US2583691A - Cigarette lighter - Google Patents

Description

`lari. 29, 1952 l, FLQRMAN 2,583,691

CIGARETTE LIGHTER Filed 0G11.- 19. 1949 IN VEN TOR. F', .4 7@

y 76 Irl/m9 Fla/"man BY W91; may, gw-W A TTOE/VE K5 Patented Jan. 29, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CIGARETTE LIGHTER Irving Florman, New York, N. Y.

Application October 19, 1949, Serial No. 122,279

1 claim.

My invention relates to cigarettelighters; and more particularly to lighters of the pyrophoric type.

The primary object ofthe invention is to provide a lighter which can be used for long periods of time without refilling.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lighter which is easy to use and effective in operation. v

A further object of the invention is to provide a lighter which can hold large quantities of liquid fuel, such fuelbeing supplied to thewick in suitablev quantities without danger of ooding the wick or the igniting mechanism.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a lighter having a main fuel chamber in which the wick receives its fuel and an auxiliary fuel chamber for holding liquid fuel, with means for opening communication between the chambers at each operation of the lighter.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a novel mounting for a thumb piece of a lighter which is connectedv to a snuer cap operating the igniting mechanism, this connection being flexible and self-adjusting so as to cause more eflicient operation ofthe lighter;

An additional object of the invention is to provide a lighter which is simple andJ inexpensive in construction.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the following description, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows in side elevation a lighter embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the three parts of the lighter separated;

F Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the three parts of Fig. 4 is a cross-section substantially on the line 4 4 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a front view of the top part of the lighter in operating position;

Fig. '7 shows in side elevation the snuier and thumb piece; and

Fig. 8 is a cross-section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

The lighter is composed of a main body portion 2, a bottom reservoir or fuel holding chamber 4 preferably formed of a transparent plastic, and a top portion 6. The intermediate portion 2 is holiow and has a bottom wall 8 provided with an opening II). The bottom portion 4 fits over a shoulder on bottom wall 8, as at I2, and is suitably secured thereto as by an adhesive. The bottom portion 4 is hollow, and its bottom wall is closed by a threaded plug I4.

The intermediate; ory main fuel chamber, portion 2 has a top wall I6 from which extends up wardlyv a wick holding tube I 8 adapted to hold a wick 20. This wick extends into a suitable filling 22 of: absorbent material, such as cotton, within the member 2; The bottom vwall 8 of member 2 hasr a downward extension 24, and a tube 26, which may be of metal, extends through an opening in the top wall I6 and downwardly through extension 24, passing through the center ofthe member 2. The lower end of this tube 26 isV closed by'a plug 28.

A vertical Wall 3Q having openings 32 is arranged within the main fuelchamber 2 to divide off the portieriI containing the cotton 22 from4 a separate portion 34. Opening l0 communicates with this space 34. A rod 36 extends with a sliding fit through the top wall I6, andhas a reduced lower end 38 arranged within the opening I0 and of less diameter than that opening. An enlarged head 40 onthe lower end of the rod engages a disc 42, above which is arranged `a washer 44, this disc and washer being larger than opening I6 so that when the rod is moved upwardly the washer will seal the opening and prevent communication between containers 2 and 4. A coil spring 46 arranged within the space 34 and resting on lower wall 8 engages `a disc 48 secured on rod 36, and thus urges the rod upwardly, or in other words into a, position to close hole I6.

The top member 6 includes a plate 50 having openings adapted to t over wick holding tube I8 and rod 36. Extending downwardly from this plate is a flint holding tube 52 which is slidable into tube 26, and is closed at its bottom end by a threaded plug 54. This threaded plug supports a spring 56 which presses upwardly a flint 58 mounted in the upper end of the tube 52.

Upstanding from the plate 5U are ears 60. between which on shaft 62 is mounted a flint wheel 64 engaging the flint 58. On opposite sides of the int wheel the side walls 66 bearing snuffer cap 68 are likewise pivoted on shaft 62,. One of these side walls has an inwardly bent tongue I0 engageable in ratchet notches 'I2 formed in the adjacent face of the iiint wheel 64. The snuffer cap 68 is arranged to overiie the wick 2t and engage the top of wick tube I8 when the device is in the closed position shown in Fig. 4.

Walls 66 are provided with angularly arranged slots 'I4 inv which engage inwardly turned lugs 16 on the side edges of walls 18 of thumb piece 80. This thumb piece has secured on its lower face a cup 82 which ts over the upper end of rod 36. It will be noted, however, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, that there is a loose fit between the cup and the rod, as indicated by the space 84, or in other Words that the inside dimensions of the cup are substantially greater than the outside dimensions of the rod.

The lighter hereinbefore described operates as follows:

When the thumb piece 86 is depressed, lugs 16 through slots 14 turn the snuier 68 in a clockwise direction (Fig. 4) and lift the snufer cap off the wick. At the same time, towards the end of this movement, tongue 7U turns the flint wheel and causes it to throw sparks onto the wick so as to ignite it. When this happens rod 16 is simultaneously depressed and washer 44 is moved away from opening I9, thus establishing communication between the lower vfuel chamber 4 and the upper fuel chamber 2. In ordinary usage, a suicient amount of vapor Will pass up from the lower fuel chamber to the upper one at each operation of the lighter to keep the wick sutilciently saturated. If, however, this should not be sulcient, all that is necessary is to invert the lighter and push somewhat on the finger piece, but not sufciently to operate the flint wheel. When this is done, the valve is opened and liquid fuel can ow into the main fuel chamber from the auxiliary chamber 4.

It Will be noted that there is a loose or selfadjusting connection between the rod 36 and the thumb piece 80. This connection allows the thumb pieceto adjust its position normally with respect to the snuffer cap, and thus aids in ensuring proper operation of the snuffer cap and the ilint Wheel when the thumb piece is depressed. In this aspect, such a construction is applicable and valuable even in a lighter in which depres- "sion of the Ythumb piece does not open a valve Y between two fuel chambers, but in which the rod 36 merely serves Vto restore the parts to closed vposition after operation. Y

While I have described herein one embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not entend to limit myself thereby except within the scope of the claim hereto or hereinafter appended.

I claim:

In a cigarette lighter or the like, a body having a transverse interior wall dividing the space within the body into upper and lower fuel chambers, said Wall having an opening therein, a, wick communicating with the upper fuel chamber and emerging on the top wall of said body, a rod slidable through the top wall of the body and through said opening, closure means for said opening mounted on said rod below said interior wall, means. urging' said rod upwardly, a iiint Wheel rotatably mounted on said top wall between said rod and said wick, means to hold a int against said i'lint wheel, a thumb piece having a downwardly open cup engaging the upper end of said rod, and means operatively connecting said thumb piece to said int wheel, the inside dimensions of said cup being greater than the outside dimensions of said rod.

IRVING FLORMAN.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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