Child resistant gas lighters

Abstract

The invention relates to a roll and press gas lighter which is rendered child resistant by frictionally retarding the wheel assembly, making it difficult for a child to rotate it. The wheel assembly may have a serrated axle rotating in a serrated bearing; the periphery or sides of the thumbwheel may have projections which engage with the lever or lighter body. The wheel assembly may be formed in two parts, urged apart by an internal spring so as to frictionally engage in frustoconical bearings; alternatively the wheel assembly may rotate frictionally around a fixed axle. The wheel assembly may be retarded by a rubber wheel or a fixed leaf spring. Alternatively the flint may be provided with a strong spring to retard the sparkwheel, and the sparkwheel may he indented to engage with the flint.

1  A child resistant lighter of the roll and press type, comprising a wheel assembly mounted on the lighter body and including at least one thumbwheel and a spark-wheel engaging against a flint, wherein the wheel assembly is mounted such that substantial pressure is required to rotate the spark-wheel against the flint, characterized in that the spark-wheel is attached to the thumb-wheel(s) and the wheel assembly as a whole is mounted on the body and is in frictional engagement with another component of the lighter.  
     
     
         2  A child resistant lighter of the roll and press type, comprising a wheel assembly mounted on the lighter body and including at least one thumbwheel and a spark-wheel engaging against a flint, wherein the wheel assembly is mounted such that substantial pressure is required to rotate the spark-wheel against the flint, characterized in that the spark-wheel is attached to the thumb-wheel(s) and the spark-wheel and/or the thumb wheel is in frictional engagement with another component of the lighter, said other component being fixed to the lighter body.  
     
     
         3  A child resistant lighter according to  claim 1 , characterized in that frictional engagement means are provided on either or both of the wheel assembly and the body of the lighter of a part thereof.  
     
     
         4  A child resistant lighter according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the frictional engagement means are in the form of a friction pad.  
     
     
         5  A child resistant lighter according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the frictional engagement means are arranged as at least three separate means arranged evenly around the perimeter of the wheel assembly.  
     
     
         6  A lighter according to any preceding claim, wherein the wheel assembly is mounted on a shaft with corrugations and which engages in corrugated bearings.  
     
     
         7  A lighter according to any preceding claim wherein the thumb-wheel(s) engage with a friction pad mounted therebelow.  
     
     
         8  A lighter according to any preceding claim wherein the wheel assembly is mounted between a pair of support ears which bear resiliently inwards against the wheel assembly, and the side face of the thumb-wheel(s) has friction means bearing against corresponding friction means on the facing face of the adjacent support ear.  
     
     
         9  A lighter according to any preceding claim wherein the wheel assembly is mounted on a shaft between a pair of support ears which bear resiliently inwards against the wheel assembly, and the shaft has conical ends which bear frictionally against corresponding conical bearings in the support ears.  
     
     
         10  A lighter substantially as herein described and illustrated.  
     
     
         11  Any novel and inventive feature or combination of features specifically disclosed herein within the meaning of Article 4H of the International Convention (Paris Convention).