An aspect of some embodiments of the current invention relates to a device, that may ignite a substance without the user directly causing the ignition. for example, the device may perform ignition in a manner that does not transgress Jewish religious prohibitions, for example the Jewish religious law prohibits kindling a flame on the Sabbath and/or festivals. In some cases, kindling may be permitted in an indirect manner referred to in Jewish law by the Aramaic term Grama. For example, the device may be designed to ignite a cigarette. Optionally, the device may be designed to be carried safely in a pocket. In some embodiments, the device may initiate ignition without direct user action and/or the initial ignition may be used to ignite another object in accordance with Jewish law allowing transfer of fire but prohibiting starting of a new fire on a holiday.

An aspect of some embodiments of the current invention relates to a device, that may ignite a substance without the user directly causing the ignition. for example, the device may perform ignition in a manner that does not transgress Jewish religious prohibitions, for example the Jewish religious law prohibits kindling a flame on the Sabbath and/or festivals. In some cases, kindling may be permitted in an indirect manner referred to in Jewish law by the Aramaic term Grama. For example, the device may be designed to ignite a cigarette. Optionally, the device may be designed to be carried safely in a pocket. In some embodiments, the device may initiate ignition without direct user action and/or the initial ignition may be used to ignite another object in accordance with Jewish law allowing transfer of fire but prohibiting starting of a new fire on a holiday.

Hot surface igniter assemblies used in cooktops are shown and described. The hot surface igniters include a silicon nitride ceramic body with an embedded, resistive, heat-generating circuit. The igniters are less than 0.04 inches thick, and when energized, they reach surface temperatures in excess of 2000 F. in under 4 seconds to ignite cooking gas such as propane, butane, or natural gas. Examples of cook top burner systems are also provided which allow the igniter to remain on after ignition at a power level that is lower than during ignition but high enough to ignite the cooking gas should a flame out occur. Examples are also provided of burners that ignite on a low flow setting (e.g., simmer) as opposed the high flow settings that are common in cook top industry.

Hot surface igniter assemblies used in cooktops are shown and described. The hot surface igniters include a silicon nitride ceramic body with an embedded, resistive, heat-generating circuit. When energized, the circuit generates temperatures in excess of 2000 F. in under 4 seconds to ignite cooking gas such as natural gas. To prevent damage to the igniter during use or cleaning, an insulator assembly is provided which protects the distal end of the igniter ceramic body from damage while still exposing it to the cooking gas flow from the burner. In addition, a number of different terminal connection schemes for connecting the igniters to a power source are shown and described.

On an inner wall surface of a plug hole, an internal thread portion and a seat portion are formed. The seat portion has a tapered seat surface. A glow plug with a combustion pressure sensor includes a housing, a glow heater, a load transfer member, and a pressure detector. The housing has an external thread and a seat facing portion. The seat facing portion has a tapered contact surface in surface contact with the tapered seat surface. A recessed portion recessed to be in non-contact with the seat portion is formed annularly about a central axis of the housing.

On an inner wall surface of a plug hole, an internal thread portion and a seat portion are formed. The seat portion has a tapered seat surface. A glow plug with a combustion pressure sensor includes a housing, a glow heater, a load transfer member, and a pressure detector. The housing has an external thread and a seat facing portion. The seat facing portion has a tapered contact surface in surface contact with the tapered seat surface. A recessed portion recessed to be in non-contact with the seat portion is formed annularly about a central axis of the housing.

A handheld computer case having an integral lighter for providing a flameless lighter in a case for a mobile phone includes a case body defining a rigid housing sized to fit a conventional handheld computer, a lighter actuator for selectively availing and activating an electric lighter, and a lighter housing in which the electric lighter is disposed. In operation, a user may apply manual force to mechanically actuate the lighter actuator, thereby causing both the lighter housing to open and expose the electric lighter and an electrical switch to direct electricity from an internal battery to a heating element which defines the electric lighter. Once the user is finished with the lighter, the manual force may be removed to cause the lighter housing to automatically close and the flow of electricity to the heating element to be interrupted.

A lighter that is wind resistant, safe, and convenient. It is flameless, small, slim, and lightweight. It does not require lighter fluid or gas and can be recharged using a USB cable. Heat sufficient to cause burning is generated via a coil after air is blown into the unit.

A ceramic heater of the invention includes a ceramic structure; a heat-generating resistor embedded in the ceramic structure; and a feeder line embedded in the ceramic structure so as to be connected, at one end thereof, to the heat-generating resistor. The feeder line is made of metal, and metal grains of a center region of the feeder line are greater in grain size than metal grains of an outer periphery region of the feeder line. Even if a crack developed in the outer periphery region of the feeder line propagates through grain boundaries in the outer periphery region and comes near the center region, propagation of the crack through the interior of the center region can be suppressed.

A ceramic heater of the invention includes a ceramic structure; a heat-generating resistor embedded in the ceramic structure; and a feeder line embedded in the ceramic structure so as to be connected, at one end thereof, to the heat-generating resistor. The feeder line is made of metal, and metal grains of a center region of the feeder line are greater in grain size than metal grains of an outer periphery region of the feeder line. Even if a crack developed in the outer periphery region of the feeder line propagates through grain boundaries in the outer periphery region and comes near the center region, propagation of the crack through the interior of the center region can be suppressed.