EP1252468A1

EP1252468A1 - Piezoelectric lighter with improved safety

Info

Publication number: EP1252468A1
Application number: EP01904045A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Aman Kai Man Chung
Original assignee: Pollyconcept Holding SA
Current assignee: POLYCONCEPT HOLDING, SOCIETE PAR ACTIONS SIMPLIFIE
Priority date: 2000-02-04
Filing date: 2001-02-02
Publication date: 2002-10-30
Anticipated expiration: 2021-02-02
Also published as: DE60107654D1; DE60107654T2; ES2234805T3; HK1054074B; FR2804749B1; CN1158476C; US6832910B2; EP1252468B1; CN1406327A; ATE284512T1; US20030143504A1; HK1054074A1; FR2804749A1; WO2001057443A1; AU3197201A

Abstract

The invention concerns a piezoelectric lighter comprising a flame-generating device (30) including a gas jet releasing mechanism (36) and spark-generating mechanism piezoelectric mechanism (50). The invention is characterised in that said lighter comprises two actuating elements (32, 34; 140, 150, 170, 180; 210, 220; 240, 250) capable of moving along a longitudinal axis (XX') under the action of a force exerted by the user, at least one (32; 140; 170; 210; 240) of said actuating elements, called first actuating element, being capable of moving independently of the second actuating element (34; 150; 180; 220; 250) and to act on at least on one (50) of said mechanisms, called first mechanism, the second actuating element being adapted to act on the second mechanism (36).

Description

"Piezoelectric type lighter with improved safety"

The invention relates to a piezoelectric type lighter comprising a device for generating a flame which comprises a mechanism for releasing a gas jet and a piezoelectric mechanism for generating a spark.

Document US Pat. No. 5,145,358 discloses a piezoelectric lighter of the type mentioned above into which a safety mechanism has been inserted in order to prevent unintended users, such as children, from igniting. flame and can injure themselves or others.

In this document, the security mechanism consists of a security member cooperating with a stop which is integral with the lighter when the security mechanism is placed in a so-called locked position.

When the normal user of the lighter wishes to use the latter, he must move the safety mechanism from the locked position to an unlocked position. To do this, when the lighter is placed in a vertical position, the user must have the safety member perform a horizontal translation, thus moving it away from the stop and, at the end of translation, must press on an actuator according to a vertical downward direction in order to engage the mechanism for releasing a gas jet and the piezoelectric mechanism for generating a spark to cause the ignition of a flame. However, this solution, although relatively satisfactory as regards the difficulty of implementation by an unauthorized user, can prove to be tedious over time for the daily user of the lighter.

In view of the above, the applicant is interested in the design of a new lighter which is easier to use by a normal user than the lighter of the aforementioned prior art, while still offering a certain degree of security. as to the use of this lighter by unauthorized users such as children.

The present invention thus provides a piezoelectric type lighter comprising a device for generating a flame which comprises a mechanism for releasing a gas jet and a piezoelectric mechanism for generating a spark, characterized in that said lighter comprises two actuators capable of moving along a longitudinal axis XX ′ under the action of a force exerted by a user, at least one of said actuators, called the first actuator, being able to move independently of the second actuator and to act at less on one of said mechanisms, called first mechanism, said second actuator being able to act at least on the second mechanism.

Thus, the normal user of the lighter according to the invention, will not have to carry out, to implement the lighter, a movement fundamentally different from that carried out with conventional lighters for which he exerts a downward vertical pressure on the actuator of these using the thumb.

On the other hand, since an unintended user such as a child has fingers of reduced dimensions compared to those of a normal user who is generally an adult, it will be difficult for the child to implement the lighter by pressing simultaneously on both actuators.

Furthermore, since at least one of the two actuators is able to move independently of the other actuator, if the child presses only on one of the two actuators, the chances that he can put implemented the lighter are one in two, which still offers some security.

According to one characteristic, the first actuator is supported on the first mechanism which is the mechanism for generating a spark and thus acts directly on the latter.

According to another characteristic, the second actuator acting on the second mechanism which is the mechanism for releasing a gas jet comprises at least one part which comes to bear on a part forming a lever and which allows, under the action of a effort of longitudinal axis XX ', to release a gas jet.

According to yet another characteristic, the two actuators are independent of each other in their axial movement.

In a first embodiment, the second actuator is also able to act on the first mechanism, the two actuators possibly or not being independent of each other in their axial movement.

Thus, it is sufficient for the authorized user of the lighter to press only on the second actuator to act both on the first and on the second mechanism.

Furthermore, according to a characteristic linked to the previous one, the second actuator is supported on the first mechanism which is the mechanism for generating a spark and, therefore, it acts directly on this mechanism.

According to one characteristic, at least part of the second actuator covers part of the first actuator and thus, the second actuator is also able to act on the first mechanism by means of the first actuator.

According to another characteristic, the second actuator is closer to a lighter zone in which a flame is generated than the first actuator, which makes it more difficult to access it than the access to the first actuator for an unauthorized user such as than a child.

According to one characteristic, the second actuator has reduced dimensions compared to those of the first actuator. So when In addition to this characteristic, the second actuator is closer to an area of the lighter in which a flame is generated than the first actuator, the safety of such a lighter is reinforced.

In the first embodiment, one of the said peripheral actuators at least partially surrounds the other said central actuator.

In this embodiment, the peripheral actuator comprises an internal peripheral rim and the central actuator comprises an external peripheral rim which overlaps said internal peripheral rim so that the second actuator is also able to act on the first mechanism.

According to an alternative embodiment, the two actuators are arranged side by side.

According to one characteristic, the two actuators are maintained in transverse contact with each other by means of a tenon-mortise type assembly which allows movement of one relative to the other along the axis. longitudinal XX '.

For example, the tenon-mortise type mounting has a dovetail shape.

According to a second embodiment in which the two actuators are independent of each other in their axial movement, the second actuator is only able to act on the second mechanism, which also ensures the independence of the functions of the two actuators.

In this embodiment, it is therefore necessary to press the two actuators simultaneously to implement the lighter according to the invention, an operation which is not within the reach of a child.

The independence of the actuators in their function provides increased security compared to the independence of movement of the actuators alone.

Other characteristics and advantages will appear during the description which follows, given solely by way of nonlimiting example and made with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a general schematic view showing a lighter according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a partial schematic view in longitudinal section of the lighter shown in Figure 1; - Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view showing part of the interior of the lighter of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the first actuator used in the lighter of Figures 1 to 3; Figure 5a is a schematic perspective view of the second actuator used in the lighter shown in Figures 1 to 3; Figure 5b is a schematic side view of the second actuator of Figure 5a; Figure 5c is a schematic front view of the second actuator of Figure 5a; - Figure 6 is a partial schematic view of the lighter of Figure 1 during its implementation by an unauthorized user; Figure 7 is a partial schematic view in longitudinal section of the lighter of Figure 6; Figure 8 is a partial schematic view showing the interior of the lighter of Figure 6; Figure 9 is a schematic view of the lighter shown in Figure 2 during its implementation by an authorized user; Figure 10 is a partial schematic view showing the interior of the lighter of Figure 9; - Figure 11 shows a first alternative embodiment of the lighter of Figure 2; Figure 12 shows a second alternative embodiment of the lighter of Figure 2; Figure 13 is a partial schematic view of a third alternative embodiment of the lighter of Figure 1; Figure 14 is a partial schematic view in longitudinal section of the lighter of Figure 13; Figure 15 is a schematic view in partial longitudinal section similar to that of Figure 2 of a lighter according to a second embodiment; Figure 16 is a partial schematic perspective view of the lighter of Figure 15 according to an alternative embodiment.

As shown in Figure 1 and designated by the general reference noted 10, a lighter according to the invention comprises a body 12 of generally elongated shape.

The lighter also comprises at the upper part of the body a part, generally metallic, denoted 14, forming a screen against the wind in order to protect a flame generated by the lighter and which passes through an upper face 14a of the part 14.

More particularly, the face 14a has been perforated so as to release, on the one hand, a circular orifice denoted 16 and, on the other hand, over almost all of its periphery, a groove forming a semi-circular ring 18.

This groove 18 is extended in the form of a rectilinear groove 20 in a direction opposite to that of the circular orifice 16.

The lighter according to a first embodiment of the invention comprises a device for generating a flame noted 30 in FIG. 2 and which comprises two actuators 32 and 34 which are represented, in FIG. 1, in the upper part of the body 12 lighter.

As shown in Figure 1, the first actuator 32 said peripheral partially surrounds the second actuator 34 called central actuator. It should be noted that the first actuator could of course completely surround the second actuator, as a variant.

The two actuators are each capable of moving along a longitudinal axis XX ′ under the action of a force exerted by a user along this axis, as indicated in FIG. 9 which will be described later. Note that in normal use position, the lighter is placed in a vertical position as shown in the figures. As shown in FIG. 2, the device for generating a flame 30 includes a mechanism for releasing a gas jet 36.

The gas jet release mechanism includes a gas jet release member denoted 38, which is, for example, in the form of a nozzle connected to a tank filled with gas (not shown in the figures) in a manner known to those skilled in the art. The reservoir is placed below a horizontal wall 40 on which the nozzle 38 is mounted.

The mechanism 36 also includes a part 42, the cross section of which is square, as shown in FIG. 2, and which is articulated around an axis 44 passing through an upright 46 arranged perpendicular to the wall 40.

It will be noted that the section plane of FIG. 2 passes through the part 42.

The part 42 forms a lever and comprises at one of its ends two arms 42a and 42b (FIG. 3) enclosing a conduit 39 placed under the valve of the nozzle and supplying the gas to the latter. The part 42 forming a lever also comprises at its opposite end two legs 42b and 42c (only a part of the leg 42b is visible in FIG. 3) which are intended to cooperate as will be seen later with a part of the second actuator 34. When this cooperation took place the part 42 pivots about its axis 44 which makes it possible to lift the valve from the nozzle 38 and therefore to release a gas jet (FIG. 9).

In the position shown in Figures 9 and 10 the device 30 is activated so as to generate a flame. The flame generation device 30 also includes a piezoelectric mechanism for generating a spark denoted 50.

This mechanism 50, known to those skilled in the art, is in the form of an element of generally substantially cylindrical shape 52 (FIG. 2) sliding inside a cylindrical sheath 54 inside of which is located in particular a spring 56. The spring exerts an upward force so as to maintain the element 52 in the high position when no force is exerted by the user on the actuators or at least on the actuator 32. The lighter operates according to the known principle of the piezoelectric effect according to which a piezoelectric element, such as for example a crystal (not shown), placed at the bottom of the sheath 54 is struck by a hammer element in order to produce an electric spark. The end (not shown in the figures) of the cylindrical element 52 which is opposite the end 52a which can be seen in FIG. 2 and which is in contact with the actuators 32 and 34 forms a hammer which strikes the aforementioned piezoelectric element when said cylindrical element 52 is moved downwards, along the axis XX ', under the effect of a force exerted by the finger of a user on the actuators.

In the position shown in Figure 2 the device 30 is not activated so as to generate a flame.

The device 30 also includes an electrical conductor 60 through which a spark produced by the piezoelectric mechanism mentioned above is propagated.

The electrical conductor 60 is electrically connected in a known manner to the above mechanism by one of its ends arranged in the lower part of the drawing of Figure 2 but not shown.

The conductor 60 opens out at its opposite end 60a (FIGS. 2 and 3) into a so-called combustion chamber 62 formed inside the part forming a screen 14 and into which also the member for releasing the gas jet 38 previously mentioned. .

It should be noted that when the mechanism for releasing a gas jet is activated as mentioned above and the mechanism for generating a spark has also been activated, the nozzle 38 is placed in the raised position. at the height of the through end 60a of the electrical conductor 60 at which the spark which has just been generated is located and said nozzle releases a jet of gas, thus allowing the generation of a flame. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the two actuators each have a so-called contact face which is intended to receive the finger of a user. The contact faces are arranged in the same axial position along the longitudinal axis XX ', as shown in Figure 2, when no force is exerted by the user on one and / or the other of these said faces.

In the representation which has been made in FIGS. 1 to 10, the second central actuator 34 is placed closer to the openings 16 and 18 (FIG. 1) through which the flame generated by the lighter passes than the first peripheral actuator 32.

Generally speaking, it will thus be seen that the finger of the unauthorized user of the lighter, such as a child, will first touch the actuator which is the most accessible, that is to say the first peripheral actuator, and not the second central actuator which is located between said first actuator and the area from which the flame generated by the lighter emerges.

In this embodiment, the first actuator 32 surrounds on three sides the second actuator 34 so that, even if the unauthorized user, such as for example a child, who naturally presses his finger near the edge of a room rather than 'in the center of it, do not press his finger on the end part 32a (figure 1) of the first actuator but on the side parts 32b and 32c of the latter, then this user will not have access to the second actuator 34.

This is all the more true since a child generally has fingers of smaller dimensions than those of an adult and therefore, by pressing on the edge of a piece with his finger, a child is less likely than a adult to press simultaneously in the center of this room. Such an arrangement of the two actuators thus offers great security as will be seen in the description which follows.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first peripheral actuator 32 comprises an upper part 70 forming a head, the upper face of which forms the contact face of the actuator and a lower part 72 forming a longitudinal skirt which extends around the cylindrical element 52 when the actuator is placed in the lighter. The skirt 72 is inserted, during the downward longitudinal movement of the actuators, into a peripheral space 73 (FIG. 2) surrounding the cylindrical element 52.

The first actuator 32 is hollow so as to be able to receive therein the second actuator 34 and comprises, for this purpose, in its internal part, a part 74 having a general shape of U and the opening of which is facing outward from said actuator.

The part 74 is situated slightly recessed along the axis XX 'with respect to the axial position of the contact face of said actuator. When the first actuator is placed in the lighter

(Figure 3) the opening of part 74 is directed towards the area from which the flame generated by the lighter emerges.

This piece 74 forms an internal peripheral rim.

This part 74 comprises a base 76 from which extend two arms 78 and 80, the ends of which protrude from the actuator and are respectively provided with two shoulders 78a and 80a turned in opposite directions.

As shown in Figure 3 each of the shoulders 78a and 80a is engaged in a corresponding groove in the wall of the part 14 forming a screen.

Thus, in FIG. 3, the shoulder 78a is engaged in the groove 82 and is intended, during the longitudinal movement of the actuator, to slide inside this groove.

Its movement is limited by the presence of a stop 84 provided at the bottom of the groove.

Returning to FIG. 4, the base 76 of the part 74 has a recess 76a in the shape of a dovetail intended to receive a part of complementary shape as will be seen later.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first actuator 32 is supported on the upper end 52a of the cylindrical element 52 of the spark generation mechanism 50, called the first mechanism within the meaning of the present invention. This support is produced by means of the part 74 previously described.

As shown in FIGS. 5a, 5b and 5c, the second central actuator 34 comprises a body 90 surmounted by a head 92 the upper face of which forms the contact face of the actuator and which is provided with two parts form legs 94 and 96 extending downward. The legs 94 and 96 bear respectively on the legs 42c and 42d of the lever-forming part 42 of the mechanism for releasing a gas jet, called a second mechanism in the sense of the present invention. Only the legs 96 and 42c are shown in Figures 2 and 3.

It should be noted that the curved shape of the legs 94 and 96 of the second actuator makes it possible to increase their resistance to fatigue during repeated movements of descent and ascent and of the contacts of said legs with the legs 42c and 42d of the part 42 forming the sink. The body 90 of the actuator also has a trapezoidal part 98 whose short side of the trapezoid is in contact with the body.

This trapezoidal part 98 is intended to be inserted into the recess 76a in the form of a dovetail of the part 74.

In this way, the two actuators 32 and 34 are maintained in transverse contact with each other by means of the cooperation of the parts 76a and 98 of said actuators. It should be noted that any other mounting of the tenon-mortise type can also be used to make the two actuators transversely integral while leaving them the possibility of moving longitudinally relative to one another. When the second central actuator 34 is placed inside the first peripheral actuator 32 (FIG. 3), the part of the second actuator covers the U-shaped part 74 of the first actuator which forms an internal peripheral rim thereof and which is intended to serve as support for the second actuator. More particularly, the part of the second actuator which covers the part 74 of the first actuator consists of the lower faces, front 92a and side 92b, 92c of the head 92 of said actuator (FIGS. 5b and 5c).

It will be noted that the faces which are in contact during this partial overlap, both for the first actuator and for the second actuator, are inclined although this is not necessarily apparent in the figures.

It should however be noted that this inclination is not strictly necessary to allow the production of the lighter according to the invention.

Since the second actuator rests via its trapezoidal part 98 on the upper end face 52a of the longitudinal element 52, the second actuator is therefore also able to act directly on the mechanism for generating a spark 50.

By its nature, the second actuator 34 acts on the mechanism 36 for releasing a gas jet as has been explained above. The description which follows with reference to FIGS. 6 to 10 will make it possible to highlight the advantages linked to the present invention.

As shown in Figures 6 to 8, when a child places his finger identified by the reference noted 100 (Figure 7) on the part of the lighter comprising the actuators, it will quite naturally, as indicated above, put his finger close of the edge of the lighter which happens to be the edge of the first actuator 32, on the part 32a.

Due to the fineness of the fingers of a child compared to those of an adult, the second actuator 34 will not be accessible to it and, by exerting a push directed downwards along the axis XX ', as indicated by the downward arrow in FIG. 7, the child will manage to activate only the mechanism for generating a spark 50, (first mechanism) but not the mechanism for releasing a gas jet 36 (second mechanism).

This is made possible by the fact that the first actuator 32 is able to move along the longitudinal axis XX 'independently of the second actuator 34.

As shown in FIG. 8, it will be noted that when the mechanism for generating a spark 50 is activated, the shoulder 78a of the part 74 of the first actuator 32 is in contact with the stop 84 shown in FIG. 3.

In each of FIGS. 6 to 8, it will also be noted that the second actuator 34 which has not been touched by the unauthorized user remains in the inactive position and therefore does not act on the mechanism for releasing a gas jet.

It should be noted that, for the unauthorized user, the difficulty of access to this second central actuator 34 can be increased if the dimensions of said actuator are reduced compared to those of the first actuator 32. As shown in the figures 9 and 10, when the normal user of the lighter according to the invention, an adult, places his finger, represented by the reference 1 10 in FIG. 9, on the part of the lighter where the actuators are located, the latter covers the both the first and second actuators 32 and 34. Thus, by exerting a thrust in the direction indicated by the downward arrow in FIGS. 9 and 10, the authorized user moves said actuators which act on the mechanisms longitudinally along the axis XX ' generating a spark and releasing a gas jet.

It will be noted that by exerting only a downward vertical thrust on the second actuator 34, the first actuator 32 is also moved.

During this movement, the first actuator 32 exerts its only action on the mechanism for generating a spark 50 by pressing on the cylindrical element 52, while the second actuator 34 simultaneously exerts an action on this mechanism for generating a spark 50, as well as on the mechanism for releasing a gas jet 36.

Indeed, during the downward movement of the actuator 34, the latter presses on the part 74 and on the cylindrical element 52 and the legs 94 and 96 of said second actuator exert a force respectively on the legs 42d and 42c of the piece 42 forming a lever, thus causing it to pivot about the axis 44, which leads, as we saw above, to the release of a gas jet. When the user ceases to exert a push on the actuators, the spring 56 (FIG. 2) tends to push the cylindrical element 52 upwards and to cause the said actuators to resume their initial position as indicated in FIG. 2. According to FIG. a variant shown in FIG. 11, in a lighter 119 the first actuator 120 is always able to move independently of the second actuator 130 along the longitudinal axis XX ', but remains the only one capable of acting directly on the generation mechanism a spark 50. In fact, this first actuator comprises a head 122 which bears on the entire end face of the upper end 52a of the cylindrical element 52.

In this variant, the second actuator 130 still covers part of the first actuator 120 via a part of its head 92 as indicated above with reference to the preceding figures, but is no longer directly supported on the mechanism of generating a spark as was the case previously.

However, it will be noted that in this variant the second actuator 130 nevertheless remains capable of acting indirectly on the mechanism for generating a spark 50 because it is in abutment on the first actuator 120.

It should however be noted that in this variant, the mounting of the tenon-mortise type in the shape of a dovetail described above is reversed. Thus, the projecting trapezoidal part is integral with the part 74 (FIG. 4) of the first actuator while the complementary recess in the shape of a dovetail is made in the body 132 of the second actuator. All that has been said previously with reference to FIGS. 1 to

10 remains valid except for what has just been specified. The unchanged elements in this alternative embodiment retain the same references as those used previously.

FIG. 12 illustrates a second alternative embodiment of a lighter 139 in which the first actuator 140 always includes a head 142 resting on the cylindrical element 52 of the mechanism for generating a spark 50. The second actuator 150, for its part, is still in abutment, as shown in FIG. 2 via the part 98, on the upper part of the cylindrical element 52 in order to act directly on the mechanism

50 but no longer covers its head 152 with part of the first actuator 140.

Thus, in this variant, the two actuators 140 and 152 are completely independent of one another in their axial movement.

In an identical manner to what has been indicated with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10, a child who would use the lighter of this variant embodiment would only press on the first actuator 140 and would thus only implement the mechanism for generating a spark, but not the mechanism for releasing a gas jet since it would not reach the second actuator 150.

Since the second actuator 150 no longer covers part of the first actuator 140, the dimensions of the second actuator could therefore be reduced compared to those of the first actuator, which increases, as indicated above, the difficulty of implementation by an unauthorized user such as a child.

However, an adult will simply implement such a lighter by pressing only on the second actuator 150 or simultaneously on the two actuators 140 and 150.

It should be noted that the lighter according to the invention, in all its embodiments, is advantageous compared to the lighters of the prior art insofar as the safety mechanism inherent in this lighter does not call into question the habits of use of the lighter of a normal user.

Indeed, the normal user only has to exert, as he did in the past, a downward axial pressure on one and / or the other of the actuators (according to the embodiments of the 'invention) in order to implement the lighter. What was said previously during the description made with reference to Figures 1 to 10 remains valid for this alternative embodiment (Figure 12) insofar as the details given during the description of this variant are not contradictory with the previous descriptions.

Similarly, the previous references remain unchanged for the elements which are not modified in this variant. Figures 13 and 14 illustrate a third alternative embodiment in which a lighter 160 comprises two actuators 170 and 180 which are arranged side by side and no longer around one another.

As shown in FIG. 14, the first actuator 170 comprises a head 172 which is alone in abutment on the cylindrical element 52 of the spark generation mechanism 50, as indicated in the variant embodiment shown in FIG. 11.

It will also be noted that the second actuator which is capable of acting both on the mechanism for releasing a gas jet and on the mechanism for generating a spark, by means of the first actuator, is arranged between the zone where the flame is generated and the first actuator which happens to be the most easily accessible actuator for a user such as a child.

As in the variant of FIG. 11, the second actuator 180 includes a head 182 which covers part of the first actuator 170 but whose dimensions are reduced compared to the head 92 of the second actuator 130 of FIG. 11.

This increases the reliability of the safety mechanism vis-à-vis unauthorized users, such as children, since the second actuator is even less easily accessible than before. The second actuator 180 also includes a body 184 which, as in the variant of FIG. 11 and as in FIG. 4, has an internal recess in the shape of a dovetail intended to receive a complementary trapezoidal part integral with the part 74 ( FIG. 4) of the first actuator 170. The normal user will press on the two actuators in order to implement the lighter according to the invention, but he could only press on the second actuator to achieve the same goal. All that has been said previously with reference to the various embodiments remains valid insofar as there is no contradiction with the description which has just been given with regard to FIGS. 13 and 14. FIG. 15 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention in which the lighter 200 comprises two actuators 210 and 220 which are independent of each other in their axial movement since here the second actuator denoted 220 does not cover part of the first actuator 210.

Furthermore, the first actuator 210 comprises a head which is alone in abutment on the mechanism for generating a spark 50 by means of the cylindrical element 52.

The second actuator 220 comprises a head 222 of reduced dimensions compared to those of the head 182 of the second actuator 180 of Figures 13 and 14 which provides increased security. The second actuator 220 also includes a body 224 identical to the body 184 of the second actuator in FIGS. 13 and 14.

Thus, the two actuators are also independent in their functions since the first actuator 210 is only able to act on the spark generation mechanism while the second actuator 220 is only able to act on the jet release mechanism gas. Note that in this embodiment the second actuator 220 is returned to its initial position shown in Figure 16 by an elastic system such as a spring (not shown).

It will be noted that this embodiment offers even greater security vis-à-vis unauthorized users such as children since, to implement the lighter, it is necessary to press the two actuators simultaneously and not more on just one as before.

FIG. 16 represents an alternative embodiment of the lighter of FIG. 15 in which the two actuators of the lighter 200 have been rotated by 90 ° so as to find themselves both in the same position with respect to the zone from which the flame emerges. The lighter 230 in FIG. 16 thus comprises two actuators 240 and 250 arranged side by side and each placed at equal distance from the zone from which the flame generated by the lighter originates.

Similar to the lighter in Figure 15, each of the two actuators acts in isolation on a single mechanism among the mechanisms for generating a spark and releasing a gas jet, and the movement of each actuator is independent of the movement of the other actuator. It should be noted that, again, this independence of the movements and functions of the two actuators provides an additional guarantee of safety vis-à-vis unauthorized users of the lighter.

Indeed, a child will not think of pressing simultaneously on the two actuators but, on the contrary, will press on one or the other.

In addition, the risk of a child inadvertently pressing the two actuators simultaneously is greatly reduced given the small size of his fingers and, very often, the imprecision of his movements.

Note that in this variant, the dimensions of one of the actuators can be reduced compared to those of the other for the sake of increased safety.

Claims

1. Piezoelectric type lighter comprising a device (30) for generating a flame which comprises a mechanism (36) for releasing a gas jet and a piezoelectric mechanism (50) for generating a spark, characterized in that that said lighter comprises two actuators (32, 34; 140, 150; 170, 180; 210, 220; 240, 250) capable of moving along a longitudinal axis (XX ') under the action of a force exercised by a user, at least one (32; 140; 170; 210; 240) of said actuators, called the first actuator, being able to move independently of the second actuator (34; 150; 180; 220; 250) and to act on the at least on one (50) of said mechanisms, called the first mechanism, said second actuator being able to act at least on the second mechanism (36).

2. Lighter according to claim 1, characterized in that the first actuator (32) is supported on the first mechanism which is the mechanism (50) for generating a spark.

3. Lighter according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second actuator (34) acting on the second mechanism (36) which is the mechanism for releasing a gas jet comprises at least one part (94, 96) which comes to bear on a part (42) forming a lever and which allows, under the action of a longitudinal axis force (XX '), to release a gas jet.

4. Lighter according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the two actuators (140, 150; 210, 220) are independent of each other in their axial movement.

5. Lighter according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the second actuator (220) is only able to act on the second mechanism.

6. Lighter according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the second actuator (34; 150) is also capable of acting on the first mechanism.

7. Lighter according to claim 6, characterized in that the second actuator (34; 150) is supported on the first mechanism which is the mechanism for generating a spark.

8. Lighter according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that at least a part (92a, 92b, 92c) of the second actuator (34) covers a part

(74) of the first actuator (32).

9. Lighter according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the second actuator (34; 150; 180; 220) is closer to an area (14) of the lighter in which a flame is generated than the first actuator.

10. Lighter according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the second actuator (150; 180; 220) has reduced dimensions compared to those of the first actuator.

11. Lighter according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that one (32; 140) of said peripheral actuators at least partially surrounds the other said central actuator (34; 150).

12. Lighter according to claims 8 and 11, characterized in that the peripheral actuator (32; 140) has an internal peripheral rim (74) and the central actuator (34; 150) has an external peripheral rim (92a, 92b , 92c) overlapping said internal peripheral rim.

13. Lighter according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the two actuators (170, 180; 240, 250) are arranged side by side.

14. Lighter according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the two actuators (170, 180; 240, 250) are maintained in transverse contact with each other by means of a mounting of the tenon-mortise type (74, 98).

15. Lighter according to claim 14, characterized in that the mounting of the tenon-mortise type (74, 98) has a dovetail shape.

16. Lighter according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the two actuators each have a so-called contact face for the user which are both arranged in the same axial position along the longitudinal axis ( XX ') when no force is exerted on said faces.