US2541111A - Cigarette lighter - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 13, 1951 J. SIMON ETAL CIGARETTE LIGHTER 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 2, 1946 INVENTORS Fig.1.

Feb. 13, 1951 J SIMON ET AL 2,541,111

CIGARETTE LIGHTER Filed Aug. 2, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 IO 1 I, 30

JNVENTORS J. SIMON E CIGARETTE LIGHTER Feb. 13, 1951 7 Sheets-5 5 Filed Aug- 2, 1946 O T E A IN VEN TORS Feb. 13, 1951 J. SIMON ETAL CIGARETTE LIGHTER 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 2, 1946 VENTORS Il IF I lul Feb. 13, 1951 J. SIMON ETAL 2,541,111

CIGARETTE LIGHTER Filed Aug. 2, 1946 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 WVENRMQ @ZJM v Patented Feb. 13, 1951 CIGARETTE LIGHTER Justin Simon, Brooklyn, and Richard S. Temko,

. New York, N. Y.

Application August 2, 1946, Serial No. 688,068

3 Claims.

This invention relates generally to cigarette lighters and more particularly to a cigarette lighter in which the fuel, flint, and Wick are replaced as a unit in the form of a disposable cartridge when these consumable elements have been used up.

In View of prior improvements in the art to which the present invention relates, lighters have become relatively foolproof in operation but are open to the disadvantage that any one of the consumable elements therein, namely, the Wick, flint, and fuel may give out at a time when least expected. In accordance with the present invention the consumable elements are correlated so that the fuel becomes entirely consumed at substantially the same time or slightly before the flint is consumed. The wick is so set that the exposed portion thereof is adequate for the entire burning period permitted by the quantity of fuel in the cartridge.

It is, therefore, among the principal objects of the present invention to provide a. novel and useful cigarette lighter construction in which when the fuel, flint or wick has been consumed, it is a relatively simple operation to remove a cartridge containing all three of these elements, to discard the same and to replace a new cartridge instead of the old one.

Another object herein lies in the provision of the device of the class described, which is substantiall leakproof both while being stored prior to use and during use.

Another object herein lies in the provision of a cartridge and cigarette lighter casing construction in which the consumed cartridge may be quickly and conveniently replaced with a new one by a user having no special skill and having no special tools.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages will more fully appear in the progress of this disclosure.

In the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional View corresponding to Figure 1, but showing the cartridge in a partiall inserted position within the lighter casing.

Figure 6 is a top plan View of the embodiment shown in Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the cartridge.

Figure 8 is an enlarged longitudinal central vertical sectional view partl in elevation and with some of the parts fragmented, of a second embodiment of the invention. In this View the flint gate is open and the lighter is ready for operation.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional View partly in elevation corresponding generally to Figure 8 but showing the cartridge in the course of being inserted into the lighter casing.

Figure 10 is a plan view of the cartridge as removed from the lighter casing, the cartridge being shown in a relatively closed position.

Figure 11 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, showing a third embodiment of the invention. In this view, the cartridge has been inserted in the lighter casing but the cover for the cartridge entrance has not been fully closed.

Figure 12 is an end elevational view as seen from the light of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a horizontal sectional view as seen from the plane l3l3 on Figure 11.

Figure 14 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View, partly in elevation, corresponding generally to Figure 11, but showing the cover for the cartridge entrance in a fully closed position.

Figure 15 is an end elevational view as seen from the right of Figure 14.

Figure 16 is a fragmentary side elevational view corresponding generally to Figure 15 but showing the cartridge partly inserted within a lighter casing and with the cover for the cartridge entrance open and swung to one side.

Figure 17 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view showing a fourth embodiment of the invention.

Figure 18 is a longitudinal vertical section of the cartridge of the fourth embodiment.

Figure 19 is a bottom plan view of the cartridge of Figure 18.

Figure 20 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View, partly in elevation of a fifth embodiment of the invention.

Figure 21 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View partly in elevation, corresponding generally to Figure 20 showing the cartridge as partly inserted and the bottom cover as partly in place.

Figure 22 is a horizontal sectional View as seen from the plane 2222 on Figure 21.

In accordance with the invention, the cigarette lighter generally indicated by reference charac- V ter i5, includes a casing H, having a front wall tachable connection of at least a portion of the bottom wall for the purpose indicated. Thus the wall H forms a movable closure for an entrance in the bottom of the casing H. This entrance is of such size and configuration as to permit the insertion therethrough of the cartridge generally indicated by reference character 20. While we have shown the bottom wall I! as being hing.- edly connected to the body of the casing, where desired other closure means may be used.

The top wall it is provided with'a receptacle 22 which may have any desired external configuration to conform aesthetically to the external appearance ofthe lighter casing II and has a snuffe'r element receiving surface 23. The internal configuration of the receptacle 22 is preferably such as to correspond to the wick 78 of the cartridge 20, as will more fully appear. Thus the receptacle .22 provides the upwardly extending well formed by its internal surfaces. The well is indicated by numeral 25.

The top wall i5 is further provided with a flint support 25 which has a, bore 21, the crosssectional configuration of which conforms to the cross-sectional size of the flint element 28,

Disposed upon and associated with the top wall I5 are a flint wheel 29, knurled wheel 35, and snuifer element 31 As best seen in Figures 5 and 6, the top wall i6 is provided with a housing 9 which forms an upwardly extending recess in the inner surface thereof, which is adapted to receive the flint carrier it. By virtue of the fact that the remainder of the top wall i5 is positioned at a level below the effective level of the housing 9, the forward portion, that is, nearest the front wall l2 of said top wall it, forms a flint gate operating member 45.

The flint wheel 29 and the knurled wheel 30 are connected to each other and rotatably mounted as a unit on the axle 5:3. The lower end of axle '38 is preferably secured in a boss on the top wall l 6.

The snuffer element 3! may be of a well known construction pivotally mounted on axle =8, journalled in a pair of ears 82, B3. A spring between the ears 82' and 83 may 'co-ac-t with a flattened portion on the pivoted end of the snufier element 3! to maintain the said element in an open or closed position thereof, in a well known manner.

The cartridge 25 is preferably composed of a low cost material, which is impervious to the fuel '45. The cartridge may, therefore, be constructed similarly to the well known tin can. Thus, it may have a front wall 52, a rear wall 53,, side walls 54 and 55, a top wall 55 and a bottom wall 51. The front, rear and side walls 52-55 inclusive, may be composed of a single blank 46,-cut from a sheet of thin steel and may be vertically seamed in a well known manner (not shown) such as is used on tin cans. The sole fluid exit from the cartridge 2!! is through the bore 58 in the neck 59, which extends upwardly from the top wall 56.

The flint carrier is disposed upon the top wall 56 of the cartridge 20 and is preferably provided with a longitudinally extending bore 13, the cross-sectional shape and size of which correspond to the cross-sectional size and shape of the flint element 28. The flint carrier i5, which may take the shape of an outwardly opening cup, forms the upper part of a housing I l. The housing H has a closed end wall M which serves as a support for the outer end of an expansive spring 15 which forces the flint element 28 longitudinally thereof, that is to say, laterally with respect to the cartridge 20, toward the flint gate 42.

The flint gate 42 is slidably disposed for vertical reciprocal movement outwardly of the exit of the :bore 13 and is shown in the closed position thereof in Figure 5 and in the open position thereof in Figure 2. The inner surface of the flint gate 42 slidably contacts the outer surface 82 of the housing H. .A seen in Figure 3, the flint gate 42 may be adapted for reciprocal movement on the surface 82 by means of the slots 83 in said gate, which engage the outwardly projecting pins 84. Movement of the gate 42 upwardly is limited by the pins 84 meeting the lower ends of the slots 83 and downward movement of said gate is limited by the laterally extending projection 43 abutting against the top wall 55 of the cartridge 20.

The cartridge may be loaded in any suitable manner with fuel and the fuel may have absorbent cotton or similar material therein, as is well known in the art and the wick 18 is inserted'into the neck 59. The cotton may be placed within the cartridge 20 either through a closable opening not shown or by the securing of one of the walls of the cartridge in place after the cotton has been loaded. Suitable means may be provided for enclosing the projecting portion of the wick '58, such as that shown in ourco-pending application Serial No. 536,916, filed May 23, 1944, now issued as Patent No. 2,415,515, prior. to the uncapping thereof and the insertion of the cartridge 20 into the casing H. The spring 15 and the flint 28 are loaded into the carrier 1!! with the cap 42 in an open position thereof and when the gate is moved into the closed position thereof, it is frictionally retained thereat by the pressure of the outer end of the flint against the inner surface of said gate. In order to load the lighter Hi, the casing is opened by swinging the bottom wall I! and assuming the upper end of the wick 18 to be uncovered, the cartridge 25 is pushed into the casing Ii. As the cartridge is pushed into the casing the flint gate operating member 40 contacts the lateral extending projection 43 and forces the same downwardly until the gate 42 is in the open position thereof. Upon the opening of the gate the spring '55 forces the flint element 28 outwardly through the bore 21 of the flint support 26 in the casing II. The position and arrangement of the parts is such that the release of the flint element by the flint gate occurs at a time when the mouth of the bore '53 is substantially positioned opposite the bore 27. As the cartridge 25 i inserted into the casing H, the exposed portion of the wick l8 enters the well 25 to emerge through the outer end thereof and to lie within the snuffer element 3i, opposite the outer end of the flint element 28. The position of the neck 59 may be gauged from the outer surface of the front wall 52 and in order that the parts may properly align themselves, the inner surface of the rear wall I3 may be provided with a spring BI) adapted to force the front wall 52 into contact with the inner surface of the front wall I2. Where desired, to provide for variations in the effective length of the cartridge 20, the upper surface of the bottom wall I] may be provided with resilient means not shown, corresponding to the spring an, adapted to urge the uppermost surfaces of the cartridge 20 against the lower surfaces of the top wall I6. With the bottom wall closed and the parts in the position shown in Figure 1, the flint element will have shifted outwardly to meet the serrated surfaces of the flint wheel 29. Rotation of the knurled wheel 3D in the usual manner, counterclockwise as viewed in Figure 6, will cause sparks to be emitted toward the wick I8 and to ignite the fuel therein, it being understood that the snuffer element has been lifted out of the way during the lighting process. The flame may be extinguished in the usual manner by the return of the snuffer element to its closed position. After the flint, wick or fuel have been consumed, the entire cartridge may be discarded and a new one replaced in an easy and convenient manner. If the flint has not been consumed entirely a sharp downward snap of the wrist while holding the casing with the bottom wall I! in the open position thereof, would serve to break the flint sufficiently to allow the cartridge to drop out.

Turning now to the second embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 8 to 10 inclusive, certain parts corresponding to those in the first embodiment are given the same reference character with the addition of the numeral I as a prefix. This is for the purpose of avoiding unnecessary repetition.

t will be noted that in contrast with the first embodiment in which the movement of the flint is at an angle with respect to the movement of the cartridge as it is placed into the casing, in the second embodiment the movement of the flint is substantially parallel or co-axial with the movement of the cartridge as it is placed within the casing.

The cigarette lighter generally indicated by reference character IID, includes a casing III, having a front wall IIZ, a rear wall II3, side walls H4 and I I5, a top wall H6 and a bottom wall (not shown) corresponding to the bottom wall I1.

422 which may have any desired external configuration to conform aesthetically to the external appearance of the lighter casing III and has a snuffer element receivin orifice I23. The internal configuration of the receptacle I22 is preferably such as to correspond to the neck I59 of the cartridge I23, as will more fully appear. Thus the receptacle I22 provides the upwardly extending well formed by its internal surfaces. The well is indicated by numeral I 25.

The top wall H6 is further provided with a flint support I25 which has a bore IN, the crosssectional configuration of which conforms to the cross-sectional size of the flint element I28.

Disposed upon and associated with the top wall I I6 are a flint wheel I251, ratchet wheel I3il, snuffer element iii, operating handle I32 and rack members I33. The handle I32 has a slide mem ber I35. which is adapted for vertical reciprocarf v (i H The top wall lit is provided with a receptacle m slmflarly to the Well known tm 6 tion in the cylinder I35. The cylinder I35 is affixed to the top wall H6 in any suitable manner. Disposed within the cylinder I35 is an expansive coil spring I36 which urges the handle I321 to its upper position. Suitable detent means are provided to limit the upward movement of the handle I32, as for example the engagement of a portion of the rack member I33 with the teeth on the gears I89 which are keyed to the shaft I38 upon which the snuifer element I3I is fixedly mounted. The snuifer element I3! is urged in a downward direction, that is to say, in the direction of counterclockwise rotation as viewed in Figures 8 and 9, by the upward movement of the racks its.

The rearmost portion of the gears I 39 are provided with teeth adapted to engage with the racks I33. The last mentioned gears are fixed on the axle I38 inwardly of the uprights I82 and I83. Secured to the undersurfaee of the rear upper portion of the snufier element I3! is a spring ratchet pawl I3! which is adapted to engage the ratchet wheel I33. The operation of this structure is that when the handle I32 in pushed downwardly, it elevates the snufier element and rotates the flint wheel I29 through the action. of the ratchet pawl I31 and the ratchet wheel iSfi. Release of manual pressure on the handle 32, allows the spring I35 to return the snuifer to its original position, but allows the flint wheel to remain stationary ready for the next movement thereof.

In other words, downward movement of the handle I32 rotates the flint wheel I29 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figures 8 and 9. The movement of the flint wheel and the ratchet wheel is intermittent and uni-directional, and this movement takes place with each downward movement of the handle I32. Downward movement on the handle I32 simultaneouslly elevates the snufier element ISI, that is, it rotates the snufier element in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figures 8 and 9. Release of manual pressure upon the handle I32 permits the spring 33 to return the snufier element I3! to its normal or 0 closed position.

Preferably at the juncture of the rear wall I I3 and the top wall I It there is a cam Hill. This cam may extend completely between the side walls H4 and H5 or it may be in the form of a fin or rib positioned so as to engage the flint gate It? on the cartridge, as will more fully appear below.

The cartridge I2il is preferably composed of a low cost material, which is impervious to the fuel I45. The cartridge may, therefore, be constructed Thus, it may have a front wall I52, a rear wall I53, side walls I54 and IE5, and a top wall m3 and a bottom wall not shown. The front, rear and side walls I 52455 inclusive, may be composed of a single blank M6, cut from a sheet of thin steel and may be vertically seamed in a well known manner (not shown) such as is used on tin cans. The top wall is provided with a pairof opposite 1y disposed guides M8 and I 39. The sole fluid exit from the cartridge Hill is through the bore I58 in the neck I59, which extends upwardly from the top wall I 56. The neck I59 is provided with a central co-axially arranged annular depression, which is adapted to receive and retain a ring gasket, preferably composed. of synthetic rubber, leather or other material, which under compres-- sion prevents the passage of fuel. The 559 may be a separate die casting or screw machine turning which is suitably integrated with the edge of a corresponding orifice I62 in the top wall I56.

with of a cap, not shown. In the use of the cartridge, as will appear hereinbelow, the lower edge of the snuffer element I3I is adapted to resiliently engage the resilient gasket.

Suspended from the top wall I55 and opening upwardly therethrough, is a flint carrier I10. The carrier I10 is preferably in the form of a housing Ill which may take the shape of an upwardly opening cup. The housing I1I at the upper free edge thereof, is connected to a corresponding opening I12 in the top wall I56. The parts may be integrated thereat in any well known manner, as for example by soldering, welding or swaging. It is important that this juncture be hermetic in order to avoid leakage of contents or vapors from the inside of the cartridge I20. The housing I1I is preferably provided with a longitudinally extending bore I13, the cross-sectional shape and size of which, correspond to the cross-sectional size and shape of the flint element I20. The housing I1I has a closed bottom wall I14 which serves as a support for the lower end of an expansive spring I15 which forces the flint element I20 upwardly.

The flint gate I42 previously mentioned, is slidably disposed above the exit of the bore I13 and is shown in the closed position thereof in Figure 9 and the open position thereof in Figure 8. The undersurface of the flint gate I92 slidably contacts the upper surface of the top wall I50 and at the edges thereof is disposed between the guides !48 and I49. Movement of the gate I42 to the left, as viewed in Figures 8 to 10, is limited by the detent I15 and movement thereof to the right, as viewed in said figures, is limited by the upwardly bent tab which forms the projection I11 abutting against the shoulder I01 formed by the out back in the guide I48 (see Figure 10).

The flint gate I42 is provided with an orifice I surrounded by a lower flint support I05, and further at the outer end thereof the flint gate has a follower I04. The follower I04 is adapted to co-act with the cam I40 which serves as a flint gate operating member.

In the assembly of the cartridge I20 fuel is loaded into the same and as is known, may have absorbent cotton or similar material therein. The cartridge may be previously fabricated with the cotton inside and then the fuel may be injected through the neck I59 followed by an insertion of the wick. Otherwise there may be another opening in the cartridge through which the fuel cotton and/or wick may be loaded and this opening may be subsequently concealed. The fuel and cotton may be loaded through the opening I52 following which the neck I59 may be put in place. The flint element I28 may be inserted into the carrier I through the upper entrance thereto by placing the same on top of the previously inserted spring I15. The flint is next pushed down in the carrier until its upper end is flush with the surface .of the top wall I55. Following this the gate I42 is inserted into the over to the closed position thereof shown in Fig ure 10, whereupon the projection I11 is raised.

to prevent accidental withdrawal of the gate I42 to the right as viewed in Figures 8-10. The gate is frictionally maintained in position by the pressure of the top of the flint against the under surface thereof. a

In order to load the lighter III], the cartridge I20, with the wick uncapped is pushed into the casing III until the follower engages the cam I40. Continued pressure moves the flint gate to the left until the lower flint support I05 surrounds the opening in the carrier I10, whereupon the spring I15 urges the flint up through the lower flint support I05 into the flint support I25 and into contact with the flint wheel I29. The gate thus moves at an obtuse angle with respect to the casing. While this is going on, the neck I59 is becoming seated within the well I25 and the cover or movable bottom wall (not shown) of the casing III is closed so as to maintain the cartridge .in the position shown in Figure 8. In the embodiment shown in Figures 8 to 10 inclusive, the position of the neck I59 and the exit from the bore I13 are gauged in position from the outer surface of the front wall I52 and .in order that the parts may properly align themselves, the inner surface of the rear wall II5 of the casing may be provided with a spring I adapted to force the front wall I52 into contact with the inner surface of the front Wall I2. Similar means may be provided on the inner surface of the bottom wall (not shown) of the casing, corresponding to the spring I80 to maintainthe cartridge in proper operative position and particularly with respect to the neck I59 and its seating within the receptacle I22.

While we have shown the outer end of the flint g ate I42 as extending in the form of the follower I04 outwardly beyond the external surface of the wall I53, the extremity of the follower I04 may be flush with the outer surface of the wall I53 where desired for packaging purposes, without materially changing the operation thereof with respect to the cam I40.

Thus the replacement of a used cartridge in the casing is a simple matter. Opening the bottom wall of the casing permits the cartridge to be withdrawn and a new one inserted and as the complete new cartridge is inserted, during a portion of its travel, the flint gate is opened to permit the flint to enter the appropriate portions of the lighter casing for immediate operation.

In accordancewith the third embodiment of the invention, as shown in- Figures 11 to 16 inclusive, the cigarette lighter generally indicated by reference character 2 I0, includes a casing 2 II having a front wall 2I2, a rear wall 2I3, side walls 2I4 and 2I5, a top wall 2H5 and a bottom wall 2 I1. The bottom wall 2 I1 is movably associated with the lower peripheral edge 2'I8 of the body of the casing MI. The bottom wall 211 has a pair of upstanding arms 285 and 286, the relatively free terminals of which are pivotally and slidably connected to the side walls 2 I4 and 2 I5 in a suitable manner as by the pins 281 and 288 which penetrate the elongated slots 289- and 290. The bottom wall 2" has afflxed thereto and projecting from the normally upper wall thereof a pusher element 29I. The pins 281 and 288 are sufliciently short so that the inner surfaces of the arms 255 and 285 are in frictional 'engagement with the outer surfaces of the walls .2I4 and 2I5. Thus, the wall 2I1 forms a movable closure for a cartridge entrance in the bottom of the casing 211. This entrance is of such size and configuration as to permit the insertion therethrough of the cartridge generally indicated by reference character 220.

The top wall 216 is provided with an orifice 222 which is of suflicient size to permit the upward penetration therethrough of the wick 218 and the wick tube 259 of the cartridge 229 as will more fully appear.

The top wall 216 is further provided with a flint support 226 which has a bore 221, the crosssectional configuration of which conforms to the cross-sectional size of the flint element 228.

Disposed upon and associated with'the top wall 216, are a flint wheel 229 and a movable snuffer element 231 which forms a cover for the top of the lighter casing to enclose the wick and striking mechanism as well as the flint support. The snuffer element 23! may be hingedly connected to the casing at 292.

The flint wheel 229 is mounted upon an axle 2311 so that it may be rotated against the flint in a well known manner.

The cartridge 229 is preferably composed-of a low cost material which is impervious to the fuel 245. The cartridge may, therefore, be constructed similarly to the well known tin can or may be a casting of a synthetic resin which is not deleteriously affected by the fuel. tridge 2211 may have a front wall 252, a rear wall 253, side walls 254 and 255, a top wall 256 and a bottom wall 251. The sole fluid exit from the cartridge 2211 is through the bore 258 in the neck 259 which extends upwardly from the top wall 256. The flint carrier 215 is in the form of an elongated tube which is connected to the top wall 256 and the bottom wall 251 in a liquidtight manner so that said tube opens upon the outer surfaces of said top and bottom walls. fhe bore 213 of the carrier 219 is of a crosssectional shape corresponding generally to the cross-sectional shape of the flint element 228. The cross-sectional size of the bore 213 is preferably greater than the cross-sectional size of the flint element 228 and it is closed at the top and bottom by frangible closures 242 and 214, respectively. The bore 213, below the flint element 228 contains an expansive spring 215. The total length of the flint element 228 and the coil spring 215 in a relaxed condition of the latter is preferably substantially equal to the length of the bore 213.

The cartridge 222 may be loaded in any suitable manner with fuel 2 15 and the fuel may have absorbent cotton or similar material therein, as

is well known inthe art, and the wick 218 is inserted in the neck 259. The cotton may be placed within the cartridge 2211 either through a closable opening not shown or by the securing of one of the walls of the cartridge in place after the cotton has been loaded therein. Suitable means may be provided in enclosing the projecting portion of the wick 218 such as that shown in our co-pending application, Serial No. 536,916, filed May 23, 1944, prior to the uncapping thereof and the insertion of the cartridge 222 into the casing 21 1.' The spring 215 and the flint 229 are loaded into the carrier 21!! and are maintained therein by the frangible upper and lower closures 242 and 2'15. These closures may be in the form of paper, thin metal foil, thin plastic sheeting composed of synthetic resins or other membranous material secured in place upon the ends of the carrier 210 and/or the top The car- 220 is fed upwardly into the casing 2| 1.

and bottom walls 256 and 251 in any suitable manner as by the use of an adhesive (not shown). To facilitate the rupture of the closure members 242 and 214, the same may be scored or partially out, said scoring and cutting not being shown in the drawing.

In order to load the lighter 219, the casing is opened by pulling the bottom wall 211 down until the pins 281 and 288 contact the lower ends of the slots 289 and 2911 whereupon the bottom wall may be rotated about the pins 281 and 288 to take the position shown in Figure 16. Assuming the lighter to be empty and the upper end of the wick 218 to be uncovered, the cartridge When the cartridge is fully seated, that is to say, when the upper surface of the top wall 255 or the closure member 242 contacts the end surface of the top wall 216, the bottom wall of the lighter casing 211 is swung about so that the arm 285 and 286 align with the slots 289 and 290. Following this, the bottom wall 211 is pressed upwardly and the pusher 291 breaks the bottom closure member 214 which compresse the spring 215 and this, in turn, forces the flint element 228 upwardly to puncture and penetrate the upper closure member 242 so that the flint element. 228 comes in contact with the flint wheel 229. This position of the parts is shown in Figure 14 where portions of the bottom closure member 214 have been forced into the carrier 210 bordering the pusher 291 and portions of the top closure member 242 lie between the flint 228 and the surface of the bar 221. As shown, the pusher 291 may have a pointed end 293 and the flint may have a pointed end 294. These pointed ends are for the purpose of more easily breaking the closures.

When the fuel 245 has been consumed, it becomes a simple matter to reverse the foregoing procedure for withdrawing the exhausted cartridge.

By the use of the spring 215 in a fully relaxed condition there is substantially no danger of the flint 228 being accidentally discharged from the cartridge when it is not located within thelighter casing.

Turning now to the fourth embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 17 to 19', inelusive, for the purpose of avoidin needless repetition, certain of the parts corresponding to the third embodiment are given the same reference characters with the substitution of the prefix 3 instead of 2.

The fourth embodiment differs from the third embodiment principally in altered structure of the bottom wall 311, the pusher element 391, the closure members 342 and 314 and the shape of the flint.

The bottom wall 311 is hingedly mounted upon the lower edge of the side wall 314 by the pin 395 and is adapted to be detachably retained in a closed position thereof by the means 396 which may include a projection on the bottom cover 311 which detachably engages a corresponding depression on the inner surfaces of the wall 315. The pusher element 391 may include an enlarged handle 391, a threaded shank 398 and a head 399. The handle 391' is adapted to seat within a corresponding depression in the lower surface of the bottom cover 311 while the threaded shank 398 may threadedly engage the corresponding opening in said cover 311. The head 399 is of greater diameter than the threaded opening in the cover 311 so that in its fully retracted posi- 11 tion the pusher 39| may not be removed from the cover 311. The head 399, furthermore, has a punching action in severing the portion of the bottom closure member 314 so that the piece punched may lie between the head 399 and the lower end of the spring 315.

The flint 328 may have a similar punching action to cut a disc from the upper closure member 3A2. This disc is readily cast off upon the first rotation of the flint wheel 329.

The closure members 314 and 342- may extend over a relatively large area of the top and bottom walls 3'56 and 3 51 and since they are of low cost material such as paper or foil, they may carry instructions for use of the article and/or other advertising material.

In operation the cartridge 320 as shown in Figure 18 is placed within a lighter casing 3, the cap from the wick having been previously removed and the bottom cover 3!? having been previously opened. With the pusher element 39! in a position with respect to the cover 3H as indicated in the dot-dash lines on Figure 17, the cover H is moved to its closed position. Following this,the pusher element 39l is forced upwardly causing the rupture of the bottom closure member 374, the compression of the spring I 315 and following this the rupture of the-top closure member 342, whereupon the flint element 328 rises tomeet the flint wheel 329. The pusher element 39! is retained in the uppermost posi tion thereof by engaging the threaded shank with the threaded orifice in the cover 3H.

To remove a consumed cartridge, the above operation is reversed. By virtue of the fact that the pusher element 39! extends a distance suitable within thebore 313, it is necessary to withdraw the pusher element 39l before shifting the cover 3H.

Turning now to the fifth embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 20 to 22 inclusive, here again for the purpose of avoiding unnecessary repetition, certain of the parts corresponding to the third embodiment are given thesame reference characters with the substitution of the prefix 4 instead of 2.

The fifth embodiment differs from the third and fourth embodiments principally in the carrier 410, the upper closure member, the-introduction. of a spacer element and a change in the bottom cover.

As seen in Figures 20. and 22', the carrier 418 extends upwardly beyond the upper surface of the top Wall 456 so that the flint support 428 is united therewith. The advantage of this construction is that it assures the simultaneous removal of the unused piece of flint with the cartridge when the fuel in the cartridge has been consumed.

The upper closure member 442 may engage only the upper end of the flint support 425 or as. indicated by the dot-dash lines onFigure 21, may be extended down along the vertical walls thereof. I

The spacer element 491 permits theme of 'a smaller spring 415. The spacer 4B! is of substanticallythe same cross-sectional shape as the flint element 428.

The bottom cover 4I1' includes side. walls 485 and 4%, a rear wall 562 and a front wall 403. The walls 455, 86, 482 and 483 functionally engage the outer surfaces of the corresponding walls of the lighter casing to have a telescopic action therewith. The pusher element 494, as

the cover 4!! is pushed upwardly,, breaksthe flint out of said carrier; said cartridge being inbottom closure member 414, elevates the spacer 401 which compresses the spring 415 to break the upper closure member 442. Depending upon the nature of the adhesive used the flintelement may actually remove the entire closure member 442. The front and rear walls 2 and: 413 are provided with indentations 404 for grasping the cartridge 42-0 for inserting and removing the same from the lighter. As indicated by reference character 405 on Figure 22, there is a projection on the casing of the lighter and a corresponding depression on the cartridge which assures there will be a proper interengagement of these elements.

It may thus be seen that we have provided a novel and useful cigarette lighter construction which is extremely convenient in use andefficient and foolproof in operation. The cartridge may be replaced with a single quick operation which is as convenient as replacing the dry cells in an ordinary flashlight, and it contains fuel, flint, a spring; for the flint and frangible cover means.

We wish it to be understoodthat we do not desire to belimited to the exact details of constructionsshown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. Cigarette; lighter constructioncomprising: acasing; a cartridge, saidcartridge having; a flint carrier associated therewith; a flint disposed within said carrier; said cartridge being insertable within said casing in a predetermined direction with respect to said casing a gate movably mounted on said cartridge for movement insubstantially theopposite direction as saidpredetermined direction to the open position thereof and adapted in the open position, thereof; to allow the flint to move outwardly of said carrier andin the closed position thereof, to obstruct movement of' the flint outwardly of the carrier and means lying in the path of travel of the cartridge as it is inserted into the casing While moving' in said predetermined direction and positioned to; actuate said gate, before the cartridge is fully seated in the casing 2:. Cigarette lighter construct-ion comprising: a casing; acartridge said' cartridge having a flint carrier associated therewith; a flint disposed within said' carrier; resilient means to urge the sertable within said casing in a predetermined direction with respect to said casing; a gate movably mounted on said cartridge for movementin substantially the opposite direction as said" predetermined direction and adapted in the open position. thereof; to. allow the flint to move outwardly of said carrier and in the closed position thereof, to obstruct movement of the flint outwardly of the carrier by contacting said'flint; and means lyingin the path of travel of the cartridge as it is inserted into the casing while moving in said predetermined direction and positioned to actuate said gate, before the cartridge isfully seated in the casing.

3: Cigarette lighter construction comprising: a casing-havinga flint support opening and flint striking mechanism; a cartridge, said cartridge having aflint carrierassociated therewith, said carrier having an exit positioned opposite to the flint support opening in the casing; a flint disposed within said carrier; said; cartridge being insertablewithin said casing; in a: predetermined directionwith respect; tossaidicasing;,a gatezmov- 13 ably mounted on said cartridge for movement in substantially the opposite direction as said predetermined direction and adapted in the open position thereof, to allow the flint to move outwardly of said carrier and in the closed position thereof, to obstruct movement of the flint outwardly of the carrier and means lying in the path of travel of the cartridge as it is inserted into the casing While moving in said predetermined direction and positioned to actuate said gate automatically before the cartridge is fully seated in the casing whereby when said gate is shifted to the open position thereof, said flint may enter the flint support opening in the eas- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,775,023 Douglas Sept. 2, 1930 1,943,505 Aronson Jan, 16, 1934 2,451,515 Simon et a1 Oct. 19, 1948

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