US3242700A - Cigarette lighter - Google Patents

Description

March 29, 1966 A. F. FUKAL 3,242,700

CIGARETTE LIGHTER Filed May 18, 1964 loo "MV United States Patent O 3,242,700 CIGARETTE LIGHTER Alfred F. Fukal, Houston, Tex., assignor, by mesne assignments, to American Lighter Corporation, Fort Worth, Tex., a corporation of Texas Filed May 18, 1964, Ser. No. 368,041 Claims. (Cl. 67-7.1)

This invention relates general-ly to cigarette lighters that employ a sparking Wheel and utilize an ignitable fuel.

More particularly, this invention relates to a cigarette lighter that is adapted to utilize a liquid gas, such as, for example, butane, propane, pentane and the like.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a highly efiicient device of the character described that is light in weight and extremely economical in construction and in operation.

Another object is to provide a portable cigarette lighter that has a size, weight and configuration tha-t makes it convenient for use by either men or women and makes it equally easy to carry in either pocket or handbag.

A further object is to provide a cigarette lighter having a unique valve Wi-th flutter-type action that makes this lighter particularly suited to certain aromatic fuels.

And a still further 'object is to provide a gas lighter that includes a Vcompletely automatic valve that requires no levers, wheels or opening mechanism of any kind,

and which valve operates instantly upon the opening of the top cover of the lighter.

And yet another object of this invention is to provide a gas cigarette lighter in which a simple, single thumb motion will initiate the simultaneous actions of opening the top cover, rotating the spark wheel, removing a snuffer from the flame nozzle, and starting the gas flow through the fiame nozzle.

And an additional object is to provide a cigarette lighter having a sp-ark wheel rotatably mounted to the same pin about which the top cover rotates.

And another object is to provide a cigarette lighter having a spark wheel rotatably mounted to a pin that is removably attached to the housing and to the top Cover so that the pin may be removed to service the spark wheel, its cooperating liint and the top cover.

And a further object is to provide a gas lighter employing a permanent internal wick of non-corrosive material that assists in vaporization of the liquid fuel.

And an object is to provide a lighter having a housing case made primarily of impact extruded parts asseni-bled by shrink fits so that no fasteners are use-d that might work loose in operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a unique adjustable flame nozzle for a gas cigarette lighter.

These and other objects and advantages will be apparent from an examination of the following specification and drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 represents a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional side elevational View of the lighter of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of the device of FIGURES l and 2.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawing, it will be observed that the complete lighter assembly of this invention consists 3,242,700 Patented Mar. 29, 1966 basically and functionally of an external case assembly identified as 100, defining an internal enclosed fuel chamber section 200, an internal but exposable fuel combustion section 300, and a metering valve a-ssembly 400, and an ignition system 500.

The case assembly comprises a vertically extending housing 10-1 having an open upper end, that is normally closed after assembly by cap 103. A pin 104 extends transversely across the housing 101 and serves as a pivot about which cap 103 rotates under pressure of coil spring 105 when opening. Cap 103 includes a U-shaped lip 106 that cooperates with U-shaped lip 107 of a leaf type latch spring 110 that is biased to an engaged position with cap 103. Spring 110 is released and cap 103 permitted to open by means of a press button 111. Rivets 102 hold spring 110 to the housing 101 and button 111. Cap 103 also includes a hollow boss member 112 that supports a flexible material conically shaped snutfer 412 which may be classified as part of the valve assembly 400. The internal configuration of cap 103 is such that a ridge 113 is formed which serves as an anchor for coil `spring 105. The external configuration of cap 103` is such that the end section is curved to be concentric with the spark wheel 506 of the ignition system 500. The cap curvature identified at 114 and the outer ridge 115 also serve to permit the cap to telescope into housing 101 when opening until ridge 115 engages the upper open edge 116 of housing 101, which acts as a stop and as a rest for retaining cap 103 in its open position. Openings 117 in housing 101 permit air necessary for mixing with the vaporized fuel -to enter combustion chamber section 300. rlihe distance between spring 1.10 and boss 112 limits the distance of travel of spring 110 between its closed and open positions. This is desirable as it reduces wear and possible breakage and provides a precise motion for the lighter operation.

A plug 202 permanently seals the upper end of fuel chamber 200, whereas a threaded plug 220 normally seals the lower end and also provides access for refilling the chamber with liquified gas in a well known manner. Plug 202 includes a threaded opening 221 to refceive valve fitting 414 having external cooperating pipe threads, and includes a straight bore 222 in which flint tu'be 509 is installed lby means of a `shrink fit. Since plug 202 is also installed by a shrink fit and since valve fitting 414 engages plug 202 by pipe threads, a leak proof fuel chamber 200 is `thus provided in housing 101.

The valve assembly 400 includes the described valve fitting 414 which also includes a straight external thread on the reduced diameter upper portion 421, and a straight thread in its internal bore 422. A tube 418 threaded at its upper end engages threaded bore 422 and provides support for a fiber glass wick 419 that extends nearly to the bottom of fuel chamber 200. A short distance above the top of tube 418 and wick 419 is located a seal plug 415 perfera'bly of nonrnetallic material that threads into bore 422. A noncorrosive metal top 416 having a tapered lower surface engages a corresponding tapered surface on seal plug 415 so that the weight o-f the top tends to cause a seal to be formed between the top 416 and the seal plug 415. To assist this sealing action a rubber Washer 417 engages the upper end of top 416 and is placed in compression by the action of its oversized diameter against the upper unthreaded portion of bore 422. A small diameter axial bore 423 extends upward into upper portion 421 from bore 422 until it intersects a smaller horizontally extending bore 424. A protuberan'ce 425 extends axially upward from portion 421 and is normally enclosed within flame nozzle fitting 413 that engages portion 421 and is spaced from protuberance 425 by a small and adjustable distance that determines the flame size in operation. A snuffer 412 closes over llame nozzle 413 when the cap 103 is closed.

Flint tube 509 installed in plug 202 contains a longitudinally extending flint 507 that is biased upward by spring` 50S that seats in the closed bottom of tube 509. Directly above flint 597 is located spark wheel 506 that fastens to and rotates with pin 194 as the cover cap 103 is opened by action of spring 105.

In operation, the liquefied gas L in chamber 200 seeps up through the liber glass wick 419 into the internal bore 422 of valve lifting 414 below the seal plug 415 where it collects as a vaporized gas. When the pressure is great enough it lifts top 416 olf of its seat on seal 415 and permits gas to pass through the seal 415 and to the area of washer 417. When the pressure in the area under washer 417 is sufficient, the washer lifts and permits gas fuel to pass there around and out through flame nozzle 413, unless snuffer 412 closes the llame nozzle, in which latter case an equilibrium is reached and metal top 416 by its own weight will reseat on plug seal 415 until such time as the pressure builds up again. At this point an amount of gas under pressure is retained in the area above top 416 and including the area within the llame nozzle 413. A weak coil spring 420 at the upper end of chamber 422 prevents top 416 and washer 417 from bottoming at the upper end of the chamber and stopping gas llow through the llame nozzle.

When the button 111 is pressed and the cover 193 springs open rotating spark wheel 506 against flint 507, sparks are directed to the now open llame nozzle 413 and the gas above top 416 ignites as it leaves the nozzle. This 'action reduces the pressure above the top 416, which raises olf its seat on seal plug 415 and permits more pressurized gas to pass around washer 417 and up and out bores 423 and 424 and around protuberance 425 to be consumed at the top of flame nozzle 413. This action repeats itself and continues as a fluttering or a palpitating action which goes on until the snuffer 412 recloses nozzle 413. The above construction may thus be described as a pressure opened, gravity closed, flutter type metering valve.

Filling of chamber 260 with a pressurized liquid gas may be accomplished by conventional means using commercially available butane filling units. Plug 220 may be replaced by a plug to accommodate any known lling unit.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen -that there has been produced a device which substantially fulfills the objects of this invention as set forth herein. The invention is not limited to the exemplary constructions herein shown and described, but may be made in many ways within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatically operating flutter valve assembly for a cigarette lighter, comprising: a valve fitting having a llame nozzle engaging one end and having its other end exposed to vaporized fuel under pressure, said fitting delining a large bore and a small bore, a plug seal installed in said large bore and having a seat thereon, a top normally seated on said seal, a flexible washer attached to `said top, means associated with said top to permit said top to be raised when the differential pressure above and below exceeds a predetermined minimum, and to permit sai-d top to drop by gravity and by action of the flexible washer, and reseat itself on said seal as the differential pressure decreases to provide a fluttering action as pressurized gas passes by said top and through said bores and is consumed at said llame nozzle.

2. A cigarette lighter assembly comprising in combination a case assembly having a fuel section for containing liquitied gas, a combustion section, an ignition system, and a completely automatic acting fuel valve; said case assembly including an adjustable llame nozzle associated with said fuel valve and including a cover with a snuffer, automatic means for opening said cover and exposing said llame nozzle and simultaneously activating said ignition system for igniting `fuel passing through said fuel valve and out said fuel nozzle, manual means for closing said cover and applying said snutfer against said flame nozzle for extinguishing the llame, said fuel valve including an internal chamber, a seal plug in said chamber and a free-floating weighted top seated above said seal plug whereby gas may pass through said valve by lifting said free-floating top completely off said seal plug when said snulfer is removed from said llame nozzle, a flexible washer attached to said top and engaging the chamber walls, said top adapted to reseat itself by gravity and the flexure of said washer when said snuifer is closed.

3. A fuel valve for a cigarette lighter comprising a housing defining a fuel chamber and defining a bore through the housing, a nonmetal material seal plug engaging the inner walls of the fuel chamber and reducing the open inner dimensions of the fuel chamber, a rigid weighted top positioned on said seal and closing by gravity the open dimension through the seal plug, a nonmetal flexible washer on said top, an adjustable llame nozzle at one end of said valve whereby fuel pressure will lift said top and permit fuel to pass around said top and out said bore in a quantity determined by the position of said top, and the adjustment of the llame nozzle, and means to prevent said top and washer from completely closing said bore when fluid is passing through Vsaid llame nozzle.

4. In a cigarette lighter, a lighter mechanism, comprising: a case assembly including vertical walls having a fuel section, a combustion section, an ignition system, said ignition system including a spark wheel, a cover in said case assembly having a curved section concentric with said spark wheel and having an internal and external ridge, a common pivot pin for said cover and spark wheel, a coil spring around said pivot pin for biasing said cover to its open position, a free end of said coil spring being anchored to said internal ridge, said concentric section telescoping into one said vertical wall of said case assembly until said external ridge strikes said external wall; said case assembly including a sealed bottom and a plug near the top sealing olf a liquefied gas fuel lchamber in said fuel section, an automatic valve assembly installed in said plug, a tube attached to and extending from said valve assembly substantially the full length of said fuel chamber, a seal plug in said valve assembly, a free-floating gravity sealing top above and cooperating with said seal plug, a liber glass wick extending from the vicinity of said seal plug for substantially the full length of said tube and in direct fluid transfer relation between said fuel section and said valve, and snubber means in said cover to close the external end of said valve assembly in cooperation with said automatic valve assembly.

5. In a gas cigarette lighter, including a case assembly having a bottom, side walls, and a cover, and closure means to seal olf a portion of said case assembly to provide a liquefied gas fuel section, a valve means in said closure means to provide gas vapor for combustion, a nozzle attached to the external end of said valve means, a snubber in said coverto close the external end of said nozzle and attached valve means, a -fuel chamber in said Valve means, a seal plug in said fuel chamber, aplastic material wick extending from the fuel section to the valve means, a free-lloating gravity seating top above and cooperating with said seal plug to close when said snubber 5 6 engages said nozzle and meter the flow of gas vapor 2,751,772 6/ 1956 Salzer 67-7.1 through said valve means. 3,140,593 7/ 1964 Baumann et al. 67-7.1

FOREIGN PATENTS References Clted by the Examiner 787,706 7/1935 France.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 1,045,754 7/1935 France. 2,651,931 9/1953 Gailmard et al. 67-7.1 I. 2,688,240 9/1954 Treiss 67 7 1 FREDERICK L. MATTESON, JR., Pllmary Exammer.

2,724,253 11/ 1955 Morgan 67-7.1 LLOYD L. KING, ROBERT A. OLEARY, Examiners.

Claims (1)

1. AN AUTOMATICALLY OPERATING FLUTTER VALVE ASSEMBLY FOR A CIGARETTE LIGHTER, COMPRISING: A VALVE FITTING HAVING A FLAME NOZZLE ENGAGING ONE END AND HAVING ITS OTHER END EXPOSED TO VAPORIZED FUEL UNDER PRESSURE, SAID FITTING DEFINING A LARGE BORE AND A SMALL BORE, A PLUG SEAL INSTALLED IN SAID LARGE BORE AND HAVING A SEAT THEREON, A TOP NORMALLY SEATED ON SAID SEAL, A FLEXIBLE WASHER ATTACHED TO SAID TOP, MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID TOP TO PERMIT SAID TOP TO BE RAISED WHEN THE DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE ABOVE AND BELOW EXCEEDS A PREDETERMINED MINIMUM, AND TO PERMIT SAID TOP TO DROP BY GRAVITY AND BY ACTION OF THE FLEXIBLE WASHER, AND RESEAT ITSELF ON SAID SEAL AS THE DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE DECREASES TO PROVIDE A FLUTTERING ACTION AS PRESSURIZED GAS PASSES BY SAID TOP AND THROUGH SAID BORES AND IS CONSUMED AT SAID FLAME NOZZLE.

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