GB854077A - Improvements in or relating to portable electric lanterns or torches and to switching devices therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

854,077. Electric battery lamps. WING, G. C. Feb. 23, 1959 [July 18, 1958; Sept. 5, 1958], Nos. 23138/58 and 28640/58. Class 39(2). In a portable electric lantern or torch having a movable switch contact slidably mounted on a switch casing and connected to an operating button, the switch casing is of integral construction and made of hard metal such as brass or steel and has three depressions in the top surface to be engaged by the push button and defining an "off" position, an "on" position giving a steady light and an " on " position in which the circuit can only be closed by an independent press button on the casing. The lantern may be of the type having a light bulb and reflector carried in a forked arm at one end and a second light bulb and reflector mounted on a swinging arm attached to the battery casing. The switch comprises a push button 37, Fig. 15, mounted on a switch casing 36 on the carrying handle 12 and secured to a sliding contact strip 35 having two contact areas 47, 48 co-operating with upstanding tags 44, 46 on a fixed contact strip 38. In the position shown, the switch button engages the first depression and neither of the areas 47, 48 can make contact with the tags on the strip 38. When the button is moved forward into the position defined by the second depression, the contact area 47 can engage the tag 44 by pressing a button 51 at the front of the casing. In the position in which the button engages the third depression, the area 48 makes contact with the tag 46. The battery has both terminals at one end, connected by springs respectively to a disc 22 and a ring 23 mounted inside the casing. The ring 23 is connected to the centre pole of the lamp bulb 15, the shell of the lamp bulb being connected by way of the reflector to the lantern casing. The disc 22 is connected to the fixed contact strip 38, the sliding contact strip 35 being connected to the lamp casing. The second lamp bulb 55 is controlled by an independent switch 73. In a modification, Fig. 17 (not shown) for use in a cylindrical hand torch, the centre contact of the bulb is connected direct to the centre pole of the battery, the reflector being connected to the fixed contact strip and the moving contact strip to the battery casing.