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EP0504071B1 - Safety lighter with delayed gas supply - Google Patents

Safety lighter with delayed gas supply Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0504071B1
EP0504071B1 EP92420049A EP92420049A EP0504071B1 EP 0504071 B1 EP0504071 B1 EP 0504071B1 EP 92420049 A EP92420049 A EP 92420049A EP 92420049 A EP92420049 A EP 92420049A EP 0504071 B1 EP0504071 B1 EP 0504071B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
valve
burner
lever
opening
elastic
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP92420049A
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German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0504071A1 (en
Inventor
René Frigiere
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Cricket SA
Original Assignee
Cricket SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Cricket SA filed Critical Cricket SA
Publication of EP0504071A1 publication Critical patent/EP0504071A1/en
Priority claimed from CA002078465A external-priority patent/CA2078465A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0504071B1 publication Critical patent/EP0504071B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23QIGNITION; EXTINGUISHING-DEVICES
    • F23Q2/00Lighters containing fuel, e.g. for cigarettes
    • F23Q2/16Lighters with gaseous fuel, e.g. the gas being stored in liquid phase
    • F23Q2/162Lighters with gaseous fuel, e.g. the gas being stored in liquid phase with non-adjustable gas flame
    • F23Q2/163Burners (gas valves)
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23QIGNITION; EXTINGUISHING-DEVICES
    • F23Q2/00Lighters containing fuel, e.g. for cigarettes
    • F23Q2/16Lighters with gaseous fuel, e.g. the gas being stored in liquid phase

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a safety lighter, with delayed gas opening, of the type comprising, fitted in its body, a normally gaseous fuel tank, stored in the liquid phase, a pressure reducer-evaporator located between the tank and a burner- gas outlet shut-off valve controlled by a lever articulated on an axis orthogonal to that of the valve burner, one end or anterior end of which, normally applied against a shoulder of the valve burner, constantly tends to hold the valve in position closing, against the pressure exerted on it by the gas and whose other end, or rear actuating end, is constantly subjected to the action of a spring means which tends to rotate it in the direction corresponding to the closing of the valve.
  • the lighting of such a lighter consists in acting on the rear end of the lever, against the aforementioned spring means, to release the valve for its opening under the action of the gas under pressure and to actuate, roughly simultaneously, a mechanism for producing an ignition spark.
  • the opening of the valve only occur at the end of the operation of the lever, not only fear that the release of the gas does not take place until the moment of production of the spark above the burner, in the event that the latter is prior to the start of operation of the lever, which promotes ignition, but also, so that the opening time of the valve is reduced as much as possible.
  • a lighter is tightened in a pocket of clothing or bag, it is possible that one of the constraints to which it is subjected tends to tilt the lever in the direction of opening of the valve and, in the absence of neutral travel, such a tilting inevitably leads to an unnecessary loss of gas.
  • valve is only opened at the end of its control lever travel, when the lighter is a child-resistant lighter, that is to say comprising a blocking mechanism. of the control lever in the valve closed position, which can be operated in the retracted position to allow the ignition of the flame but, normally, automatically returned to the active blocking position after each operation of the control lever.
  • This mechanism includes retractable stops normally located on the path of part of the rear end of the control lever. For this mechanism to play its role perfectly, it is necessary that it oppose any pivoting of the lever, even over a very small angular travel, since, as soon as it is released by the control lever, the valve is pushed back into position d opening by pressurized gas released by the pressure reducer-evaporator.
  • the manufacturing tolerances make it possible to eliminate any play between the control lever and the retractable stops of its blocking mechanism but, moreover, the progressive deformation of the lever, in particular because of the heat generated by the flame tends to increase this game at the expense of safety.
  • the first elastic means keeps the second in the activated position to the maximum, as compressed and the sum of the two reactions of the elastic means is opposed when the valve opens. It is only during the operation of the control lever, in the direction of opening of the valve, that the second elastic means alone continues, initially, to oppose the opening of the valve and it is only by maneuvering the control lever even more that the deactivation of the second elastic means frees the valve sufficiently to authorize its opening.
  • this second elastic means differs the opening of the valve by a time corresponding to a predetermined fraction of the angular travel, or neutral travel, in the direction of opening of the valve, of the lever. control of its opening / closing.
  • the second elastic means consists of the control lever shaped so as to have an elastically deformable section, between its front end of support on the valve burner and its end. posterior actuation and this is achieved by the fact that the anterior end of the control lever which totally or partially surrounds the upper end of the valve burner is divided, by a V-shaped slot, into two superimposed segments, linked to the to each other by a veil of elastic material, acting as an elastic hinge, and the lower one of which is normally inclined downward but can be brought elastically closer to the upper segment under the action of a force less than that generated by the first elastic means but greater than that generated by the pressure of the gas under the valve.
  • the present invention aims to overcome this drawback.
  • the control lever is composed of two consecutive segments linked to each other by a bridge of elastically flexible material, acting as an elastic hinge and constituting the second elastic means, with stop for limiting the bending of this bridge, when the control lever is in the holding position in the closed position of the valve burner.
  • the bridge of elastically flexible material connects the lower parts of the two segments of the control lever and their corresponding upper parts, normally separated from one another, forming the edges of the vertical slot, constitute the stops limiting the bending. up the front lever segment.
  • the front end 5a of the lever 5, that is to say that located on the left in the drawing, is shaped in a crown so as to surround the upper end 4b of the valve burner 4, while its other end, or rear actuating end 5b is constantly subjected to the action of a helical spring 8 compressed between it and the upper part of the body 2 of the lighter.
  • This spring 8 which constitutes the first elastic means of this lighter, constantly tends to rotate the lever 5 in the direction of the arrow 9, that is to say in the direction in which its front end 5a holds the burner- valve 4 in the closed position by pressing against a shoulder 4c of this valve burner 4.
  • the ignition mechanism of this lighter has not been shown, that is to say the mechanism responsible for producing a gas ignition spark after opening the valve burner.
  • This ignition mechanism which can be of any type, pyrophoric stone, piezoelectric quartz or other, is arranged to be actuated at the same time, just before or just after the control lever 5 in the direction of the opening of the valve burner 4.
  • lighters of this type child-proof comprising, below the rear end 5b of actuation of the lever 5, retractable stops intended to limit the pivoting in the direction of opening of the valve burner 4, the requirements for automatic mounting of these lighters linked to the conditions of manufacture of their constituent elements, make it inevitable that there is play between the lever 5 and the retractable stops, play which makes it possible to open the valve burner 4 despite the presence of the stops.
  • a second means is provided. elastic capable of generating a second closing force of the valve burner 4, independent of the first, mounted in series with it to act in the same direction but whose force is less than that of the first but greater than that generated by the fuel pressure to open the valve burner 4.
  • the second elastic means keeps the valve burner 4 in the closed position until it is, in turn, deactivated by continuing to pivot the lever 5 in the aforementioned direction.
  • the angular travel of the lever 5 corresponding to the opening of the valve burner 4, or neutral travel depends on the deflection of the second elastic means corresponding to the balance of its force with that generated by the gas pressure upstream of the valve burner 4, but this deflection is easy to determine according to the nature of the second elastic means.
  • the front end 5a, shaped as a crown, of the lever 5 is partially separated from the rest of this lever by a vertical notch 17, opening upwards, the connection between the two thus produced segments of this lever being provided only by a lower bridge 18 of flexible and elastic material such as plastic in which the lever 5 is made, in one piece, by molding or injection.
  • This lower bridge 18 acts as an elastic hinge, allowing the elastic deformation of the lever 5, as shown in Figure 1, and therefore constitutes the second elastic means.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Lighters Containing Fuel (AREA)
  • Feeding And Controlling Fuel (AREA)

Description

La présente invention concerne un briquet de sécurité, à ouverture de gaz différée, du type comprenant, aménagé dans son corps, un réservoir de combustible normalement gazeux, stocké en phase liquide, un réducteur de pression-évaporateur situé entre le réservoir et un brûleur-soupape de fermeture de la sortie de gaz commandée par un levier articulé sur un axe orthogonal à celui du brûleur-soupape, dont une extrémité, ou extrémité antérieure, normalement appliquée contre un épaulement du brûleur-soupape, tend constamment à maintenir la soupape en position de fermeture, à l'encontre de la pression exercée sur elle par le gaz et dont l'autre extrémité, ou extrémité postérieure d'actionnement, est constamment soumise a l'action d'un moyen à ressort qui tend à le faire pivoter dans le sens correspondant à la fermeture de la soupape.The present invention relates to a safety lighter, with delayed gas opening, of the type comprising, fitted in its body, a normally gaseous fuel tank, stored in the liquid phase, a pressure reducer-evaporator located between the tank and a burner- gas outlet shut-off valve controlled by a lever articulated on an axis orthogonal to that of the valve burner, one end or anterior end of which, normally applied against a shoulder of the valve burner, constantly tends to hold the valve in position closing, against the pressure exerted on it by the gas and whose other end, or rear actuating end, is constantly subjected to the action of a spring means which tends to rotate it in the direction corresponding to the closing of the valve.

L'allumage d'un tel briquet consiste à agir sur l'extrémité postérieure du levier, à l'encontre du moyen à ressort précité, pour libérer la soupape en vue de son ouverture sous l'action du gaz sous pression et à actionner, à peu près simultanément, un mécanisme de production d'une étincelle d'allumage.The lighting of such a lighter consists in acting on the rear end of the lever, against the aforementioned spring means, to release the valve for its opening under the action of the gas under pressure and to actuate, roughly simultaneously, a mechanism for producing an ignition spark.

On conçoit aisément qu'il est préférable que l'ouverture de la soupape ne se produise qu'à la fin de la manoeuvre du levier, non seulement peur que la libération du gaz ne se fasse qu'à l'instant de la production de l'etincelle au-dessus du brûleur, dans le cas où cette dernière est antérieure au début de manoeuvre du levier, ce qui favorise l'allumage, mais aussi, pour que le temps d'ouverture de la soupape soit réduit le plus possible. Comme, en outre, il est fréquent qu'un tel briquet soit serré dans une poche de vêtement ou de sac, il est possible que l'une des contraintes auxquelles il est soumis tende à faire basculer le levier dans le sens de l'ouverture de la soupape et, en l'absence de course neutre, un tel basculement entraîne inévitablement une perte inutile de gaz.It is easily understood that it is preferable that the opening of the valve only occur at the end of the operation of the lever, not only fear that the release of the gas does not take place until the moment of production of the spark above the burner, in the event that the latter is prior to the start of operation of the lever, which promotes ignition, but also, so that the opening time of the valve is reduced as much as possible. As, moreover, it is frequent that such a lighter is tightened in a pocket of clothing or bag, it is possible that one of the constraints to which it is subjected tends to tilt the lever in the direction of opening of the valve and, in the absence of neutral travel, such a tilting inevitably leads to an unnecessary loss of gas.

Par ailleurs, il est particulièrement intéressant que la soupape ne soit ouverte qu'en fin de course de son levier de commande, lorsque le briquet est un briquet à l'épreuve des enfants, c'est-à-dire comportant un mécanisme de blocage du levier de commande en position de fermeture de la soupape, susceptible d'être manoeuvré en position escamotée pour permettre l,allumage de la flamme mais, normalement, ramené automatiquement en position active de blocage après chaque manoeuvre du levier de commande.In addition, it is particularly interesting that the valve is only opened at the end of its control lever travel, when the lighter is a child-resistant lighter, that is to say comprising a blocking mechanism. of the control lever in the valve closed position, which can be operated in the retracted position to allow the ignition of the flame but, normally, automatically returned to the active blocking position after each operation of the control lever.

Un tel mécanisme est connu par le document WO-A-90/12254.Such a mechanism is known from document WO-A-90/12254.

Ce mécanisme comprend des butées escamotables normalement situées sur la trajectoire d'une partie de l'extrémité postérieure du levier de commande. Pour que ce mécanisme joue parfaitement son rôle, il est nécessaire qu'il s'oppose à tout pivotement du levier, même sur une très petite course angulaire, puisque, dès sa libération par le levier de commande, la soupape est repoussée en position d'ouverture par le gaz sous pression, libéré par le réducteur de pression-évaporateur. Or, non seulement, les tolérances de fabrication ne permettent pas d'éliminer tout jeu entre le levier de commande et les butées escamotables de son mécanisme de blocage mais, en outre, la déformation progressive du levier, notamment à cause de la chaleur engendrée par la flamme, tend à augmenter ce jeu au détriment de la sécurité.This mechanism includes retractable stops normally located on the path of part of the rear end of the control lever. For this mechanism to play its role perfectly, it is necessary that it oppose any pivoting of the lever, even over a very small angular travel, since, as soon as it is released by the control lever, the valve is pushed back into position d opening by pressurized gas released by the pressure reducer-evaporator. However, not only do the manufacturing tolerances make it possible to eliminate any play between the control lever and the retractable stops of its blocking mechanism but, moreover, the progressive deformation of the lever, in particular because of the heat generated by the flame tends to increase this game at the expense of safety.

Par le brevet FR-2 280 029, on connaît un briquet du type précité dans lequel l'ouverture de la soupape par le levier de commande est différée par l'adaptation d'un un second moyen élastique, interposé entre le premier et la soupape, destiné à agir sur la soupape, en série et dans le même sens que le premier, c'est-à-dire dans le sens de la fermeture de la soupape, mais avec une force inférieure à celle du premier moyen élastique mais supérieure à celle engendrée par la pression du gaz et tendant à ouvrir la soupape.By patent FR-2 280 029, a lighter of the aforementioned type is known in which the opening of the valve by the control lever is delayed by the adaptation of a second elastic means, interposed between the first and the valve , intended to act on the valve, in series and in the same direction as the first, that is to say in the direction of closing the valve, but with a force less than that of the first elastic means but greater than that generated by the pressure of the gas and tending to open the valve.

Ainsi, en position de repos du briquet, c'est-à-dire de fermeture de la soupape, le premier moyen élastique maintient le second en position activée au maximum, tel que comprimé et la somme des deux réactions des moyens élastiques s'oppose à l'ouverture de la soupape. Ce n'est qu'au cours de la manoeuvre du levier de commande, dans le sens de l'ouverture de la soupape, que le second moyen élastique continue seul, dans un premier temps, à s'opposer à l'ouverture de la soupape et ce n'est qu'en manoeuvrant plus encore le levier de commande que la désactivation du second moyen élastique libère suffisamment la soupape pour autoriser son ouverture.Thus, in the lighter's rest position, that is to say when the valve is closed, the first elastic means keeps the second in the activated position to the maximum, as compressed and the sum of the two reactions of the elastic means is opposed when the valve opens. It is only during the operation of the control lever, in the direction of opening of the valve, that the second elastic means alone continues, initially, to oppose the opening of the valve and it is only by maneuvering the control lever even more that the deactivation of the second elastic means frees the valve sufficiently to authorize its opening.

Il est donc évident que la présence de ce second moyen élastique diffère l'ouverture de la soupape d'un temps correspondant à une fraction prédéterminée de la course angulaire, ou course neutre, dans le sens de l'ouverture de la soupape, du levier de commande de son ouverture/fermeture.It is therefore obvious that the presence of this second elastic means differs the opening of the valve by a time corresponding to a predetermined fraction of the angular travel, or neutral travel, in the direction of opening of the valve, of the lever. control of its opening / closing.

Cependant, dans le briquet objet du brevet français précité, le second moyen élastique est constitué par le levier de commande conformé de manière à présenter une section déformable élastiquement, entre son extrémité antérieure d'appui sur le brûleur-soupape et son extrémité postérieure d'actionnement et cela est réalisé par le fait que l'extrémité antérieure du levier de commande qui entoure totalement ou partiellement l'extrémité supérieure du brûleur-soupape est divisée, par une fente en V, en deux segments superposés, liés l'un à l'autre par un voile de matière élastique, faisant office de charnière élastique, et dont celui inférieur est normalement incliné vers le bas mais peut être rapproché élastiquement du segment supérieur sous l'action d'une force inférieure à celle engendrée par le premier moyen élastique mais supérieure à celle engendrée par la pression du gaz sous la soupape. Bien que donnant toute satisfaction sur le plan du fonctionnement, ce briquet présente l'inconvénient d'être d'un prix de revient élevé en raison du coût de son levier de commande.However, in the lighter which is the subject of the aforementioned French patent, the second elastic means consists of the control lever shaped so as to have an elastically deformable section, between its front end of support on the valve burner and its end. posterior actuation and this is achieved by the fact that the anterior end of the control lever which totally or partially surrounds the upper end of the valve burner is divided, by a V-shaped slot, into two superimposed segments, linked to the to each other by a veil of elastic material, acting as an elastic hinge, and the lower one of which is normally inclined downward but can be brought elastically closer to the upper segment under the action of a force less than that generated by the first elastic means but greater than that generated by the pressure of the gas under the valve. Although giving all satisfaction in terms of operation, this lighter has the disadvantage of being a high cost price due to the cost of its control lever.

La présente invention vise à pallier cet inconvénient.The present invention aims to overcome this drawback.

A cet effet, dans le briquet qu'elle concerne et qui est du type précité, le levier de commande est composé de deux segments consécutifs liés l'un à l'autre par un pont de matière élastiquement flexible, faisant office de charnière élastique et constituant le second moyen élastique, avec butée de limitation de la flexion de ce pont, lorsque le levier de commande est en position de maintien en position de fermeture du brûleur-soupape.To this end, in the lighter that it concerns and which is of the aforementioned type, the control lever is composed of two consecutive segments linked to each other by a bridge of elastically flexible material, acting as an elastic hinge and constituting the second elastic means, with stop for limiting the bending of this bridge, when the control lever is in the holding position in the closed position of the valve burner.

Par exemple, le pont de matière élastiquement flexible relie les parties inférieures des deux segments du levier de commande et leurs parties supérieures correspondantes, normalement écartées l'une de l'autre, formant les bords de la fente verticale, constituent les butées limitant la flexion vers le haut du segment antérieur du levier.For example, the bridge of elastically flexible material connects the lower parts of the two segments of the control lever and their corresponding upper parts, normally separated from one another, forming the edges of the vertical slot, constitute the stops limiting the bending. up the front lever segment.

De toute façon, l'invention sera bien comprise, à l'aide de la description qui suit, en référence au dessin schématique annexé représentant, à titre d'exemples non limitatif, une forme d'exécution de ce briquet de sécurité :

  • figures 1 et 2 sont des vues partielles en coupes verticales, montrant la tête ou extrémité supérieure d'un briquet à gaz selon l'invention, avec le levier de commande de l'ouverture/fermeture du brûleur-soupape en position, respectivement, de repos et fermeture du brûleur-soupape et de préouverture du brûleur-soupape.
In any case, the invention will be clearly understood, with the aid of the description which follows, with reference to the appended schematic drawing representing, by way of nonlimiting examples, an embodiment of this safety lighter:
  • Figures 1 and 2 are partial views in vertical sections, showing the head or upper end of a gas lighter according to the invention, with the control lever for the opening / closing of the valve burner in position, respectively, of rest and closing of the valve burner and pre-opening of the valve burner.

Sur le dessin, on peut voir la partie supérieure du corps 2 de ce briquet, avec les deux compartiments communiquant entre eux, 3a,3b, du réservoir de combustible normalement gazeux mais stocké en phase liquide. Cette partie supérieure du corps 2 du briquet supporte, d'un côté, à gauche sur le dessin, le brûleur-soupape 4 d'axe vertical 4a et dont l'extrémité supérieure 4b mobile axialement est normalement maintenue en position basse de fermeture, comme illustré sur la figure 1 du dessin, par un levier de commande 5 d'ouverture/fermeture du brûleur-soupape 4. L'axe d'articulation horizontal 6 du levier 5 est porté par une chape dont un seul bras 7 est visible sur le dessin.In the drawing, we can see the upper part of the body 2 of this lighter, with the two compartments communicating with each other, 3a, 3b, of the normally gaseous fuel tank but stored in the liquid phase. This upper part of the body 2 of the lighter supports, on one side, to the left in the drawing, the valve burner 4 with a vertical axis 4a and the end of which upper axially movable 4b is normally maintained in the low closed position, as illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawing, by a control lever 5 for opening / closing the valve burner 4. The horizontal articulation axis 6 of the lever 5 is carried by a yoke of which only one arm 7 is visible in the drawing.

L'extrémité antérieure 5a du levier 5, c'est-à-dire celle située à gauche sur le dessin, est conformée en couronne de manière à entourer l'extrémité supérieure 4b du brûleur-soupape 4, tandis que son autre extrémité, ou extrémité postérieure d'actionnement 5b est constamment soumise à l'action d'un ressort hélicoïdal 8 comprimé entre elle et la partie supérieure du corps 2 du briquet. Ce ressort 8, qui constitue le premier moyen élastique de ce briquet, tend constamment à faire pivoter le levier 5 dans le sens de la flèche 9, c'est-à-dire dans le sens suivant lequel son extrémité antérieure 5a maintient le brûleur-soupape 4 en position de fermeture par appui contre un épaulement 4c de ce brûleur soupape 4.The front end 5a of the lever 5, that is to say that located on the left in the drawing, is shaped in a crown so as to surround the upper end 4b of the valve burner 4, while its other end, or rear actuating end 5b is constantly subjected to the action of a helical spring 8 compressed between it and the upper part of the body 2 of the lighter. This spring 8, which constitutes the first elastic means of this lighter, constantly tends to rotate the lever 5 in the direction of the arrow 9, that is to say in the direction in which its front end 5a holds the burner- valve 4 in the closed position by pressing against a shoulder 4c of this valve burner 4.

En actionnant le levier 5, par son extrémité postérieure 5b, verticalement de haut en bas, on le fait pivoter dans le sens opposé à celui de la flèche 9, ce qui a pour effet de permettre le soulèvement du brûleur-soupape 4 en position d'ouverture sous l'effet de la pression du gaz.By actuating the lever 5, by its rear end 5b, vertically from top to bottom, it is rotated in the opposite direction to that of the arrow 9, which has the effect of allowing the lifting of the valve burner 4 in position d opening under the effect of gas pressure.

Pour ne pas charger inutilement le dessin, on n'a pas représenté le mécanisme d'allumage de ce briquet, c'est-à-dire le mécanisme chargé de produire une étincelle d'allumage du gaz après ouverture du brûleur-soupape. Ce mécanisme d'allumage, qui peut être d'un type quelconque, à pierre pyrophorique, à quartz piézo-électrique ou autre, est agencé pour être actionné en même temps, juste avant ou juste après le levier de commande 5 dans le sens de l'ouverture du brûleur-soupape 4.In order not to unnecessarily load the drawing, the ignition mechanism of this lighter has not been shown, that is to say the mechanism responsible for producing a gas ignition spark after opening the valve burner. This ignition mechanism, which can be of any type, pyrophoric stone, piezoelectric quartz or other, is arranged to be actuated at the same time, just before or just after the control lever 5 in the direction of the opening of the valve burner 4.

La contrainte à laquelle le levier 5 est constamment soumis par le ressort 8 tend à l' infléchir dans un sens correspondant à l'avancement du moment de l'ouverture du brûleur-soupape 4. En outre, la chaleur communiquée par le brûleur-soupape 4 au levier 5 tend à le déformer dans le même sens. Or cette ouverture prématurée du brûleur-soupape 4 est à éviter, puisque source de consommation supplémentaire inutile.The stress to which the lever 5 is constantly subjected by the spring 8 tends to bend it in a direction corresponding to the advancement of the moment of the opening of the valve burner 4. In addition, the heat imparted by the valve burner 4 to lever 5 tends to deform it in the same direction. However, this premature opening of the valve burner 4 is to be avoided, since unnecessary additional source of consumption.

Par ailleurs, dans les briquets de ce type à l'épreuve des enfants et comportant, en-dessous de l'extrémité postérieure 5b d'actionnement du levier 5, des butées escamotables destinées à en limiter le pivotement dans le sens de l'ouverture du brûleur-soupape 4, les exigences de montage automatique de ces briquets liées aux conditions de fabrication de leurs éléments constitutifs, rendent inévitable la présence d'un jeu entre le levier 5 et les butées escamotables, jeu qui rend possible l'ouverture du brûleur-soupape 4 malgré la présence des butées.Furthermore, in lighters of this type child-proof and comprising, below the rear end 5b of actuation of the lever 5, retractable stops intended to limit the pivoting in the direction of opening of the valve burner 4, the requirements for automatic mounting of these lighters linked to the conditions of manufacture of their constituent elements, make it inevitable that there is play between the lever 5 and the retractable stops, play which makes it possible to open the valve burner 4 despite the presence of the stops.

Il est évident que, dans ce cas, cette ouverture prématurée est à éviter de manière impérative, puisqu'elle rendrait caduques les précautions prises à l'égard des enfants.It is obvious that, in this case, this premature opening is to be avoided imperatively, since it would make the precautions taken with regard to children obsolete.

C'est pourquoi, entre le premier moyen élastique destiné à garantir la fermeture du brûleur-soupape 4 et constitué, dans l'exemple illustré sur le dessin, par le ressort hélicoïdal 8 et le brûleur-soupape 4, il est prévu un second moyen élastique apte à engendrer une seconde force de fermeture du brûleur-soupape 4, indépendant du premier, monté en série avec lui pour agir dans le même sens mais dont la force est inférieure à celle du premier mais supérieure à celle engendrée par la pression du combustible visant à ouvrir le brûleur-soupape 4.This is why, between the first elastic means intended to guarantee the closing of the valve burner 4 and constituted, in the example illustrated in the drawing, by the helical spring 8 and the valve burner 4, a second means is provided. elastic capable of generating a second closing force of the valve burner 4, independent of the first, mounted in series with it to act in the same direction but whose force is less than that of the first but greater than that generated by the fuel pressure to open the valve burner 4.

Ainsi, même lorsque le premier moyen élastique est désactivé, par une action sur le levier 5 visant à le faire pivoter dans le sens correspondant à la libération du brûleur-soupape 4, c'est-à-dire dans le sens opposé à la flèche 9, le second moyen élastique assure le maintien du brûleur-soupape 4 en position de fermeture jusqu'à ce qu'il soit, à son tour, désactivé par la poursuite du pivotement du levier 5 dans le sens précité.Thus, even when the first elastic means is deactivated, by an action on the lever 5 aimed at making it pivot in the direction corresponding to the release of the valve burner 4, that is to say in the direction opposite to the arrow 9, the second elastic means keeps the valve burner 4 in the closed position until it is, in turn, deactivated by continuing to pivot the lever 5 in the aforementioned direction.

Naturellement, la course angulaire du levier 5 correspondant à l'ouverture du brûleur-soupape 4, ou course neutre, dépend de la flèche du second moyen élastique correspondant à l'équilibre de sa force avec celle engendrée par la pression de gaz en amont du brûleur-soupape 4, mais cette flèche est facile à déterminer en fonction de la nature du second moyen élastique.Naturally, the angular travel of the lever 5 corresponding to the opening of the valve burner 4, or neutral travel, depends on the deflection of the second elastic means corresponding to the balance of its force with that generated by the gas pressure upstream of the valve burner 4, but this deflection is easy to determine according to the nature of the second elastic means.

Dans l'exemple illustré par les figures 1 et 2, l'extrémité antérieure 5a, conformée en couronne, du levier 5, est partiellement séparée du reste de ce levier par une encoche verticale 17, débouchant vers le haut, la liaison entre les deux segments ainsi réalisés de ce levier n'étant assurée que par un pont inférieur 18 en matière souple et élastique telle que la matière plastique dans laquelle le levier 5 est réalisé, en une seule pièce, par moulage ou injection.In the example illustrated by FIGS. 1 and 2, the front end 5a, shaped as a crown, of the lever 5, is partially separated from the rest of this lever by a vertical notch 17, opening upwards, the connection between the two thus produced segments of this lever being provided only by a lower bridge 18 of flexible and elastic material such as plastic in which the lever 5 is made, in one piece, by molding or injection.

Ce pont inférieur 18 joue le rôle de charnière élastique, autorisant la déformation élastique du levier 5, comme montré figure 1, et constitue donc le second moyen élastique.This lower bridge 18 acts as an elastic hinge, allowing the elastic deformation of the lever 5, as shown in Figure 1, and therefore constitutes the second elastic means.

Lorsque le levier 5 n'est soumis qu'à la contrainte du ressort 8, le levier 5 est déformé élastiquement jusqu'à fermeture de la fente 17 dont les bords en contact constituent les butées de limitation de la déformation élastique du levier 5. Cette déformation correspond à la course neutre du levier 5 dont la fin est montrée sur la figure 1.When the lever 5 is only subjected to the stress of the spring 8, the lever 5 is elastically deformed until the slot 17 is closed, the edges of which in contact constitute the stops for limiting the elastic deformation of the lever 5. This deformation corresponds to the neutral stroke of the lever 5, the end of which is shown in FIG. 1.

Claims (2)

  1. A safety lighter with selective gas opening, of the type comprising, arranged in its body (2) a reservoir (3a, 3b) filled with a supply of a normally gaseous combustible stored as a liquid, a pressure-reducer/evaporator situated between the reservoir(3a, 3b) and a burner/valve (4) that closes a gas outlet from the reservoir by means of a lever (5) pivoted about an axis (6) orthogonal to that (4a) of the burner/valve (4) and has an end, or a front end (5a) normally applied against a shoulder (4c) of the burner/valve (4) and constantly maintaining the valve (4) closed against a force exerted on it by the gas or a rear operating end (5b) that is constantly acted on by a spring (8) urging it pivotally in a direction (9) corresponding to closing of the valve (4) in which in addition to the first spring means (8) a second elastic means (112, 12, 16, 18) is provided interposed between the first (8) and the valve/burner (4), destined to act on the valve (4) in series with and in the same direction as the first (8), that is to say in the direction of closure of the valve (4), with a force which is less than that of the first spring means (8) but greater than that of the gaseous pressure upon opening of the valve and in which the second elastic means is comprises by the operating lever (5) formed in a manner to present a deformable elastic section (16, 18) between its front end (5a) resting on the burner/valve (4) and its rear operating end (5b), characterised in that the operating lever (5) is composed of two consecutive segments (5a, 5b) joined one to the other by a web of flexible elastic material, forming an elastic hinge with limiting stops to the flexing of the web (18), when the operating lever (5) is in the position which maintains the burner/valve (4) closed.
  2. A safety lighter according to claim 1, characterised in that the web of flexible elastic material (18) connecting the lower parts of the two segments (5a, 5b) of the operating lever (5) and their two upper parts normally separated from each other, formed the sides of the notch (17) constituting the limiting stops to the upward flexion of the front segment (5a) of the lever (5).
EP92420049A 1991-03-14 1992-02-14 Safety lighter with delayed gas supply Expired - Lifetime EP0504071B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9103365A FR2674003B1 (en) 1991-03-14 1991-03-14 SAFETY LIGHTER, WITH DELAYED GAS OPENING.
FR9103365 1991-03-14
CA002078465A CA2078465A1 (en) 1991-03-14 1992-09-17 Delayed gas opening safety lighter
CA002078508A CA2078508A1 (en) 1991-03-14 1992-09-17 Safety lighter having delayed gas opening

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0504071A1 EP0504071A1 (en) 1992-09-16
EP0504071B1 true EP0504071B1 (en) 1994-11-09

Family

ID=27169199

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP92420049A Expired - Lifetime EP0504071B1 (en) 1991-03-14 1992-02-14 Safety lighter with delayed gas supply
EP92420048A Ceased EP0504070A1 (en) 1991-03-14 1992-02-14 Safety lighter with delayed gas supply

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP92420048A Ceased EP0504070A1 (en) 1991-03-14 1992-02-14 Safety lighter with delayed gas supply

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (2) US5217364A (en)
EP (2) EP0504071B1 (en)
JP (2) JPH04335918A (en)
CA (1) CA2078508A1 (en)
DE (1) DE69200640T2 (en)
ES (1) ES2064157T3 (en)
FR (1) FR2674003B1 (en)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5427522A (en) * 1988-09-02 1995-06-27 Bic Corporation Selectively actuatable lighter
US5445518A (en) * 1988-09-02 1995-08-29 Bic Corporation Selectively actuatable lighter
US5431558A (en) * 1988-09-02 1995-07-11 Bic Corporation Selectively actuatable lighter
US5435719A (en) * 1988-09-02 1995-07-25 Bic Corporation Selectively actuatable lighter
US5584682A (en) 1988-09-02 1996-12-17 Bic Corporation Selectively actuatable lighter with anti-defeat latch
WO1994010503A1 (en) * 1992-10-23 1994-05-11 Bic Corporation Selectively actuatable lighter
US5997281A (en) * 1998-02-20 1999-12-07 Lei; Hou Chong Safety lighter
GB2360083A (en) * 2000-03-11 2001-09-12 Swedish Match Lighters Bv Child resistant gas lighter
US6564967B1 (en) 2001-06-29 2003-05-20 Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation Child resistant tablet dispenser
GB2409018A (en) * 2003-12-09 2005-06-15 Jieming Guan Child proof safety lighter
US8653942B2 (en) 2008-08-20 2014-02-18 John Gibson Enterprises, Inc. Portable biometric lighter
US10502419B2 (en) 2017-09-12 2019-12-10 John Gibson Enterprises, Inc. Portable biometric lighter

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US3961876A (en) * 1974-06-06 1976-06-08 Chernock Stephen P Valve assembly
FR2280029A1 (en) * 1974-07-26 1976-02-20 Allumettes Ste Indle Forestier Gas cigarette lighter with value control lever - has leaf spring integrally formed with lever or lighter body
US3966392A (en) * 1974-08-19 1976-06-29 Scripto, Inc. Cigarette lighter having improved valve means
GB1490127A (en) * 1975-05-15 1977-10-26 Dynacast Int Ltd Gas nozzles for gas using appliances
IT1119734B (en) * 1979-04-13 1986-03-10 Saffa Spa GAS FLOW LIMITATION DEVICE IN AN EXHAUST VALVE FOR GAS LIGHTERS FOR CIGARETTES AND METHOD FOR OBTAINING THIS DEVICE
US4773849A (en) * 1987-05-14 1988-09-27 Schaechter Friedrich Valve actuator for pocket lighter
FR2645626B1 (en) * 1989-04-07 1994-06-03 Swedish Match Consumer Product GAS LIGHTER

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPH05187633A (en) 1993-07-27
EP0504070A1 (en) 1992-09-16
US5217364A (en) 1993-06-08
DE69200640T2 (en) 1995-03-16
US5217365A (en) 1993-06-08
CA2078508A1 (en) 1994-03-18
DE69200640D1 (en) 1994-12-15
ES2064157T3 (en) 1995-01-16
FR2674003A1 (en) 1992-09-18
FR2674003B1 (en) 1995-08-11
JPH04335918A (en) 1992-11-24
JP3050987B2 (en) 2000-06-12
EP0504071A1 (en) 1992-09-16

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