Child-resistant disposable lighter

Abstract

A lighter has a frame, a first turn wheel rotatably supported by the frame, a second turn wheel rotatably supported by the frame, a spark wheel constructed and arranged to rotate with the first turn wheel but not with the second turn wheel, and a flint constructed and arranged to be contacted by the spark wheel during rotation of the spark wheel.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A lighter, comprising: 
 a frame;    a first turn wheel rotatably supported by said frame;    a second turn wheel rotatably supported by said frame;    a spark wheel constructed and arranged to rotate with said first turn wheel but not with said second turn wheel; and    a flint constructed and arranged to be contacted by said spark wheel during rotation of said spark wheel.    
     
     
         2 . The lighter according to  claim 1 , wherein an outer circumferential surface of said first turn wheel is smooth.  
     
     
         3 . The lighter according to  claim 2 , wherein an outer circumferential surface of said second turn wheel is textured.  
     
     
         4 . The lighter according to  claim 3 , wherein an outer diameter of said second turn wheel is greater than an outer diameter of said first turn wheel.  
     
     
         5 . The lighter according to  claim 4 , wherein the outer diameter of said first turn wheel and the outer diameter of said second turn wheel are sufficiently large such that when a user's thumb applies pressure to said first and second turn wheels to rotate said first and second turn wheels, the thumb is prevented from directly contacting said spark wheel.  
     
     
         6 . The lighter according to  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 a first annular portion extending from said first turn wheel so as to cover a first portion of said spark wheel; and    a second annular portion extending from said second turn wheel so as to cover a second portion of said spark wheel,    wherein said first annular portion and said second annular portion extend sufficiently from said first turn wheel and said second turn wheel, respectively, such that when a user's thumb applies pressure to said first and second annular portions to rotate said first and second turn wheels, the thumb is prevented from directly contacting said spark wheel.    
     
     
         7 . The lighter according to  claim 6 , wherein 
 said first turn wheel includes a projection received within an interior of said spark wheel, with said projection and the interior of said spark wheel being rotatably coupled to one another, and    said first annular portion includes an inner circumferential surface that is rotatably coupled to an outer circumferential surface of said first portion of said spark wheel.    
     
     
         8 . The lighter according to  claim 1 , wherein an outer circumferential surface of said second turn wheel is textured.  
     
     
         9 . The lighter according to  claim 8 , wherein an outer diameter of said second turn wheel is greater than an outer diameter of said first turn wheel.  
     
     
         10 . The lighter according to  claim 9 , wherein the outer diameter of said first turn wheel and the outer diameter of said second turn wheel are sufficiently large such that when a user's thumb applies pressure to said first and second turn wheels to rotate said first and second turn wheels, the thumb is prevented from directly contacting said spark wheel.  
     
     
         11 . The lighter according to  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 a first annular portion extending from said first turn wheel so as to cover a first portion of said spark wheel; and    a second annular portion extending from said second turn wheel so as to cover a second portion of said spark wheel,    wherein said first annular portion and said second annular portion extend sufficiently from said first turn wheel and said second turn wheel, respectively, such that when a user's thumb applies pressure to said first and second annular portions to rotate said first and second turn wheels, the thumb is prevented from directly contacting said spark wheel.    
     
     
         12 . The lighter according to  claim 11 , wherein 
 said first turn wheel includes a projection received within an interior of said spark wheel, with said projection and the interior of said spark wheel being rotatably coupled to one another, and    said first annular portion includes an inner circumferential surface that is rotatably coupled to an outer circumferential surface of said first portion of said spark wheel.    
     
     
         13 . The lighter according to  claim 1 , wherein an outer diameter of said second turn wheel is greater than an outer diameter of said first turn wheel.  
     
     
         14 . The lighter according to  claim 13 , wherein the outer diameter of said first turn wheel and the outer diameter of said second turn wheel are sufficiently large such that when a users thumb applies pressure to said first and second turn wheels to rotate said first and second turn wheels, the thumb is prevented from directly contacting said spark wheel.  
     
     
         15 . The lighter according to  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 a first annular portion extending from said first turn wheel so as to cover a first portion of said spark wheel; and    a second annular portion extending from said second turn wheel so as to cover a second portion of said spark wheel,    wherein said first annular portion and said second annular portion extend sufficiently from said first turn wheel and said second turn wheel, respectively, such that when a user's thumb applies pressure to said first and second annular portions to rotate said first and second turn wheels, the thumb is prevented from directly contacting said spark wheel.    
     
     
         16 . The lighter according to  claim 15 , wherein 
 said first turn wheel includes a projection received within an interior of said spark wheel, with said projection and the interior of said spark wheel being rotatably coupled to one another, and    said first annular portion includes an inner circumferential surface that is rotatably coupled to an outer circumferential surface of said first portion of said spark wheel.    
     
     
         17 . The lighter according to  claim 1 , wherein an outer diameter of said first turn wheel and an outer diameter of said second turn wheel are sufficiently large such that when a user's thumb applies pressure to said first and second turn wheels to rotate said first and second turn wheels, the thumb is prevented from directly contacting said spark wheel.  
     
     
         18 . The lighter according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a first annular portion extending from said first turn wheel so as to cover a first portion of said spark wheel; and    a second annular portion extending from said second turn wheel so as to cover a second portion of said spark wheel,    wherein said first annular portion and said second annular portion extend sufficiently from said first turn wheel and said second turn wheel, respectively, such that when a user's thumb applies pressure to said first and second annular portions to rotate said first and second turn wheels, the thumb is prevented from directly contacting said spark wheel.    
     
     
         19 . The lighter according to  claim 18 , wherein 
 said first turn wheel includes a projection received within an interior of said spark wheel, with said projection and the interior of said spark wheel being rotatably coupled to one another, and    said first annular portion includes an inner circumferential surface that is rotatably coupled to an outer circumferential surface of said first portion of said spark wheel.    
     
     
         20 . The lighter according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said first turn wheel includes a projection received within an interior of said spark wheel, with said projection and the interior of said spark wheel being rotatably coupled to one another, and    said first turn wheel also includes a first annular portion covering a first portion of said spark wheel, with an inner circumferential surface of said first annular portion being rotatably coupled to an outer circumferential surface of said first portion of said spark wheel.