Utility lighter with safety mechanism

Abstract

A utility lighter includes a trigger adapted to simultaneously engage a fuel valve and piezo-electric element. A safety mechanism engages the trigger to prevent inadvertent ignition of the lighter or use of the lighter by a small child. The safety mechanism physically restricts movement of the trigger when engaged. The safety mechanism may be disengaged to allow the trigger to be activated. The safety mechanism may be released without extinguishing the flame and is re-engaged when the trigger is released.

1 . A safety mechanism for a utility lighter comprising: 
 a housing;    a fuel tank having a fuel valve wherein the fuel tank is disposed within the housing;    a fuel lever pivotally disposed within the housing and engaging the fuel valve;    a piezo-electric element affixed within the housing;    a trigger slidably mounted to the housing and adapted to substantially simultaneously engage the fuel lever and the piezo-electric element;    a safety switch slidably mounted on the housing; and    a safety latch pivotally disposed within the housing and adapted to engage the safety switch and selectively engage the trigger.    
   
   
       2 . The safety mechanism of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a flame height adjuster affixed to the fuel valve.    
   
   
       3 . The safety mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the fuel lever straddles the piezo-electric element.  
   
   
       4 . The safety mechanism of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a spring affixed to and engaging the safety latch.    
   
   
       5 . The safety mechanism of  claim 4 , wherein the spring biases the safety lever against the trigger.  
   
   
       6 . The safety mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the trigger includes a trigger catch.  
   
   
       7 . The safety mechanism of  claim 6 , wherein the safety latch includes a safety catch.  
   
   
       8 . The safety mechanism of  claim 7 , wherein the safety catch is adapted to engage the trigger catch when the trigger is in an unactivated position.  
   
   
       9 . The safety mechanism of  claim 7 , wherein the safety catch is adapted to disengage from the trigger catch when the safety switch is urged into an activated position.  
   
   
       10 . The safety mechanism of  claim 7 , wherein the safety catch is adapted to rest against an upper surface of the trigger when the trigger is urged into an activated position and the safety switch is urged into an unactivated position.  
   
   
       11 . A utility lighter comprising: 
 a housing;    a fuel tank disposed within the housing, the fuel tank having a fuel valve;    a trigger slidably mounted to the housing and adapted to slide between a disengaged position and an engaged position, the trigger having a trigger catch and an upper surface adjacent to the trigger catch;    a fuel lever pivotally mounted within the housing, the fuel lever having a first end adapted to engage the fuel valve and a second end adapted to engage the trigger, wherein the fuel lever is adapted to urge the fuel valve into an open position when the trigger is in the engaged position and to allow the fuel valve to adopt a closed position when the trigger is in the disengaged position;    a piezo-electric element affixed within the housing, wherein the piezo-electric element is adapted to engage the trigger such that, as the trigger moves from the disengaged position to the engaged position, the piezo-electric element is compressed;    a safety latch pivotally mounted within the housing, the safety latch having a safety catch;    a safety switch slidably mounted to the housing and engaging the safety latch, wherein the safety switch is adapted to slide between an off position and an on position; and    a spring disposed within the housing and engaging the safety latch wherein the safety latch is positioned such that the safety catch engages the trigger catch when the safety switch is in the off position;    the safety latch being positioned such that the safety catch is disengaged from the trigger catch when safety switch is in the on position;    wherein the spring is adapted to bias the safety latch against the upper surface of the trigger when the safety switch is moved from the on position to the off position and the trigger is in the engaged position.    
   
   
       12 . The utility lighter of  claim 11  wherein the trigger is adapted to substantially simultaneously engage the fuel lever and the piezo-electric element.  
   
   
       13 . The utility lighter of  claim 11  wherein a portion of the fuel lever straddles the piezo electric element.  
   
   
       14 . The safety mechanism of  claim 11 , further comprising a flame height adjuster affixed to the fuel valve.  
   
   
       15 . The utility lighter of  claim 11  wherein the piezo-electric element is adapted to urge the trigger from the engaged position to the disengaged position.