Valve assembly

A valve assembly mounted within a gas lighter for controlling the flow of the combustible fluid comprising:

• A. a housing readily engaged in a substantially sealed configuration with said gas lighter and incorporating,
• a. a combustible fluid flow portal at one end thereof positioned for receiving and passaging said combustible fluid therethrough,
• b. an inner wall portion which is slidingly engaged with a valve stem, and
• c. a concave debris collecting zone
• 1. formed in the housing and
• 2. having an entrance located between the retaining means and the slidingly engaged portion of the inner wall of the housing, providing a particulate debris collecting and storing zone;
• B. sealing means mounted within said housing and positioned at the exit end of said fluid flow portal;
• C. a valve stem slidably mounted within said housing and having
• a. a first end in abutting contact with said sealing means,
• b. a second end extending from said housing and responsive to lever means for raising said valve stem from a first closed position to a second open position,
• c. an outer wall, a portion of which is in sliding engagement with said inner wall portion of the housing, forming a sliding zone therebetween, and
• d. a shoulder radially extending from the outer wall of said valve stem towards the peripherally encircling housing and spaced above the entrance of the collection zone, thereby providing a deflector for directing particulate debris into the collection zone and away from the sliding zone, preventing debris fouling of the sliding zone;
• and
• D. lever means engaged about the exposed end of said valve stem and positioned for raising and lowering said valve stem from the closed position to an open position, whereby said valve assembly is able to deflect and store all particulate debris entering the housing, while assuring continuous, free slidability of the valve stem.

A valve assembly for controlling the flame-feeding flow of a combustible fluid comprising:

• A. a housing incorporating
• a. a combustible fluid portal at one end thereof positioned for receiving and passing said combustible fluid therethrough, and
• b. a valve stem engaging ring positioned on the opposite end thereof and incorporating means forming a peripherally surrounding valve stem opening for substantial sealing sliding engagement and lateral secure holding of the stem;
• and
• B. a valve stem
• a. slidably mounted within said housing and extending therefrom,
• b. movable from a first closed position to a second open, fluid flow position,
• c. cooperating with the valve stem engaging ring of the housing to substantially sealingly close the entire valve stem opening of the valve engaging ring, thereby substantially eliminating leakage of the combustible fluid therebetween, and
• d. incorporating an elongated, flame feeding, combustible fluid flow controlling channel notched into a minor portion of the outer peripheral circumferential surface thereof providing a specific, controlled, fluid flow path from a position within said housing to a position outside of said housing,
• whereby the quantity of combustible fluid delivered to the flame is controllingly maintained along the fixed minor circumferential area defined by the channel only, and undesirable combustible fluid flow between the remaining circumferential area between valve stem and the valve engaging ring is substantially eliminated.

A valve assembly for controlling the flow of a combustible fluid comprising:

• A. a housing incorporating
• a. a first upper section incorporating an internal surface,
• b. a second lower second section incorporating
• 1. a combustible fluid portal at one end thereof positioned for receiving and passing said combustible fluid therethrough,
• 2. an inner wall for sliding engagement with a valve stem, forming a sliding zone therewith,
• 3. an outer wall
• i. in juxtaposed, facing, spaced relationship to said internal surface of said first section, forming a debris collection zone therebetween, and
• ii. in juxtaposed spaced relationship to the slidingly engaged inner wall of the second section, and
• 4. an upper end defining both the upper terminating edge of the sliding zone and the entrance to the debris collection zone
• c. a portion of said second section being frictionally engaged with a portion of said first section providing a leak-free interconnected two-piece housing;
• and
• B. a valve stem
• a. slidably mounted within said housing and extending therefrom, and
• b. movable from a first closed position to a second open, fluid flow position.