Cigarette lighter plug assembly

• US 4,322,122 A
• Filed: 04/11/1980
• Issued: 03/30/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Allan W. Langan, Edwin L. Schwartz
• Original Assignee: Allan W. Langan, Edwin L. Schwartz
• Inventors: Schwartz, Edwin L., Langan, Allan W.
• Primary Examiner(s): DESMOND, EUGENE
• Application Number:
  US06/139,418
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 339/197 R, 339/197 P, 339/208, 337/187, 337/190, 337/192, 337/213, 337/214
• US Class Current: 439/620.29
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/14 of electrically-heated lighters
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/542 the intermediate or auxiliary part being provided with bayonet-type locking means
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/547 with sliding fuse carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/68 with built-in fuse

Abstract

An improved cigarette lighter plug assembly is provided. The assembly is adapted to obtain current from a vehicle'"'"'s electrical system through a cigarette lighter for operating remote electrical devices and the like. The assembly comprises, in combination, a hollow cylindrical plug body formed of two releasably joined halves within which is disposed a fuse retainer having a typical automotive glass fuse bearing a metal cap at each end. A first spring contact in the plug body biases the front end of the fuse retainer out the open front end of the plug and the front end of the fuse forward of the fuse retainer so that the fuse can directly contact an electrical terminal in the inner end of a cigarette lighter receptacle. Suitable detents in the plug body and fuse retainer prevent forward escape of the fuse retainer and fuse from the assembly. A second spring contact extends out the side thereof for wedging contact with a second electrical terminal in the sidewall of the receptacle. Both spring contacts are connected in the plug body to electrical conduits or leads extending rearwardly of the plug body as an electrical cord. The assembly is effective and simple, inexpensive to fabricate and assemble and easy to replace the fuse.

Claims

1. An improved cigarette lighter plug assembly, said assembly comprising in combination:

a longitudinally extending plug body having sidewalls and end wall defining a hollow interior and a plurality of openings extending through said walls into communication with said interior, one of said openings extending longitudinally through the front end wall of said plug body;

a fuse retainer releasably disposed in said front opening, said fuse retainer having fuse-receiving passageway extending longitudinally therethrough, substantially coaxial with said front opening and having fuse retaining means;

said fuse retainer including a plurality of interlocking means thereon adapted to coact with mating interlocking means disposed on said plug assembly;

said fuse retaining means comprising a plurality of flexible fingers extending rearwardly from said fuse retainer and adapted to releasably retain a metallic fuse;

a metallic fuse comprising a tubular member enclosing a resistance element with a front end cap and a rear end cap disposed about said tubular member, said caps having an outside diameter greater than the outside diameter of the tubular member, said fuse being releasably disposed longitudinally in said passageway, with the front thereof extending forward of said body and said retainer, said metallic fuse being moveably retained within said passageway by said plurality of fingers, each of which contact said tubular member and thereby prevent movement of said rear end cap forwardly through said passageway;

first contact means in said plug body interior contacting said rear end cap and biasing said fuse forward against said fingers;

second contact means in said plug body interior isolated from said first contact means and extending laterally of said plug body for contact with the sidewall of a cigarette lighter receptacle; and

electrical conduits separately connected to said first and second contact means and extending rearwardly of said plug body.

2. The improved cigarette lighter plug assembly as defined in claim 1 wheren:

said fuse retainer extends from the front end wall of said plug body; and

the front end cap of said metallic fuse extends forward of said plug body and said fuse retainer.