Safety stopper for a welding torch striker

Abstract

The invention provides a safety stopper for use with a striker of the type used by welders and fabricators to light welding torches. The striker defines an open area. The safety stopper includes a cover shaped to cover a substantial portion of the open area, and shaped to expose the striker strike plate and flint. The safety stopper also includes attachment means for attaching the cover to the striker, such that the cover defines a clear path for movement of a first push-tab of the striker with respect to a second push-tab of the striker, and such that the cover, when attached to the striker, defines a clear path for movement of the first push-tab with respect to the second push-tab; such that when the striker, with the safety stopper attached, is carried hands-free attached to an operator's belt, the safety stopper reduces the chances of the operator being thrown off balance by the striker catching on an external object.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A safety stopper for use with a welding torch striker, the striker having a substantially U-shaped spring handle, the spring handle defining a first arm with a first push-tab and a second arm with a second push-tab, the arms joined to form a bend at a proximal end of the striker, at least one flint mounted to a distal end of the first arm, and a strike plate mounted to a distal end of the second arm, the spring handle and the strike plate defining an open area, the safety stopper comprising: 
 a cover shaped to cover a substantial portion of the open area, and shaped to expose the strike plate and the at least one flint; and    attachment means for attaching the cover to the striker such that the safety stopper, when attached to the striker, defines a clear path for movement of a first push-tab with respect to a second push-tab;    such that when the striker, with the safety stopper attached, is carried hands-free attached to an operator's belt, the safety stopper reduces the chances of the operator being thrown off balance by the striker catching on an external object.    
     
     
         2 . A safety stopper according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover is a sleeve made of a flexible, non-flammable, heat-resistant material.  
     
     
         3 . A safety stopper according to  claim 2 , wherein the attachment means includes a sleeve shaped and sized to hold the safety stopper by spring force exerted outward on the sleeve by the first and second arms.  
     
     
         4 . A safety stopper according to  claim 3  wherein said sleeve includes a single sheet folded to produce a fold and first and second facing open edges, the first and second facing open edges attached by stitching.  
     
     
         5 . A safety stopper according to  claim 2 , wherein the sleeve is made of leather.  
     
     
         6 . A safety stopper according to  claim 1 , wherein the bend at the proximal end of the striker protrudes beyond the proximal end of the safety stopper  
     
     
         7 . A safety stopper according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover is shaped as a sock and is made of a flexible, non-flammable, heat-resistant material.  
     
     
         8 . A safety stopper according to  claim 7 , wherein the attachment means includes a grommet penetrating the sock within the bend near the sock's closed proximal end.  
     
     
         9 . A safety stopper according to  claim 8 , wherein the attachment means includes at least one rivet penetrating the sock near the sock's distal open end.  
     
     
         10 . A safety stopper according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover includes a rigid plate made of a non-flammable, heat-resistant material.  
     
     
         11 . A safety stopper according to  claim 10 , wherein the attachment means includes at least one clip-on fastener adapted to clip the rigid plate to a portion of the spring handle proximate to the bend.  
     
     
         12 . A safety stopper according to  claim 11 , wherein the attachment means includes two clip-on fasteners.  
     
     
         13 . A safety stopper according to  claim 10 , wherein the rigid plate includes at least one peripheral groove on along its first long edge.  
     
     
         14 . A safety stopper according to  claim 13 , wherein a portion of the peripheral groove is adapted to secure the proximal end of the rigid plate within the bend of the striker.  
     
     
         15 . A safety stopper according to  claim 13 , wherein the rigid plate includes an overlapping portion along its second long edge.  
     
     
         16 . A safety stopper according to  claim 10 , wherein the cover includes two rigid plates configured for clamp-on attachment of the plates to the striker.  
     
     
         17 . A safety stopper according to  claim 16 , wherein the cover includes a first rigid plate having at least one integral spacer and a second rigid plate having at least one socket sized to accept the at least one integral spacer.  
     
     
         18 . A safety stopper according to  claim 10 , wherein the cover is a rigid metallic cover in sliding, overlapping relationship to the first swinging arm, and the attachment means includes tack-welds attaching the metallic cover to the second arm.  
     
     
         19 . A safety stopper for use with a hand tool defining an open area, the safety stopper comprising, in combination, a cover shaped to cover a substantial portion of the open area and shaped to expose an active component of the tool; and attachment means for attaching the cover to the tool; such that the safety stopper when attached to the tool defines a clear path for movement of a trigger component of the tool; and such that when the tool with the safety stopper attached is carried hands-free attached to an operator's belt, the safety stopper reduces the chances of the operator being thrown off balance by the tool catching on an external object.  
     
     
         20 . A safety striker, comprising: 
 a substantially U-shaped spring handle, the spring handle defining a first arm with a first push-tab and a second arm with a second push-tab, the arms joined to form a bend at a proximal end of the striker;    at least one flint mounted to a distal end of the first arm;    a strike plate mounted to a distal end of the second arm, the spring handle and the strike plate defining an open area; and    a safety stopper including a cover having a tough outer face, the cover configured to cover a substantial portion of the open area such that when an operator is carrying the striker hands-free with the striker attached to the operator's belt, and such that the cover reduces the chances of the striker catching on an external object.    
     
     
         21 . A safety striker according to  claim 20 , wherein the cover is shaped as a sock and wherein the attachment means includes a grommet penetrating the sock within the bend near the sock's closed proximal end.  
     
     
         22 . A safety striker according to  claim 20 , wherein the cover includes a substantially flat, rigid cover attached to one arm and oriented for motion in a plane parallel to the plane of the two arms.