Piezoelectric gas lighter

Claim 2

A lighter, comprising a housing having a flame orifice through which the ignitable fuel is directed, a piezoelectric element for producing a spark to ignite the fuel at the flame orifice, rotary actuator means rotatably mounted in said housing, a hammer drive spring carried in said housing, a hammer movable in said housing and connected to said rotary actuator means and movable by said actuator means to compress said spring, said spring, after being compressed, driving said hammer into engagement with said piezoelectric element when released by said rotary actuator means to produce a spark, said rotary actuator means including a rotatable thumb actuated sleeve rotatably mounted about a vertical axis in said housing and having a ring cam, said hammer being located within said cam and having a projection engaged on said ring cam and being lifted upwardly by rotation of said ring cam against the force of said spring.

Claim 3

A lighter, comprising a housing having a flame orifice through which the ignitable fuel is directed, a piezoelectric element for producing a spark to ignite the fuel at the flame orifice, rotary actuator means rotatably mounted in said housing, a hammer drive spring carried in said housing, a hammer movable in said housing and connected to said rotary actuator means and movable by said actuator means to compress said spring, said spring, after being compressed, driving said hammer into engagement with said piezoelectric element when released by said rotary actuator means to produce a spark, said rotary actuator means including a thumb actuator rotor, said thumb actuated rotary actuator having a ring cam, said hammer having a projection engaged on said ring cam and being lifted upwardly by rotation of said rotor against the force of said spring, said ring cam including a substantially vertical fall portion at the end of a rise portion for releasing said hammer after rotation to permit its return movement by said spring.

Claim 4

A lighter, comprising a housing having a flame orifice through which the ignitable fuel is directed, a piezoelectric element for producing a spark to ignite the fuel at the flame orifice, rotary actuator means rotatably mounted in said housing, a hammer drive spring carried in said housing, a hammer movable in said housing and connected to said rotary actuator means and movable by said actuator means to compress said spring, said spring, after being compressed, driving said hammer into engagement with said piezoelectric element when released by said rotary actuator means to produce a spark, said rotary actuator means including a thumb actuator rotor, said thumb actuated rotary actuator having a ring cam, said hammer having a projection engaged on said ring cam and being lifted upwardly by rotation of said rotor against the force of said spring, said ring cam including a substantially vertical fall portion at the end of a rise portion for releasing said hammer after rotation to permit its return movement by said spring.

Claim 5

A lighter according to claim 2, wherein said lighter is a gas lighter, said gas lighter comprising a tubular burner having said flame orifice and including a spark line connected from said piezoelectric element to said flame orifice.

Claim 6

A lighter, according to claim 3, wherein said gas lighter includes an outer tank portion with an inlet from said tank portion into said tubular burner, said tubular burner having a washer defining a capillary gap with the interior wall of said burner and a annular liquid gas accumulator space defined between said capillary gap and said opening into said tank, said gap having an inflow opening for flow upwardly to said orifice.

Claim 7

A lighter according to claim 4, including a filter located in said inflow opening.

Claim 8

A gas lighter comprising a gas burner having a gas orifice, a piezoelectric element having a spark line located adjacent said orifice, a hammer mounted for movement toward and away from said piezoelectric element, means for biasing said hammer in a direction to move it to engage said piezoelectric element, and actuating means rotatably mounted adjacent said burner and being rotatable to move said hammer against said biasing means and then to release said hammer to permit said biasing means to move it into engagement with said piezoelectric element to produce a spark adjacent said flame orifice, said gas burner comprising a tubular member, said tubular member being arranged inside of a liquid gas tank and having an opening at the lower end thereof in communication with said tank, said tubular member having an inner adjustable cylindrical member, movable axially, for adjusting the flow of gas upwardly through said tubular member to said gas orifice, and an accumulator passage located adjacent The communication with said tank and having a capillary passage extending upwardly for flow thorugh said orifice therefrom.

Claim 9

A gas lighter comprising a gas burner having a gas orifice, a piezoelectric element having a spark line located adjacent said orifice, a hammer mounted for movement toward and away from said piezoelectric element, means for biasing said hammer in a direction to move it to engage said piezoelectric element, and actuating means rotatably mounted adjacent said burner and being rotatable to move said hammer against said biasing means and then to release said hammer to permit said biasing means to move it into engagement with said piezoelectric element to produce a spark adjacent said flame orifice, said gas burner comprising a tubular member, said tubular member being arranged inside of a liquid gas tank and having an opening at the lower end thereof in communication with said tank, said tubular member having an inner adjustable cylindrical member, movable axially, for adjusting the flow of gas upwardly through said tubular member to said gas orifice, and an accumulator passage located adjacent The communication with said tank and having a capillary passage extending upwardly for flow thorugh said orifice therefrom.