Electric cigar lighter with thermostatic bimetallic current control

Claim 1

A cigar lighter apparatus, comprising in combination: a. a holding device having mEans for attaching it to a supporting panel, said device presenting an outwardly-facing socket, b. an elongate igniter plug adapted to be received in the socket of the holding device, said plug being movable therein between shallow and deep positions and having a spiral heating coil at its inner end, c. a metal cup surrounding and connected to the heating coil, d. means establishing an electrical circuit from one portion of the holding device through the metal cup and heating coil of the igniter plug and back to another portion of the holding device in response to movement of the igniter plug from its shallow position in the socket to its deep position therein, thereby to effect energization of the coil, e. said circuit-establishing means comprising a sharp edge on the rim of the metal cup and comprising an annular cooperable electrical contact on the holding device, f. a source of electrical power having a given nominal output voltage range, connected to said portions of the holding device, and g. a substantially flat heat-responsive means juxtaposed and disposed broadside to said heating coil for substantially instantly actuating said circuit-establishing means to completely open said electrical circuit in response to rapid heating of the coil to a predetermined useful temperature, h. said heat-responsive means comprising a bimetallic, thermostatic dish-like member of large expanse which responds to heat by moving said annular contact axially away from said heating coil and rim of the metal cup of the igniter plug when the latter is continuously held in its deep position in the holding device, said member when cold having a concave side facing the heating coil, i. the continuous-duty voltage rating of said heating coil being a fraction of the nominal output voltage of said electrical power source such that the coil would heat substantially instantly and quickly burn out if the circuit through it remained closed for more than several seconds.