US3252235A - Flashlight - Google Patents

Description

y 1966 e. A. GOESSLING ETAL 3,252,235

FLASHLIGHT Filed July 27, 1964 Z Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS GERALD A. GOESSLING iiibi l 12 ARTHUR H. MOORE BY 4O 39 Q FIG QM XW ATTORNEYS May 24, 1966 G. A. GOESSLING ETAL FLASHLIGHT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 27, 1964 FIG. 9

G S m a LE .N R R E W m o T m w R mw NAH w m E mGA VI B United States Patent 3,252,235 FLASHLIGHT Gerald A. Goessiing, 22 Ridgetop, Richmond Heights 17, Mo., and Arthur H. Moore, Fairfield, Conn. (365 Cherry St., Bridgeport, Conn.)

Filed July 27, 1964, Ser. No. 385,351 7 Claims. (Cl. 40-132) The present invention relates to a flashlight, and particularly to a small compact light having an integral prelocated receptacle to receive a snap-in bulb in prefocused position within the reflector.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a flashlight having a receptacle mounted in the reflector and adapted to receive a bulb in prefocused position within the reflector.

Another principal object of the present invention is to provide a flashlight having a one-piece unitary 'plastic case having a front and rear cover with openings located therein, the front cover opening being adapted to receive a snap-in reflector, lamp, and lens assembly and the rear cover opening being adapted to receive a snap-in advertising insert and cover.

Another principal object of the present invention is to provide a flashlight having front and rear openings which are illuminated by a bulb positioned in a side opening in the reflector, the rear wall of the reflector being open and shaped to conform to the shape of the opening in the rear wall of the case to provide a shaped directed beam of light onto an advertising insert positioned in the rear wall opening.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a small compact flashlight having batteries positioned on each side of the bulb and adjacent to and behind the lens with the lens having an integral receptacle adapted to mount the bulb through a side opening in the reflector.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a molded plastic case having integral battery positioning lugs and molded slots for receiving conductors to complete the circuit between the batteries and a bulb mounted in a side opening in the reflector.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a flashlight structure in which all of the parts are prelocated by means of positioning members for easy assembly by the manufacturer.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a flashlight having an outwardly positioned rim around a snap-in reflector with the rim and reflector being of clear plastic and the reflector being metallized only on the internal surface thereof, the outer rim picking up the metallized surface so as to appear to be itself metallized.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent hereinafter.

The present invention comprises a flashlight having a molded unitary plastic case having hinged covers with a reflector assembly including a positively positioned prefocused snap-in bulb receptacle integral therewith. The present invention further comprises the article and structure hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings wherein like numbers refer to like parts wherever they occur,

FIG. 1 is a front view of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary rear view of the present invention,

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the bail in partially open position so as to mount'the flashlight in an upstanding arrangement,

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the front cover with the batteries shown in broken lines,

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the rear cover,

FIG. 6 is an exploded view showing the arrangement of the lens, the reflector and the bulb,

Patented May 24, 1966 FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 77 of FIG. 1 with the batteries removed,

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 6 with the bulb and lens assembled,

FIG. 9 is a sectional vieW taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 4 with the reflector and bulb assembly removed,

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line 1010 of FIG. 4 with the reflector and bulb assembly removed, and

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line 1111 of FIG. 2.

The flashlight 10 includes a unitary plastic case comprising a front cover 11, and a rear cover 12 connected by an integral hinge 13 along one edge. An undercut snap fastener arrangement (FIG. 7), including a projection 14 on the rear cover 12 and a socket 15 on the front cover 11, is positioned opposite the hinge member 13 and when engaged, holds the cover members 11 and 12 in closed position. A ball 16 is mounted in receptacles 17 molded into the rear cover 12 and is adapted to be swung ou wardly (FIG. 1) to carrying or mounting position from a closed position with the bail 16 positioned in a three-sided groove 17a along the outer edge of the rear cover 12, or positioned in an intermediate position (FIG. 3) to mount the case in an upstanding position. The front cover 11 is provided with an opening 18 into which is mounted snap-in lens and reflector assembly comprising a transparent plastic reflector 19 and a transparent plastic lens 20 which snaps into an undercut slot 21 adjacent to the front edge of the reflector 19. A node 19a on the reflector 19 fits into a notch 18a on the case opening 18 to positively locate the reflector 19 in the case opening 18- during assembly.

The case opening 18 also is undercut to allow the correspondingly tapered shoulder 22 on the reflector 19 to snap into the opening 18 and be positively retained therein.

The reflector 19 is provided with an integral lamp receptacle 23 in its side wall adjacent to an opening 24 at the rear thereof. The receptacle 23 includes a slot 25 adjacent to the inner edge thereof and slightly deformable fingers 26 the rear thereof. The receptacle 23 is so positioned as to receive a conventional lamp 27 having a collar 28 between the bulb portion 29 and the base portion 30. The collar 28 slips into the slot 25 and the lamp base portion 30 is slipped between and retained by the fingers 26. The receptacle 23 is so positioned that the lamp 27 is prefocused with respect to the reflector 19. The lamp 27 is inserted into the receptacle 23 through the rear and side opening 24 of the reflector 19.

The opening 24 in the rear of the reflector 19 can be so shaped (square, rectangular, circular, etc.) so as to provide any shape of illumination through the rear opening 24 of the reflector 19 for a purpose to be explained more fully hereinafter. The reflector 19 is of clear plastic and is metallized 31 on its inner surface. The metallizing is indicated by the stippling, but the surface is smooth and highly reflective.

A rim 32 of clear plastic is formed around the outer edge of the reflector 19, and when one views the reflector 19 from the front, the rim 3-2 also has the appearance of being metal'lized; This arrangement saves the expense and time of metallizing the entire reflector, and still achieves a pleasing and satisfactory result. This prevents the outer rim 32 from being scratched and chipped as would be the case if the exposed surface of the rim 32 were coated. This is important, since permanently metallized plastics are expensive and vacuum metallized plastics are easily worn. In assembling the flashlight 10, the lens 20 is snapped into the reflector slot 2-1 and the reflector shoulder 22 is snapped into the opening 18 in the case front 11, and located by means of the node 3 19a fitting into the notch 18a. The lamp 27 then is snapped into the receptacle 23 and is firmly held and positively positioned therein in prefocused condition by the engagement of the slot '25 and the lamp rim or collar 28 and the lamp base 30 and the reflector fingers 26.

The rear case member 12 is provided with an opening 33 having an undercut slot 34 into which can be positioned an advertising disc 35 and a clear plastic cover disc 36. The shape of the opening 33 in the rear casing 12 determines the shape of the rear opening 24 in the reflector 19. This permits only the desired portion of the rear case 12 to be illuminated, and results in a positively .shaped and directed beam of light striking the rear of the advertising disc 35. In the figures, a substantially round reflector opening 24 is used with a round disc 36 and case opening 33.

The rear disc 12 and the front case 11 are provided with molded integral battery positioning lugs 37 and molded retainers for the conductors which complete the circuit between the batteries 38 and the lamp 27. The conductor mountings are positioned in the front case 11. The first conductor retainer 39 is positioned inside the front case 11 adjacent to the hinge 13 and holds a first conductor 40 connecting the ends of the batteries 38.

The first conductor 40 is spring loaded on both of its ends with helical springs to firmly engage the batteries 38. The conductor 40 snugly fits in the case 11 and therefore is readily positioned in the retainer 39 during manufacture. A second retainer 41 is positioned inside the front case 11 adjacent to the reflector receptacle 23 and is adapted to receive a spring-like conductor 42 connecting the first battery 38 to a switch member 43 pivotally mounted by means of a pin 44 in a slot 45 in the top edge of the front casing 11. The conductor 42 is a spring and is forced into circuit making arrangement with the lamp 27 by rotation of the switch 43.

A third conductor mounting post 46 retains a springlike conductor 47 which engages the lamp base 30 with the end of second battery 38.

The batteries 38 are positioned adjacent to and on each side of the reflector 19 in engagement therewith, and occupy some of the depthof the reflector 19, thus further minimizing the size of the flashlight 10. The lugs 37 securely maintain the batteries 38 in their prepositioned location. The size of the case is about 2%" by 2%" by 1" deep, and the light beam will be thrown about 300 feet or so using alkaline batteries. The batteries 3-8 are positively located and restrained from movement by engagement with the inside of the case 11 and the outer surface of the reflector 19 and the engagement with the lugs 37.

The conductor 42 has a hump-like portion 42a which retains the switch 43 in closed circuit position after the switch 43 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 4) to move the conductor .42 into circuit establishing connection with the end of the lamp .base 30. When the switch 43 is in its normal interrupted circuit position of FIG. 4, the spring-like conductor 42 moves away from the lamp base end 30 into open circuit position.

The advertisement 35 is printed in transparent ink on a translucent plastic disc or paper that will diffuse the light evenly over the surface thereof without showing highlights or spots.

The cases '11 and 12 are made in one piece of nylon, polypropylene or other similar plastic in which the thin hinge section 13 can be flexed back and forth without breaking.

This invention is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the examples of the invention herein crosen for purposes of the disclosure which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1, A flashlight comprising (a) a case having front and back cover members defining an enclosed space, the cover members being connected along one edge by a hinge and provided with fastening means for retaining the case in closed condition, said case being provided with an opening in one face, j

(b) a lens and reflector assembly positioned in said opening, said reflector having an opening and a prepositioned receptacle for a lamp adjacent thereto, said receptacle having means for positively holding the lamp in prefocused position in the reflector,

(b') the receptacle being positioned on the side of the reflector and including a slot for receiving a collar on the lamp and gripping members for retaining the base of the lamp in predetermined position, said reflector opening being in the rear of the reflector so that the lamp is positioned in the reflector from the back and side of the reflector,

(c) battery means positioned within the case,

(d) circuit completing conductors connecting the battery means and the lamp, and

(e) switch means in the circuit for establishing and interrupting the electrical circuit between the battery means and the lamp.

2. A flashlight comprising (a) a case having a hollow front and back connected along one edge by a hinge and provided with fastening means for retaining the case in closed condition, said case being provided with an opening in one face,

(b) a lens and reflector assembly positioned in said opening, said reflector having an opening and a prepositioned receptacle for a lamp adjacent thereto, said receptacle having means for positively holding the lamp in prefocused position in the reflector,

(c) a pair of laterally spaced batteries positioned on each side of the reflector within the case,

((1) circuit completing conductors connecting the batteries and the positively positioned bulb,

(e) a switch means in the circuit for establishing and interrupting the electrical circuit between the batteries and the bulb,

(f) the back wall of the case being provided with an opening, and

(g) a snap-in advertising module positioned in said opening in the back wall of the case and illuminated by' light from the back opening in the reflector.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said reflector opening is shaped to conform to the shapeof the advertising module, said module receivinga shaped directed beam of light toilluminate the same.

4. A flashlight comprising (a) a unitary plastic case having hollow front and back faces connected along one edge by an integral hinge and provided with snap fastening means on an opposite edge for retaining the case in closed condition, said case being provided with an opening in both faces,

(b) a snap-in lens and reflector assembly positioned in the front face opening, said reflector having an opening in the rear and a prepositioned receptacle for a lamp adjacent thereto, the lens being snapped .into the end of the reflector and the reflector having an external tapered shoulder, the front face case opening having a correspondingly tapered groove to accommodate the reflector in a snap-in fit, the receptacle being positioned in the side of the reflector and including a slot for receiving a collar on the lamp and gripping members for retaining the base of the lamp in predetermined position, said reflector opening being in the rear of the reflector so that the lamp is positioned in the reflector from the back and side of the reflector,

(c) a pair of batteries positioned one on each side of the reflector and occupying a portion of the depth of the reflector to minimize the thickness of the case, the case including integral lugs on the interior thereof for positioning the battery means in predetermined position in the case,

(d) a snap-in advertising module positioned in the back face opening and illuminated by light from the back opening in the reflector, said reflector opening being shaped to conform to the shape of the advertising module, said module receiving a shaped directed beam of light to illuminate the same,

(e) circuit completing conductors connecting the battery means and the lamp, and

(f) switch means in the circuit for establishing and interrupting the electrical circuit between the battery means and the lamp.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein the reflector is a clear plastic and has a metallized interior surface and an external non-metallized rim around its outer periphery, said rim having the appearance of being rnetallized when viewed from the front.

6. The structure of claim 4 including integral molded conductor lugs on the case, said lugs having slots for retaining and positively positioning the conductors in the case, and including spring-like conductors connecting the batteries and the lamp into a complete circuit with said switch means, one of said conductors snugly fitting within the width of the case and having coiled helical members on the ends engaging the batteries, said conductor being positively retained by the integrally molded lugs, another of said spring conductor means being adjacent to the switch means and the lamp and urged into circuit making engagement with the lamp by movement of the switch, said second named conductor having means thereon for retaining the switch in circuit establishing position.

7. The structure of claim 4 including a bail pivotally mounted on the case, the case being provided with an external groove around a portion of the outer periphery to house the bail when in closed position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,925,115 9/ 1933 Seiss 240lO.65 2,579,762 .12/1951 Schofield 240-1().65 2,748,258 5/ 1956 Henning 240-1065 2,817,754 .12/1957 Moore 240-10.66 3,043,354- 7/1962 Fitzgerald. 3,057,992 10/ 1962 Baker 24010.65

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

J. F. PETERS, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A FLASHLIGHT COMPRISING (A) A CASE HAVING FRONT AND BACK COVER MEMBERS DEFINING AN ENCLOSED SPACE, THE COVER MEMBERS BEING CONNECTED ALONG ONE EDGE BY A HINGE AND PROVIDED WITH FASTENING MEANS FOR RETAINING THE CASE IN CLOSED CONDITION, SAID CASE BEING PROVIDED WITH AN OPENING IN ONE FACE; (B) A LENS AND REFLECTOR ASSEMBLY POSITIONED IN SAID OPENING, SAID REFLECTOR HAVING AN OPENING AND A PREPOSITIONED RECEPTACLE FOR A LAMP ADJACENT THERETO, SAID RECEPTACLE HAVING MEANS FOR POSITIVELY HOLDING THE LAMP IN PREFOCUSED POSITION IN THE REFLECTOR, (B) THE RECEPTACLE BEING POSITIONED ON THE SIDE OF THE REFLECTOR AND INCLUDING A SLOT FOR RECEIVING A COLLAR ON THE LAMP AND GRIPPING MEMBERS FOR RETAINING THE BASE OF THE LAMP IN PREDETERMINED POSITION, SAID REFLECTOR OPENING BEING IN THE REAR OF THE REFLECTOR

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