Gas lighter with a locking device

#The present invention relates to a gas lighter, and more particularly to a gas lighter with a locking device to prevent the gas lighter from being unintentionally ignited.

#A gas lighter commonly used at present is an electric igniter using combustible gas, such as butane and natural gas, as a fuel. It can generate a flame usually by means of pressing the operative actuator directly by the fingers and permitting the piezoelectric block in a piezoelectric device to spark so as to ignite the combustible gas. Without a locking mechanism in the lighter, the operation of the actuator is not restricted, so that an unintentional operation of the actuator, such as an error operation, an operation by the infant, or some unintentional collision by a hard thing acting on the actuator, can easily ignite the combustible gas in the lighter, which will hurt the infant or damage the public safety. In addition, when an external force unintentionally acts on the actuator, the outlet valve will be opened, and then the combustible gas is leaked off, so that there is a potential risk due to the leaking of the combustible gas. However, in everyday life, such igniter has been widely used in many cases where an ignition is required. As described above, most of the commercially available gas lighters are dangerous if they are operated carelessly, particularly by young children. The inadvertent ignition of such gas lighters has resulted in fires causing property damage and injury to people. Therefore, there is a need for a lighter with a locking device that prevents inadvertent ignition of the gas lighters, and in particular makes it difficult for the children to operate the lighters.

#Gas lighters sold in commerce are now required by federal law to have locking device to prevent young children from being able to ignite the lighters. It is desirable to increase the difficulty of operating the lighters so as to limit the young children under five years of age to operate such piezoelectric lighters. This remains, however, a need in the art for other mechanism, which increase the difficulty of unintentional operation or operation by unintended users, and at the same time are user-friendly for intentional operation by intended users.

#FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a gas lighter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

#FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the gas lighter of FIG. 1 with the locking device in its locking position.

#FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the gas lighter of FIG. 1 with the locking device in its unlocking position.

#As shown in FIG. 1, a gas lighter with a locking device according to the present invention comprises: a housing 15 for containing the combustible gas 8, a piezoelectric device 10 in the housing 15, an outlet device 6 and a windshield 1 thereabove for shielding the flame from the wind, and an inner shield 24 in the windshield 1 for isolating the flame, wherein the outlet device 6 comprises an outlet valve 4 and a lever 3. A regulator ring 5 is provided for the outlet valve 4 for regulating the amount of the gas. The piezoelectric device 10 comprises a piezoelectric rod 16, a top cap 12 above the piezoelectric rod 16, and an actuator 19. When the actuator 19 is pressed down, the lever 3 is correspondingly pressed down so as to open the outlet valve 4 and release the combustible gas. Then, the piezoelectric rod 16 results in a temporary strong current and sparks so as to generate a flame. A rubber cushion 9 is placed under the piezoelectric rod 16 for absorbing the shock. A bottom cover 7 is provided on the bottom of the housing 15 for sealing the combustible gas. The above-mentioned components are assembled together in a conventional manner. A case 26 is provided for the piezoelectric rod 16, which forms a step 14 for the piezoelectric rod 16. An ignition actuator 19 is provided above the piezoelectric rod 16, and a locking device for the actuator 19 is also above the piezoelectric rod 16. The locking device comprises a q-shaped locking lever 20. The upper end 22 of the q-shaped locking lever 20 is protruded out of the upper surface of the actuator 19, and is provided with anti-slipping wrinkles. The middle portion 17 of the q-shaped locking lever 20 abuts against the top cap 12 all the time. The lower portion 13 of the q-shaped locking lever is interposed between the side walls of the actuator 19 and the piezoelectric rod 16. The lower end 13 of the q-shaped locking lever normally abuts against the step 14 of the piezoelectric device so as to lock the lighter. The locking lever 20 is coupled within the inner chamber of the actuator 19 via a rotation shaft 23 provided on the actuator and can flexibly rotate about the rotation shaft 23. An opening 21 is provided in the actuator 19 for axially positioning the q-shaped locking lever 20. The edge of the opening 21 adjacent to the periphery of the q-shaped locking lever 20 is of an arc shape so as to make the q-shaped locking lever rotate flexibly.

#The lower end 13 of the q-shaped locking lever 20 normally abuts against the step 14 of the piezoelectric device. In this case, whiling pressing the actuator, the lower end 13 of the q-shaped locking lever abuts against the step and thus the actuator can not be pressed down, so that the lighter is locked in its locking position.

#As shown in FIG. 2, if an ignition is required, the q-shaped locking lever 20 should be rotated in an anti-clockwise direction by means of an external force F1 applied by a finger so that the middle portion 17 of the q-shaped locking lever 20 can move against the resilient force of the spring 27 in the piezoelectric device 10. Then, the lower end 13 of the q-shaped locking lever naturally disengages from the step 14 of the piezoelectric device so that the actuator 19 can be pressed down by means of an external force F2 applied by the same finger and the ignition operation can be completed.