Colinear burner

A lighter assembly comprising:

• a. a burner body assembly including a burner body and a housing, the assembly having an outlet connected to a passageway therethrough for selectable connection to a source of fuel;
• b. an air control structure at least partially surrounding the burner body assembly, wherein the air control structure and burner body assembly are movable relative to each other, and positionable to a first position wherein fuel is admitted to the passageway and ambient air is substantially blocked from entering the passageway, and a second position wherein fuel is admitted to the passageway and ambient air enters the passageway and mixes with the fuel therein such that the burner body assembly and air control structure form a post-mix configuration in the first position, and the burner assembly and air control structure form a pre-mix configuration in the second position, a resilient member biasing at least one of the air control structure and burner body assembly to the first position;
• c. an igniter located adjacent the burner body assembly such that sparks from the igniter are directed to the outlet of the burner body assembly at least when the burner body assembly and air control structure are in the first position;
• and
• d. an actuating mechanism operably coupled to at least one of the air control structure and burner body assembly, wherein the actuating mechanism includes an actuating portion located on a side of the igniter opposite the burner body assembly, wherein actuation of the actuating portion of the actuating mechanism positions the air control structure and burner body assembly to the second position.

A method of igniting a single burner of a lighter in a post-mix configuration and thereafter transforming the burner to a pre-mix configuration, the method comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a burner having a passageway therethrough and an air inlet in fluid communication with the passageway;
• b. providing an air control structure surrounding at least a part of the burner having the air inlet therein;
• c. positioning the burner and air control structure to a first relative position wherein the air control structure substantially blocks air from entering the air inlet such that the burner and air control structure form a post-mix configuration wherein fuel passing through the passageway is not mixed with air until after the fuel exits the burner;
• d. igniting fuel exiting the burner with an ignition system while the burner and air control structure are in the first relative position, the ignition system activated by a user's digit;
• and
• e. thereafter positioning the burner and air control structure to a second relative position by activating an actuating mechanism positioned adjacent to the ignition system using subsequent motion of the same digit, wherein the air control structure permits air to enter the air inlet and mix with fuel passing through the passageway such that the burner and air control structure form a pre-mix configuration wherein fuel passing through the passageway is mixed with air before exiting the burner.

A method of igniting a single burner of a lighter using a flint and wheel with the burner in a post-mix configuration and subsequently operating the burner in a pre-mix configuration wherein a flame is projected from the lighter in both the post-mix and pre-mix configurations, the method comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a burner body assembly having a burner body and housing, the assembly having a primary passageway therethrough;
• b. providing a collar surrounding at least a part of the burner body assembly;
• c. causing a first relative position between the collar and the burner body assembly wherein the collar substantially blocks air from entering the primary passageway such that the burner body assembly and collar form a post-mix configuration wherein fuel passing through the primary passageway is not mixed with air until after the fuel exits the burner body;
• d. rotating a wheel of a flint and wheel igniter to ignite the fuel exiting the burner to create a post-mix flame above the burner;
• and
• e. subsequently causing a second relative position between the collar and the burner body assembly by travel of the actuation mechanism wherein the collar in the second relative position permits air to enter the primary passageway such that the burner body assembly and collar form a pre-mix configuration wherein fuel passing through the primary passageway is mixed with air before exiting the burner body, converting the post-mix configuration to the pre-mix configuration.

A method of making a burner for a lighter capable of operating initially in post-mix configuration for ignition using a flint and wheel igniter and wherein the burner is capable of transforming to a pre-mix configuration after ignition, the method comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a burner body assembly having at least a burner body, the assembly having a primary passageway therethrough and connected to an exit, with a part of the burner body assembly having at least one air inlet channel in fluid communication with the primary passageway;
• b. providing a collar sized to closely interfit with at least the part of the burner body assembly having the at least one air inlet channel;
• c. assembling the burner body assembly and the collar together in a loose fitting relationship so that the burner body assembly is movable after assembly relative to the collar to substantially block air from an external air environment through the at least one air inlet channel to the primary passageway when the burner body assembly and collar are in a first relative position, and selectively admits air from the external air environment through the at least one air inlet channel to the primary passageway when the burner body assembly and collar are in a second relative position;
• and
• d. providing a flint and wheel ignition system adjacent the burner body such that sparks from the flint are directed toward the fuel after it leaves the exit of the burner body while the burner body assembly and collar are in the first relative position, the flint and wheel ignition system actuatable by a user's thumb;
• and
• e. providing an actuating mechanism including a protruding portion extending from the lighter on a side of the flint and wheel igniter opposite the burner body assembly, wherein the protruding portion of the actuating mechanism is actuatable by movement of the same thumb such that the burner body assembly and collar are arranged in the second relative position when the actuating mechanism is actuated.

A lighter comprising:

• a. a burner and air control structure including:
• i. a burner body assembly having a burner body and a housing supporting the burner body and forming the burner, the burner body assembly having a central passageway therethrough for directing fuel to the burner, and the housing having an air inlet channel in fluid communication with the central passageway,
• ii. a collar forming the air control structure surrounding at least a part of the burner body assembly having the air inlet channel and wherein the collar has an air inlet aperture movable into and out of registration with the air inlet channel in the housing by relative movement between the burner body assembly and the collar to substantially block and unblock fluid communication between the air inlet channel and an external air environment such that the burner is convertible from a post-mix configuration when the fluid communication is substantially blocked to a pre-mix configuration when the fluid communication is unblocked;
• and
• b. a flint and wheel ignition system including a flint wheel and flint operable to direct sparks from the flint to the fuel after it leaves the central passageway while the burner and air control structure are in the post-mix configuration and;
• c. an actuating mechanism positioned adjacent to the flint and wheel ignition system, the actuating mechanism including a user-activatable portion on a side of the ignition system opposite the burner body assembly, the actuating mechanism operably attached to at least one of the burner body assembly and the collar such that user activation of the actuating mechanism converts the lighter from the post-mix configuration to the pre-mix configuration.