Child Resistant Utility Lighter Safe Button Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional child-resistant utility lighters often fail to deter children from attempting to ignite them, as they may not effectively simulate being out of work or out of gas, leading to continued attempts despite being unable to light.
Innovation Solution
A child-resistant utility lighter design featuring a handle with a fuel tank, gas valve, piezoelectric unit, and a lever system with a safe button and elastic elements, where the trigger cannot engage the piezoelectric unit for ignition until the safe button is depressed, mimicking a non-functional state to children.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a safe means is added to block the trigger, then child safety is improved, but the lighter appears non-functional to children causing continued attempts
Solution Approach 1:
The safe button is designed to be movable between a depressed position (allowing ignition) and an undepressed position (blocking ignition). This dynamic state changes the functionality of the lighter based on the button's position, enabling the device to appear non-functional to children while remaining operable for adults when the button is properly depressed.
Solution Approach 2:
The safe button acts as an intermediary element between the trigger and the piezoelectric unit. When the safe button is in the undepressed position, it physically blocks the trigger from engaging the piezoelectric unit. When depressed, it removes this blockage, allowing ignition. This intermediary mechanism provides child-resistant protection while maintaining usability for adults.
2Reliability
If the trigger is made difficult to pull, then ignition resistance is improved, but the lighter may be perceived as broken by children
Solution Approach 1:
The safe button must be depressed in a preliminary action before the trigger can be effectively pulled to ignite the lighter. This preliminary action of depressing the safe button establishes the proper operational state, allowing the subsequent trigger pull to function correctly. Without this preliminary action, the trigger pull is ineffective, preventing children from igniting the lighter while adults can after properly activating the safe button.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a blocking mechanism is implemented, then safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The safe button mechanism is merged with the existing trigger and piezoelectric unit assembly. The safe button utilizes the same elastic element and housing space as the trigger mechanism, combining multiple functions (safety blocking, trigger engagement, and mechanical return) into a single integrated assembly. This merging approach provides child-resistant protection while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity.
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
Effectively prevents children from successfully igniting the lighter by initially appearing non-functional, thereby discouraging further attempts and ensuring safety.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoelectric unit contained in the handle and having a starting button, the piezoelectric unit constantly stays at a departure, or safe, position in which the trigger, when pulled over, is not able to meet the piezoelectric unit, and being able to be pushed to an aligning position by depressing the safe button for ignition by pulling over the trigger
Implementation Method 2
a safe button slidably mounted on the handle and pushed by a first elastic element to an undepressed position
Data Source
AI summary
A child resistant utility lighter having a handle, a barrel mounted in the handle and extending outward, a fuel tank within the handle and for containing liquefied gaseous fuel, a gas valve mounted on the fuel tank, a trigger being able to startup the piezoelectric unit to generate sparks for ignition, and, a lever rotatably mounted on the handle by a lever pin. The utility lighter further has a safe button slidably mounted on the handle and pushed by a first elastic element to an undepressed position; and, a piezoelectric unit contained in the handle and having a starting button, the piezoelectric unit constantly stops at a departure position in which the trigger, when pulled over, is not able to meet the piezoelectric unit, and being able to be pushed to an aligning position by depressing the safe button for ignition by pulling over the trigger.