Electric cigar lighter assembly

29 The cigar lighter assembly of claim 1, further comprising a thermal breaker for disconnecting electrical power to said heating element if said heating element exceeds a preset temperature.

The cigar lighter assembly of claim 29, wherein the thermal breaker comprises an electrical shorting element for short circuiting electrical power to said heating element, thereby tripping a circuit protector provided in the electrical supply to said heating element.

A cigar lighter heating unit to be received in an electrical power socket, the lighter heating unit comprising:

• a heating unit housing, first and second electrical power contacts, the housing having an electrical heating element therein, the electrical heating element having a first end electrically connected to the first electrical power contact, the first electrical power contact comprising an annular contact element disposed at a distal end of said heating unit for slidable contact with an electrical power source terminal, the heating unit further comprising a switch, the switch having a first switch contact electrically connected to a second end of said heating element, the switch further having a second switch contact electrically connected to the second electrical power contact, and the heating unit further comprising a bimetal element for opening the switch when the electrical heating element reaches a predetermined temperature.

A socket for an electric cigar lighter heating unit, the socket comprising a socket housing, the socket housing being sized so as to slidably and frictionally receive a housing of the heating unit therein, the socket housing having a base at a distal end thereof, the base being provided with a contact cup comprising a plurality of axially projecting fingers each biased radially inwardly for electrically slidably contacting said annular contact element of said heating unit when said heating unit is inserted in said socket, and further comprising an insulating connector assembly at the distal end of said socket housing comprising at least one electrical terminal for connection to a source of electrical power, said electrical terminal being electrically connected to said contact cup.