US2310029A

US2310029A - Cigar lighter

Info

Publication number: US2310029A
Application number: US255424A
Authority: US
Inventors: James T Kline
Original assignee: Automatic Devices Corp
Current assignee: Automatic Devices Corp
Priority date: 1939-02-09
Filing date: 1939-02-09
Publication date: 1943-02-02
Anticipated expiration: 1960-02-02

Description

Feb. 2, 1943.

\ INVENTOR Jam'eST Kline ATTORNEYS i Patented Feb. 2, 1943 CIGAR LIGHTER James T. Kline, Fairfield, Conn., assignor to Automatic Devices Corporation, Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application February 9, 1939, Serial No. 255,424

(Cl. B19-3.2)

l0 Claims.

This 'invention relates to an electric cigar lighter, and more particularly, to an automatic cigar lighter to be mounted on the dashboard or other support of an automobile.

In prior art of the cigar lighter, automatically controlled energization of the heating element is obtained by providing a heat-responsive means for controlling a circuit between normally open contacts on the holding device and igniting unit, which means closes a circuit upon movement of the igniting unit longitudinally of the holding device and holds it lin that position, the heat-responsive means, upon being heated by the heating element, releasing the igniting unit and either directly or indirectly opening the circuit.

According to the present invention, the igniting unit, which is removably mounted in a holder, has the entire automatic means carried thereby. In the preferred form of the invention, the igniting unit is not movable longitudinally to complete the circuit, but has a part rotatable thereon for closing a pair of normally open contacts. To accomplish this, the igniting unit comprises a tubular body having a member rotatable therein so that a Contact on the rotatable member engages a iixed heat-responsive means on the tubular body to close the circuit through the heating element. Preferably, the means for rotating the part is the handle which is gripped to manipulate the igniting unit.

The heat-responsive means may be of any form, but in the present invention it comprises a spiral bimetallic latch connected at one end to the heating element and having at its other end a detent adapted to be engaged by the contact of the rotatable member, when manually operated, to hold the contact in closed-circuit position until the heating element is ready for use. The heat-responsive means will be heated by the current passing therethrough at the same rate as the heating of the heating element and tend to straighten out and release the contact on the rotatable member when the heating element has acquired the desired heat. The contact is springurged to open-circuit position, and, upon being released, is quickly moved to that position.

This construction has several advantages over prior lighters longitudinally operated in that an appreciable saving of material is obtained in the manufacture of the unit, as less operating displacement is required for the present rotatably operated lighter. Also, since the unit can be made smaller, 1t becomes less cumbersome and less space is required in mounting it on the dashboard of an automobile.

With the rotatable operation of the present invention, the on and off positions can be easily designated by providing markings for the on and oii positions to which the handle of the unit will point.

An added feature of the present invention is the means for locking the tubular body against rotation in the holder while the rotatable member is operated. This means comprises a plurality of notches about the circumference of the tubular body adapted to be engaged by a plurality of iingers struck out from the holder. With this construction, the unit can abe replaced in the hold-er after use without alignment of the locking means, for, should the notches and lingers not be aligned in locked position, they will quickly do so upon the next operation.

Other advantages and features of the invention will hereinafter appear.

In the drawing:

Figure l shows a longitudinal view of the invention partly in section, with the igniting unit in normal inoperative position.

Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section of the device, with the igniting unit in circuit-closing position.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. l, showing the open-circuit position of the bimetallic contact and the rotatable contact.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2, showing the closed-circuit position of the bimetallic contact and the rotatable contact.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2, but in inoperative position, showing the yielding means for returning the rotatable member to open-circuit position.

Fig. 6 is a front view of the lighter, with modified means for positioning the unit in the holder and indications of on and off positions.

According to the present invention, as exemplified by the accompanying drawing, the cigar lighter comprises a holder I0 and an igniting unit II. The holder I0 is provided at its outer end with an outturned flange I2 adapted to engage a clash-board or other support I3 of an automobile when the holder is positioned in an aperture therein. The other end of the holder is closed with a transverse wall I4 having a threaded sleeve I5 passing therethrough.

The sleeve I5 is provided with a flange I5a, which is secured by welding or otherwise to the end wall I4 to lock the sleeve in place. A stirrup or U-shaped bracket I6 is provided with an aper- V ture in the transverse part thereof, to be positioned over the sleeve I5, and its forward end is caused to abut the back of the dashboard by a nut li threaded on the sleeve I5, thus locking the holder I9 in place.

A bolt I8 is mounted in the sleeve I5 and is insulated therefrom by an insulation sleeve I9 and a pair of Washers 29 and 2 I. Between the washer 29 and the head of the bolt I8 a contact 22 is clamped. The contact is provided with outwardly projecting spring ngers 23 which extend within the holder and have at their extreme ends detents 23a. The bolt, insulation and Contact are locked in position in the holder by a nut 24.

rlhe contact is connected to a source of energy by means of a connector lug 25 mounted on the bolt and secured to a conductor 26 which is ccnnected to the battery. The lug 25 is locked in place on the bolt by means of a nut 2l.

According to the present invention, the igniting unit, which is adapted to be slidably received within the holder and removably mounted therein, comprises a tubular body 28 and a rotatable member 29. The tubular member 28 comprises a metallic sleeve 39 having an insulation cap 3l secured to one end thereof by means of an outwardly extending neck 3m, which is threaded into the sleeve. As shown in Fig. 2, the cap forms a means for mounting a resistance or heating element 32 on the igniting unit. The heating element illustrated comprises a helical coil of resistance material disposed in a contact cupV 33 with one end of coil connected thereto. The other end of the coil is connected to a central stud Srl as by having the end thereof secured in a slot in the stud. The stud is insulated from the contact cup by a washer '35 and passes through the cap 3l and is headed over to hold the heating element in place thereon.

The rotatable member of the igniting unit, generally indicated at 29, comprises a tubular member 39 of insulation material having a relatively flat handle 49 secured to one end thereof by means of a screw 4I received by a bushing 42 molded within the handle. The other end of the tubular member 39 is closed by a cap 43 of conducting material. The cap is threaded to the tubular member 39, and is of such diameter as to be rotatable within and contacting the sleeve 30.

The rotatable member is held against longitudinal movement with respect to the tubular body b y having shoulders 39a which are positioned in channels or reduced portions 39a in the sleeve 33 and held in place therein by a nut 36 threaded in the open end of the sleeve.

When the igniting unit is put in place in the holding device, the two parts thereof will move as one until the movement is arrested by the conl tact cup being engaged and gripped by detents 23a of the contact fingers 23.

When the igniting unit is in this position, the Contact cup and heating element will be connected to one side of the source of energy and the sleeve 39 of the igniting unit will be electrically connected to the holder and to the other side of the source of energy and leaving a gap in the circuit in the igniting unit.

To complete the energizing circuit, the present invention provides a switch disposed between the two relatively rotatable parts of the igniting unit, which switch is adapted to be closed by rotation of the handle of the igniting unit.

As shown in the drawing, the cap 43 has a contact 44 secured thereto by rivets l or the like so as to project toward the inslating cap and cooperate with a contact secured thereto.

Preferably, the contact 46 comprises a strip of bimetallic material having one end disposedv under the head of the central stud and clamped thereby against the insulating cap, and also electrically connected to the end of the heating element.

The other end of the biinetallic strip has a spiral arm 47 projecting into the space between the end of the rotatable member and the insulating cap. The end of the arm is provided with a latch or detent 43 which is disposed in the path of movement of the Contact 44 and engageable therewith to hold the circuit closed when the contact 44 is so moved. The end of the arm is provided with a camming face 48a which is iirst engaged by the contact as it is moved to closed-circuit position, and moves the latch down until the contact 44 passes the detent portion of the arm 47 which snaps back into holding relation therewith.

The movable member is normally urged and held in a position wherein the contacts do not engage one another. This is accomplished by providing the channel 39a with a pair of abutments 3917 adapted to cooperate with a pair of abutments 3919 formed on the shoulders 39a. These abutments are normally held in engagement with one another by a pair of springs 50 which are disposed in channels 33 formed between the sleeve 39 and tubular member 39 as shown in Fig. 5. rIhese springs, while normally urging the rotatable member 29 to a demte position with respect to the member 28 so as to maintain a gap in the circuit, willy yield to permit the contact 44 to be moved into latched engagement with contact 46 to complete the energizing circuit for the heating element.

When the handle i9 is rotated against the action of the yielding means, there is a tendency for the tubular body 23 to also rotate. This rotatable movement of the tubular member 28 may be prevented merely by the friction of the unit and holder and the fingers 23 grasping the contact cup 33.

In the preferred form of the invention, however, a positive locking means is provided for holding the igniting unit against rotation. This is accomplished by providing the igniting unit with a plurality of notches or recesses 49 equally spaced about the circumference of the sleeve 39 and adapted to receive a plurality of lingers Illa struck out from the holder I9 when in position thereon. With this construction, a positive locking action between the two elements is always obtained. Further, by providing a plurality of recesses on the igniting unit, the unit may be returned in the holder after use and properly held without it being necessary to align the locking means. As can be readily seen, should the fingers Ita not be seated in corresponding notches 49 after replacement of the unit within the holder after use, initial movement of the handle 49 will cause the tubular body 23 to rotate within the holder until the ngers Illa snap into engagement with the notches 49 to hold it in position while' the rotation of the rotatable member may be continued to closed-circuit position.

When it is desired to use the lighter, the handle 4i? is rotated clockwise relative to the body 29 until contact 44 will move in an arcuate path and engage the camming surface 49a of the detent 48 of the bimetallic contact, permitting the contact 44 to pass thereby and snap into engagement with the abutment of the detent and `hold the rotatable member in closed-circuit position. as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. This'move.-

ment will compress the springs 59 so that they will return the movable member quickly to opencircuit position upon being released.

When the rotatable member is locked in closed-circuit position, the energizing circuit for the heating element will lthen be through the conductor 28, lug 25, bolt I3, contact 22, Contact cup 33, heating element 32, stud 34, bimetallic contact 46, contact 44, cap 43, sleeve 39, to the holder IB and to ground through the dashboard.

As soon as the heating element has acquired its predetermined temperature, the arm 41 of the bimetallic Contact 45, which is simultaneously heated by the current passing therethrough at the same rate as the heating element, will have flexed or straightened out and moved the detent out of engagement with the contact 44, whereby the rotatable member will be released and moved into open-circuit position by the springs b. rihe movement of the rotatable member to this position will be accompanied by an audible click caused by the contact of the abutments 3th, 39h, notifying the user that the device has reached its predetermined temperature and can be withdrawn from the holder for use.

As sho-wn in Fig. 6, a modified for-m of the present invention provides a positive indication of the condition of the circuit. In this form of the invention, the holder is provided with a longitudinal slot 5i adapted to receive a lug 52 on the sleeve 3%, shown in dotted lines, so that the unit will always be positioned the same in the holder after use. The flange l2 of the holder is provided with on and off markings, and the handle when in normal position will point to the off marking. When the handle is rotated to move the contacts into closed-circuit position and the heating element is being energized, it will point, as indicated by the dot-anddash line, to the on marking. Thus, by merely glancing at the handle, the condition of the circuit will be apparent.

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, a holder comprising a cylindrical socket; a cylindrical igniting unit removably mounted Within the holder; a. heating element carried by the igniting unit; a member, including a handle by which the member and unit can be manipulated, rotatably mounted on the igniting unit and extending into said unit; interengaging detent means carried by the cylindrical socket and igniting unit for holding the igniting unit against rotation in said socket when said member is operated; means for yieldingly urging said member to a normal opencircuit position; means responsive to rotation of said member out of normal position to complete a circuit through the heating element; and heatresponsive means adapted to hold said member in closed-circuit position, said heat-responsive means releasing said member for movement to an open-circuit position when the heating element has attained a predetermined temperature.

2. In an electric cigar lighter, a holder; an igniting unit having notches about the circumference thereof removably mounted on the holder; a heating element carried by the igniting unit; a member rotatably mounted on the igniting unit; interengaging means including fingers struck out from the holder adapted to engage the notches on the igniting unit for holding said unit against rotation when said member is operated; means for yieldingly urging said member to a normal open-circuit position; means responsive to rotation of said member to complete a circuit through the heating element; and heat-responsive means adapted to hold said member in closed-circuit position, said heat-responsive means releasing said member for movement to an open-circuit position when the heating element has attained a predetermined temperature.

3. In an electric cigar lighter, a holder; an igniting unit removably mounted in the holder; a heating element carried by the igniting unit; a member rotatably carried by and within the igniting unit and having a Contact thereon, said member having a projection and the igniting unit having a recess to receive the projection; means for closing the recess in the igniting unit for holding the member against longitudinal movement with respect to the igniting unit; means in said recess for yieldingly holding sai-d member to a normal open-circuit position; and a heat-responsive means carried by the igniting unit adapted to be engaged by said contact upon rotation of said member from said normal position to hold said member in closed-circuit position and complete a circuit through the heating element, said heat-responsive means releasing said member for movement to open-circuit position when the heating element has attained a predetermined temperature.

4. In an electric cigar lighter, a holder; an igniting unit removably mounted on the holder; a heating element carried by the igniting unit; a member rotatably mounted on the igniting unit and having an outstanding contact thereon; means for yieldingly urging said member to a normal open circuit position on the unit a heatresponsive means carried by the igniting unit adapted to be engaged by said contact to hold said member in closed-circuit position to complete a circuit through the heating element and release said member for movement to open-circuit position when the heating element has attained a predetermined temperature, said heat-responsive means comprising a spiral bimetallic latch provided With a camming surface at its eXtreme free end, extending in the path of said rotatable contact and adapted to be engaged by the rotatable contact in its movement to circuit-closing position so that said latch is flexed from its normal position to permit the contact to pass and then snap into latched relation With the Contact.

5. In an electric cigar lighter, a holder; an igniting unit removably mounted on the holder; a heating element carried by the igniting unit; a member rotatably mounted on the igniting unit; means responsive to rotation of said member to complete a circuit through the heating element; heat-responsive means adapted to hold said member is closed-circuit position and release said member for movement to open-circuit position when the heating element has attained a predetermined temperature; and means comprising compression springs seated in annular channels of the igniting unit and interposed between abutments on the rotatable member and abutments of said channel, for yieldingly urging said rotatable member to said normal open-circuit position.

6. In an electric cigar lighter, a holder; an igniting unit removably mounted on the holder, comprising a tubular body and a member adapted to be rotatably mounted therein; a heating element carried by the tubular body at one end thereof; a yielding means comprising springs seated in annular channels formed by said body and member and interposed between abutments on said body and member for yieldingly urging said member to normal position; contacts on the member including an outstanding contact rotatably operated in an arcuate path for completing a circuit through the heating element; and a spiral bimetallic latch carried by the tubular body and extending in the path of said rotatably mountedy contact, `and engaging the rotatably mounted contact to hold said contact and member in closed-circuit position, said bimetallic latch being heated by the current carried thereby at the same rate as the heating element and upon reaching a predetermined heat flexing to release said contact and member for movement by said yielding urging means to opencircuit position.

7. In an electric cigar lighter, a holder having a longitudinally extending groove therein; an igniting unit removably mounted on the holder; a heating element carried by the igniting unit; a member including a relatively ilat handle for manipulating the igniting unit rotatably mounted within the igniting unit with the handle projecting therefrom and readily accessible; means for yieldingly urging said member to a normal open-circuit position; means responsive to rotation of said member by said handle for completing `a circuit through the heating element; heatresponsive means adapted to hold said member in closed-circuit position, said heat-responsive means releasing said member for movement to an open-circuit position when the heating element has attained a predetermined temperature; and means for mounting the igniting unit in a predetermined position on the holding device comprising a lug on the igniting unit adapted to be received by the groove on the holder for identical positioning of the igniting unit on the holder after use; and on and off indications on said holding device, the handle of said rotatable member pointing to the on and off indications in either of its positions to indicate the condition of the circuit.

8. An electric cigar lighter including a cylindrical holding device; a cylindrical igniting unit removably mounted therein; interengaging detent and recess means on the cylindrical holding device and igniting unit operative in a plurality of angular positions for holding said unit against rotation on the holding device; means for establishing a circuit between the holding device and the igniting unit when the igniting unit is in normal position thereon; a rotatable member carried by and extending into the igniting unit; a pair of contacts carried by the igniting unit, one being secured to the igniting unit and the other to the rotatable member on the igniting unit; means for normally urging the rotatable member to maintain the contacts in open-circuit position; and heat-responsive means including a latch ad-apted to engage the movable contact when the latch is moved from normal position to complete the previously established circuit to energize the heating element, said heat-responsive means being heated by the current carried thereby at the same rate as the heating element and releasing the Contact when a predetermined temperature has been attained.

9'. An electric cigar lighter including two electrically separable members, one of said members to be relatively Xed and the other member detachable therefrom, said detachable member comprising essentially two relatively movable parts; an igniting unit carried by one of said parts; a handle carried by the other of said parts t-o be gripped for removing and manipulating the detachable member; cooperative electrical circuit terminals arranged for separation and carried by said members; an electric circuit common to both members and said element; a switch interposed between two parts of the detachable member to close the circuit to the heating element before separation of the members; rotation of the handle relative to the heating element closing the switch between the relative movable parts; and a spring normally urging the parts to open the switch, one of the contacts of the switch being a 'heat-responsive detent for holding the switch in closed-circuit position, said detent being heated by the current carried thereby at the same rate as the heating element and flexing to release the switch upon the heating element attaining a predetermined usable heat.

l). In a cigar lighter, a holder; an igniting unit carriedl by the hol-der and. having a heating element secured to one end thereof; a member rotatable within the igniting unit and secured therein, said member having a handle secured to the outer end by which the igniting unit is removed from the holding device and manipulated and having a contact at its inner end spaced from the means for supporting the heating element so `as to form a chamber therein; a contact carried by the igniting unit and electrically connected to the heating element; a contact carried by the movable portion and dispos-ed within the chamber and electrically "connected to the holding device, one of sai-d contacts being a bimetallic latch contact adapted to be engaged by the relative movement between the contacts to close and hold the circuit closed during energizaticn of the heating element, said bimetallic latch contact being heated by the current carried thereby at the same rate as the heating element and eXing upon reaching a predetermined heat to release the contact cooperating therewith; and means for urging said contacts into open-circuit position-upon being released by the detent, said chamber being provided with vents whereby heat from the bimetallic element may be dissipated.

JAMES T. KLIWEV