Gaseous fuel lighter with mechanical starter

Abstract

The gaseous fuel lighter with mechanical starter includes an ignition member and a striking member adapted to be removably attached to form an integral unit. The ignition member includes a fuel chamber, a fuel releasing head in communication with the fuel chamber, a regulating valve assembly positioned intermediate to the ignition member and the fuel releasing head. A switch is operatively connected to the regulating valve assembly to open and close the regulating valve assembly, and a striking element is provided proximate to the fuel releasing head. The striking member includes a friction member configured for engagement with the striking element. The user simultaneously slides the striking element against the friction member creating a spark, and engages the switch, to open the assembly. Fuel is released and the spark and gas to mix to form a flame.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A gaseous fuel lighter with mechanical starter, comprising: 
       an ignition member and a striking member adapted to be removably attached to form an integral unit,
 the ignition member including a fuel chamber to contain fuel, a fuel releasing head in communication with the fuel chamber, a regulating valve assembly positioned intermediate to the ignition member and the fuel releasing head, a switch operatively connected to the regulating valve assembly to open and close the regulating valve assembly, and a striking element provided proximate to the fuel releasing head, 
 the striking member including a friction member, 
 wherein to ignite the gaseous fuel lighter, the user simultaneously slides the striking element against the friction member creating a spark and engages the switch to open the regulating valve assembly thereby releasing fuel through the fuel releasing head such that the spark and gas to mix to form a flame. 
 
     
     
         2 . The gaseous fuel lighter with mechanical starter according to  claim 1 , wherein the ignition member includes a first locking member and the striking member includes a second locking member adapted for locking engagement with the first locking member to securely lock the ignition member and the striking member together to form a removably connected integral unit. 
     
     
         3 . The gaseous fuel lighter with mechanical starter according to  claim 2 , the first locking member being a locking groove formed along the outer edge of the ignition member, the second locking member being an abutment formed along the outer edge configured for cooperative engagement with the locking groove to enable the ignition member and striking member to be removably attached. 
     
     
         4 . The gaseous fuel lighter of  claim 1 , wherein the friction member is provided along the inner surface of the striking member. 
     
     
         5 . The gaseous fuel lighter of  claim 4 , wherein the friction member is disposed in a groove provided along the surface of the striking member. 
     
     
         6 . The gaseous fuel lighter of  claim 1 , wherein the striking member is a cap configured to encase a portion of the ignition member. 
     
     
         7 . The gaseous fuel lighter of  claim 6 , wherein the cap has a friction member formed along an inner surface of the cap. 
     
     
         8 . The gaseous fuel lighter of  claim 1 , wherein the ignition member includes a regulating wheel configured to control the fuel flow rate through the regulating valve assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The gaseous fuel lighter of  claim 1  wherein the gaseous fuel lighter includes a first opening in communication with the inner chamber, and a filling valve permitting the inner chamber to be selectively refilled. 
     
     
         10 . The gaseous fuel lighter of  claim 1  wherein the striking element is comprised of steel. 
     
     
         11 . The gaseous fuel lighter of  claim 1 , the fuel releasing head is being positioned proximate to the striking element. 
     
     
         12 . The gaseous fuel lighter of  claim 1 , wherein the striking member includes an opening configured to receive the striking element when the striking member and ignition member are integrally connected. 
     
     
         13 . The gaseous fuel lighter of  claim 1 , wherein the striking element extends generally outward from ignition member. 
     
     
         14 . The gaseous fuel lighter of  claim 1 , wherein the striking element is integrally formed on the fuel releasing head. 
     
     
         15 . The gaseous fuel lighter of  claim 14 , wherein the fuel releasing head extends generally outward from the ignition member and releases fuel at a generally center point.