US2385640A - Pen flashlight - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 25', 1945. c. s. PACKER ETAVL PEN FLASHLIGHT 2 Sheets-Slieet 1 Filed Oct. '31, 1942 INVENTORS- Z SheetS-Sheet 2 PEN FLASHLIGHT C. S. PACKER ET AL Filed 001;. 31', 1942 Sept. 25, 1945.

Patented Sept. 25, 1,945

I PEN FLASHLIGHT Charles S. Packer, Chicago, and Marvin R. Olsen,

Glen Ellyn,

Ill., assignors to Justrite Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application October 31, 1942, Serial No. 464,030"

Claims.

The invention relates'to flashlights and has reference more particularly to a pocket or pen flashlight of economical construction, embodying relatively few parts and which can be easily assembled and disassembled.

An object of the invention is to provide a flashlight having improved switch means for turning the light on and oil.

Another object is to provide 'a flashlight having improved switch means including an exterior contact strip which also functions as a fastening clip for releasably securing the flashlight to a belt or similar article of apparel.

A further object resides in the provision of a flashlight in which the battery cells are inserted and removed from the front end and which end is provided with a removable closure member forming a bulb cover that contains and properly positions the light bulb.

A further object is to provide a snap-on filter of translucent material for dimming the light bulb.

With these and various other objects in view, the invention may consist of certain. novel features of construction and operation as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawings and claims appended hereto.

In the drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the device, and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts- Figure 1 is an elevational view showing the complete flashlight with the-exception of the translucent filter; V

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1 and showing the constructional features on the interior of the flashlight;

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the top portion of the battery casing;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along line 4'-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view through the center of the battery casing shown in Figure 3; v

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of the underside of the battery casing;

Figure 7 is an end view taken along line 'l-1 of Figure 5 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 8 is an end view taken along line 8-8 of Figure 5 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 9 is a sectional view of the bulb cover or closure member for the bulb end of the flashlight; and

sists of a tubular battery casing l0 containing the battery cells II and I2, and abulb cover l4 having threaded connection with one end of the battery casing and which forms a removable closure for said end. The bulb cover l4 also houses and properly positions the light bulb l 5including' the threaded metal shell IS, the glass portion H and the center electrode l8. I

The battery casing shown in detail in Figures 3, 4 and 5 is preferably formed of a thermo-plastic material and therefore the casing can be molded into the shape disclosed-with very few machining operations being later on required. The-casing is substantially tubular in form, having one open end provided with threads 20 and having its other end substantially closed except for the threaded opening 2| extending through the inwardly directed boss 22. This end of the battery casing is flattened as indicated by numeral 23, Figure 3,

and said flattened end is recessed at 24, Figure 5 to provide adepressed area substantially'concentrio with the threaded opening 2| and which depressed'area extends upwardly along the top portion of the battery casing as at 25. This end is also formed with a substantially rectangular opening 26 located below the threaded opening 2| and which opening permits electrical contact to be made between the negative electrode of the battery'cells and the exterior contact strip, as will be more particularly described. I

The exterior of the battery casing is provided with a plurality of spaced ribs '21, Figure 4, which facilitate the handling of the flashlight, the ribs extendinglongitudinally of the casing and alternating with depressed areas 28. Centrally of the casing the same is provided with a flat portion 30 and longitudinally aligned with said flat portion are openings 3| and 32. In the vicinity of the flat portion 30 the casing is additionally provided with a peripheral groove 33 of a width sufllcientto receive and retain a ring of insulating or conducting material 34, Figure 1, for locking the flashlight either off or on, respectively. A second groove 35 is formed on the interior of the flashlight but this groove extends longitudinally of the casing and in substantial alignment with the openings 3| and 32. The groove even extends through the threads 20, as clearly evident from Figure 5, and in accordance with the invention this part 36 of the groove is recessed to a greater extent than part 35.

. entirety by numeral 40; detail in' Figure 10. 'The clip portion M has its terminal end bent upwardly so asto facilitate the Referring again to Figure 2, the battery cells II and I2 are inserted in the casing I0 so that the positive electrode of cell II will be in contact with the positive electrode 18 f the light bulb. The positive electrode of cell l2 contacts the bottom of cell I I which comprises the negative elecspring 31 having location in the bottom of the" boss 22. The coil spring tapers so thatflthe con volution of largest diameter is in' contact with battery casing substantially concentric withrthe the negative terminal of be electrically connected light bulb, thus closing It will be understood from the foregoing that the switch means for the present flashlight is formed by theexterior contact strip 40 and the interior contact strip 48. The strips are nor-: mally separated since the clip portion 4| of the exterior strip is spaced from the rivet 41. The contact can be closed by a slight depression of the fastening clip 4|. This will cause the clip to contact the rivet 41 and as a result thereof the lbattery cells will to the shell N5 of the the circuit and energizing said bulb. When the pressure on the fastening clip "M is released the inherent resiliency the bottom of cell l2, with the convolution of smallest diameter having electrical contact with the flange 38 of the combination fasteningclip and exterior metal contact strip indicated in its attachment of the flashlight to a belt, pocket or similar articleof wearing apparel.- The fastening' clip is integral with the intermediate section 42, which section has an arcuate shape so as to 1 conform to the shape of the depressed portion 25'.

The circular portion 43 of the contact strip is provided with opening 44 and this circular por--- tion is adapted to fit within the recessed area 24, with. the integral flange 38' being bent so as to extend through opening 26 interiorly ot the battery casing.- The coil spring 31 is fixedly held tothe flange 38 asa result of thesemi-clrcular cut-outs -45: which receive the end convolution 'of smallest diameter of the resilient coil spring 31. The combination fastening clip and contact strip is held to the battery casing by the screw 46, the threaded portion of which has threaded engagement with opening 21.

The bent terminal end of the fastening clip is in engagement with the flat portion 30 of the battery casing; The opening 3t; located to the rear ofthis fiat portion, accommodates the metal rivet li and in a similar manner opening 32 likewise accommodates a metal rivet -49, which rivets fixedly secure the interior contact strip 48 within the groove 35,. It will be observed from an inspection of Figure 2 that the forward end of this strip is bentupwardly so as to lie within '1 part 36 of the longitudinal groove 35: r

The bulb cover for the battery casing is threaded as at 59, Figure 9; for coasting with threads whereby the bulb cover is threadedly securedto the battery casing. The interior of the bulb cover is cored for accommodating the light bulb and in accordance with the invention a longitudinal groove 5! is formed along the wall of said core inorder that the bowed portion 52 of the contact ring 53 may have contact with the metal shell l6 of the light bulb. The coaction of the several elements with each other is clearly shown in Figure 2. The contact ring extends around the periphery of the bulb cover at the-base of the threads 55), having location within a groove provided therefor, One or both terminal ends of the ring are bent downwardly so .as to extend through an. opening interiorly of the bulb cover and the end is then bent laterally to form the bowed portion 52. This latter portion is in contact with the metal shell l6 of the light bulb" atall times, and the electrical circuit to the interior contact strip 48 is completed by the ring 58 which is in contact with that part of the contact strip '48 lying within groove 36,

Said strip is shown in casing 13.

of. the clip issuch as to cause the same to spring back to its former position, in which position the clip is spaced from the rivet 41.

-When it is desired to render the switch inoperative the, insulating ring 34 is rotated so that one of the separated ends of said ring, either 54 or 55, will overlie-the'rivet 41., In this posit-ion of. the insulating ring depression of the fastening clip 4L will not complete the electrical circuit to the contact strip 48 as would'otherwise be the case. The insulating ring 34 is provided witha cut-out portion 56, Figure 6, which portion has substantiallytwice the length of the shoulder 51. The insulating ring issnapped into place within groove,33 andas a result of the shoulder 51' and 011570111: portion 56 stop means are provided for limiting rotation of the ring when it is desired to locate one of its spaced ends over rivet 4'I for insulating the switch means. Y

The flashlight of the invention has been designed primarily for use in dim outs when only a minimum amount of light is permissible. As is evident from Figure l,- the glass portion l! of the light bulb extends for only part of itslength beyond. the bulbcover M, which is opaque so asnot to-transmit any light.- This part of the flashlight may likewise be formed of a thermoplastic material-similar to 'that of the battery casing is and ribs may be formed on the exterior thereof to conform in appearance to-that of the battery casing. Since the light bulb is almost wholly enclosed within cover; 14 it will project light from only that portion which extends beyond the cover. However, even in dimoutsthis amount of light is not permissible and the invention therefore provides a snap-on filter designated in its entirety by numeral 58, Figure 2, of translucent material. The filter is cylindrical in'shape, having an outside diameter approximating that of the battery A integral partition 60 closes the frontendof the filter and at the rear end the filter is provided with an internal groove adapted to co-act with the peripheral projection 6| on the bulb cover, by means of which the light filter is removably. fixed to the cover. It is possible to snap the filter in place as a result of the inherent resiliency f the material comprising the filter. The translucent character of the filter will emit sufficient light for illuminating dials of watches and other instruments and for performingoperations of a similar nature but at the same time the light is sufficiently dirnmed-to comply with regulations. I i I p The combination exterior contact strip and fastening clip 40 eliminates a number of separate partswhich-would otherwise be required-for performing said functions. The combination element is secured to the batterycasing 10 by asingle screw-located at the end opposite the bulb cover. The parts can be easil assembled and the integral bent flange 38 is employed for making ele'ctrical'c'onnection with the negative electrode of the battery cell l2. This also requires the coil spring s'l'which contacts the end of the battery cell and also has engagement with said flange. The resilient coil spring additionally functions to apply a yielding force to the battery cells, urging them toward the bulb cover and said spring. thus holds the cells in contact with each other and in contact with the positive electrode of the light bulb.

In the event the ring 34 is made of metal or other conducting material the said ring under these conditions will function to lock the flashlight in on position. With the ring in position as shown in Figure 1 the circuit is normally disconnected but may be closed by the operator merely by pressing the fastening clip 4] against the rivet 41. By rotating the conducting ring 34 to locate either end of the ring between the fastening clip and the rivet it will be seen that the circuit as regards these contacts will be closed and the flashlight is therefore locked in on position.

Ifthe batteries used with the present flashlight are allowed to remain within the casing after they have become dead, their electrical energy having been exhausted, they have a tendency to swell and corrode. As a result they are extremely difficult to remove especially from those flashlight casings which have only one open end. The removal of dead and swollen batteries from the casing in of the present flashlight ismaterially facilitated by the provision of opening 2| in the rear end, which during use is closed by the screw 46. This screw can be easily removed and a rod or similar instrument inserted and used to push the batteries from the open forward end of the casing.

The invention is not to be limited to or by details of construction of the particular embodiment thereof illustrated by the drawings, as various other forms of the device will of course be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a flashlight, a cylindrical battery casing of insulating material, a bulb cover also of in sulating material having threaded connection with one end of the casing so as to form a closure for said end, a metal fastening clip releasably secured to the battery casing at the end opposite the bulb cover, said metal fastening clip providing electrical conducting means for the flashlight and extending exteriorly f the casing in a direction longitudinally thereof, a metal contact strip having location on the interior of the casing and also extending longitudinally in alignment with the clip from the bulb cover to substantially centrally of the le gth of the casing as to underlie the terminal end of the fastening clip, securing means for the contact strip extending to the exterior of the casing in the vicinity of the fastening clip whereby said fastening clip and securing means form switch mechanism for the flashlight, and a contact ring carried by the bulb cover and. having electrical connection with said contact strip, said contact ring having encircling relation with the bulb cover and including a part extending within the cover.

2. In a flashlight, a cylindrical battery casing of insulating material adapted to contain at least one battery cell, said casing having one end open and having the opposite end substantially closed,

a bulb cover' also "of insulating material releas ably' secured to the casing at the open end thereof so as to form a closure for said end, a light bulb in said cover having contact with the positive 'electrodeof the battery cell, 'a metal fastening clip releasably secured to the opposite closed end of the'casing, said fastening clip having'an integral flange bent therefrom and ex tending through the said opposite end'of the casing to the'interior thereof, a metal contact strip within the interior of the casing and electrically connecting with the shell of the light bulb, said contact strip extending longitudinally in alignment with the fastening clip from the bulb cover to substantially centrally of the easing so as to underlie the terminal end of said clip, securing means for the contact strip extending to the exterior of the casing in the vicinity of the fastenin clip whereby said fastening clipand securing means form switch mechanism, and resilient means electrically connecting the battery cell with the said integral flange, said resilient means having location within the battery casing and also yieldingly urging the battery cell toward the bulb cover.

3. In a flashlight, a battery casing of insulating material adapted to contain at least one battery cell and having a bulb cover of insulating material at one end, said bulb cover containing and positioning a light bulb in contact with the positive electrode of the battery cell, a contact strip extending longitudinally within the battery casing and having electrical connection with the shell of the light bulb, a metal fastening clip secured to the casing at the end opposite the bulb cover, an integral flange bent from said fastening cli and extending through said end of the battery casing to the interior thereof, a resilient coil spring electrically connecting the negative electrode of the battery cell with the said integral flange, and other means fixed to the casing and extending exteriorly thereof in the vicinity of the fastening clip for securing the contact strip to the casing, whereby said clip upon depression thereof is electrically connected to the contact strip to close the electric circuit to the light bulb.

4. In a flashlight, a battery casing of insulating material adapted to contain at least one battery cell and having a bulb cover of insulating material at one end, said bulb cover containing and positioning a light bulb in contact with the positive electrode of said battery cell, a contact strip extending longitudinally within the battery casing, a contact ring carried by the bulb cover for electrically connecting said contact strip with the shell of the light bulb, a metal fastening clip secured to the casing at the end opposite the bulb cover and having electrical connection with the negative electrode of said battery cell, and means whereby the said fastening clip upon depression thereof is electrically connected to the contact strip to close the electric circuit to the light bulb.

5, In a flashlight, a cylindrical battery casing of insulating material, a bulb cover also of insulating material having threaded connection with one end of the casi g so as to form a closure for said end, said bulb cover containing and positioning a light bulb in contact with the positive electrode of a battery cell positioned'within the casing, said bulb cover having a peripheral groove, a contact ring having location in said groove and providing a depending part projecting Within thebulb cover for contact with the shell of the light bulb, an interior contact strip extending longitudinally of the battery casing and having electrical Connection with the contact ring when the parts an exterior contact member secured to the battery casing at the end opposite the bulb cover and providing a fastening clip extending longitudinally of the battery casing, securing means for l the contact strip extending exteriorly of the casing in the vicinity of the fastening clip whereby said fastening clip and securing means form switch mechanism for the flashlight, an integral are in assembled relation,

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