BIDIRECTIONAL SELECTIVELY ACTUATABLE LIGHTER

摘要

A selectively actuatable child resistant lighter device is disclosed which includes a body (12) defining reservoir (15) for containing a combustible gaseous medium (9) such as butane, and having a valve arranged to be selectively actuated between a normally closed position and an open position which permits the exit of the gaseous medium. Such child resistant lighter can selectively produce sparks at a location proximate to the gaseous medium exit to ignite the gaseous medium. A safety mechanism normally prevents actuation of the valve to the open position. Such child resistant lighter device embodies a resiliently releasable safety latch which prevents the actuation of the valve actuator to the open position. The safety latch (16) is selectively movable to a plurality of positions out of interference with the valve actuator, so that the gaseous medium may be released and ignited by the sparks. The safety latch is resiliently structured and mounted such that once a flame is produced and the valve actuator (14) is released, the safety latch returns to its closed or locked position to prevent actuation of the valve to the open position by prevention of the pivotal motion of the valve actuator. To "re-use" the lighter, the safety latch must again be moved to one of the open or unlocked positions so that the valve actuator can be opened for subsequent ignition of the gaseous medium. Such mechanism is difficult for a young child to light, but is capable of actuation by adults.