cigarette lighter

Abstract

Cigarette lighter (1) with a housing (1.1), with a handle (1.2) attached to the housing (1.1), with a heating element (1.4) arranged in the housing (1.1), characterized in that the back of the housing (1.1) is closed with a cover plate (1.3).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a cigarette lighter according to claim 1.

[0002] Cigarette lighters, especially for use in motor vehicles, have been known for a long time. They comprise a plug-like housing containing a heating element. The heating element typically consists of an exposed wire coil that can be heated to red-hot by an electric current. The current is drawn by inserting the plug-like housing into a suitably adapted vehicle-mounted socket, thereby connecting the heating element to the vehicle's electrical system. After the heating element has heated up and the plug-like housing has been removed from the socket, a cigarette can be lit using the heated element. A disadvantage of the known cigarette lighter is the exposed heating element, which becomes dirty with prolonged use due to the accumulation of dust and tobacco particles.

[0003] The invention aims to create a novel cigarette lighter that avoids this disadvantage. The resulting protection of the heating element prevents contamination of the heating element and increases the lifespan of the cigarette lighter.

[0004] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows Fig. 1. Schematic representation of a side view of the cigarette lighter; Fig. 2 a view from the direction of arrow A to the back of the cigarette lighter; Fig. 3 a view from the direction of arrow A to the back of another embodiment of a cigarette lighter; Fig. 4 a first embodiment of a cover plate; Fig. 5 a second embodiment of a cover plate.

[0005] The in Fig. A cigarette lighter 1, schematically depicted, comprises a housing 1.1, usually made of metal, to which a thermally insulating handle 1.2 is attached. A heating element 1.4, typically designed as a spirally bent heating wire, is arranged within the housing 1.1 of the cigarette lighter 1. The ends of the heating wire are connected to electrically isolated parts of the housing 1.1. In conventional cigarette lighters, the housing 1.1 is open at the rear, thus providing free access to the heating element 1.4. Such a cigarette lighter 1 can essentially assume three operating positions. In a first "standby position," the cigarette lighter 1 is inserted into a vehicle-mounted socket in such a way that it is permanently held securely there, without establishing a current-carrying connection to the vehicle's electrical system.To reach a second operating position, the "heating position," the cigarette lighter 1 is pushed slightly further into the socket. This establishes contact with the vehicle's electrical system, and a current flows, heating the heating element 1.4. After a waiting period, the plug releases from the second position. The cigarette lighter 1 can then be removed from the socket and moved to the third operating position, the ignition position. As described in... Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the rear side of the housing 1.1 is covered according to the invention with a cover plate 1.3 such that the area of ​​the housing 1.1 containing the heating element 1.4 is sealed. This protects the heating element 1.4 from all kinds of contamination. Fig. 2 and Fig. Figure 3 shows views of the back of the cigar lighter 1, looking from the direction of arrow A according to Fig. 1. According to a first embodiment of the invention ( Fig. 2) A metal cover plate 1.3 is provided, which is electrically and thermally separated from the housing 1.1 by means of a ring 1.3a made of an insulating material. In this variant, the heating element 1.4 can be designed as a heating wire in the conventional manner. In a further variant of the invention according to Fig. Figure 3, which also shows a view of the cigarette lighter 1 from the direction of arrow A, shows that the cover plate 1.3 consists of a temperature-resistant insulating material, preferably a ceramic material. A conventional heating element 1.4 can also be used in this variant. However, embodiments of the heating element 1.4 are advantageous and particularly robust if, as in Figure 3, the heating element is constructed of a heat-resistant material, preferably a ceramic material. Fig. 4 and Fig. Figure 5 shows a conductor element in layer form that generates temperature when current flows, applied directly to the cover plate 1.3b itself. The conductor element can preferably be planar (1.3b in Fig. 4) or spiral (1.3c in Fig. 5) be designed. Reference symbol list 1 cigarette lighter 1.1 Housing 1.2 Handle 1.3 Cover plate 1.3a Ring 1.3b Conductor element 1.3c Conductor element 1.4 Heating element

Claims

[1] Cigarette lighter (1) with a housing (1.1), with a handle (1.2) attached to the housing (1.1), with a heating element (1.4) arranged in the housing (1.1), characterized by , that the back of the housing (1.1) is closed with a cover plate (1.3). [2] Cigarette lighter (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the cover plate (1.3) is made of metal and is attached to the housing (1.1) by means of an insulating intermediate ring (1.3a). [3] Cigarette lighter (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by that the cover plate (1.3) is made of an electrically insulating but thermally conductive material. [4] Cigarette lighter according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the cover plate (1.3) is made of ceramic. [5] Cigarette lighter (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the heating element (1.4) is applied in the form of a coating on the inside of the cover plate (1.3) which consists of an insulating material. [6] Cigarette lighter (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the heating element (1.4) consists of two separate circular segments. [7] Cigarette lighter (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the heating element (1.4) is designed as a spiral conductor track.

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