Electric heating – Heating devices – Resistive element: igniter type
Patent
1996-11-13
1999-08-24
Jeffery, John A.
Electric heating
Heating devices
Resistive element: igniter type
219267, 219542, B60N 314
Patent
active
059421410
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to cigar lighters, especially for motor vehicles, and more particularly it relates to the removable heating plug which forms part such a cigar lighter.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As is well known, a cigar lighter comprises a lighter body which is secured on a fixed wall of the vehicle, such as a console or the fascia of the latter.
This body, firstly, carries electrical power supply components together with a current take-off member which is usually in the form of a bimetal strip, and, secondly, serves as a receptacle for the removable heating plug, which comprises two parts, one of which is movable axially with respect to the other against the action of axially acting resilient return means, in the manner which is described for example in the document FR-A-2 701 438.
More precisely, the movable part comprises a knob made of electrically and thermally insulating material, which is fixed to an electrically conductive support member that carries, and is insulated from, a terminal shroud which receives within it an electrical heating resistance of spiral form.
When the knob is pushed in, the shroud comes into engagement with the hooks of the current take-off bimetal strip, and an electrical circuit is set up which causes the heating resistance to become hot.
Once the said resistance reaches the desired temperature, the leaves of the bimetal strip dilate, and the knob reverts to its initial position under the action of the resilient return means. It then only remains for the plug to be removed, for a cigarette, for example, to be lit.
It is therefore important to obtain a reliable mechanical and electrical connection between the outermost turn of the spiral of the heating resistance and the inner wall of the shroud that receives the heating resistance.
For this reason, the document FR-A-2 457 787 provides that the wall of the metallic shroud be deformed on to the outer periphery of the heating resistance, with a metallic ring being interposed.
This arrangement enables a reliable cigar lighter, and connection of the heating resistance without soldering, to be obtained.
Nevertheless, and in particular for cost reasons, it is desirable to reduce the number of components of the plug, and therefore to eliminate the metallic ring.
An object of the present invention is to respond to this desire, while preserving a reliable mechanical and electrical connection and without having any soldering between the shroud and the heating resistance.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, a heating plug of the type described above is characterised in that the base of the shroud has, for contact with the outer end of the heating resistance, a plurality of engagement lugs which extend towards the interior of the shroud, in that the outer end of the heating resistance is gripped between the said lugs and the side wall of the shroud, which is deformed inwardly, and in that the said lugs are located at the rounded zone joining the base to the side wall of the shroud.
The invention enables the resistance to be fitted mechanically without any soldering, and the number of components is reduced, no ring being necessary.
This arrangement enables any modification to be avoided in the assembly pin and in the electrically insulating ring which is interposed between the bases of the shroud and support member.
Economy of material is also obtained as regards the electrically insulating inner ring which is fitted in contact with the base of the shroud.
In this connection, the material of the said ring is trimmed in the region of each engagement lug, so that the said ring can be fitted.
In addition, the engagement lugs can easily be formed by press-forming and bending, or by cutting and bending. These lugs only require simple tooling.
Moreover, the said lugs enable the wall of the shroud to be easily deformed.
In general terms, the shroud is not significantly modified, and it continues to have both a reduced height and good mechanical strength.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
REFERENCES:
patent: 3909587 (1975-09-01), Mattis
patent: 4058701 (1977-11-01), Gruber et al.
patent: 4731521 (1988-03-01), Spector et al.
patent: 5132517 (1992-07-01), Gaisberg et al.
patent: 5506388 (1996-04-01), Martina
Jeffery John A.
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