Hand held lighter

Abstract

In order to provide a hand held lighter which is difficult to operate accidentally and which is difficult for children to operate, the hand held lighter comprises a fuel container 1 a fuel valve 9 for allowing fuel to be fed from the fuel container to an ignition point, a lever 4 for operating the fuel valve 9, a flint 5, a rotatably mounted sparking wheel 6 contacting the flint 5 and for generating sparks when the sparking wheel 6 is rotated, the sparks being projected to the ignition point. The lever has an operating surface, 10 for contacting a user's thumb or finger. The lighter defines an operating axis A passing tangentially to the sparking wheel at X and passing through the operating surface of the lever 4 at a point Y, at least part of the operating surface 10 of lever being inclined outwardly with respect to the axis A.

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 assembly, contacting the flint for generating sparks when the sparking wheel assembly is rotated, the sparks being projected to the ignition point, the lever having an operating surface for contacting a user's thumb or finger, the lighter further defining an operating axis, passing tangentially to the sparking wheel assembly and passing through the lever, at least part of the operating surface of the lever being inclined with respect to the axis and facing outwards.    
   
   
       2 . A hand held lighter according to  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the operating surface of the lever is inclined to the operating axis at an angle of at least 120°.  
   
   
       3 . A hand held lighter according to claims  1  or  2 , wherein the operating surface comprises a substantially flat planar surface.  
   
   
       4 . A hand held lighter according to claims  1  or  2 , wherein the operating surface of the lever comprises a curved surface.  
   
   
       5 . A hand held lighter according to any preceding claim, wherein at least half of the operating surface is inclined with respect to the operating axis.