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 resistant 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.

Abstract: A cigarette lighter which uses household current features automatic operation by manipulation of the cigarette only. The cigarette lighter includes a housing having an ashtray portion and an upper housing portion having a passage defining a chimney overlying the ashtray. A cigarette guide passage communicates with the chimney passage and an electrical resistance heating element is disposed within the chimney passage in alignment with the cigarette guide passage. An actuator is movably mounted within the cigarette guide passage for energizing the resistance heating element in response to the insertion of a cigarette into the guide passage, and for de-energizing the heating element in response to the withdrawal of the cigarette from the guide passage. An updraft caused by heat generated by the resistance heating element carries smoke upwardly through the chimney, thereby providing a visual indication that the cigarette has ignited.

Abstract: A glow plug for accelerating the ignition of fuel in a combustion chamber of a diesel engine is disclosed. The glow plug comprises a shell releasably engagable with a head of a combustion chamber of the diesel engine, and an electrically conducting, tubular heater carried by and electrically connected to the shell. The heater has an open end within the shell, and an opposed closed end extending longitudinally therefrom. The glow plug also comprises a heating filament disposed within the heater adjacent to the closed end and electrically insulated from the tubular body thereof. The heating filament has a first end electrically connected to the closed end of the heater and a second end; it is one which heats to a predetermined design temperature when a specified voltage is applied thereto. The glow plug also comprises an insulator carried by the shell, and a terminal assembly carried by the insulator.

Abstract: A cigarette case including a row of tubular sockets in which cigarettes are fitted, an electric circuit inside the case including a spiral heating coil positioned adjacent one end of each cigarette, the coil being mounted on a slide block having an externally extending push button which when pushed, pushes the cigarette end outwardly of an edge of the case, and at a same time slides the contacts of the coil into engagement with stationary contacts connected to dry cell batteries, so to heat the coil and thus ignite the cigarette as it is being pushed outwardly from the case.

Abstract: The invention is a method of making a pressure tight seal for a glow plug characterized by applying a high current to heat a groove (31) in the outer shell (3) of a glow plug while simultaneously pressing together the sealing elements adjacent the groove i.e. an insulator (2), a gasket (1), the flared end (42) of a protective tube (4) and a shoulder (32) within the shell (3). The grooves (31) concentrates the heat and allows the shell to be compressed around the elements of the seal.

Abstract: A cigarette lighter, particularly for mounting on the dashboard of a motor vehicle, having a control knob mounted for sliding movement within a cylindrical casing and acting through a spring upon a control rod extending up to and in engagement with a pivotally mounted contact plate for energizing and deenergizing a hot plate adapted to light a cigarette when it is placed with its end thereagainst. A bimetal tongue is secured adjacent the hot plate and grips one edge of said pivotally mounted contact plate in the operative position thereof to release it when the bimetal tongue gets hot and thereby deenergize the hot plate.The cigarette is held in a removable insert in the control knob. When the insert is removed, the lighter can be used for lighting cigars. The cylindrical casing is surrounded by spring means for attachment of the lighter in a hole in the dashboard.

Abstract: A fast response ceramic ignitor which is particularly adapted for use with household current as a replacement for gas pilot lights, the ignitor being formed from pure lanthanum chromite, or lanthanum chromite which has been doped with combinations of niobium, magnesium, or strontium ions in quantities sufficient to provide desired electrical resistivity characteristics.

Abstract: An electrical cigarette-lighter device for mounting on a vehicle dashboard has a fixed hollow body part and a removable elongate candle part normally stowed in the body part. The candle part includes an electrically-energizable burner and a surrounding outer sleeve. To facilitate use of the device, the operative front face of the burner is arranged to face sideways in the sleeve and an access aperture is provided in the sidewall of the sleeve. With such an arrangement of the candle part, a user upon removing the candle part out of the dashboard-mounted body part, will normally only need to turn the candle part through 90.degree. to light a cigarette held between his lips.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device allowing a plurality of electrical devices to be operated from the same power source at one time. The device comprises a compact attractive unit housing a plurality of receptacles for receiving electrical plugs commonly used on automotive accessories. An electrically conductive, and rigid bar runs the length of the box and electrically connects the positive pole of each receptacle while mechanically locating the rear of each receptacle.An electrically conductive plate runs the length of the box, serving as both the ornamental facing of the box and electrically connecting the negative pole of each receptacle to the ground wire. The current entering the box runs through an automatically resetting circuit breaker, which operates to prevent damage to the system from an overload of current being drawn through the device.

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 effect 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.

Abstract: An electric cigar lighter for automobiles and the like, comprising a holder device presenting an outwardly facing socket, and an ignitor plug receivable in the socket. The plug comprises a manually operable part, and carries a heating element which is electrically connected in circuit with a normally-closed heat-responsive switch that is disposed in the holder device. The socket, in addition to its grounding circuit, has a "hot" contact which is engageable with a cooperable contact on the plug to effect the circuit through the heating element when the manually operable part is depressed. The holder device also carries a bimetallic member which is engageable with one of the parts of the switch. The member normally occupies a closed-circuit position wherein it is separated from the one switch part.

Abstract: The automatic dispenser comprises as a unit a container for holding a plurality of unlit cigarettes which is positioned above a support adjacent to a cigarette lighter or electric heater. A rotatable dispenser which forms part of the unit is positioned between the container and the support. Electronic circuitry is provided to control the length of time the electric heater remains lit, and cam actuated switching devices are connected with the dispenser to energize the electric heater each time the dispenser moves or transports a cigarette from the container to the support for lighting the cigarette. The support is provided with an opening through which the unlit end of the cigarette may be grasped and removed after being lit.

Abstract: An igniter and flame sensor electrode assembly which is suitable for mounting in a conventional thermocouple bracket in close proximity to a fuel burner so that the assembly can be employed in an ignition system to ignite the burner and sense a flame due to its conductive and/or rectification properties. The assembly is shaped similar to a conventional thermocouple and includes a tubular shaped probe having an ignition port in which the igniter element is mounted and a sleeve therearound which forms the flame sensing electrode. The housing for the igniter and flame sensor electrode is formed in two halves and the electrical connections to the flame sensing electrode and igniter element are made by lead wires located in axial bores within the housing.

Abstract: An automatic electric cigar lighter for automobiles and the like having a socket and an ignitor plug receivable in the socket. The plug comprises a manually operable part carrying an electric heating element which can be electrically connected to the socket circuit, the latter having a normally open heat-responsive switch that becomes closed normally-open the manually operable part is first pushed to a deep position in the socket. The socket has a grounding circuit and a "hot" contact that is engageable with a cooperable contact on the plug to effect the electrical circuit through the heating element. The socket also carries a bi-stable bimetallic member which is engageable with one of the parts of the noramlly-open switch to control the latter. The bimetallic member normally occupies an open-circuiting position wherein it abuts the one switch part to maintain the switch open.

Abstract: An electrical cigar lighter for automotive vehicles is provided with a socket assembly and a plug assembly including a heater element adapted to be electrically heated when the plug assembly is in a connected position within the socket assembly. Electrical circuitry is provided within the socket assembly to effect electrical heating of the heater element. A bimetallic switch including a snap disc for making and breaking contact with the electrical circuitry in response to the temperature of the heating element is also provided in the socket assembly. A dish-shaped contact member formed as part of the heater element of the plug assembly operates to place the heater element in circuit with the electrical circuitry of the socket assembly.

Abstract: An automatic electric cigar lighter, and especially a cigar lighter igniting unit as used for automobiles and the like. The cigar lighter has a holder which presents an outwardly facing socket, and embraces a unique ignitor plug that is received and stored in the socket. At its inner end the plug has a heating element for electrical connection in the circuit of a heat-responsive switch which is also carried by the plug. The latter comprises a manually operable part by which the heat-responsive switch can be closed to complete the heating circuit through the element. A bimetallic member is also carried by the plug, being engageable with one of the switch parts and normally having a circuit-opening position wherein it maintains the one switch part separated from the other. The member is shifted to a closed-circuit position when the plug is actuated. In both positions it receives radiant heat when the heating element is incandescent.

Abstract: The plug portion of a cigar lighter is assembled using a decorative disc held in place by the shaft of a knob being threaded into a disc which is secured against protuberances in a cup by a rolled flange.

Abstract: An electric igniting element as used in automobile cigar lighters, jet engine igniters and like devices, comprising a spirally wound tight coil made of metal heater ribbon which is transversely formed to have a cross-sectional configuration roughly similar to a wide-spread letter "V" but with a flattened bottom portion and two beaded edge surfaces along one side, which greatly facilitate the coil winding process, effect a greater uniformity, extend the range of coil stock that can be handled while at the same time resulting in a nesting and interlocking of the convolutions that not only provide a mutual support of the same but also produce a small coil having a high metal density.

Abstract: A device for heating keys comprised of a plug which fits the socket of a cigarette lighter having means for heating a key. The device is comprised of a heating element surrounding a slot in the plug into which a key may be inserted for heating. The plug, when pushed into the cigarette lighter receptacle, activates the heating element which in turn heats the key. The device can be constructed as a slot in an existing cigarette lighter for use in conjunction with it, or may be a separate adapter plug. The device is activated by pushing the key into the slot in the plug or cigarette lighter and engaging the contacts by pushing the plug inward.

Abstract: A thin-walled closed metal sleeve in which a heating wire is placed is attached in a socket which is formed with a bore with a carefully smoothly finished inner surface free from grooves or ridges and accurately dimensioned to a predetermined diameter; the outer diameter of the glow plug sleeve is formed to be just slightly larger and the sleeve is then press-fitted, after having been axially aligned with the bore by axially pressing it into the bore; preferably, the end portion of the bore through which the sleeve is inserted is slightly chamfered or funnel-shaped. The manufacturing step of dimensioning and finishing the bore is preferably carried out by ball calibration, that is, by pressing a hardened steel ball therethrough.

Abstract: An assembly for an electric igniter used principally for the ignition of gaseous fuels includes a mechanical holder and shield for conveniently mounting the igniter in a gas appliance, for example, and for protecting the same from damage. The holder is preferably ceramic and includes a bore within which the igniter is supported and through which electrical leads and terminal tabs extend, and the shield, which surrounds at least substantially all of the high temperature end of the igniter, is attached to the ceramic holder in a facile manner and provides sufficient open passages for effective heat transfer from the igniter to effect ignition of a fuel discharged proximate thereto.

Abstract: A partitioning sleeve is positioned in the main body of a thermal actuator to form a separate internal liquid reservoir from which fluid may be supplied to the actuator heater. The heater is part of a heater sub-assembly that is sealed in an opening formed in the main body of the actuator so that the coil-type electric resistance heater is accurately positioned for submersion in liquid in the variable volume chamber formed in the main body of the actuator. Moreover, the recycling or cool down time for the thermal actuator is reduced by thermal transfer between an appreciable contacting surface area of an extensible diaphragm that partly forms the actuator chamber and a guide cap that also supports and guides the diaphragm during its extension to enlarge the variable volume chamber.

Abstract: A safety device for preventing deleterious overheating of an electrical lighter such as used in motor vehicles provides a short circuit in the electrical power supply circuit to the lighter upon occurrence of a dangerous overheating condition so that a circuit breaker in the circuit is actuated to deenergize the lighter. The safety device includes a pair of electrical contacts on the lighter socket separated by a thermoplastic insulating member in heat exchange relationship with the socket and being composed of a material which has a softening point above the normal operating temperature of the lighter but below the temperature at which thermal damage may occur in the vicinity of the lighter when overheating occurs. One of the contacts is spring biased toward the other and the softening of the insulating member allows the contacts to electrically engage under the force of the spring bias to establish a short circuit for actuating the circuit breaker.

Abstract: The dashboard of the automobile has an opening through which a tubular casing projects behind the dashboard. On the casing is a bell having a tubular extension telescoped on the casing. The bell, its extension and the casing are clamped to the dashboard. A trigger is pivoted to the tubular extension and has a hammer to strike the bell, a trigger finger projecting into the casing, and a spring to bias the hammer against the bell. Slidably and removably mounted in said casing is a push-pull unit comprising a plug telescoped within a sleeve and adopted to be moved forwardly relative to the sleeve to compress a coil compression spring between the plug and sleeve.

Abstract: This invention relates to cigar lighters of the removable igniting unit type. According to this invention the core of the knob mounted on the igniting unit is made of a material having the property of piping light. A lamp housing is mounted on the sleeve of the holding device over a side wall opening thereof. An electric lamp in said housing produces light to pass into the interiors of the shell as well as the core of the knob whereby the front of the knob is illuminated clearly in the dark when the igniting unit is in place on the holding device and the interior of the shell is well illuminated when the igniting unit is removed. Therefore, by the provision of the present improved illuminating means, a much increased degree of safety is provided for the driver who travels at high speed at night to obtain a light for his cigarette without slowing down.

Abstract: An improved clamp shell for cigar lighters is disclosed. The improvement comprises means associated with the clamp shell for automatically aligning the position of the clamp shell with respect to the cigar lighter socket to aid in assembly of the structure in a motor vehicle.

Abstract: A housing is provided including an upper portion for storing a plurality of cigarettes and a lower portion including cigarette support and ignition structure for supporting and igniting a cigarette dispensed thereto by gravity from the upper portion. The upper portion includes cigarette dispensing structure for dispensing single cigarettes downwardly by gravity toward the support and ignition structure. The cigarette support and ignition structure is of a construction to support a cigarette to be ignited in an inclined position and includes an electrical resistance heating element positioned for end abutting engagement of the lower end of the supported cigarette to be ignited, whereby the lower end of the cigarette will be ignited upon actuation of the electrical resistance heating element.