US2201952A - Cigar lighter - Google Patents

Description

y 21, 1940- J. H. COHEN 2,201,952

CIGAR LIGHTER Filed D80. 21, 1936 1.9 F J m INVENTOR Josep/zll. Cohen,

ATTORN Patented May 21, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Automatic Devices Corporation,

Bridgeport,

' Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Application December 21, 1936, Serial No. 116,878

9 Claims.

This invention relates to cigar lighters, and, more particularly, to devices of this character as used in automobiles or elsewhere.

Lighters for cigars, cigarettes and the like, of the kind just indicated, commonly comprise a holding device in the form of a deep socket or well electrically served by connections to a source of current such that in the well there is a gap in an otherwise complete circuit, and, in combination with the holder, an igniting unit in the form of a plug adapted to be seated in and removed from the well for storage and use respectively. Such units have a heating element and carry contacts so arranged that while the unit is in shallow or storage position in the well, said circuit is open at said gap, but while the unit is in a deep or operative position in the well said gap is closed by way of a contact on the unit to place said heating element in the circuit for heating to incandescence.

In previously proposed lighters of this kind, thermostatically controlled means have been provided for automatically operating to break the circuit for the heating element when the same reaches a predetermined temperature for use.

This thermostatically controlled means usually includes a bimetallic contact which normally is so disposed as to close the circuit for the heating element, but which is deformed, by heat transmitted from the heating element, when the latter reaches the predetermined temperature, so as to break the circuit.

The present invention relates also to this type of lighter, but aims to provide improvements whereby an advantageous arrangement is provided so far as the heat-responsive circuit-making and breaking means is concerned, and particularly as regards the problems of inspection, adjustment, and replacement of the thermostatic element. This element has previously been inserted in the ungrounded side of the energizing circuit for the heating element, and has been placed at the inner end of the holder in an assemblage consisting of a terminal and an insulating mount.

With the parts thus arranged, however, the thermostatic element lies deep within the holder, and hence is comparatively inaccessible for readjustment, replacement or close inspection. Besides, when so assembled, the thermostatic element is most conveniently mounted as a permanent and unremovable part.

In the above connection, a feature of the invention is the provision of a lighter wherein the thermostatic element is inserted in the grounded side of the circuit for the heating element, and is preferably carried by the holder at an exterior point Where it can be mounted, adjusted, readjusted or replaced, with facility, while exposed for visual inspection, and Without disturbance of the current-supply terminal or its insulation.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a construction such that the thermostatic element can be so shaped that in the main it is in the form of a substantially straight strip, thus avoiding the usual curvatures or sharp bends characteristic of this element when mounted on the current-supply terminal.

Still a further feature of the invention is the provision, in combination with a thermostatic element inserted in the grounded side of the circuit as above, of a current-supply contact,

referably in the form of a strip of spring metal,

fixed to and extended from the assemblage including the current-supply terminal, and arranged and biased to have an end portion thereof press laterally against a portion of the unit in electrical contact with the heating element.

Various other objects and advantages will be hereinafter apparent.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, wherein embodiments of the invention now preferred are illustrated:

Figure 1 is principally an axial sectional view of one embodiment, showing the igniting unit in shallow or storage position in the holder.

Fig. 2 is a similar View of the same embodiment, showing the igniting unit in deep or operative position in the holder and with the circuit for the heating element of the unit closed.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing another embodiment, With the igniting unit in shallow position in the latter.

The cigar lighter of the present invention, in the exemplary embodiments thereof shown in the drawing, is of the so-called well-type, for use in automobiles, and comprises a socket-carrying or well-type of base member or holder, ID in Figs. 1 and 2, and Illa in Fig. 3, for attachment to the panel I! of an automobile, and a removable igniting unit, I2 in Figs. 1 and 2, and l2a in Fig. 3, which is normally supported by the holder, but which may be mechanically and electrically disconnected for manual transportation within the car and for handling by various occupants thereof for the purpose of lighting cigars, cigarettes and the like.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the lighter here illustrated, and to which the present invention is shown applied, is of the type wherein means are provided for automatically moving the unit from the operative position shown in Fig. 2 to the shallow or inoperative position shown in Fig. 1 when the heating element has reached a predetermined temperature. In this type of lighter, the unit l 2 would ordinarily rest in the holder so as to protrude therefrom as indicated in Fig. 1, and the unit would be in the fully inserted position shown in Fig. 2 only when manually thus disposed by a person desiring to place the unit in operative or energizing position for the heating element.

The holder M as shown comprises a cup forming a socket or well M, closed at its inner end by an integral transverse wall i5. This cup is adapted to pass through a suitable aperture in the panel 2 l of the instrument board, and is suitably secured to the latter, in the present case by a U-clamp which at its central portion is secured to the wall i5 by draft means including a stud ll whereby the forwardly directed ends of the U can be forced against the rear of the panel it to cause a flange iii at the outer end of the holder in to .be drawn tight against the front of the panel and thus rigidly mount the lighter in place on the latter.

The end wall iii of the holder has mounted thereon a current-supply assemblage includin the stud ill, as is usual in the type of cigar lighter with which the present invention deals. In previous lighters of this kind, having thermostatic means for breaking the energizing circuit for the heating element iii of the unit l2, this means has formed a part of the current-supply assemblage. In the present case, however, the assemblage including the stud ii is solely for the purpose of closing the usual circuit through the element 58; while the thermostatic means, here shown as in the form of a bimetallic strip 99 which is straight from one end to near the other end thereof, is interposed in the grounded side of the circuit which includes electrically conductive parts of the unit l2, the holder ill and the panel l l. The metals of the strip it are of different coefficients of expansion, and these are so arranged and the strip is so mounted on the holder iii that when the thermostat is heated the same becomes deformed, from its normal or cold condition, as shown in Fig. 1. It will be noted that the thermostat l9, not being a part of the assemblage including the stud ill, nowhere extends into the inner end of the well i l, and that the secured end is of the thermostat is not only well removed from the location of said assembly, but is laid against an external portion of the holdor iii.

The stud ll, including a shank which at its rear portion is threaded, and having at its front end an enlarged head, is ri idly secured in the holder it, by application of a nut .Zil, but is insulated from the holder by the two washers, one plain and the other shouldered, indicated at 25. In rear of the nut 2d, the stud carries a thimble or shouldered washer of insulating material, the portion of this thimble of reduced diameter passing through a suitable aperture in the U-clamp it as illustrated; and in rear of said thimble the stud carries a metal washer 23, and then a nut 25 the tightening of which forces the bracket against the rear of panel it to secure the lighter in place on said panel as already explained. A feed wire 25 is connected to the stud by a terminal clip 26, the latter being clamped in place by tightening up a nut 21. I

Between its headed end and the insulation 2', the stud also carries a contact arm 28. As here shown, this arm is a strip of metal, preferably spring metal, bent into L-form; one of the legs iereof being extended transversely of the holder iii and apertured for the passage therethrough of the stud shank, and the other leg extending longitudinally of the holder to provide a currentsupply contact 23 desirably bent as shown to present a convexly curved wiper surface relative to a side portion of a metal cup 29 constituting enclosing hood for the heating element I8.

The heating element, in the present case, is in the form of a spirally wound resistance wire or band connected at its outer end to the periphery of the cup 29 and at its inner end set tight in the slot in the head 30 of a metal stud 30 whereby the heating element is mounted on the inner end of the igniting unit Hi. This stud 30, which is secured by a nut 3! to a metal mount in the form of a screw-cap 32, serves not only to secure the heating element in place and to draw th cup up close against the screw-cap, but also to insulate said cup and screw-cap against electrical connection except by way of the heating element. In this last connection, the cup is shown as having an inturned flange 29' interposed between two insulating washers forming part of an insulating structure indicated generally at and sleeving the shank of stud 3| as illustrated.

The igniting unit 1 2 is shown as further including a knob or handle 34 and a plunger section thereheyond to fit slidingly in the holder ID for supporting the igniting unit therein. This knob is here part of a hollow tube of suitable insulating material carrying spaced collars 35 and 36, the former of which is shown as integral with the main body of the igniting unit, and the latter of which is shown as a separate piece held in place between the metal screw-cap 32 and a shoulder 37 on the main body of the unit.

The collar 36 is of somewhat larger diameter than the collar 35, and is of about the same external diameter as that of the main portion of a metal sleeve 38 also forming a part of the structure of the removable igniting unit. This sleeve has at its outer end an external flange 39 shaped to fit against the flange ill at the outer end of the holder iii when the unit is inserted in the latter,

whether as in Fig. l for mere storage therein, or as in Fig, 2 for energization of the heating element E8. The inner end of the sleeve 38 has an inturned flange ii and between this flange and the shoulder 35 is interposed an expansile coil spring ll, so that, on compression of this spring, by pushing the handle 35 from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2, the cup 29 can be thrust into engagement with the current-supply contact 28 as shown in Fig. 2.

One or more tongues iii" are lanced from the side wall of the holder iii, the free ends of which frictionally bear against the sleeve 38 for holding said sleeve against casual or accidental displacement from the holder following replacement o fthe igniting unit therein after previous withdrawal and use. Thestrength of the spring 4| relative to the friction grip between the sleeve 38 and the tongue or tongues N3 of the holder, is such that the unit can be fully inserted in the holder as shown in Fig. 1 without simultaneous compression of said spring to a sufficient extent to send the igniting unit to energizing position,

so that a deliberate extra thrust on the handle 34 is required whenever it is desired to energize the heating element l8.

The thermostat 19 in the present case is also part of a detent means for holding the igniting unit in energizing position against the expansile force of the compression spring 4!, until the heating element it] has reached the predetermined temperature, and the thermostat has correspondingly heated. The thermostat is so designed that when the heating element is properly heated, the thermostat deforms suiiiciently not only to break the energizing circuit but to render the detent means inoperative. As soon as this happens, spring 4! is relieved of its compression, and immediately acts to restore the parts to the condition shown in Fig. 1, that is, to shift the unit to inoperative position in the socket, and to cause protrusion of the handle 34 as shown in Fig. l, to give warning that the heating element is now incandescent and the unit is now ready for removal from the holder.

The detent means is in part formed by a tooth l9" resulting from a reentrant bend at the free end of the thermostat i9 and in part formed by a recess 32' in the screw-cap 32 of the igniting unit. In the present case, this recess is in the shape of an annular groove around the screw-cap, so that the tooth l9" will always snap into engagement with said recess, regardless of the angular disposition of the unit in the holder, when the unit is inserted to operative position in the holder and the thermostat is cold enough to be operative for circuit-making.

As already explained, the thermostat I9 is in the grounded side of the circuit, and the secured end I 9' of the thermostat is laid against an external portion of the holder and yet the thermostat can be, as shown, a substantially straight strip from its secured end 19 all the way along its length up to the tooth 19" while at the same time the thermostat is properly operable within the interior of the holder.

The securement for the end N3 of the thermostat at the exterior of the holder is shown as a screw 42 sent into a wall of the holder from the outside of the latter into a suitably tapped hole in said wall. The screw is therefore readily removable from the exterior of the holder, as to remove a thermostatic element to repair or readjust the same or to substitute another.

The wall last referred to is in the present case a cylindrical wall 43 merging with the end wall 15 of the holder and joined to the main cylindrical wall of the latter by a conical wall 44. The holder is provided with a slot 45 extending longitudinally thereof, which slot is desirably of the length indicated. As the holder is here shown, the said slot is so extended that it not only includes a portion running through the entirety of the length of the conical wall 44, but also terminal portions entering the two cylindrical walls last-mentioned. In such case, the screw 42 can be applied to secure the end I9 of the thermostat at a desirable location at the exterior of the holder, and near the inner end thereof, and yet to have the thermostat, over an extended portion of its length forward of a point very close to the screw, entirely free for temperature-responsive deformation for moving detent tooth I 9" toward and away from the center line of the holder through a field of operation inside the holder. With a construction of this kind, the slot 45 allows quick and easy application and mounting of the thermostat in initially assembling the lighter, and also provides a means for visually checking the action of this thermostat and correcting any unsatisfactory action noted, as by changing the mechanical set of the thermostat, during factory testing, or later and while the lighter is in service.

Where the slot 45 is present as illustrated, so as to be of constant width, and of substantially the same width as that of the bimetallic strip of which the thermostat is made, the slot edges and the strip edges coact with each other and with the single screw 42 to hold the thermostat locked against such angular movement on the screw as would tend to loosen the latter or throw the general line of the thermostat out of parallelism with the center line of the holder. There is no need for a second screw, and consequently no need to find a place for the same, or for pins or studs to lock the thermostat against rocking about the screw. Since the portion of the slot 45 through which the thermostat passes is inclined relative to the thermostat, the bearing surfaces provided at the sides of the slots are of greater length than the thickness of either the holder wall or of the thermostat.

It will be noted that when the parts are arranged as shown in Fig, 2, that is, with the heatin element l 8 in a closed circuit, the contacts 28 and 19 which established this circuit, both press sidewisely against the metal parts of the unit which these contacts are then intended to engage. The wiper action of the contact 28' has already been referred to. The tooth [9" of the thermostat, the other contact, is partially made up of a terminal leaf having, as will be noted, an inclined surface for easily riding up on the end of the screw-cap 32 brought against said tooth as the unit is moved finally toward operative position. Placement of the thermostatic element so that it coasts as just described with the screwcap 32, a part of the unit of greater diameter than the cup 29 with which the current-supply contact 28' engages, permits the thermostat to be extended as a strip substantially straight and parallel with the center line of the holder, and

at the same time allows the thermostat to be mounted on the exterior of the holder at a point suiiiciently removed from the stud IT to allow the cylindrical wall 43 to be of sufficient diameter to avoid affording such a cramped space for the assemblage including said stud as would interfere with rapid and convenient mounting of this assemblage in place.

While merely a single contact arm 28 is shown, a plurality thereof could be carried by the stud i"! so as to be circumferentially spaced around the holder. Similarly, a plurality of slots like the slot 45 could be circumferentially arranged around the holder, and a plurality of thermostats like the thermostat i9 could be provided, each extended through one of said slots and each mounted on the holder as described in the case of the thermostat l9.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 3, the holder Hla as shown is constructed exactly like the holder Ill of Figs. 1 and 2, except for a terminal shaping of a tongue Illa" lanced therefrom and otherwise corresponding to the tongue 10" of Fig. l. A U-clamp [Ba is also shown, which at its center portion is secured to the end wall [a of the holder by draft means including a stud Ila forming part of a current-supply assemblage for the holder, and which bracket, when drawn up tight by said means, securely mounts the holder on the panel 1 I as already described.

In'this embodiment of the invention, also,'a thermostat Iila is mounted in place exactly as described in connection with the thermostat I9, by means of a screw 42a corresponding to the screw 42, and by extension of the thermostat through a slot 45a like the slot 45. The thermostat I911, however, is not provided with an end formation providing a detent tooth as in Fig. 1,

but, instead, is shaped as shown at ISa to provide merely a convexly rounded wiper contact, similar to the wiper contact 28 carried by the current-supply contact arm 28.

The holder now being described is of the type wherein, when the heating element IBa reaches a predetermined temperature, its energizing circuit is broken, but the unit IZa. remains in deep or operative position in the holder until manual- 1y removed from that position.

The current-supply assemblage including the stud I'Ia, said stud being exactly like the stud I1, is made up in part of a shouldered insulated washer 46, between which and the head I'Ia a current-supply contact arm 28w is mounted. This arm is exactly like the arm 28, except that the former has a slightly different shaped wiper end 28a, The shank of the stud Ila passes through but out of contact with a threaded metal bushing I! set in the end wall Ilia of the holder. This bushing is drawn up tight by a nut Q8; and into one end of the bushing extends that part of the shouldered insulating Washer 46 which is of reduced diameter. The other end of the bushing is similarly entered by a shouldered insulating washer 69, so that when a nut 59 is tightened up against the washer last-mentioned, the stud Ila and the arm 2811 are locked in place with both insulated from the holder. In rear of the nut 50, the threaded part of the stud passes through another shouldered insulating washer the part of reduced diameter of which is fitted in an aperture in the U-clamp Ita. On the stud beyond the washer 5! is a plane insulating washer 52, and beyond said washer 52 is a nut 53 which upon being tightened on the stud coacts with the latter in forming a draft means relative to the clamp I80. to secure the holder tightly in place on the panel II. A feed wire 25a is connected to the stud by a terminal clip 26a, the latter being clamped in place by tightening up a nut 27a.

The heating element Illa of Fig. 3 is also shown as in the form of a spirally wound resistance wire or band connected at its outer end to the periphery of a metal cup 29d, and at its inner end set tight in a slot in the head of a metal stud 30a secured by a nut 3Ia to a metal mount in the form of a screw-cap 3211, which, like the screw-cap 32 of Fig. 1, is of greater diameter than the enclosing cup for the heating element. Also, an insulating structure 33a is provided, for assisting the stud and its nut to properly mount the heating element and the cup relative to the screw-cap 32a, and to insure as in Fig. l- -against short-circuiting the heating element by the cup and screw-cap.

The screw-cap 32a differs from the screw-cap 32 of Fig. 1 only in that the former is shaped at its exterior like the cup 29a, so that the wiper end of the thermostat I9 merely rides up on the screw-cap, to make good contact therewith, in the same manner as the wiper contact 28a rides up on the exterior of the cup 29a to make good contact therewith, when the unit is inserted in the holder Illa to deep or operative position there As in Fig, 1, the screw-cap 32 is secured to an inner threaded end of the main body of the igniting unit I2a, and this unit is of suitable insulating material and at its outer end is shaped. to present a knob or handle 34a.

The tongue Ital, which as aforesaid is shaped at its free end differently from the tongue Ill" of Fig. 1, is here shaped to provide a detent tooth 54, for coaction with either of two annular grooves 55 and 56 so spaced along the length of the main body of the unit that said tooth coacts with one or the other of said grooves, according as the unit is in shallow or storage position in the holder or is in deep or operative position therein, to provide an impositive detent means for holding the unit against casual or accidental displacement from either of said positions when manually moved thereto.

As the parts are shown in Fig. 3, the tooth 54 is in engagement with the groove 55, and the unit is in storage or inoperative position in the holder. When the unit is to be prepared for use, it is manually thrust deeper into the holder, until halted by the engagement of a circumferential rib 5! on the unit, adjacent to the knob El i-a, with the outer flanged end Ida of the holder. Then the tooth 5d, lifted during this inward movement of the unit out of the groove 55, snaps into the groove 56. During such transfer of the tooth 54 from the groove 55 to the groove 56, the cup 2% and the screw-cap 32a have been suificiently advanced to insure that the contacts 28a and l9a" have ridden up on the cylindrical surfaces of said cup and screw-cap to complete the circuit through the heating element Ita.

Upon the heating element reaching the predetermined temperature, the thermostatic element Ida is correspondingly heated, and deforms sufficiently to break the energizing circuit for said element, and the unit is ready for removal from the holder.

As soon as this happens, it is of course desirable, if the unit is not now completely removed from the holder for use, to move the unit outwardly of the holder to storage or inoperative position, that is, so as to transfer the'tooth it from the groove 55 to the groove 55. As will be understood, if the heater is inadvertently left in the holder in deep or operative position therein, the thermostat will alternately move back and forth between circuit-breaking and circuit-making position, as, following a movement into cirouit-breaking position, the heating element drops to the prevised extent below that temperature, and as, following a movement into circuit making position, the heating element again attains said temperature. Any suitable means to insure against this condition being set up by inadvertence can be employed, if desired. For instance, a still or intermittent alarm, say one thermostatically operated, could be sounded or made visible beginning with the instant when'the heating element, with the unit in deep or operative position, first becomes heated to the predetermined temperature. A very simple way to give such alarm, however, would be to make the main body of the unit translucent, or to mount a translucent insert (not shown) in the face of the knob 3 2a, for displaying at the front of the unit an observable glow by light rays transmitted from the incandescent heating element, each time it is raised to the predetermined temperature. A transmitting tunnel for such light rays is indicated at d8, which tunnel could be extended all the way through the main body of the unit to an outer portion thereof exposed at all times beyond the holder; and then it would be well to aperture the main or circular wall of the screw-cap 32c. and matchingly aperture the insulating structure 33a, by spaced holes circumferentially arranged around the stud 39a, while narrowing the inturned flange of the cup 29a to beyond the outer limits of these apertures. Such an arrangement, which will be understood without illustration, would allow light rays from the incandescent heating element to pass through the matched apertures directly into the light tunnel 53 for transmission to the selected point of observation on a portion of the main body of the unit beyond the holder 10a.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. In an electric cigar lighter, the combination of a holder; a heating element: an igniting unit carrying the heating element and insertablc within and completely removable from said holder for use; and heat-responsive means for connecting the heating element in circuit with source of current when the unit is inserted in the holder and the heating element is below a predetermined temperature, said unit carrying the heating element at its inner end and being elongated forwardly of said element, said holder being in the form of a well elongated in the direction of elongation of the holder, anc near its inner end being reduced. laterally and having a side opening adjacent to its inner end, and said heat responsive means includes a thermostatic element secured to the exterior of the holder at its laterally reduced portion and extended through. said opening into the interior of the holder.

2. In an electric cigar lighter, the combination of a holder; a heating element; an igniting unit carrying the heating element and insertable within and completely removable from said holder for use; and heat-responsive means for con necting the heating element in circuit with a source of current when the unit is inserted in the holder and the heating element is below a predetermined temperature, said holder being in the form of a deep well having a side-wall subdivision displaced toward the center line of the well near the rear part of the length of the latter and also having an opening in its side forward of said sidewall subdivision, and said heat-responsive means including a thermostatic element secured to the exterior of said side-wall subdivision and extended through said opening into the interior of the holder.

3. In an electric cigar lighter, the combination of a holder; a heating element; an igniting unit carrying the heating element and insertable within and completely removable from said holder for use; and heat-responsive means for connecting the heating element in circuit with a source of current when the unit is inserted in the holder and the heating element is below a predetermined temperature, said holder being in the form of a deep well having a side-wall subdivision displaced toward the center line of the well near the rear part of the length of the latter and having a second side-wall subdivision outwardly forwardly extending from the first-mentioned side-wall subdivision, said second-mentioned side-wall subdivision having an opening therethrough and said heat-responsive means including a thermostatic element secured to the exterior of the first-mentioned side-wall subdivision and extended through said opening into the interior of the holder.

i. In an electric cigar lighter, the combination of a holder; heating element; an igniting unit carrying the heating element and insertable within and completely removable from said holder for use; and heat-responsive means for connecting heating element in circuit with a source of current when the unit is inserted in the holder and the heating element is below a preermined temperature, said holder being in the form of a deep well having a side-wall subdivision displaced toward the center line of the well near the rear part of the length of the latter g a second side-wall subdivision ou forwardly extending from the first-mew s de-wall subdivision, said second-menside-wall subdivision having an opening wardly tioned tioned the ethrough and said heat-responsive means inclu ng a thermostatic element in the form of a strip which in the main is substantially straight, said strip being secured to the exterior of the first-mentioned side-wall subdivision and extended through said opening into the interior of the holder.

5. In an electric cigar lighter, the combination of a holder; an igniting unit including a heating element and insertable within and completely removable from said holder for use; means for securing said heating element insulatingly on the inner end of the holder, said means including an electrically conductive ring displaced from the heating element longitudinally of the unit but electrically connected to said heating element; means carried by the unit for insulating said ring from the holder while the unit is within the latter including a separate collar of insulating material projecting laterally of the unit be yond said ring; and thermostatically controlled means for placing the heating element in circuit with a source of current when the unit is inserted within the holder and said heating element is below a predetermined temperature, the means last-mentioned including a contact for directly engaging said ring and shaped to coopcrate with the ring to effect said circuit-closing and also to hold the unit against movement, said means being deformable to move said contact to break said circuit by heat transmitted through said ring from the heating element when the latter attains said predetermined temperature.

6. In an electric cigar lighter, the combination of a holder; heating element; an igniting unit carrying the heating element and insertable within and completely removable from said holder for use; and a thermostatically controlled means for connecting the heating unit in circuit with source of current when the unit is inserted within the holder and said element is below a predetermined temperature, said circuit having a side grounded on said holder, said means including a thermostatic contact secured to a side wall and extending into the interior of the holder in current-conducting association therewith, the holder having an end wall at its inner end and there being secured to said end wall an assemblage including a current-supply terminal, a current-supply contact, and means for insulating said terminal and said current-supply contact from the holder, the last-mentioned contact being in electrically conductive association with said terminal.

7. A lighter as defined in claim 6, wherein the first-mentioned contact is in the form of a bimetallic strip which in the main is substantially straight, and the second-mentioned contact is in the form of a strip which is mainly substantially L-shaped.

8. In an electric cigar lighter, the combination of a holder; an igniting unit including a heating element and insertable within and completely removable from said holder for use; means for securing said heating element insulatingly on the inner end of the holder, said means including an electrically conductive ring displaced from the heating element longitudinally of the unit but electrically connected to said heating element; means carried by the unit for insulating the ring from the holder while the unit is within the latter including a nonintegral collar of insulating material projecting laterally of the unit beyond the ring, the ring being part of a metal cap screwed to the inner end of the main body of the unit and holding the collar inv place thereon; and thermostatically controlled means for placing the heating element in circuit with a source of current when the unit is inserted within the holder and said heating element is below a predetermined temperature, the means last-mentioned including a contact for directly engaging said ring to efiect said circuit-closing and said means being deformable to move said contact to break said circuit by heat transmitted through said ring from the heating element When the latter attains said predetermined temperature.

9. In an electric cigar lighter, the combina tion of a holder; an igniting unit including a heating element and insertable within and completely removable from said holder for use; means for securing said heating element insulatingly on the inner end of the holder, said means including an electrically conductive ring displaced from the heating element longitudinally of the unit but electrically connected to said heating element; thermostatically controlled means for placing the heating element in circuit with a source of current when the unit is inserted within the holder and said heating ele ment is below a predetermined temperature, the means last-mentioned including a contact for directly engaging said ring to eifect said circuit closing; and detent means for holding the unit in the holder in inserted position for heating the heating element including a depression in said ring and a projection on said contact and said means being deformable, to move said contact to break said circuit, by heat transmitted through. said ring from the heating element when the latter attains said predetermined ternperature.

JOSEPH H. COHEN.

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