Universal housing for a hot surface igniter

Abstract

Herein disclosed is universal housing for a hot surface igniter that can be removed and/or easily installed by the consumer without the need for numerous tools or assistance from experienced maintenance personnel. The igniter housing is universal and is functional for use with substantially any apparatus or device which requires a hot surface igniter. The universal housing is of simple construction formed from only two components. Various embodiments are disclosed for construction of the two components and also various attachment means are described.

Claims

1. A universal housing for a hot surface igniter used for installation within an apparatus comprising: a base having a pair of electrical leads extending downwardly therefrom for electrical connection to the apparatus; a holder having at least a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end comprising an insulated positive terminal extending downwardly therefrom for electrical connection to the base; an igniter element fixedly mounted at the second end of the holder, and terminating in a protruding portion extending therefrom, the igniter configured to radiate heat upon receiving an electrical charge through the electrical connection in the base and positive terminal in the holder; wherein the igniter element is substantially free of insulation along its entirety; and wherein the holder and said base are removably interconnected together by a detachment means.

2. The universal housing of claim 1 wherein said holder and said base are removably interconnected together by detachment means.

3. The universal housing of claim 2 wherein said detachment means is a bayonet fitting comprising; said holder being cylindrical having at least one outwardly projecting radial pin, said base being cylindrical having at least one L-shaped slot for slideably receiving and retaining said outwardly projecting radial pin therein.

4. The universal housing of claim 3 wherein said bayonet fitting further includes a spring, said L-shaped slot having a short upward segment at the end of a horizontal arm forming a serif, whereby, when said outwardly projecting radial pin is slideably engaged downwardly into a vertical arm of said L-shaped slot then rotated horizontally said spring urges said outwardly projecting radial pin upward into said serif, whereby said bayonet fitting is no longer free to rotate unless said holder is pushed downward against said spring then rotated releasing said pin from within said serif.

5. The universal housing of claim 2 wherein said detachment means comprising; said holder is cylindrical having external male threads and said base is cylindrical having internal female threads, whereby said holder and said base are remove ably threadably engaged.

6. The universal housing of claim 2 wherein said detachment means comprising; said holder being in the shape of a small wedge, said base being in the shape of a large wedge, whereby said small wedge and said large wedge are frictionally engaged when interconnected.

7. The universal housing of claim 1 further includes sealing means comprising; said holder having an outwardly projecting rim and an O-ring frictionally retained beneath said rim.

8. The universal housing of claim 1 wherein said apparatus is from the group of any apparatus requiring use of a hot surface igniter.

9. The universal housing of claim 1 is made from one of metal, stainless steel, ceramic, and combinations thereof.

10. A universal housing for a hot surface igniter used for installation within an apparatus comprising: a base having a pair of electrical leads extending downwardly therefrom for electrical connection to said apparatus; a holder having at least a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end comprising an insulated positive terminal extending downwardly therefrom for electrical connection to a terminal plug on the base; an igniter element fixedly mounted at the second end of the holder, and terminating in a protruding portion extending therefrom, the igniter configured to radiate heat upon receiving an electrical charge through the electrical connection in the base and positive terminal in the holder; wherein the igniter element is substantially free of insulation along its entirety; and wherein the holder and the base are removably interconnected together by a detachment means.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a front side plan view of the first embodiment for the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a right side plan view of the first embodiment for the present invention.

(3) FIG. 3 is a front side plan view of the second embodiment for the present invention.

(4) FIG. 4 is a front side plan view of the third embodiment for the present invention.

(5) FIG. 5 is a front side plan view of the forth embodiment for the present invention.

(6) FIG. 6 is a front side plan view of the fifth embodiment for the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(7) Referring now in detail to the drawings wherein like characters refer to like elements throughout the various views. FIG. 1 represents a first embodiment for a universal housing for a hot surface igniter used for installation within an apparatus represented by reference character (10). The universal housing (10) comprising an igniter element (12), a holder (14) and a base (16). The igniter element (12) is fixedly mounted within the holder (14) by any suitable attachment means of engineering choice. The holder (14) includes standard hot surface igniter components therein (not shown). Many types of igniter components are taught and well known within the field of art, thus the actual components and functional details are not taught herein. The holder (14) includes a standard insulated positive terminal (18) extending downwardly therefrom. The base (16) includes standard components therein such as a spring loaded terminal (not shown) or the like. The base (16) includes standard electrical leads (20) extending downwardly therefrom for electrical connection to the apparatus and the holder (14) is interconnected to the base (16). It is to be noted the holder (14) and the base (16) may be integrally manufactured as one unit or removeably interconnected together by detachment means of engineering choice. Various types of detachment means are depicted and described within the following specification. However, the invention is not to be limited thereto as alternative detachment means are inherent.

(8) As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 a suitable type of detachment means is a bayonet fitting wherein the holder (14) is cylindrical having at least one outwardly projecting radial pin (22). The base (16) is also cylindrical having at least one I-shaped slot (24) for slide ably receiving and retaining the outwardly projecting radial pin (22) therein. The bayonet fitting may further include a spring (not shown) and the L-shaped slot (24) includes a short upward segment at the end of the horizontal arm forming a serif (26). Whereby, when the outwardly projecting radial pin (22) is slide ably engaged downwardly into the vertical arm of the L-shaped slot (24) then rotated horizontally the spring urges the outwardly projecting radial pin (22) upward into the serif (26). Whereby the bayonet fitting is no longer free to rotate unless the holder (14) is pushed downward against the spring then rotated releasing the pin (22) from within the serif (26).

(9) As illustrated in FIG. 3 another suitably type of detachment means is depicted. Wherein the holder (14) is cylindrical having external male threads (14-a) and the base (16) is cylindrical having internal female threads (not shown). Whereby the holder (14) and the base (16) are remove ably thread ably engaged.

(10) As illustrated in FIG. 4 another suitably type of detachment means is depicted. Wherein the holder (14) is in the shape of a small wedge and the base (16) is in the shape of a large wedge. Whereby the small wedged shaped holder (14) and the large wedged shaped base (16) are frictionally engaged together when interconnected.

(11) As illustrated in FIG. 5 the universal housing of the present invention may further include a type of sealing means of engineering choice. For example a suitable sealing means may include the holder (14) having an outwardly projecting rim (15) and an O-ring (28) which is frictionally retained beneath the rim (14-a).

(12) As illustrated in FIG. 6 the universal housing (10) may be modified and utilized for attachment to a typical terminal plug (30) such as a Molex® or the like. Wherein the base (16) includes standard electrical terminals (32) extending downwardly therefrom for electrical connection to the terminal plug (30).

(13) It can now be seen herein provided is a universal housing for a hot surface igniter which is of simple construction, easy to install/remove and is usable with substantially any apparatus or device which requires a hot surface igniter. Including but not limited to stove tops, heaters, dryers, electric barbeques, scientific machines, infrared light sources, etc. Also, the universal housing can be made from any suitable materials of engineering choice. Including but not limited to metal, stainless steel, ceramic, combinations thereof, etc.

(14) Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made there from within the scope and spirit of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatuses.