Gas lighter

Abstract

Gas lighter comprising a reservoir, for containing a fuel, the reservoir having an upper wall through which a well and a gas-dispensing device passes. The gas-dispensing device includes at least one tubular element arranged in the well. The tubular element including at least one snap-fitting member designed to cooperate with a retaining element secured to the upper wall of the reservoir in the well when the tubular element is assembled with the reservoir.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A gas lighter comprising: 
 a reservoir having an upper wall;    a well, the well passing through the upper wall; and    a gas-dispensing device having at least one tubular element arranged in the well,    wherein the tubular element has at least one snap-fitting member designed to cooperate with a retaining element secured to the upper wall when the tubular element is assembled with the reservoir.    
     
     
         2 . A lighter according to  claim 1 , wherein the tubular element comprises two snap-fitting members for engaging the retaining element to snap-fit the tubular element in the upper wall of the reservoir in the well.  
     
     
         3 . A lighter according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper wall is formed integral with the reservoir.  
     
     
         4 . A lighter according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper wall of the reservoir, the well and the tubular element are all in the shape of a cylinder that is circularly symmetrical.  
     
     
         5 . A lighter according to  claim 1 , wherein the tubular element and the upper wall of the reservoir in the well have relatively smooth walls.  
     
     
         6 . A lighter according to  claim 1 , further comprising an annular seal arranged between the wall and the tubular element.  
     
     
         7 . A lighter according to  claim 6 , wherein the annular seal is arranged between a radially external rim formed on the tubular element and a radially internal rim formed on the wall.  
     
     
         8 . A lighter according to  claim 7 , wherein the tubular element has a first axial distance (H 1 ), extending between the radially external rim and a point of contact where the snap-fitting member engages the retaining element, and the upper wall has a second axial distance (H 2 ) between the radially internal rim and the point of contact, the first and second distances (H 1 , H 2 ) being chosen to exert a pre-determined pressure on the annular seal.  
     
     
         9 . A lighter according to  claim 1 , wherein the retaining element is formed on a lower portion of an interior face of the upper wall.  
     
     
         10 . A lighter according to  claim 1 , wherein the snap-fitting member is arranged in a lower part of the tubular element.  
     
     
         11 . A lighter according to  claim 10 , wherein the snap-fitting member comprises a tab having a nib, the nib being directed radially outwards and having a transverse face, the tab being elastic in a radial direction.  
     
     
         12 . A lighter according to  claim 1 , wherein the tubular element further comprises a regulating device.  
     
     
         13 . A lighter according to  claim 12 , wherein the regulating device is a microporous membrane.  
     
     
         14 . A lighter according to  claim 13 , wherein the tubular element further comprises a metal inner tube having a lowered end for receiving the microporous membrane.  
     
     
         15 . A lighter according to  claim 1 , wherein the tubular element has an upper end comprising a radially internal rim defining an opening through which there passes an outlet duct of a valve, the valve being moveable along an axis of the tubular element, wherein a compression spring is arranged between the radially internal rim and the valve.  
     
     
         16 . A lighter according to  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of styrene acrylonitriles or acrylonitrile butadiene styrenes.  
     
     
         17 . A lighter according to  claim 1 , wherein the tubular element is made of semi-crystalline polymer.  
     
     
         18 . A gas lighter comprising: 
 a reservoir containing a fuel, the reservoir having an upper wall,    a well, the well passing through the upper wall; and    a gas-dispensing device having at least one tubular element including at least one snap-fitting member;    wherein the upper wall includes a retaining element for engaging the snap-fitting member.    
     
     
         19 . A lighter according to  claim 18 , wherein the tubular element comprises two snap-fitting members for engaging the retaining element to snap-fit the tubular element in the upper wall of the reservoir in the well.  
     
     
         20 . A lighter according to  claim 18 , wherein the upper wall is formed integral with the reservoir.  
     
     
         21 . A lighter according to  claim 18 , wherein the upper wall of the reservoir, the well and the tubular element are all in the shape of a cylinder that is circularly symmetrical.  
     
     
         22 . A lighter according to  claim 18 , wherein the tubular element and the upper wall of the reservoir in the well have relatively smooth walls.  
     
     
         23 . A lighter according to  claim 18 , further comprising an annular seal arranged between the upper wall and the tubular element.  
     
     
         24 . A lighter according to  claim 23 , wherein the annular seal is arranged between a radially external rim formed on the tubular element and a radially internal rim formed on the upper wall.  
     
     
         25 . A lighter according to  claim 24 , wherein the tubular element has a first axial distance (H 1 ), extending between the radially external rim and a point of contact where the snap-fitting member engages the retaining element, and the wall has a second axial distance (H 2 ) between the radially internal rim and the point of contact, the first and second distances (H 1 , H 2 ) being chosen to exert a pre-determined pressure on the annular seal.  
     
     
         26 . A lighter according to  claim 18 , wherein the retaining element is formed on a lower portion of an interior face of the upper wall.  
     
     
         27 . A lighter according to  claim 18 , wherein the snap-fitting member is arranged in a lower part of the tubular element.  
     
     
         28 . A lighter according to  claim 27 , wherein the snap-fitting member comprises a tab having a nib, the nib being directed radially outwards and having a transverse face, the tab being elastic in a radial direction.  
     
     
         29 . A lighter according to  claim 18 , wherein the tubular element further comprises a regulating device.  
     
     
         30 . A lighter according to  claim 29 , wherein the regulating device is a microporous membrane.  
     
     
         31 . A lighter according to  claim 30 , wherein the tubular element further comprises a metal inner tube having a lowered end for receiving the microporous membrane.  
     
     
         32 . A lighter according to  claim 18 , wherein the tubular element has an upper end comprising a radially internal rim defining an opening through which there passes an outlet duct of a valve, the valve being moveable along an axis of the tubular element, wherein a compression spring is arranged between the radially internal rim and the valve.  
     
     
         33 . A lighter according to  claim 18 , wherein the reservoir is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of styrene acrylonitriles or acrylonitrile butadiene styrenes.  
     
     
         34 . A lighter according to  claim 18 , wherein the tubular element is made of semi-crystalline polymer.  
     
     
         35 . A method of manufacturing a gas lighter having a reservoir including an upper wall having a retaining element and a well which passes through the upper wall, the method comprising: 
 providing a gas dispensing device within the well, the gas dispensing device including at least one tubular element having at least one snap-fitting member, wherein the step of providing a gas dispensing device within the well comprises: 
 placing the tubular element into the well until the snap-fitting member engages the retaining element thereby securing the dispensing device into the well.  
   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the tubular element comprises two snap-fitting members for engaging the retaining element.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the upper wall is formed integral with the reservoir.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the upper wall of the reservoir, the well and the tubular element are all in the shape of a cylinder that is circularly symmetrical.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the tubular element and the upper wall of the reservoir in the well have relatively smooth walls.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising providing an annular seal between the upper wall and the tubular element.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the annular seal is arranged between a radially external rim formed on the tubular element and a radially internal rim formed on the upper wall.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the tubular element has a first axial distance (H 1 ), extending between the radially external rim and a point of contact where the snap-fitting member engages the retaining element, and the wall has a second axial distance (H 2 ) between the radially internal rim and the point of contact, the first and second distances (H 1 , H 2 ) being chosen to exert a pre-determined pressure on the annular seal.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the retaining element is formed on a lower portion of an interior face of the upper wall.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the snap-fitting member is arranged in a lower part of the tubular element.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the snap-fitting member comprises a tab having a nib, the nib being directed radially outwards and having a transverse face, the tab being elastic in a radial direction.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the tubular element further comprises a regulating device.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the regulating device is a microporous membrane.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the tubular element further comprises a metal inner tube having a lowered end for receiving the microporous membrane.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the tubular element has an upper end comprising a radially internal rim defining an opening through which there passes an outlet duct of a valve, the valve being moveable along an axis of the tubular element, wherein a compression spring is arranged between the radially internal rim and the valve.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the reservoir is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of styrene acrylonitriles or acrylonitrile butadiene styrenes.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the tubular element is made of semi-crystalline polymer.