Lighter mechanism
OwnerPeter G. S. Lowinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lighter has few moving parts. A lid assembly which closes a fuel supply and which rotates a flint wheel can be controlled by the same spring or other resilient means which bears a flint against the flint wheel. The lid assembly has one or more cams which bear against cam guides; the shape of these cams and guides are such that the spring produces a turning moment on the lid assembly which keeps the lid assembly closed when in the closed position and open when in the open position. A second spring can be provided, thereby increasing the turning moment on the lid assembly without increasing friction between the flint and the flint wheel. The cam guides can be formed as part of the body of the lighter, guides, or they can be provided in a separate structure housed within the lighter body, guides.
Claims15
A lighter having a body which houses:
- (a) a rotatable flint wheel;
- (b) a resilient means which can bear against said flint wheel;
- (c) a lid assembly for the fuel outlet of the lighter, having a cam and being mounted coaxially with said flint wheel and connected to said flint wheel via a ratchet mechanism such that opening movement of said lid assembly also rotates said flint wheel;
- and
- (d) a cam guide against which said cam abuts;
- said cam being shaped such that pivoting of said lid assembly from a closed position to an open position causes the axis of rotation of said flint wheel to be moved in opposition to the force exerted by said resilient means thus causing said lid assembly to be biased towards a closed position when in the closed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.