Cigarette lighter for vehicles

Abstract

A cigarette lighter for a vehicle includes a socket electrically connected to a vehicle battery; and a plug, removably disposed in the socket. The plug includes a push button and an outer housing. The push button is slidable within the outer housing, and includes a heating element. The outer housing includes a plug holder that surrounds the push button. The lighter also includes a handle on the plug holder for extraction of the plug from the socket. The plug holder may include a rim that interferes with the socket to act as a stopper. The handle may be hinged to the plug holder, and rotatable between a first, usable position, and a second, rest position, at which it is seated against the rim.

1 . A cigarette lighter for a vehicle, comprising:
 a socket electrically connected to a vehicle battery;   a plug, removably disposed in the socket, comprising a push button and an outer housing, the push button being slidable within the outer housing and comprising a heating element, the outer housing comprising a plug holder at least substantially surrounding the push button; and   a handle provided on the plug holder for extraction of the plug from the socket.   
   
   
       2 . The cigarette lighter as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the plug holder comprises a rim configured to interfere with the socket to act as a stopper. 
   
   
       3 . The cigarette lighter as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the handle is hinged to the plug holder, and rotatable between a first, usable position, and a second, rest position, at which it is seated against the rim. 
   
   
       4 . The cigarette lighter as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the plug holder comprises a stop protrusion extending from the rim to at least substantially surround the push button, and the handle is hinged to the rim or to the stop protrusion. 
   
   
       5 . The cigarette lighter as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein, when the handle is in the second position, the handle is substantially flush with the push button. 
   
   
       6 . The cigarette lighter as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the handle comprises two handles. 
   
   
       7 . The cigarette lighter as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein each said handle is substantially semicircular. 
   
   
       8 . The cigarette lighter as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the handle extends along about half a periphery of the plug holder. 
   
   
       9 . The cigarette lighter as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein said handle is substantially semicircular. 
   
   
       10 . The cigarette lighter as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the handle extends along a majority of a periphery of the plug holder. 
   
   
       11 . The cigarette lighter as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein said handle is substantially circular.