MXPA01000332A - Cigar lighter with ptc thermal protection - Google Patents

Abstract

An electric cigar lighter includes a receptacle (10) for receiving and energizing an igniting unit of an automatic electric cigar lighter, the receptacle (10) having a pair of circuits having respectively a grounding contact and a polarizing contact (14) both of which are engageable with the igniting unit to carry current thereto, and a heat-responsive device comprising a solid state positive temperature coefficient resistor (40) disposed in series in one of the circuits, the resistor (40) being adapted to receive heat from the igniting unit for limiting the current in the one circuit when the resistor (40) attains a predetermined high temperature.

Description

CIGARETTE LIGHTER WITH THERMAL PTC PROTECTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to electric lighters for cigars, and more particularly to lighters for cigars of the type having automatic means for controlling the energizing current for the heating element.

Antecedents of the Invention. The present invention relates more particularly to improvements in cigarette lighters that are illustrated and described in U.S. Patent No. 4,544,226 dated October 1, 1985 and entitled "TWO-PIECE CLAMP LINER FOR ELECTRIC LIGHTER FOR CIGARS; U.S. Patent Number 4,130,815 dated December 19, 1978 and entitled REEL AND HEATING TAPE FORMED; US Pat. No. 3,909,587 dated September 30, 1975 and entitled ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT WROUGHT IN THE FORM OF SPIRAL; US Pat. No. 3,904,848 dated September 9, 1975 and entitled LIGHTER UNIT FOR CIGARS; and in the North American Patent Number 3,52,2,849 dated October 6, 1970 and entitled BIMETAL DEVIATION FOR ELECTRICAL LIGHTER FOR CIGARS. The descriptions of these prior patents are included in the present application by way of reference. The present invention also relates to improvements in the lighters for cigars described and claimed in the North American Application Serial Number 08 / 289,121 filed on August 11, 1994 and entitled ELECTRIC LIGHTER FOR CIGARS THAT HAS A SEALING PLUG AND CONNECTOR IN THEIR PART REAR, now US Patent Number 5,493,098 dated 02/20/96, which has the same owner as the patents identified above. The description of the Patent; No. 5,493,098, incorporated herein by reference. For many years, electric cigarette lighters for automotive cigars have incorporated a bimetallic fastener or closure into a receptacle or socket mounted in the form of a panel, said fastener being adapted to the closure in a metal cup transported by a removable ignition unit. The metal cup contained a heating element wound into a spiral, which, when energized gave the color red, could heat and diffuse the bimetallic holder, releasing the ignition unit to remove it from the socket. Subsequently the heated element was accessible and was ready to be put in contact with the tip of the cigar or cigarette, to ignite it. Several security measures were proposed to ensure against the malfunction and possible fire in said lighters. In U.S. Patent Number 3,532,849 a second bimetallic member was introduced and placed in the circuit, during the first time, to intentionally make a short circuit in the lighter and cause a line fuse to turn off at another location, usually said other. location a fuse block for the different circuits of the car. U.S. Patent No. 3,904,848 described features for cutting costs in a cigarette lighter, coupled with increased reliability of the ignition unit, to provide a reduction in the overall cost of the lighter, and also to provide a reliable replacement of the ignition unit . In Patent Number 3,909,587 improvements were made in the tape configuration of the heating element to obtain a higher heat density and better stability and strength, as well as reductions in cost.

Patent Number 4,130,815 described a unique and different heating coil configuration, which made the coil more resistant and durable, thus providing an improved heat density characteristic. In Patent Number 4, 544, 226 an improved sheet metal receptacle was proposed, which eliminated deep extraction operations and additionally reduced the cost. Other improvements were observed to achieve a better operation through modifications of the current control devices or bimetal switc which responded to the heat of the heating element, as well as to achieve a better safety and maintenance of the lighter. Most of the various previous current control apparatuses comprised movable components such as bimetallic arms, fasteners interrupting elements and the like, comprising precise undesirable assembly operations and adjustments, circuit breaking arcs, spikes and radiation noises, and deterioration of the contact surface, etc.

Summary of the Invention.

The present invention makes obvious the aforementioned drawbacks and disadvantages of the electric cigarette lighters of automatic cigars, and an object of the present invention is to provide an improved automatic electric cigarette lighter having a safe and unique current control means, which is especially simple and inexpensive. Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved electric cigar lighter, as set forth above, which is characterized by a current controller which is devoid of movements of parts of any kind, with its inherent disadvantages. A further object of the present invention is to provide improved current control in an electric cigar lighter, as set forth above, which is fully automatic and repeated in its operation. Still another object of the present invention is to provide improved current control, as characterized above, which is not critical in its operation, is reliable in its use, and is adaptable to various and different equipment requirements, in the which will be used.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide improved current control of the cigarette lighter, which provides a convenient recurring safety factor in the operation of the lighter. A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved cigar lighter control, according to the above mentioned, which is small in size and compact and is not subject to excessive heating when in operation. In the following, other features and advantages will be appreciated. In the embodiment of the above objects, the present invention provides an electric cigar lighter, a receptacle that provides a pair of circuit means for the ignition unit including a grounded circuit contact and a "charged" circuit contact or of polarization, together with an additional and unique heat response means that is inserted in series, in one of said circuits, said means being in the form of a positive temperature coefficient or PTC resistor consisting of a conducting polymer constituted in the form of a solid-state apparatus that is devoid of moving parts.

In an embodiment of the present invention, said heat-response means are arranged in a closely adjacent manner and along the operation cover of the heating element of the ignition unit, to thereby ensure efficient transfer of power. heat between them.

Brief Description of the Drawings. In the appended drawings, several embodiments of the present invention are shown: Figure 1 is an axial sectional view of an automatic electric cigar lighter, illustrating one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is an elevation view from the rear end of the lighter of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the PTC circuit control component of the lighter of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a sectioned view taken on line 4--4 of Figure 3. Figure 5 is an axial sectional view of an automatic electric cigar lighter, illustrating another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 is a view in elevation from the front end of the lighter of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a side elevation view of the control component of the PTC circuit of the lighter of Figure 5. Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8- -8 of Figure 7. Figure 9 is a side elevation view of the central artifact holder of the lighter of Figure 5, and Figure 10 is an axial sectional view of another embodiment of the cigar lighter, having a connector plug assembly molded by an assembly that is pushed, according to the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention. First, the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Figures 1 through 4 will be described. Cigar lighters of this type are commonly constructed to have a receptacle or socket which is adapted to be mounted on a portable ashtray of an automobile. , and a removable ignition plug or unit which can be received in the socket and which has an electric heating element that receives current from the socket. The improved lighters of the present invention are of this general known type such as those set forth in the patents identified above, and therefore the aforementioned patented structures are incorporated in the description of the present application as a reference. In Figure 1, the receptacle or socket of the cigarette lighter is indicated by the number 10, with the mounting panel shown in the dotted contour and designated by number 12. The ignition units for use with socket 10, are not shown in this figure, since they, in themselves, do not form part of the present invention. In the socket 10, a bimetallic spring fastener 14 is separately worn which is adapted to fit with the metal ring (not shown) of the heating element cup of an electric ignition unit. The fastener 14 is mounted on the inner end of a plug for central connection 16, which comprises the polarized contact of the socket, being adapted for connection to the "charged" circuit (not shown) of the automobile in the usual manner. The artifact holder 16 has a spacer pulley 18 and passes through a ceramic insulation block 20 which is centered and isolated from the metal socket or liner 10. In doing so, the block 20 has a flange 22 which adjusts in a central opening of the rear wall 24 of socket 10.

The artifact holder 16 has screw threads 26 which bear a hexagonal nut 28 which holds a group of three insulating sheaves 30 which bear against an elastic metal sheave 32. A conventional type of clamping or contact fit 34 formed as an extraction metal cup with coiled threads 36 and a transverse end wall 38, it is secured in place in the end wall 24 of the socket, by virtue of the end wall 38 which is engaged by the elastic sheave 32. As will be understood and as shown, the sheave group 30 insulates the elastic sheave 32 from the artifice holder 16. By securing the socket 10 to the panel 12, a clamping liner (not shown) is screwed into the adjustment of fastener 34, which is adapted to fit the rear surface of the electrically insulated plastic panel 1. As stated above and according to the present invention, the fastening fit 34 is electrically insulated from the artifact holder 16, and is also not in contact with the socket 10. In the lighters of prior cigars, the fastening fit 34 has had good electrical contact with socket 10, these components normally constituting the grounding circuit or the grounding contact of the socket. However, in accordance with the present invention, a new and unique circuit control is now provided between the fitting 34 and the wall 24 of the socket 10, which controls the functions to limit the operating current in the case of any overheating of the heating element of the ignition unit. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, this automatic control comprises an open sheave 40, which is characterized as a conductive polymer PTC resistor having the form of a solid state apparatus with no moving parts. , but which has rather a relatively stable and well established positive temperature resistance coefficient. As seen in these Figures, the sheet 40 is in the shape of a flat sheave that surrounds the plug for connection 16 but does not touch it, and which is interposed between the rear wall 24 of the socket 10 and the transverse wall 38 of the fastening fit 34, being in good electrical contact with both of these walls. The transverse pareid 24 of the socket is stepped to make it possible for the PTC 40 sheave to be nested and centralized in it. Likewise, the wall 38 of the fitting 34 is perforated at its center to form a flange 42 which is received at the periphery of the PTC sheave 40 for centralization purposes, and this also effects a centralization of the elastic tilting sheave 32. Therefore, several components in the artifact holder 16 remain centered and out of contact with the connection plug, where necessary. By the previous construction, the PTC 40 sheave has been interposed in the grounding circuit of the socket 10, on the one hand between the clamping or contact adjustment 34 and on the other hand the earthing contact of the socket 10. However , the PTC caster 40 is subject to heating by the ignition unit (not shown), which is being held by the fingers or bimetal fastener 14. If overheating of the cigar lighter occurs, the PTC element will respond by a great increase in its resistance, to limit in this way the energizing of current and reduce the heating to a greatly reduced value. As soon as the heating of the cigarette lighter is reduced against a normal value or for cooling, the subsequent cooling of the PTC element will result in a decrease in its ohm value, where the energizing current can correspondingly increase to essentially its normal value. If the condition that caused the overheating still exists, the previous cycle will be repeated, and will continue until the cause is remedied. In this regard, the insertion of the PTC 40 sheave in the circuit will produce a recycling effect much more like that of a bimetallic recycling switch in the circuit. However, the heating effect will be less at the point where the circuit is being controlled, without bowing and with a much greater economy of space and cost. PTC resistors of conductive polymer in the form of solid state apparatus are commercially available. In Figures 5 to 9, another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the polarized or "charged" circuit medium of the cigar lighter socket is interrupted and a PTC resistor of current limiting is interposed thereon. , as distinguished in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4, wherein the PTC resistor is interposed in the socket's electrical grounding circuit medium. In Figure 5, the socket 10a mounted on the panel 12, has a fastening fit 34a, which is fastened against the wall of the socket 24a, under inclination from the elastic sheave 32 and the nut 28 that are on the pin for connection 16a, so that an uninterrupted grounding circuit is constituted and igniter contact via socket 10a and clamping adjustment 34. The artifact holder 16a differs from the artifact holder 16 of Figure 1, in that it has an integral circular flange 44 which fits with the ceramic block 20 which is centered with respect to the wall 24a of the socket 10a. According to the present invention, the bimetallic holder 14 is mounted in an insulated manner on the artifact holder 16a by means of a covered ceramic sheave 46, and is electrically connected and clamped to the artifact holder via a tape of the conductive polymer resistor PTC 48, which in turn, is connected to the artifact holder 6a by means of a metal sheave 50 and the fungus-shaped end 52 of the plug for connection. The artifact holder 16a and the holder 14 constitute the medium contact of the interrupted polarized circuit of the socket 10a, said medium being interrupted by the PTC tape 48 which now limits the heating current that can be supplied to the ignition unit (not shown). It should be noted that the PTC tape 48 is much closer to the heating element than the usual ignition unit assemblies already. that said units have their heating coils wound into a spiral in shallow metal layers which will be held by the bimetallic holder 14, as is well understood in the art. Now it will be understood that the response of the PTC tape 48 to the heat resulting from the energization of the cigar lighter will be much faster than the response of the PTC 40 sheave of the embodiment of Figure 1, since the sheave 40 is exterior to the wall 24 of the socket, while the tape 48 is inside the socket, placed forward of the block or ceramic assembly 20. By virtue of said location of the PTC 48 tape, it was possible to have a surprisingly new cigarette lighter operation performing a operation of part of the components of the energizing circuit of the heating element, to thereby obtain a much faster heating of the ignition unit. For example, if the ohmic resistance of the heating element of the ignition unit were reduced, this would result in a higher energizing current and a faster ignition of the igniter. The heating rate could reach a very high value, so that the lighter could be considered as an "instant lighter." However, ignition of the ignition unit would be avoided, by the action of automatic current limiting of the faster-acting PTC tape 48. Theoretically, a similar effect could be had by increasing only the applied voltage between the art-holder 16a and the support 10a, as will be seen below. described, the response time of the bimetallic fastener 14 could be made faster or in other words, be shortened by the choice of different metals and thicknesses: n its manufacture, so that part of the normal lighter synchronization could be assumed by the PTC 48 tape to protect the heating integrity of the ignition unit .Thus, in this way it could also be carried out, n shortening the heating time of the ignition unit. The control and cycling of the circuit of the embodiment of Figure 5, in response to the overheating of the cigar lighter, is, among other aspects, generally: similar to the explanation given above with respect to the embodiment of Figure 1.

In Figure 10, another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated which shows a cigar lighter of the type described in U.S. Patent 5,493,098 referred to above, in this Figure, the socket member or liner of the receptacle 56 that constitute the ground circuit of the igniter, it has in its back a sheave of the control of the circuit sensible to the temperature PTC 58, which is included in the circuit of connection to earth of the lighter to work in case that an overheating condition occurs. The "charged" circuit of the lighter in Figure 10 comprises a pallet type terminal or fin 60, which is transported in an isolated and molded manner in a plug body of the plastic connector that is pushed for assembly 62. The flap 60 has an open base portion in a circular shape 64 which is depressed or pushed into the barbed portion 66 of the connection pin or tang of the central assembly 68 of the lighter, and the connection pin 68 carries the usual bimetallic spring fasteners 70 to engage them with the heating element (not shown) of the igniter ignition unit. The grounded circuit of the lighter comprises the socket or liner 56 having a transverse rear wall 72, which is maintained in forced form in intimate contact with the PTC 58 response sheave, by means of the connector plug assembly 62. In turn, the pulley 58 is forcedly maintained in contact with the base 74 the grounding tooth 76 which is located within the body of the plug 62 with its base 74 molded therein.

In this embodiment of the invention, the PTC 58 sheave replaces the bimetallic arm of the previous patent, and performs a simpler cigarette lighter construction, with fewer components. The operation is mostly similar to the operations described above, by means of the above modalities. Each and every one of the appended Claims defines an aspect of the present invention, which is complete and integrated, separate and distinct from all others, and it is therefore intended that each Claim be treated in this manner, when examined. in light of prior art apparatus, in any determination of novelty or validity. Variations and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and part of the improvements can be used independently with the others.

Claims (13)

R E I V I N D I C A C I O N S Having described the present invention, it is considered as a novelty, and therefore, the content of the following is claimed as property: CLAIMS.

1. - An electric cigarette lighter comprising, in combination: a receptacle to receive and energize the ignition unit of an automatic electric cigarette lighter, said receptacle having a pair of circuit means respectively comprising a ground contact and a ground contact. polarization, both of which can be fitted with the ignition unit to carry current thereto, and means or response to heat comprising a solid state positive temperature coefficient resistor placed in series in one of said circuit means said resistor being adapted to receive heat from the ignition unit to limit the current in said circuit means when said resistor attains a predetermined high temperature.

2. - An electric cigar lighter as described in claim 1, further characterized in that the positive temperature coefficient resistor comprises a solid plate having non-moving parts.

3. - An electric cigar lighter as described in Claim 1, further characterized in that the positive temperature coefficient resistor is in the polarization circuit.

4. - An electric cigar lighter as described in Claim 1, further characterized in that the positive temperature coefficient resistor is in the grounding circuit.

5. - An electric cigar lighter as described in Claim 1, further characterized in that the polarization contact comprises a bimetallic holder and a support holder, on which the bimetallic holder is mounted.

6. - An electric cigar lighter as described in Claim 5, further characterized in that the positive temperature coefficient resistor comprises a flat plate having an opening therethrough, said plug passing for support connection through the opening of said plate, and said bimetallic holder having an opening through which the artifact holder of the support passes.

7. - An electric cigar lighter as described in Claim 1, wherein: said receptacle comprises a tubular socket in which the ignition unit is received, said grounding contact comprising a fastening fit carried by the socket, said positive temperature coefficient resistor comprising a flat plate which is clamped between the tubular socket and the clamping fit.

8. - An electric cigar lighter as described in Claim 7, further characterized in that it additionally includes an elastic metal caster that fits with said clamping adjustment and provides an inclination therein.

9. - An electric cigar lighter as described in Claim 8, further characterized in that, apart from the polarization contact, it comprises a bimetallic holder and a supporting artifact holder in which the bimetallic Clip is mounted, passing said plug for connection of support through said socket and the clamping adjustment, and effecting the clamping of the same.

10. - An electric cigar lighter as described in Claim 9, further characterized in that the flat plate has an opening therethrough, said supporting artifact-holder passing through the opening of said plate, and having said bimetal fastener an opening through which passes the support artifact holder.

11. - An electric cigar lighter as described in Claim 2, further characterized in that the resistor of the positive temperature coefficient has a sheave-like configuration.

12. - An electric cigarette lighter as described in claim 3, further characterized in that the resistor of the positive temperature coefficient, has a configuration similar to a belt.

13. - An electric cigarette lighter comprising, in combination: a receptacle for receiving and energizing the ignition plug of an automatic electric cigarette lighter, said receptacle having a pair of circuit means respectively comprising a ground contact and a contact of polarization, both of which can be fitted with the ignition plug to carry current thereto, and heat response means comprising a resistor of the positive temperature coefficient placed in series er. one of said circuit means, said resistor adapted to receive heat from the ignition plug, to limit the current in said circuit means when said resistor attains a predetermined high temperature. SUMMARY An electric cigar lighter that includes a receptacle (10) for receiving and supplying power to an ignition unit of an automatic electric cigar lighter, the receptacle (10) having a pair of circuits having, respectively, a grounding contact and a polarization contact (14) being able to both connect to the ignition unit to carry current thereto, and a heat responsive apparatus comprising a positive resistor of solid state temperature coefficient (40) placed in series in one of the circuits, being adapted to the resistor (40) to receive heat from the ignition unit in order to limit the current in the circuit when the resistor (40) reaches a previously determined high temperature