US2558607A - Pocket lighter - Google Patents

Description

I June 26, 1951 w. DALLENBACH 2,558,607

POCKET LIGHTER Filed Feb. 26, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 1' m1 Fig.2

a 2 2 3 7 22- 2o 7 7 I 37/35 3 III June 26, 1951 w. DALLENBACH POCKET LIGHTER 5 SheetsSheet 2 Filed Feb. 26, 1947 m E W Q UO A W. DALLEN BACH June 26, 1951 POCKET LIGHTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 26, 1947 Fig. 7

[HMO/MOP W. DALLEN BACH June 26, 1951 POCKET LIGHTER Fil ed Feb. 26, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig. /0

Inventor ,%//JWW June 26, 1951 w. DALLENBACH v POCKET LIGHTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 26, 1947 ll ll IIMKUH 4H 7 Inventor fi jmw Patented June 26, 1951 "UNITED. STATES PATENT POCKET LIGHTER *Waltcr Dallenbach, Zurich, Switzerland Application February 26, 194?;Serial'No. 731,018

' --InSwitzerland February 26, 1946 A Claims. 1

.Thepresent invention relates topocket lighters .ofthe type having .a'lighter body and a hinged -covenand in which ignitionsparks are produced vby..a..llint -urged against. a friction wheel which is. operated by ;..a.-.finger actuated ,drivingroller.

.In pocket -:.lighters. having hinged covers, the

-facility-and commodity with-which the cover may be opened and closed in ,use, is .of particular importance. In such lighters, .usually ,a. spring determines the open .and the. closed .position of the cover. as positions .of. stable equilibrium. For convenient and. reliable operation ,of the cover, it is necessary vthat .the pivoting movement. of. the

cover can be effected with .the least possible friction.

According. to the.,present .invention a blade spring-is inserted. betweenthebodyof. the lighter ,andthe ;cover,. said spring being. subj ectedtoflexure and compression upon opening or closing of the cover. Thehladespping tensioned inappropriate manner between. cover .and body of the lighter ,..operates so -.that. the. cover, by a 2spring togglejoint action, .can vbe-tilted through .a. position of .unstableequilibrium fromclosedto. open position, and when .the .blade :springis disposed in appropriate manner, this pivoting movement end of the flint in the sleeve and .urges-itagainst the. friction wheel.

The accompanying drawings representby 'way ..of example-three embodiments .of ,.the .present invention.

Fig. 1 shows a-,lighter according t .the first example in elevation.

Fig.2 is a'vertical section .along theline .IIII

.of-Figrfi, with the cover in open position.

Fig.3 is a verticalsection alongthe line IIIIII of .5 with the cover in closedposition.

Fig. 4 isavertical section alongthe line. IVIV ofrFig. 5.

Fig. 515 a top plan-view of the, lighter-with the opened cover shown in section.

*Fig; 6 isa-viewfrombelow showing the bottom .ofthe lighter.

=-Fig.-7;is-aiview in elevation of a modified lighter. :Fig. 8 .isa. vertical section along the line V111.-

VIII of Fig. 11, with the cover shown in. open position.

Fig. 9 is a vertical section along the line IXIX of Fig. 11, showing the cover in closedposition.

Fig. 10 is a vertical section through the lighter along the line X-X of Fig. 11.

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the lighter, showing the opened cover insection.

Fig. 12 is a view of the bottom-of the lighter.

Fig. 13 shows a furthermodification of a lighter in elevation, partially in section along the line XIII-XIII of Fig. 1-4.

Fig. 14 is atop plan view of the lighter showing the opened cover-in'section.

Fig. 15 is a vertical section along the line XVXV of- Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the flint-sleeve.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 6, the represented pocket lighter comprises a bodyl which'mayconsist of .light metal. The cover z, preferably also of light metal, is hinged to the body I by means of the axis. 3. As can be recognized from Figures 2, 3

and-5, a blade spring'l-formed by a thin, rectangular piece of steel plate, is clamped by two opposed sides of the rectangle between two notches 3E and 3?, one of which notches 36, as

'particularlyFigure 3 clearly shows, is disposed in the body I of the-pocket lighter and'the other, 3?, inthe coverZ. Both notches are parallel to the axis of rotation '3 oithe cover. When opening or closing the cover Zthe distance between the two notches decreases first from an initial value until a'minimum, and then increases again until a final value. During the pivotal stroke of the cover 2, the'b-lade spring 2' clamped between the notches -36- andte'l with'an-appropriate initial tension, is first compressed and subjected to flexion, and then extends again.

Since the two opposed sidesof the blade spring '5 are mounted in the notches like knife edges, practically any friction of the spring mechanism is avoided, with -the most simple construction of the resiliency to be imagined. -As a rule the mutual position of the two notches '36 and 3'5 will be chosen so that the minimum of their distance is reached when approximately the coverZ is half open. The half opened cover 2 is at unstable equilibrium and has the tendency, when deviating from this position of-unstable equilibrium to tilt resiliently either downwardly or upwardly.

The spring 1, instead of being made of a plane piece of steel plate, may consist also of an undulated piece of steel plate, in which the undulations are parallel to the two notches 36 and .37, and accordingly parallel to the axisof rotation 3 of the cover 2. The undulated construction of the spring has the advantage that for approximatively the same spring force, the steel plate can be made stronger, thus more solid.

In order to be able to open the pocket lighter conveniently with the thumb of the right hand, the cover 2, as can be seen from Figures 1 and 2, slightly projects beyond the vertical front face of the body I. In order to enable closing of the cover in similar convenient manner, the axis of rotation 3 and the hinge between the cover 2, and the body 5 are so disposed, that in open position the cover 2 projects about for its thickness beyond the vertical rear face of the body I, as can be recognized from Figure 2 and therefore the cover can be closed preferably with the bend of the index of the right hand.

The correct operation of the cover, however, does not depend only on the expedient formation of the spring mounting, also the disposition of the axis of rotation is of great importance. It is to be recommended to provide only two journals and to dispose them at a maximum distance, that is at opposite ends of the axis of rotation 3. In the represented example, accordingly, as can be recognized particularly from Figure 5, the axis 3 is firmly pressed into the cover 2 and rotatably mounted with both its ends in the body I of the pocket lighter.

A further feature of the invention resides in the disposition of the flint 25 in such manner that it can be directly seen in its longitudinal extension when the cover is opened. The flint 23 is lodged, as can be recognized from Figure i, in an upwardly open channel It} provided in the upper side of the body 2. This disposition has two advantages. First, each time the cover is opened, the length of the flint pin can be judged. The user is thus capable of timely exchanging a flint which is nearly used up. Second, the manufacture of the pocket lighter is simplified and cheapened, because the upwardly open channel, for example, can be produced by hot pressing in a single operation together with the formation of the remaining portion of the upper side of the body I. The flint 2b is prevented from falling out of the channel l9 by the friction wheel is which is formed with a shoulder 38 at its upper end under which the flint 20 is placed, pressed by the nose 2 2 of the pressure lever 2i. The pressure lever 2i is rotatably mounted on a pin 24, as shown by Figures 3 and 4. The pin 24 is pressed into the body I of the pocket lighter. The bearing as of the pressure lever M on the pin 24 is surrounded by a coiled spring 23, which engages with one end a small bore in the body of the pocket lighter, with the other end a similar small bore in the pressure lever 12!. When mounting the pressure lever M an initial tension is imparted to this spring 23, so that the nose 22 of the pressure lever 2i forcibly presses the flint 20 against the friction wheel It at any length which the flint may have. The upwardly projec ing portion-of the nose 22 on the pressure lever 2! enables to relieve the flint 25 from pressure and to remove it from the channel is or to place a new flint in the latter.

The friction wheel 58 havin as shoulder 38 at its free end, is provided with a bore having a left hand thread and thus forms a nut on the free end of the axis H of the driving roller I6. When mounting the ignition mechanism, first the driving roller 56 is placed into the recess 42 provided in the body l and then the axis I! is pressed from above into the driving roller 26, so as to= become fixed in this latter. After this operation the friction wheel I8 having a left hand thread can then be screwed on the axis I1 and tightened with a pin spanner engaging into the two holes 53 provided in the free end face of the friction wheel I8.

The fuel reservoir consists of the proper provision chamber 8 conveniently filled with cotton, and of the wick chamber II. These two chambers are communicating by an opening I0. Such a division of the fuel reservoir has different advantages. The provision chamber 8 can be bored as a longitudinal hole by means of a milling cutter. In the same clamped position of the blank from which the lighter bod is to be produced, the wick chamber I I, with the thread for the filling screw I4, is cut out from the body I by means of appropriate drills. Afterwards the opening I0 must be broken through by means of a milling cutter working at an angle. Now the provision chamber 8 can be filled with cotton and a plug 9 destined to close the hole through which the drills were inserted, can be pressed in the bottom so as not to be detachable. Then it is possible to draw the wick l2 into the wick conduit l3 through the opening for the filling screw I4, independently of the cotton filling in the provision chamber 8. The upper end of the wick conduit I3 is formed by the wick tube I5 which slightly projects beyond the body 1 of the pocket lighter.

The described division of the fuel reservoir has further the advantage that the filling screw I4 is screwed into the integral bottom of the body I and not into the pressed plug 9.

Finally it appears that the small provision of petrol which is always present in the wick chamber II and not bound to the cotton filling, provides a longer burning flame upon ignition of the wick.

A special air conduit 25 leads from the upper face of the body I near the wick tube I5 (Figs. 3 and 5) to the recess 42, in which the driving roll-er I6 is inserted. This air duct 25 is not visible from the exterior on the pocket lighter, but allows for a better feeding of air to the flame of the wick.

In order to prevent the evaporation of fuel when the cover is closed, a metal cap 4 is placed over the wick tube I 5. This cap 4 is movable in a sleeve 6, but cannot move out of it so as not to be lost. The sleeve 6 is pressed into the cover 2 and between the cover 2 and the bottom of the cap 4 there is a small sprin 5 which tends to press the cap 4 downwardly. In this manner a tight closure of the wick tube is obtained, provided naturally that the air duct 25 discharges outside of the cap 4.

The lighter according to Figures 1 to 6 is characterized by a minimum of screw connections. Besides the filling screw I4 and the exchangeable friction wheel I8 no screw connections at all are present in the construction.

The shape of the cover 2 and of the upper part of the body I allows to produce these parts in simple manner by warm pressing or by die-casting. When warm pressing as well as when diecasting, only the holes for the axis of rotation 3, the pin 24, the wick sleeve I5, the axis I1 and the air holes 25 are to be drilled as additional machining from the upper end of the body. All these borings, with the exception of the bore for the axis of rotation 3 of the cover, are effected Vertically from top to bottom. From the lower end of the body I the provision chamber 8, the Wick chamber II with the thread for the filling 'zaaseaeov screw I 4 and;the .conduitslt. for." theiwicki I 2 must "be bored-s :Whenrproducingthe.body lrbyc'diecasting,-1ithe PI'OViSiOIIJJChambBI 8 :and, the Wick .achamb.er.-ll can.:be..-left openalready when die- ;casting. .The .twopnotchestfitand 3! formountj.. ing;the-;;spring larermade' in the most simple -manner :by.:striking'orrengraving: by means of a :..:chise1-.like,gnidedtool.

."A particular feature Whichgives a pleasant as- .epe'ct, to. the-;present construction, consists in that -th6TCOVeI'I2'1BSf/S'0I1 the body Iin a planebeyond "which. no partsproject besides the nose;22 for op- .eratingthe pressure lever 2 I HA- further; advantage: of the. described ignition .mechanism comprising:the flint Zfl-placed in the ..channel .I9'from above, .and pressed. against the :friction wheel I8 by-the pressure lever 2|, con- .sistsin' thepossibilityeofl a compact disposition noft-these parts, which leaves approximately one :half of theupperiface ofthe body I free,-so. that :the-hingeewiththe axis ofrotation 3 of the cover i-2iand the blade-spring l occupying the other half, scan bezmade strong.

In the .modification accordingto Figs. v'7 to 12 the representedpocket. lighter comprisesia body I' preferably made of light metal by die-casting. r-This body-isinserted in adrawn sleeve 26, preferably of light metal plate, and tightly connected withthis sleeve by .a synthetic substance (syn- .thetic resin, varnish) resistant againstfuel. To the body I a cover member 2, preferably also made of light'metal by dieecasting, is hinged by vmeans .of the axist. The covermeniberZ is insertedinto.a.drawrrlid'21,.preferably also of light .metal plateand fixedto this latter by mean of a synthetic substance.

.The bladespring I mounted'between the body I .and the cover member 2 for the convenient .opening and closing. of the cover is mounted in .analogousmanner, as the spring in the example according to Figs. 1' to. 6.

The body I is formed with an extension 28 reaching. tothe bottom of the drawn sle-evef'25. 'Thisextension serves two purposes. FirStLit is provided with a recess 42 in which the driving roller-l6 is mounted by its axis'll, and second -.it,.is providedat the bottom of the sleeve with a .i'oot 54' having a threaded bore for receivin the fillingsc'rew I4.

In con-tra'distinctionto the example according .toFigsfl to 6, the flint 2-3 is placed in'a channel made by an'appropriately cut out'and'bent .,piece.of sheet material. This channel 39 is-pr ,vided with a fiat extensionts having aq'bore'by Vmeansof which the channel is rotatably mounted .on the upper end of.the axis I! for the'drivin-g .rollerl6. The friction wheel I8 which is'screwed by means of a leit'hand thread on the "upper end of the axis. ll, rotatably maintains the channel'3!) on the axis ll. .In proximity ofthe friction wheel the channel'38 is further provided'with "two flaps3I, surrounding the'fiint 28 and preventing it'frorn falling out of thechannel.

The feed of the flint is effected by the pressure ilever'2l, having a pin 33 onits free end'which penetrates into the .channel '35. The pressure lever 2| firmly connected With'the axis-24, is ..rotatably mounted in the bearing sleeve35 of the pressure lever. .The coiled spring 23 exertingpressureon the axis 2 1, is clamped withlone end in a slitfii. at the lower end of theaxis 24 and penetrates with the other end in the bearing sleeve 35 for the pressure lever. This con- :struction has the-great advantage that the presisure-leverli, the axis .12 3," thebearing sleeve 35v sand-the .coiledspringfit. canpbe' assembled all vtogether outside .ofthe body lzand then :pressed .into the corresponding bore 53in the body I together with the bearing sleeve. 35. For-moving the pressure. leverfiiagainst thelaction of .the .springJZS, the lever isprovidedatits upper side with a slot 3%, in which a coin can be in- ;serted. vWhen the lever is turned by means of the coin in clockwise direction inaFigll, the pin 33 moves out of the .channelitdfor the flint 29; then by means of a slight return rotation of the driving. roller, the. channel 38 can be swung outardly. and a newfiint can be inserted. .Swingwith the flint 2t "inwardly .pin :into the channel is ing the :channel 39 l5 and einserting the ;-:'u"1t'erselyv efiected in analogous manner.

.Tie cap 'i for sealing the wickis carried on. a .blade'spring 29, which is secured between the cover memberiand the drawn sleeve?! of the cover.

:The .drawn sleeve 26 andlid-Zl can be made vparticularlythirnwhen they are stifiened by giving aiprofileas represented in Figures 7, ll andii]. This construction results in a;pocket 25alighter of particularly srnaliv Weight andhaving .a comparatively largefuel reservoir.

. In the use of .the clighten. the portions around :the friction wheelifiand the wick I2.are.par-

ticularly-exposed togetting dirty. It is recom- 30.. mended therefore-,to colour black the surface of body l and the interior of the:.cover Zandxthe lid -2? which is visible. whenacpening the cover; while -..the visible.-.s.urfacewhen-:the cover is closed can --beniaintained ata light shade (gold .or'silver ---shade) A particularly advantageous treatment .of'the surface, when: the sleeve :26 andthelid ill .are drawn. from light.rnetal, is the anodic oxidation. i'he body 5 and the cover, when they are made as .die-jcastxparts, generallycannot be ao'anodioally oxidize but :anodic oxidation also 1 of these. parts is possible when the layerof oxide isxgiven a black. colouring, because Withblack colouring the spots andstreaks generally prez-sent: on. anodically oxidized surfaces. of die-cast parts are. not visible.

. Asyin the previeusexample, the cover 2 or.lid 2! slightly projects beyond the body i when itis in the closed position, and also "projects-beyond sthezibodyd when'itis in open .position,.thus per- :mitting operationofzthe'lighter by means of a .single hand.

In the modification according to Figs. 18120 16, ftnexbody-l of thelighter ispreferably made of ..light metal. p'I'he cover 2 isfhinged on the-body =I .byineansof the axis 3. The Wick cap 4,.eneclosingtheiree end of the Wick when the cover .lztisclosed, vis'secured tothe cover ibymeans :ofarblade spring 29.

;A;recess ie is provided in theupper faceof ithe body: 5 inwhichis disposed thecurved blade .spring 7 'maintaining'the cover 2 in open and zin closed position. The recess til extends from "the 'side' ofthebody 'i 1 receiving the aXisS of 'the'cover until; about the middle of the upper face 10f theflbodyysothat the front half 4! of the upperfface is ready to'receive thedifierent members of the ignition device.

The body 8 is provided with a recess '42 in which is disposed the finger roller i6 fordriving lthe frictionwheel byits axis H. The upper end v.of the axisl l':is ,providedwitha leftv hand thread wandprojectsafrom the upperface sI, so that the .friction-wheel It can be screwed thereon. The -fiint-2e isinserted; in .asleeve-t l which is out out meandrbent :of;sheet:.-=material. .The sleevea i i has an extension 45 with a bore 45 engaged over the end 43 of the axis 24 and maintained between the friction wheel l8 and the upper face GI of the body I, so that the sleeve 44 is rotatable about the centre of the axis H. The sleeve $4 is provided with an opening n along one side thereof, through which penetrates the pressure lever 48 into the interior of the sleeve, in order to bear against the end of the flint 20, to prevent this latter from falling out and press it against the friction wheel 18.

The pressure lever 48 is pressed into the head 49 of an axis 24 rotatable in the bearing'sleeve 35. The axis 24 is surrounded by a coiled spring 23 disposed in a recess 59 in the body I. The lower end of the spring 23 penetrates into the slotted end 51 of the axis 24, while the upper end of the spring penetrates into the bearing sleeve 35 pressed firmly into the recess 50. The spring is thus tending to turn the axis 24 and the pressure lever 48 in that direction in which the pressure lever bears against the fiint 2|], in order to press the latter against the friction wheel 18'.

The head 49 of the axis 24 is provided on its upper side with a slot 52, which is approximatively directed at right angles to the pressure lever 48. A coin can be inserted for example into this slot in order to pivot the head with the pressure lever against the action of the spring 23, in clockwise direction in Fig. 14 out of the sleeve 44, when a new ignition pin is to be introduced into the sleeve. After the pressure lever 43 has been moved out of the sleeve 45, the sleeve can be turned about the axis l? in counter-clockwise di rection in Fig. 1% until the end of the sleeve projects slightly beyond the side face of the body I, so that the new flint can be conveniently introduced.

The end 48' of the pressure lever 6% bearing against the flint 29 is upwardly bent transversely to the sleeve 44. In this manner it will be prevented that for example when the finger roller I6 is turned in counterclockwise direction, an unintentional pivoting movement of the sleeve 44 capable of turning about the axis I1, is effected because the turned up end 48' of the pressure lever cannot penetrate through the lateral opening 41 of the sleeve.

The sleeve 44 is preferably made of steel plate and the inner diameter of the sleeve is made so great, that the flint 28 is elastically maintained by the friction of the sleeve wall. When in this case the pressure lever H3 is turned out of the sleeve for the purpose of introducing a new flint, the old, soon used up flint piece remains in the sleeve and does not fall out, and moreover this piece cannot turn when a new flint i introduced, so that the engagement of the end of the flint piece adapted to the curvature of the friction wheel l8, with the friction wheel is conserved and the formation of ignition sparks is not prejudiced.

When the lighter body I and the cover 2 are made of light metal, their outer surface can be anodically oxidized. Also the driving roller l6 and the filling screw in the bottom of the body can be made of light metal and anodically oxidized in the same manner as the outer surface of the lighter.

I claim:

1. In a pyrophoric lighter, a prismatic lighter body of substantially rectangular transverse section, a cover hingedly connected to the lighter body along one short side of the rectangular upper face of the lighter body, said upper face being provided with a recess extending from said short side to which the'cover is connected to substantially the median transverse axis of said upper face, a blade spring lodged in said recess and extending substantially on the level of the axis of said hinge connection, said blade spring having one end engaging said cover and the opposite end bearing against the lighter body, said spring being subjected to buckling stress and tending to hold the cover in fully open or fully closed position, a wick projecting from the surface portion of said upper face of the lighter body situated between said recess and the short side of the upper face opposite that where the cover is connected, a friction wheel mounted on said surface portion, a flint coacting with said friction wheel, a longitudinally slotted guide tube for said flint pivotally mounted on the axis of said friction wheel, the lighter body being provided with a bore extending downwardly from said surface portion at a point laterally of said guide tube, a lever arm pivotally mounted in said bore and extending into the guide tube for the flint through said longitudinal slot thereof, and a torsional spring engaged in said bore for urging said lever arm to apply the flint against the friction wheel.

2. A pyrophoric lighter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said longitudinally slotted guide tube for the flint is formed of a piece of bent sheet material, provided with an apertured extension engaged on the axis of said friction wheel between one face of the wheel and said surface portion on the upper face of the lighter body.

3. In a pyrophoric lighter, a prismatic lighter body of substantially rectangular transverse section, a cover hingedly connected to the lighter body along one short side of the rectangular upper face of said body, said upper face being provided with a recess extending from the hinge connection to substantially the median transverse axis of said rectangular upper face, a blade spring lodged in said recess and extending substantially on the level of the axis of said hinge connection, said blade spring having opposite ends abutting against an end wall of the recess and against said cover for holding the cover in fully open or fully closed position, an igniting mechanism mounted on the lighter body between said end wall of the recess and the short side of the lighter body opposite to said hinge connection, said igniting mechanism including a rotatable friction wheel having its axis extending at right angles to said upper face of the lighter body, a flint coacting with the friction wheel, a laterally open guide sleeve for the flint, said sleeve having an extension pivotally mounted on the axis of the friction wheel and engaged between the friction wheel and said upper face of the lighter body, a plug rotatably engaged in a recess in said upper face, a lever arm carried by said plug and extending into said laterally open guide sleeve, a coiled spring within said recess tending to turn said plug for urging said lever arm to apply the flint against the friction wheel, plug having an upwardly open slot adapted to be engaged for turning the plug against the action of said coiled spring to remove said lever arm from the flint tube.

4. In a pyrophoric lighter, a prismatic lighter body of substantially rectangular transverse section, a cover hingedly connected to the lighter body along one short side of the rectangular upper face of said body, said upper face being provided with a recess extending from the hinge connection to substantially the median transverse axis of said rectangular upper face, a blade spring lodged in said recess and extending substantially on the level of the axis of said hinge connection, said blade spring having opposite ends abutting against an end wall of the recess and against said cover for holding the cover in fully open or fully closed position, the upper face portion of said body between said end wall of the recess and the short side of the lighter body opposite to said hinge connection being flat and provided with three parallel bores extending downwardly into the lighter body, a friction wheel, an axis therefor mounted in one of said bores, a Wick projecting through a second one of said bores, a flint coacting with said friction wheel, a laterally open guide sleeve for said flint, said guide sleeve having an extension pivotally engaged on the axis of the friction Wheel between the friction wheel and said upper face of the lighter body and a spring urged lever rotatably mounted in the third one of said parallel bores and having a free end extending into said laterally open guide sleeve to urge the flint against the friction wheel.

WALTER DALLENBACH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,759,340 Aronson May 20, 1930 1,961,577 Aronson June 5, 1934 1,965,681 Woodling July 10, 1934 2,070,232 Lenfant Feb. 9, 1937 2,102,108 Bolle Dec. 14, 1937 2,211,500 Gabritsch Aug, 13, 1940 2,258,086 Bolle Oct. 7, 1941 2,331,445 Weston Oct. 12, 943 2,419,889 Florman Apr. 29, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 128,406 Austria May 25, 1932 142,231 Switzerland Sept. 15, 930 601,847 France Dec. 11, 1925 632,694 France Oct. 10, 1927

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