US3590234A

US3590234A - Keyhole-illuminating device with time delay

Info

Publication number: US3590234A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alfred M Bartick
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-03-06
Filing date: 1970-03-06
Publication date: 1971-06-29
Anticipated expiration: 1988-06-29

Abstract

A keyhole-illuminating device comprising a casing having an opening at one end. An illuminating element mounted in said casing on extending enteriorly of said opening for directing light toward a keyhole. A battery is mounted in said casing and connected in a series circuit with said illuminating element. A vacuum cup time delay pushbutton actuator including an electrical contact member for temporarily energizing said circuit.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventor Alfred M. Bartiek I 28 Redwood Street, Anaheim. Calif. 92806 [21 Appl. No. 17,203 [22] Filed Mar. 6, 1970 [45] Patented June 29, 1971 [54] KEYHOLE-ILLUMINATING DEVICE WITH TIME DELAY 3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs. v [52] US. Cl 240/213, 70/456, 200/34 [51] Int. Cl ..E05b 17/10 [50] Field of Search 240/213; 70/456, 456 A; 200/34 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,042,623 10/1912 Wagner 240/213 Wolff Costanzo Blackburn et a1 lverson Ford Phillips et a1. Overesch Goldstein Primary Examiner-Louis J. Capozi ABSTRACT: A keyhole-illuminating device comprising a casing having an opening at one end. An illuminating element mounted in said casing on extending enteriorly of said opening for directing light toward a keyhole. A battery is mounted in said casing and connected in a series circuit with said illuminating element. A vacuum cup time delay pushbutton actuator including an electrical contact member for temporarily energizing said circuit.

PATENTEU JUNZ 9 :97:

Alfred M. Borflck INVENIHR KEYHOLE-ILLUMINATENG DEVICE Wl'll'ii TIME DELAY The present invention relates to a self-contained batteryoperated flashlight and time delay switch useful in illuminating a door keyhole andassociated parts on the surface of a door for a predetermined time interval. The keyhole-illuminating device is mounted in the area near, or on, the door at the entrance to a dwelling. Once activated by the user, the keyhole illuminator floods the general area of the keyhole and latch plate with light for a predetermined time interval, thus making possible the easy location of the keyhole for insertion of a key. While seemingly a simple task, the insertion of a key into a door keyhole during periods of darkness can prove to be a difficult task.

My device, with its automatic time delay tumoff feature, has the advantage over other keyhole-illuminating devices of being novel, reliable and low in manufacturing cost. Once activated by the user, the keyhole illuminator device with its built-in time delay switch mechanism, keeps the flashlight in the on" position for a predetermined interval of time, thus permitting the user to have his hands free while sorting and inserting the proper key into the keyhole. After being in the on" position for the predetennined time interval, the illuminator device automatically turns the flashlight to the off' position. The automatic flashlight turn "off" feature of my device makes it less susceptible to battery burnout through tampering,'or being inadvertently left in the on" position for extended periods of time.

My device also incorporates a novel, simple and reliable form of pneumatic time delay mechanism. Said pneumatic time delay mechanism utilizes a common resilient and flexible vacuum cup as its major functioning element.

FIG. 1 shows my device mounted upon a door directly over the keyhole.

FIG. 2 shows an elevated section view of my device with the time delay switch control mechanism in the deactivated switch off position.

FIG. 3 shows an exploded perspective view of my device with its major elements.

FIG. 4 shows an elevated partial section view of my device showing the time delay switch control mechanism in the v depressed switch on position.

FIG. 5 shows a partial section view of the devices time delay mechanism with one alternate gas metering means.

Device A, molded plastic housing 10, is mounted on door B above the keyhole 30 by means of screws 11.

Housing 10 is formed into two connected compartments. Housing 10, upper compartment 32, houses the electric illumination control on-off switch with its cooperating pneumatic time delay switch control mechanism, as shown in FIG. 2. Complemental rear unit cover plate 19 functions as a permanently fixed rear unit cover for housing 10, upper compartment 32, and is comprised of electrically conductive material. Complemental re'ar unit cover plate 19 being bonded or staked to housing 10, shelf42, or the like.

Housing 10, lower compartment 12, is sized to accept a single dry cell battery 13, Dry cell battery 13 poles being clamped between electric lamp l4, center base electrode 29, and electrically conductive spring contact member 25. Spring contact member 25 being formed as a portion of rear complemental cover plate 19. Compartment 12 is rearly accessible when housing 10 is demounted from door B for periodic replacement ofdry cell battery 13.

Compartment 12 also contains an electrically conductive circuit connecting member 16 with fixed lower end 34 extending the vertical length of compartment 12. Circuit connecting member 16 functions as a series illumination circuit electrical conductor between electric lamp 14 and complemental rear unit cover plate 19. Electric lamp 14 is received by lamp socket aperture 15 formed in the extreme fixed lower end 34 of circuit connecting member 16, while the resilient free upper end 37 of circuit connecting member 16 operates as a movable switch arm contact 23 cooperating with complemental rear unit cover plate 19 and functioning as the electric illumination control "on-off switch for device A.

The pneumatic time delay mechanism housed within housing 10, upper compartment 32, utilizes a compressible vacuum cup 17 as its major operating element. Vacuum cup 17 being comprised of rubber, neoprene or any other suitable resilient and flexible material. Vacuum cup 17 being interposed between the complemental rear unit cover plate 19 and the resilient free upper end 37 of circuit connecting member 16. Device A is normally deactivated, said electric lamp 14 being deenergized when vacuum cup 17 is expanded to its normal configuration, as shown in FIG. 2. Shoulder 24, on expanded vacuum cup 17, bearing against upper free end 37 of circuit-connecting member 16, shoulder 24 urging upper free end 37 against upper compartment wall 28 and biasing switch arm contact 23 to an open circuit position until device A is activated by the user.

Pushbutton 21 is permanently affixed to vacuum cup 17, threaded stud 22. Threaded stud 22 centrally protruding from vacuum cup 17, shoulder 24. Pushbutton 21 passes through clearance aperture 35 formed in circuit connecting member 16 upper, free end 37. Aperture 35 being concentrically aligned with housing 10, aperture 31. Pushbutton 21 being depressible and guided axially within housing 10, aperture 31, and extending therefrom.

To activate device A, user finger pressure is applied to pushbutton 21 resulting in the constriction of vacuum cup 17 against complemental rear unit cover plate 19. Constriction of vacuum cup 17 permits circuit connecting member 16, free upper end 37, to swing switch arm contact 23 to its normal position of engagement with fixed switch contact area 18 on complemental rear unit cover plate 19, surface 33. The switch arm contact 23 engagement with complemental rear unit cover plate 19 being maintained for the time interval that vacuum cup 17 is constricted and shoulder 24 ceases to bear against free upper end 37 of circuit connecting member 16.

The switch arm contact 23 engagement with complemental rear unit cover plate 19 permits dry cell battery 13 electric current to flow through the electric illuminating series circuit path comprising dry cell battery 13, spring contact member 25, circuit-connecting member 16, electric lamp l4 and complemental rear unit cover plate 19. Electric lamp 14 being positioned in. lamp guide aperture 36 and extending therefrom. Aperture 36 being formed in the bottom of housing 10, aperture 36 being aligned with lamp socket aperture 15. Excited electric lamp 14 emanating light rays directed toward door keyhole 30 and its general parts and illuminating same.

The constriction of vacuum cup 17 against complemental rear unit cover plate 19, when user finger pressure is applied to pushbutton 21, causes a buildup of gas pressure within chamber 27. Chamber 27 being formed between the smooth mating surface 33 on complemental rear unit cover plate 19 and vacuum cup 17, mouth 26. The buildup of gas pressure within chamber 27 causes gas within chamber 27 to be exhausted into the atmosphere surrounding device A. Exhausting chamber 27 gas exiting between lip 38 on vacuum cup 17, mouth 26, and the smooth mating surface 33 on complemental rear unit cover plate 19.

Upon removal of user finger pressure from device A, pushbutton 21, the resilient nature of constricted vacuum cup 17 urges vacuum cup 17 to return to its normally expanded configuration. The self-urging of vacuum cup 17 to return to its expanded configuration creating a partial vacuum within chamber 27. The partial vacuum within chamber 27 being maintained by a gastight seal formed at the interface between lip 38 on vacuum cup 17, mouth 26, and smooth mating surface 33 on complemental rear unit cover plate 19. The partial vacuum within chamber 27 constraining vacuum cup 17 in a partially constricted configuration and preventing vacuum cup 17, shoulder 24, from bearing upon circuit connecting member 16, upper free end 37.

A separate gas-metering means being provided for the entrance of atmospheric gas into chamber 27. Said separate gas metering means providing a timed expansion of chamber 27 under the control of said separate metering means. Said timed expansion of chamber 27 causing a time-delayed return of vacuum cup 17 to its normal expanded configuration. Simultaneously, upon the time-delayed return of vacuum cup 17 to its normal expanded configuration, shoulder 24 on vacuum cup 17 bears upon circuit connecting member 16, upper free end 37, causing switch arm contact 23 to swing out of engagement with complemental rear unit cover plate 19 and extinguishing electric lamp 14 as switch arm contact 23 is biased to the open circuit" position.

FIG. 3 and FIG. show two workable gas-metering means for the entrance of atmospheric gas into chamber 27. FIG. 3 showing one gas-metering means comprising gas leakage channel of minute cross-sectional area. Gas leakage channel 20, being formed as a shallow continuous groove in complemental rear unit cover plate 19, smooth surface 33. Gas leakage channel 20 extending from the interior region of chamber 27 on complemental rear unit cover plate 19, smooth surface, to a region exposed to the atmosphere surrounding device A, outside chamber 27 on surface 33. Gas leakage channel 20 passing completely under lip 38 on vacuum cup 17, mouth 26. Gas leakage channel 20 being sized to control the rate of gas leakage in accordance with the time delay requirements of the particular unit.

An alternate gas-metering means for controlling the timed expansion of vacuum cup 17 can be used to replace gas leakage channel 20. Said alternate gas-metering means utilizing gas-metering orifice 40, gas-metering orifice 40 passing completely through centrally disposed and thickened wall 41, as shown in FIG. 5. Gas-metering orifice 40 being formed with minute cross-sectional area, said minute cross-sectional area of gas-metering orifice 40 being controlled by a plurality of continuous fibrous threads 39 embedded in thickened wall 41,

beyond the two extreme ends of-gas-metering orifice 40. Said v fibrous threads 39 and said gas-metering orifice 40 both interconnecting the interior of chamber 27 with the atmosphere surrounding device A. the gas leakage rate and cross-sectional area of said gas-metering orifice 40 being controlled by selecting the appropriate number of embedded fibrous threads 39 in accordance with the time delay requirements of the particular unit.

it is understood that the combination and arrangement of parts or minor changes and variations in the details of the construction of my device may be resorted to without departing from the teachings of this disclosure or the scope of my invention.

What i claim is:

1. a keyhole-illuminating device comprised of an electric lamp, is dry cell battery, and a time delay controlled electric switch included in a series electrical illuminating circuit, said illuminating circuit encased within a single unit housing, said unit housing adapted to be secured to a door or the like adjacent a door keyhole, said unit housing being vertically elongated and rcarly separated into two adjoining compartments, the lowermost housing compartment comprising a rearly accessible vertically elongated cavity sized to accept a single dry cell battery, an electric lamp base and an electrically conductive illuminating circuit connecting strip extending into the uppermost housing compartment, said fixed lower end of said illuminating circuit connecting strip being formed to accept said electric lamp base as an electric lamp socket, said dry cell battery poles being captured between said electric lamp base center electrode and a resilient spring contact member at the opposite end of said lower most battery holding compartment, said resilient spring contact member being formed as a portion of a complementa] rear cover plate comprising electrically I conductive material, said complemental rear cover plate functioning as a permanently affixed rear unit cover for said upper housing compartment, said upper housing compartment containing a pushbutton activated vacuum cup pneumatic time delay mechanism and an illuminating circuit electric "on-off control switch, said vacuum cup comprising resilient and flexible material and being compressible in nature, said vacuum cup being interposed-between said complemental rear cover plate and the resilient free upper end of said electric illuminating circuit'connecting strip, said illuminating device electric on-off" control switch utilizing said resilient free upper. end of said electric illuminating circuit connecting strip as a movable switch arm contact cooperating with said complemental rear cover as a fixed switch contact, said movable switch arm contact being biased to an open circuit" position by said vacuum cup whenever said vacuum cup is in its expanded normal configuration, said illuminationcircuit electric "on-off control switch and said vacuum cup being activated by a depressible pushbutton extending from said illuminating device housing, said pushbutton being affixed to said vacuum cup, said illumination circuit electric on-off control switch being closable by user inward movement of said pushbutton, said vacuum cup being constricted by said inward movement of said pushbutton, said vacuum cup constriction permitting said movable switch arm contact to swing into engagement with said complemental rear cover plate, said switch arm contact engagement with said complemental rear cover plate completing said series electrical illuminating circuit path permitting said dry cell battery current to fiowand exciting said electric lamp, said electric lamp being positioned in an aperture formed in the bottom of said illuminating device housing and extending therefrom, said excited electric lamp emanating light rays directed toward said door keyhole and its general parts and illuminating same, said user inward movement of said illuminating device pushbutton simultaneously initiating said electric lamp excitation while compressing said vacuum cup, said compressing vacuum cup expelling captured gas from within a chamber formed between the vacuum cup mouth and said complemental rear cover plate, said expelling chamber gas being exhausted into the surrounding unit atmosphere past the lip on said vacuum cup mouth, said constricted vacuum cup being self-urged to return to its expanded normal configuration upon removal of used finger pressure from said unit pushbutton said self-urging of said vacuum cup creating a partial vacuum inside said chamber, said partial vacuum being maintained within said chamber by a gastight seal formed at the interface between said lip on said vacuum cup mouth and the smooth mating surface on said complemental rear cover plate, said partial vacuum constraining said vacuum cup in a partially constricted configuration, separate gas-metering means being provided for the entrance of gaseous fluid into said chamber, said gas-metering means comprising a gas leakage channel of minute cross-sectional area and providing a timed expansion of said chamber under the control of said gas-metering means, said gas leakage channel being formed as a shallow continuous groove on said smooth mating surface of said complemental rear cover plate, said vacuum cup mouth overlapping said shallow groove, said shallow groove interconnecting said chamber interior region with the surrounding unit atmosphere as said shallow groove passes completely under said lip on said vacuum cup mouth, upon completion of said timed chamber expansion under the con trol of said gas-metering means, a centrally disposed shoulder on said vacuum cup bears upon said free upper end of said illuminating circuit-connecting strip, said movable switch arm .contact being urged to swing out of engagement with said complemental rear cover plate, said movable switch arm contact being biased to the open circuit position when said vacuum cup comes to rest in its expanded normal configuration. thus extinguishing said electric lamp until such time as said pushbutton is reactivated by the user.

2. In a device of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein an alternate gas-metering means is provided which controls said timed expansion of said constricted vacuum cup, said alternate gas-metering means comprising a gas-metering orifice which passes completely through the centrally thickened and flexible wall of said vacuum cup, a plurality of short'continuous fibrous threads embedded in said gas-metering orifice. Said embedded fibrous threads establishing the minute crosssectional area of said gas-metering orifice, both extreme ends of said embedded fibrous threads and said gas-metering orifice interconnecting the interior region of said chamber with the outside atmosphere surrounding said device, said embedded fibrous threads controlling the gas leakage rate of said gas-metering orifice, the number of said embedded fibrous strands in said gas-metering orifice being selected to suit the time delay requirements of the particular device.

3. In a device of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein an alternate gas-metering means is provided which controls UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent N 3 590 ,234 Dated June 29 1971 Inventor{s) lfred M. Bartick It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the cover sheet [72] "28 Redwood Street," should read 300 Redrock Street,

Signed and sealed this 2nd day of May 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Commissioner of Patents EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. Attesting Officer 1 FORM PO-OSO WG-69 USCOMM-DC d0376-P69 n u s novrmmzm PFHNTING OFFICE 1969 0-356-334

Claims

1. A KEYHOLE-ILLUMINATING DEVICE COMPRISED OF AN ELECTRIC LAMP, A DRY CELL BATTERY, AND A TIME DELAY CONTROLLED ELECTRIC SWITCH INCLUDED IN A SERIES ELECTRICAL ILLUMINATING CIRCUIT, SAID ILLUMINATING CIRCUIT ENCASED WITHIN A SINGLE UNIT HOUSING, SAID UNIT HOUSING ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO A DOOR OR THE LIKE ADJACENT A DOOR KEYHOLE, SAID UNIT HOUSING BEING VERTICALLY ELONGATED AND REARLY SEPARATED INTO TWO ADJOINING COMPARTMENTS, THE LOWERMOST HOUSING COMPARTMENT COMPRISING A REARLY ACCESSIBLE VERTICALLY ELONGATED CAVITY SIZED TO ACCEPT A SINGLE DRY CELL BATTERY, AN ELECTRIC LAMP BASE AND AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE ILLUMINATING CIRCUIT CONNECTING STRIP EXTENDING INTO THE UPPERMOST HOUSING COMPARTMENT, SAID FIXED LOWER END OF SAID ILLUMINATING CIRCUIT CONNECTING STRIP BEING FORMED TO ACCEPT SAID ELECTRIC LAMP BASE AS AN ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET, SAID DRY CELL BATTERY POLES BEING CAPTURED BETWEEN SAID ELECTRIC LAMP BASE CENTER ELECTRODE AND A RESILIENT SPRING CONTACT MEMBER AT THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID LOWER MOST BATTERY HOLDING COMPARTMENT, SAID RESILIENT SPRING CONTACT MEMBER BEING FORMED AS A PORTION OF A COMPLEMENTAL REAR COVER PLATE COMPRISING ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL, SAID COMPLEMENTAL REAR COVER PLATE FUNCTIONING AS A PERMANENTLY AFFIXED REAR UNIT COVER FOR SAID UPPER HOUSING COMPARTMENT, SAID UPPER HOUSING COMPARTMENT CONTAINING A PUSHBUTTON ACTIVATED VACUUM CUP PNEUMATIC TIME DELAY MECHANISM AND AN ILLUMINATING CIRCUIT ELECTRIC ''''ON-OFF'''' CONTROL SWITCH, SAID VACUUM CUP COMPRISING RESILIENT AND FLEXIBLE MATERIAL AND BEING COMPRESSIBLE IN NATURE, SAID VACUUM CUP BEING INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID COMPLEMENTAL REAR COVER PLATE AND THE RESILIENT FREE UPPER END OF SAID ELECTRIC ILLUMINATING CIRCUIT CONNECTING STRIP, SAID ILLUMINATING DEVICE ELECTRIC ''''ON-OFF'''' CONTROL SWITCH UTILIZING SAID RESILIENT FREE UPPER END OF SAID ELECTRIC ILLUMINATING CIRCUIT CONNECTING STRIP AS A MOVABLE SWITCH ARM CONTACT COOPERATING WITH SAID COMPLEMENTAL REAR COVER AS A FIXED SWITCH CONTACT, SAID MOVABLE SWITCH ARM CONTACT BEING BIASED TO AN ''''OPEN CIRCUIT'''' POSITION BY SAID VACUUM CUP WHENEVER SAID VACUUM CUP IS IN ITS EXPANDED NORMAL CONFIGURATION, SAID ILLUMINATION CIRCUIT ELECTRIC ''''ON-OFF'''' CONTROL SWITCH AND SAID VACUUM CUP BEING ACTIVATED BY A DEPRESSIBLE PUSHBUTTON EXTENDING FROM SAID ILLUMINATING DEVICE HOUSING, SAID PUSHBUTTON BEING AFFIXED TO SAID VACUUM CUP, SAID ILLUMINATION CIRCUIT ELECTRIC ''''ON-OFF'''' CONTROL SWITCH BEING CLOSABLE BY USER INWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID PUSHBUTTON, SAID VACUUM CUP BEING CONSTRICTED BY SAID INWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID PUSHBUTTON, SAID VACUUM CUP CONSTRICTION PERMITTING SAID MOVABLE SWITCH ARM CONTACT TO SWING INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID COMPLEMENTAL REAR COVER PLATE, SAID SWITCH ARM CONTACT ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID COMPLEMENTAL REAR COVER PLATE COMPLETING SAID SERIES ELECTRICAL ILLUMINATING CIRCUIT PATH PERMITTING SAID DRY CELL BATTERY CURRENT TO FLOW AND EXCITING SAID ELECTRIC LAMP, SAID ELECTRIC LAMP BEING POSITIONED IN AN APERTURE FORMED IN THE BOTTOM OF SAID ILLUMINATING DEVICE HOUSING AND EXTENDING THEREFROM, SAID EXCITED ELECTRIC LAMP EMANATING LIGHT RAYS DIRECTED TOWARD SAID DOOR KEYHOLE AND ITS GENERAL PARTS AND ILLUMINATING SAME, SAID USER INWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID ILLUMINATING DEVICE PUSHBUTTON SIMULTANEOUSLY INITIATING SAID ELECTRIC LAMP EXCITATION WHILE COMPRESSING SAID VACUUM CUP, SAID COMPRESSING VACUUM CUP EXPELLING CAPTURED GAS FROM WITHIN A CHAMBER FORMED BETWEEN THE VACUUM CUP MOUTH AND SAID COMPLEMENTAL REAR COVER PLATE, SAID EXPELLING CHAMBER GAS BEING EXHAUSTED INTO THE SURROUNDING UNIT ATMOSPHERE PAST THE LIP ON SAID VACUUM CUP MOUTH, SAID CONSTRICTED VACUUM CUP BEING SELF-URGED TO RETURN TO ITS EXPANDED NORMAL CONFIGURATION UPON REMOVAL OF USED FINGER PRESSURE FROM SAID UNIT PUSHBUTTON, SAID SELF-URGING OF SAID VACUUM CUP CREATING A PARTIAL VACUUM INSIDE SAID CHAMBER, SAID PARTIAL VACUUM BEING MAINTAINED WITHIN SAID CHAMBER BY A GASTIGHT SEAL FORMED AT THE INTERFACE BETWEEN SAID LIP ON SAID VACUUM CUP MOUTH AND THE SMOOTH MATING SURFACE ON SAID COMPLEMENTAL REAR COVER PLATE, SAID PARTIAL VACUUM CONSTRAINING SAID VACUUM CUP IN A PARTIALLY CONSTRICTED CONFIGURATION, SEPARATE GAS-METERING MEANS BEING PROVIDED FOR THE ENTRANCE OF GASEOUS FLUID INTO SAID CHAMBER, SAID GAS-METERING MEANS COMPRISING A GAS LEAKAGE CHANNEL OF MINUTE CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA AND PROVIDING A TIMED EXPANSION OF SAID CHAMBER UNDER THE CONTROL OF SAID GAS-METERING MEANS, SAID GAS LEAKAGE CHANNEL BEING FORMED AS A SHALLOW CONTINUOUS GROOVE ON SAID SMOOTH MATING SURFACE OF SAID COMPLEMENTAL REAR COVER PLATE, SAID VACUUM CUP MOUTH OVERLAPPING SAID SHALLOW GROOVE, SAID SHALLOW GROOVE INTERCONNECTING SAID CHAMBER INTERIOR REGION WITH THE SURROUNDING UNIT ATMOSPHERE AS SAID SHALLOW GROOVE PASSES COMPLETELY UNDER SAID LIP ON SAID VACUUM CUP MOUTH, UPON COMPLETION OF SAID TIMED CHAMBER EXPANSION UNDER THE CONTROL OF SAID GAS-METERING MEANS, A CENTRALLY DISPOSED SHOULDER ON SAID VACUUM CUP BEARS UPON SAID FREE UPPER END OF SAID ILLUMINATING CIRCUIT-CONNECTING STRIP, SAID MOVABLE SWITCH ARM CONTACT BEING URGED TO SWING OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID COMPLEMENTAL REAR COVER PLATE, SAID MOVABLE SWITCH ARM CONTACT BEING BIASED TO THE ''''OPEN CIRCUIT'''' POSITION WHEN SAID VACUUM CUP COMES TO REST IN ITS EXPANDED NORMAL CONFIGURATION, THUS EXTINGUISHING SAID ELECTRIC LAMP UNTIL SUCH TIME AS SAID PUSHBUTTON IS REACTIVATED BY THE USER.

2. In a device of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein an alternate gas-metering means is provided which controls said timed expansion of said constricted vacuum cup, said alternate gas-metering means comprising a gas-metering orifice which passes completely through the centrally thickened and flexible wall of said vacuum cup, a plurality of short continuous fibrous threads embedded in said gas-metering orifice. Said embedded fibrous threads establishing the minute cross-sectional area of said gas-metering orifice, both extreme ends of said embedded fibrous threads and said gas-metering orifice interconnecting the interior region of said chamber with the outside atmosphere surrounding said device, said embedded fibrous threads controlling the gas leakage rate of said gas-metering orifice, the number of said embedded fibrous strands in said gas-metering orifice being selected to suit the time delay requirements of the particular device.

3. In a device of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein an alternate gas-metering means is provided which controls said timed expansion of said constricted vacuum cup, said alternate gas-metering means comprising a gas-metering orifice which is centrally disposed in said complemental rear cover plate, said gas-metering orifice passing completely through said complemental rear cover plate, said gas-metering orifice interconnecting the interior region of said chamber with the outside atmosphere surrounding said device, said gas-metering orifice being of minute cross-sectional area, said minute cross-sectional area of said gas-metering orifice controlling the gas leakage rate of said gas-metering orifice, said gas-metering orifice being sized to suit the time delay requirements of the particular device.