Battery powered cigarette lighter having recessed heating element and normally open pivotally actuated switch

A cigarette lighter, comprising:

• a hollow housing having a generally parallelepiped construction;
• said hollow housing including a pair of mating housing halves;
• a first and a second battery disposed within said hollow housing in side-by-side relation to one another;
• a heating element positioned within said hollow housing;
• a switch means for selectively electrically interconnecting said batteries and said heating element;
• said switch means having a first and a second contact and said switch means being normally open;
• a pivotally mounted switch actuator means for applying an external force to said switch means to drive said first and second contacts together;
• said switch actuator means being pivotally mounted to said housing;
• means for biasing said switch actuator means away from said switch means so that said switch means is open when said switch actuator means is in repose;
• a first conductor disposed in electrically communicating relation between preselected opposite poles of said first and second batteries;
• a second conductor disposed in electrically communicating relation between the other pole of said first battery and a first preselected end of said heating element;
• a third conductor disposed in electrically communicating relation between the other pole of said second battery and a first contact of said switch means;
• a fourth conductor disposed in electrically communicating relation between a second contact of said switch means and the second end of said heating element;
• an opening formed in a preselected wall of said housing, said opening having a size sufficient to receive therethrough a leading end of a cigarette;
• said opening and said heating element being disposed in spaced apart, axial alignment with one another so that said leading end of said cigarette, when inserted squarely through said opening, abuttingly engages said heating element;
• a plurality of peg members disposed within said hollow housing, each of said peg members having a predetermined position and said peg members defining a path of travel for said second, third, and fourth conductors;
• said switch actuator means being pivotally mounted on a preselected peg member;
• said means for biasing said switch actuator means away from said switch means being a torsion spring that encircles said preselected peg member;
• whereby pivotal activation of said switch actuator means to drive together said first and second contacts of said switch means results in flow of electrical current through said heating element and lighting of a cigarette leading end positioned against said heating element.