ELECTRIC GRILL LIGHTER

Abstract

An electric grill lighter has an electrically operated heating element that is bringable into contact with charcoal, and has a grip region for handling by a user. The grill lighter is usable without a line power connection and comprises a fan, an electric motor driving the fan, and an internal power supply for the heating element and the electric motor. A nozzle delivers air from the fan that emerges at the tip of the nozzle. The heating element is translationally displaceable such that it is displaceable between an idle position in which the heating element is inside the nozzle, and a contact position in which at least a sub-region of the heating element projects out of the tip of the nozzle and is bringable into contact with the charcoal.

Claims

1. An electric grill lighter (1), having an electrically operated heating element (6) that is bringable at least temporarily into contact with charcoal in order to light the charcoal, and having a grip region (14) for handling by a user, wherein the grill lighter (1) on the one hand comprises a fan (8) as well as an electric motor (7) driving the fan (8), and on the other hand is equipped with an internal power supply for the heating element (6) and for the electric motor (7), a nozzle (4) furthermore being provided through which, during operation of the fan (8), the air delivered by the fan (8) flows and emerges at the tip (16) of the nozzle (4); and the heating element (6) being arranged translationally displaceably in a displacement direction in such a way that it is displaceable between an idle position in which the heating element (6) is provided inside the nozzle (4), and a contact position in which at least a sub-region (17) of the heating element (6) is arranged so as to project out of the tip (16) of the nozzle (4) and is bringable into contact with the charcoal.

2. The electric grill lighter (1) according to claim 1, wherein an actuation element for displacement from the idle position into the contact position is associated with the heating element (6).

3. The electric grill lighter (1) according to claim 2, wherein the actuation element encompasses a pusher plate (5) manually actuatable by the user.

4. The electric grill lighter (1) according to claim 1, wherein a return element for displacing the heating element (6) from the contact position into the idle position is associated with the heating element (6).

5. The electric grill lighter (1) according to claim 4, wherein the return element encompasses at least one spring element (13) against whose return force the heating element (6) is displaceable from the idle position into the contact position by actuation of the actuation element.

6. The electric grill lighter (1) according to claim 1, wherein the grill lighter (1) has an L- or Y-shaped configuration.

7. The electric grill lighter (1) according to claim 1, wherein a switch (2) for activating the heating element (6) and/or for activating the fan (8) is provided and is preferably arranged in the region of the grip region (14).

8. The electric grill lighter (1) according to claim 1, wherein the heating element (6) encompasses a heat-resistant support (10) preferably made of a ceramic material, as well as a metallic heating wire (11) arranged thereon and preferably guided around the support (10).

9. The electric grill lighter (1) according to claim 8, wherein the heating wire (11) is arranged in a depression or several depressions, preferably in a groove (18) or several grooves (18), the depth of which advantageously corresponds approximately to the thickness of the heating wire (11).

10. The electric grill lighter (1) according to claim 8, wherein the heating wire (11) is guided approximately parallel to the displacement direction of the heating element (6).

11. The electric grill lighter (1) according to claim 8, wherein the support (10) is configured in rounded, flat, or even pointed fashion at the front end.

12. The electric grill lighter (1) according to claim 1, wherein a switching apparatus is provided which deactivates the heating element (6) when the heating element (6) is in its idle position.

13. The electric grill lighter (1) according to claim 1, wherein a switching apparatus is provided which deactivates the fan (8) when the heating element (6) is in its contact position.

14. The electric grill lighter (1) according to claim 13, wherein when the switch (2) is actuated the switching apparatus either activates the heating element (6) if the latter is in its contact position, or activates the fan (8) if the heating element (6) is in its idle position.

15. The electric grill lighter (1) according to claim 1, wherein the grill lighter (1) has a power consumption of less than 100 W.

16. The electric grill lighter (1) according to claim 2, wherein a return element for displacing the heating element (6) from the contact position into the idle position is associated with the heating element (6).

17. The electric grill lighter (1) according to claim 3, wherein a return element for displacing the heating element (6) from the contact position into the idle position is associated with the heating element (6).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] An exemplifying embodiment of the invention, depicted in the drawings, will be explained below. In the drawings:

[0021] FIG. 1 is a side view of an electric grill lighter according to the present invention;

[0022] FIG. 2 is a side view, partly in section, depicting the subject matter of FIG. 1 with an actuated actuation element;

[0023] FIG. 3 is a perspective detail view of the heating element in its idle position; and

[0024] FIG. 4 is a perspective detail view of the heating element in its heating position.

[0025] In all the Figures, corresponding reference characters are used for identical or similar components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

[0026] FIG. 1 shows an electric grill lighter 1 that has a Y-shaped configuration. This configuration encompasses a nozzle 4; a grip region 14 having an internal power supply, embodied as a battery 3, on the lower side; and a fan region 15 in which a fan 8, as well as an electric motor 7 driving fan 8, are provided. The configuration is similar to usual electric power tools. Battery 3 can be rechargeable and/or replaceable.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 2, during the operation of fan 8, the air delivered by fan 8 flows firstly through a conduit 9 connecting fan 8 to nozzle 4, and emerges at tip 16 of the nozzle. The shape of nozzle 4 results in a considerable acceleration of the air delivered by fan 8.

[0028] Provided in nozzle 4 is an electrically operating heating element 6 that is arranged translationally displaceably in a displacement direction in such a way that it can be displaced between an idle position in which heating element 6 is provided inside nozzle 4, and a contact position in which front sub-region 17 of heating element 6 is arranged so as to project out of tip 16 of the nozzle. When heating element 6 is activated while fan 8 is operating, the air delivered by fan 8 is preheated by heating element 6. Otherwise the heating element is cooled by the air flow.

[0029] Associated with heating element 6 is an actuation element, embodied as a pusher plate 5 actuatable manually by the user, by the actuation of which heating element 6 is easily displaceable from the idle position into the contact position (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

[0030] Heating element 6 is located translationally displaceably in a frame 12 that is mounted fixedly inside the heat-resistant nozzle 4. Heating element 6 furthermore has associated with it a return element, constituted by two spring elements 13, by means of which heating element 6 is displaced from the contact position into the idle position. As a result of the return force of the spring elements, against which heating element 6 is displaced from the idle position into the contact position upon actuation of pusher plate 5, an automatic displacement of heating element 6 back into its idle position occurs when the actuation of pusher plate 5 ends.

[0031] As is evident from FIG. 3, heating element 6 encompasses a heat-resistant support 10 made of a ceramic material, as well a metallic heating wire 11, arranged thereon and guided around support 10 with several turns when viewed approximately in a longitudinal direction (which is approximately parallel to the displacement direction).

[0032] Heating wire 11 is arranged in several depressions, embodied as grooves 18, whose depth corresponds approximately to the thickness of heating wire 11.

[0033] For easier insertion into a pile of charcoal, carrier 10 is of flat and pointed configuration on the front end.

[0034] Support 10 is arranged in stationary fashion on grill lighter 1, and upon actuation of pusher plate 5, heating element 6 is displaced against the return force of spring elements 13 from the idle position (FIG. 3) into the contact position (FIG. 4). When the actuation of pusher plate 5 ends, an automatic displacement of heating element 6 back into its idle position (FIG. 3) then occurs as a result of the return force of spring elements 13.

[0035] As is evident from FIG. 1, a switch 2 for activating heating element 6 and activating fan 8, with which electric grill lighter 1 can be activated in controlled fashion, is provided in the region of grip region 14.

[0036] As a result, grill lighter 1 can be used in such a way that firstly heating element 1 is displaced into the contact position by actuating pusher plate 5, and is brought into contact with the charcoal that is to be lit. Heating element 6 is activated by pushing switch 2, and once some embers have been created, heating element 6 is displaced into its idle position, and switched off, by ending the actuation of pusher plate 5. Fan 8 is then switched on, with the result that more oxygen is delivered to the few embers already created and they are thereby caused to burn intensely.