Refillable Lighter With Flexible Fuel Bladder and Wind Shield
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refillable lighters face issues with performance degradation in extreme cold conditions and leakage/evaporation of liquid lighter fluid, leading to inefficient fuel usage.
Innovation Solution
A refillable lighter design featuring a fuel containment housing with a hinged lid, a flame generator assembly with a wind shield, and O-ring sealing to prevent leakage, along with a non-metallic outer housing for reduced heat conductivity and enhanced grip, which maintains fuel retention and improves wind protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If liquid lighter fluid is used as fuel, then the lighter can operate in a wide range of conditions, but the fluid leaks and evaporates in a relatively short period of time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible bladder made of elastomeric material to contain the liquid lighter fluid. This flexible containment structure expands and contracts with fuel volume changes while maintaining fluid tightness, preventing leakage and evaporation that plagues conventional rigid container designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighter utilizes a composite construction combining an elastomeric bladder for fluid containment with a rigid housing structure. The elastomeric material provides flexibility and sealability, while the rigid housing provides structural support, creating a system that simultaneously achieves fuel retention and operational reliability.
2Reliability
If butane is used as fuel, then the lighter can provide consistent performance, but its performance degrades in extreme cold conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from using butane (gas phase fuel with cold temperature limitations) to liquid lighter fluid (naphtha) as the fuel source. This parameter change in fuel type enables operation across a broader temperature range including extreme cold conditions, while the flexible bladder system ensures consistent fuel delivery regardless of temperature variations.
3Reliability
If the lid is designed to cover the windshield for protection, then the flame is protected from wind, but the lid adds cumbersome extra volume
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the windshield protection function from a traditional cup-shaped lid and repositions the windshield entirely within the confines of a flat lid. This extraction and repositioning eliminates the need for a bulky cup-shaped structure while maintaining flame protection, significantly reducing the lighter's overall volume.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of designing a lid that extends outward to cover the windshield (conventional approach), the patent inverts the arrangement by placing the windshield underneath the flat lid surface. This inversion allows the lid to remain flat and compact while still providing effective wind protection for the flame.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design ensures longer fuel retention, enhanced wind protection, and improved usability in cold conditions by minimizing leakage and evaporation, while maintaining a compact and ergonomic form factor.
Implementation Method 1
The body configured as a fuel housing is sealingly attached to the flame generator base of the lighter with one or more O-rings sealing the connection.
Implementation Method 2
The flame generator assembly providing a wind shield with a flame outlet that is perpendicular to the major dimension and elongate axis of the lighter.
Implementation Method 3
a non-metallic outer housing for reduced heat conductivity and enhanced grip
Implementation Method 4
The fuel port may include a wick extending from an eyelet in the flame generator base, the wick extending into the fuel reservoir defined by the fuel containment housing body.
Data Source
AI summary
A lighter having a main fuel containment housing body and a forward hinged lid with a closed position and an open position, the open position providing access to the flame generator assembly. The flame generator assembly providing a wind shield with a flame outlet that, when the lighter is in an operation orientation, is directed upwardly and in a direction generally perpendicular to the major dimension of the lighter in the closed position. The windshield having dimples with apertures extending outwardly for reducing wind while providing oxygen. The lighter may have a forward sleeve with a closeable lid, the sleeve extending around the four sides of the housing and slidable on the fuel containment housing. An actuation portion effects a transition from the closed position to an operational position, opening the lid and sliding the sleeve downwardly exposing the flame generation system out of an opening in the sleeve.