US2261536A - Flashlight - Google Patents

Description

0. T. WOOD Nov. 4, 1941.

FLASHLIGHT Filed May 6, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l I INVENTOR ORV/1.1.5 T WOOD IHHUIIHH m1 0. T. WOOD FLASHLIGHT Nov. 4, 1941.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 6, 1938 FIGS.

'u'nnmmmu u I INVENTOR ORV/ALE 7. W000.

ATTORN EYS Patented Nov. 4, 19:41

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE Orville '1. Wood, Clinton, Mass., assignor to Blake Manufacturing Corporation, Clinton, Mesa, a corporation of Massachusetts Application May 6,1938, Serial No. 206,326

' (Claims. (01. za -10.66)

, This invention relates to flashlights andmore. particularly to flashlights commonly known as pen lights of a size only slightly larger, relatively speaking, than a fountain-peanut! so constructedan'd arranged as adapted togbe carried in the pocket.

described as particularly applicable to a so-called pen light, it will be obvious'as the description proceeds that many features thereof are equally applicable-to any flashlight or electric hand lantern.

One object of the present invention is a flash-. v

light of the character described in which the lamp is removably carried in an end closure memher at one end of a tubular flashlight casing containing the battery.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined lamp supporting member and reflector removable as a unit.

Another object of the invention resides inthe instrumentallties by which the circuit between the lamp and battery may be completed.

The invention also seeks a flashlight of the character described which is practical from the standpoint of ease and cheapness of manufacture and simpiicity and durability in use.

These and other objects of the invention and the means for their attainment will be more apparent from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings illustratingyarious embodiments by which the invention may be'realized and in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation; showing the flashlight of this invention? Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional'view of one form taken by the invention, showing details of its construction;

Figure 2a is a fragmentary view looking in the direction of the arrow's'-2a'2a in Figure 2, parts being removed to show details of construction;

Figure 3 is a view showing the upper end of a' flashlight, in elevation, embodying one rno'diflca- 7 tion of the invention;

Figure '4 is a longitudinal sectional -view of the flashlight of Figure 3' showing details of construction;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view, taken in the plane indicated by the line H of Figure 4, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 'isa fragmentary view on an enlarged scale, and in elevation, showing a modified form of the invention;

Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view circuit closing device of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a view of the flashlight casing of Figure 7, exterior parts being removed in the interest of clearness; and

Figure 9 is a sectional .view showing still an' other modification of the invention.

While the invention has been illustrated and Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, the flashlight there shown comprises a tubular, and conveniently' cylindrical, -casing Ill formed with threads rolled therein as at l2, H at each end. Both ends of the casing are open. "I'he casing may, if desired, be provided with the usual type of clip ii to removably retain the flashlight in the pocket.

The bottom cap of the flashlight may take the form of a generally cup-shapedmember i6, 20

of an outer diameter, as at I, substantially equal to the outer diametenof the tubular casing ill. Above the peripheral surface I 6 the wall of the cup-shaped bottom cap is of reduced diameter and formed with threads, as at It, whereby the threaded end 18 may be telescoped within the threaded end I2 of the flashlight casing until the respective parts It and it are in abutting relation as shown in Figure 2. An area of the bottom of the bottom cap inwardly of the peripheral surface It is conveniently depressed as shown at 20 whereby the part it forms a circumferential rib, which may conveniently be knurled, as shown at H, for convenience in manipulation and which of the I defines a groove on the inner surface to receive 1 and retain a battery positioning spring 2| shown as a coil spring, the upper coil of which is adapted to engage and make electrical connection with the zinc cup terminal of the battery 22 and urge the battery upwardly toward the terminal of the lamp at the upper end.

The lamp is conveniently carried in a cupshaped'member 23, 26 which is of a diameter such as to be received within the cylindrical casing l3 and is formed with threads 24 for threaded engagement with the inside surface of the threads I. In the bottom 23 of this cup- shaped member 23, 26 and centrally thereof, there is formed an aperture 25 the rim of which is distorted and interrupted to form, in effect, a thread adapted to receive the threaded base 29 of a lamp 2! and make electrical connection with the shell termi-, nal of the lamp. Inward movement of the lamp support 23, 26 is preferably limited, as by a lip or flange 26 on the upper edge of the cup 24 adapted'to engage the rim of the casing as a bead 3! formed on the closure member abuts the rim 28 of the lamp socket support. Above the bead ii, the enclosure is frusto-conical in shape as shown at 33 and in its upper end is concave or dish shapedas shown at I4 and formed with a central aperture 36 to engage, ii desired, the globe oi the lamp 21, 2! and serve as a light transmitting aperture. The surrounding concave wall 34 serves as a reflector.

Normally, it is contemplated that the circuit be completed, in the flashlight of this invention, by electrical connection between the central terminal 38 of the battery 22 and the central terminal 40 of the lamp. Normally, the terminal 38 is held away from the lamp terminal 40 by a reciprocable member 49 which is adapted to move the battery downwardly tocompress the spring 2i but which member may be moved upwardly until it engages the lamp terminal 40, the battery following the member under the influence of the spring 2i. Generally this member comprises a rodlike bar 49 the ends of which are disposed in generally U-shaped slots 42, 44, 50 formed in the casing ll. Intermediate its ends, the bar carries a conductive tube 4! insulated from the bar by the insulator-y sleeve 45' encircling the bar and within the tube 41. The conductive tube 43 is adapted to engage the central terminal of the lamp and is normally in contact with the battery terminal 38. The contact means 43 is insulated from the conductive battery containing casing II by the insulatory sleeve 45 so that short circuit between the central terminal 3B of the battery and the casing I0 is not possible. Outwardly oi the casing, there is mounted, in this modification, a rotatable sleeve 41 whereof a portion, such as the knurled annulus 4|, may be secured to the ends of the bar 49, the ends 49 passing through slots 50 in the casing HI whereby rotation of the sleeve 41, 48 will enable the bar ends 49 to be moved up in one of the ends 42 01 the slot ll until the contact 43 is in engagement with the central terminal 40 of the lamp, all under the influence of the battery spring 2!. Thus electrical connection is made from the battery terminal 38 through the contact means 42 and the central terminal of the lamp 40, while the circuit is completed from the lamp shell 29 and cup-shaped lamp support 13, 26 through the conductive battery containing casing II, the battery positioning spring 2| to the zinc cup terminal of the battery 22, it being understood that the battery is enclosed in the usual insulating sleeve, such as a fiber tube, whereby the zinc cup terminal of the battery is insulated from the conductive casing Id. In open circuit position, the ends of bar 49 are disposed in an intermediate and shorter slot portion 44 when the conductive member 43 is held away from lamp contact 40.

The modification illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 5 differs from the modification 0! Figures 1 and 2 in the form taken by the circuit closing element. Like parts in these figures are given corresponding -reference characters. In this modification, Figure 4, the transverse movable wall corresponding in function to the wall. is illustrated as a cup-shaped member 5|, '4 whereof the wall is indicated at II. and the bot tom at 52. The bottom I2 is provided with a central aperture 54, the diameter of which is may pass therethrough with clearance so as to be out of electrical connection therewith. Above and below the bottom I! are insulatory washers l1, ll clamped in position by the eyelet II, the heads 4! and II of the eyelet or rivet serving as the contact means for the battery terminal 18 and the lamp terminal 4|, as will be understood. The wall ll of the battery containing casing is formed with an inwardly pressed groove for convenience although it will be obvious that such is not necessary to the operative character of the invention. The inward bead serves as a bearing suriace for the reciprocable wall. Covering the peripheral groove 55 is a sleeve 59 and, conveniently, in diametrically opposite portions of the part ll, there are iormed curved slots 6. through each or which a rivet or the like 62 may pass. The rivet is illustrated as a split rivet carried in the sleeve I! and, as shown in Figure 5, H a; through the slot II in the wall portion 1 l5 and through the wall ll of the cup-shaped circuit closing member where it is fixed in position as by bending over each iurcation I as shown. The slot I may be so disposed that one extremity thereof is higher than the other as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3 and as the sleeve i6 is rotated, the rivet 62 i caused to follow the slot and move upwardly to bring the eyelet it into electrical connection with the lamp terminal 4. thus completing the connection because the battery positioning spring 2i causes the battery 22 to follow the wall as in the previously described modification.

The flashlight of Figures 6, 7 and 8 is in the main, similar to that previously discussed and corresponding pa s are given like reference characters. In this instance, however, the movable wall comprises a pair of insulating discs II spaced as by a suitable spacing element I! and clamped together as by the eyelet $9. One overturned edge II of the eyelet serves as the contact with the terminal 38 of the battery. The other turned over edge II serves as the contact means with the lamp terminal 40. The wall of the easing in this modification is again formed with a curved slot 13, II which may, if desired, take the form 0! diverging upwardly extending portions, a longer slot 13 and a shorter slot 15 (as shown in Figure 8). A sleeve I1 on the outside of the casing II is formed at its bottom end with a bead II and pins 1! of some convenient size are secured in the sleeve TI and enter the space between the insulating washers 05. If desired, for appearance sake, the pins may be hidden from view and retained against displacement by an external offset sleeve l0 secured permanently on the sleeve 11. When the pins 19 are in the slot portion 15, the contact 69, II is held away from the lamp. .When the pins 19 are in the end of the slot portion 13, the contact 89, l f engages the lamp terminal 4.. The operation oi the flashlight in this modification is the same as described hereinbefore.

A simple form of the invention is illustrated in Figure 9. The battery containing casing ll receives, at one end, a cup-shaped bottom cap 4! the wall oi which is threaded as before to mesh with a simple single helical groove 8! rolled in the casing wall. Instead of the positioning wall 01' the previously described modifications, a simple sleeve similar to that described hereinbefore is adapted to turn and reciprocate on the casing ll. Inwardly directed pins .5 are carried in the sleeve and pass through slots similar such that the shank of the rivet or eyelet N to those shown at II, I! of Figure 8. The pins are adapted to engage the rim of the battery 22. When the sleeve 11 is rotated so that the pin 85 lies in the slot portion 15, the battery has been moved downwardly to contract the spring 2| so that the terminal 38 is out of contact with the lamp terminal 40. When, however, the sleeve 11 is turned so that the pin lies in the upper end of the slot portion 13, the battery positioning spring 2| urges the battery upwardly to bring its terminal 38 into direct contact with the lamp terminal 40 to complete the circuit as before.

It will thus be seen that a flashlight has been provided which is extremely simple in construction, is pleasing in appearance and comprises a circuit closure which enables the circuit to be completed by or under the influence of the battery positioning spring without complicated switch mechanisms.

Various modifications will occur to those skilled in the art, in the composition, configuration and disposition of the component elements going to make up the invention as a whole as well as in the selection and/or combination of individual features to accomplish particular objects and no limitation is intended by the phraseology of the foregoing specification or illustrations in the accompanying drawings, except as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A flashlight comprising a tubular casing, lamp supporting means in the casing, a lamp supported thereby, a battery in the casing, battery positioning circuit closing means comprising an axially reciprocable member disposed intermediate the battery and the lamp base, contact means mounted on said member on opposite sides thereof comprising means adapted to make electrical contact with the lamp terminal on one side and means adapted to make electrical contact with the battery terminal on the other side and means permanently electrically connecting the respective contact means, a battery positioning spring normally urging the battery terminal toward the battery positioning circuit closing member and maintaining a terminal of said battery in electrical contact with a contact means on said circuitclosing member and means to maintain th circuit closing member in a closed circuit position in electrical contact with the lamp terminal and in an open circuit position in spaced relation to the lamp terminal;

2. A flashlight comprising a tubular casing, lamp supporting means in the casing, a lamp supported thereby, a battery in the casing, battery positioning circuit closing means comprising and means permanently electrically connecting the respective contact means, a battery positioning spring normally urging the battery terminal into contact with the battery positioning member and urging a terminal oi said battery into electrical contact with a contact means on said circuit closing member and means to maintain the circuit closing member in a closed circuit position in electrical contact with the lamp terminal an axially reciprocable member disposed interand in an open circuit position in spaced relation to the lamp terminal, said last named means comprising a pin carried with the member, said casing being formed with a generally circumferential slot to receive the pin, one end of said slot being in advance, longitudinally, of the other end and means outwardly of the casing to manipulate the pin.v

3. A flashlight comprising a tubular casing, lamp supporting means in the casing, a lamp supported thereby, a battery in the casing, battery positioning circuit closingmeans comprising an axially reciprocable member disposed intermediate the battery and the lamp base, contact means mounted on said member on opposite sides thereof comprising means adapted to make electrical contact with the lamp terminal on one side and means adapted to make electrical con tact with the battery terminal on the other side and means permanently electrically connecting the respective contact means, a battery positioning spring normally urging the battery terminal toward the battery positioning circuit closing member and urging a terminal of said battery into electrical contact with a contact means on said circuit closing member and means to maintain the circuit closing member in closed circuit position in electrical contact with the terminal and in an open circuit position in spaced relation to the lamp terminal, said last named means comprising at least one pin carried with the member, the casing being formed with a U- shaped slot for a pin whereof the arms extend toward the end of the casing containing the lamp and a shorter slot intermediate said arms.

-4. A flashlight comprising a tubular casing, said casing being formed with generally circumierentially extending slots one end of each of which is in advance longitudinally of the other end of the slot, lamp supporting means in the casing, a lamp supported thereby, a battery in the casing, a battery positioning spring normally urging the battery terminal toward the lamp base and means to maintain the battery in circuit closed position in electrical connection with the lamp terminal and in open circuit position out of electrical connection with the lamp terminal comprising a sleeve longitudinally reciprocable and axially rotatable on the outside of the casing and means carried by the sleeve and passing through each slot and having a portion engaging the battery.

ORVILLE T. WOOD.

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