Abstract: The electric cigarette lighter combines the handling advantages of rotating operation with the contacting advantages of pressing operation. A shaft is rotationally fixed to a rotary knob but axially slidable with respect thereto. A heater body affixed to the shaft is brought from an initial position to an operating position through a rotating movement of the rotary knob and a superimposed rotary thrust movement of the shaft. The heater body is automatically returned from the operating position to to the initial position through likewise superimposed rotary thrust spring forces of one or two restoring springs.

Abstract: An ashtray or the like storage container, which is intended particularly for automotive vehicles, includes a housing with a recess in it and a housing insert which is pivotable into and out of the housing recess. A detent arrangement for holding the housing insert in the closed position in the housing recess includes the housing insert having a cardioid shape control curve guide groove defined on it. A lever articulatedly attached in the side wall of the housing recess includes a pin which sits in the guide groove and rides along the upper and lower parts of the groove as the housing insert is moved into and out of the housing recess. The front side of the groove has a depression in which the pin on the lever is seated to prevent the housing insert from opening out of the housing recess. The housing insert is released from the recess when the front side of the insert is pressed in, which pivots the articulated lever and the pin to move the pin into the first part of the guide groove.

Abstract: A drawer for being held in and removable from a housing, particularly an ashtray in a housing, and including an unlocking mechanism normally in engagement with a stop in the housing and unlockable to enable removal of the drawer from the housing. A slide supported outside and below the container is movable toward the rear of the container. The end of the slide is V-shaped, and the underside of one leg of the V engages an upright bolt for moving the bolt down as the slide is moved rearward, which moves the bolt out of position to abut the housing stop. A push element is engaged by the upper side of the slide for being pushed up to press a spring up inside a recess in the bolt as the slide is pushed in. The slide, bolt and push element having cooperating oblique surfaces for accomplishing the respective pushing. In one embodiment, a push button acts directly on the slide. In another embodiment, a push button acts on the bolt through an intermediate rocker, instead of a slide.

Abstract: A container, like an ashtray, particularly for use in a vehicle. A housing with an open side and a drawer like insert slidably guided for movement into and out of the housing. A plurality of guide members fastened to each of the opposite sidewalls of the housing past which the insert is moved. Each guide member includes a plate at the housing sidewall and outward projections on the plate, which are received in a respective guide groove defined on the respective opposite sidewall of the insert. Each projection includes a forwardly bent portion and a curved fillet connection to the respective plate. The outward projections are integral with the plate of the guide member and of the same resilient material as and is resiliently movable both generally parallel to the plane of the plate of the guide member and also perpendicular to that plate. The guide projections are engaged with vertical and horizontal tension in the guide grooves.

Abstract: A drawer for being held in and removable from a housing, particularly an ashtray in a housing, and including an unlocking mechanism normally in engagement with a stop in the housing and unlockable to enable removal of the drawer from the housing. A slide supported outside and below the container is movable toward the rear of the container. The end of the slide is V-shaped, and the underside of one leg of the V engages an upright bolt for moving the bolt down as the slide is moved rearward, which moves the bolt out of position to abut the housing stop. A push element is engaged by the upper side of the slide for being pushed up to press a spring up inside a recess in the bolt as the slide is pushed in. The slide, bolt and push element having cooperating oblique surfaces for accomplishing the respective pushing. In one embodiment, a push button acts directly on the slide. In another embodiment, a push button acts on the bolt through an intermediate rocker, instead of a slide.

Abstract: An ashtray, particularly for automotive vehicles, includes a receiving frame which can be fastened in a wall recess, a receiving housing pivotably connected to the frame, and an ashtray insert removably arranged in the housing. The ashtray insert is mounted in the receiving housing in such a manner that it can be lifted toward an opening between the frame and the housing by an actuating element such as a spring-steel strip. A detent spring includes a detent projection which releasably holds the insert within the housing and a deceleration projection which prevents the insert from being ejected when it is released.