US2334480A - Illuminating device - Google Patents

Description

NOV. 16,1943. Q E c oss 2,334,480

ILLUMINATING DEVICES Filed April 29, 1941 ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 16, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ILLUMINATING DEVICE Col H. B. E. D. Cross, Stroud, Okla. Application April 29, 1941, Serial No. 390,981 2 Claims. (01. z t-6.4)

The present invention relates to improvements in illuminating devices especially adapted to ladies handbags, brief cases, camera cases and the like.

An important object of the invention is to provide a novel, relatively inexpensive and simple means for supporting a flashlight so as to be readily accessible for instant use.

Another object of the invention is to associate a casing with a ladies handbag or the like in such a manner that a flashlight can be supported in position for instantaneous use.

A further object of the invention is to provide means in the casing for illuminating the interior of the bag.

The invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and specifically pointed out in the appended claims. 7

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a ladies handbag with the illuminating device in accordance with the present invention associated therewith.

Figure 2 is an end View of the device with the closure flap in raised position.

Figure 3 is a vertical, sectional view taken substantially on line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing for a more detailed description thereof, a ladys handbag with which th illuminating device is shown in use, is generally designated by the reference numeral 5, the same being formed of suitabl flexible material and including side walls 6, end walls 1 and a bottom wall 8. As in bags of this type, there is usually provided a metal frame 9 consisting of a pair of sections pivotally united at each end as indicated at H]. As is to be understood, for the purpose of illustration only, the illuminating device in accordance With the present invention is shown in use with a ladys handbag. The device, however, is equally adaptable for use with brief cases, camera cases, physicians and surgeons medicine and tool cases and the like.

In accordance with the present invention, a casing is associated with the bottom wall of the bag for supporting a flashlight construction so as to be readily accessible for instant use. In Figure 1 of the drawing, the casing is designated by the reference numeral H and is formed of like l3.

leather or similar flexible material. The casing I l is of substantially U formation in cross section and is located at and extends longitudinally of the bottom wall 8 of the handbag. The longitudinal edges of the casing are .secured to the sides of the handbag with the bottom of the casing spaced downwardly from the bottom wall of the handbag. One longitudinal edge of the casing is stitched or otherwise fixedly secured to one side of the lower edge of the handbag as indicated at I2 while the other longitudinal edge is .detacha-bly secured to the opposite side of the bag by means of snap fasteners or the By this construction, the casing is readily accessible for replacement of the flashlight batteries and for making necessary changes and repairs to the flashlight construction.

A conventional flashlight case I4 is held within the casing II as best shown in Figure 3 of thea switch I! slida'bly held within one wall of v the flashlight case M and projecting through a slot l8 formed in the flexible casing I I.

The casing H further includes end members l9 and 20 respectively, said end members being preferably cylindrical and formed of a relatively rigid material to impart a substantially cylindrical formation to that part of the casing located below the bottom of the handbag. .The end member I9 is riveted or otherwise secured as indicated at 2| to the bottom wall 8 of the bag 5 and is secured to the casing I I by means of a suitable fastener 22, said end member being of hollow cylindrical formation and of such size to frictionally retain one end of the case M. The other end member 20 is likewise secured to the bottom wall 8 and casing l I the means of fastening to the casing being designated by the numeral 23. The end member 20 i formed with an opening 24 in which a lens 25 and the reflector l5 are secured and by which the lens and reflector are held in assembled relation.

By means of the above described construction, the flashlight case, bulb and reflector, will at all times be maintained in a plane parallel to the bottom wall 8 and when carrying the bag illumination will be obtained from the forward end thereof. A further feature of the present invention embodies the use of a closure flap 26 secured as by means of stitching 21 to the forward end of the bag 5. A separable fastener 28 of conventional construction is employed for retaining the flap 26 in the closed position shown in Figure l of the drawing. When desiring to open the flap as the flashlight is being used, the fastener 28 is separated which permits the flap 26 to be raised against the end wall of the bag and held thereto by means'of a snap fastener or the like 29, a shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawing.

It may occasionally be desired to position a colored lens in front of the lens 25 so as to project different colored lights. On the interior of the forward end wall 'of the bag 5 there is secured a strip 30 of relatively rigid material which extends downwardly toward the bottom wall 8 and substantially parallel to said end wall. Mounted between the strip 30 and the end wall 7 is a frame 3| which supports a colored lens 32. tion 32' which projects through a slot 33 formed in the member Frictional engagement of the portion 32 with the Walls of the slot 33 will maintain the frame 31 and its lens in the raised position shown in Figure 3 of the drawing. For lowering the frame so as to position the lens 32 in front of the lens 25, the tab 34 is engaged for moving the portion 32 downwardly within the slot. Likewise, raising the tab 34 and lifting upwardly on the portion 32 will return the frame 3! to the position shown in Figure 3. The front end member 20 is provided in advance of the lens 25 with guide grooves 29a for the frame ..2!, whereby to establish a sliding relationship between the frame and the front member and thus permit the frame to be moved to arrange the colored lens 32 in advance of the flashlight lens 25 or withdraw it from said position.

If desired, an opening 35 may be formed in the bottom wall 8 Of the bag 5, said opening to be covered by means of a sheet of glass or other transparent material 36. Likewise, an

' opening 3'! will be formed in the reflector l5 a relatively simple and inexpensive means for supporting a flashlight so as to be readily accessible for instant use. The attachment with the flashlight supported therein is relatively light The upper end of the frame St has a porin weight so that the weight of the bag is not materially increased.

Also it will be understood, of course, by those skilled in the art that variations in the hereinabove described device involving the substitution of substantial equivalents for the devices described are intended to be comprehended within the spirit of the present invention and that the invention is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawing nor to the precise construction described and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therein as do not affect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a handbag having side walls and a bottom wall, a flexible casing of substantially U-form in cross section extending l0ngitudinally of the lower portion of the handbag with the upper portions of its sides contacting with the, side walls of the handba and with its lower side spaced downwardly from the bottom wall of the handbag, means securing the upper edge of one side of the casing to the adjacent side wall of the handbag, means detachably securing the upper edge of the o'ther side of the casing to the other side wall of the handbag, relatively rigid front and rear members located within the ends of the casing below the bottom wall of the handbag, means for securing said members to the casing andto. thebottom wall of the handbag, said rear member being hollow and having its rear side closed and said front member being provided with an axial opening, a. flashlight provided witha reflectorfand lens located within the casing with its rear end .positionedin said rear member and its lens and the I front end of its reflector positioned in the-axial openingof said front member, and means for securing the reflector and lens together and to said front member.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1, comprising acolored lens, a frame carrying the colored :lens slidably associated with said front member in advance of the flashlight lens adapted to be moved transversely of. said front member to arrange the colored lens in front of the flashlight lens. or withdraw it from said position, and means adapted to hold the frame against accidental movement from either of its positions.

so]. H. B. E. D. CROSS

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