US3723048A

US3723048A - Safety lighter

Info

Publication number: US3723048A
Application number: US00082982A
Authority: US
Inventors: B Russell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-10-22
Filing date: 1970-10-22
Publication date: 1973-03-27
Anticipated expiration: 1990-03-27

Abstract

A safety-type cigarette lighter characterized by a selfcontained removable tank unit and a protective jacket or casing for said unit. The casing, which is of a well known type, embodies a cup-type receiver whose upper open end is normally closed by a hinged cap-type cover retained by resilient latch means when in its closing position. The hollow tank of the tank unit is equipped with the usual flint, finger-turned sparking wheel and wick-equipped neck, and is wholly filled with a wad of absorbent fluid storing material. This unit does not have to be fully withdrawn to charge with lighter fluid. The upper halfportion is withdrawn just enough to uncover and expose a filler hole. Therefore, the lighter does not have to be turned upside down for filling with lighter fluid. Then, too, the disclosed lighter features a novelly arranged wick which has a coil aligned with and exposed for quick saturation during the fuel filling step.

Description

United States Patent 1 1 Russell 1 1 Mar. 27, 1973 1 1 SAFETY LIGHTER [76] Inventor: Barney G. Russell, P.O. Box 873,

Camden, Ark. 71701 [22] Filed: Oct. 22, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 82,982

Primary Examiner-Carroll B. Dority, Jr. Attorney-Clarence A. OBrien [57] ABSTRACT A safety-type cigarette lighter characterized by a selfcontained removable tank unit and a protective jacket or casing for said unit. The casing, which is of a well known type, embodies a cup-type receiver whose upper open end is normally closed by a hinged captype cover retained by resilient latch means when in its closing position. The hollow tank of the tank unit is equipped with the usual flint, finger-turned sparking wheel and wick-equipped neck, and is wholly filled with a wad of absorbent fluid storing material. This unit does not have to be fully withdrawn to charge with lighter fluid. The upper half-portion is withdrawn just enough to uncover and expose a filler hole. Therefore, the lighter does not have to be turned upside down for filling with lighter fluid. Then, too, the disclosed lighter features a novelly arranged wick which has a coil aligned with and exposed for quick saturation during the fuel filling step.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEUmzmu $723,048

Barney 6. Russell BY 2mm (ma W 5% SAFETY LIGHTER This invention relates to portable pocket-sized lighters for cigars and cigarettes and has to do, more particularly, with that style of a lighter wherein an insertable and removable self-contained lighter unit of a tank type is telescopingly and slidingly fitted in the cuplike receiver or receptacle, of an outer case or casing, and wherein the open upper end of the receiver is equipped with a cap-like cover which when snapped to a closed position is retained by built-in spring means.

For background purposes it may be helpful for the reader to take note of and consider a broadly significant reference; that is, the cigarette lighter shown in prior US. Pat. No. 1,360,202. Lighters such as those which embody a tank type lighter unit and wherein the hollow portion of the tank is charged with absorbent cotton or the like for storing the progressively usable lighter fluid require a user to forcibly dislodge and completely withdraw the unit and then turn the bottom side up in order to refill the tank. It is common knowledge that unless extreme care is resorted to some of the lighter fluid is more likely than not to overflow and flush over-the exterior surfaces of the tank, over the exposed wick-end, flint, friction wheel and deposit itself on the users hands in a messy manner. Then, when the unit is replaced and the flint sparking wheel is zipped and turned in the usual manner, the ignited wick and proximal surfaces are apt to blaze up and catch on fire, with the result that the user may be caused to excitedly let go of and dangerously drop the blazing lighter on a rug or the like and start a difticult-to-control fire. One object of the invention is to so construct the tank unit that the storage chamber thereof can be readily and conveniently filled with lighter fluid without having to pull the unit out of the casing's receiver. It follows that the tank filling and replenishing step can be achieved expeditiously and safely without having to turn the lighter upside down. In fact, the only time that the parts (casing and tank) have to be separated is when a new flint has to be inserted.

Briefly the herein disclosed lighter is of a type which utilizes an ignitible wick and a cooperatively oriented source of combustible lighter fluid, more specifically, an outer jacket or casing embodying two primary component parts, namely, a cup-like receiver which is open at its top and which provides a pocket-like receptacle. The open top portion of the receiver is provided with a second complemental part, that is a pivoted cap-type spring-retained cover. The cover can be snapped to an open position and retained out of the way during the cigarette or cigar lighting step. The hinged part of the cap is provided with a detent which cooperates with a stock-type spring finger or latch which retains the cap in a closed position when it is swung in the desired manner. A bodily insertable and removable hollow tank unit is provided and this unit is of a size and shape which is such that it corresponds to the receptacle part of the receiver. It is telescopingly and slidingly fitted and concealed and enclosed in the receptacle and has an upper end portion which is completely enclosed, that is, when the hinged cover is snapped to its normal closing and sheating position. The tank unit is characterized by side walls, end walls, an optional bottom wall, and an essential top wall. The hollowor chamber portion is packed or stuffed as usual with absorbent and fluid-storing material such as a wad of cotton or the like. The top wall is provided with accessible manually manipulatable spark generating means, an abradant wheel for example, and an upstanding positioning and retaining neck for the upper end of the wick. An upper end portion of one wall, preferably a side wall, of the unit has a properly proportioned and conveniently located filler hole which is normally enclosed within the confines of the receptacle or receiver and which can be exposed for accessible use by manually sliding the upper end, more particularly the upper half portion, of said unit up into a position which renders the filler hole accessible. It follows that the unit can be safely and conveniently replenished with lighter fluid in an upright position and without having to wholly dislodge and remove the unit or to invert the lighter, as is now ordinarily necessary.

A feature of the invention in addition to the properly located filler hole has to do with the wick. This is to say the leading upper end of the wick is plugged for use into and retained by an upstanding neck and the median body portion and the lower trailing end portion is stuffed and located between an interior of one side wall of the unit and an adjacent surface portion of the fluid storing material. In fact the trailing end portion is coiled and the convolutions of the coil are situated in alignment with the filler hole. Accordingly when the nozzle of the lighter fluid can is lined up with the hole it quickly saturates the wick and facilitates safe and convenient loading of the wad of material with surplus fluid.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of a safety lighter constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention and which, in appearance, resembles commonly marketed encased-type lighters.

FIG. 2 is a view also in side elevation with the cap swung to the right to an open position and with the insertable and removable tank unit with its self-contained lighting facilities lifted part-way, that is approximately to the position illustrated, in order to expose the filler hole for safe and convenient use.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view taken approximately on the plane of the vertical section line 3-3 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the indicating arrows.

And FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view in perspective and on a suitably enlarged scale showing the coiled lower or trailing end portion of the aforementioned wick.

The aforementioned outer protective case or casing is denoted, generally stated, by the numeral 6. As usual it comprises a hollow cup-like receiver 8 the hollow portion 10 of which provides a pocket-like receptacle, the upper end or mouth portion 12 being open as best shown in FIG. 3. The cover or lid is of the usual hood or cap type and is denoted at 14. One corner portion is hingedly mounted as at 16 adjacent the upper end of the receiver so that the cap assumes the proper closed position shown in FIG. 1. A hinged end portion of the cap is provided with a detent 18 which is cooperable with a leaf spring or latch 20 mounted in a channel-like member 22 fixed on one side of the insertable and removable selfvcontained tank unit 24. It should be pointed out that the casing and its component parts are old and well known in the art. It follows that the primary improvement has to do with the tank unit and more particularly the substantially rectangular tank 26 which is of a shape and size that it telescopes and slides into the receptacle l and is covered when the cover is closed as shown in FIG. 1. The tank comprises

side walls

28 and 30, top wall 32 and an optional bottom wall 34. This hollow tank serves to accommodate a wad of cotton or the like as denoted at 36. This cotton is fitted into the chamber of the tank. The upper part of the side wall has an improved feature that is a filler hole 38 of requisite size and located just below the level of the top 32. The tank also has appropriate longitudinal or vertical side walls 40. The top wall is provided with a flame guard 42 having cars 44 carrying a flint sparking wheel 46 cooperable with the customarily mounted flint 48. As shown in FIG. 3 a neck 50 is provided for the upper end 52 of the wick. The wick is distinct and different in that the median portion 54 is inserted between the interior of the wall 34 so that it is in the chamber 54 and the lower end portion is coiled as at 56 and is lined up with the filler hole 38. The over-all wick is denoted by the numeral 58.

It is significant to note that the filler hole 38 is, of course, of requisite diameter and is preferably centrally located as shown in FIG. 2. It is close to the level of the top wall 32 and therefore can be said to be situated in the upper half portion of the tank. It follows that the lower half portion 27 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 in particular remains within the confines of the receptacle portion during the filling step. This is to say, all that is necessary is for one to catch hold of the upper half portion and withdraw the tank to the position suggested in FIGS. 2 and 3. In this position the hole 38 is exposed and the filling step (not illustrated) can be carried out successfully.

It is submitted too that the manufacturer can make the

principal component parts

6 and 24 such in mating relationship that handicapped persons will be able to accomplish the desired job with little or no difficulty. In fact, it is reasonable to assume that the filling step with a little practice can be achieved with one hand and consequently a single-handed person can achieve the filling and closing steps desired. The fact that the component parts do not have to be separated, only when supplying a new flint, well serves the purposes for which the lighter has been devised.

Ordinarily when a wick burns too low it is necessary to remove all of the filler cotton to remedy the problem. With the wick herein shown and with the coiled end sandwiched between the filler or wad 36 and as brought out in FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be evident that quick saturation of the wick takes place and that as a matter of fact the wick can be replaced in the hands of a person possessed of requisite patience and skill.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

hat IS claimed as new is as follows:

1. A lighter of a type which uses an ignitible wick and a cooperatively oriented source of combustible lighter fluid comprising: a protective casing embodying cuplike receiver which is open at its top and which provides a receptacle, the open top portion of said receiver being provided with a cooperatively pivoted cap-type spring-retained cover, and a bodily insertable and removable hollow tank unit of a size and shape corresponding to said receptacle and telescopingly and slidingly fitted and enclosed in said receptacle and having an upper end portion which is completely enclosed when said cover is retentively closed, said unit embodying side walls, end walls and a top wall, said hollow tank unit being operatively packed with absorbent fluid storing material, said top wall being provided with accessible manually manipulatable spark generating means and an upstanding positioning and retaining neck for a wick; and an upper portion of one wall of said unit having a filler hole which is normally enclosed within the confines of said receiver but can be exposed for accessible use by sliding the upper half-portion of said unit up to a position which renders the filler hole accessible, whereby said unit can be safely and conveniently replenished with lighter fluid in an upright position without having to wholly remove said unit or to invert the lighter, as is ordinarily necessary, an elongated wick having an upper leading end portion plugged for use in and retained by said neck, and a main body and lower trailing end portion stuffed and retained between an interior of said one wall of said unit and an adjacent surface portion of said fluid storing material, and wherein the trailing end portion of said wick is formed into a coil which is commensurate in size with the size of said filler hole, the convolutions of said coil being nested together and being accessibly aligned with said hole.

Claims

1. A lighter of a tyPe which uses an ignitible wick and a cooperatively oriented source of combustible lighter fluid comprising: a protective casing embodying cup-like receiver which is open at its top and which provides a receptacle, the open top portion of said receiver being provided with a cooperatively pivoted cap-type spring-retained cover, and a bodily insertable and removable hollow tank unit of a size and shape corresponding to said receptacle and telescopingly and slidingly fitted and enclosed in said receptacle and having an upper end portion which is completely enclosed when said cover is retentively closed, said unit embodying side walls, end walls and a top wall, said hollow tank unit being operatively packed with absorbent fluid storing material, said top wall being provided with accessible manually manipulatable spark generating means and an upstanding positioning and retaining neck for a wick; and an upper portion of one wall of said unit having a filler hole which is normally enclosed within the confines of said receiver but can be exposed for accessible use by sliding the upper half-portion of said unit up to a position which renders the filler hole accessible, whereby said unit can be safely and conveniently replenished with lighter fluid in an upright position without having to wholly remove said unit or to invert the lighter, as is ordinarily necessary, an elongated wick having an upper leading end portion plugged for use in and retained by said neck, and a main body and lower trailing end portion stuffed and retained between an interior of said one wall of said unit and an adjacent surface portion of said fluid storing material, and wherein the trailing end portion of said wick is formed into a coil which is commensurate in size with the size of said filler hole, the convolutions of said coil being nested together and being accessibly aligned with said hole.