Torch with spring loaded snuffer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9920931-B2
Application number	US-201514707939-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 8, 2015
Priority date	May 8, 2015
Publication date	Mar 20, 2018
Grant date	Mar 20, 2018

Abstract

A device has a canister for attaching to a fuel container with a wick holder passing through the canister for holding a wick in a position to draw fuel from the reservoir for combustion proximate the top cap. A snuffer in the canister has a sleeve extendible from a first retracted position to a second extended position, the second extended position extending the sleeve partially beyond the wick holder. When the canister is upright the snuffer remains in the first lowered position and when the canister is tilted beyond a predetermined angle the spring moves the sleeve to the second extended position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device comprising:
a canister for attaching to a fuel container;
a wick holder passing through the canister for holding a wick in a position to draw fuel from the reservoir for combustion proximate a top cap of the canister;
a snuffer in the canister having a sleeve extendible from a first retracted position to a second extended position, the second extended position extending the sleeve partially beyond the wick holder; and
a spring biasing the snuffer sleeve toward the second raised position;
wherein when the canister is upright the snuffer remains in the first lowered position and when the canister is tilted beyond a predetermined angle the spring moves the sleeve to the second extended position; and
wherein the snuffer further comprises a flange affixed to a proximal portion of the sleeve, the flange receiving the biasing force of the spring.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the spring comprises a coil spring pressing upward on the flange at least when the canister is upright.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the coil spring circumscribes the wick holder.

4. The device of claim 3 , further comprising a free weight in the canister and bearing down upon the flange when the canister is upright.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the free weight comprises a metallic ball that is unrestrained within the canister.

6. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a top cap affixed to the canister and having an aperture proximate a distal end of the wick holder and sized to allow the snuffer sleeve to extend from the first retracted position to the second extended position by sliding beyond the upper end of the wick holder.

7. The device of claim 6 , further comprising a snuffer cap affixed in a stationary relationship with respect to the top cap and placed beyond the distal end of the wick holder such that the snuffer sleeve contacts the snuffer cap in the second extended position to enclose a portion of the wick extending beyond the wick holder.

8. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a fitting to affix the canister to a liquid fuel container.

9. The device of claim 8 , further wherein the wick holder extends through the fitting.

10. The device of claim 8 , wherein the canister, the snuffer sleeve, and the wick holder share a common central axis.

11. A torch comprising:
a wick holder having a combustion end and a fuel reservoir end;
a snuffer sleeve in a sliding engagement surrounding the wick holder and having a retracted position and an extended position wherein the snuffer sleeve extends beyond the combustion end of the wick holder; and
a biasing member that urges the snuffer sleeve toward the extended position;
wherein, the weight of the snuffer sleeve and the force of the biasing member are such that the snuffer sleeve remains in the retracted position when the torch is upright;
wherein the snuffer sleeve extends to the extended position in response to an impact between the torch and a torch supporting surface when the snuffer sleeve is deviated from a vertical position more than a predetermined amount;
wherein the vertical position is defined by a position of the snuffer sleeve wherein the combustion end is fully superior to the fuel reservoir end; and
wherein the wick holder passes coaxially through a canister that retains the snuffer sleeve position inside the canister when in the retracted position.

12. The torch of claim 11 , wherein the canister has a top cap with a central opening sized to pass the snuffer sleeve but retain within the canister a flange affixed to the sleeve.

13. The torch of claim 12 , wherein the biasing member is a coil spring that surrounds the wick holder and engages against the flange to urge the snuffer sleeve toward the extended position.

14. The torch of claim 11 , further comprising a stationary snuffer cap spaced apart a fixed distance from the combustion end of the wick holder such that the snuffer sleeve contacts the snuffer cap when the snuffer sleeve is in the extended position.

15. A device comprising:
a canister defining an interior volume between a fuel container fitting and a top cap;
a wick holder passing through the interior volume;
a snuffer sleeve slidingly engaged with the wick holder between;
a flange extending from the snuffer sleeve inside the interior volume, the flange being retained within the interior volume by the top cap;
a spring within the interior volume on an opposite side of the flange from the top cap;
a free weight interposing the flange and the top cap;
wherein the snuffer sleeve has an extended position that places the snuffer sleeve at least partially off the wick holder and out of the interior volume;
wherein the snuffer has a retracted position wherein the flange compresses the spring in the interior volume; and
wherein the snuffer is retained in the retracted position when the canister is upright and the snuffer is moved by the spring to the extended position when the canister is tipped to one side.

16. The device of claim 15 , wherein the spring is a coil spring circumscribing the wick holder.

17. The device of claim 15 , further comprising a snuffer cap affixed to the top cap such that the snuffer sleeve contacts the snuffer cap when in the extended position but not when in the retracted position.

Assignees

• Lamplight Farms Inc

Inventors

• Hansen Lars
• Reed David A
• White Ron

Classifications

• F23Q25/00 Primary

  Extinguishing-devices, e.g. for blowing-out or snuffing candle flames (for cigarettes A24F) · CPC title

• F23D3/26 Primary

  Safety devices thereon · CPC title

• F21V37/0008

  Fuel containers · CPC title

• F21V37/002

  Wicks · CPC title