Push-button type flint ignition mechanism capable of automatic resetting

Abstract

A push-button type flint ignition mechanism that is capable of automatic reset, including: a built-in flint, a grinding wheel abutting the flint, an energy storage member that stores energy through deformation, a driving wheel rotating in the same direction as the grinding wheel when the energy storage member releases energy, a wheel axle about which the driving wheel rotates, a driving body pushed by the energy storage member when the energy storage member releases energy, a plucking portion located on the driving body and capable of plucking the driving wheel to make the driving wheel rotate, a blocking member capable of blocking the movement of the driving body, a moving member capable of making linear movements back and forth inside the mechanism and capable of squeezing the energy storage member to cause elastic deformation in the latter, and a reset member capable of pushing the moving member to reset; wherein, when no external force is exerted on the mechanism, the projections of the plucking portion and the driving wheel, respectively onto the plane perpendicular to the direction of movement by the moving member, do not overlap. Moreover, and optionally, when the energy storage member finishes releasing energy, the projections of the plucking portion and the driving wheel, respectively onto the plane perpendicular to the direction of movement by the moving member, do not overlap.

Claims

1. A push-button type flint ignition mechanism configured for automatic reset after each actuation motion, the mechanism comprising: a built-in flint, a grinding wheel abutting the flint, an energy storage member that stores energy through deformation, a driving wheel rotating in the same direction as the grinding wheel when the energy storage member releases energy, a wheel axle about which both the driving wheel and the grinding wheel rotate, a driving body configured to be pushed by the energy storage member when the energy storage member releases energy causing the driving body to actuate the driving wheel, through a plucking portion located on the driving body that plucks the driving wheel to rotate thereby bringing the grinding wheel to rotate about the wheel axle and frictionally engage the flint to generate at least a spark, a blocking member disposed proximate to the driving body and configured to temporarily block the movement of the driving body before the energy storage member releases energy, a moving member configured to make movements back and forth inside the mechanism, to squeeze the energy storage member to cause elastic deformation in the latter, and to disable the blocking member from blocking the driving body, and a reset member configured to push the moving member to initiate a reset motion, wherein, at the start of each reset motion, projections of the plucking portion and the driving wheel, respectively onto a plane perpendicular to the direction of movement by the moving member, do not overlap, and the plucking portion does not contact the driving wheel during the reset motion.

2. The push-button type flint ignition mechanism of claim 1, wherein, at the start of each actuation motion, the projections of the plucking portion and the driving wheel, respectively onto the plane perpendicular to the direction of movement by the moving member, do not overlap.

3. The push-button type flint ignition mechanism of claim 1, wherein the driving body is formed as a single unit.

4. The push-button type flint ignition mechanism of claim 3, wherein the driving body is elastically deformable.

5. The push-button type flint ignition mechanism of claim 1, wherein the driving body comprises two components coupled together such that they flex from each other.

6. The push-button type flint ignition mechanism of claim 5, wherein the two components of the driving body are connected through a pivot.

7. The push-button type flint ignition mechanism of claim 1, wherein the blocking member is fixed inside the mechanism.

8. The push-button type flint ignition mechanism of claim 7, wherein the blocking member is elastically deformable.

9. The push-button type flint ignition mechanism of claim 1, wherein contact surfaces between the moving member and the driving body comprise a sloped or curved surface.

10. The push-button type flint ignition mechanism of claim 1, wherein the driving wheel is spur gear.

11. The push-button type flint ignition mechanism of claim 1, wherein the grinding wheel and the driving wheel are integrally formed into a single unit similar to a conventional grinding wheel in overall structure.

12. The push-button type flint ignition mechanism of claim 1, wherein the grinding wheel, the driving wheel, and the wheel axle are integrally formed.

13. The push-button type flint ignition mechanism of claim 1, being part of a cigarette lighter or utility lighter and further comprising a fuel storage and release mechanism configured to release fuel during an actuation motion such that the spark generated is used to light a flame.

14. The push-button type flint ignition mechanism of claim 2, wherein the driving body is formed as a single unit.

15. The push-button type flint ignition mechanism of claim 14, wherein the driving body is elastically deformable.

16. The push-button type flint ignition mechanism of claim 2, wherein the driving body comprises two components coupled together such that they flex from each other.

17. The push-button type flint ignition mechanism of claim 16, wherein the two components of the driving body are connected through a pivot.

18. The push-button type flint ignition mechanism of claim 2, wherein the blocking member is fixed inside the mechanism.

19. The push-button type flint ignition mechanism of claim 18, wherein the blocking member is elastically deformable.

20. The push-button type flint ignition mechanism of claim 2, wherein contact surfaces between the moving member and the driving body comprise a sloped or curved surface.

21. The push-button type flint ignition mechanism of claim 2, wherein the driving wheel is spur gear.

22. The push-button type flint ignition mechanism of claim 2, wherein the grinding wheel and the driving wheel are integrally formed into a single unit similar to a conventional grinding wheel in overall structure.

23. The push-button type flint ignition mechanism of claim 2, wherein the grinding wheel, the driving wheel, and the wheel axle are integrally formed.

24. The push-button type flint ignition mechanism of claim 2, being part of a cigarette lighter or utility lighter and further comprising a fuel storage and release mechanism configured to release fuel during the actuation motion such that the spark generated is used to light a flame.

25. The push-button type flint ignition mechanism of claim 1, wherein at least one of the energy storage member and the reset member comprises a spring.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is an illustration of the interior structure of Example 1, which shows the state of various components of the ignition mechanism when no external force is applied to the mechanism.

(2) FIG. 2 is an illustration of the interior structures of Example 1 and Example 11, showing that a hand presses on a moving member, causing the latter to move downward, squeezing the driving body, and the plucking portion moving near the side of the driving wheel.

(3) FIG. 3 is an illustration of the interior structures of Example 1, showing: as the hand continues to exert pressure, the moving member presses on the gas-control lever, opening the valve to release gas; also, the moving member pushes away the blocking member so that the blocking member no longer blocks the driving body; a sudden release of energy from the energy storage member pushes the driving body downward; the plucking portion plucks the driving wheel to rotate, and the grinding wheel also rotates in the same direction.

(4) FIG. 4 is an illustration of the interior structure of Example 1, showing: when the slider of the driving body slides to the farthest point that it can slide down in the groove, the driving body recovers from the elastic deformation caused by being pressed upon by the moving member; the plucking portion automatically moves away from the side of the driving wheel.

(5) FIG. 5 is an illustration of the interior structure of Example 2, which shows the state of various components of the ignition mechanism when no external force is applied to the mechanism.

(6) FIG. 6 is an illustration of the interior structures of Example 2, showing that a hand applies pressure on a moving member to force it to move downward and squeeze the driving body, and making the plucking portion rotate about the pivot and move closer to the side of the driving wheel.

(7) FIG. 7 is an illustration of the interior structures of Example 2, showing: as the hand continues to exert pressure, and when the slider of the driving body slides to the farthest point that it can slide down in the groove, the driving body will be pushed against the blocker, causing the plucking portion to rotate back about its pivot and move away from the side of the driving wheel.

(8) FIG. 8 is an illustration of the interior structure of Example 3, which shows the state of various components of the ignition mechanism when no external force is applied to the mechanism.

(9) FIG. 9 is an illustration of the interior structure of Example 4, which shows the state of various components of the ignition mechanism when no external force is applied to the mechanism.

(10) FIG. 10 is an illustration of the interior structure of Example 5, which shows the state of various components of the ignition mechanism when no external force is applied to the mechanism.

(11) FIG. 11 is a perspective illustration of the integrally formed grinding wheel and driving wheel of Example 5, the overall appearance and overall structure being the same as a conventional grinding wheel.

(12) FIG. 12 is a perspective illustration of the integrally formed grinding wheel and driving wheel of Example 5, which shows that the left side to the dashed line is the driving wheel, and the right side to the dashed line is the grinding wheel.

(13) FIG. 13 is an illustration of the interior structure of Example 6, which shows the state of various components of the ignition mechanism when no external force is applied to the mechanism.

(14) FIG. 14 is an illustration of the interior structures of Example 6, showing: as the hand exerts pressure, the moving member presses on the gas-control lever, opening the valve to release gas; and the moving member pushes away the elastic part of the driving body, resulting in the driving body getting around the blocking member; a sudden release of energy from the energy storage member pushes the driving body downward; the plucking portion plucks the driving wheel to rotate, and the grinding wheel also rotates in the same direction.

(15) FIG. 15 is a top view of four components inside the ignition mechanism of Example 7: the grinding wheel, the driving wheel, the driving body, and the wheel axle, showing the spatial relationship among the three componentsthe grinding wheel, the driving wheel and the plucking portionwhen no external force is applied to the ignition mechanism.

(16) FIG. 16 is a top view of four components inside the ignition mechanism of Example 7: the grinding wheel, the driving wheel, the driving body, and the wheel axle, and shows how the plucking portion moves from near the side of the grinding wheel to near the side of the driving wheel as a result of the moving member pressing on the driving body.

(17) FIG. 17 is a top view of four components inside the ignition mechanism of Example 8: the grinding wheel, the driving wheel, the driving body, and the wheel axle, showing the spatial relationship among the three componentsthe grinding wheel, the driving wheel and the plucking portionwhen no external force is applied to the ignition mechanism.

(18) FIG. 18 is a top view of four components inside the ignition mechanism of Example 8: the grinding wheel, the driving wheel, the driving body, and the wheel axle, and shows how the plucking portion moves from a position away from the side of the driving wheel to a position near the side of the driving wheel through rotation about an axis that is the direction of movement by the moving member.

(19) FIGS. 19 and 20 are both exploded views of Example 9, showing various components that form the assembly.

(20) FIG. 21 is a perspective illustration of Example 9.

(21) FIG. 22 is an exploded view of Example 10.

(22) FIG. 23 is a perspective illustration of Example 10.

(23) FIG. 24 is a perspective illustration of Example 11, showing one hand in the act of pressing the push-button of the ignition mechanism.

(24) FIG. 25 is a perspective illustration of Example 12, which shows an integrally formed wheel blank consisting of the driving wheel and the grinding wheel (without either the thread lines or spark-generating filing-teeth).

(25) FIG. 26 is a perspective illustration of Example 12, which shows an integrally formed semi-finished article consisting of the driving wheel and the grinding wheel (carved with thread lines but not yet with spark-generating filing-teeth).

(26) FIG. 27 is a perspective illustration of Example 12, which shows an integrally formed finished article consisting of the driving wheel and the grinding wheel (carved with thread lines and chopped with spark-generating filing-teeth).

(27) FIG. 28 is a perspective illustration of Example 13, showing an integrally formed article consisting of the driving wheel, the grinding wheel and the wheel axle, where the driving wheel has an outer diameter greater than that of the grinding wheel.

(28) FIG. 29 is a perspective illustration of Example 13, showing an integrally formed article consisting of the driving wheel, the grinding wheel and the wheel axle, where the driving wheel has an outer diameter smaller than that of the grinding wheel.

(29) FIG. 30 is a perspective illustration of Example 13, showing an integrally formed article consisting of the driving wheel, the grinding wheel and the wheel axle, where the exteriors of the driving wheel and the grinding wheel are combined into a single unit.

SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

Example 1

(30) As shown in FIG. 1, in the present exemplary embodiment, the driving body 1 is made from plastic (or other suitable materials) and integrally formed.

(31) The lighter includes an ignition mechanism, a gas fuel storage mechanism 18, a valve 16 that controls fuel release, and a gas-control lever 10 that can open the valve 16. The ignition mechanism includes a driving body 1, an energy storage member 5, a moving member 2, a blocking member 3, a reset member 15, a flint 9, a flint spring 26, a wheel axle 7, a grinding wheel 6 and a driving wheel 4, where both the grinding wheel 6 and the driving wheel 4 can rotate synchronously about the wheel axle 7.

(32) Among the various components: the flint spring 26 is biased to push the flint 9 against the grinding wheel 6; the driving wheel 4 is a spur gear; a plucking portion 8 of the driving body 1 consists of three teeth that can engage those on the driving wheel 4; the driving body 1 is elastically deformable; the driving body 1 is equipped with a slider 11 that can slide up and down inside a groove 12 that is situated in the moving member 2; the moving member 2 can slide up and down in the ignition mechanism; the energy storage member 5 is a compression spring; the upper end of the energy storage member 5 is biased to hold against the moving member 2, while its lower end is biased to hold against the driving body 1; the elastically deformable blocking member 3 is immobilized inside the ignition mechanism underneath the driving body 1; the reset member 15 is a compression spring; the reset member 15 is biased to hold against the moving member 2.

(33) When a hand 19 presses down on the moving member 2 (as shown in FIG. 2), the moving member 2 slides downward and compresses the energy storage member 5 to store energy therein due to compression; the blocking member 3 stops the driving body 1 from moving downward. At the same time, a sloped surface 17 on the moving member 2 forces the driving body 1 to elastically deflect. As a result, the plucking portion 8 on the driving body 1 moves closer to the side of the driving wheel 4, while the moving member 2 compresses the reset member 15 to store energy therein due to compression.

(34) When the hand 19 continues to press down on the moving member 2 (as shown in FIG. 3), a second press portion 14 on the moving member 2 will press on the gas-control lever 10, causing the gas-control lever 10 to rotate and open the valve 16 to start to release the gas fuel. In addition, when the moving member 2 moves down to a preset position, a first press portion 13 on the moving member 2 will force the blocking member 3 to elastically deflect, so that the blocking member 3 is no longer blocking the driving body 1; the energy storage member 5 will suddenly release energy and push the driving body 1 downward; the plucking portion 8 of the driving body 1 in turn plucks the driving wheel 4 to rotate; the grinding wheel 6 simultaneously turns and frictionally engages the flint 9 to generate a spark that ignites the gas fuel.

(35) When the slider 11 of the driving body 1 slides to the farthest point that it can slide down in the groove 12 (as shown in FIG. 4), the energy storage member 5 finishes the release of energy; the relative positions between the driving body 1 and the moving member 2 are the same as when no external force is applied to the ignition mechanism; the driving body 1 recovers from the elastic deformation that resulted from being deflected by the moving member 2; and accordingly, the plucking portion 8 is away from the side of the driving wheel 4.

(36) When the hand 19 is no longer pressing on the moving member 2, the reset member 15 pushes the moving member 2 to slide upward; the driving body 1 moves upward at the same time and does not contact the driving wheel 4; all components reset, the valve 16 no longer releases gas fuel, and the flame is extinguished (see FIG. 1).

Example 2

(37) As shown in FIG. 5, the operating principles of the present embodiment are almost identical to the ones shown in Example 1.

(38) However, the present embodiment differs from Example 1 as follows:

(39) 1) Driving body 1 consists of two components that are coupled together through a pivot 21.

(40) 2) A blocker 22 is fixed inside the ignition mechanism.

(41) 3) Driving wheel 4 is a gear, but not a spur gear.

(42) 4) During the period when the hand 19 is pressing down on the moving member 2, the moving member 2 will apply force on the driving body 1 leading the plucking portion 8 to rotate about the pivot 21 and move close to the side of the driving wheel 4 as a result (see, FIG. 6); when the energy storage member 5 releases energy and pushes the slider 11 on the driving body 1 to slide to the farthest point that it can slide down in the groove 12, the driving body 1 will be pushed against the blocker 22 making the plucking portion 8 rotate backward about the pivot 21, and move away from the side of the driving wheel 4 as a result (see, FIG. 7).

(43) Moreover, during the reset process, the plucking portion 8, as in Example 1, does not touch the driving wheel 4.

Example 3

(44) As shown in FIG. 8, the operating principles of the present embodiment differ from Example 2 mainly as follows:

(45) 1) The amount of rotation between the two components of the drive body 1 is limited.

(46) 2) There is no blocker 22 that is found in Example 2.

(47) 3) Driving wheel 4 is a ratchet gear, and the plucking portion 8 is a pawl that can pluck the ratchet gear to rotate.

(48) 4) During the reset process, the plucking portion 8 will encounter the driving wheel 4 and immediately turn about the pivot 21 backward to avoid being blocked by the driving wheel 4.

(49) The rest in this exemplary embodiment is the same as in Example 2.

Example 4

(50) As shown in FIG. 9, the present embodiment mainly differs from the one shown in Example 1 as follow:

(51) 1) The plucking portion 8, unlike in the above embodiments, does not have teeth that engage the driving wheel 4, rather, it has a flat surface that contacts the driving wheel 4 where the plucking surface part is made of rubber, silicone rubber, or other suitable elastomeric materials; except for the plucking portion 8, parts in the driving body 1 are made of plastics different from the material for the plucking portion 8.

(52) 2) The plucking portion 8 rotates the driving wheel 4 through frictional forces.

(53) 3) The driving wheel 4 is not a spur gear.

(54) 4) On the driving body 1 where it contacts the moving member 2, there is a curved surface 20.

(55) The remaining operational principles and processes are the same as in Example 1.

Example 5

(56) As shown in FIG. 10, the present example is different from Example 4 as follows:

(57) 1) The grinding wheel 6 and the driving wheel 4 are integrally formed, and the overall appearance and overall structure of the resulting piece look no different from a conventional grinding wheel (as shown in FIG. 11). As shown in FIG. 12, the illustrated piece appears to be a conventional grinding wheel, but in fact the left side to the dashed line is a driving wheel 4, the right side to the dashed line is a grinding wheel 6, the two being integrally formed, and the overall appearance and overall structure appear no different from a conventional grinding wheel.

(58) 2) The driving body 1 is formed integrally; the material is rubber, silicone rubber, or other suitable elastomeric materials.

(59) 3) The plucking portion 8 also rotates the grinding wheel 6 when rotating the driving wheel 4.

(60) The rest in this exemplary embodiment are the same as in Example 4.

Example 6

(61) As shown in FIG. 13, the operating principles of the present embodiment differ from Example 1 mainly as follows:

(62) 1) The blocking member 3, which is fixed inside the ignition mechanism, is not elastically deformable.

(63) 2) The driving body 1 includes an elastic portion 23 that is elastically deformable and can be used to hold off the blocking member 3.

(64) 3) The moving member 2 has a push block 24 for interacting with the elastic portion.

(65) 4) The moving member 2 does not have the first press portion 13 to interact with the blocking member.

(66) 5) When the hand 19 presses down the moving member 2, the push block 24 on the moving member 2 will cause the elastic portion 23 to elastically deflect by squeezing down on it, enabling the driving body 1 to get around the barricade of the blocking member 3, which in turn causes the energy storage member 5 to release energy and to push the driving body 1 downward (as shown in FIG. 14). Once reset, the elastic portion 23 will recover from the elastic deflection (as in FIG. 13).

(67) The rest of the principles are the same as in Example 1.

Example 7

(68) As shown in FIG. 15, this top view shows the spatial relationship among the plucking portion 8, the grinding wheel 6, and the driving wheel 4 when no external force is applied to the ignition mechanism. The present example illustrates that, besides the way where the plucking portion 8 is moved close to the driving wheel 4 as a result of the moving member 2 pushing or forcing the driving body 1, as mentioned in all the above examples, the plucking portion 8 may also be moved from the side near the grinding wheel 6 to the side near the driving wheel 4 (as in FIG. 16).

Example 8

(69) As shown in FIG. 17, this top view shows the spatial relationship among the plucking portion 8, the grinding wheel 6, and the driving wheel 4 when no external force is applied to the ignition mechanism. The present example illustrates that, besides the way where the plucking portion 8 is moved close to the driving wheel 4 as a result of the moving member 2 pushing or forcing the driving body 1, as mentioned in all the above examples, the plucking portion 8 may also be moved to the position close to the driving wheel 4 from a position distant from the driving wheel 4 through rotating about an axis that is the direction of movement by the moving member 2 (as in FIG. 18).

Example 9

(70) As shown in FIGS. 19, 20, and 21, an ignition mechanism including the driving body 1, the moving member 2, the energy storage member 5, the reset member 15, a frame 25, the driving wheel 4, the grinding wheel 6, the wheel axle 7, the flint 9, and the flint spring 26, forms an assembly 27 with the gas-control lever 10.

(71) Amongst the components, the driving wheel 4 and the wheel axle 7 are formed integrally, while the blocking member 3 is on the frame 25.

(72) The present embodiment's structural principles are the same as in Example 1.

(73) Moreover, in an alternate embodiment, the assembly 27 does not include the gas-control lever 10.

Example 10

(74) As shown in FIG. 22, once the assembly 27 and parts such as a button 28, a wind shield 29, a housing 30, a valve 16, a bottom cover 31, and so on, are all assembled and then charged with fuel, a complete lighter is produced (e.g., FIG. 23).

(75) This embodiment is meant to be merely illustrative of possible applications for the assembly 27, the parts, structure and types of lighters applicable for the present invention should not be limited to this embodiment.

Example 11

(76) As shown in FIG. 2, the recoil strength of the energy storage member 5 and/or of the reset member 15 is very strong, making a child unable to press the moving member 2 to a pre-set position that would result in spark generation, therefore preventing the ignition mechanism from igniting. This setup is to prevent children from lighting up a fire too easily.

(77) And as shown in FIG. 24, the ignition mechanism shown here is the one featured in Example 10: in the assembly 27, the recoil strength of the energy storage member 5 and/or of the reset member 15 is very strong. As a result, when a child presses the button 28, he should not be able to force the moving member 2 downward to a position that can result in spark generation, therefore preventing the ignition mechanism from igniting. This setup is similarly aimed at preventing children from lighting up a fire too easily.

Example 12

(78) As shown in FIG. 25, the driving wheel 4 and the grinding wheel 6 are integrally formed, where the wheel blank not yet rolling-carved with thread lines 32 and not yet chopped with the spark-generating filing-teeth 33 is first made exclusively with the cold heading techniques. Then, thread lines 32 are rolling-carved onto the wheel blank (as shown in FIG. 26), chopped with spark-generating filing-teeth 33, and finally finished with heat treatment and other steps, to arrive at a final product (as shown in FIG. 27).

Example 13

(79) As shown in FIG. 28, the grinding wheel 6, the driving wheel 4 and the wheel axle 7 are integrally formed. The outer diameter of the driving wheel can be larger than that of the grinding wheel 6, or can be smaller than that of the grinding wheel 6 (as in FIG. 29), or the two outer diameters can be the same. Further, the exteriors of the driving wheel 4 and the grinding wheel 6 can also be combined into a single unit (as shown in FIG. 30).

(80) Although the present invention is disclosed using preferred exemplary embodiments above, the scope of the present invention is not limited to these examples. Any person of ordinary skills in the art, without departing from the spirit of the present invention, should be allowed some room for modifications, i.e., any equivalent improvements based on the present invention should be covered within the scope of the present invention.