Method and apparatus to override the child-resistant mechanism of disposable lighters

An apparatus to override a child-resistant mechanism on a cigarette lighter, said cigarette lighter comprising a lighter body containing a fuel tank and a flame support with a fuel valve therebetween that is linked in operational relationship to a depressible actuating means which, upon being depressed, allows fuel to flow to said flame support where it may be ignited and burned, said child-resistant mechanism comprising a lock means, said lock means being movable between a locked position, in which it is situated below at least a portion of said depressible actuating means so that depression of said depressible actuating means is prevented, and an unlocked position, in which said lock means is spaced from the path of motion assumed by said depressible actuating means upon being depressed, thereby allowing depression of said depressible actuating means, said apparatus comprising a band that slidably engages said lighter body, said band defining a slot, whereupon said slot engages said lock means such that said lock means remains in its unlocked position, thereby allowing said depressible actuating means to be depressed and overriding said child-resistant mechanism of said cigarette lighter.

An apparatus to override a child-resistant mechanism on a cigarette lighter, said cigarette lighter comprising a lighter body containing a fuel tank and a flame support with a fuel valve therebetween that is linked in operational relationship to a depressible actuating means which, upon being depressed, allows fuel to flow to said flame support where it may be ignited and burned, said child-resistant mechanism comprising a lock means, said lock means being movable between a locked position, in which it is situated below at least a portion of said depressible actuating means so that depression of said depressible actuating means is prevented, and an unlocked position, in which said lock means is spaced from the path of motion assumed by said depressible actuating means upon being depressed, thereby allowing depression of said depressible actuating means, said apparatus comprising a sleeve that slidably engages said lighter body such that said lighter body below said flame support is encased, said sleeve having a laterally extending projection selected from the group consisting of a cam and a ramp, whereupon said laterally extending projection engages said lock means such that said lock means is moved to its unlocked position, thereby allowing said depressible actuating means to be depressed and overriding said child-resistant mechanism of said cigarette lighter.

A method to override a child-resistant mechanism on a cigarette lighter, said cigarette lighter comprising a lighter body containing a fuel tank and a flame support with a fuel valve therebetween that is linked in operational relationship to a depressible actuating means which, upon being depressed, allows fuel to flow to said flame support where it may be ignited and burned, said child-resistant mechanism comprising a lock means, said lock means being movable between a locked position, in which it is situated below at least a portion of said depressible actuating means so that depression of said depressible actuating means is prevented, and an unlocked position, in which said lock means is spaced from the path of motion assumed by said depressible actuating means upon being depressed, thereby allowing depression of said depressible actuating means, said method comprising:

• (a) providing a band having a laterally extending projection;
• and
• (b) slidably engaging said lighter body with said band, whereupon said laterally extending projection engages said lock means such that said lock means is moved to its unlocked position.

A method to override a child-resistant mechanism on a cigarette lighter, said cigarette lighter comprising a lighter body containing a fuel tank and a flame support with a fuel valve therebetween that is linked in operational relationship to a depressible actuating means which, upon being depressed, allows fuel to flow to said flame support where it may be ignited and burned, said child-resistant mechanism comprising a lock means, said lock means being movable between a locked position, in which it is situated below at least a portion of said depressible actuating means so that depression of said depressible actuating means is prevented, and an unlocked position, in which said lock means is spaced from the path of motion assumed by said depressible actuating means upon being depressed, thereby allowing depression of said depressible actuating means, said method comprising:

• (a) providing a band defining a slot;
• and
• (b) slidably engaging said lighter body with said band, whereupon said slot engages said lock means such that said lock means is maintained in its unlocked position.

A method to override a child-resistant mechanism on a cigarette lighter, said cigarette lighter comprising a lighter body containing a fuel tank and a flame support with a fuel valve therebetween that is linked in operational relationship to a depressible actuating means which, upon being depressed, allows fuel to flow to said flame support where it may be ignited and burned, said child-resistant mechanism comprising a lock means, said lock means being movable between a locked position, in which it is situated below at least a portion of said depressible actuating means so that depression of said depressible actuating means is prevented, and an unlocked position, in which said lock means is spaced from the path of motion assumed by said depressible actuating means upon being depressed, thereby allowing depression of said depressible actuating means, said method comprising:

• (a) providing a sleeve having a laterally extending projection selected from the group consisting of a cam and a ramp;
• and
• (b) slidably engaging said lighter body with said sleeve, thereby encasing said lighter body below said flame support, whereupon said laterally extending projection engages said lock means such that said lock means is moved to its unlocked position.