US3782885A

US3782885A - Piezo electrically ignited lighter

Info

Publication number: US3782885A
Application number: US00282771A
Authority: US
Inventors: P Weissmann
Original assignee: Consul GmbH
Current assignee: Consul GmbH
Priority date: 1971-08-27
Filing date: 1972-08-22
Publication date: 1974-01-01
Anticipated expiration: 1991-01-01
Also published as: CH526752A; ES406402A1; GB1400575A; FR2150871A1; IT963806B; DE2236478A1

Abstract

The lighter housing encloses therein a piezo electric crystal and an impact hammer which, when the crystal is struck, causes the crystal to generate an electrical pulse which provides the spark to ignite the lighter. The impact hammer is operated by a pivoted lever, engaged on one side by a manually operable slider, the other side engaging a striker mechanism which compresses a spring which, when suitably compressed, then releases the impact hammer to strike the crystal. The pivoted two-arm lever has a longer arm engaged by the operating slider, to provide for high compressive force of the spring; the operating mechanism includes a camming arrangement to open a gas valve for a gas operated lighter.

Description

[451 Jan. 1,1974

Primary ExaminerEdward G. Favors Attorney-Robert D. Flynn et al.

[57] ABSTRACT The lighter housing encloses therein a piezo electric crystal and an impact hammer which, when the crystal is struck, causes the crystal to generate an electrical pulse which provides the spark to ignite the lighter. The impact hammer is operated by a pivoted lever, engaged on one side by a manually operable slider, the other side engaging a striker mechanism which com- Peter Weissmann, Burg Farrnbach, Germany Filed: Aug. 22, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 282,771

Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 27, 1971 Switzerland......,................

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United States Patent [1 1 Weissmann [54] PIEZO ELECTRICALLY IGNITED LIGHTER [75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: Consul GmbH, Nurnberg, Germany [51] Int.

a gas operated lighter.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 3,136,355 6/1964 Weber 3,580,698 5/1971 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1.158.720 7/1969 Great Britain......................

PATENIEBJAN 1 I914 NQI Pm in N PIEZO ELECTRICALLY IGNITED LIGHTER The present invention relates to a lighter, and more particularly to a lighter with electric spark ignition, the electric ignition being obtained from a piezo electric voltage generator.

Lighters in which a piezo electric crystal, or the like is struck by an impact hammer or striker are relatively complex since the operating or transfer elements be tween the manually operated button, or the like, to ignite the lighter and the piezo electric element may become complicated. The piezo electric element must be struck with a relatively high impact force in order to obtain the required high energy to generate a spark to ignite the lighter fluid. These transfer elements are subject to malfunction.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple piezo electric lighter arrangement in which the transfer mechanism between a manually operated button, or the like, and the piezo electric element is simple and capable of transmitting sufficient force for reliable ignition.

SUBJECT MATTER OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Briefly, the manually operated device is a slider button, sliding, preferably transversely, of the housing for the lighter. Upon operation of the slider, a lever is moved which has unequal arms, the longer arm being moved by the slider, and the shorter arm stressing a spring which, when suitably compressed, and is released in sear-like fashion so that an impact element can strike the piezo electric device.

In a preferred form, the lever is a double-arm lever, directly engaged by the slider. A re-set or idle spring holds both the lever and the slider in rest position.

The construction is particularly simplified when the slider is arranged at the wider side of an essentially rectangular housing, movable transversely to the wider or broad side of the housing, to provide for long slider travel. The impact device may then travel approximately parallel to the path of the slider itself. This arrangement permits construction of a simple operating mechanism, for table lighters as well as for pocket lighters, which is readily capable of providing the required energy to operate the piezo electric pulse generator without, however, requiring substantial operating force on part of the user.

The invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a highly schematic view of the lighter in fragmentary longitudinal cross-section;

FIG. 2 is another view of the lighter similar to FIG. 1, with the slider moved into operating position;

FIG. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the lighter of FIGS. 1 and 2, partly in cross section, and illustrating a modification of the lighter fluid valving arrangement.

The housing 1 of the slider has at the upper portion thereof an axially movable burner nozzle 2; the nozzle 2 can be lifted from a rest position shown in FIG. 1 to a slightly elevated position, at which point gas stored within the inside of the lighter in a suitable container (not shown) is being supplied to nozzle 2. Nozzle 2 is operated by a nozzle lift plate 3. At the bottom of the slider, a voltage generator assembly is provided which includes a piezo element 20 which provides the necessary ignition energy to provide a spark to ignite a stream of gas emanating from nozzle 2, as schematically indicated by the spark arrow in FIG. 2. A spring tension arrangement including a tension slider 4 cooperates with the piezo element 20. Tension slider 4 can be moved in direction of the arrow 5. Upon such movement, a spring 24 is compressed which moves an impact hammer 21 to the left (compare FIGS. 1 and 2). At a terminal movement point of slider 4, impact hammer l is released in sear-like fashion (for example by slightly tipping slider 4 so that a terminal hook will be depressed and freed from engagement with impact hammer 21). Impact hammer 21, under force of spring 24 impinges against the piezo element 20. Due to the deformation of the piezo element 20, electrical energy is delivered thereby which is supplied over a line 22 to a sparking tip; a spark will be generated between the sparking tip at the terminal end of line 22 and the nozzle 2, the electrical return path being over the housing of the lighter and a line 22'. After the impact hammer 21 has been released, a re-set spring 23 returns operating element 4 to its original position. Arrow 21' illustrates movement of the impact hammer 21 when spring 24 is stressed and arrow 21" illustrates the return, or striking movement of impact element 21.

The operating element 4 is moved by moving a slider 8, which engages a double-armed lever 6 of unequal lever arm length. Lever arm 6 is pivoted about a shaft 7 (FIG. 3) located close to the piezo element 20. Shaft 7 is pivotally retained by suitable means, not shown, within the housing 1. The short arm of the lever 6 engages the tension and sear assembly 4 by means of a transverse bolt 25 (FIG. 3). The longer arm of lever 6 is engaged by slider 8 which extends laterally of the side wall 9 of the lighter 1, for manual operation. Slider 8 is movable in direction of the arrow 10 (FIG. 1) and guided for lateral movement on the housing by means, not shown, for example interengaging grooves and notches, a T-slot, or the like. Slider 8, upon being moved in the direction of arrow ll) (FIG. 1) will push the longer lever arm 6 in clockwise direction, thus causing the tension element 4 to be moved in direction of arrow 5, eventually causing release of the impact element 21 and ignition, as schematically indicated by the electrical arrow in FIG. 2.

Upon lateral movement of the slider 8 in the direction of the arrow 10, FIG. 1, a camming pin 11, transversely located on the lever arm 6 lifts the nozzle plate 3 to lift the nozzle from a completely sealing seated position (FIG. 1) into the slightly lifted, open position of FIG. 2, thus releasing gaseous fluid through the nozzle 2 for ignition. The path of the slider 8 is essentially parallel to the path of movement of striker or impact element 21; the lever, however, travels in a slightly arcuate path to cam the nozzle lifting plate 3 into open position. FIG. 3 shows a different arrangement, in which the slider 8, itself, has an inwardly projecting pin which is slightly tapered. Upon movement of slider 8, the taper schematically shown at 32 on the inwardly extending cam 31 will engage under the nozzle lifting bar 3, more and more to effect opening movement of the nozzle 2.

After the flame is no longer needed, slider 8 can be released. Spring 23 will thereupon retu'rn operating element 4 for the piezo element 20, simultaneously causing re-setting of the lever 6 in counter-clockwise direction, and with it re-setting of slider 8 in the position shown in FIG. 1. Simultaneously, the nozzle lifting bar 3 is unloaded so that the burner nozzle 2 can return into valve shut-off position, for example under force of a small spring, not shown.

Various changes and modifications may be made within the inventive concept. Thus, the arrangement of FIG. 3 in which an inwardly extending cam 31, with a camming surface 32 directly lifts the valve lifting bar 3 is a suitable modification. Additional re-set springs may be provided, or the re-set spring 23 can be located to act on either the slider 8, or the lever 6, or additional springs may be independently provided. The slider 8 can also be so arranged that it can be locked in an open position, that is, in the position of the slider shown in FIG. 2, for example by slight inward pressure on the slider on one side or the other, release being by counter inward pressure, to lock and unlock the slider in predetermined position. For some apparatus it may be desirable to provide a slider lock in the position shown in FIG. 1 to prevent spurious deflection, even against the force of spring 23 as well as spring 24. Other changes and modifications may be made within the inventive concept.

I claim:

1. A piezoelectric, liquified gas-fueled lighter comprising a housing;

a lever pivoted intermediate its length at said housing to provide two unequal lever arms;

a manually operable slider located at one side face of said housing and directly abutting the longer arm of said lever;

a high voltage generation unit comprising piezoelectric means located in said housing;

an impact means cooperating with the piezoelectric means, said impact means being movable by the shorter arm of said lever;

a nozzle means and a valve means for on-off control of gas flow to said nozzle means;

an actuating means for said valve means;

and a cam means on said longer arm of said lever,

said cam means being in sliding contact with said actuating means for said valve means.

2. A lighter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said actuating means is a lift plate, which is in continuous contact with said cam means and is located substantially parallel to the path of movement of said cam means.

3. Lighter according to claim 1, further comprising a re-set spring (23) retaining the lever, and the manually operable means (8) in re-set position.

4. Lighter according to claim 1, wherein the housing is rectangular and the slider (8) is located at a wider side of the housing and movable to slide across the housing.

5. Lighter according to claim 1, wherein the path of movement of the manually operable means and the path of movement of the impact means are substantially parallel to each other.

Claims

1. A piezoelectric, liquified gas-fueled lighter comprising a housing; a lever pivoted intermediate its length at said housing to provide two unequal lever arms; a manually operable slider located at one side face of said housing and directly abutting the longer arm of said lever; a high voltage generation unit comprising piezoelectric means located in said housing; an impact means cooperating with the piezoelectric means, said impact means being movable by the shorter arm of said lever; a nozzle means and a valve means for on-off control of gas flow to said nozzle means; an actuating means for said valve means; and a cam means on said longer arm of said lever, said cam means being in sliding contact with said actuating means for said valve means.