Flint wheel assembly and a lighter with such a flint wheel assembly

Abstract

A flint wheel assembly is disclosed as including a flint wheel rotatable to rub against a flint for generating spark; and two outer wheels, each on a side of the flint wheel, and each operatively associated with the flint wheel via a respective inner wheel; wherein each outer wheel is movable substantially along its longitudinal axis between a first position in which it is out of contact with the inner wheel and a second position in which it is in contact with the inner wheel; and when the outer wheel is in the second position, the outer wheel is simultaneously rotatably movable with the flint wheel upon the application of a force on the outer wheel in a direction generally towards the inner wheel.

1 . A flint wheel assembly including: 
 a flint wheel adapted to be rotated to rub against a flint for generating spark; and    two operating wheels, each on a side of said flint wheel, and each operatively associated with said flint wheel via a respective intermediate wheel member;    wherein each said operating wheel is movable substantially along its longitudinal axis between a first position in which it is out of contact with said intermediate wheel member and a second position in which it is in contact with said intermediate wheel member; and    wherein when said operating wheel is in said second position, said operating wheel is simultaneously rotatably movable with said flint wheel upon the application of a force on said operating wheel in a direction generally towards said intermediate wheel member.    
   
   
       2 . An assembly according to  claim 1  wherein, in the absence of said force, when said operating wheel is in said second position, said operating wheel is rotatably movable relative to said fling wheel.  
   
   
       3 . An assembly according to  claim 1  wherein, in the absence of said force, when said operating wheel is in said second position, said operating wheel is rotatably movable relative to said intermediate wheel member.  
   
   
       4 . An assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said operating wheel is biased towards said first position.  
   
   
       5 . An assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said operating wheel is biased towards said first position by a spring member.  
   
   
       6 . An assembly according to  claim 1  wherein each said operating wheel is slidably movable between said first position and said second position.  
   
   
       7 . An assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said intermediate wheel member includes teeth member engageable with corresponding teeth member on said operating wheel.  
   
   
       8 . An assembly according to  claim 7  wherein said teeth member of said intermediate wheel member are slanted.  
   
   
       9 . An assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said intermediate wheel member is fixedly engaged with said flint wheel.  
   
   
       10 . An assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said intermediate wheel member includes a rough surface engageable with a rough surface on said operating wheel.  
   
   
       11 . A lighter including a flint wheel assembly according to  claim 1.