Gas lighter filling valve

Claim 1

A valve for filling the reservoir of a cigarette lighter with a low-pressure gaseous fuel from a refill capsule having a spout, comprising: an outer, stationary member secured within the lighter and having a continuous sidewall generally circular in cross section, means defining a seat within said sidewall of said outer member, a window located within said sidewall of said outer member below said seat providing communication between the reservoir of the lighter and the inside of said outer member, means defining within said sidewall of said outer member a first flat abutting surface interrupting the continuity of said sidewall and means defining in the vicinity of the bottom of said outer member a support; an inner, movable member provided with a generally conical tip against which the spout of the refill capsule is pressed, a furrow located within the surface of said conical tip through which fuel is jetted as said spout of said refill capsule is pressed against said conical tip, said inner member including below said conical tip a continuous sidewall generally circular in cross section and means defining within said sidewall a second flat abutting surface interrupting the continuity of said sidewall and being generally complementary in configuration with respect to said first abutting surface, said first and second abutting surfaces preventing rotation of said inner member relative to said outer member while permitting said inner member to move vertically relative to said outer member, said furrow located within the surface of said conical tip defining an axis determining the path of jetting fuel, the distance between the center of said window and said support in the vicinity of the bottom of said outer member being equal to the distance between the point of intersection of said axis with said window and that portion of said inner, movable member abutting said support, such that said axis extends substantially through the middle of said window located within said sidewall of said outer member when said inner, movable valve member is in its lowermost position abutting said support within said outer member permitting, when said axis is thus aligned with said window, fuel to be jetted therethrough while defining a clearance between the periphery of said window an the stream of jetting fuel through which fuel and air are simultaneously exhausted from the lighter reservoir through said window in opposite direction to said charging to vent to atmosphere, said continuous sidewall of said inner movable member further including a hollow portion at the bottom thereof; and spring means normally biasing said inner member in closed position against said seat of said outer, stationary member, said spring means located within said hollow portion of said inner movable member, one end of said spring means resting on said support of said outer, stationary member.