US2030364A - Cigarette lighter - Google Patents

Description

I. FLORMAN CIGARETTE LIGHTER Filed June 21, 1934 Feb. H, 1936.

A e 2 W e s W n m WW .3. lll'l M a w 5 8m 6 3 m a 3 I O .4 .9 m F 6 F O 8 sf'llla g 4 3 n v 6 A 2 R O W 3 MWS 8 4 ZWW 0 (L l /o 3 J 1 2 L/ n 5 0o W M Jfivouf Z 9 MM 2 M 2 A F O 8 m 2 a w w a 2 w Z r 2 ill 9 9 4 r. F %2 F Patented Feb. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIEE 11 Claims.

My invention relates to cigarette lighters and more particularly to lighters of the plyrophoric type.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a lighter of this type in which a fuel containing chamber is closed by a cover, and in which means are provided for igniting the fuel when the cover is removed.

More particlularly, my object is to provide a lighter of this type which is sure in its operation and which is certain to ignite when the cover is removed,

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

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side View of my lighter in closed position.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the same with cover removed.

Fig. 3 is a side view, partly in section, of the lighter with the base turned through 90 from the position shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail bottom plan view of the steel aws.

Fig. 6 is a cross section on the line 66 of Fig. 5.

According to the invention, the lighter comprises a fuel holding chamber 2, preferably cylindrical and of relatively small size, the lower portion of which is filled with a mass 4 of fibrous material such as cotton for holding fuel. The upper portion 3 of the cylinder is of slightly less diameter than the main part of the cylinder. Around the inner wall of this portion 6 is a wick member 8 composed of some suitable absorbent material, such as wicking, blotting paper or porcelain. This extends down into contact with the cotton 4 so as to absorb fuel therefrom. The central portion of this reduced section 6 within the wick member 8 is left open for a purpose to be described below.

The fuel chamber is normally closed by a cover It] having substantially the same outside diameter as the base 2 and fitting on the reduced portion 6. This cover seals the fuel cylinder and prevents the escape of fuel when the lighter is not in use.

The igniting mechanism is mounted centrally within the lighter casing. It consists of a flint and steel so arranged that they will move relatively to one another when the cover is withdrawn from the fuel cylinder, thus creating sparks which will ignite the fuel. In the form shown, an elongated flint I2 is threaded as at M in an internally threaded stem I6 secured on a head it which is of substantially the same diameter as the fuel cylinder. The stem I6 is also externally threaded and engages in an internally threaded opening 20 centrally positioned in the base of the fuel cylinder. The head I8 is provided with a groove 22 which may be engaged by a coin or screw driver to unscrew the stem ES and thus remove the flint from the fuel cyclinder. When the flint is worn so as to be of no further use, it may be unscrewed from the stem 16 and replaced by a new flint. The upper end of the flint is preferably pointed or tapered as at 24 and extends slightly above the upper edge of the reduced portion 6 of the fuel cylinder 2.

Ihe steel or striking mechanism is secured to the top or cover in. It is preferably mounted on a disc 26 which fits snugly within the cover and is held in place by a screw 28 passing through a hole in the top of the cover and threaded into the disc. At opposite sides the disc is provided with notches 30 in which the upper ends of the legs 32 are secured by solder as at 34. The legs 32 are formed of spring metal and at their lower ends are bent towards each other as at 36. The resilience of the legs is such that the portions 36 will normally contact with each other. At the center of the line of contact between the portions 36 is provided an opening 38 formed by cutting substantially semi-circular portions out of each of the parts 36. This opening has sides which taper downward and outward, so that a sharp edge is left at the upper side of the opening as at 45]. The size of the opening formed by the edge 40 is less than the diameter of the flint l2.

The operation of the device is very simple. When the parts are in the closed position, the two legs 32 engage and grip the flint IE on opposite sides. The resilience of the legs 32 presses the edges 43 against the flint. A certain amount of fuel vapor will have formed within the hollow portion or well 9, and this will be mixed with a certain amount of air which has been trapped by the replacement of the cover after the previous lighting operation. As the cover is removed,

a series of sparks will be struck from the flint I2.

These sparks will operate upon the mixture within the well 9 even before the cover is completely removed, and for some time after the cover is removed since the legs 32 extend well below the lower edge of the cover. This long series of sparks is practically certain to ignite the fuel. The wick will then be ignited until it is extinguished either by the replacement of the cover or by some other means.

When the lighter is to be closed, the cover is brought into position with the hole 38 engaging the pointed upper end 24 of the flint. The cover is then pushed down, and the beveled surface of the flint spreads the legs 32 and thus allows the cover to move to its completely closed position. The lighter is then ready for another operation merely by the removal of the cover.

It will be noted that the legs 32 not only grip the flint resiliently on two sides so as to give a plurality of points at which the steel is resiliently pressed against the flint, but also that any unbalanced engagement with the flint which would tend to push it out of position or to render the removal of the cover diflicult is entirely avoided. Furthermore, the flint is set in a well in which fuel vapor is concentrated and which permits the sparks to act on the fuel through a long strolse, even before the cover is open.

While I have described herein one embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not intend to limit myself thereby except within the scope of the appended claims. For instance, the jaws and flint might be otherwise secured than I have shown, and it is only necessary that they be secured to two separable parts; it is not necessary that the flint be secured to the cylinder and the steel portion to the cover.

I claim: ,7

1. A cigarette lighter comprising two sections including a body portion and a cover movable with respect thereto, a Wick element within said body and cover, and means within said body and cover operable by relative movement between said sections to ignite the wick, said igniting means comprising striking means having a plurality of flint engaging portions, an elongated flint element extending between said portions, said portions resiliently engaging the opposite sides of the said flint element simultaneously.

2. A cigarette lighter comprising two sections including a body portion and a cover movable with respect thereto, a wick within said body portion, said wick having a hollow portion therewithin, means to supply fuel to said wick, and igniting means for said wick operable by relative movement of said cover to uncovering position and including a flint mounted on one of said sections and a plurality of independently movable portions on the other section resiliently engaging the outer periphery of said flint to strike sparks therefrom.

3. In a lighter, igniting means comprising an elongated flint strip, and a striking element comprising legs on opposite sides of said strip having their ends bent inwardly and resiliently pressed into engagement with the opposite sides of the strip.

4. In a lighter, igniting means comprising an elongated, substantially cylindrical, flint strip, and a striking member comprising a pair of legs of resilient material on opposite sides of said strip having their ends bent inwardly, the meeting edges of said bent ends having opposed recesses therein forming an opening of less diameter than said flint, the edges of said opening thereby resiliently engaging the opposite sides of the strip.

5. In a device as claimed in claim 4, the walls of said opening being inclined and the end of said strip being tapered, whereby said walls and.

the tapered end of said strip act as cam surfaces to separate the legs when the striking member is pushed downward and to facilitate the insertion of the strip between the legs.

6. A cigarette lighter comprising two sections including a cylindrical base open at its top and having a space in its bottom to hold fuel, a wick secured around the inner wall of the upper portion of the base, and a cover telescoping with the upper part of said base and removable therefrom, and means operated by removal of said cover extending into said base through the open top thereof to ignite the wick, said igniting means comprising a flint extending upwardly through said base and substantially centrally thereof to a point adjacent the top of the base, and a pair of resilient arms secured to said cover and having means at their ends to engage the flint resiliently on opposite sides thereof, said arms extending below the top of the base when the cover is in closed position.

'7. A cigarette lighter comprising two sections including a cylindrical base open at its top and having a space in its bottom to hold fuel, a wick secured around the inner Wall of the upper portion of the base, and a cover telescoping with the upper part of said base and removable therefrom, and means operated by removal of said cover extending into said base through the open top thereof to ignite the wick, said igniting means comprising a flint extending upwardly through said base and substantially centrally thereof to a point adjacent the top of the base, and a pair of resilient arms secured to said cover and having inwardly bent portions at their ends to engage the flint resiliently on opposite sides thereof.

8. A cigarette lighter comprising two sections including a cylindrical base open at its top and having a space in its bottom to hold fuel, a wick secured around the inner wall of the upper portion of the base, and a cover telescoping with the upper part of said base and removable therefrom, and means operated by removal of said cover extending into said base through the open top thereof to ignite the wick, said igniting means comprising a flint extending upwardly through said base and substantially centrally thereof'to a point adjacent the top of the base, and a pair of resilient arms secured to said cover and having inwardly bent portions at their ends to engage the flint resiliently on opposite sides thereof, said arms extending below the top of the base when the cover is in closed position, the meeting edges of said inwardly bent portions having opposed recesses therein forming an opening of less diameter than the flint, the walls of said opening and the top of the flint being tapered.

9. In a lighter, igniting means comprising a single elongated flint element and a striking element having independently movable portions resiliently engaging the outer faces of said flint element on opposite sides thereof.

10. In a lighter, a body member open at its top, a flint strip mounted on the bottom wall of said body member and extending upwardly to a point adjacent the top, porous material in the bottom portion of said body member around said strip, a wick member secured around the inner wall of the upper portion of the body member and arranged to receive fuel from said porous material, a cover movable to open and close the top of the body member, and means on said cover normally engaging said flint strip and cooperating there with when the cover is removed to produce sparks and ignite said wick.

'11. In a lighter, a body member open at its top, a fiint strip mounted on the bottom wall of said body member and extending upwardly through the open top of the body member and terminating at a point adjacent the top, porous material in the bottom portion of said body member around said strip, a Wick member secured around the inner wall of the upper portion of the body mem her and arranged to receive fuel from said porous material, a cover movable to open and close the top of the body member, and means on said cover extending into said body member through the open top thereof normally engaging said flint strip and cooperating therewith when the cover is removed to produce sparks and ignite said wick.

IRVING FLORMAN.

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