GB2172097A - Multipurpose lamp - Google Patents

Abstract

A lamp comprises a torch (10) and lantern (20), each having their own batteries and removably secured together by catch means (31, 32). The torch has a beam reflector (12) and flashing warning light (18) at opposite ends separately controlled by switches (16, 17). The lantern is turned on by rotating a lamp housing 21 in a rectangular frame 22 to reveal the diffusing lens 23 of the lantern. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Multipurpose lamp This invention relates to a battery-powered lamp having at least two different light sources. Preferably one light source comprises a torch adapted to produce a relatively narrow beam and the other comprises a lantern to provide illumination over a wider angle.

It is known (e.g. from UK Patent 2061479) to provide a battery-powered lamp which comprises a separable torch and lantern, the lantern being connected by an electrical lead to a battery housing of the torch which lead can be unplugged from the battery housing and connected to an alternative power source such as a car battery.

This invention relates to a lamp comprising a first member supporting a first light source electrically connected, via a first switch means, to terminals in a first battery housing, a second member supporting a second light source electrically connected, via a second switch means, to terminals in a second battery housing and releasable catch means to link the two members together.

Since each light source has its own battery housing, each of the two members can be used independently as a self-contained source of illumination.

Preferably the first member is a torch having a generally elongate body which provides the first battery housing and supports the first switch means and a spot light reflector, adjacent to the first light source, at one end of the elongate body. The other end of the elongate body can support a third light source (e.g. behind a red or orange transparent cover), a third switch means for the third light source also being provided on the elongate body.

Preferably the second member defines a bracket contains the second battery housing and turnably supports the associated second light source in the form of a lantern. With this arrangement, the second switch means can be actuated when the lantern is turned within the bracket. The second light source is preferably disposed adjacent to a broad beam reflector.

Where the second member is a bracket, it can be provided with a groove into which the first member can be removably located, the catch means locking the two members together when the first member is fully inserted into the groove.

Two embodiments of lamp in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows the torch and lantern, which make up a first embodiment of lamp, separated one from the other, Figure 2 shows the lantern of the first embodiment separated from the torch and turned into the "on" position, Figure 3 is an exploded partial perspective view of one end of the lantern of the first embodiment showing its switch mechanism, Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 of a second embodiment of torch/lantern combination lamp, Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 with the torch shown in side elevation, Figure 6 shows the bracket and lantern of the second embodiment of lamp opened to show the battery housing, and Figure 7 shows details of the coacting parts of the torch and bracket of the second embodiment which provide the catch means.

The lamp illustrated in Figure 1 comprises a batterypowered torch 10 and a battery-powered lantern 20. In Figure 1 these are shown separated but they can be locked together in a manner shortly to be described.

The torch 10 has a bulb 11 and reflector 12 at the head end of a generally cylindrical body portion 13. The bulb and reflector are protected by a glass plate 14 held in place by a screw-threaded bezel 15. The bezel 15 can be magnetic to facilitate fixing the torch headdown onto a metallic surface such as the roof of a car.

Two switches 16, 17 are mounted on the body portion 13 and one of them is connected in circuit with the bulb 11 and a pair of battery terminals (not shown) within the body portion. When the correct batteries are placed in the body portion 13,the appropriate switch 16 or 1 7 controls the illumination of the bulb 11.

The other switch 16 or 1 7 controls the illumination of a second bulb on the torch 10, this second bulb being located behind a coloured (red or orange) transparent cap 18 at the other end of the torch body 13. The second bulb can be in circuit with a flasher unit but draws its operating power from the same batteries used by the bulb 11.

A pair of hooks 19 flank the cap 18 to provide easy means for suspending the torch 10 from above should the need arise.

The lantern 20 comprises a light housing 21 turnably mounted in a rectangular frame 22.

The housing 21 contains a broad beam reflector (not shown) and a multifaceted lens 23 and between these a further source of light (e.g. a fluorescent tube). The housing 21 also contains battery terminals in circuit with the further source of light and a rotary switch shown in part in Figure 3. Referring to Figure 3, an arcuate contact strip 24 is mounted in the frame 22 and this is confronted by a pair of sprung contacts 25, 26 located within the housing 21. When the housing 21 is in the rest position shown in Figure 1 neither of the two contacts 25, 26 makes electrical contact with the strip 24 and thus the circuit to the light source in the housing 21 is open circuit.

When the housing 21 is turned from this posi tion, in which the lens 23 confronts the bracket 22, to a position such as that shown in Figure 2, both contacts 25 and 26 are electrically connected together via the strip 24 and the light source in the housing 21 is illuminated.

The end of the housing 21 remote from the rotary switch shown in Figure 3 is openable to permit batteries to be inserted in, or removed from, the housing 21.

To lock the torch 10 and lantern 20 together for easy carrying, the body 13 of the torch can be slipped into a groove 27 in the frame 22 so that ears 28 at one end of the groove 27 locate in a respective recess 28 in the rear end of the torch body 13. A peg 30 at the front end of the frame 22 locates in an aperture (not shown) in the head end of the torch 10. A turn catch 31 rotatably mounted in the frame 22 below the ears 29 can be set in one position so that it does not rise above the arcuate lower surface of the groove 27 (in which position the torch 10 can be slid fully into the groove 27) and turned (e.g. through 90 ) into a second position in which part of the catch rises above the lower surface of the groove 27 to engage with the torch body 13 and lock the two members 10, 20 together.

The turn catch 31 can be turned between its two positions by a lever 32.

It will-be appreciated that many modifications of the first embodiment of.lamp design are possible within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Thus, for example, an incandescent filament lamp can be used in place of the fluorescent tube in the housing 21 and the bulb behind the end cap 18 on the torch could be a discharge tube forming part of a high intensity flash light system. The housing 21 could be provided with a socket, in parallel with the battery therein, so that the light source in the lantern can be run off a car battery using an extension lead plugged into the socket. Both torch 10 and lantern 20 can operate with rechargeable batteries.

The members 10 and 20 are suitably moulded from plastics material.

It will be noted that with the torch 10 locked to the lantern 20, a hand hole H is provided between the part of the frame 22 defining the groove 27 and the housing 21.

The embodiment of lamp shown in Figures 4 to 7 has many features in common with those shown in Figures 1 to 3, and where a feature is so similar as not to require further comment, the same reference numeral has been used for that feature in the second embodiment as was used in the first embodiment. Where there are commentworthy differences between features in the two embodiments, a prime has been added to the reference numeral in the second embodiment. Features new to the second embodiment have reference numerals upwards of 33 and these and the primed numerals will now be described.

A single hook 19' is pivotally attached to the body portion 13 of the torch. By drawing it rearwardly it can be turned through 90" into the position shown in Figure 5.

A catch 31' is slidable vertically in a recess in the frame 22 and is urged by a spring (not shown) into the upper position shown in Figures 4, 5 and 7. A lever 32', integral with the catch 31', allows the latter to be depressed (to unlock the torch 10 from the lantern 20) and thus drawn out of a recess 33 in the torch body 13 (see Figure 7).

The peg 30' is provided on the head end of the torch and locates in a recess 34 of the frame 22.

The batteries 35 (see Figure 6) for the lantern 20 are housed in the front vertical limb 36 of the frame 22 and are removable from the second battery housing 37 via a hinged base plate.38. The plate 38 includes an integrally moulded catch strip 39 which engages a stud 40 in its closed position.

An incandescent bulb (not shown) is contained in the housing 21 and is energised automatically from the batteries 25 when the housing 21 is turned through something approaching 15 in either direction from that shown in Figures 4 and 5.

The bezel 15' can be moulded in plastics material and the glass plate 14' can be a plastics barrel lens.

A reflector (not shown) can be enclosed within the cap 18.

Claims (14)

1. A lamp comprising a first member supporting a first light source electrically connected, via a first switch means, to terminals in a first battery housing, a second member supporting a second light source electrically connected, via a second switch means, to terminals in a second battery housing and releasable catch means to link the two members together.

2. A lamp as claimed in claim 1, in which the first member is a torch having a generally elongate body which provides the first battery housing and supports the first switch means and a spot light reflector, adjacent to the first light source, at one end of the elongate body.

3. A lamp as claimed in claim 2, in which the other end of the elongate body supports a third light source, a third switch means for the third light source also being provided on the elongate body.

4. A lamp as claimed in claim 3, in which the third light source is located behind a red or orange transparent cover.

5. A lamp as claimed in claim 4 in which the third light source is in circuit with means causing a flashing signal to be emitted.

6. A lamp as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the second member defines a bracket, contains the second battery housing and turnably supports the associated second light source in the form of a lantern.

7. A lamp as claimed in claim 6, in which the second switch means is actuated when the lantern is turned within the bracket.

8. A lamp as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, in which the second light source is disposed adjacent to a broad beam reflector.

9. A lamp as claimed in claim 8, in which the broad beam reflector is located behind a multifaceted lens.

10. A lamp as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the first member is slidably located in a groove in the second member and is removably locked therein by the catch means.

11. A lamp comprising a torch having an elongate body adapted to contain at least one battery for the torch, an electrically powered light source at each end of the body, a separate switch means for each light source whereby each light source can be separately energised from the battery/batteries in the body, a lantern supporting a turnably mounted housing containing a third electrically-powered light source, at least one further battery mounted in the housing or lantern, further switch means linking the third light source to the further battery/batteries via a further switch means actuated by a turning of the housing in the lantern, the lantern having a groove on a side thereof remote from the housing in which groove the elongate body of the torch can be located, and catch means to releasably lock the body of the torch in the groove.

12. A lamp as claimed in claim 11, in which the lantern includes a frame of rectangular form so that when the torch is locked to the lantern, a hand hole is provided in the frame to facilitate carrying the lamp.

13. A lamp substaritially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A lamp substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figures 4 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.