Portable lighter having igniter device equipped with safety lock mechanism

Abstract

A safety lighter uses a double release lock mechanism applied to a conventional construction of igniter and valve release. Before the lighter can be activated and a flame produced, a latching collar around the button normally pressed to cause operation of the lighter must be released from a locking position in which this button is locked from being pushed down by an interior set of fingers engaging a ledge. The latching collar is itself locked into the button by the restraint between a first tab and groove latch and is only released by a pressure which disengages this first tab and groove restraint therebetween. With this tab and groove latch released by a strong thumb pressure of the operator that can only be done by an adult, the collar can be slid down to a point where a second tab and groove latch is activated between the button and collar. At this point the latch fingers are forced off the ledge, but downward extending arms of the collar engage the same ledge. The combination of the second tab and groove lock and the collar extensions hitting the ledge continues to prevent the button from being downwardly pushed to cause the hammer to strike the piezo-electric element and to operate the valve release for the liquid gas fuel. Finally, the use of a downward force on the activation button causes the second tab and groove latch to release and at this point the button can travel downward causing the hammer to generate an electrical impulse from the piezo-electric element and the valve to open.