Electrically powered ceramic composite heater

An electrically powered ceramic composite heater for use in an electric cigarette lighter, comprising:

• an annular hub, with a central axis;
• and
• a plurality of electrically conductive blades, attached to the hub and extending from its perimeter in one direction parallel to the hub's central axis, each of the blades having a free end remote from the hub, the hub and the blades forming a hollow cylinder, the hub and blades comprising a monolithic electrically resistance heating ceramic material;
• the hub and the blades comprising a sintered mixture comprising an insulator or semiconductive metal compound A and an electrically conductive metal compound B, compounds A and B being present in amounts effective to provide a resistance of the ceramic material which does not change by more than 20% throughout a heating cycle between ambient temperatures and 900.degree. C.

An electrically powered ceramic composite heater for use in an electric cigarette lighter, comprising:

• an annular hub, with a central axis;
• a plurality of electrically conductive blades, attached to the hub and extending from its perimeter in one direction parallel to the hub's central axis, each of the blades having a free end remote from the hub, the hub and the blades forming a hollow cylinder, the hub and blades comprising a monolithic electrically resistance heating ceramic material;
• and
• a metal cage comprising a hub and blades, the cage hub fitting against the heater hub and the cage blades extending between the heater blades with air gaps having a width of about 0.1 to 0.25 mm being located between opposed edges of the cage blades and the heater blades.

An electric cigarette lighter, comprising:

• a heater, including:
• an annular hub, the hub having a circumference and a central axis;
• and
• a plurality of electrically conductive blades, attached to the hub and extending from a perimeter of the hub in a first direction parallel to the hub's central axis, and defining between them spaces and together a cylinder with a blade portion circumference, the hub circumference exceeding the blade portion circumference, each of the blades having a free end remote from the hub functioning to electrically connect the blade to a power and control module the hub and blades comprising a monolithic electrically resistance heating ceramic material;
• tobacco disposed in proximity to the blades so as to be heated by the blades;
• and
• a metal cage comprising a hub and blades, the cage hub fitting against the heater hub and the cage blades extending between the heater blades with air gaps located between opposed edges of the cage blades and the heater blades.

An electric cigarette lighter, comprising:

• a heater, including:
• an annular hub, the hub having a circumference and a central axis;
• and
• a plurality of electrically conductive blades, attached to the hub and extending from a perimeter of the hub in a first direction parallel to the hub's central axis, and defining between them spaces and together a cylinder with a blade portion circumference, the hub circumference exceeding the blade portion circumference, each of the blades having a free end remote from the hub functioning to electrically connect the blade to a power and control module, the hub and blades comprising a monolithic electrically resistance heating ceramic material;
• and
• tobacco disposed in proximity to the blades so as to be heated by the blades.