Aroma-generating automobile cigarette lighter

An automobile cigarette lighter adapted to generate an aromatic vapor, the lighter being releasably retained within a dashboard socket provided with terminals connected to a battery of the vehicle, said lighter comprising:

• A. a cylindrical shell;
• B. a spring-biased plunger telescopically received in the shell;
• C. a disc-shaped heater attached to a front end of the plunger and having contacts which in an inactive position of the lighter are spaced from the terminals;
• D. a knob attached to a rear end of the plunger and projecting beyond the shell, whereby when the knob is pressed in, the plunger is advanced to an activated position in which the contacts of the heater engage the terminals in the socket to effect energization of the heater;
• E. a latching element to retain the plunger in its activated state and to release the plunger when the heater temperature reaches a predetermined level, said plunger and said knob having a central duct therein extending longitudinally from a point adjacent the heater to an opening in the knob;
• and
• F. a replaceable tubular fragrance cartridge inserted in the duct and having an open-ended heat-responsive aroma-producing element therein which is activated by the heat to exude an aromatic vapor into the vehicle interior, said cartridge having a length relative to that of said duct whereby a front end of the inserted cartridge lies adjacent said heater in heat exchange relationship therewith, and a rear end thereof extends beyond the opening in the knob whereby the cartridge may readily be removed from the duct, the aroma being discharged from the open rear end of the cartridge.