US2444663A - Pipe and cigarette lighter - Google Patents

Description

July 6, 8- w. J. MILLER, JR

PIPE AND CIGARETTE LIGHTER Filed Feb. 14} 1947 JNVENTOR. v W/zL/AM J. MLLR JR.

Patented July 6, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PIPE AND- CIGARETTE LIGHTER William J. Miller, Jr., Denver, Colo.

Application February 14, 1947, Serial No. 728,559

5 Claims.

This invention relates to a pocket lighter for smokers.

The usual lighter of the cigarette'variety-is useless to a pipe smoker, due to the fact that it is almost impossible to insert the flame into the bowl of the pipe.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a neat, compact lighter, which can not only be used for cigarettes and cigars but can alsobe inserted into the bowl of a smoking pipe.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the device that it will have a highly efficient mechanism for igniting the flame; and an efficient fuel feeding means which will maintain the flame for a maximum time.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which. is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a-part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in .all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved pocket lighter in the closed position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating the lighter in the open or lighted position;

Fig. 3 is a top view thereof'in the closed position;

Fig. 4 is a top view in the open position;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 55, Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a similar sectional view taken on the line 66, Fig. 3, with the outer case removed;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged: cross section taken on the line |l, Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a similarly enlarged cross-section.

taken on the line 88, Fig. 6; and

Fig. 9 is a still further enlarged detail view of a sparking head employed on the improved.

lighter.

The improved lighter is mounted in an outer case I'll having two sides, one end, and a bottom. The two sides areturned inwardly along the open top to form retaining flanges H. A mechanism frame I2. is slid into the open end of the outer case In beneath the flanges H and is secured therein by means of two screws. l3.

The outer case I is provided with a fuel reservoir l4 filled with cotton or other suitable absorbent material. The fuel is placed in the reservoir l4 through a filling plug I threaded into the closed end of the case H].

nipple l6 projects upwardly from the reservoir i4 and contains an auxiliary wick. H.

A hollow rotatable shaft 18' extends across the" mechanism frame l2 to provide a pivot for a swinging arm IS. The arm l9"is constantly'urged to the open position by means of a coil spring 20 and it may be locked in the closed position by means of a swinging latch 2!. The latch. is positioned to engage a latch tooth 22 formed on the hinged extremity of the arm l9. The'latch- 2| is urged against thev hinged extremity by means of a U-shaped spring'23-which is wrapped:

about a latch shaft 24 upon which the latch 2| is'hinged.

A finger button 25 on the lower extremity of the latch 2| allows the latter to be pushed in-;

wardly so as to swing the upper extremity thereof out of engagement with the tooth 22 to allow the spring 20 to snap the arm Hi to the open position. The outward movement of the armis limited by the tooth 22' striking anv abutment 26 in the bottomof the frame 12.

A steelsparki'ng wheel 21 is rotatablymounted on the outer extremity of a wheelv shaft 28- which extends longitudinally through the arm is terminating adjacent-the shaft l8 i'n atoothed drive pinion 29. The drive pinion 29-" meshes with an arcuate series of gear teeth 30 cutin the wall of the frame 12 concentric with the axis of the hollow shaft l8.

As the arm I9 is swunginwardly andoutwardly, the pinion 29 will roll back and forth along the teeth 30 so asto rotate-the wheel shaft 28 back and-forth. A ratchet disc 31 is fixed on- The sparking.

the extremity of the shaft 28'. wheel- 21 is mounted to freely rotate aboutrthe shaft 28 and is provided with ratchet teeth 3-2 Return rotation of the sparking wheel 21 is prevented by a sparkingflint 33 which is constantly urged against oneface of the wheel from a flint tube 34 by means of a compression spring Theface' of the wheel 21 hearing againstthe flint 33 is knurled" or'roughened to produce ignition sparks :from the flint. These sparks ignite a wick 36 which projectsv from a conical extremity 3! on theen'd" ofa' wi'ck'tube' 38 which forms part of the arm IS.

The projecting portion of the wick 36 is in the path of the sparks produced from the flint A moistening J 33. The wick 36 extends down the wick tube 38 and into the arm i9 thence into the hollow shaft l8, thence through a vertical passage 39 in the side of the frame [2 thence through an opening 40 in the inside end wall of the reservoir I4 so that liquid fuel is conducted by capillary attraction from the reservoir I4 to the projecting extremity of the wick 36.

Due to the long travel of the fuel through the wick 36 it has been found advisableto" provide means to maintain the outer end of the wick 36 moistened with fuel. This is accomplished by placing the nipple 16 with its wick H at a point to receive the conical extremity 31 of the wick tube and end of the wick 36 when the arm is closed. Therefore, during all of the time that the lighter is closed liquid fuel is being fed to the wick 36 by the auxiliary wick I! so that the former is always moist with fuel at the instant of ignition.

The device is carried, of course, in the closed position of Fig. 1. When a light is desired, the user presses the finger button 25 releasing the .latch 2| from the tooth 22. This allows the spring 20 to snap the arm 19 to the open position of Fig. 2. The movement to the open position rapidly rotates the pinion 29 along the teeth 3?). This movement is transmitted through the ratchet disc 31 to the sparking wheel 21 causing the roughened face thereof to strike sparks from the flint 33. These sparksignite the wick 35 so that a flame is provided on' the projecting extremity of the arm 19 as shown in'Fig. 2, which'rnay be conveniently inserted in'a-pipe bowl.

The device is' returned to the closed position by simply pressing the arm I9 back into the case as shown in Fig. 10. This allows the latch 21 to snap beneath the tooth 221to completely close the entire case. i

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, Within the scope of the appended claims, without departing fro-m the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A pocket lighter comprising: a case; a fuel.

reservoir in said case; a rotatable arm shaft extending across the case; a swinging arm mounted on said shaft; a spring constantly urging said arm to the open position; a latch retaining said'arm in the closed position; a wick extending from said reservoir to the free extremity of said arm; a shaft extending longitudinally of said arm; a sparking mechanism on theouter extremity of said arm operable by saidshaft; a toothed pinion on the inner extremity of said arm; and stationary teeth supported from said case in the path of said pinion to impart rotation to .said shaft as said arm swings to the open position.

2. A pocket lighter comprising: a case; a fuel reservoir in said case; a rotatable arm shaft extending across the case; a swinging arm mounted on said shaft; a spring constantly urging said arm to the open position; a latch retaining said arm in the closed position; a wick extending from said reservoir to the free extremity of said arm and means operable by the movement of said arm for igniting the outer extremity of said wick; and an auxiliary wick positioned to contact andmoisten thefirst wick when the arm is in the closed position. v

3. A pocket lighter comprising: a case; a fuel reservoir in said case, one side edge and one end of said case being open; an arm hinged at the extremity of said side edge and arranged to close the latter when swung to the closed position; a pivoted latch closing the open end of said case, said latch engaging said arm to maintain the latter in the closed position; a spring urging said arm to the open position; a wick on the extremity of said. arm; a sparking wheel positioned on said arm adjacent said wick; a shaft extending from said sparking wheel into said case; igniting means operable by said wheel; means in said case adapted to rotate said shaft as said arm swings to the open position; a toothed pinion on said shaft within said case; stationary gear teeth in said case engaging said pinion to rotate the latter during the opening movement of said arm; and igniting means operable by the rotating of said wheel.

4. A pocket lighter comprising: a case; a fuel reservoir in said case, one side edge and one end of said case being open; an arm hinged at the extremity of said side edge and arranged to close the latter when swung to the closed position; a pivoted latch closing the open end of said case, said latch engaging said arm to maintain the latter in the closed position; a spring urging said arm to the open position; a wick on the extremity of said arm; a sparking wheel positioned on said arm adjacent said wick; a shaft extending from said sparking wheel into said case; igniting means operable by said wheel; means in said case adapted to rotate said shaft as said arm swings to the open position; a toothed pinion on said shaft within said case; stationary gear teeth in said case engaging said pinion to rotate the latter during the opening movement of said arm; a flint tube in said arm terminating'adjacent said sparking wheel; a flint in said tube and a spring urging said flint against said sparking wheel for ignition purposes.

5. A pocket lighter comprising: a case; a fuel reservoirin said case, one side edge and one end of said case being open; an arm hinged at the extremity of said side edge and arranged to close the latter when swung to the closed position; a pivoted latch closing the open 'end of said case, said latch engaging said arm to maintain the latter in the closed position; a spring urging said arm to'the open position; a Wick on the extremity of said arm; and igniting means on said latter extremity operable from the opening movement of said arm; said wick extending to said reservoir; andan auxiliary wick projecting from said reservoir to the closed position of said first wick to moisten the latter when said am is closed.

' WILLIAM J. MILLER, JR.

REFERENCES The following references are'of record in the file of this patent: V

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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