The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 26, 1982
Filed:
Dec. 12, 1980
Charles T Kao, Richardson, TX (US);
Other;
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. Because of the location of the heating element within the chimney passage, tobacco particles which are dislodged when the cigarette is inserted fall downwardly through the chimney passage into the ashtray.