US4008385A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automobile cigarette lighter
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-04-19
•
Granted: 1977-02-15
•
Expires: 1996-04-19
Abstract
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. The plug carries an element adopted to be heated to glowing condition when the plug is pushed relative to the sleeve and casing to compress said compression spring, as it moves to a position where said element is grippingly engaged by a spring clamp at the end of said casing, and which clamp carries current from the battery when fingers of the clamp grip said element, to thereby heat said element to glowing condition. When said element is sufficiently heated, the spring clamp opens up automatically because the spring fingers of the clamp expand outwardly and release the plug, so that the compression spring between the plug and sleeve retracts the plug relative to the sleeve as it moves to normal condition. As the plug was pushed into heating position it engaged the finger of the trigger and retracted the hammer away from the bell thereby tensioning the trigger spring. When the element is sufficiently heated, the plug is released and moves back and recedes to normal position, thereby allowing the trigger spring to swing the hammer against the bell to strike the bell and make a sound which signals the operator of the automobile to pull out the plug and its sleeve as a unit and light his cigarette. Without such signal, the operator might forget to pull out the push-pull unit and use it.
Inventors
- 👤 William Draghi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 01:38
CPC Classifications
F; F23; F23Q; F23Q7/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
286 words
A cigarette and cigar lighter comprising a tubular casing, a push-pull unit comprising a sleeve slidable in said casing and a plug slidable in said sleeve, means to limit movement of said sleeve relative to said casing in one direction, in a predetermined position of said sleeve relative to said casing, said plug being movable relative to said sleeve, spring means interposed between said sleeve and plug and adapted to be loaded upon moving said plug relative to said sleeve in said direction, to a predetermined position of said plug relative to said casing, means to hold said plug in said predetermined position of said plug relative to said casing, an element on said plug adapted to heat up and glow upon receiving current, means to grip said element to complete an electric circuit through said element, to heat said element to glow, in said predetermined position of said plug relative to said casing and to automatically release said plug when said element is heated to a glowing condition, to allow said loaded spring means to retract said plug relative to said sleeve, and break said circuit through said element, audible signal means and means controlled by said plug, to actuate said signal means to produce an audible signal upon said plug being retracted, said audible signal means comprising a bell, a trigger pivoted relative to said bell, a hammer on said trigger adapted to strike said bell, spring means connecting said trigger to said bell to bias the trigger for rotation in one direction, and means on said plug adapted to rotate said trigger in an opposite direction to load the trigger spring means, upon moving said plug relative to said sleeve in said direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
286 words
A cigarette and cigar lighter comprising a tubular casing, a push-pull unit comprising a sleeve slidable in said casing and a plug slidable in said sleeve, means to limit movement of said sleeve relative to said casing in one direction, in a predetermined position of said sleeve relative to said casing, said plug being movable relative to said sleeve, spring means interposed between said sleeve and plug and adapted to be loaded upon moving said plug relative to said sleeve in said direction, to a predetermined position of said plug relative to said casing, means to hold said plug in said predetermined position of said plug relative to said casing, an element on said plug adapted to heat up and glow upon receiving current, means to grip said element to complete an electric circuit through said element, to heat said element to glow, in said predetermined position of said plug relative to said casing and to automatically release said plug when said element is heated to a glowing condition, to allow said loaded spring means to retract said plug relative to said sleeve, and break said circuit through said element, audible signal means and means controlled by said plug, to actuate said signal means to produce an audible signal upon said plug being retracted, said audible signal means comprising a bell, a trigger pivoted relative to said bell, a hammer on said trigger adapted to strike said bell, spring means connecting said trigger to said bell to bias the trigger for rotation in one direction, and means on said plug adapted to rotate said trigger in an opposite direction to load the trigger spring means, upon moving said plug relative to said sleeve in said direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination of claim 1, a tubular extension on said bell, said casing and extension having superposed slots through which said trigger passes, said trigger having a finger inside said casing to be engaged by said plug.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination of claim 2, a dashboard having an opening, said casing passing through said opening, said bell surrounding said opening, and means to attach said bell and casing to said dashboard.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The combination of claim 3, and means on said casing to releasably retain said sleeve in said casing in said predetermined normal position of said sleeve relative to said casing, against movement of said sleeve in an opposite direction out of said casing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The combination of claim 1, and means on said casing to releasably retain said sleeve in said casing in said predetermined normal position of said sleeve relative to said casing, against movement of said sleeve in an opposite direction out of said casing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination of claim 1, a tubular extension on said bell, said casing and extension having superposed slots through which said trigger passes, said trigger having a finger inside said casing to be engaged by said plug, said extension having means slidably engaging in said superposed slots.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination of claim 6, a dashboard having an opening, said casing passing through said opening, said bell surrounding said opening, and means to attach said bell and casing to the dashboard.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The combination of claim 7, and means on said casing to releasably retain said sleeve in said casing in said predetermined normal position of said sleeve relative to said casing, against movement of said sleeve in an opposite direction out of said casing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
346 words
A cigarette and cigar lighter, comprising a member adapted to be attached to a dashboard of an automotive vehicle, audible signal means on said member, a tubular casing, means for attaching said casing to said member, a push-pull unit slidably mounted in said casing, said push-pull unit comprising a manually controlled plug slidable in a sleeve, and spring means to move said plug relative to the sleeve in one direction to a normal predetermined position relative to said sleeve, means to limit movement of said sleeve relative to said casing in one direction, a heating element on said plug, means on said casing to engage said element, upon moving said plug relative to said sleeve and casing in an opposite direction to a heating position and thereby load said spring means, and to hold said plug against retraction from such position, and means to heat said element while said element is engaged and held by said engage and hold means, and including means to release said element upon heating said element to a predetermined degree and thereby to permit the loaded spring means to move said plug relative to said sleeve in said first direction back to normal position of said plug relative to said sleeve, and means controlled by said plug to actuate said audible signal means upon being retracted by said loaded spring means to sound said audible signal means, said audible signal means comprising a bell, a trigger pivoted relative to said bell, a hammer on said trigger adapted to strike said bell, spring means connecting said trigger to said bell to bias the trigger for rotation in one direction, and means on said plug adapted to rotate said trigger in an opposite direction to load the trigger spring means, upon moving said plug relative to said sleeve in said direction, a tubular extension on said bell, said casing and extension having superposed slots through which said trigger passes, said trigger having a finger inside said casing to be engaged by said plug, said extension having means slidably engaging in said superposed slots.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
346 words
A cigarette and cigar lighter, comprising a member adapted to be attached to a dashboard of an automotive vehicle, audible signal means on said member, a tubular casing, means for attaching said casing to said member, a push-pull unit slidably mounted in said casing, said push-pull unit comprising a manually controlled plug slidable in a sleeve, and spring means to move said plug relative to the sleeve in one direction to a normal predetermined position relative to said sleeve, means to limit movement of said sleeve relative to said casing in one direction, a heating element on said plug, means on said casing to engage said element, upon moving said plug relative to said sleeve and casing in an opposite direction to a heating position and thereby load said spring means, and to hold said plug against retraction from such position, and means to heat said element while said element is engaged and held by said engage and hold means, and including means to release said element upon heating said element to a predetermined degree and thereby to permit the loaded spring means to move said plug relative to said sleeve in said first direction back to normal position of said plug relative to said sleeve, and means controlled by said plug to actuate said audible signal means upon being retracted by said loaded spring means to sound said audible signal means, said audible signal means comprising a bell, a trigger pivoted relative to said bell, a hammer on said trigger adapted to strike said bell, spring means connecting said trigger to said bell to bias the trigger for rotation in one direction, and means on said plug adapted to rotate said trigger in an opposite direction to load the trigger spring means, upon moving said plug relative to said sleeve in said direction, a tubular extension on said bell, said casing and extension having superposed slots through which said trigger passes, said trigger having a finger inside said casing to be engaged by said plug, said extension having means slidably engaging in said superposed slots.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-02-15 | 1980-08-16 | 1981-02-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-02-15 | 1984-08-16 | 1985-02-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-02-15 | 1988-08-16 | 1989-02-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |