Child resistant lighter

Abstract

A child safe lighter is disclosed having an actuator that is designed to be operated by the thumb of a user and must be moved in an upward direction to operate the lighter. The actuator is biased in a downward direction using a force sufficient to make the necessary operational movement difficult for a child but relatively easy for an adult.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A lighter having: 
 a housing including a fuel supply,    a valve for supplying fuel from the fuel supply to a fuel outlet at an upper end of the lighter,    an ignition mechanism for igniting the fuel from the fuel supply,    an actuator mounted for movement relative to the housing, and upward movement of the actuator in a direction toward the upper end operating the valve and the ignition mechanism to operate the lighter.    
     
     
         2 . A lighter as claimed in  claim 1  wherein two consecutive movements of the actuator are required to operate the lighter.  
     
     
         3 . A lighter as claimed in  claim 1  wherein a movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of upward movement is also required in order to operate the lighter.  
     
     
         4 . A lighter as claimed in  claim 1  wherein a movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of upward movement and immediately prior to the upward movement is required in order to operate the lighter.  
     
     
         5 . A lighter as claimed in  claim 1  wherein movement of the actuator in a direction from outside the housing to inside the housing is required before the upward movement in order to operate the lighter.  
     
     
         6 . A lighter as claimed in  claim 1  wherein three consecutive movements including the upward movement of the actuator are required to operate the lighter.  
     
     
         7 . A lighter as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the actuator is biased into a rest position remote from the upper end by a biasing means.  
     
     
         8 . A lighter as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the biasing force is between substantially 10 and 20 Newtons.  
     
     
         9 . A lighter as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the actuator is positioned relative to the housing to be moved in use by the thumb of a user.  
     
     
         10 . A lighter as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the actuator is positioned relative to the housing to be moved in use by the thumb of a user and is biased into a rest position remote from the upper end by a biasing means and the biasing means is selected to provide a force sufficient to prevent the thumb of a child from operating the lighter, but allowing an adult to operate the lighter.