Electric cigar lighter having combined assembler and connector plug at its rear

An electric cigar lighter for vehicles comprising, in combination:

• a) an electrically conductive metal receptacle shell adapted to receive a lighter plug,
• b) bimetallic clip means insulatedly carried in said shell and adapted to engage and energize a lighter plug inserted therein,
• c) a fastener stud which carries said clip means, said stud having a shank projecting from the rear of the receptacle shell,
• d) a combined assembler and connector plug comprising a hollow molded plastic, electrically insulating plug body having a substantially cup-shaped recess adapted to receive a female electrical connector receptacle of the type provided with at least one slit in which a metal contact part is disposed, said plug body having a peripheral side wall portion defining a peripheral side wall of said cup-shaped recess, said plug body having a transverse bottom wall, and said assembler and connector plug further comprising a projecting contact prong member disposed in the cup-shaped recess of the plug body, and extending away from the transverse bottom wall thereof, said projecting contact prong member being spaced from the peripheral side wall of the recess, said contact prong member being adapted to be received in the slit of said connector receptacle when the connector receptacle is inserted into said cup-shaped recess, said prong member having an integrally-formed base portion which is molded in the plug body, and which base portion has an opening which receives and is mechanically secured to and electrically connected with the shank of said fastener stud to mechanically secure the plug body to said receptacle shell, said prong member being electrically insulated from said electrically conductive metal receptacle shell of the cigar lighter.

In a cigar lighter of the type having a socket shell, a combined assembler and connector plug for securement to the cigar lighter socket shell, said assembler and connector plug comprising, in combination:

• a) a hollow molded plastic plug body having a recess adapted to receive a female electrical connector receptacle of the type provided with at least one opening in which a metal contact part is disposed,
• b) said plug body having a wall portion defining a wall of said recess,
• c) a contact prong member disposed in the recess of the plug body and adapted to be received in the opening of said receptacle,
• d) said prong member having a base portion carried by the plug body,
• e) said plug body having a relief, and
• f) a bimetal shunt means disposed in said relief and electrically connected with said contact prong member, said relief facing the cigar lighter shell when the plug body is attached thereto,
• g) said bimetal shunt means having a contactor portion which, when the bimetal shunt means experiences heat, shifts toward said socket shell so as to come into electrical contact therewith for the purpose of electrically short-circuiting the prong member to the socket shell, and thereby blowing a protective, circuit-opening fuse.

An electric cigar lighter for vehicles comprising, in combination:

• a) a metal receptacle shell adapted to receive a lighter plug,
• b) bimetallic clip means insulatedly carried in said shell and adapted to engage and energize a lighter plug inserted therein,
• c) a fastener stud which carries said clip means, said stud having a shank projecting from the rear of the receptacle shell,
• d) a combined assembler and connector plug attached to the rear of the shell, said plug comprising a molded plastic plug body having a pair of contact prong members carried by said plug body, one of said prong members being electrically connected to said fastener stud,
• e) the other of said contact prong members having a base that is exposed at the surface of the plug body, and
• f) spring washer means carried at the rear of the receptacle shell and sandwiched between the shell and the plug body, one side of said spring washer means resiliently engaging the exposed base of said other contact prong member at said plug body surface, and the other side of said spring washer means resiliently engaging the shell, so as to establish electrical connection between the base of said contact prong member and said shell.

An electric cigar lighter socket comprising, in combination:

• a) a metal receptacle shell adapted to receive a cigar lighter ignitor plug,
• b) a glow ring assemblage carried on said receptacle shell, said assemblage including a translucent ring and a source of light for illuminating said ring,
• c) a molded plastic plug body carried at the rear of the shell,
• d) a contact prong member carried by said plastic plug body, for connection with an electrical connector receptacle,
• e) said prong member having a base portion which is embedded in the plug body,
• f) means providing an external electrical contact on said plug body, electrically connected with said prong member,
• g) means providing a cooperable electrical contact on said glow ring assemblage, said cooperable electrical contact being connected to energize said source of light,
• h) one of said electrical contacts being annular, so as to electrically engage the other electrical contact regardless of the angular disposition of the glow ring assemblage with respect to the plug body.

An electric socket for use in vehicles, comprising in combination:

• a) a metal receptacle shell,
• b) a molded plastic plug body carried at the rear of the shell, said plug body having a plurality of electrical terminals for connection to a cooperable connector receptacle plug,
• c) one of said terminals being electrically connected to said shell,
• d) said shell containing an insulated electrical contact, and a second one of said terminals being electrically connected to said insulated electrical contact,
• e) an external annular contact on said plastic plug body, said annular contact being connected to a third one of said electrical terminals, said external annular contact being adapted for connection to a load,
• f) means providing an electrical connection between said external annular contact and the load, which connection-providing means engages the annular contact regardless of the angular disposition of the load with respect to the plug body.

In a cigar lighter of the type having an electrically conductive socket shell, and a fastener stud having a shank, said fastener stud being carried by and electrically insulated from said shell, a combined assembler and connector plug comprising, in combination:

• a) a hollow molded plastic plug body having a recess adapted to receive a female electrical connector receptacle of the type provided with at least one slit in which a metal contact part is disposed,
• b) said plug body having a wall portion defining a wall of said recess,
• c) a contact prong member disposed in the recess of the plug body and adapted to be received in the slit of said receptacle,
• d) said prong member having a base portion which is molded in the plug body and which has an accessible opening adapted to receive the shank of the fastener stud carried by the cigar lighter socket shell, to secure the plug body to said socket shell,
• e) said wall portion of the plug body having a groove, and the opening of the base portion of the prong member being disposed at the bottom of said groove,
• f) said groove having side wall portions which overlie the base portion of the contact prong member.

An electric cigar lighter for vehicles comprising, in combination:

• a) a metal receptacle shell adapted to receive a lighter plug,
• b) bimetallic clip means insulatedly carried in said shell and adapted to engage and energize a lighter plug inserted therein,
• c) a fastener stud which carries said clip means, said stud having a shank projecting from the rear of the receptacle shell,
• d) a combined assembler and connector plug comprising a hollow molded plastic plug body having a recess adapted to receive a female electrical connector receptacle of the type provided with at least one slit in which a metal contact part is disposed, said plug body having a wall portion defining a wall of said recess and said assembler and connector plug further comprising a contact prong member disposed in the recess of the plug body and adapted to be received in the slit of said connector receptacle, said prong member having a base portion which is molded in the plug body and which has an opening which receives the shank of said fastener stud to secure the plug body to said receptacle shell,
• e) the shank of said stud having barbs engaging the walls of the opening in the base portion of the contact prong member, thereby to securely fasten the body of the assembler and connector plug to the receptacle shell.

An electric cigar lighter for vehicles comprising, in combination:

• a) a metal receptacle shell adapted to receive a lighter plug,
• b) bimetallic clip means insulatedly carried in said shell and adapted to engage and energize a lighter plug inserted therein,
• c) a fastener stud which carries said clip means, said stud having a shank projecting from the rear of the receptacle shell,
• d) a combined assembler and connector plug comprising a hollow molded plastic plug body having a recess adapted to receive a female electrical connector receptacle of the type provided with at least one slit in which a metal contact part is disposed, said plug body having a wall portion defining a wall of said recess and said assembler and connector plug further comprising a contact prong member disposed in the recess of the plug body and adapted to be received in the slit of said connector receptacle, said prong member having a base portion which is molded in the plug body and which has an opening which receives the shank of said fastener stud to secure the plug body to said receptacle shell,
• e) said receptacle shell having a projecting tab, and the wall portion of said plug body having a keying recess into which said projecting tab extends.

An electric cigar lighter for vehicles comprising, in combination:

• a) a metal receptacle shell adapted to receive a lighter plug,
• b) bimetallic clip means insulatedly carried in said shell and adapted to engage and energize a lighter plug inserted therein,
• c) a fastener stud which carries said clip means, said stud having a shank projecting from the rear of the receptacle shell,
• d) a combined assembler and connector plug comprising a hollow molded plastic plug body having a recess adapted to receive a female electrical connector receptacle of the type provided with at least one slit in which a metal contact part is disposed, said plug body having a wall portion defining a wall of said recess and said assembler and connector plug further comprising a contact prong member disposed in the recess of the plug body and adapted to be received in the slit of said connector receptacle, said prong member having a base portion which is molded in the plug body and which has an opening which receives the shank of said fastener stud to secure the plug body to said receptacle shell,
• e) said receptacle shell having a projecting tab and said plug body having an additional contact prong member embedded therein, said additional prong member having a supporting portion molded in the wall portion of the plug body, said supporting portion of the additional contact prong member engaging the projecting tab of the receptacle shell.

An electric cigar lighter for vehicles comprising, in combination:

• a) a metal receptacle shell adapted to receive a lighter plug,
• b) bimetallic clip means insulatedly carried in said shell and adapted to engage and energize a lighter plug inserted therein,
• c) a fastener stud which carries said clip means, said stud having a shank projecting from the rear of the receptacle shell,
• d) a combined assembler and connector plug comprising a hollow molded plastic plug body having a recess adapted to receive a female electrical connector receptacle of the type provided with at least one slit in which a metal contact part is disposed, said plug body having a wall portion defining a wall of said recess and said assembler and connector plug further comprising a contact prong member disposed in the recess of the plug body and adapted to be received in the slit of said connector receptacle, said prong member having a base portion which is molded in the plug body and which has an opening which receives the shank of said fastener stud to secure the plug body to said receptacle shell,
• e) said receptacle shell having two projecting tabs, said plug body having an additional contact prong member embedded therein, said additional prong member having a supporting portion molded in the wall portion of the plug body, said supporting portion of the additional contact prong member engaging one of said two projecting tabs of the shell.

An electric cigar lighter for vehicles comprising, in combination:

• a) a metal receptacle shell adapted to receive a lighter plug,
• b) bimetallic clip means insulatedly carried in said shell and adapted to engage and energize a lighter plug inserted therein,
• c) a fastener stud which carries said clip means, said stud having a shank projecting from the rear of the receptacle shell,
• d) a combined assembler and connector plug comprising a hollow molded plastic plug body having a recess adapted to receive a female electrical connector receptacle of the type provided with at least one slit in which a metal contact part is disposed, said plug body having a wall portion defining a wall of said recess and said assembler and connector plug further comprising a contact prong member disposed in the recess of the plug body and adapted to be received in the slit of said connector receptacle, said prong member having a base portion which is molded in the plug body and which has an opening which receives the shank of said fastener stud to secure the plug body to said receptacle shell,
• e) the shank of said stud having a shoulder adapted for engagement with the base portion of the contact prong member, and
• f) a safety bimetal shunt carried by the shoulder of the said stud and electrically engaging the base portion of the contact prong member.

An electric cigar lighter for vehicles comprising, in combination:

• a) a metal receptacle shell adapted to receive a lighter plug,
• b) bimetallic clip means insulatedly carried in said shell and adapted to engage and energize a lighter plug inserted therein,
• c) a fastener stud which carries said clip means, said stud having a shank projecting from the rear of the receptacle shell,
• d) a combined assembler and connector plug comprising a hollow molded plastic plug body having a recess adapted to receive a female electrical connector receptacle of the type provided with at least one slit in which a metal contact part is disposed, said plug body having a wall portion defining a wall of said recess and said assembler and connector plug further comprising a contact prong member disposed in the recess of the plug body and adapted to be received in the slit of said connector receptacle, said prong member having a base portion which is molded in the plug body and which has an opening which receives the shank of said fastener stud to secure the plug body to said receptacle shell, and
• e) cooperable means on said receptacle shell and on said plug body, keying the latter against turning with respect to said receptacle shell.

In a cigar lighter of the type having a socket shell, a combined assembler and connector plug for securement to the cigar lighter socket shell, said assembler and connector plug comprising, in combination:

• a) a hollow molded plastic plug body having a recess adapted to receive a female electrical connector receptacle of the type provided with at least one opening in which a metal contact part is disposed,
• b) said plug body having a wall portion defining a wall of said recess,
• c) a contact prong member disposed in the recess of the plug body and adapted to be received in the opening of said receptacle,
• d) said prong member having a base portion carried by the plug body,
• e) said plug body having a relief, and
• f) a bimetal shunt disposed in said relief and electrically connected with said contact prong member, said relief facing the cigar lighter shell when the plug body is attached thereto,
• g) said bimetal shunt having a contactor portion which, when the bimetal shunt experiences heat, shifts toward the said shell so as to come into electrical contact therewith for the purpose of actuating a protective, circuit-opening fuse,
• h) said relief comprising a groove extending transversely of the receptacle shell, said groove being open at two opposite ends when the plug body is assembled to the shell to enable the bimetal to be viewed from either end of the groove.

In a cigar lighter of the type having a socket shell, a combined assembler and connector plug for securement to the cigar lighter socket shell, said assembler and connector plug comprising, in combination:

• a) a hollow molded plastic plug body having a recess adapted to receive a female electrical connector receptacle of the type provided with at least one opening in which a metal contact part is disposed,
• b) said plug body having a wall portion defining a wall of said recess,
• c) a contact prong member disposed in the recess of the plug body and adapted to be received in the opening of said receptacle,
• d) said prong member having a base portion carried by the plug body,
• e) said plug body having a relief,
• f) a bimetal shunt disposed in said relief and electrically connected with said contact prong member, said relief facing the cigar lighter shell when the plug body is attached thereto,
• g) said bimetal shunt having a contactor portion which, when the bimetal shunt experiences heat, shifts toward the said shell so as to come into electrical contact therewith for the purpose of actuating a protective, circuit-opening fuse,
• h) said plug body having a depression at its end which is adjacent the cigar lighter shell,
• i) a resilient, bowed spring washer received in said depression, said bowed spring washer being flattened when the plug body is assembled to the shell, and being maintained in electrical and mechanical contact therewith, and
• j) a second contact prong member disposed in the recess of the plug body, said second contact prong member having a base portion embedded in the plug body, said base portion being exposed in said depression and being engaged by the said spring washer so as to electrically contact the latter.

In a cigar lighter of the type having a socket shell, a combined assembler and connector plug for securement to the cigar lighter socket shell, said assembler and connector plug comprising, in combination:

• a) a hollow molded plastic plug body having a recess adapted to receive a female electrical connector receptacle of the type provided with at least one opening in which a metal contact part is disposed,
• b) said plug body having a wall portion defining a wall of said recess,
• c) a contact prong member disposed in the recess of the plug body and adapted to be received in the opening of said receptacle,
• d) said prong member having a base portion carried by the plug body,
• e) said plug body having a relief, and
• f) a bimetal shunt disposed in said relief and electrically connected with said contact prong member, said relief facing the cigar lighter shell when the plug body is attached thereto,
• g) said bimetal shunt having a contactor portion which, when the bimetal shunt experiences heat, shifts toward the said shell so as to come into electrical contact therewith for the purpose of actuating a protective, circuit-opening fuse,
• h) said bimetal shunt having two oppositely-extending legs, each of said legs having a generally U-shaped cross sectional configuration and each leg comprising a free end, the free end of each leg facing that of the other leg and being capable of independent movement upon experiencing heat, such that either leg can effect electrical contact with the socket shell carrying the connector plug for the purpose of actuating the protective fuse.

In a cigar lighter of the type having a socket shell, a combined assembler and connector plug for securement to the cigar lighter socket shell, said assembler and connector plug comprising, in combination:

• a) a hollow molded plastic plug body having a recess adapted to receive a female electrical connector receptacle of the type provided with at least one opening in which a metal contact part is disposed,
• b) said plug body having a wall portion defining a wall of said recess,
• c) a contact prong member disposed in the recess of the plug body and adapted to be received in the opening of said receptacle,
• d) said prong member having a base portion carried by the plug body,
• e) said plug body having a relief,
• f) a bimetal shunt disposed in said relief and electrically connected with said contact prong member, said relief facing the cigar lighter shell when the plug body is attached thereto,
• g) said bimetal shunt having a contactor portion which, when the bimetal shunt experiences heat, shifts toward the said shell so as to come into electrical contact therewith for the purpose of actuating a protective, circuit-opening fuse,
• h) a shouldered fastener stud adapted to attach the plug to the socket shell of the cigar lighter, and said bimetal shunt having a mounting hole through which the stud extends, and
• i) said base portion of the prong member and the shoulder of the stud sandwiching between them said bimetal shunt at the location of said mounting hole, to effect a firm mechanical retention of the shunt and establish electrical connection therewith.

An electric cigar lighter for vehicles comprising, in combination:

• a) a metal receptacle shell adapted to receive a lighter plug,
• b) bimetallic clip means insulatedly carried in said shell and adapted to engage and energize a lighter plug inserted therein,
• c) a fastener stud which carries said clip means, said stud having a shank projecting from the rear of the receptacle shell,
• d) a combined assembler and connector plug attached to the rear of the shell, said plug comprising a molded plastic plug body having a pair of contact prong members carried by said plug body, one of said prong members being electrically connected to said fastener stud,
• e) a spring washer carried at the rear of the receptacle shell and sandwiched between the shell and the plug body,
• f) the other one of said contact prong members having a base that is exposed at the surface of the plug body, said base being resiliently engaged by the spring washer so as to effect an electrical connection to the socket, through the washer,
• g) said fastener stud having external barbs adapted for mechanical engagement with and electrical connection to said said one prong member.