# US 5,710,406 A · Deodorizing cigarette lighter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,710,406 A - Document ID: US5710406A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/631,064 - Filed: 1996-04-12 - Granted: 1998-01-20 - Earliest claimed: 1996-04-12 - Inventors: Louie G. Garris; Jerry J. Garris - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5710406A ## CPC - B60N 3/14: of electrically-heated lighters - B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A deodorizing cigarette lighter is disclosed for use in a motor vehicle. A cigarette igniting unit having a standard conventional structure is used to store a heat responsive, nonflammable deodorizing agent that emits a fragrant vapor into the vehicle interior upon energization of an electric heating element associated with the lighter. The cigarette lighter includes a tubular plug body having a chamber formed therein that is used to retain the deodorizing agent. A slotted cap is attached to one end of the plug body, and a knob is attached to the cap. The lighter also includes a contact cup at the other end of the plug body that houses the heating coil. One end of the heating element is maintained in thermal communication with the contact cup, and the other end of the heating element is connected to a thermally conductive rivet. The rivet is maintained in a heat transfer relationship with the plug body. The deodorizing agent emits a fragrant vapor upon energization of the heating element. Passages exist between the plug body and cap which allow for vapors to exude from the chamber. Vapors then can flow through a vented friction sleeve slidably carried on the plug body after the heating element is heated to a red glow. The lighter also includes an ashguard that is telescopically engaged with the vented friction sleeve. The ashguard has stop means formed therein which restricts outward axial retraction of the friction sleeve after the heating coil is energized. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A deodorizing cigarette lighter for use in a motor vehicle comprising, in combination: a cigarette igniting unit including a plug body, a cap having one or more slots formed therein attached to one end of the body plug, and an electric heating element disposed at an opposite end of the plug body, said heating element being maintained in a heat transfer relationship with the plug body upon energization of the heating element; and a heat responsive, nonflammable deodorant stored inside said plug body such that said deodorant is maintained in a heat transfer relationship with the plug body, said deodorant emitting a fragrant vapor into the vehicle interior through the slots in the cap upon energization of the heating element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The deodorizing cigarette lighter of claim 1 wherein said deodorant consists of perlite granules impregnated with a liquid fragrance. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The deodorizing cigarette lighter of claim 1 wherein a plurality of passages are formed between the plug body and the cap that allow for flow of vapors from the deodorant into the vehicle interior. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The deodorizing cigarette lighter of claim 1 wherein said cigarette igniting unit includes a vented friction sleeve slidably carried on the plug body having at least one opening formed therein that allows for flow of vapors from the deodorant into the vehicle interior. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The deodorizing cigarette lighter of claim 4 wherein said cigarette igniting unit further includes an ashguard telescopically engaged with the vented friction sleeve. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The deodorizing cigarette lighter of claim 5 wherein said vented friction sleeve includes a body portion having at least one opening formed therein and an annular flange extending radially outwardly from its outermost end, and a neck portion extending axially inwardly from the body portion having an annular roll extending radially outwardly from its innermost end. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The deodorizing cigarette lighter of claim 6 wherein said ashguard includes means extending radially inwardly for restricting outward axial movement of the friction sleeve upon engagement with the annular roll associated with the neck portion of the friction sleeve, at least a portion of the openings associated with the body portion of the friction sleeve being exposed when annular roll is engaged by the inwardly extending restricting means. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The deodorizing cigarette lighter of claim 7 wherein said ashguard further includes means extending radially outwardly for restricting inward axial movement of the friction sleeve upon engagement with the annular flange associated with the body portion of the friction sleeve. ### Claim 9 A deodorizing cigarette lighter for use in a motor vehicle comprising, in combination: a cigarette igniting unit having a standard conventional structure including a plug body and an electric heating element disposed at one end of the body, said heating element being maintained in a heat transfer relationship with the plug body upon energization of the heating element; and a heat responsive, nonflammable deodorant stored inside said plug body such that said deodorant is maintained in a heat transfer relationship with the plug body, said deodorant emitting a fragrant vapor into the vehicle interior upon energization of the heating element; said cigarette igniting unit further including a friction sleeve slidably carried on the plug body having a vented body portion with at least one opening formed therein, and a substantially cylindrical ashguard slidably engaged with the friction sleeve having means for limiting outward axial retraction of the friction sleeve with respect to the ashguard to a predefined range of positions, the opening of the friction sleeve being partially exposed to the atmosphere when the friction sleeve is maintained in a retracted position, thereby allowing for flow of the fragrant vapor emitted by the deodorant upon energization of the heating element from the plug body through the exposed portion of the opening into the vehicle interior. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The deodorizing cigarette lighter of claim 9 wherein the tubular plug body includes a transverse end wall, a cylindrical side wall extending axially outwardly from the end wall so as to define a chamber therebetween, and at least two lugs extending axially outwardly from the side wall, said deodorant being disposed inside the chamber. ### Claim 11 (depends on 4) The deodorizing cigarette lighter of claim 4 wherein the cigarette igniting unit further includes a cap having at least two slots formed therein adapted for receiving a portion of the lugs therethrough, the portion of the lugs received through the slots being bent over upon assembly of the lighter to attach the cap to the plug body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The deodorizing cigarette lighter of claim 11 wherein a plurality of passages are defined between the cap and the plug body, allowing for flow of vapors emitted by the deodorant from the chamber through the exposed opening of the friction sleeve and the slots formed in the cap into the vehicle interior. ### Claim 13 A deodorizing cigarette lighter comprising, in combination: a tubular plug body including a transverse end wall, a cylindrical side wall extending axially outwardly from the end wall so as to define a chamber therebetween, and at least two lugs extending axially outwardly from the side wall; a cap having at least two slots formed therein adapted for receiving a portion of the lugs therethrough, the portion of the lugs received through the slots being bent over upon assembly of the lighter to attach the cap to the plug body; a knob attached to the cap; a contact cup aligned with the end wall of the plug body, the contact cup being electrically insulated from the plug body; a heating coil disposed inside the contact cup, thermally conductive means connected to one end of the heating coil for transferring heat from the heating coil to the plug body upon energization of the heating coil; a vented friction sleeve slidably carried on the plug body; an ashguard telescopically engaged with the friction sleeve; and a heat responsive, nonflammable deodorant disposed inside the chamber associated with the plug body in a heat transfer relationship with the plug body, the deodorant generating a fragrant vapor upon energization of the heating coil, the vapor being exuded from the chamber into the atmosphere through passages formed between the cap and plug body, the slots formed in the cap and the vented friction sleeve. ### Claim 14 A deodorizing cigarette lighter for use in a motor vehicle comprising, in combination: a plug body having a chamber formed therein; a slotted cap attached to one end of the plug body; a knob attached to the cap; a contact cup at the other end of the plug body; an electric heating element disposed inside the contact cup, one end of said heating element being maintained in thermal communication with said contact cup; a heat transfer means for transferring heat generated by the heating element to the plug body upon energization of the heating element; a vented friction sleeve slidably carried on the plug body; an ashguard telescopically engaged with the vented friction sleeve; and heat responsive deodorizing agents stored inside the chamber of the plug body, said deodorizing agents emitting a fragrant scent into the vehicle interior upon energization of the heating element. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The deodorizing cigarette lighter of claim 14 wherein a plurality of passages are formed between the body and the cap that allow for flow of vapors from the chamber into the vehicle interior. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The deodorizing cigarette lighter of claim 15 wherein said vented friction sleeve includes a body portion having at least one opening formed therein and an annular flange extending radially outwardly from its outermost end, and a neck portion extending axially inwardly from the body portion having an annular roll extending radially outwardly from its innermost end. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The deodorizing cigarette lighter of claim 16 wherein said ashguard includes means extending radially inwardly for restricting outward axial movement of the friction sleeve upon engagement with the annular roll associated with the neck portion of the friction sleeve, at least a portion of the openings associated with the body portion of the friction sleeve being exposed when annular roll is engaged by the inwardly extending restricting means. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The deodorizing cigarette lighter of claim 17 wherein said ashguard further includes means extending radially outwardly for restricting inward axial movement of the friction sleeve upon engagement with the annular flange associated with the body portion of the friction sleeve. ### Claim 19 A deodorizing cigarette lighter for use in a motor vehicle comprising, in combination: (a) a cigarette igniting unit having a standard conventional structure including: (i) a tubular plug body, (ii) an electric heating element disposed at one end of the plug body, said heating element being maintained in a heat transfer relationship with the plug body upon energization of the heating element, (iii) a vented friction sleeve slidably carried on the plug body having at least one opening formed therein, (iv) a compression spring coil encircling the plug body, the coil being supported at one end by an annular portion of the cap extending beyond the plug body and at the other end by a radially inwardly extending portion of the friction sleeve, and (v) an ashguard telescopically engaged with the vented friction sleeve, said friction sleeve having an open retracted position and a normally closed storage position with respect to said ashguard, said friction sleeve being urged into the open retracted position upon energization of the heating element by the compression coil, at least a portion of said opening in said friction sleeve being exposed when the friction sleeve is maintained in the open retracted position; and (b) a heat responsive, nonflammable deodorant stored inside said plug body such that said deodorant is maintained in a heat transfer relationship with the plug body, said deodorant emitting a fragrant vapor upon energization of the heating element, the fragrant vapor passing into the atmosphere through the exposed opening associated with the vented friction sleeve when the friction sleeve is maintained in the open retracted position. ### Claim 20 A deodorizing cigarette lighter for use in a motor vehicle comprising, in combination: a cigarette igniting unit including a plug body and an electric heating element disposed at one end of the plug body, said heating element being maintained in a heat transfer relationship with the plug body upon energization of the heating element; and a heat responsive, nonflammable deodorant comprising solid granular material impregnated with a liquid fragrance stored inside said plug body such that said deodorant is maintained in a heat transfer relationship with the plug body, said deodorant emitting a fragrant vapor into the vehicle interior upon energization of the heating element.