Slide-safety button child-resistant utility lighter

• US 6,318,992 B1
• Filed: 03/18/2000
• Issued: 11/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Calico Brands Incorporated, Honson Marketing Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Calico Brands Incorporated
• Inventors: Sung, Kil Yong
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cocks, Josiah C.
• Application Number:
  US09/531,083
• Time in Patent Office: 612 Days
• Field of Search: 431/153, 431/255, 431/344, 431/345, 431/277, 222/153.14
• US Class Current: 431/153
• CPC Class Codes: F23D 2900/14381 Single operating member opening and closing fuel and oxidant supply valves in torches
• CPC Class Codes: F23Q 2/164 Arrangements for preventing undesired ignition

Abstract

A safety mechanism of a utility lighter that includes a locking mechanism and a safety button. The locking mechanism includes a locking spring, a locking lever and a stopper tab. In the locked position the locking mechanism prevents the trigger from being depressed. The locking lever engages the stopper tab when in the locked position. The safety button, when activated, depresses the locking lever which unlocks the trigger. Activating the safety button also opens the valve and fuel is released. In order to maintain a flame the safety button must be continuously activated.

Claims

1. A utility lighter comprising:

a lighter housing, a lighting rod projecting from the lighter housing, a fuel tank, located within the lighter housing, a valve, being spring loaded so as to be urged into the closed position, for releasing fuel, a gas tube connected to the valve and extending through the lighting rod, and a conventional piezoelectric unit for generating a spark;

a trigger, slidably mounted in the lighter housing, having an exterior surface capable of being engaged by a user for slidably activating the piezoelectric unit, said trigger also having an interior portion positioned substantially within said lighter;

a locking mechanism comprising a locking lever, a locking spring, and a stopper tab;

said locking lever extending from said interior portion of said trigger and having a top surface with a first elevation and a second elevation;

said locking spring capable of urging the locking lever into a position so that the locking lever is biased against the stopper tab to prevent said trigger from sliding a sufficient distance to engage said piezoelectric unit;

a safety button, which is slidably mounted on said housing and capable of moving in a substantially parallel but opposite direction to said trigger;

said safety button having a contact surface, a fuel release segment and a unlocking segment;

said contact surface capable of manipulation by a user so that said fuel release segment opens said valve to release fuel while the unlocking segment substantially and simultaneously moves from a position in which it is in contact with said first elevation of said locking lever to a position in which the fuel release segment is in contact with the second elevation of said locking lever whereby said locking lever is caused to move out of interference with the stopper tab permitting said activation of said piezoelectric unit by said trigger to ignite the fuel being released from said valve.