The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 01, 2000
Filed:
Jun. 14, 1999
James M McDonough, Guilford, CT (US);
Daniel A Ferrara, Bantam, CT (US);
F Nicolas Garoffolo, Westport, CT (US);
Chris A Barone, Trumbull, CT (US);
Floyd B Fairbanks, Naugatuck, CT (US);
BIC Corporation, Milford, CT (US);
Abstract
An utility lighter including a housing having a handle at one end and a nozzle at another end and including a fuel supply connected for selective fluid communication with the nozzle. An ignitor assembly, such as a piezoelectric mechanism, is operatively connected to the housing for generating a spark proximate the nozzle and an actuating assembly is connected to the housing proximate the handle and operates to both dispense fuel from the fuel supply and to activate the ignitor assembly. A latch member is operatively connected with the handle and includes a blocking portion connected for biased movement relative to the actuating assembly. The latch member is normally biased into engagement with the actuating assembly to prevent operative movement except when the user moves the latch member against the bias. When the latch member is moved out of engagement with the actuating assembly by the user, a trigger may be pulled to release fuel and initiate a spark at the nozzle. In another aspect, the piezoelectric element includes a contact directly contacting an electrically conductive portion of the housing extending generally between the piezoelectric mechanism and the nozzle. A spark is thereby generated between the electrically conductive housing and the nozzle to ignite a flame.