US1027167A - Flash-light apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

W. lT. BARNUM.' FLASH LIGHT APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 13, 1911.

Patented May 21, 1912.

26 T Y |I| 2f 2o 30' f; @f

CULUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO.,VIA$HIPII1DN, D- C.

T. BARNUIVI, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS?k FLASH-Herm APPARATUS.

ySpecification of Letters Patent.

ratenteaMay 21, 191e.

Application filed J'uvlyial',l 19'11. Serial No. 638,291.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVILLIAM '.I`. BintA NUM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new'and useful Improvements in Flash-Light Apparatus, of which the following is a description, reference beinghad to the "accompany ing drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which corresponding numerals of reference in the differentfigures indicate like parts.

The object of my invention is to provide a flashlight apparatus which 'shall be so constructed as to enable it to be lfolded in `coml Vp'act form for transportation and the parts quickly assembled for use and that without danger of causingL a premature ignition of the flashlight powder.

A further object is to secure a downward flash of the light with simplicity of construction and such as will enable the quantity of powder to be varied at will.

To these ends my invention consists `in the combination of elements hereinafter more particularly described and definitely pointed out in the claims. y

In the drawings, Figure 1, is an elevation of a flashlight closure or bag, a portion of the front being broken away to show the;

ignition apparatus within. Fig. 2, is a view of the body of the appliance forming a part ofthe fuse-plug, as it would appear when ready to be projected into the closure. 'Fim 3, is a view thereof as it would appear wiii the head or fuse carrying portion connected therewith, Fig. 4, is a central longitudinal sectional view of the head, showing the electrical contact members and the termi-v nals for holding the fuse wire, Fig. 5, is an enlarged sectional View taken upon the line 5, Fig. 6, viewed in the direction of the arrow there shown, Fig. 6, is a sectional view ladapted to fit.

white linen or lcotton fabric or other suitable flexible Y material to which fire-proofing chemicals, have been ap-plied in the usual way, the walls being distended and held in yplace by ymeans of interior knock-down frame members, not shown, and to which I `make no claim. Said Vclosure may be suspended by means of kcords 2, or otherwise supported. In order the more readily to infsert my improved fuse, I prefer to reinforce or stiften the top wall by means of a stilfening material 3 of paste-board or asbestos glued yor otherwise attachedV to the fabric in which is formed a circular opening for the insertion of the body of a fuseplug which Vbody is generally designated by 4. Said body is formed entirelyfrom compressed fiber or other insulating material and consists of a central core 5,having longitudinal Vgrooves 6, Figs. 5 and 6, extending throughout its length and arranged diametrically opposite to each other. Said grooves are intended for the reception ofV terminals 7 and S of a circuit cord, to the extremity of which is attached the usual electrical contact plug 9. Said terminals are connected by means of binding screws 10 and 11 to metal strips 12 and 13 respectively, located in the bottom of said grooves and held in place by means of said screws which are tapped into the core. Contact springs 14 and 15 are attached to the lower ends of said strips and in order to provide for their movement the core is notched or cut away upon opposite sides as shown at 16 and 17. A sleeve 18, corresponding in length to that of said core, is fitted thereover so as to inclose said terminals and contact springs, said sleeve having corresponding notches 19, Fig. 2, at its lower end to permit the passage of contact-pins between the arms of the contact-springs as hereinafter described.

A contact-head generally designated by 20 consists of a hollow cylinder 21, the inner diameter of which corresponds to the outer diameter of the sleeve 18 upon which it is Said cylinder is provided with an interior plug 22 at its lower end, said cylinder and plug being formed from vinsulating material. Metal contact-pins 23,

24, are located diametrically opposite to each other in the part 21, to contact with the springs 14 and 15, and metal terminals or pins 25, 26, are inserted in bores in the part 18 and tapped into the pins 23 and 2&1. The

ends of said terminals project beyond the head as shown, and serve for the attachment of a fuse wire 30. ,.A thimble 27 is placed over the part 21, the lower end thereof forming a shoulder 28 for the purpose of limiting the extent to which the fuse-head may be projected into the powder holding receptacle, which preferably consists of an elongated receptacle 31, provided with a bottom of fragile material, such, for example, as tissue-paper and having a circular opening in the top for the reception of the part 21 of the sleeve 20; said opening being of such a diameter as to cause said part to fit closely therein so that the weight of the receptacle may be sustained as a result of the frictional contact between the parts. The sleeve 18 is also provided with a similar shoulder or enlargement 29, Figs. 1, 2 and 8, at its upper end to prevent it from passing through the opening in the top of the closure.

The operation of said device is as follows: Assuming the closure 1 to be suspended ready for use, the electric contact plug 9 is connected with a source of electrical energy by inserting it in a socket while the body 11 is projected downwardly through the circular opening in the top of the closure until the shoulder 29, by which it is supported, is in engagementtherewith. A fuse-wire 30 is stretched diametrically across the lower end of the head and wound around the terminals 25 and 26, thus forming a metallic connection between them. The head is then passed into the closure through any suitable hand-hole, not shown, or otherwise, and placed upon the lower end of the body 1, the pins 25 and 26 passing into the notches 19, and thence into contact with the spring contact members 14; and 15. It is understood, of course, that prior to this operation the electric switch should be turned so as to shut off the current. Should this precaution be neglected, however, no further harm would be done than to burn out the fuse wire 80, which could immediately be replaced. When the head 2O is inposition the powder container 31 is secured to it in the manner described and shown and the switch is closed to produce the flash. Inasmuch as the powder container is not placed in position until after the fuse is interposed in the circuit, it is obvious that there can be no danger of a premature explosion. Moreover, from the manner in which said container is constructed, the operator is free to vary theflashlight charge to conform to varying requirements.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is:

1. A flashlight apparatus in which is combined an elongated body of insulating material adapted to be projected downwardly through the top of a flashlight closure, electric contact members inclosed within the lower end thereof, said members being connected through said body with a source of electric energy, a removable sleeve adapted to lit upon the lower end of said body, said sleeve having electrical contact members therein adapted, when said sleeve is in position, to engage those within said body, terminal elements connecting with said contact elements within said sleeve, said terminal elements being arranged to project beyond the lower end of said sleeve, a detachable fuse wire for connecting said terminals and a flash-light powder container adapted to be detachably connected with said removable sleeve, whereby said sleeve with its fuse-wire may be connected with said elongated body before connecting said powder container.

2. The combination in a flashlight apparatus of an elongated body of insulating material having a notch in its lower end, spring contact members therein upon opposite sides of said notch, said members being connected through said body with a source of electrical energy, a j removable sleeve adapted to fit upon said body said sleeve having metallic members therein adapted to enter said notch to engage said spring contact members, terminal elements connecting with said contact elements within said sleeve, said terminal elements being arranged to project beyond the lower end of said sleeve, a detachable fuse-wire for connecting said terminals and a detachable powder container having an 'opening therein for the reception of said sleeve.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 11th day of July, 1911.

VILLIAM T. BARNUM.

l/Vitnesses:

D. H. FLETCHER, JENNIE L. Frsnn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

Images