Electric cigar lighter with bimetallic snap active temperature

Abstract

An electric cigar lighter for installation in a dashboard of a motor vehicle, has an electrically conductive lighter plug containing an electrically conductive glow coil dish with a glow coil having one end electrically connected to the glow coil dish and another end connected to the lighter plug. A socket having a plug-in contact electrically connected to a negative-pole terminal establishes electrical connection with the lighter plug when the lighter plug is inserted therein. A switch associated with the lighter plug includes a fixed non-flexible contact element secured in the bottom of the socket in electrically insulated relationship thereto and electrically connected to a positive-pole terminal and the glow coil dish which is mounted at the end of the lighter plug and arranged for movement relative thereto into and out of electrical contact with the contact element. A bimetallic snap-action disc disposed in the lighter plug in heat exchange relationship with the glow coil is arranged to move the glow coil dish out of electrical contact with the switch contact element upon attainment of a predetermined temperature. A push-button is provided in the lighter plug for resetting the bimetallic snap-action disc and moving the glow coil dish into contact with the contact element to initiate operation of the lighter.