Lighter and method of use

Abstract

A lighter with a pivoting cover is provided. The cover is manually actuated and is restricted in movement by a relatively high viscosity packing material encasing a biasing member.

1 . A lighter, comprising: 
 a body defining an inlet for receiving lighter fluid, an outlet for discharging a flame, and opposing sidewalls;    a cover defining a hollow cylindrical chamber extending between the sidewalls of the body, a biasing member positioned coaxially in the hollow cylindrical chamber and being pivotally connected to the body, and a packing material disposed in the hollow cylindrical chamber and encasing the biasing member;    a switch supported on the body and being operatively connected to a spark generating device;    wherein the biasing member is biased to maintain the cover in an open position, and upon actuation of the switch, the cover pivots upwardly to an open position against the restriction of the packing material.    
   
   
       2 . The lighter of  claim 1 , further comprising a cylindrical end cap positioned coaxially between each of the opposing sidewalls of the body and an end of the biasing member, each cylindrical end cap being constructed and arranged to be operatively connected to one of the ends of the biasing member, wherein the packing material is contained in the hollow cylindrical chamber by the cylindrical end caps.  
   
   
       3 . The lighter of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing member is a spring.  
   
   
       4 . The lighter of  claim 3 , wherein each cylindrical end cap includes a post extending coaxially from a face thereof and defining a spring seat, such that an end coil of the spring is seated about the post and against the spring seat.  
   
   
       5 . The lighter of  claim 4 , wherein each cylindrical end cap includes a groove for engaging the end coil of the spring therein.  
   
   
       6 . The lighter of  claim 1 , wherein the packing material is petroleum jelly.  
   
   
       7 . The lighter of  claim 1 , wherein the spark generating device is at least one device selected from the group consisting of flint, jet, turbo, piezoelectric, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       8 . A lighter, comprising: 
 a body defining an inlet for receiving lighter fluid, an outlet for discharging a flame, and opposing sidewalls;    a cover defining a hollow cylindrical chamber extending between the sidewalls of the body, a spring positioned coaxially in the hollow cylindrical chamber and being pivotally connected to the body, and a packing material disposed in the hollow cylindrical chamber and encasing the biasing member;    a cylindrical end cap positioned coaxially in the hollow cylindrical chamber between each sidewall of the body and an end of the spring, each cylindrical end cap including a groove for engaging an end coil of the spring, wherein the cylindrical end caps are constructed and arranged to contain the packing material in the hollow cylindrical chamber;    a switch supported on the body and being operatively connected to a spark generating device;    wherein the spring is biased to maintain the cover in an open position, such that upon actuation of the switch, the cover pivots upwardly to an open position against the restriction of the packing material.    
   
   
       9 . The lighter of  claim 8 , wherein each cylindrical end cap includes a post extending coaxially from a face thereof and defining a spring seat, such that the spring is seated about the post and against the spring seat.  
   
   
       10 . The lighter of  claim 8 , wherein the packing material is petroleum jelly.  
   
   
       11 . The lighter of  claim 8 , wherein the spark generating device is at least one device selected from the group consisting of flint, jet, turbo, piezoelectric, and combinations thereof.