Sliding Lighter Cap Structure to Isolate Flame Heat
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cigarette lighters face issues with heat transfer from the flame to the user's finger and complex assembly processes due to multiple engaging mechanisms, which can lead to accidental ignition or gas leakage during transportation and assembly.
Innovation Solution
A lighter design that eliminates the ignition button and windshield, featuring a lighter cap that slides to expose the gas nozzle exit opening only during ignition, allowing for efficient heat dissipation and simplifying the assembly process by reducing the number of components and securing mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the windshield is made of metal to prevent melting from flame heat, then the windshield can withstand high temperatures, but the heat will dissipate to the ignition button and scald the user's finger
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the windshield component entirely from the lighter structure. By extracting this element, the patent eliminates the heat transfer pathway from flame to ignition button to user's finger, while still allowing the flame to function for lighting cigarettes. This resolves the contradiction by eliminating the source of harmful heat transfer while preserving the essential lighting function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention segments the lighter into distinct functional zones: the flame generation area, the ignition button area, and the user's finger area. By spatially separating these zones and removing the connecting windshield structure, the patent prevents heat from propagating from the flame zone to the user's finger zone, resolving the thermal contradiction.
2Reliability
If multiple engaging mechanisms are used to secure components, then the components can be securely attached, but the assembling process becomes complicated and prone to accidental ignition or gas leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the functions of multiple separate components (windshield and ignition button) into a simplified integrated structure. This consolidation reduces the number of engaging mechanisms needed from multiple to just one, simplifying the assembly process while maintaining secure component attachment and preventing accidental ignition or gas leakage during assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The remaining engaging mechanism in the invention is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: securing the integrated structure, preventing accidental ignition, and preventing gas leakage during assembly and transportation. This multi-functional design resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliability with reduced complexity.
3Reliability
If the windshield encircles the gas nozzle exit opening, then the flame can be protected from wind, but it becomes difficult for the user to light up a cigarette when positioned away from the exit opening
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the windshield component that encircled the gas nozzle exit opening. This elimination of the encircling structure resolves the contradiction by allowing users to light cigarettes from various positions around the flame without being constrained by the rigid windproof enclosure, while the flame's natural shape provides sufficient wind resistance.
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 effectively prevents heat from reaching the user's finger and simplifies the assembly and manufacturing process, enhancing safety and reducing the risk of accidental ignition or gas leakage during transportation and assembly.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoelectric unit disposed in the lighter housing for generating sparks when the piezoelectric unit is depressed
Data Source
AI summary
A piezoelectric lighter includes a lighter housing having a liquefied gas storage, a gas emitting nozzle extended from the liquefied gas storage, a piezoelectric unit disposed in the lighter housing, and a lighter cap slidably coupled on top of the lighter housing above the piezoelectric unit. The gas emitting nozzle is slidably received at a nozzle window of the lighter cap, wherein an exit opening of the gas emitting nozzle is embedded in the ceiling of the lighter cap to protect the exit opening of the gas emitting nozzle. When the lighter cap is depressed to expose the exit opening of the gas emitting nozzle above the ceiling of the lighter cap, the piezoelectric unit is depressed and the gas emission unit is actuated at the same time to produce a flame at the exit opening of the gas emitting nozzle.