Hand held lighter

Abstract

In order to provide a hand held lighter which is difficult to operate, thereby preventing accidental operation or operation by children, the hand held lighter comprises a fuel container 1 , a fuel valve 4 for allowing fuel to be fed from the fuel container to an ignition point 5 , a lever 6 for operating the fuel valve 4 , a flint 10 , a rotatably mounted sparking wheel 9 contacting the flint 10 , so that when the sparking wheel 9 is rotated by a user, sparks are generated by the flint 10 and projected to the ignition point 5 , at least one side wheel 12, 13 being provided, adjacent to the sparking wheel, wherein the circumferential surface of the sparking wheel is smooth, so that, if a force is applied by a user's thumb or finger, to the circumferential surface of the side wheel and the sparking wheel 9 , which force would in the absence of the side wheel 12 or 13 be just sufficient to rotate the sparking wheel and generate sparks, the user's thumb or finger will slip on the side wheel 12 or 13.

1 . A hand held lighter, comprising a fuel container, a fuel valve for allowing fuel to be fed from the fuel container to an ignition point, a lever for operating the fuel valve, a flint, a rotatably mounted sparking wheel contacting the flint, so that when the sparking wheel is rotated by a user, sparks are generated by the flint and projected to the ignition point, at least one side wheel being provided, adjacent to the sparking wheel, wherein the circumferential surface of the side wheel is smooth so that, if a force is applied by a user to the circumferential surface of the side wheel and the sparking wheel, which force would in the absence of the side wheel be just sufficient to rotate the sparking wheel and to generate sparks, the user's thumb or finger will slip on the side wheel.  
   
   
       2 . A hand held lighter according to  claim 1 , wherein the side wheel is formed of cast nickel alloy.  
   
   
       3 . A hand held lighter according to  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the side wheel is larger than the outside diameter of the sparking wheel.  
   
   
       4 . A hand held lighter according to  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the side wheel is substantially equal to the outside diameter of the sparking wheel.  
   
   
       5 . A hand held lighter according to  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the side wheel is smaller than the outside diameter of the sparking wheel.  
   
   
       6 . The hand held lighter according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve is operable by a lever, the lever comprising a free end operable by the user's thumb, resilient means being provided between the free end of the lever and a bracket on which the lever is mounted.  
   
   
       7 . A hand held lighter according to  claim 1 , further comprising a shield.  
   
   
       8 . A hand held lighter according to  claim 7 , wherein the shield stands around and projects above the side of the sparking wheel and side wheel.  
   
   
       9 . A hand held lighter according to  claim 1 , wherein the side wheel and the sparking wheel are rigidly connected together.  
   
   
       10 . A hand held lighter, comprising a fuel container, a fuel valve for allowing fuel to be fed from the fuel container to an ignition point, a lever for operating the fuel valve, a flint, a rotatably mounted sparking wheel contacting the flint, so that when the sparking wheel is rotated by a user, sparks are generated by the flint and projected to the ignition point, at least one side wheel being provided, adjacent to the sparking wheel and rigidly connected thereto, wherein the diameter of the side wheel is smaller than the outside diameter of the sparking wheel.  
   
   
       11 . A hand held lighter according to  claim 10 , wherein the side wheel is formed of cast nickel alloy.  
   
   
       12 . A hand held lighter according to  claim 10 , wherein the valve is operable by a lever, the lever comprising a free end operable by the user's thumb, resilient means being provided between the free end of the lever and a bracket on which the lever is mounted.  
   
   
       13 . A hand held lighter according to  claim 10 , further comprising a shield.  
   
   
       14 . A hand held lighter according to claim  16 , wherein the shield stands around and projects above the side of the sparking wheel and side wheel.