Lighter

A lighter for burning a fuel of a type capable of providing a combustible gas upon being permitted to expand under atmospheric pressure which comprises:

• a. a body member defining an internal chamber for containing a supply of fuel, said fuel chamber further defining a fuel supply opening through which the fuel may pass;
• b. an extension positioned on said body member and defining an output orifice which is communicable with said fuel supply opening in such a manner that fuel permitted to pass through said fuel supply opening is directable to said extension for projecting a flame from said output orifice;
• c. selectively operable valve means positioned and structured for selective movement from a first position which seals said fuel supply opening and prevents fuel from passing therethrough to a second position which permits fuel to pass from said fuel supply opening to said output orifice;
• d. fuel expansion control means positioned intermediate said internal chamber and said extension and constructed of a material which is structured and adapted for selectively varying the fuel permitted to pass through said fuel supply opening, independent of said selectively operable fuel valve means, to vary the height of the flame produced by said expansible fuel in proportion to the amount of fuel permitted to pass;
• e. a rotatably mounted control member defining a plurality of radial extending teeth about the periphery, said control member being operatively connected to said fuel expansion control means to adjust the fuel expansion control means in relation to the angular position of the control member with the control member being rotatable from a first limit position which substantially restricts expansion of fuel from said fuel supply opening to said output orifice and a second limit position which permits relatively unrestricted fuel expansion through said fuel supply opening;
• and
• f. at least one limit member positioned about said control member and having deformable tab means bendable between at least two of said radial extending teeth to prevent selective relative rotary movement of said limit member and control member while causing said limit member to rotate therewith, said limit member having at least one leg member positioned and dimensioned to engage a wall portion of said body member to limit at least the maxium amount of fuel permitted to expand through said fuel expansion control means when said fuel valve means is in the open position.