US2667562A - Cigar lighter - Google Patents

Description

P. E. ASHTON 2,667,562

CIGAR LIGHTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 26, 1954 original Filed July 25, 194e l, l I INVENTOR. f fief/UP fW/*a/V V./ 'I -BY f4:

l 'l'.l L l NM www Jan. 26, 1954 P, ASHTON 2,667,562

CIGAR LIGHTER Original Filed July 25, 1946 .2 Sheets-Sheet 2 III III

IN VEN TOR. Pew/P f /45/7/70/1/ AWWA/5y Patented Jan. 26, 1954 UNITED STATES ENT vOFFICE CIGAR LIGHTER Philip E. Ashton, Meriden, Conn., assigner to The Cuno Engineering Corporation, Meriden, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut 7 Claims. (Cl. 219-32) My invention relates to what are commonly termed cordless electric lighters for cigars, cigarettes and pipes and of the type suitable for installation in motor vehicles. They may be used however anywhere.

The main object is to provide a small, reliable lighter plug which can be made economically according to ordinary shop practice and interchangeably used in sockets which will also be of factory production. In other words, the plugs and sockets need not be matched but any plug will fit any socket of a lot for which it is designed.

One object is to make as much of the device as possible of metal and yet provide a quick starting lighter which will have long life and will not become overheated.

Another object is to avoid the use of parts made of molded insulation such as thermosettins' resins which, if overheated by careless handling of the lighter, may be distorted, swell or blister causing the plug to bind in the socket and rendering the lighter useless. Such distortion occasionally locks the plug in closed circuit position with very undesirable results.

A further object is to provide a cigar lighter plug having substantially all of the parts made of stampings which when produced in bulk by ordinary commercial processes are more precise as to dimensions and less costly than similarly functioning parts produced by molding phenolic resins or by automatic lathes. I

A further object is to provide a lighter plug of pleasing appearance, excellent functional properties and low cost when produced in large quantities which frequently involve several hundred thousand lighters per year in commercial practice. The majority of automobiles now produced are fitted with cigar lighters as standard equipment. This offers the manufacturersl of cigar lighters a very large, but cost and quality conscious market. The difference of as little as one cent per unit between competing makes may result in the gain or loss of orders totaling many thousands of dollars. In the past, the use of lighter components produced by molding phenolic resins and of components produced on automatic machines known as screw machines? has been commonly accepted practice. The total production of' such parts has run into many millions the last decade. The cost of parts of the current type of lighter plugs is quite high as compared with parts of broadly similar functions made from sheet metal and sheet insulation.

I have, therefore, devised a construction which employs components suitable for high produc- Lif) tion at low cost by simple stamping or drawing press operations and which construction by the suitable disposition of air gaps, small contacting conductive areas, reflective surfaces and simple insulating washers to arrest or retard heat flow to the knob are useful and acceptable for general use.

I have further improved over commercial constructions of the prior art by eliminating screw threads except for mounting the knob. The knob is usually supplied in shape and material to match the other control knobs of the automobile on which the lighter is to be used and which vary widely between different makes of cars and different models of the same maker.

The preferred form constitutes improvements over that of United States Letters Patent 1,980,- 157 and 2,338,565.

Fig. 1 is an aligned sectional view of a socket and one form of plug of my inventionon an enlarged scale and showing how such a socket may be mounted.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the plug of Fig. 1 with a knob on a smaller scale.

Fig. 3 is a rear end view of the plug of Fig. 1 without the knob, part of the shell being broken away. Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the parts of the plug of Fig. l on a somewhat smaller scale. parts being shown in section.

Figs. 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views on the planes of the lines 5--5 and 6--6, respectively. of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is an end view of the plunger part of the plug of Fig. 1.

Figs. 8 and 9 are detail face views of'insulating washers of Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a side View and section of guiding washers such as shown in Figs. l, 3, 4, 8 and 9, with a screw stud for receiving a knob.

in Fig. l, I have shown a sectional view of one form of plug made according to the invention and mounted in a type of socket assembly with which the plug may be used. Such a socket is generally used on automobiles and is attached to the instrument panel 9. The socket lo passes through a hole in the instrument panel and is pressed against it by nut I0' and shell l2. Nut le is threaded on sleeve Il to which is attached washer I2. The above parts are incorporated into the ground side of the electric system of the automobile of Which socket I0 becomes one terminal.

Central terminal stud I3 carries suitable contacts such as bimetal latch contacts I4 and secondary spider contacts l5 which are insulated and supported by sleeve I3 and washer I5. These contacts I4 and I5 form the live terminals of the socket as stud I3 is connected to the ungrounded side of the electric system of the automobile. 'Ihe side wall of the socket usually has one or more spring fingers I8 biased inwardly to engage some part of the plug and serve as spring loaded ground contacts. It should be understood that, while bimetal latch contacts are shown, they are not essential as the secondary contacts I will suffice to engage cup 28 and close the circuit.

The plug has two main assemblies, i. e. the shell I2 and the plunger element. The shell is the part which is normally supported and stationary in the socket and the plunger element has the igniter unit and the knob orhandlewhich is mounted to move the plunger element within opening of flange 23. When the rear end of ring 22 is staked over at several points such as 2E, the parts are secured in accurate relationship with only small areas in contact with each other and `with a continuous air gap between ring 22 and flange 23. The seemingly minor matter of maintaining only small contiguous areas is important as the transmission of heat from the igniter unit to the rear rim ofthe shell 2|), which may be cont'acted by the ngers of a user of the lighter, is thereby minimized.

The igniter unit, generally of conventional form, may have any suitable resistance coil 2i having one end secured to the cup 28, which serves as the plugs live terminal, and the other endr secured to the grounded central stud 29 which is electrically and mechanically connected to the plunger tube 30. The cup 23 is insulated fromthe stud 29 and from washer 29 by mica or equivalent washers, such as 28. The units is noteworthy in that it has only two small perforations 281:, used to align the parts during assembly,

instead of the conventional six or thereabouts,

relatively large perforations. The rear Washer 29 is made of bright stainless steel or other similar material. I have found that this construction with minimum perforations anda backing having bright reflective surfaces materially aids in retarding the flow of heat to theA rear of the plug.

- The igniter stud 29 is secured to the plunger sleeveor tube 30 for'inst'anceby being frictionally driven into and held by a metalwasher 3| in the bottom of the tube 3o. This tube 35 at its end 30' is smaller in diameter than the passage in the tube 32 and has outwardly extending ribs 33 which are an accurate sliding fit in the guide tube 32 which is integral with disc 2| and concentric with ring 22. These ribs, however, only engage guide tube 32 when the plunger is in the forward or circuit closed position when contact between the ribs and the guide tube forms part of the grounded side of the circuit. The basic diameter of the tube 30 is appreciably smaller than the inside diameter of the guide tube 32 and the difference between these diameters affords an annular air gap 3U" which offers resistance t0 the flow of heat from the igniter unit through 4 tube to disc 2| after the circuit has been broken and the heated igniter is available for use.

The rear end of the tube 30 is flared outwardly and firmly secured to two insulating discs or Washers 34 and 35 which are guided in the shell 2D. The flared rear endA of tube 30. has three arcuate anges 36 which nt and arevcrimped over the edges 34 of the notches of washer 34. The circumferential surface of the major diameter portions of washer 34 is proportioned to slide freely on and be guided by the interior surfaces of ribs 38 of shell 2li. Insulating locking disc Washer 35. has, three outwardly extending arms with grooves or notches 31 which straddle and are guided by the radial faces of ribs 38 within the shell 20. The effective diameter of washer at the bottomsof the notches 3l is slightly less than the major diameter of washer 34 and contact between washer 35 and shell 2i? is only on the radial faces 31A of the notches 31. The angular extension between the arms of washer 35 is greater than the angular extension of arcuate flanges 36' of the tube 30 and the effective diameter of washer 35 at the edges 35. is smaller than that of the crimped-over edges of arcuate flanges 36 so that there is. no direct contact between washer 35 and tube 30. This arrangement aids effectively in minimizing the transmission of heat from tube 3|) to shell 201 and to the knob mounting means. l

This arrangementV comprises a bushing 40 (Fig. l)v or a stud 46 (Fig. 10) which securely connects washers 34 and 35 together at the center. Washer 35 is substantially thicker than the metal of flanges 36 of tube 30 which are crimped over washer 34 so that there is no possibilityof direct contact between the base of a knob such as 42 and tube 3U. If desired another washer` 42', which is intended primarily as an `ornamental or trim medium, may be used to engage the base of the knob and provide an air gap 42:1.` as afin.- ther heat barrier. Due to` the interlock between washer 35 and ribs 3B of shell 20 therecan be no relative rotation. This facilitates tightening. aknob on its threaded support while holding the outer shell. 20 by anyI suitable means. g

A spring 43 is interposed betweenthe disc 2li and the outer end .of the tubular plunger` 3U. with an insulating washer 44 preferably between the spring and the` tube. Theshell 20, has an inwardly curled flange 45 whichr serves tolim'it the incursion of the plug into. the socket and also serves` as an outer abutment for theouter edges of washers 35. Spring fingersY 46 serve to frictionally hold the plug inthe socket.

Inthe form shown in Fig. 1, it is understood that the edge of the disc 2| engages the spring.

Whenheated to the predetermined degreethe.`

latches I4 will release the igniter cup, break the circuit and the spring 43 will retractthe plunger ready to permit the plug toy be withdrawnfand used.

From the foregoing description. it will be seen that by the careful employment of air gaps.

restriction of the. areas of contacting` surfaces and the use of simple flat insulating washers,`

the transmission of heat from the heating, element to the shell and knob is effectively blocked although metallic materials form the major. .con structional media.. Y

The device may be easily inserted and actuated. It will not overheat even though repeatedly used. The plug will not jump o-ut of the socket when released by the latches and it may be held in for reheating if desired.

According to Fig. l, the contact ange 2l is carried by the stationary part of the outer shell.

The igniter cup and the contact rim will serve to close the circuitby contact either simultaneously or sequentially depending upon their positions relative to the contacts in the stationary socket with which the plug is used and similarly the circuit will be broken simultaneously at both contacts or at either one depending upon the design of the socket and plug.

The invention requires a minimum cost and aiords a maximum of simplicity, strength, long life, and reliability.

The method of supportingV and guiding the plunger and igniter as shown and described permits the use of knobs which require either bushings or studs for their connection by the simple substitution of the supporting and guiding washers With the necessary bushing or stud.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial Number 686,188, iiled July 25, 1946, now Patent 2,531,901.

I cIaim:

1. An electric lighter plug comprising a shell formed of two parts, an outer part being cylindrical for sliding in a socket and having an inturned ilange at its front end, the other part of the shell having an end disc, a ring carrying insulating washers on opposite sides oi the inturned flange and also having a tubular guide portion, the rim of said disc constituting the sion spring surrounding said plunger member comprising a body of tubular form slidable in the tubular guide portion of the shell and having an outwardly ilaring portion, an insulating disc secured in the latter portion and guiding the plunger in the outer shell part, a compression spring surrounding said plunger member between said discs, knob mounting means secured in said insulating disc and an igniter element secured at one end of the tubular body portion of the plunger.

2. An electric lighter plug comprising a shell member formed of two parts, one part being cylindrical for sliding in a socket and having a curled edge at its rear end and an inturned flange at its front end, the other part of the shell member having an end disc with a rim constituting the outer contact of the plug, a ring carrying insulating washers on opposite sides of the inturned flange and a tubular guide portion, a plunger member comprising a body of tubular form slidable in said tubular guide portion and having an outwardly flaring portion at its rear end, an insulating disc secured in the latter portion for guiding the plunger vin the cylindrical shell, an insulating locking disc carried by the plunger and having a non-rotative sliding connection in the shell, knob mounting means secured in said insulating disc, an igniter element secured at the front end of the tubular body portion of the plunger, and a compression spring enclosed within the shell member around the plunger member between a contact disc and the rear end of the plunger member.

3. An electric lighter plug comprising a shell formed of two parts, an outer ribbed part being cylindrical for sliding in a socket and having a curled edge at one end forming an abutment and an inturned iiange at the other end, the other part of the shell comprising an'end disc having a ring carrying insulating washers on opposite sides of the inturned flange and also having a tubular guide portion, a plunger member comprising a body of tubular form slidable in the tubular guide portion, insulating means secured to said body and guiding the plunger in the outer shell and having a non-rotatable sliding connection on the ribs of the outer shell part, a bushing secured in said insulating means, an igniter element secured at one end of the tubular body portion oi the plunger and a spring interposed between said disc and said insulating means for retracting said plunger, said insulating guiding means abutting against said curled edge when retracted.

4. An electric lighter plug comprising a shell formed of two parts, an outer part being cylindrical'for sliding in a socket and having acurled abutment edge at one end and an inturned flange at the other end, the other part of the shell having an end disc, a ring carrying insulating Washers on opposite sides of the inturned ange and a tubular guide portion, a plunger member comprising a one-piece body of tubular form having longitudinal ribs slidable in the tubular guide portion, an insulating disc secured to said body and guiding the plunger in the outer shell, an insulating locking disc having notches formed in its periphery, said shell having means interlocking with said notches to provide a non-rotative sliding connection in the shell, an igniter element secured in the end of the tubular body portion of the plunger and a spring interposed between said ring and said insulating disc for retracting said plunger.

5. An electric cigar lighter plug comprising a metallic shell formed in two parts, the outer part thereof being substantially cylindrical for silding in a socket and having a curled abutment at its outer end and an inturned flange at its inner end, said outer part further being formed with substantially longitudinally extending internal ribs, the inner part thereof comprising an end disc and a ring integral with said end disc and carrying an insulating washer secured on each side of said inturned fiange, said inner part further comprising a tubular guide portion integral with said end disc and concentric with said ring, said plug further comprising a metallic plunger member, said plunger member comprising a one-piece body of tubular form, said body comprising external substantially longitudinally extending ribs slidably engaging said guide portion, said body further comprising insulating disc means non-rotatably secured thereto at the outer end thereof, said disc means comprising circumferential surfaces slidably engaging said ribs of said outer part, said disc means further comprising portions formed with grooves, said ribs of said outer part further seating in said grooves to provide for slidable non-rotatable movement of said plunger in said shell, said plunger further comprising an igniter element secured to the inner end of said body and a spring interposed between said ring and said insulating disc means and urging said plunger member toward said curled abutment.

6. In a lighter plug according to claim 5, said insulating disc means comprising two discs rmly secured together, one of said discs being rmly secured to said plunger body and comprising cir.- cumferential surfaces slidably guided in said internal ribs of said shell, the other disc comprising substantially radial surfaces slidably and non- @homos 7 fmtatably ,guided on said internal fribs, said other ldisc heine otherwise Ain spaced relation to said :metallic shell.

Tl. 4A metallicplug for a cordless electric cigar lighter having a :substantially cylindrical elec Vltgri c a11y Qonductive v socket connected to ground, foolnprising, in combination afsubstantiallyzcylinf .driea'l vmetal shell formed with internal, Vsubstantially longitudinal ribs. said `shell having c onfnected tothe frontlendtheneof 'la metal disc, said disc having two concentric `tubular :portions integ'ral therewith, one of said tubular portions carrying twoinsvulating washers, saidshell hay- :ing a flange `extending :between `said two washers, ithe other vof isaid tubular portions constituting a guide tube, a plunger tube having a reducedfor mand portion located within said guide tube and indiani/.spaced therefrom in 'open circuiteposition, Baidmllmgertube further comprising externalribs fslidingly guided `ih said guide tube in :closed cit- -cuit position, vs ad V plunger :tube having at pits rear end insulating :washer means 4iii'mly connected thereto, said -rshell having 4at .its outer end an in.-

E. A SHTQN. A'Refercences Cited in #the le of this patent -S'IA'IIES PATENTS

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