Sliding Lighter Cap Structure for Heat Shielding and Safe Ignition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cigarette lighters face issues with heat transfer from the flame to the user's finger, complex assembly processes, and the risk of accidental ignition or gas leakage during transportation and assembly due to multiple engaging mechanisms and the presence of an ignition button.
Innovation Solution
A lighter design that eliminates the ignition button and windshield, featuring a lighter cap that slides between non-ignition and ignition positions, with the gas nozzle exit opening embedded in the cap's ceiling at non-ignition and protruded at ignition, allowing for efficient heat dissipation and simplified assembly by eliminating additional securing mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a windshield is added to protect the gas nozzle exit opening and provide windproof ability, then the flame protection and windproof performance are improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional securing mechanisms and the heat dissipation to user's finger worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the windshield function directly into the lighter cap structure. The lighter cap serves dual purposes: protecting the gas nozzle exit opening and providing windproof ability for the flame, while eliminating the need for separate securing mechanisms between the windshield and lighter housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighter cap is designed as a multi-functional component that combines the protective function (shielding the gas nozzle exit opening) and the windproof function (encircling the flame) into a single structure, reducing overall device complexity.
2Reliability
If multiple engaging mechanisms are used to secure components, then the reliability of component securing is improved, but the assembling process becomes more complicated and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple securing functions into a single sliding engagement mechanism between the lighter cap and lighter housing. The lighter cap slides to simultaneously secure the gas nozzle exit opening and provide windproof enclosure, eliminating the need for multiple separate engaging mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding mechanism of the lighter cap serves multiple functions: securing the gas nozzle exit opening, providing windproof ability, and enabling ignition button operation, all through a single engagement action that simplifies assembly.
3Ease of operation
If the ignition button is located adjacent to the windshield, then the operation convenience is improved, but the heat transfer to user's finger worsens causing scalding risk
Solution Approach 1:
The lighter cap acts as an intermediary structure between the flame and the user's finger. It provides thermal insulation and physical separation, allowing the ignition button to remain accessible while preventing heat transfer from the flame to the user's finger during operation.
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, simplifies the assembly process, reduces manufacturing costs, and enhances safety by preventing accidental ignition and 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 lighter includes a housing having a liquefied gas storage and a gas emission unit for controlling a flow of gas. The gas emission unit includes a gas emitting nozzle extended from the liquefied gas storage, a piezoelectric unit disposed in the lighter housing for generating sparks when the piezoelectric unit is depressed, and a lighter cap slidably coupled on top of the lighter housing at a position above the piezoelectric unit and being limited to move between a non-ignition position and an ignition position. The the lighter cap has a depressible surface that an exit opening of the gas emitting nozzle is slidingly extended to embed in the lighter cap so as to protect the exit opening of the gas emitting nozzle at the non-ignition position. When the lighter cap is depressed, the piezoelectric unit is depressed and the gas emission unit is actuated at the same time for releasing the gas to be ignited by the sparks so as to produce a flame at the exit opening of the gas emitting nozzle.