US1983645A - Electric lighter - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 11, 1934. M SORENG 1,983,645

ELECTRIC LIGHTER Filed Jan. 2, 1951 V Tlimiimmmm/ Patented Dec. 11, 1934 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC LIGHTER 11]., a. corporation of Soreng-Manegold 00. tion of Illinois Application January 2,

3 Claims.

Thisinvention relates in general to electric lighters provided for the lighting of cigars, ciga-- rettes, etc.,.and to electric heating units or assemblies. adapted for use in cigar and cigarette lighters and for other'uses, and the invention has for animportant object the-provision of an electric cigar orcigarette lighter and unit of economical construction and adapted to automatically complete the heatingcircuit upon merely inverting the lighter or unit from a normal inoperative position of rest to a position exposing the heating coil for use.

The invention contemplates the provision of a body having a supporting base in which or through which the lighting unit proper is arranged with the electric circuit normally interruptedas the lighter rests between periods of use upontable, desk,'or other support, and which may be merely lifted and inverted to present the heatingcoil and its protecting mica or similar disc-,for use. with automatic completion of the lighting or heating circuit.

The-invention has for its particular purpose the provision of a lighter unit having this simple automatic action, the partsof which will be of simple, durable construction and capable of manufacture at low-cost.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a lighter of the character described,-.which may be constructed of a simple, molded body and an active heating .unit easily insertable thereinto in permanent fixed relation.

Anotherimportant object of the invention is the provision of a lighter unit having a gravity control heating circuitcompleting member, the partsof which may be cheaply manufactured and easily assembled.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken 40 in connection with the accompanying drawing,

discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section through the body of the lighter, the unit being shown in elevation, the arrangement of the parts being that assumed between periods of use and while the lighter is resting upon a table, desk or other support.

"Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the lighter inverted into position for use;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the lighter;

Fig. 4 is a. transverse, horizontal section, taken just beneath the spring member or arms which retain the lighter member in the body; and

Illinois, and one-half to Chicago llL, a corpora- 1931, Serial No. 506,082

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section showing said spring member or arms in holding relation with the lighter body.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown on the drawing a cigar or cigarette lighter in which it is embodied. This lighter comprises a body 11 preferably of molded opaque glass and provided with legs 12 which constitute a support for the lighter. The body is provided internally with a recess 13 extending up from the under surface to provide a pocket for the lighter unit generally indicated by reference character 14. The body also is provided with a side recess 15 in which may be arranged the electric cord or conduit 16 for supplying current from the ordinary house lighting system through the usual plug 17 adapted to be inserted into a wall socket of usual construction.

The lighter unit 14 comprises, in the present embodiment of the invention, a cylindrical body part 18 which is provided with an enlarged integral head 19. The cylindrical body 18 and the head 19 are of porcelain or other insulating material and the head 19 is provided with a recess 21 adapted to contain a high resistance electric heating coil 22 disposed over the lower or exposed face of the head 19 and at its ends electrically connected to conductor posts or rods 23 and 24, as may be observed in Fig. 3. A protecting disc 25 of mica or other suitable material is arranged over the heating coil 22. This disc is provided with the usual openings 26 to permit contact of the cigar or cigarette with the heating coil and this disc is held in place by a flange collar 27 embracing the head 19.

The conductor post or rod 23 is eccentrically arranged in the lighter body 18 and is electrically connected to an embracing metal collar 28 disposed about the body 18. This collar is electrically connected at 29 to one of the wires 31 of the conductor or conduit 16.

The conductor post or rod 24 extends through the insulating body 18 and is slidably embraced therebeyond by a gravity member or weight 32. The weight 32 normally rests upon a nut 33 threaded on the post or rod 24 and in such position the lighting or heating circuit is interrupted.

A bracket 34 is carried by the body or carrier 18 and upon insulating bushings 35 and 36 disposed about the rod 24. The bracket 34 extends laterally from the bushings 35 and 36 as indicated at 37 and thence upwardly to an overhanging flange 38 arranged for engagement with the weight or gravity member 32 when the lighter is inverted, from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2. The second wire 39 of the conductor or conduit 16 is soldered or otherwise secured to the bracket 34 at 41. The overhanging flange 38 preferably terminates short of the axis of the post 24 so-that upon inversion of the unit or lighter this fiange engages the presented face of the weight 32 near or merely inwardly of its end. Thus engaged the weight is tilted and firm contact between both the flange 38 and the rod 24 is insured to complete the electric circuit.

A wedging spring member 42, which may be of Steel and of the leaf spring form shown in the drawing, is arranged to hold the lighter unit permanently in place within the body 11. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, this spring member is flat and has a length somewhat greater than the diameter or width of the recess 13. It is provided with a central aperture 43 adapted toreceive the rod 24 and is preferably arranged between the insulating bushing 35 and a nut 44 on the rod 24.

In the manufacture of the lighter, the lighter unit is preferably first completely assembled and is then pushed into the recess 13 with the conductor or conduit 16 arranged in the lateral or side recess 15 of the body. In this movement, the spring or wedge member 42 is bowed or deflected upwardly at its center, its end corners or edges scraping along the side of the recess 13 as the lighter unit is forced home. Thereafter, the corners or edges of the spring member 42 wedgingly and permanently engagethe sides of the recess to preventwithdrawal of the unit, as may be observed particularly in Fig. 5.

It will be manifest that the lighter when arranged, as shown in Fig. l, is inoperative because the circuit is broken between the weight or gravity member 32 and the part 38 of the bracket. When, however, the lighter is lifted and-inverted into the position shown in Fig. 2, the weight 32 moves down into contact with the bracket part 38 closing the delivery circuit and heating the coil 22 for use. 7

While the heating unit has been hereinbefore described as incorporated in a cigar or cigarette lighter, it willbe readily apparent that it may be employed for otherpurposes and since it is capable of first assembly in a complete self-contained entity, it may be separately manufactured and sold. 7 r I It is thought that. thisinvention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form,. construction and arrangement of the 'parts without departing from the spirit and scope of, theinvention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. An electric lighter for cigars, cigarettes, etc., comprising, in combination, a body having a supporting base and a recess extending upwardly from the base in the said body, and a lighter unit mounted in said recess and including a porcelain insulating carrier, a conductor rod supported by saidcarrier, a gravity member on said conductor rod normally arranged in inoperative position, and a circuit completing bracket carried by said carrier and arranged upon opposite sides of said gravity member and for engagement by said gravity member to complete the lighting circuit upon inversion of said lighter.

2. An electric cigar lighter comprising in combination, a housing, and a lighter unit mounted in said housing, with said unit comprising an insulating member extending upwardlyinto said housing, a heating coil carried by said member at one end, a pair of conducting rods secured to opposite ends of said heating coil, with one of said rods supported centrally of said insulating member and out of contact with the other, a U- shaped circuit completing bracket with one leg thereof mounted on the insulating member and normally out of electrical contact with said first rod, an electrical circuit connection with said a bracket, and a second connection with the second conducting rod, a gravity member slidable upon said first rod and adapted to contact a second leg of the bracket opposite the first upon inversion of the lighter whereby to complete a circuitv through the heating coil and conducting rods.

3. An electric cigar lighter comprising in combination, a body having a supporting base and a recess extending upwardly in the body from the base, and a lighter unit mounted in said recess,v with said unit comprising an insulating member extending upwardly into the recess, a conducting rod carried centrally in said insulating member, a second conducting rod carried in said member out of contact with the first rod, a metal collar on the outside of said member but in contact with the second rod, a U-shaped-circuit-completing bracket carried by one leg thereof on top of the insulating member, a gravity member slidably carried on said first rod between said legs of the: V

bracket, a heating coil mounted on the insulating member connected at each end to a conducting rod, a two wire conduit with one wire connected to said bracket and the other to the metal collar whereby upon inversion of said lighter, said gravity member will contact the second leg of the bracket and complete a circuit through the rods and coil.

EDGAR M. SORENG.

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