GB1581208A - Cigarette lighter for fitment to motor vehicles - Google Patents

Cigarette lighter for fitment to motor vehicles Download PDF

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Publication number
GB1581208A
GB1581208A GB2032078A GB2032078A GB1581208A GB 1581208 A GB1581208 A GB 1581208A GB 2032078 A GB2032078 A GB 2032078A GB 2032078 A GB2032078 A GB 2032078A GB 1581208 A GB1581208 A GB 1581208A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
base
fixing pin
metal case
spacer
bimetallic element
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
GB2032078A
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Squirrel SpA
Original Assignee
Squirrel SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Squirrel SpA filed Critical Squirrel SpA
Publication of GB1581208A publication Critical patent/GB1581208A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23Q—IGNITION; EXTINGUISHING-DEVICES
    • F23Q7/00—Incandescent ignition; Igniters using electrically-produced heat, e.g. lighters for cigarettes; Electrically-heated glowing plugs
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N3/00—Arrangements or adaptations of other passenger fittings, not otherwise provided for
    • B60N3/14—Arrangements or adaptations of other passenger fittings, not otherwise provided for of electrically-heated lighters

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Passenger Equipment (AREA)

Description

(54) CIGARETTE LIGHTER FOR FITMENT TO MOTOR VEHICLES (71) We, SQUIRREL S.p.A., an Italian joint stock company, of Via Nazionale 54, Cambiano, Turin, Italy, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: Invention relates to lighters for cigars or cigarettes, adapted to be fitted to motor vehicles.
More particularly, the invention concerns lighters of the kind comprising: an outer cup-shaped metal case adapted to be earthed in use of the lighter, a fixing pin passing axially through the base of the metal case, terminal means for electrical connection to a current supply source, secured to the base of the metal case by the fixing pin, and projecting outwardly from the said base, a bimetallic element mounted upon and electrically connected to the fixing pin within the metal case, an insulating spacer traversed by the fixing pin and interposed between the base of the metal case and the bimetallic element, a cylindrical body mounted for sliding movement within the metal case and bearing an electric heating element adapted to engage the bimetallic element, so as to make electrical connection with the supply terminal means upon displacement of the body into the cup-shaped case.
An object of the invention is to provide a lighter of the aforesaid kind which affords a high degree of safety in the event of accidental locking of the heated element in its switched-on position, so that high temperatures which could otherwise be reached and lead to a fire inside the vehicle are avoided.
According to the present invention there is provided a lighter of the kind referred to wherein the fixing pin supports, within the case between the insulating spacer and the bimetallic element, a conductive spring element which bears resiliently against the base of the metal case through interposed electrically insulating spacer elements having a predetermined melting temperature such that melting of the said spacer elements occurs upon accidental overheating of the lighter to allow the conductive spring element to come into contact with the base of the metal case and thereby earth the fixing pin through which current is supplied to the heating element.
The lighter pf the present invention has a very high degree of safety and can be made from simple components of economical manufacture.
Preferably the spring element is in the form of a bowed spring strip having a central hole through which the fixing pin passes and having end portions facing towards the base of the case and each engaging in a seat in a respective spacer element, the spacer elements being housed in respective peripheral notches in the insulating spacer.
The invention will be further described, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cigarette lighter according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a partially sectioned view, on an enlarged scale, taken along the line II-II of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the part of the lighter shown in Figure 2.
Referring to Figure 1, reference numeral 1 indicates generally a lighter for cigarettes, comprising an outer metal cup-shaped case 2 fixed within the passenger compartment of a vehicle. A cylindrical body 3 is slidably mounted within the case 2. The cylindrical body 3 is provided at one end with a hand grip 4 projecting beyond the metal case 2 and carries at its other end an electric heating element comprising a hot plate 5, knownper se.
As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the lighter has two flat terminals 7, 8 for connection respectively to earth and to an external current source, not shown. Each flat terminal 7, 8 is attached to or integral with the edge of a respective support washer 9,10. The washers 9 and 10 are coaxially adjacent each other and are electrically insulated from each other by means of a disc 11 of insulating material.
The support washers 9, 10 are clamped to the outside of the base 6 of the cup-shaped metal case 2, by means of a nut 12 which engages the end of a screw-threaded fixing pin 13 which passes through an axial hole 14 in the centre of the base 6.
The pin 13 passes axially through an insulating spacer 15 located within the metal case 2. The spacer 15 consists of a circular base 16 provided with two peripheral diametrically opposed notches 17. The base 16 has on its face which faces towards the base 6 a circular boss 18 which engages axially in the hole 14 in the base 6. The base 16 has on its face opposite the boss 18 a rectangular slot 19 extending diametrically between the peripheral notches 17. The spacer 16 has a pair of raised shoulders 20 on opposite sides of the slot 19, the shoulders 20 being in the form of diametrically opposed cylindrical segments.
The lighter includes a spring element 21 made of electrically conductive material and consisting of a bow shaped resilient strip 22 having a flat central portion provided with a hole 23 for the passage of the fixing pin 13.
The central section bears against the bottom surface of the slot 19 in the insulating spacer 15 and is connected to or integral with a pair of bowed wings 25, diametrically opposite each other, each of which has a curved end portion 26 bent towards the bottom 6 of the metal case 2. Each end portion 26 engages in a seat 27 formed in a respective electrically insulating spacer block 28 housed in the adjacent peripheral notch 17 of the insulating spacer 15, so as to permit resilient flexing of the spring strip 22 against the bottom 6 of the metal case 2.
Each spacer block 28 is preferably made of thermoplastics material having a melting point between 100"C and 1500C; selection of the composition of the plastics material is made in accordance with the desired melting point which, as described later, will correspond to a predetermined safety limit temperature of operation of the device.
The fixing pin 13 also passes through a metal washer 29 one face of which is in contact with the central section 24 of the spring strip 22, whilst the opposite face is affixed to a bimetallic element 30.
The bimetallic element 30 has a flat base 31 through which the fixing pin 13 passes and to which the end of the fixing pin 13 opposite the nut 12 is anchored. The bimetallic element 30 has two diametrically opposed arms the free ends of which are formed with respective appendages 32 shaped so as to make contact with opposite edges of the hot plate 5 to supply the latter with electrical power through the pin 13 and the terminal 8 when the body 3 carrying the hot plate 5 is pushed into the case 2 by pushing on the hand grip 4. The extremities of the two appendages 32 are flared outwardly to facilitate their engagement with the hot plate 5, such engagement being illustrated in Figure 2.
In normal operation of the lighter, after the body 3 has been pushed into the case 2 to bring the hot plate 5 into contact with the appendages 32 of the bimetallic element 30, the hot plate 5 is heated by the current supplied thereto through the bimetallic element 30, the current return path being through the case 2 and the earth terminal 8. When the hot plate 5 reaches a prescribed temperature adequate for the lighting of cigarettes the bimetallic element 30 flexes so as to remove the appendages 32 from gripping engagement with the hot plate 5, thereby disconnecting the latter from the current supply and releasing the body 3, which can then be removed by means of the hand grip 4, to be used in lighting a cigarette.
In the event of accidental locking of the hot plate 5 in the switched-on position in which it remains connected to the bimetallic element 30, then the spacer blocks 28 of thermoplastics material will melt when the predetermined safety limit temperature, of the order of 100 C - 150"C, is reached. Upon such melting the curved end portions 26 of the spring element 21, which is electrically connected to the fixing pin 13, are urged by the resilience of the strip 22 into contact with the base 6 of the metal case 2, which as previously stated, is connected to earth through the terminal 8. This results in a short circuit which in turn causes blowing of a fuse inserted in the electrical supply circuit of the device, isolating the device and therefore avoiding the danger of a high temperature being reached.
WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A cigarette lighter, especially for use in motor vehicles, comprising an outer cupshaped metal case adapted to be earthed in use of the lighter, a fixing pin passing axially through the base of the metal case, terminal means for electrical connection to a current supply source, secured to the base of the metal case by the fixing pin and projecting outwardly from the said base, a bimetallic element mounted upon and electrically connected to the fixing pin within the metal case, an insulating spacer traversed by the fixing pin and interposed between the base of the metal case and the bimetallic element, and a cylindrical body mounted for sliding movement within the metal case and bearing an electric heating element adapted to engage
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

  1. **WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.
    respectively to earth and to an external current source, not shown. Each flat terminal 7, 8 is attached to or integral with the edge of a respective support washer 9,10. The washers 9 and 10 are coaxially adjacent each other and are electrically insulated from each other by means of a disc 11 of insulating material.
    The support washers 9, 10 are clamped to the outside of the base 6 of the cup-shaped metal case 2, by means of a nut 12 which engages the end of a screw-threaded fixing pin 13 which passes through an axial hole 14 in the centre of the base 6.
    The pin 13 passes axially through an insulating spacer 15 located within the metal case 2. The spacer 15 consists of a circular base 16 provided with two peripheral diametrically opposed notches 17. The base 16 has on its face which faces towards the base 6 a circular boss 18 which engages axially in the hole 14 in the base 6. The base 16 has on its face opposite the boss 18 a rectangular slot 19 extending diametrically between the peripheral notches 17. The spacer
    16 has a pair of raised shoulders 20 on opposite sides of the slot 19, the shoulders 20 being in the form of diametrically opposed cylindrical segments.
    The lighter includes a spring element 21 made of electrically conductive material and consisting of a bow shaped resilient strip 22 having a flat central portion provided with a hole 23 for the passage of the fixing pin 13.
    The central section bears against the bottom surface of the slot 19 in the insulating spacer
    15 and is connected to or integral with a pair of bowed wings 25, diametrically opposite each other, each of which has a curved end portion 26 bent towards the bottom 6 of the metal case 2. Each end portion 26 engages in a seat 27 formed in a respective electrically insulating spacer block 28 housed in the adjacent peripheral notch 17 of the insulating spacer 15, so as to permit resilient flexing of the spring strip 22 against the bottom 6 of the metal case 2.
    Each spacer block 28 is preferably made of thermoplastics material having a melting point between 100"C and 1500C; selection of the composition of the plastics material is made in accordance with the desired melting point which, as described later, will correspond to a predetermined safety limit temperature of operation of the device.
    The fixing pin 13 also passes through a metal washer 29 one face of which is in contact with the central section 24 of the spring strip 22, whilst the opposite face is affixed to a bimetallic element 30.
    The bimetallic element 30 has a flat base 31 through which the fixing pin 13 passes and to which the end of the fixing pin 13 opposite the nut 12 is anchored. The bimetallic element 30 has two diametrically opposed arms the free ends of which are formed with respective appendages 32 shaped so as to make contact with opposite edges of the hot plate 5 to supply the latter with electrical power through the pin 13 and the terminal 8 when the body 3 carrying the hot plate 5 is pushed into the case 2 by pushing on the hand grip 4. The extremities of the two appendages 32 are flared outwardly to facilitate their engagement with the hot plate 5, such engagement being illustrated in Figure 2.
    In normal operation of the lighter, after the body 3 has been pushed into the case 2 to bring the hot plate 5 into contact with the appendages 32 of the bimetallic element 30, the hot plate 5 is heated by the current supplied thereto through the bimetallic element 30, the current return path being through the case 2 and the earth terminal 8. When the hot plate 5 reaches a prescribed temperature adequate for the lighting of cigarettes the bimetallic element 30 flexes so as to remove the appendages 32 from gripping engagement with the hot plate 5, thereby disconnecting the latter from the current supply and releasing the body 3, which can then be removed by means of the hand grip 4, to be used in lighting a cigarette.
    In the event of accidental locking of the hot plate 5 in the switched-on position in which it remains connected to the bimetallic element 30, then the spacer blocks 28 of thermoplastics material will melt when the predetermined safety limit temperature, of the order of 100 C - 150"C, is reached. Upon such melting the curved end portions 26 of the spring element 21, which is electrically connected to the fixing pin 13, are urged by the resilience of the strip 22 into contact with the base 6 of the metal case 2, which as previously stated, is connected to earth through the terminal 8. This results in a short circuit which in turn causes blowing of a fuse inserted in the electrical supply circuit of the device, isolating the device and therefore avoiding the danger of a high temperature being reached.
    WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A cigarette lighter, especially for use in motor vehicles, comprising an outer cupshaped metal case adapted to be earthed in use of the lighter, a fixing pin passing axially through the base of the metal case, terminal means for electrical connection to a current supply source, secured to the base of the metal case by the fixing pin and projecting outwardly from the said base, a bimetallic element mounted upon and electrically connected to the fixing pin within the metal case, an insulating spacer traversed by the fixing pin and interposed between the base of the metal case and the bimetallic element, and a cylindrical body mounted for sliding movement within the metal case and bearing an electric heating element adapted to engage
    the bimetallic element, so as to make electrical connection with the supply terminal means upon displacement of the body into the cup-shaped case, wherein the fixing pin supports, within the case between the insulating spacer and the bimetallic element, a conductive spring element which bears resiliently against the base of the metal case through interposed electrically insulating spacer elements having a predetermined melting temperature such that melting of the said spacer elements occurs upon overheating of the lighter to allow the conductive spring element to come into contact with the base of the metal case and thereby earth the fixing pin through which current is supplied to the heating element.
  2. 2. A cigarette lighter according to Claim 1, in which the spring element is in the form of a bowed spring strip having a central hole through which the fixing pin passes and having end portions facing towards the base of the case and each engaging in a seat in a respective spacer element, the spacer elements being housed in respective peripheral notches in the insulating spacer.
  3. 3. A cigarette lighter according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which each spacer element is made of thermoplastics material.
  4. 4. A cigarette lighter according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, in which the spring strip has a flat central section which bears upon the insulating spacer, and a metal washer is mounted upon the fixing pin between the spring strip and the bimetallic element.
  5. 5. A cigarette lighter, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB2032078A 1977-11-30 1978-05-18 Cigarette lighter for fitment to motor vehicles Expired GB1581208A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT6970377A IT1117130B (en) 1977-11-30 1977-11-30 LIGHTER DEVICE FOR CIGARETTES AND SIMILAR, PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE ON MOTOR VEHICLES

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB1581208A true GB1581208A (en) 1980-12-10

Family

ID=11312665

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB2032078A Expired GB1581208A (en) 1977-11-30 1978-05-18 Cigarette lighter for fitment to motor vehicles

Country Status (4)

Country Link
DE (1) DE2824657A1 (en)
FR (1) FR2410576A1 (en)
GB (1) GB1581208A (en)
IT (1) IT1117130B (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1856450A1 (en) * 2005-02-22 2007-11-21 Casco Products Corporation A double-disk assembly for a cigar or cigarette lighter

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2655927B1 (en) * 1989-12-18 1994-01-21 Valeo Neiman CIGARETTE LIGHTER, ESPECIALLY FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2210025A (en) * 1936-08-01 1940-08-06 Automatic Devices Corp Cigar lighter
US3863047A (en) * 1973-11-12 1975-01-28 Tokai Rika Co Ltd Electric cigarette lighter
DE2424385B2 (en) * 1974-05-20 1976-07-08 OVERHEATING PROTECTION FOR ELECTRIC CIGAR LIGHTER
IT1055838B (en) * 1976-01-22 1982-01-11 Iao Industrie Riunite Spa ELECTRIC CIGARETTE LIGHTER FOR VEHICLES

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1856450A1 (en) * 2005-02-22 2007-11-21 Casco Products Corporation A double-disk assembly for a cigar or cigarette lighter
EP1856450A4 (en) * 2005-02-22 2010-09-29 Casco Products Corp A double-disk assembly for a cigar or cigarette lighter

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2824657A1 (en) 1979-05-31
FR2410576A1 (en) 1979-06-29
IT1117130B (en) 1986-02-10

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PS Patent sealed
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee