Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
l~Z77;22
ELECTRIC CIGAR LIGHTER
This invention relates generally to cigar lighter de-
vices for automobiles and the like, and more particularly
to lighters which are especially adapted to heat to useful
incandescence in relatively short intervals of time.
In the past, large quantities of electric cigar lighter
constructions have been proposed and produced. Generally they
employed bimetallic spring fingers disposed in the socket of
a holder device and which were engageable with the side surfaces
of a heating element cup at the inner end of the ignitor plug.
When the plug was depressed, the fingers latched over the sides
of the cup, establishing a circuit through the heating element.
As the element reached useful incandescence, the bimetallic
fingers became heated and would then spread and release the
cup and the ignitor plug, enabling the same to retract and
break the circuit through the element.
Numerous refinements to this basic structure have been
achieved over the years. However, problems sometimes arose,
as when one of the bimetallic fingers, for reasons sometimes
obscure, shifted into the path of the ignitor plug while the
latter was being depressed, resulting in breakage and possible
short-circuiting of the socket. This would cause either a
blown fuse or else a burned-out wiring harness, depending on
the degree of current overload protection built into the par-
ticular electrical system of the automobile. In other cases,
the bimetallic fingers underwent an aging deformation after
prolonged use. When this occurred, the socket usually had to
be removed, in most cases involving work underneath or to the
rear of the dashboard. Where the socket was not readily ac-
cessible, such repair or replacement was sometimes difficult,costly and time consuming.
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l~Z7~
Typically in automatic lighters there is a periad of ten
to fifteen seconds following actuation of the ignitor plug,
until the heating element has reached useful incandescence to
enable the plug to snap out in readiness for use. In the past,
a number of efforts have been made tO reduce this waiting time
to just a few seconds. Several such innovative units have em-
ployed a bimetal disk disposed adjacent to the heating element
the disk itself constituting one contact of a switch which was
adapted to open after the element reached incandescence. By
positioning the disk right next to the element, response times
on the order of only several seconds have been achieved, par-
ticularly when an applied voltage was used which exceeded the
continuous rating of the heating element.
Prior lighters of the type employing bimetallic disks all
had a number of distinct disadvantages. Generally where the
contact area of the disk was at its center, the socket was ar-
ranged to secure the disk at its periphery. The mounting for
the disk had to be such that it would not interfere with its
flexing and snap-type movements. This imposed stringent re-
quirements on the tolerances of both the disk and the partwhich carried it. Also, in most cases the disk constituted part
o the current carrying circuit, and thus had to be insulated
from the remainder of the socket. Accordingly, such mountings
were often awkward and prone to malfunction in use.
In other constructions, as where the contact area of the
disk was at its periphery, the disk was mounted by means of a
stud passing through a hole in its center, the end of the stud
being staked to hold the disk in place. The problem with this
arrangement was that the support area was too small, and the
disk eventually loosened, causing poor electrical contact with
the stud. Or, i the support area was made sufficiently large,
then its freedom of movement was impaired, as well as its proper
llZ~72,~
functioning. Since both the stud and the disk were current-
carrying members, any loosening caused either an excessive
voltage drop, or else an open circuit, resulting in malfunction
or failure of the device. Where the bimetallic disk itself was
employed as one contact of the circuit-breaking switch, there
occurred burning and pitting at the points of contact, this re-
sulting in both a poor electrical connection and in deteriora-
tion of the disk itself, after a relatively short period of
use. Moreover, where the disk was a current carrier, the re-
latively heavy current flow associated with such ignitor de-
vices resulted in resistance-heating of the disk, aside from
the heating effect due to its proximity to the coil. The re-
sistance or self-heating effect depended on the resistances of
the electrical path through the disk and stud; there were thus
introduced other undesirable variables into the design of the
lighter, which caused problems during manufacturing runs where
large numbers of units were to be mass produced, from components
possibly having slightly different physical and/or electrical
characteristics. In addition, in constructions where the bi-
metallic member was arranged to carry the heating element current,the re~ponse time of the member was adversely affected by changes
which occurred in the vehicle electrical system, such as drops
in the supply voltage resulting from the application of moment-
ary load~ by other equipment in the vehicle, or surges in the
supply voltage resulting from variation in the rate of charging
by the vehicle's alternator or generator. Such variations in
the applied voltage resulted in corresponding changes in the
self-heating effect of the current on the bimetallic member,
thus tending to exaggerate existing non-uniformities of res-
ponse over prolonged periods of operation and under differentenvironmental conditions.
112'-~7ZZ
In one prior construction, there was an arrangement for
a fast-acting manual cigar lighter wherein the manually operable
part of the ignitor plug was depressed and held for several
seconds, to thereby close the heating element circuit and cause
the element to reach incandescence, after which the circuit
was automatically opened by a disk-like bimetallic member which
is carried in the plug itself.
This particular construction had been found to operate
quite well from the standpoint of good reliability and long
life expectancy. The number of individual parts required in
this prior design led to attempts to simplify the construction
somewhat, so as to reduce the overall manufacturing cost
and result in easier assembly. Cigar lighters of the above
type are typically built in manufacturing runs of thousands
of units. Some of the newer luxury automobiles are provided
with four or more of such lighter devices; it can be readily
appreciated that the annual sales of such units can easily run
into the hundreds of thousands. Accordingly any savings which
can be realized, as by reducing the number of parts involved,
reducing the cost of such parts, and simplifying the assembly,
becomes especially important from an economic standpoint. Of
course, while it is considered desirable to reduce the costs of
such items as much as possible, it should be realized that
these devices must perform in a satisfactory manner, with com-
plete freedom from jamming or malfunctioning, over the projected
life of the automobile, which can be many years. Conceivably
such devices can be subjected to thousands of operations over
the life of the car, and in fact, production samples are tested
for performance in excess of such figures.
The various mentioned drawbacks and disadvantages of prior
cigar lighters are obviated by the present invention, which pro-
vides a cigar lighter comprising, in combination a holder device
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l~Z'~ZZ
including a socket having two contacts forming part of a
cigar lighter circuit, an ignitor plug receivable in the sock-
et, comprising a manually-operable part movable in the socket
between energizing and de-energizing positions, said plug having
a heating element carried at its inner end, means for estab-
lishing a circuit from the holder device contacts through the
heating element when the said manually-operable part is shifted
to its energizing position, said means including an electrical
switch having relatively-movable cooperable contact parts
carried by the holder device, and means responsive to heating
of said heating element, for actuating said switch to break
said circuit and de-energize the element, said means includ-
ing a bimetallic member carried by said holder device and hav-
ing a circuit-opening position and a closed-circuit position,
said bimetallic member having an actuator portion which is
free and clear of attachment to any other parts, said actuator
portion being adapted for abutting engagement with ane of the
cooperable parts of said switch to effect the actuation thereof.
The invention further provides an electric cigar lighter
comprising, in combination a holder device including a socket
member having two contacts forming part of a cigar lighter
circuit, an ignitor plug member receivable in the socket member,
said plug member comprising a manually operable part, said plug
member having a heating element carried at its inner end,
means for establishing a circuit from the holder device contacts
through the heating element, said means including an electrical
switch, means including a bimetallic operator having cold and
hot positions, said operator being carried by one of said mem-
bers and being adapted to open said electrical switch in re-
sponse to its heating, said birnetallic operator being of dish-
like configuration and having a formed peripheral portion de-
fining a shallow arcuate trough which provides a spring-action
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~lZ~Z2
return of the operator from its hot position to its cold
position.
The invention still further provides a cigar lighter com-
prising, in combination a holder device including a socket
having two contacts forming part of a cigar lighter circuit,
an ignitor plug receivable in the socket, said plug having a
heating element carried at its inner end, means for establish-
ing a circuit from the holder device contacts through the heat~
ing element, means including an insulating block for insulatedly
mounting one of said contacts in the holder device, said holder
device comprising a tubular metal body having a rolled thread
formation providing both internal and external screw threads
on the body, said insulating block having porjecting means en-
gageable with the internal threads whereby the block can be
screwed into the body and held captive therein.
Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.
In the accompanying drawings: ;~
Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the improved cigar
lighter of the present disclosure, showing the ignitor plug
disposed in the holder device or receptacle, in its unenergized
or storage position and wherein a switch carried by the holder
device is closed. The bimetallic switch actuator disk or
member is in its closed-circuit position.
Fig. 2 is a view like Fig. 1 but partly in elevation,
showing the manually operable part of the ignitor plug as
having been shifted to a deep position in the socket of the
holder device and held. The bimetallic operator remains in
its closed-circuit position, and the switch remains closed
wherein there is effected energization of the heating element.
Fig. 3 is a view like Figs. 1 and 2, wherein the bimetallic
member or disk associated with the switch has been rapidly heated
due to its close proximity to the energized heating element, and
~Z77;~Z
has shifted from its closed-circuit position to its circuit~
opening position, thereby separating the switch contact parts
and opening the circuit through the heating element.
Fig. 4 is a right end elevation of an insulating block
carried by the holder device of the lighter of Figs. 1-3, on
which one of the socket contacts is carried.
Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the insulating block shown
in Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is an axial section of a cup-like base member
carried by the receptacle.
Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the base member of Fig. 6.
Fig. 8 is an axial section of an insulating spacer and
bearing sleeve employed in the cigar lighter of Figs. 1-3.
Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the insulating spacer and
bearing sleeve of Fig. 8.
Fig. 10 is an axial section of a contact cup employed in
the cigar lighter of Figs. 1-3.
Fig. 11 is an end elevation of the contact cup of Fig. 10.
Fig. 12 is an axial section of a novel bimetallic switch
actuator member employed with a somewhat modified cigar lighter
illustrated in Fig. 15, said member having a formed periphery
to provide a positive spring return from its hot position to
its cold position.
Fig. 13 is a front elevation of the bimetallic member of
Fig. 12.
Fig. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary axial section of the
member of Fig. 12.
Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional view of a somewhat modified
cigar lighter, employing a simplified form of insulating block
in the receptacle, and incorporating the formed, bimetallic
member of Figs. 12-14.
Fig. 16 is a left end elevation of the insulating block
llZ7~2Z
carried by the holder device of the lighter of Fig. 15.
Fig. 17 is a right end elevation of the insulating block
of Fig. 16.
Referring first to Figs. 1-3 there is illustrated a cigar
lighter of the type adapted to be mounted on an automobile dash-
board, comprising a receptacle or holder device 12 which in-
cludes a socket or socket member, and a generally cylindrical
ignitor plug or plug member 14 receivable therein. The recep-
tacle 12 has an outwardly extending annular flange 16 which en-
gages the front surface of the automobile dashboard 18.
The ignitor plug 14 includes a tubular plug body and amanually operable part in the form of a spacer member 20 and a
knob 22, the member 20 being generally in the form of a hollow
cylinder. A friction sleeve 24 is telescopically carried on
the spacer member 20, and a retractable ashguard generally des-
ignated 26 also constitutes part of the plug body and is tele-
scopically carried by the spacer member 20 and movable thereon
between limits, as will be later brought out. Disposed at the
end of the ~pacer member is a cap 28 having an annular flange
30 extending past the periphery of the member. The cap is se-
cured to the spacer member by a series of lugs (not shown) on
the member which extend through corresponding slots ~not shown)
in the cap and which are bent radially inwardly. Such a con~
struction is shown in applicants' U.S. Patent No. 3,870,857
dated March 11, 1975. The cap also has a central indented por-
tion 32 which is apertured to receive a threaded mounting stud
34 of the knob 22. The cap includes an integral spring pres-
sure tooth 36 which engages the threads of the stud and enables
the knob to be merely screwed into the cap as shown.
The flange 30 constitutes a seat for one end of a coil
spring 38, the other end of the spring bearing against an in-
ternal shoulder 40 on the friction sleeve 24, the latter hav-
ing an outwardly ex~tending annular curl 42. The ashguard 26
has a series of lugs 44 struck from its annular wall portion,
one of such lugs being shown in Fig. 1. In the present con-
struction, three such lugs are disposed circumferentially
about the body of the guard. The lugs 44 project inwardly
into the path of the curl 42 when the ignitor plug is being
withdrawn from the socket, and position the ashguard so as
to encircle a heating element to be described below, as the
plug is removed from the receptacle.
At its front end the friction sleeve 24 has an outwardly
extending annular flange 46 which normally bears against a cor-
responding flange 48 on the ashguard 26. The limits of rela-
tive axial movement of the friction sleeve 24 with respect to
the ashguard 26 are thus determined in one direction by the
engagement of the flanges 46, 48, and in the other direction
by engagement of the curl 42 with the lugs 44 of the ashguard.
It is known that, in order to provide a smooth, non-binding
and sliding engagement between the friction sleeve 24 and the
~ ashguard 26, there can be provided on the cylindrical exterior
surface of the sleeve a plurality of circumferentially spaced
longitudinal ribs 50 which slidably engage the inner cylindrical
~Z'^~'7Z2
surface of the-ashguard. These ribs are similar to those
shown in applicants' U.S. Pat. No. 3,870,857 dated March 11,
1975, and operate to reduce binding between the parts and
prevent axial misalignment thereof. In order to exert fric-
tional resistance against relative axial movement of the fric-
tion sleeve 24 and the ashguard 26, the cylindrical body of
the sleeve is lanced at several locations, preferably spaced
circumferentially about the sleeve, providing yieldable fric-
tion fingers 52 which bear with calibrated pressure against
thé inner cylindrical surface of the ashguard. One such fin-
ger is shown in dotted outline in Fig. 1. The pressure is
sufficient to retain the ashguard in any selected axial posi-
tions to which it is moved with respect to the sleeve. The
ribs 50 of the sleeve assure constant uniform spacing between
; the two parts, to prevent undesirable variation in the side
pressure exerted by the inner surface of the guard on the
friction fingers 52. Accordingly the base area of the fingers
52 will not be "sprung" by improper alignment. Disposed at
the inner end of the ignitor plug 14 is a known spiral heating
element or coil 54 which is preferably a ribbon-like strip of
~uitable electrical resistance alloy having a contoured V-
shaped cross section, similar to the coil shown in applicant
L. G. Horwitt's U.S. Patent No. 3,235,707 dated February 15,
1966. The strip is wound to form a plurality of successive,
interlocking convolutions. By reason of the interlocking en-
gagement of each V-shaped convolution with adjacent convolu-
tions, the heating element 54 takes the form of a substan-
tially disk-like member and the interlocking of the succes-
sive convolutions resists axial displacement. As is well
known, the resistance strip which forms the heating coil 54
can be made from an alloy containing aluminum and treated with
sufficient heat to cause an aluminum oxide coating to be formed
on the surfaces. By reason of the degree of electrical
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~1~22
non-conductivity of the aluminum oxide coating, the surfaces
of the successive convolutions of the coil, which are in con-
tact with each other, resist current flow or short circuit-
ing between convolutions.
The present lighter construction employs improvements
found in newer lighters commonly referred to as "New Genera-
tion Lighters", see applicants' U.S. Patents 3,870,857
dated March 11, 1975; 3,892,944 dated July 1, 1975 and
3,904,848 dated September 9, 1975. The improvements are there-
fore only briefly described herein, as follows: The innerend of the spacer member 20 has an in-turned annular or trans-
verse wall 56 having a plurality of closely-spaced circum-
ferentially-arranged, nib-receiving concavities 58. The heat-
ing element 54 is carried in a metal cup 60 having a bottom or
transverse wall 62, and a central aperture therein. In addi-
tion, this wall has a plurality of upwardly projecting nibs
64 shown as being bulbous or rounded and in equally-spaced
annular relation, so disposed as to cooperate with and be
received by corresponding concavities 58. Preferably, there
is lesser number of nibs 64. The number of nibs is numerically
divisible into the number of concavities. In a preferred form,
the wall 56 has nine CQncavities 58 and the wall 62 of the
contact cup has three up-standing nibs 64. The concavities
58 are sufficiently closely spaced and are contoured as shown
so that protuberances on an adjacent surface, when pressed
with moderate pressure into face-to-face engagement with the
wall 56, will cause such protuberances to be guided rotation-
ally into the nearest cooperating concavities 58.
Insulatin~ washers or wafers 66 of deformable mica or
similar insulating material are placed on each side of the
wall 62 of the metal cup 60, the center hole portions thereof
being aligned axially with a central aperture in the annular
wall 56 of the spacer member 20 and the corresponding aperture
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~z~ ~z~
:
in the wall 62 of the heating element cup 60. A grommet or
eyelet 68 projects through these aligned holes and apertures
and is flared outwardly as shown, to grip the wall 56 on one
side and the wall 62 of the heating element cup 60 in a manner
to hold the assembled spacer member 20, cup 60 and mica washers
66 in clamped together engagement. Portions of the one mica
washer 66 between the walls 56 and 62 are deformed or distended
as shown, by reason of the tendency of the nibs 64 thereunder
to become self-aligned with the nearest concavities 58 and to
become seated therein. The mica washer 66 is squeezed by the
clamping action of the eyelet 68 to conform to the spaces be-
tween the respective nibs 64 and the cooperating concavities
58 opposite such nibs. The seating of the distended portions
of the said one mica washer 66 in the nearest concavities
qerves to prevent rotational displacement between the heating
element cup 60 and the spacer member 20.
The innermost convolution of the heating element 54 ex-
tends away from the plane in which the intermediate convolu-
tions are wound and toward a slotted rivet 70 and is secured
thereto. The rivet 70 is of substantially the same diameter
as the opening in the eyelet 68 and is pressed into the open-
ing for frictional engagement therewith. The end of the outer
convolution of the heating element 54 is crimped under a
curled-over portion of the rim of the cup 60, so as to be
permanently mechanically held thereby and electrically con-
nected thereto. Alternately, the end of the coil could be
secured by other mechanical means, or by welding, to the
cup 60 in an electrically conductive manner. The cup has a
plurality of spaced, inwardly extending projections 72 which
are positioned to provide support for the outer convolutions
of the heating element 54 when pressure is exerted against the
opposite or frontal side thereof.
-12-
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There is provided in the socket a novel electrical
switch connected in circuit with the heating element, and
adapted to break the circuit and de-energize the element
after useful incandescence has been reached. Associated
with the electrical switch is a bimetallic operator or bi-
metallic member having an actuator portion which is free and
clear of attachment to any other parts of the socket, the
actuator portion being adapted for abutting engagement with one
of the parts of the switch, in order to effect the actuation
thereof.
As illustrated in Fig. 1-3 the receptacle 12 comprises
a socket in the form of a tubular body 74 constituting one of
two contacts, the other of said contacts including a metal
base member 76 as shown in Figs. 6 and 7; the member has a
generally cup-like configuration and is supported in the socket
by means of an insulating block 78. The block is particularly
shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and has a shoulder or undercut sur-
face 80 which receives corresponding fingers 82 of the base
member 76, to thus hold the latter captive. The bottom wall
of the base member 76 is provided with a shallow annular con-
tact surface or trough 84, which is adapted to receive the
bead-like rim or lip 86 of the heating element cup 60 when
the manually-operable part comprising the spacer member 20 and
knob 22 are depressed, as in Fig. 2, The bottom wall of the
base member 76 which forms the trough 84 also provides an in-
ternal shoulder 88 of annular configuration, constituting a
seat against which one face of the bimetallic member bears,
such member being generally designated by the numeral 90.
Spring means 92 are also provided, engageable with peripheral
portions of the opposite face of the bimetallic member and
seated against a shoulder 94 provided on the insulating block
78. As shown, the bottom wall of the base member 76 is dished
somewhat, in order to provide clearance for the actuator
portion of the bimetallic member 90 when the latter is in the
position shown in Fig. 1, such position being hereinafter
referred to as the closed-circuit position. In addition,
the bottom wall of the base member 76 is provided with mul-
- tiple apertures 96 (Fig. 7) which enable the bimetallic mem-
ber 90 to receive heat by both conduction and radiation from
the heating coil 54 when the manually operable part of the
ignitor plug 14 is disposed in the position of Fig. 2.
Integral with the base member 76 is a tubular boss 98
which extends in a direction away from the ignitor plug 14,
the boss 98 having an end face or contact face 100 constituting
one of the cooperable parts of the electrical switch. As
shown, the bimetallic member 90 has a central aperture through
which the boss 98 extends. There is provided, cooperable with
the face 100, a second electrical switch part, constituted
as a contact cup 104 having a bottom wall with a central aper-
ture 106, and an annular flange 108 which is adjacent to
the lip of the cup.
The cup is particularly illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11.
- 20 A special, electrically-conducting coil spring means of spring
steel wire having a thick jacket of copper, is provided, engage-
able with the flange 108, for normally biasing the contact cup
104 into engagement with the contact face 100 of the tubular
boss 98. Pressed into the insulating block 78 is a conducting
stud 112, having a head 114 and a knurled portion 116 by which
the stud is mechanically held. The head 114 of the stud is re-
ceived in a recess in the block; one end of the spring means
110 is seated against the head, and the walls of the recess
closely confine the convolutions of the spring means and pre-
vent lateral shifting thereof. The stud is adapted to beconnected to the "hot" terminal of the vehicle electrical
system, in the usual manner, and the copper jacket of the
spring means affords an excellent conducting medium while
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llZ7~722
the steel core retains the resiliency.
The electrical switch further comprises an insulating
bearing sleeve 118, particularly shown in Figs. 8 and 9,
disposed between the walls of the boss 98 and the walls of
the contact cup 104. Integral with the sleeve 118 is a spacer
120 of annular configuration, which is disposed between the
flange 108 of the contact cup 104 and the actuator (central)
portion of the bimetallic member 90. The sleeve and spacer
are referred to in some of the appended claims as a "flanged
bushing". The sleeve 118 functions to maintain the contact
cup 104 centralized with respect to the tubular boss 98, with
the insulating spacer 120 maintaining the actuator portion of
the bimetallic member 90 out of electrical contact with the
flange 108. As a result, no current will flow through the
actuator portion of the bimetallic member 90, even when a
flow is established through the heating element 54. Accord-
ingly all portions of the bimetallic member are at substan-
tially the same electrical potential. This has several im-
portant advantages, which will be outlined below.
Referring again to Figs. 1-~, the tubular metal body 74
is provided with a rolled thread formation 122 providing
both internal and external screw threads. Cooperable with
the internal threads are corresponding projections 124 on the
insulating block 78, optionally as in the form of mating inte-
gral threads adapted to engage the internal threads formed by
the rolled thread formation 122. With such an arrangement,
the insulating block 78 can be merely screwed into place in
the socket or receptacle 12, and held captive therein. This
construction also permits the use of automatic assembly equip-
ment, which has the important advantage of reducing the over-
all cost of the device.
Further, the rolled thread formation 122 provides exter-
nal threads adapted to be engaged by cooperable threads 128 on
-15-
112~
a tubular screw shell 130 which is adapted to engage the rearsurface of a mounting panel such as the dashboard 18 of the
automobile. The threads of the shell can optionally be in the
form of a rolled thread formation. It has been found that the
internal and external threads provided by the single rolled
thread formation 122 can very conveniently accommodate both
the projections or threads 124 on the insulating block 78 and
the threads on the tubular shell 130. A substantial saving
is thereby realizable, not only from the standpoint of reduc-
ing the number of separate pieces required, but also mini-
mizing both the assembly time and the installation time re-
quired for such units.
The insulating block 78 has a hollow tubular projection
132 which extends through a central aperture in the trans-
verse end wall 134 of the socket, in order to centralize the
block and provide an insulating barrier between the stud 112
and wall 134.
The operation of the improved cigar lighter can now be
readily understood by referring to Figs. 1-3 in succession.
Fig. 1 illustrates the various parts of the lighter in the
unenergized or storage position. The bimetallic member 90
is disposed in the "cold" or closed-circuit position. The
spring 92 engages one face of the bimetallic member and holds
it against the shoulder 88 provided in the bottom wall of the
base member 76. In addition, the spring 110 maintains the
engagement of the contact cup 104 with the contact face 100
of the tubular projection 98. The central aperture 106 in
the contact cup 104 enables a more uniform contact pressure
between the cup 104 and projection 98 to be had, since a
limited amount of yielding of the walls immediately surround-
ing the aperture 106 can occur. This has been found to be
desirable from the standpoint of maintaining reliable contact
between these two parts, particularly over a prolonged period
-16-
1~2~2;Z
of use.
When it is desired to actuate the lighter, the user
merely depresses the knob 22 to advance the tubular spacer
member 20 and heating element cup 60 to an "energizing"
position, such that the cup rim 86 engages the walls of the
trough 84, thereby establishing at the location of the cup
60, a complete circuit through the heating element 54 as
follows: Current flows from the stud 112 througn the spring
110 to the contact cup 104, to the tubular projection 98 and
base member 76, to the ~im 86 of the heating element cup 60,
through the heating element 54 and to the stud 70, and there-
after to the spacer member 20 which is roughly the same elec-
trical potential as the dashboard 18 by virtue of its engage-
ment with the friction sleeve 24 and ashguard 26. The parts
have the relative positions shown in Fig. 2. It will be
understood that in the present construction, the user must hold
the knob in the position of Fig. 2 while the element is heat-
ing. As this occurs, heat is radiated through the apertures
96 in the bottom wall of the base member 76, and will strike
the bimetallic member 90. After several seconds, the member
90 will shift from its cold position to its hot or circuit-
opening position as illustrated in Fig. 3, such movement
effecting a shifting of the contact cup 104 to the position
shown, thereby breaking the circuit between the cup and the
tubular projection 98 at the location of the latter, and de-
energizing the heating element. The shifting of the bimetal-
lic member is accompanied by an audible "click", which signals
to the user that the ignitor plug is ready to be removed. Due
to the frictional engagement of the ashguard 26 with the wall
of the body 74, the ashguard will initially remain stationary
as the knob 22 and spacer member 20 are withdrawn from the
socket, until there occurs engagement of the curl 42 and
llZ7~z~
teeth 44, after which the ashguard will move with the spacer
member 20 and friction sleeve 24 as a unit. Such an arrange-
ment provides for a retraction of the heating element 54 and
cup 60 within the ashguard by 1/4 inch or so, at such time as
the ignitor plug 14 is removed from the socket 12. Following
use of the lighter, the ignitor plug is merely reinserted
into the socket, and the knob 22 depressed a slight amount
until the engagement of the flanges 46, 48 occurs, that is,
until the parts have once again assumed the relative positions
shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 15 illustrates a modified manual electric cigar
lighter employing a unique bimetallic member having a formed
peripheral portion which provides a spring-action return of
the member from its hot, circuit-opening position to its
cold, closed-circuit position. Like reference numerals in
Figs. 1-3 and 15 are intended to designate similar parts. The
cigar lighter comprises a socket 12a and an ignitor plug 14
having a manually operable part in the form of a tubular
spacer member 20 and knob 22, a friction sleeve 24, and ash-
guard 26. The socket has a tubular body 74 constituting anelectrical contact, and a base member 76 which is substan-
tially identical to that shown and described in connection
with the embodiment of Figs. 1-3. The heating element (not
shown) is disposed within a cup 60, the latter having a curled
rim 86 which is adapted to engage the walls of an annular
trough 84 provided in the bottom wall of the base member 76.
Supporting the base member 76 in the socket 12a there
is provided a somewhat modified insulating block 7aa particu-
larly illustrated in Figs. 16 and 17. The block has an annular
shoulder 94a constituting a seat for one end of a spring 92,
the other end of the spring bearing against one face of a bi-
metallic member 90a. The other face of the member 90a is
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seated against a shoulder 88 provided in the bottom wall of
the base member 76, as in the previous embodiment. Integral
with the base member 76 is a tubular boss 98 having a contact
face 100, this constituting one part of an electrical switch
which is connected in circuit with the heating element that
is carried by the ignitor plug. The other part of the switch
comprises a contact cup 104, which carries a bearing sleeve
118 having a peripheral flange constituting a spacer 120.
The contact cup also includes a flange 108, constituting a
seat for the spring means 110, the latter also bearing against
the head 114a of a stud 112a. The socket 12a has a trans-
verse end wall 134a with a central aperture which receives
a tubular projection 132a of the insulating block 78a so as
to maintain the latter centralized. The stud 112a carries a
nut 140 and insulating washer 142. Interposed between the
washer 142 and the wall 134a is a metal washer 144 having a
projection 146 which is received in a recess in the wall 134a,
for keying the washer thereto. The adjacent portion of the
insulating block 78a has a shallow recess 148 which provides
clearance for the projection 146. A tooth 150 is stamped
out from the wall 134a and is received in an additional re-
cess 152 in the insulating block 78a. The engagement of the
too~h 150 and the walls of the recess 152 effects a proper
rotational orientation of the insulating block 78a with
respect to the remainder of the socket 12a as the washers
142, 144 and nut 140 are installed on the stud 112a.
There is provided a unique dish-like configuration to
the bimetallic member 90a which provides a spring-return
of the member from its hot, circuit opening position to its
cold, closed-circuit position.
Referring to Figs. 12-14, it can be seen that the peri-
phery of the member 90a is formed with a first shallow,
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112~
partially circular trough 156, and a second shallow trough
158, both oE which are disposed on the concave side of the
member 90a, this being the high-expansion side. As shown,
the opposite ends of the member 90a are ~labbed off to pro-
vice substantially straight cut edges 160, 162. The central
aperture 164 enables the member 90a to be carried in the sock-
et 12a as shown, with the tubular projection 98 extending
therethrough. The dimension of the aperture 164 is sufficiently
large such that no engagement of the bimetallic member 90a
with the walls of the tubular projection 98 normally occurs.
The formed periphery as outlined above has been found to be
very effective in insuring that the bimetallic member, once
cooled, returns to its closed-circuit position. As mentioned
above~, little or no additional expense is involved in fabri-
cating such members, since the punch from which they are
stamped can be initially made to incorporate the form required
to produce the troughs, and accordingly such members can be
mass produced in the conventional manner.
The above constructions are seen to have a number of dis-
tinct advantages which were not enjoyed by many of the devicesof the prior art. As pointed out above, the bimetallic member
is not a part of the circuit which carries the heating element
current, and accordingly there is not encountered a self heat-
ing effect due to current flowing through the member itself.
Accordingly there are eliminated from the design, problems
associated with contact resistances of the member, and physi-
cal changes due to aging thereof. Due to the fact that the bi-
metallic member itself is not employed as a contact per se,
there occurs no arcing or pitting which would lead to dete-
rioration of the member and possible malfunctioning.
Since the member remains virtually unmodified when in-
stalled in the lighter, it enjoys the inherent reliability of
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a simple bimetal part. Since it is not riveted, staked,
welded or otherwise physically altered, the chances of the
member suffering degeneration are greatly reduced or elim-
inated. Moreover there is nothing to interfere with the
normal snap or flexing movements of the member, once in-
stalled, since the periphery is held agains' the annular
shoulder of the base member by the spring; the central actu-
ator portion is free and unattached, and during the normal
operation merely abuts one of the parts of the electric
switch, as opposed to being physically joined or connected
thereto in a permanent manner.
With the present construction, the insulating block can
be conveniently molded in plastic, as opposed to prior de-
vices wherein ceramic materials were required. The use of
plastic is permitted as a result of the shielding effect
provided by the base member 76 and the fact that the bi-
metallic member 90 is disposed in the path between the heat-
ing element and the insulating block; with such an arrange-
ment, the bimetallic member intercepts substantially all of
the heat which would otherwise impinge on the block, and
prevents the latter from being damaged. It can be readily
appreciated that the use of a plastic part constitutes a
distinct economy over the use of similar parts constituted
of ceramic materials.
Considerable cost saving is realizeable as a result of
the single rolled thread formation on the tubular body of
the receptacle, which provides both internal threads for
engagement with the insulating block and external threads
to mate with the corresponding threads of the screw shell.
Such economies are of great importance as far as the auto-
mobile manufacturers are are concerned, as was pointed out
earlier, and the various features of the present lighter
~lZ~2Z
construction have been found to lend themselves extremely
well to low-cost, high production manufacturing procedures.
The device is thus seen to represent a distinct advance
and improvement in the technology of cigar lighters.
Each and every one of the appended claims defines a
distinct aspect of the invention separate from the others,
and each claim in accordingly to be treated in this manner
when the prior art devices are examined in any determination
of novelty or validity.
Variations and modifications are possible without de-
parting from the spirit of the invention.
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