Multi-mode lighter

A lighter comprising:

• a housing having a supply of fuel;
• an actuating member for selectively releasing the fuel;
• an ignition assembly for igniting the released fuel;
• a latch member coupled to the housing to permit movement between a first latch position and a second latch position;
• a plunger member operatively associated with the latch member;
• a biasing member operatively associated with the plunger member;
• wherein at least a portion of the plunger member is repositioned by the latch member from a first member position which causes the biasing member to resist movement of the actuating member to a second member position so that the biasing member does not resist movement of the actuating member to the same extent as in the first member position.

A lighter comprising:

• a housing having a supply of fuel;
• an ignition assembly for igniting the released fuel;
• an actuating assembly to release the fuel that includes at least one trigger;
• and
• a plunger member at least a portion of which is moveable between a first state where an engaging portion of the plunger member is associated with an engaging portion of the actuating assembly and a second state where the engaging portion of the actuating assembly is unassociated with the engaging portion of the plunger member, wherein the lighter is configured an adapted so that less than about 10 kg applied to the trigger actuates the ignition assembly when the plunger member is in the first state.

A lighter comprising:

• a housing having a supply of fuel;
• an ignition assembly for igniting the dispensed fuel;
• an actuating member associated with the housing, wherein a predetermined actuating force is necessary to move the actuating member to an actuation position to actuate the lighter;
• and
• a repositionable plunger member disposed to the housing, wherein in a first position the plunger member is associated with the actuating member such that a first actuating force greater than said predetermined actuating force is required to move the actuating member to the actuation position.

A lighter comprising:

• a housing having a supply of fuel;
• an actuating member for selectively igniting the fuel, the actuating member associated with the housing;
• and
• first and second inhibiting members for at least increasing the difficulty of moving the actuation member to ignite the fuel, wherein at least one of the inhibiting members allows the actuating member to move and immobilizes the actuating member sufficiently to prevent ignition of the fuel.