Multi-mode lighter

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a lighter including a housing having a supply of fuel, an actuating member extending from the housing and being movable to selectively perform at least one step in igniting the fuel, and an inhibiting member extending from the housing. Moving the inhibiting member a predetermined distance resists, obstructs and/or prevents the actuating member from performing at least one step in igniting the fuel. For example, moving the inhibiting member the predetermined distance may resist and/or prevent movement of the actuating member, may obstruct and/or prevent the release of fuel, and/or may resist and/or prevent the creation of a spark to ignite the fuel. Various other features which improve the functioning of the lighter may be provided separately or in combination.

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       79 . A lighter comprising: 
 a housing having a supply of fuel;    a nozzle for releasing the fuel;    an electrical circuit having a spark gap proximate the nozzle;    an ignition mechanism for creating a spark across the spark gap;    an actuating member extending from the housing and movable to operate the ignition mechanism; and    an inhibiting member extending from the housing and movable from a first position where a portion of the electrical circuit is closed to a second position where the portion of the electrical circuit is open.    
   
   
       80 . The lighter of  claim 79 , wherein the inhibiting member is normally biased to the first position.  
   
   
       81 . The lighter of  claim 80 , further comprising an elastic element for biasing the inhibiting member to the first position.  
   
   
       82 . The lighter of  claim 79 , further comprising a first electrical pathway extending from the ignition mechanism to a first terminal of the spark gap, and a second electrical pathway extending from the ignition mechanism to a second terminal of the spark gap, wherein at least one of the first and second electrical pathways is opened when the inhibiting member is moved to the second position.  
   
   
       83 . The lighter of  claim 82 , further comprising a switch located in at least one of the first and second electrical pathways, wherein the switch is closed when the inhibiting member is in the first position, and the switch is open when the inhibiting member is in the second position.  
   
   
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       88 . The lighter of  claim 79 , further comprising a latch member movable by a user to selectively change the actuating member from a high-force mode to a low-force mode.  
   
   
       89 . The lighter of  claim 88 , wherein a first actuating force is required to move the actuating member when the actuating member is in the high-force mode, and a second actuating force is required to move the actuating member when the actuating member is in the low-force mode, with the first actuating force being greater than the second actuating force.  
   
   
       90 . The lighter of  claim 79 , wherein the actuating member is movable in a first direction and the inhibiting member is movable in a second direction that is substantially opposite the first direction.  
   
   
       91 . The lighter of  claim 79 , wherein the actuating member is movable along a first axis and the inhibiting member is movable along a second axis that is substantially parallel to the first axis.  
   
   
       92 . The lighter of  claim 79 , wherein the housing includes a proximal end and a distal end, and the inhibiting member extends from the proximal end.  
   
   
       93 . The lighter of  claim 92 , wherein the proximal end is substantially blunt or planar.  
   
   
       94 . The lighter of  claim 92 , wherein the actuating member is movable along a first axis, and at least a portion of the proximal end is substantially normal to the first axis.  
   
   
       95 . The lighter of  claim 92 , further comprising a wand member extending from the distal end, wherein the wand member is pivotable between an open position and a closed position.  
   
   
       96 . The lighter of  claim 79 , further comprising an enlarged contact surface associated with the inhibiting member, wherein the contact surface covers greater than about half of a proximal end of the housing.  
   
   
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       103 . A lighter comprising: 
 a housing having a supply of fuel;    a nozzle for releasing the fuel;    an ignition mechanism connectable to a first electrical circuit having a first electrical resistance and a first spark gap proximate the nozzle and a second electrical circuit having a second electrical resistance, an operative configuration and an inoperative configuration;    an actuating member extending from the housing and movable to operate the ignition mechanism; and    an inhibiting member extending from the housing and movable between a first position where the second electrical circuit is inoperative and a second position where the second electrical circuit is operative;    wherein in the operative configuration, the resistance of the second electrical circuit is less than the resistance of the first electrical pathway such that the electrical current generated by the ignition mechanism selectively travels in the second electrical pathway;    wherein in the inoperative configuration, the resistance of the second electrical pathway is greater than the resistance of the first electrical pathway such that the electrical current generated by the ignition mechanism selectively travels in the first electrical pathway and jumps across the first spark gap to form a spark to ignite the fuel.    
   
   
       104 . (canceled)  
   
   
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       106 . The lighter of  claim 103 , wherein the second electrical circuit has a second spark gap when the inhibiting member is in the first position, and the second spark gap is larger than the first spark gap.  
   
   
       107 . (canceled)  
   
   
       108 . The lighter of  claim 106 , wherein a portion of the inhibiting member closes the second spark gap when the inhibiting member is in the second position.  
   
   
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       110 . The lighter of  claim 103 , wherein the first substantially constant.  
   
   
       111 . The lighter of  claim 103 , wherein the first electrical circuit is closed when the inhibiting member is in the first position.  
   
   
       112 . The lighter of  claim 103 , wherein the second electrical circuit is closed when the inhibiting member is in the second position.  
   
   
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       119 . The lighter of  claim 103 , wherein the actuating member is movable in a first direction and the inhibiting member is movable in a second direction that is substantially opposite the first direction.  
   
   
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       131 . A lighter comprising: 
 a housing having a supply of fuel;    a nozzle for releasing the fuel;    an electrical circuit having a spark gap proximate the nozzle;    an ignition mechanism for generating a voltage;    an actuating member extending from the housing and movable to operate the ignition mechanism; and    an inhibiting member extending from the housing and movable from a first position to a second position;    wherein the electrical circuit includes a first electrical pathway extending from the ignition mechanism to a first terminal of the spark gap, and a second electrical pathway extending from the ignition mechanism to a second terminal of the spark gap, the first and second electrical pathways are closed when the inhibiting member is in a first position and at least one of the first and second electrical pathways is opened when the inhibiting member is in the second position.    
   
   
       132 . The lighter of  claim 131 , wherein the first and second electrical pathways each include a conductive strip which closes the first and second electrical pathways when the inhibiting member is in the first position.  
   
   
       133 . (canceled)  
   
   
       134 . The lighter of  claim 133 , wherein the first and second electrical pathways each include a first wire and a second wire joined by the conductive strips when the inhibiting member is in the first position.  
   
   
       135 . The lighter of  claim 134 , wherein one of the wires of the first electrical pathway is joined to one of the wires of the second electrical pathway by one of the conductive strips when the inhibiting member is in the second position.  
   
   
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