PERCUSSION ARRANGEMENTS

• US 3,867,653 A
• Filed: 09/19/1973
• Issued: 02/18/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Karl Heinz Duetze
• Original Assignee: Karl Heinz Duetze
• Inventors: Duetze, Karl Heinz
• Primary Examiner(s): Budd, Mark O.
• Application Number:
  US05/398,801
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 310/8.3,8.7,9.1,9.4 317/DIG.11,79,81 431/255
• US Class Current: 310/339
• CPC Class Codes: F23Q 2/287 piezoelectric

Abstract

A percussion arrangement for piezo-electric apparatus especially for lighters comprising a piezo-electric element, a pivotal hammer resiliently urged into contact with the piezo-electric element and a rotatable cam in contact with the hammer for raising the hammer above the piezo-electric element and allowing the hammer to drop onto the piezo-electric element by virtue of the resilient action on the hammer. The cam comprises a plurality of sectors each having a first portion whose profile extends from the axis of rotation of the cam so as to move the hammer away from the piezo-electric element and a second portion whose profile approaches the axis of rotation to allow the hammer to drop onto the piezo-electric element. A pivotal thumb piece is resiliently urged away from the cam and hammer and a link is pivotally connected to the thumb piece and bears against the cam to effect rotation thereof when the thumb piece is displaced. The cam is freely rotatable and carries spindles, the link acting on one spindle when the user depresses the thumb piece to turn the cam, the link then passing to the succeeding spindle when the thumb piece is released and elevated. The cam is therefore freely rotatable and is disconnected from the link at the instant when the hammer approaches the piezo-electric element to strike the same.

Claims

1. A percussion arrangement for piezo-electric apparatus, especially for lighters, comprising a piezo-electric element, a pivotal hammer resIliently urged into contact with the piezoelectric element, a rotatable cam in contact with the hammer and which comprises at least one sector having a first portion whose profile extends from the axis of rotation of the cam so as to move the hammer away from the piezo-electric element, and a second portion whose profile approaches the axis of rotation to allow the hammer to drop onto the piezo-electric element, a pivotal thumb piece resiliently urged away from the hammer and cam, and drive means coupled to said thumb piece for bearing against said cam to effect rotation of the cam when the thumb piece is displaced, the cam being freely rotatable and being disconnected from the drive means at the instant when the hammer approaches the piezo-electric element to strike the same.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said sector of the free-wheeling cam is constituted by a tooth presenting a flank of increasing profile and a re-entrant flank which permits the support surface of the hammer to fall freely upstream of the flank of increasing profile.

3. An arrangement according to claim 1, in which the hammer support surface is constituted by at least one wheel adapted to roll on the profile of the free-wheeling cam.

4. An arrangement according to claim 1 in which said cam sector has a round profile and said first portion is of increasing radius from a hollow to a projection and along which is displaced a support surface of the hammer and said second portion is of decreasing radius from the projection to a succeeding hollow and on which the support surface rests to effect turning of the free-wheeling cam during descent of the hammer.

5. An arrangement according to claim 1 comprising a support of generally U-shape, the piezo-electric element being screwed into the base of the U, the hammer including a handle supporting an axis on which turn two symmetrical lateral wheels, the free-wheeling cam being traversed by three equi-angularly spaced spindles whose ends constitute the abutments, a stirrup in the form of an inverted U pivoted to the thumb piece and including two limbs which constitute the links the lower ends of which are curved towards the free-wheeling cam along a circular path followed by a vertical part to form a hook for engaging a spindle and then a recess including a lower vertical part.

6. An arrangement according to claim 1 comprising a uni-directional kinematic connection between the thumb piece and the cam inclusive of said drive means, said connection comprising an abutment for each cam sector and a link pivotably mounted on the thumb piece and resiliently urged against said thumb piece, the link acting on one of the said abutments when the user depresses the thumb piece then passing to the succeeding abutment when the thumb piece is released and elevated.

7. An arrangement according to claim 6, in which the free-wheeling cam comprises three sectors, the two portions of the profile of each sector being symmetrical, and the link being a thrust link urged against the cam by spring action.