With Housing Casing Or Support Means For Igniter Unit Patents (Class 219/267)
  • Patent number: 5521356
    Abstract: A glow plug having an interior pole and a glow tube with a tip portion, a heating element located in the tip portion, and a regulating element, formed of an electrically conductive material having positive temperature-resistance coefficients, arranged in the glow tube. The interior pole of the glow plug is serially connected with the regulating element, the regulating element is serially connected to the heating element, and the heating element is serially connected with the glow tube tip in a construction for minimizing heat transfer between the regulating element and the interior pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: Beru Ruprecht GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Paul Bauer
  • Patent number: 5471032
    Abstract: An ignitor for fuel gas burners formed of a plurality of spaced parallel filaments of SiC coated Carbon (C) high temperature brazed with Chromium Silicide in grooves provided in a refractory base block of Aluminum Oxide and Silicon Oxide. Terminal posts of IVIoSi are embedded in the high temperature braze. Stainless steel lead attachment pads are nickel-chrome brazed to the posts at a lower temperature. Removable notched graphite bridges and graphite hold-down blocks position the filaments during the high temperature brazing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Gordon B. Spellman, C. Greg Chen
  • Patent number: 5459299
    Abstract: A car cigarette lighter is suitable to be received in different sizes of sockets each of which includes a positive pole and a negative pole therein. The car cigarette lighter includes a cylinder body, a neck extending from the cylinder body, a head extending from the neck. Four elongated grooves and four elongated ridges are alternately disposed with each other in a periphery of the cylinder body. Two elastic wings are formed at two opposite ridges. Two U-shaped engaging devices each including a pair of prongs are received in the four grooves, with each prong being received in a corresponding rear section of a corresponding elongated groove and leaving a front section of the groove unoccupied. Each U-shaped engaging device is slidable along the corresponding pair of elongated grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Inventor: Yu-feng Cheng
  • Patent number: 5403996
    Abstract: A cigar lighter receptacle construction includes a well part and a separate safety connector cartridge part adapted to be disconnectably carried at the rear of the well part. The parts have electrical connector structures forming engageable pairs of contactors. At least one pair of contactors is in the form of telescopic cup-like formations. There is further provided a bimetallic finger carried by the cartridge part, adapted to shunt the connector structures of the cartridge part in response to overheating of the well part. The arrangement is such that both the well part and the cartridge part are relatively simple sub-assemblies which can be manufactured at greatly reduced expense by virtue of the various assembly steps being carried out largely by automated equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Casco Products Corporation
    Inventors: Donald J. Mattis, Ali El-Haj
  • Patent number: 5354968
    Abstract: A battery powered electic cigarette lighter is formed of a half-case body and a half-case lid which can be snapped together to form a lighter casing in a manner which does not require any screws or welding. The half-case body and the half-case lid are formed with grooves which enable a spring loaded shutter to be slidably mounted in the casing. A detent in the form of a projection of the rear face of the shutter and a recess formed in the lighter casing holds the shutter in a fully closed position. The casing also contains structure which enables contacts, switch members, and a heater element to be set in position in the half-case body and to be retained in place when the half-case lid is snapped into position. The lighter casing also includes a battery compartment which is closed by a lid which is either pivotal or slidably received in grooves which are formed in the half-case body and half-case lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: Yumedia Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuo Yamamura
  • Patent number: 5285050
    Abstract: A flameless portable cigarette lighter includes a hollow housing containing a pair of batteries and having a front wall with an opening sized to allow only the insertion of a cigarette therethrough for contact with a vertically oriented electric resistance heating filament in the housing for igniting the cigarette. A flexible closure is formed integrally with a switch actuator slidabaly mounted on the housing front wall and movable therewith from a first position closing the opening to a second position allowing access therethrough of a cigarette. A switch is provided in the housing for selectively connecting the batteries to the filament for energization thereof and includes a flexible resilient conductor having a free end movable into electrical contact with a pole of one of the batteries by engagement with a protuberance at the upper end of the closure when the closure is in its second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: Electra-Lite, Inc.
    Inventor: William G. Blackburn
  • Patent number: 5275180
    Abstract: A vehicle cigarette lighter comprises a casing ball-jointed to a plug member which is removably insertable into and thus electrically connectable with a lighter socket formed on the dashboard of a vehicle. A lighting unit comprising a heating device is disposed within the casing to receive and light a cigarette therein. Warning circuits are provided to send off aural and visual signals when the cigarette is inserted into the cigarette lighter. A control circuit is provided to shut off power supplied thereto if the cigarette has been deposited in the cigarette lighter for a given period or the temperature of the heating device has reached a pre-determined level. The plug member has mounted on one end thereof a ring member which has several outward deflected resilient tabs formed by punching or pressing to provide a more secure contact with the lighter socket of vehicle dashboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Inventor: Jui-Hao Yeh
  • Patent number: 5274214
    Abstract: A flameless battery powered electric cigarette lighter has a resistance heating filament positioned within a lighter housing in spaced juxtaposition to an opening in the housing for admitting the leading end of a cigarette so that it may contact the heating filament and be ignited. A cylindrical ceramic support positioned in the housing by an annular rib thereon press fitted into engagement with portions of the housing has a circular recess facing the housing opening in which is positioned the heating filament. The recess protects the filament against breakage and serves to concentrate heat on the cigarette being ignited. The heating filament is automatically energized by a switch actuated by movement of a slidable flexible housing wall portion from a position closing the housing opening to an open position where a cigarette can be inserted through the opening for ignition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: Electra-Lite, Inc.
    Inventor: William G. Blackburn
  • Patent number: 5235157
    Abstract: A portable electric cigarette pocket cigarette lighter has a pair of mating housing halves of plastic defining a hollow parallelpiped housing in which is disposed a pair of AA penlight batteries in side-by-side relation and electrically connected through a normally open switch to a spiral electric heating element of Nichrome positioned in the housing in axial alignment with an opening in the housing front wall of size sufficient just to admit the leading end of a cigarette therethrough into contact with the heating element. A plurality of peg members disposed on the housing halves position a plurality of sheet metal conductors which electrically connect the battery, heating element and switch in a series circuit completed by manual closure of the switch to energize the heating element to light the inserted cigarette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Assignee: Electra-Lite, Inc.
    Inventor: William G. Blackburn
  • Patent number: 5223695
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: Schoeller & Co. Elektrotechnische Fabrik GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Roland Merchel, Alexander Fischer, Gerhard Zeuner, Gunther Dietz, Volker Dabringhaus, Peter Wegel
  • Patent number: 5199449
    Abstract: A tiltable ashtray, e.g. for motor vehicles, includes an ash receptacle, a support housing for a lighter and a lighter which are removably disposed in a receiving housing that is tiltably pivotally supported in an external frame receivable in a recess. The ash receptacle, receiving housing and lighter can be removed from the receiving housing and replaced with a storage bin. Detachable clip connectors hold those elements in the receiving housing enabling the bin to replace the other elements, and vice-versa. A contact assembly on a circuit board in the receiving housing is connectable to an electrical system. It includes an electrical contact for the cigarette lighter and an additional contact connection to an electric light in the receiving housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Assignee: Gebr. Happich GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Dabringhaus, Gunter Dietz, Udo Gutlein, Hans-Joachim Haase
  • Patent number: 5182436
    Abstract: A portable gas torch igniter includes a housing having a flame duct formed therein for the introduction of a gas torch. The flame duct is open at its rear end and has a front portion arranged substantially horizontally and has an open front end into which the torch tip can be inserted. A rear portion of the flame duct is directed upwardly at an angle in the range between 35 degrees and 55 degrees for directing the resulting flame up and away from the rear of the torch igniter. A glow plug is secured to a surface of the flame duct. An electric power source provides an electric current to the glow plug. Appropriate electrical connections are provided including an electrical switch attached to the housing for conducting electric current between the power source and the glow plug. The electrical switch is positioned so as to switch on when a tip of the welding torch is positioned in proximity to the glow plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1993
    Inventor: Gilbert J. Polidoro
  • Patent number: 5113879
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing lighted cigarettes is provided comprising a magazine open at its base and divided inwardly by vertical and parallel dividing walls into compartments such receiving a stack of cigarettes of a given brand, each compartment being provided with a selection device which, when it is actuated, lets the lowest cigarette in the compartment drop, a mobile floor passing under the magazine and having a cell parallel to the axis of the cigarette, a reversible motor for driving the mobile floor parallel to the base of the lighting device extending into the housing to light a cigarette therein of one of the selection devices, a housing parallel to the cell for receiving the selected cigarette and a lighting device mounted for sliding along said housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Inventor: Alain G. J. M. Alleon
  • Patent number: 5093554
    Abstract: An electric cigar lighter which can be fitted and illuminated automatically is disclosed. A reduction in parts of the electric cigar lighter, with the product being easier to fit in a dashboard, is achieved when the holding cup is additionally designed as a socket for the igniter plug having an incandescent head. A bimetallic spring contact electrically connected to the positive potential contact part, which in the operating state contacts an ignition dish of the incandescent head, is disposed on the inside wall area of the cup bottom, and at least one spring contact of the negative potential contact extends through the cup bottom to electrically contact and electrically engage with a conductive edge bead of the igniter plug. This means that the holding cup according to the present invention is used in an advantageous manner not only for illumination purposes, but also as a socket for the igniter plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: Schoeller & Co., Elektrotecnische Fabrik GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Alexander von Gaisberg, Klaus-Philipp Merz
  • Patent number: 5030811
    Abstract: An electric cigar lighter has an illumination device in which only an annular zone around an electric cigar lighter is illuminated by means of a luminous ring. The electric cigar lighter makes it possible to illuminate not only a luminous ring surrounding the cigar lighter but also the centrally situated actuating button. It includes a first reflection surface, a light transmission web, light-passage openings, and a second reflection surface. Light rays emitted by a lamp and incident on the first reflection surface, the light rays being parallel to the central axis and within a sleeve wall, are not only directed into the luminous ring via the light transmission web but are also reflected radially into the inside of the illumination sleeve, through the light-passage openings, onto the second reflection surface and from there are thrown into a front zone of the actuating button. According to the invention, substantially homogeneous light distribution over the entire front zone of the cigar lighter is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Assignee: Schoeller & Co., Elektrotechnische Fabrik GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Alexander von Gaisberg, Klaus-Philipp Merz
  • Patent number: 4947873
    Abstract: A microcomputer-controlled fully automatic lighting unit has a transmission line including a motor and necessary driving mechanism which, when being started, is able to deliver cigarettes to a place where they will be lighted by an induced electric heatable wire. The unit further has another transmission line including a motor and necessary driving mechanism which may send the lighted cigarette out of the unit and thereby safely and automatically completes a cycle of cigarette lighting procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Inventor: Chin C. Wang
  • Patent number: 4901196
    Abstract: A battery operated barbeque igniter has an igniter implement with an axially extending heater element and a sheath to keep the heater element from accidentally burning anything or anyone as it cools after use. The heater element is positioned inside a metal tube which is closed at one end. The heater element includes a spiral tungsten filament supported between two coaxial quartz tubes. The outer quartz tube is closed at one end. A central steel rod extends the length of the metal tube and serves both to position the tungsten filament inside the metal tube and as an electric conductor to one end of the filament. The rod is brazed to the inner quartz tube and the filament at one end of the filament. The outer quartz tube is brazed to the inner quartz tube and the other end of the filament. The sheath receives the heater element and is slotted to permit cooling of the heater element without inadvertent contact with it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Inventor: John D. Grzybowski
  • Patent number: 4816971
    Abstract: A flashlight with built-in lighter, which is to attach a cigarette lighting device to a regular flashlight, the cigarette lighting device being composed of: a locating plate fixedly placed inside the housing of the flashlight, a heat-resistant pad fixedly attached to the locating plate, having two semi-circular protrusions to form a groove therebetween for a heating wire to be placed therein, a heat-resistant bushing placed inside a cigarette ligthing hole on the housing of the flashlight with one end fixedly attached to a locating ring that is placed on the heat-resistant pad, a heating wire with both ends fixedly attached to the locating ring and connected with a push-button switch and a power source by electric wire through a series connection thereof; by means of the above arrangement to form a flashlight for illumination and for cigarette lighting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Inventor: Kurt L. Chin
  • Patent number: 4766855
    Abstract: A plasma jet ignitor apparatus for generating plasma from a plasma medium and for discharging the plasma as a jet into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. The apparatus has a plug which has electrodes from which an arc is generated. The arc causes the plasma medium which is supplied to the plasma generation cavity to become plasma. The plasma generation cavity is cooperatively arranged with magnetic field generation means, electrode discharging means and plasma medium supply means. The cavity has an inlet opening adjacent the plasma generation location at the bottom of the cavity and an outlet orifice at the top of the cavity. The plasma is ejected as a plasma jet, with a ring vortex structure, from the cavity and through the orifice. The magnetic field generation means is disposed as a magnetic field coil acting on the arc. The magnetic field is created by the discharge of a capacitor at the time of the formation of the plasma in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1988
    Assignee: Cummins Engine Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Luigi Tozzi
  • Patent number: 4733053
    Abstract: In a glow element with a glow tube (30) closed at the outer end, in which there at least two series-connected resistors (10, 11), whereby one of the at least two resistors being conductively connected by one end to the closed end of the glow tube and the opposite end of the series-connected resistors being connected to an internal pole (9) projecting into the glow tube from the other end thereof, in order to permit an external wiring of part of the resistors in the glow element, the internal pole (9) has a tubular construction and at least one electrical conductor (8) is passed through the internal pole and is connected to a junction (12) of the at least two resistors (10, 11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1988
    Assignee: Beru Ruprecht GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Helmut Mueller
  • Patent number: 4682008
    Abstract: A self-temperature control type glow plug includes a rod heater held at a front end of a hollow metal holder and having one end extending outside the hollow metal holder. The rod heater includes a heating section made of a conductive ceramic material with a small positive temperature coefficient and a control section made of a conductive ceramic material with a positive temperature coefficient larger than that of the heating section. The heating section is formed integrally with the control section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1987
    Assignee: Jidosha Kiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitusuke Masaka
  • Patent number: 4661686
    Abstract: A dual line ceramic glow plug uses a ceramic heater as an incandescent body which protrudes from the bottom of a metal fitting and which is made of an incandescent wire of a refractory metal embedded in a sintered ceramic powder. The bare ends of the incandescent wire terminate in a pair of metal terminal fittings secured to the end of the ceramic heater within the metal fitting. Electrical leads protruding from the terminal fittings are welded to a pair of terminal electrodes projecting outwardly from the top of the metal fitting. The ceramic heater is held in position by a metal sheath that is slipped over and bonded to the middle portion of said heater. The middle portion of the ceramic heater is brazed to the inner surface of the metal sheath in electrically insulated relation thereto with an intervening glass layer formed on the outer surface of the ceramic heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1987
    Assignees: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Shinichi Yokoi, Tsuneo Itoh, Seishi Yasuhara, Hiroshi Kondo
  • Patent number: 4650962
    Abstract: A cigar or cigarette lighter, particularly for mounting on the instrument panel of a motor vehicle, is effective to light the cigar or cigarette when a control knob is moved within a cylindrical casing, the control knob being connected to a metal rod which is provided at its inner end with a movable contact engageable with a fixed contact to energize an electrical heating resistance element within a hot plate, the cigar or cigarette being lighted when placed against the heating plate on energizing the heating resistance element to incandescence. A bimetal safety contact is insulatingly fitted on a threaded stem below the hot plate, the threaded stem also carrying the hot plate at its inner end and feeds electric power thereto. The bimetal safety contact expands under prolonged heat action to establish a contact to the cylindrical casing which is grounded thereby producing a short circuit which blows a fuse in the instrument panel to interrupt the feed of electrical power to the lighter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1987
    Inventor: Luigi Pramaggiore
  • Patent number: 4649260
    Abstract: There is described a lighter for ovens, open hearths and similar, which comprises a holder the one end of which on the one hand is extended with a support from fire-proof non-conducting material wherein an incandescent resistor is supported, which resistor may be engaged directly with the solid fuel to be lighted, such as wood or coal, and the other end of which on the other hand, is provided with a handle which is connectable to an electric power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1987
    Assignee: Coal-O-Matic PVBA
    Inventors: Florentinus Melis, Jan Verbergt, Willy Van Rooy
  • Patent number: 4622454
    Abstract: The knob of a handpiece for use in a push-pull type electric lighter is provided with an increased diameter portion positioned in closer proximity to the ignition end than the handle portion of the knob. At least one O-ring or like seal is mounted around the periphery of the increased diameter portion of the knob. The outer end of the socket which protrudes through an aperture in a panel, and the portion of the handpiece extending out from the socket when fitted into the socket are encased (except for the handle portion of the knob) in a hollow open-ended tubular housing mounted on the face of the panel. The O-ring of the handpiece is adapted to engage the interior wall of the tubular housing and form a water-tight, slidable seal therewith yet permit the handpiece to be pushed into and be pulled from the socket by means of the handle portion of the knob. The portions of the socket extending to the rear of the panel may be, and preferably are, encased by another housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1986
    Inventor: Leopold A. Castille
  • Patent number: 4603667
    Abstract: Device for fuel injection in combustion chambers of, in particular, selfigniting combustion engines with an injection nozzle (10) and a subsequently switched incandescent wire (20) which has a conduit (30) surrounded by a double heating layer (33) on the inside for passing through of the injection streams. The double heating layer (33) consists of an inner heating layer (35) which is separated from a second heating layer (37) by an electrical insulator. In the parallel as well as the series switching of the two heating layers (35,37), a two stage heating of the double heating layer (33) is possible. The inner heating layer (35) reaches the required end temperature required for ignition in a relative short time, while the second heating layer (37) assures a high energy density of the ceramic support mass (38).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1986
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Grunwald, Ernst Imhof, Iwan Komaroff, Gunther Schmid, Kurt Schmid
  • Patent number: 4583277
    Abstract: A tool bit for facilitating the application of a cigar lighter socket to an apertured mounting plate in an automobile, comprising a driving member having a shank receivable in the chuck of a power tool, and a separate shouldered plug member carried by the driving member and having a portion receivable in the mouth of the cigar lighter socket for the purpose of rotatably driving the same. Threads at the rear of the socket are screwed into mating threads of a clamping shell which is usually hand-held at the rear of the panel. The driving member and plug member can rotate with respect to one another against the action of a spring-charged clutch or detent on the members. When the plug member is inserted into the socket mouth it becomes keyed to the socket and effects a rotation of the same as power is applied to the driving member. When the desired torque is reached, the clutch slips, thereby insuring against overtightening and possible damage to the parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1986
    Assignee: Casco Products Corporation
    Inventor: Laurence G. Horwitt
  • Patent number: 4563568
    Abstract: A glow plug for preheating the combustion chamber of a diesel engine. The glow plug has a ceramic heater rod with an embedded resistor. A metal holder holds the front of the heater rod. A terminal assembly at the rear of the holder provides for two electrically isolated terminals which are connected to the heater rod by flexible, insulated wires. The insulating bush which isolates the terminals is formed by inserting insulating material between a metal pipe and the terminals. This pipe is then subject to external force to create an air-tight seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1986
    Assignee: Jidosha Kiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tozo Takizawa
  • Patent number: 4549070
    Abstract: A combined cigarette and chart/map lighter includes a elongated plug body which is adapted to cooperate with a socket connected to a source of electrical energy. An ignitor coil and cup are formed at a first end of the plug body, and a lamp socket, for receipt of a light bulb, is disposed interiorly of the plug body at a central portion of the plug body. A removable cap is formed at the second end of the plug body. A leaf spring electrical contact is provided within the plug body and is biased into engagement with a ground formed by the interior shell of the plug body. A cam follower is formed at the end of the leaf spring contact. A plastic generally U-shaped reciprocal element has linear cams formed at the free ends of each of the legs of the U, the linear cams capable of engaging the leaf spring cam follower and moving the leaf spring out of contact with the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1985
    Assignee: N. A. Taylor Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Jiann-Yu Huang
  • Patent number: 4544226
    Abstract: A two-piece clamp shell for an automotive electric cigar lighter of the type that includes a socket carried in a panel or other support surface of the vehicle and has a threaded inner end receiving energy through a snap-on fitting connected to the vehicle's electrical system. The clamp shell comprises a two-piece assemblage which can be applied to the socket from the underside of the panel, to secure the same in place. It includes a tubular, encircling body part and a nut part. The body part has a forward edge portion which engages the rear face of the support surface, and a rear edge portion which is engaged by the nut part, the latter having a thread mating with the socket thread, and abutments disposed forward of the thread. The rear edge of the body part is engaged by the abutments on the nut part during the clamping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1985
    Assignee: Casco Products Corporation
    Inventors: Peter J. Lupoli, John J. Comerford
  • Patent number: 4527048
    Abstract: A two-piece metal clamping shell for electric cigar lighters of the type employed in automobiles and other vehicles wherein a socket is carried in an aperture of the vehicle dashboard or other panel and an igniting unit or plug is receivable in the socket. The clamping shell includes a cylindrical body member which encircles the cigar lighter socket and which is adapted to secure the latter in its operative position. The body member of the shell is disposed behind the dashboard, and retains the socket by its engagement with the rear surface of the dash. The socket has a threaded portion at its inner end, and a similarly threaded clamp ring is applied thereto with the said body member being disposed between it and the dashboard's rear surface. The clamp ring has a peripheral nest portion adapted to centralize the body member with respect to the socket, and is capable of being tightened on the socket so as to secure the latter in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1985
    Assignee: Sun Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: John J. Comerford, Peter J. Lupoli
  • Patent number: 4523935
    Abstract: A ceramic structure including a metallic body such as an electric heater. The metallic body is retained in a retaining portion of the ceramic structure in such a manner that a minute cavity is provided around the metallic body. This ceramic structure is produced by forming an organic film around the metallic body, preparing a ceramic structure including the metallic body surrounded with the organic film in a retaining portion of the ceramic structure, and heating the resultant structure so as to decompose the organic film, whereby a minute cavity is formed around the metallic body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1985
    Assignee: Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Shigeru Takagi, Masahiro Tomita
  • Patent number: 4500774
    Abstract: The car cigar lighter of the present invention has such construction that it can easily be mounted on the panel nearby the driver's seat of a car and is superior in the operating ease and safety. Namely, it is characterized in that a holder and a positioning projection are formed on a socket by processing and on the other hand, at the center of a plug housed into said socket, a circular groove is formed and at the skirt portion of said plug, a ringed projection is formed respectively to enable controlling the sinking action of the knob by engaging the component members mentioned above with each other and also, with a base holder fixed into the cavity of the knob, a push nut secured to the base shaft of shaft body is press-fitted into the base holder to stick the knob easily to the shaft body. Further at the opening edge of a flange, a heat insulating resin ring is fitted to cover the edge, whereby any person who uses the cigar lighter can be prevented from getting burned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1985
    Assignee: Niles Parts Company, Limited
    Inventor: Kazumi Honjo
  • Patent number: 4493297
    Abstract: An ignition device of the plasma jet type is disclosed. The device has a cylindrical cavity formed in insulating material with an electrode at one end. The other end of the cylindrical cavity is closed by a metal plate with a small orifice in the center which plate serves as a second electrode. An arc jumping between the first electrode and the orifice plate causes the formation of a highly-ionized plasma in the cavity which is ejected through the orifice into the engine cylinder area to ignite the main fuel mixture.Two improvements are disclosed to enhance the operation of the device and the length of the plasma plume. One improvement is a metal hydride ring which is inserted in the cavity next to the first electrode. During operation, the high temperature in the cavity and the highly excited nature of the plasma breaks down the metal hydride, liberating hydrogen which acts as an additional fuel to help plasma formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1985
    Assignee: Geo-Centers, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. McIlwain, Jonathan F. Grant, Zsolt Golenko, Alan D. Wittstein
  • Patent number: 4481408
    Abstract: A horizontally extending, hexagonally-shaped, metal platter defining a slightly upwardly convex cooking surface is supported on top of an upwardly diverging frustoconical hollow pot. The lower end of the pot rests on the top of an upwardly converging frustoconical hollow base. The platter extends horizontally beyond the upper end of the pot around the entire circumference of the pot. A charcoal or electric heat source within the pot causes air to be drawn through an intake vent in the base and heated gases to flow upwardly through the pot. The upper end of the pot has a plurality of V-shaped exhaust vents spaced around its entire circumference and the vents are sized so that the velocity of the heated gases rising through the pot and escaping through the exhaust vents is sufficient to insure that the outer periphery of the platter will be heated to a cooking temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1984
    Inventor: John H. Scheufler
  • Patent number: 4477717
    Abstract: A glow plug has an outer metal housing have a wall defining an internal axially extending bore and a tubular heater that has an external tubular sheath of metal with a heated end of the sheath extending outwardly of the housing and an opposite internal end within the housing bore. The sheath is structurally secured to and electrically connected to the metal housing and the sheath has a closed outer end. An electrical heating element is positioned within the heater sheath and is electrically connected to the tubular sheath. The heating element has a conductor extending outwardly from the other end of the sheath. Electrical insulating material fills the space between the heating element and the sheath. An insulative compressible washer member is compressed between the sheath and the conductor to provide a first interference fit seal to prevent the flow of gas between the sheath and conductor and into the interior of the tubular heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1984
    Assignee: Wellman Thermal Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Frank T. Walton
  • Patent number: 4458637
    Abstract: In a glow plug for use in a diesel engine of the type wherein a heater rod is connected to one end of a hollow holder, and an external connecting terminal is inserted into the other end of the hollow holder through an electric insulator and electrically connected to the heater rod, an integrally combined terminal unit including a metal pipe, an electric insulator and the external connecting terminal embedded in the insulator is prepared. After inserting the terminal unit into the other end of the hollow holder, an external pressure is applied to the other end to deform the metal pipe for firmly bonding the metal pipe to the insulator. Thereafter an end surface of the other end of the hollow holder is caulked to form an annular ring that holds the inserted terminal unit. With this construction, the completed glow plug is maintained in a perfect air tight state regardless of the variation in the ambient temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1984
    Assignee: Jidosha Kiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sokichi Minegishi, Tozo Takizawa, Morimasa Furusawa
  • Patent number: 4456817
    Abstract: A cigar lighter, particularly for motor vehicles, comprising a plug body, which is insertable into a socket provided with current supply connections and in which an electrical heating element is mounted. An actuating device for switching current on, an indicator for indicating the operational state and a control device for automatically switching the heating process off is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1984
    Assignee: PEBRA GmbH Paul Braun
    Inventors: Walter Mehnert, Hans J. Kollner, Helmut Tonnes
  • Patent number: 4449036
    Abstract: An electric cigar lighter, such as used in a motor vehicle, has a bimetallic switch in the form of a snap disk positioned within a socket. When using commercial appliance plugs with such a snap disk, the diameter of the socket does not need to be enlarged compared to conventional sockets. Contact bounce and contact interruptions are prevented. These advantages are achieved by placing the contact disk and a contact part on an adjustment ring inserted with a sliding fit into a tubular member located within the socket. A control knob for the lighter fits into a plug sleeve within the socket. A spring spider on the control knob locks onto an annular bulge on the plug sleeve provides a pressure point for quickly switching the heating element to the on-position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1984
    Assignee: Schoeller & Co.
    Inventors: Georg Seibel, Gunther Mues, Theodor Horn
  • Patent number: 4431904
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an electric cigar lighter for use, for example in vehicles, having an improved circuit breaker which includes at least two thermostatic contacts mounted on a bottom of a tubular holder for receiving an igniting unit, an end cap secured to the outer face of the tubular holder, a movable contact unit which is movable in the end cap and a spring mounted in the end cap so as to rearwardly urge the movable contact unit. The thermostatic contacts are adapted to contact a bimetallic latch mounted in the tubular holder, and to rearwardly extend into the end cap. The movable contact unit includes a contact member in a form of a cap which, at a front end portion of a cylindrical wall thereof, a rib which is adapted to be engageable with ribs formed at the rear ends of the thermostatic contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1984
    Assignee: Seisakusho Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki
    Inventor: Masaru Suzuki
  • Patent number: 4429212
    Abstract: The present invention provides an ignition device for tobacco associated items such as cigars and cigarettes which is activated by a battery and only upon activation of a switch which connects the heating grid for the tobacco item and the battery which provides the necessary electrical power to cause the ignition. The device is protected from the accidental activation of the heating element due to the presence of moisture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1984
    Inventors: Sam D. Mock, Jr., Curtis D. Mock
  • Patent number: 4425495
    Abstract: Hydrogen ignitor and housing structure having high-strength and lightweight characteristics for surface mounting within a nuclear reactor containment vessel are disclosed. A unitary main body is formed from stainless steel sheet metal free of internal or external structural bracing to provide an open-ended enclosure for placement and interconnection of electrical transformer equipment for the hydrogen ignitor. The open end of the main body enclosure is hermetically sealed with a unitary stainless steel sheet metal cover plate which interlocks with the main body sidewall so that forces, due e.g. to changes of pressure, tending to distort the configuration of the sidewall or cover plate, are absorbed by both through such interlocking. Hermetic sealing of the enclosure is maintained while providing limited access for external placement of an ignitor glow probe and for line voltage power supply internally of the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1984
    Assignee: Morrison-Knudsen Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcus P. Cake, Harry W. Falter, Clement W. Batchelor, Michael A. Guarini
  • Patent number: 4414463
    Abstract: A glow-plug ignitor for diesel engines and the like, comprising a tubular body having external screw threads and an adjoining hexagonal formation by which a tool such as a wrench can be applied to the body to screw it into the threaded cavity of a cylinder. Next to the hexagonal formation is a spade lug connector for bringing current to the plug, the connector being so arranged as to permit the application of either a socket-type wrench or else a box-end wrench. The inner end of the body has an elongate projecting pin on which there is a tightly wound resistance coil that becomes incandescent when excited with the proper electric current. The valleys of the coil show higher temperatures, for a given heating current, due to the radiation and reception of radiated heat involving the opposed surfaces; therefore, starts at lower engine temperatures are improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1983
    Assignee: Sun Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: John T. Petrik, Brooke N. Westover
  • Patent number: 4406941
    Abstract: An electric charcoal igniting device consisting of an upright open-ended sleeve of fire-resistant sheet metal in combination with an electric heating element. The heat loop of the electric element is disposed in the interior of the sleeve and the insulated handle of the element is secured to the exterior wall of the sleeve. In use the device is placed directly onto the pan, or coal-holding grate, of a charcoal grill, the sleeve is filled with the desired amount of charcoal briquets or the like, and the electric element is plugged in to ignite the briquets. When the desired degree of ignition is obtained, the device is lifted by the handle leaving the ignited coals in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1983
    Inventor: John D. Schmerein, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4401065
    Abstract: In a glow plug, a pair of ceramic rods having longitudinal bonding surfaces are used as a heating rod. A resistor including a heater, and a pair of lead portions connected to both ends of the heater and extending to rear ends of the ceramic rods is continuously disposed on one bonding surface of the ceramic rods. One of the lead portions extends through a hollow metal holder, while the other lead portion is connected to an external connecting terminal mounted through an insulating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1983
    Assignees: Jidosha Kiki Co., Ltd., Isuzu Motors Ltd., Kyoto Ceramic Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sokichi Minegishi, Tozo Takizawa, Hideo Kawamura, Nobukazu Sagawa
  • Patent number: 4387292
    Abstract: The electrical resistance hot-plate of the plug of the lighter comprises a holder which houses and retains a heating element in the form of a metal strip shaped, for example, in accordion-pleated folds or a coil, so as to have consecutive turns which together define respective flat faces at the two opposing edges of the strip, at least one of which is so situated in correspondence with an open side of the holder for receiving the tip of a cigarette. The consecutive turns of the strip are spaced apart so as to define a plurality of interstices, and the holder has at least one opening opposite its open side to expose a greater part of the corresponding flat face of the heating element and allow a flow of air from one face of the element to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1983
    Assignee: Squirrel S.p.A.
    Inventor: Alberto Vitaloni
  • Patent number: 4374489
    Abstract: An adaptable device attachable, adjustable and removable to and from the underside of natural or LP gas, electrical and certain conventional cooking grills and ovens, stationary or portable, such as are commonly employed to grill or cook food. The device includes a removable coupling unit which is mounted to a draft opening, normally a part of the underside of a grill or cooking unit. The lower area of the removable coupling unit has a smoking column, which is a tube, hollow column or barrel apparatus connectable thereto in a locking fashion and disconnectable therefrom in a reverse locking fashion, into which is placed a measurable volume of hardwood flakes or fine particles. Provided also is an electrical power heating source element to ignite or smolder the hardwood fine particles of flakes, the electric power heating source being sealed in the lower portion of the smoking column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1983
    Assignee: Ole-Arkie Corp.
    Inventor: Jack Robbins
  • Patent number: 4359977
    Abstract: A heater plug comprising a heater coil connected to a terminal pin, said terminal pin maintained in gas-tight manner at least in part within and insulated from a plug shell, at least the surface of said heater coil formed by a metal or a base alloy of a metal of the platinum group said heater coil supported by heat electrically insulating rod-like or tubular supporting body heater coil surrounded by a protective tube.The heater plug is useful as a starting aid for diesel engines and other internal combustion engines, especially those without spark ignitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1982
    Assignee: W. C. Heraeus GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Sperner, Fritz Aldinger, Wilhelm Zwergel
  • Patent number: RE31452
    Abstract: A quick-acting electric cigar lighter employing a bimetallic disk constituting an electric switching member. The disk is secured in place by a mounting stud, utilizing a welding procedure. The welding does not adversely affect the functioning of the switch due to the provision of a central offset portion in the disk, which tends to relieve stresses on the weld, preventing any failure at that location. The lighter is activated by pushing the igniting unit inward to bring the heating element cup into physical contact with the bimetallic disk. Over-stressing of the bimetallic disk is prevented by mounting the same in a recessed insulating block which has lands that are engaged by the cup after a pre-determined amount of actuation of the plug has occurred. An effective, long-life contact between the cup and the disk is had by the use of special metals which co-act to minimize pitting, deterioration, etc., one metal comprising aluminum which cooperates with other metals such as copper or silver. .Iadd.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1983
    Assignee: Casco Products Division of Sun Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence E. Fenn, Charles R. Sperry
  • Patent number: RE31908
    Abstract: A glow-plug .[.ignitor for diesel engines and the like,.]. comprising a tubular body having external screw threads and an adjoining hexagonal formation by which a tool such as a wrench can be applied to the body to screw it into .[.the.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.threaded cavity .[.of a cylinder.].. Next to the hexagonal formation is a spade lug connector for bringing current to the plug, the connector being so arranged as to permit the application of either a socket-type wrench or else a box-end wrench. The inner end of the body has an elongate projecting pin on which there is a tightly wound resistance coil that becomes incandescent when excited with the proper electric current. The valleys of the coil show higher temperatures, for a given heating current, due to the radiation and reception of radiated heat involving the opposed surfaces.[.; therefore, starts at lower engine temperatures are improved.]..
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1985
    Assignee: Sun Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: John T. Petrik, Brooke N. Westover