US1143966A - Flashlight. - Google Patents

Description

Pmed Jun@ 22, 1915.

- Inventor vAttorneys Witnesses HARRY T. HIPWELL, 0F PITTSBURGH, YENNSYLVANIA.

FLASHLIGHT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

latented JT une 22, 1%15.

Application filed October 31, 1914. Serial No. 869,611.

To all l2li/72,0171. t may concern Be it known that l, HARRY T. HirwELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at lil. S. Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a and useful Flashlight, of which the following is a specification.

rlllie present invention appertains to electric flashlights, and aims to provide a novel and improved lens construction therefor, -whereby the rays of light are condensed in order that they may be concentrated upon the object to be illuminated..

lt is the object of this invention bto provide anelectric flashlight with a condensing lens in connection with the main lens, whereby the greater portion of the light rays will be concentrated in a strong pencil or stream of light of comparatively small. cross sec'- tional area, in order that the object to be illuminated may be illuminated with the greatest intensity, and in order that the light may be carried for a greater distance than is possible with the ordinary flashlight havingl l a single lens.

Another object ot' the invention, is to provide novel means for assembling the lenses with the body or case of the flashlight.

.lt is also within the scope of the invention, to provide a lens structure of the nature indicated which wil be comparatively simple and inexpensive in construction, which may be readily applied toV ordinary iashlights, and which will be eflicient and practical in use.

With the :foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combiation and arrangement of parts and in the ails of construction. hereinafter described i claimed., it being understood that el ages .in they precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made with in the scope of what is ,claimed without departing from the spiritof the invention.

The invention is illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1" is an elevation of an electric flashlight having the improved lens structure applied thereto. the lens structure and a portion of the flashlight being shown in 'section; Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken onthe line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

ln the drawing, the numeral 1 Adesignates l the hollow tubular body or case of the Hashlight, which incloses the battery or batteries 2, and which carries a suitable controlling switch 3.

A parabolical or cupshaped reflector 4- is fitted within one end of the body 1, and is provided with an outturned rim or flange 5 seating against the end of the body, and with a central inwardly projecting threaded socket 6 for receiving the plug of the incandescent lanip 7. The lamp 7 is brought in circuit with the batteries 2, in any suitable manner, preferably through the medium of` inclosed conductors 8 extending from the switch 3, one conductor being electrically connected to one pole of the batteries 2, while the other conductor is connected to the reflector 4., which is a conductor so as to. be in electrical connection with the lamp 7. The lamp 7 contacts with'the other pole of thel batteries.

A ferrulel). is secured upon that end of the body 1 which incloses the reflector 4, and is threaded to receive thereon, a ring 10. The ring 10 carries a funnel-shaped shell 11, which comprises the frusto-conical or flared body portion ,12, having the reduced or spout portion 13 at its smallest end. The end of the reduced or spout portion 13 is provided with an inturned annular flange or lip 111 which is soldered or otherwise secured to the outer edge of the ring 10, whereby the ring 10 forms an extension for the spout' portion 13. The truste-conical or flared portion 12 of the shell 1,1 is provided at its largest end with an enlarged cylindrical portion or rim 15 which is threaded, and which has its edge inturned to provide an annular flange or lip 16.

rPhe main lens 17, which is of plano-conveXed form, has its marginal portion seated against the flange or lip 16, with the flat or plane face of the lens facing inwardly, and a threaded retaining ring 18 is threaded upon the rim 15 of the shell 11 and is provided at its outer edge with an inturned annular flange or lip 19 engaging the marginal portion of the lens 17 and clamping the saine against the flange 16 of the shell 11. The lens 17 is of relatively large diameter.

Disposed within the spout 13-1O of the,

shell 1'1 is a condensing lens 2O of relatively small diameter, and preferably of planoconvexed form with its plane or flat face facing inwardly. The lens 2O is disposed within the ring 10 and seats against the flange 14 of the spout 13-10 whereby when the ring or portion 10 of the spout is threaded onto the ferrule 9, both the flange of the reflector 4 and the condensing lens 2O Will be clamped against the corresponding end of the body l. It Will thus be noted that the shell l1 which is of funnel-shaped form, carries the main lens and its enlarged c portion or rim, andcarries the condensing .ing through the tWo lenses Will provide a strong pencil or stream of light, Which is adapted to illuminate the object With the greatest intensit-y, and which Will extend for a considerably greater distance, than is possible Withthe ordinary single lens flashlight. The light rays passing through the two lenses will be refracted so as to collect .the light rays into a relatively small stream.

With the present device, therefore, the greater portion of the light rays are condensed in order that they may be concentrated upon the object to be illuminated, With the greatest possible or maximum illumination, and With the greatest carryflector fitting Within one end thereof, a

ing power.

The interior of the reflector' 4 is preferably polished or otherwise treated to pro-.

videa mirror or highly reflective surface while the interior ofthe shell 11 is preferably blackened or darkened to avoid the re- .flection of light therein, it being noted that the condensing lens Q0 is mounted Within the spout of the shell ll lover the mouth of the reflectorv 4, While the main lens 17 l is carried by the free portion of the shell 11 over the mouth thereof.

Having thus described the invention, What is' claimed is l. .A flashlight comprising a body, a relamp mounted Within the reflector, a condensing lens disposed over the mouth of the reflector, a shell detachably engaged over thesaid endof the lbady and having means for holding the condensing lens and reflector in place, and a main lens carried by the free portion of the shell.

2. A flashlight comprising a body, a. reflector fitting Within one end thereof and having a flange seated against the said end of the body..I a lamp disposed .Within the reflector, a condensing lens seated against the said flange of the reflector, a shell detachably engaged over the said end of the body and having an inner flange engaging the condensing lens for clamping the reflector flange and condensing lens against the end of the body, and a main lens carried by the free portion of the shell.

3. A flashlight comprising a body, a reflector fitting Within one end thereof, a lamp disposed Within the reflector, a funnel shaped shell having its spout portion detachably engaged over the said end of the body, a relatively large main lens carried bythe mouthv portion of the shell, and a relatively small condensing lens disposed within the spout portion of the shell over the mouth of the reflector, the spoutporr tion of the shell having means for holding the condensing lens and reflector in place against the end of the body.

4. A flashlight comprising a bedy, a re flector fitting within one end. thereof and having a flange seated thereagainst, a. lamp disposed within the reflector, a funnelshaped shell having its spout portion -de- 0 tachably engaged over the said end of the body, a relatively large main lens carried by the mouth portion of the shell, and a relatively small condensing lens disposed Within the spout portion of the shell and fitting over the mouth of the reflector, the

spout' portion of the shell having an inner flange' engaging the condensing lens for holding the same and the reflector flange againstthe end of the body.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, have hereto aflixed my signa.- ture in the presence of two Witnesses.

HARRY T. HIPlVELL. Witnesses E. G. LANG, C. S. lHiLLIr.

Images