GB2029559A

GB2029559A - Cigar Lighter

Info

Publication number: GB2029559A
Application number: GB7922971A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Schoeller and Co Elektrotecnische Fabrik GmbH and Co
Current assignee: Schoeller and Co Elektrotecnische Fabrik GmbH and Co
Priority date: 1978-06-30
Filing date: 1979-07-02
Publication date: 1980-03-19
Also published as: GB2029559B; ES244155U; IT7923903A0; DE7819579U1; FR2429689A1; ES244155Y; FR2429689B1; IT1124553B

Abstract

An electric cigar lighter having a connector plug (2) insertable in a socket (1) for use in automotive vehicles. The plug (2) has a connector sleeve (6) of metal on which is mounted a light- conducting plastics material sleeve (7) which provides heat insulation for the plug (2) and in addition conducts light from a source (16) mounted behind the dashboard to illuminate the handle (4, 5) of the plug (2). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Electric cigar lighter The present invention relates to an electric cigar lighter for automotive vehicles, having a plug connector insertable in a socket fixedly mountable in the dashboard of a vehicle.

An electric cigar lighter on the connector sleeve of which a plastics material sleeve is mounted for heat insulation is known from the German Patent Specification 1 910 949. It is an object of the invention to provide such a lighter with an i'lluminated handle, so that the user can readily notice the plug also in the dark.

According to the present invention there is provided an electric cigar lighter for automotive vehicles, having a plug insertable into a socket fixedly mountable in the dashboard of a vehicle and provided with a plastics material sleeve for heat insulation, in which sleeve a handle, connected to an incandescent coil, is axially displaceable, the handle and coil being retained in the "on" position, against the force of a helical spring located in the sleeve, by bimetal springs, which bimetal springs automatically release the incandescent coil in a heated state so that the handle is caused to assume a position facilitating removal of the plug by the action of the helical spring, the plastics material sleeve, mounted on the connector sleeve, and projecting from the socket being made of a light-conducting material to permit light originating from a light source to emerge from the front surface thereof for annular illumination of the handle.

By means of the plastics material sleeve made of light-conductive material, an illuminating ring with uniform light distribution is produced around the handle, so that the user, even in the dark, can recognize the handle immediately and will not have to fumble around the dashboard with his fingers.

Further, an already existing component of the con nectorofthe lighter, namely the plastics material sleeve acting to provide heat insulation is employed simultaneously for illumination purposes. Thus, no additional components are required for the illumination, so that the manufacturing and assembly costs of the connector are not increased.

The light-conducting plastics material sleeve at its end facing the light source is preferably provided with prisms so as to attain a uniform, annular light distribution at the handle. The light-conducting plastics material sleeve at its end protruding from the socket may also have a flange, on the underside of which prisms for uniform light distribution are mounted. A plastics material ring of opaque material may be mounted on the light-conducting plastics material sleeve, and the light-conducting plastics material sleeve may be provided with an annular protruberance which engages in a groove of the opaque plastics material ring.

The present invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa side view of a cigar lighter with an illuminating device.

Figure2 is a longitudinal section through the plug of the cigar lighter of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a section through a further embodiment of the plug.

The cigar lighter shown in the drawings comprises a socket 1 and a plug 2 inserted therein having an incandescent coil 3, a handle 4 and an "on" button 5.

The "on" button 5 is mounted axially displaceable in a plastics material sleeve 7 mounted on the connector sleeve 6, and is secured to the incandescent coil 3. A shaft 8, secured to the button 5 and to which the incandescent coil 3 is threadably secured is longitudinally displaceable through a central opening in a disc 9. The disc 9 in turn is also longitudinally displaceably inserted in slots of the connector sleeve 6. A return spring 10 ensures that the incandescent coil 3 abuts against the disc 9 in its initial position.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 3 of the drawing, the plastics material sleeve 7 has no handle, but merely a flange 15. The "on" button 5 is used as the handle for holding the plug 2 during the lighting of a cigar or cigarette.

On the socket sleeve 1 in a mountable lamp housing 16, a light source for illuminating the handle 4 or 5 is accommodated. As a light conductor, the plastics material sleeve 7, which is mounted on the metal connector sleeve 6, is made of lightconducting material. To obtain a uniform light distribution at the upper end of the plastics material sleeve 7, prisms 17 are provided at the lower end of the sleeve 7. In the embodiment according to Figure 3 prisms 18 are also provided at the lower edge of the flange 15. Thus, an luminescent ring, which is formed either by the flange 15 or the upper end 19 of the light-conducting sleeve 7 is formed around the pushbutton 5.

The plastics material sleeve 7 of Figure 2 has an annular protruberance 25 on which is mounted a plastics material ring 27, made of opaque material, forming the handle 4 for holding the connector 2.

1. An electric cigar lighter for automotive vehicles, having a plug insertable into a socket fixedly mountable in the dashboard of a vehicle and provided with a plastics material sleeve for heat insulation, in which sleeve a handle, connected to an incandescent coil, is axially displaceable, the handle and coil being retained in the "on" position, against the force of a helical spring located in the sleeve, by bimetal springs, which bimetal springs automatically release the incandescent coil in a heated state so that the handle is caused to assume a position facilitating removal of the plug, by the action of the helical spring, the plastics material sleeve, mounted on the connector sleeve, and projecting from the socket being made of a light-conducting material to permit light originating from a light source to emerge from the front surface thereof for annular illumination of the handle.

2. A cigar lighter as claimed in claim 1 in which the light-conducting plastics material sleeve at its end facing the light source is provided with prisms to obtain a uniform, annular light distribution at the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Electric cigar lighter The present invention relates to an electric cigar lighter for automotive vehicles, having a plug connector insertable in a socket fixedly mountable in the dashboard of a vehicle. An electric cigar lighter on the connector sleeve of which a plastics material sleeve is mounted for heat insulation is known from the German Patent Specification 1 910 949. It is an object of the invention to provide such a lighter with an i'lluminated handle, so that the user can readily notice the plug also in the dark. According to the present invention there is provided an electric cigar lighter for automotive vehicles, having a plug insertable into a socket fixedly mountable in the dashboard of a vehicle and provided with a plastics material sleeve for heat insulation, in which sleeve a handle, connected to an incandescent coil, is axially displaceable, the handle and coil being retained in the "on" position, against the force of a helical spring located in the sleeve, by bimetal springs, which bimetal springs automatically release the incandescent coil in a heated state so that the handle is caused to assume a position facilitating removal of the plug by the action of the helical spring, the plastics material sleeve, mounted on the connector sleeve, and projecting from the socket being made of a light-conducting material to permit light originating from a light source to emerge from the front surface thereof for annular illumination of the handle. By means of the plastics material sleeve made of light-conductive material, an illuminating ring with uniform light distribution is produced around the handle, so that the user, even in the dark, can recognize the handle immediately and will not have to fumble around the dashboard with his fingers. Further, an already existing component of the con nectorofthe lighter, namely the plastics material sleeve acting to provide heat insulation is employed simultaneously for illumination purposes. Thus, no additional components are required for the illumination, so that the manufacturing and assembly costs of the connector are not increased. The light-conducting plastics material sleeve at its end facing the light source is preferably provided with prisms so as to attain a uniform, annular light distribution at the handle. The light-conducting plastics material sleeve at its end protruding from the socket may also have a flange, on the underside of which prisms for uniform light distribution are mounted. A plastics material ring of opaque material may be mounted on the light-conducting plastics material sleeve, and the light-conducting plastics material sleeve may be provided with an annular protruberance which engages in a groove of the opaque plastics material ring. The present invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa side view of a cigar lighter with an illuminating device. Figure2 is a longitudinal section through the plug of the cigar lighter of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a section through a further embodiment of the plug. The cigar lighter shown in the drawings comprises a socket 1 and a plug 2 inserted therein having an incandescent coil 3, a handle 4 and an "on" button 5. The "on" button 5 is mounted axially displaceable in a plastics material sleeve 7 mounted on the connector sleeve 6, and is secured to the incandescent coil 3. A shaft 8, secured to the button 5 and to which the incandescent coil 3 is threadably secured is longitudinally displaceable through a central opening in a disc 9. The disc 9 in turn is also longitudinally displaceably inserted in slots of the connector sleeve 6. A return spring 10 ensures that the incandescent coil 3 abuts against the disc 9 in its initial position. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3 of the drawing, the plastics material sleeve 7 has no handle, but merely a flange 15. The "on" button 5 is used as the handle for holding the plug 2 during the lighting of a cigar or cigarette. On the socket sleeve 1 in a mountable lamp housing 16, a light source for illuminating the handle 4 or 5 is accommodated. As a light conductor, the plastics material sleeve 7, which is mounted on the metal connector sleeve 6, is made of lightconducting material. To obtain a uniform light distribution at the upper end of the plastics material sleeve 7, prisms 17 are provided at the lower end of the sleeve 7. In the embodiment according to Figure 3 prisms 18 are also provided at the lower edge of the flange 15. Thus, an luminescent ring, which is formed either by the flange 15 or the upper end 19 of the light-conducting sleeve 7 is formed around the pushbutton 5. The plastics material sleeve 7 of Figure 2 has an annular protruberance 25 on which is mounted a plastics material ring 27, made of opaque material, forming the handle 4 for holding the connector 2. CLAIMS

2. A cigar lighter as claimed in claim 1 in which the light-conducting plastics material sleeve at its end facing the light source is provided with prisms to obtain a uniform, annular light distribution at the handle.

3. A cigar lighter as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the light-conducting sleeve has a plastics material ring of opaque material mounted thereon.

4. A cigar lighter as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the light-conducting plastics material sleeve, at its end projecting from the socket, has a flange, on the underside of which prisms are provided from uniform light distribution.

5. A cigar lighter as claimed in claim 4, in which the light-conductive plastics material sleeve has an annular protruberance which engages in a ring groove of the opaque plastics material ring.

6. An electric cigar lighter substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.