comprises an internal ratchet, a pawl and a safety hood therein a cavity of the internal ratchet provided an internal toothed ring; on the pawl being in the form of “S”, there are two projecting cylinders and a central hole; on the safety hood being in the form of a semicircle, there are two opened legs and two small holes; the internal ratchet and the spark wheel are side by side mounted on the pivoting axle so that the pawl is located in the internal toothed ring; two end tips of the pawl and the teeth of the internal ratchet are engaged, whereby forming a one-way drive mechanism; the spark wheel, the internal ratchet and the pawl are covered by the safety hood

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a lighter having a safety device, which is particularly suitable for use in a conventional lighter by means of the spark wheel being driven to rotate against the flint for generating a spark to ignite.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

At the present time, such some conventional lighters have become very popular. One of the reasons for their popularity is that their structure is simple, the operation is reliable, it is easy to ignite and production costs are low. However, such conventional lighters also bear the drawbacks as follows.

Their safety is not sufficient. Most such lighters are designed to be easily operated by children so that it broods the danger that, if it is accidentally lighted, or if a child plays with it, a hellish catastrophe can occur. In addition, since such igniting manipulation requires the operator's thumb to rotate the spark wheel to ignite the lighter, it is easy to suffer injuries to the operator's hand and get his hand dirty.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is intended to overcome the above described disadvantages of the conventional technique.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a lighter having a safety device.

In achieving the above object, the lighter according to the present invention comprises an internal ratchet, a pawl, and a safety hood therein a cavity of the internal ratchet provides an internal toothed ring; the pawl is in the form of “S” and on which there are two projecting cylinders; a hole is established at the centre of the pawl; the safety hood is in the form of a semicircle on which there are two opened legs and two small holes; the internal ratchet and the spark wheel are side by side mounted on the pivoting axle which passes through the hole of the pawl so that the pawl is located in the internal toothed ring of the internal ratchet; the two end tips of the pawl and the teeth of the internal ratchet are engaged, whereby forming an one-way drive mechanism; the spark wheel, the internal ratchet and the pawl are covered by the safety hood therein two opened legs of the safety hood are stuck into two ends of the pivoting axle and the two projecting cylinders of the pawl are put on two small holes of the safety hood; and the pivoting axle is mounted on windshield.

Accordingly, the above mentioned object is accomplished in the present invention by means of the cooperation of the internal ratchet, the pawl, the safety hood and the spark wheel. As compared with the prior art, the lighter in accordance with the present invention is able to prevent from erroneously operating. Its safety is good. Feelings in the use of this lighter are comfortable, injury to the user's finger may be avoided and the original function remains unchanged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will in more detail be described with reference to the drawings, in which [0008]
FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the lighter of the present invention; and [0009]
FIG. 2 is a side view taken in the direction of the arrow B as shown in FIG. 1.[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the present invention mainly consists of a gas reservoir [0011] 1, a windshield 2, a spark wheel 3, a pivoting axle 4, an internal ratchet 5, a pawl 6 and a safety hood 7 therein a cavity of the internal ratchet 5 provides an internal toothed ring; the pawl 6 is in the form of “S”; on the pawl 6, there are two projecting cylinders 6A and a hole is established at the center of the pawl 6; the safety hood 7 is in the form of a semicircle; on the safety hood 7, there are two opened legs and two small holes; the internal ratchet 5 and the spark wheel 3 are side by side mounted on the pivoting axle 4, which passes through the hole of the pawl 6 so that the pawl 6 is located in the internal toothed ring of the internal ratchet 5; two end tips of the pawl 6 and the teeth of the internal ratchet 5 are engaged, whereby forming a one-way drive mechanism; the spark wheel 3, the internal ratchet 5 and the pawl 6 are covered by the safety hood 7 therein two opened legs of the safety hood 7 are stuck into two ends of the pivoting axle 4 and two projecting cylinders 6A of the pawl 6 are put on two small holes of the safety hood 7; and the pivoting axle 4 is mounted on the windshield 2.
In use, as long as the [0012] safety hood 7 is moved up with hand and then the user's finger pressing on the safety hood 7 moves down, it causes virtually simultaneously the pawl 6 to be rotated by the two end tips of the pawl 6, whereby creating a spark when the spark wheel 3 is rotated via rotation of the pivoting axle 4 due to fictionally engaging the flint. Thus, the spark ignites the fuel and a flame is maintained.

Claims

What is claimed is

1. A lighter having a safety device consisting of a gas reservoir (1), a windshield (2), a spark wheel (3), a pivoting axle (4), characterized in that it further comprises an internal ratchet (5), a pawl (6) and a safety hood (7) therein a cavity of the internal ratchet (5) provides an internal toothed ring; the pawl (6) is in the form of “S”; on the pawl (6), there are two projecting cylinders (6A) and a hole is established at the center of the pawl (6); the safety hood (7) is in the form of a semicircle; on the safety hood (7), there are two opened legs and two small holes; the internal ratchet (5) and the spark wheel (3) are side by side mounted on the pivoting axle (4), which passes through the hole of the pawl (6) so that the pawl (6) is located in the internal toothed ring of the internal ratchet (5); two end tips of the pawl (6) and the teeth of the internal ratchet (5) are engaged, whereby forming a one-way drive mechanism; the spark wheel (3), the internal ratchet (5) and the pawl (6) are covered by the safety hood (7) therein two opened legs of the safety hood (7) are stuck into two ends of the pivoting axle (4) and two projecting cylinders (6A) of the pawl (6) are put on two small holes of the safety hood (7); and the pivoting axle (4) is mounted on the windshield (2).