EVANS Trig-A-Lite Gold-Plated Enamel Automatic Lighter

Series Features: Press down once to ignite with a friction spark; release to extinguish automatically. Patent Background (Granted and Pending Applications): Background: The absolute patent monopoly for the fully automatic "one-motion lighter" belongs to Ronson, which secured the Banjo patent in 1926. Any brand manufacturing a one-push automatic lighter in the U.S. faces strong litigation from Ronson. Evans' Strategy: In the early 1930s, Evans was sued by Ronson for producing a similar design. Thereafter, Evans adopted a dual-track strategy: on one hand, it paid licensing fees to Ronson and often displayed micro-markings like "Under Ronson Pat." on its automatic lighters; on the other, Evans engineers developed the "Trig-A-Lite" side-trigger push mechanism and the post-war Spitfire (later renamed Banner) wheel-drive automatic mechanism. By altering the spring force direction and gear engagement points, they successfully obtained their own improvement patents, transitioning from "fully dependent on licensing" to "partially self-improved."