Improvements in Electric Cigar-lighters.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Mar., 1899-Accepted, 22nd July,
1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Cigar-lighters.
I, WILLIAM FREDERICK KESSLER, of the City of Auburn, County of Dekalb,
State of Indiana, one of the United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
forned to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:—
My invention relates to improvements in electric cigar-lighters, and has, for its
object to provide an automatic cigar-lighter of increased simplicity of construction
and operation. In a cigar-lighter made in accordance with my improvements, the
movable parts are so united and arranged as to be out of the path of the flame when
ignited for use. The device has a horizontal swivelling shell-body containing the
operative mechanism of novel arrangement within which the ignition spark is thrown;
also a hand-lever in close proximity to the oil receptacle, carrying upon one end
thereof an extinguishing cap, and adapted to operate the sparking device by a positive
movement. I also provide improved means for establishing electrical connection
with the contact point of the sparking lever; and a detachable connection with the
supporting arm or other support.
The principal novel features of my invention are the construction and relative
arrangement of the containing shell-body, and the manner and means for throwing
the ignition spark.
My invention comprises a horizontal shell-body or casing rigidly fixed or secured
upon a vertical wick-tube and suspended from the supporting frame by a pivotted
connection, and a hand-lever hinged adjacent to or upon the wick-tube and carrying
both the extinguishing cap and the sparking device.
In the accompanying drawings similar reference numerals indicate like parts in
the several views in which :--
Fig. 1 is a front view of my improvement with a portion of the shell casing broken
away to show the operating hand-lever, extinguishing cap and sparking device in the
relative positions they assume when the wick is ignited.
Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same showing the shell-body, detachable cap,
sparking lever, and supporting frame all in vertical section, the operating parts being
shown in their normal position.
Fig. 3 is a side view of my improvement showing approximately the relative
position assumed by the shell-body when the wick is ignited for use.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail of the means for detaching the lighter from
its support.
Fig. 5 is a plan of the shell-body with the top plate removed showing the sparking
mechanism in the position shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail plan of the spring-arm with the pivotted contact device
in position thereon.
Fig. 7 is a detail of one of the elongated openings of the shell-body in which the
hanger-frame is pivotted.

page_text: The metallic shell-body 6 which in horizontal arrangement is of any desired
dimensions or contour, preferably rectangular as shown, has a central circular flame
opening upon its upper face, which is surrounded by an upright annular flange 8.
The upper face of the said body 6 is provided near the ends thereof with circular
openings in which are soldered the conical or convex plates 61 each provided with
an elongated slot 62 in which the lower ends of the tubular metallic hanger-frame 26
are pivotted by means of pins 71 fixed in the ends of said frame thereby permitting
free swinging movement of said shell on its support.
The oil receptacle 1 has a lateral opening for filling the same which is closed by
a screw-threaded cap 48, Fig. 3. The shell or casing 6 has a longitudinal slot of
suitable dimensions in its lower face extending somewhat past the central point as
seen at 15 in Figs. 1 and 2. In the inner end of this slot is arranged the upper
end of the wick-tube 25, the upper end is cut obliquely and is preferably
rectangular in cross-section forming the burner; the upper edge of this is pro-
vided with a fixed steel wire 40 to prevent undue wear upon the contact point of
said tube or burner by the sparking device.
To the lower end of the wick-tube is secured or cast integral therewith an oil
receptacle preferably of a pear or such like shape as shown, so as to form a con-
venient handle for the cigar-lighter.
This receptacle 1 and the wick-tube 25 are rigidly secured to the said shell 6 by
means of screws 41 which pass through the bottom of the said shell adjacent to
said longitudinal slot, and are secured in the lug 7 on said tube, access to said
screws by a proper tool being afforded by the circular opening 81 in the upper
face of the said shell.
At a convenient point on the side of said reservoir 1 is arranged a bifurcated
lug 43 in which is centred a hand-lever 4 having a handle 5 upon its lower end
adapted to be pressed against the said reservoir 1 by the hand of the operator as.
shown in Fig. 1.
The upper end of the lever 4 is provided upon its inner face with a chambered
lug 5 having an oblique face adapted to snugly fit the oblique face of the burner or
wick-tube 25 thus forming an extinguishing cap which is adapted to receive the
slightly protruding wick 42 without contact therewith, and to contain a sufficient
accumulation of gas from the extinguished wick to aid in ignition.
To the outer face of the upper end of lever 4 the sparking device is fixed; this
consists of a spring-arm 10 having a contact point 11 pivotted on its free end. This
spring-arm 10 is fixed upon and insulated from the said lever 4 by the holding
screws 12 and 13 which pass through suitable openings in an interposed insulation
plate 14, and then through a longitudinal slot 4 in said lever 4 and out of contact
therewith, the screw 12 then passing through a screw-threaded opening in a second
insulating plate 14' upon the inner face of the lever 4. By loosening the screw 12
the spring-arm 10 can readily be adjusted to compensate for wear upon the said
pivoted contact. 11.
This spring-arm 10 has its upper end bent to approximately a right angle with its
lower portion, and is so arranged as to normally project diametrically over and in
close proximity to the burner, Fig. 2.
The said pivotted contact 11 resembles in form a bell-crank lever with its lower
pendant arm adapted to firmly make contact with the said wire edge 40 of the burner
of tube 25 when the handle 5 of the lever 4 is pressed toward the receptacle 1, the
upper arm of the contact 11 bearing upon the adjacent face of said spring-arm 10,
Fig. 2..
When the lever 4 has carried the sparking contact to the limit of its outward
movement, Fig. 1, it will be out of the path of the flame 47.
In one end of said casing or shell is arranged a wire loop 18 preferably angular as
shown, having its extended ends rigidly secured by the screws 41, Fig. 5. On the
looped end of said wire loop 18 is arranged a coiled spring 19 having its free end
resting upon the bottom of said casing, and having its other end hooked or loosely
secured to the adjacent end of the wire loop 17, the other end of said loop 17 being

page_text: loosely secured in a lateral aperture in the upper end of the lever 4 immediately at
the rear of the extinguishing cap 51 thereby normally securing the said lever 4 and
its sparking device in the position shown in Fig. 2.
In the opposite end of the shell 6 and preferably to the lower side thereof is fixed
an insulating block or strip 23 to the upper face of which is secured by screws or
otherwise one end of the metallic plate 22 whose inner free end is normally out of
contact with the said spring-arm 10 as shown in Fig. 2, such contact being established
by depressing the handle 5 in throwing the spark.
The lower end of the insulated wire 24, Fig. 2, in the tubular supporting frame is
soldered to the fixed end of said plate 22 as shown. The curved upright sections 26
of this frame are rigidly connected at their upper ends by the hollow open topped
cylindrical casting 28 to which they are united by soldering or otherwise suitably.
The said section 28 has its open top internally screw-threaded, and is adapted to
receive and secure by a screw-threaded connection the lower externally screw-threaded
conical cap 30, Fig. 4, which is provided with a tubular or circular opening in its top
to admit and contain the insulated wires 38 and 39.
In the lower portion of the hollow casting 28 is arranged a circular insulating
plate 32 centrally apertured to receive the lower end of the short metallic post 33
having an annular flange 44 to prevent downward displacement. This post 33 has an
opening or slot in its top to receive the adjacent tapering end of the metallic post 36
which has an annular flange 36' to prevent upward displacement. In the lower open
end of the cap 30 is arranged a circular insulating plate 34 having a circular opening
for the upper end of the said post 36. The lower end of the leading-in wire 38 is
soldered to the upper end of the said post 36; the inner end of the leading-out
wire 39 is soldered to the inner face of the cap 30, and the said wire 24 has its upper
end soldered to the upper end of the said post 33.
By this construction my improved lighter can readily be detached from its support
at pleasure without removing or deranging the said wires 38 and 39.
The cigar-
lighter may be suspended in any convenient manner.
The operation of my improved cigar lighter is as follows:
As the wire 38 is electrically connected to the pivotted sparking device 11 through
the post 36, post 33, wire 24, plate 22, and spring-arm 10, all of which are insulated
as described, and as the wire 39 is electrically connected to the wick-tube and burner
through the plate 34 and the said supporting frame, it follows that when the operator
presses the handle 5 of the lever 4 from its norinal position shown in Fig. 2, to the
position shown in Fig. 1 against the tension of the coiled spring 19, an igniting spark
will be thrown by the momentary striking contact of the sparking device 11 with the
wire 40 on the adjacent edge of the burner as described.
By this movement the extinguishing cap and sparking device are withdrawn from
the path of the flame, Fig. 1, and by the same movement the swivelling case or shell-
body 6 is withdrawn from its vertical alignment with the said hollow casting 28 during
the time the wick is ignited, thereby avoiding the usual smoking and tarnishing of
the said casting and frame, see Fig. 3.
When the operator has lighted his cigar at the flame 47 which issues an inch and
one-half or more above the flanged opening of said shell, he releases his hold upon the
lever 4 allowing it, under the tension of the spring 19, to resume its normal position,
thereby extinguishing the flame and storing up a limited quantity of gas in the
extinguishing cap to aid the ignition spark in lighting the wick at the next operation
thereof.
The oil receptacle 1 when released promptly resumes its vertical position by gravity.
Obviously the flame thus produced within the case or shell 6 is fully protected against
the effect of sudden drafts of air usual in locations where cigar lighters are used.
Over the extension 50 of the said cap 30 is loosely fitted the lower end of the coiled
spring 51 containing the said insulated wire conductors. Adjacent to the upper end
of the said coiled spring 51, which forms a flexible connection between my improved
lighter and its support, is arranged the externally screw-threaded nut 52 of greater

page_text: diameter than the said spring which is secured in position by a knot 53 or other
proper manner.
The hollow conical or acorn shaped anchor-cap 54 is internally screw-threaded and
is adapted to form a screw-threaded connection with the said nut 52, and conceals the
adjacent end of said coiled spring 51.
T
The anchor-cap 54 is first slipped down over the upper end of the said spring 51,
the nut 52 next placed in position and secured by the said knot 53, and the cap 54
having an annular milled flange 55 at or near its upper end, is screwed upwardly on
the nut 52 until the said knot, as well as the end of the said spring is enclosed and
concealed by said cap 54. In the upper end of said cap 54 the free end of any
suitable supporting arm can readily be secured by a screw-threaded connection or
coupling.
It is obvious that by this construction the weight of the lighter is supported by
said wires 38 and 39 or the knot 53 in same and that the said spring or flexible con-
nection 51 is firmly secured against longitudinal strain or derangement, and is entirely 1
relieved of the weight of the lighter.
It is also obvious that the mere form or contour of the said oil receptacle, the
shell-body or the supporting frame is wholly immaterial, and the means for normally
securing said lever in its position may be varied at pleasure without departing from
the spirit and scope of my invention, which consists broadly in a swivelling horizontal 2
shell-body in which the igniting spark is thrown by a band-lever.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. An electric cigar-lighter consisting of a horizontally arranged containing case or 2
shell-body pivotally mounted in or from a proper support, and provided with a suitable
opening in its upper face for the purpose specified; a pendant wick-tube and oil
reservoir fixed in said shell; a hand-lever centred on said reservoir carrying an extin-
guishing cap upon its inner end in co-operative relation with the burner of said wick-
tube, and provided with a pivotted sparking device adapted to throw the ignition 3
spark within said shell; and means for normally securing said lever in position.
2. In an electric cigar-lighter a horizontally arranged shell or casing having a flame
opening in the upper face thereof; and provided with a fixed wick-tube and oil
supply, and means for throwing the ignition spark within the said shell.
3. In an electric cigar-lighter, a pivotted horizontal shell or casing having a vertical a
Hame opening a fixed wick-tube, a hand-lever pivotted on said tube and carrying an
extinguishing cap and a sparking device adapted to be actuated by said hand-lever
and adapted to throw the ignition spark within the said shell.
4. The combination in an electric cigar-lighter of a vertical supporting frame, a
horizontal shell or casing 6 pivotted in or suspended from the lower portion of said
frame, a pendant wick-tube fixed in or to said casing a hand-lever fulcrummed on
said tube with its inner and upper end provided with an extinguishing cap, an
insulated sparking device pivotted on said lever and adapted to throw the ignition
spark within the containing shell by contacting the adjacent end of the wick tube,
and means for automatically securing the said lever and said sparking device in their
norinal position after each operation.
5. An electric cigar-lighter comprising a horizontal shell having a vertical flame
opening, and a fixed wick-tube projecting into the same, the said shell being
pivotally mounted in a proper support, means for throwing the ignition spark within
the said shell by a positive movement of an operating hand-lever, and a hand-lever
pivotted on said tube or in close proximity thereto and provided with an extinguishing
cap.
6. In an electric cigar-lighter, means for detaching the same from its support.
consisting of a hollow cylindrical casting fixed on said frame having in its lower
portion an insulated horizontal plate centrally apertured as described and having the
periphery of its open top internally screw-threaded, a metallic post mounted in said

page_text: plate for the purpose specified, a detachable cap adapted to close the top of said
casting by a screw-threaded connection, an insulating plate arranged in said cap as
shown, and a metallic post mounted in said insulating plate and adapted to
form an electrical connection with the said metallic post in the said insulated
plate.
7. In an electric cigar-lighter, a hollow internally screw-threaded anchor cap
having an annular milled flange upon its perimeter, the said cap being adapted to
form a screw-threaded connection with the free end of a suitable support, and
also to so inclose the upper end of the flexible section of the cigar-lighter as to
firmly secure it against longitudinal strain, and to relieve said section of the
weight of the lighter, in combination with an annular externally screw-threaded
nut 52 arranged in said cap as shown, insulating conducting wires 38 and 39 a
knot 53 in said insulated conductors and a flexible arm 51.
8. The combination of an internally screw-threaded anchor cap 54, adapted to
enclose the upper end of the flexible section of a cigar-lighter as shown; an
annular externally screw-threaded nut 52 arranged in said cap by a screw-
threaded connection adjacent to the upper end of said section, a flexible arm 51
arranged as described and means for securing said cap firinly in position on the upper
end of the flexible arm.
J. C. CHAPMAN,
Chartered Patent Agent, 70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.