US1250545A - Flash-light. - Google Patents

Description

B. BENEDICT.

FLASH LIGHT.

APPLICATION man sEPT.8.1914..

Patented Dec. 18

lamp against the battery terminal.

-ed and of sheet metal.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFETCE.

BERNARD BENEDICT, OE NEW YORK, N. Y., AssIGNoR ro BEACON MINIATURE coivr- PANY, INC., or NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0E NEW YORK.

FLASH-LIGHT.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1S, 1917.

T0 all whom z't may Concern.'

Be it known that I, BERNARD BENEDICT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city and county of New York and y State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flash- Lights, of which the following is a specifica tion.

The invention pertains more particularly to portable electric lamps of the character designed to be held in the hand and sometimes used-as flash lights and at other times for affording a` permanent light for a short period, and the objectl of the invention is to provide a novel and eflicient construction of lamp of the class referred to by which a number of objections to or defects in portable flash lights as commonly manufactured and sold, may be remedied. One purpose of the invention is to avoidthe accidental lighting of thevlamp by the placing of the exposed metal parts thereof against a metal surface or another flash light. These flash lights are frequentlv carried by Workmen in a box of tools, and in many constructions when the flash light is placed against a metal tool the latter closes the circuit and lights the lamp, and in my construction of flash light this objection is entirely avoided. My invention more particularly comprises novel means fcrsupporting the reflector Whichreceives the lamp, these means including a saddlev secured Within the upper end of the exterior shell or tubular casing of the light and a threaded neck or nozzle on the reflector adapted to be screwed within a threaded opening at the center of said saddle for'securing the reflector in correct and rigid l position and to receive the threaded socket of the lamp, the lamp and reflector being adapted to be applied to said saddle as one part-and the assembling of the reflector and saddle serving to carry a terminal of the The saddle in its transverse member has the threaded opening to receive the threaded neck or nozzle `on the reflector, said neck being both internally and externally thread- The saddle is of sheet metal and in the lamp circuit and preferably'is less inl width than the diameter of the tubular casing so that upon the removal of the reflector-fromY the light substantial l,spaces arefleftto receive proper implements or tools whereby the battery, should the same be stuck within the exterior casing, may be forced from the lower end of said casing. In the construction presented by me one of the more important features re sides in the provision of the saddle having a threaded opening in its transverse member to receive the threaded neck of the reflector carrying the lamp, this construction presen ing many advantages not heretofore existing in flash lights known to me. It is of manifest advantage to provide a reflector raving a threaded neck to receive the lamp and to likewise provide a transverse member within the tubular casing having a threaded opening to receive the threaded neck of the reflector, the reflector being thereby very readily and rmly secured and the terminal of the lamp being carried centrally downwardly in positive and firm engagement with the central terminal at the top of the battery in opposition to the force of the spring usually provided within the tubular casing at the lower end of the battery.

The invention will be fully understood from the detailed description hereinafter presented, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portable electric light embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section on an enlarged scale and partly broken away of the same on the dotted line 2 2 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a detached perspective view of the saddle which, in use, is secured within the upper end of the tubular" casing and receives the reflector carrying the lamp.

In the drawings, 10 designates the exterior tubular'casing, usually of fiber, of the flash light, 11 the battery therein, 12 a metal cap closing the lower end of said casing, 13 a metal band secured upon the lower end of said casing 10v and threaded to receive the threaded sides of said cap, 14 the customary end glass, shown as a lens, 15 the usual flanged and threaded band securing said lens on the outer end of the main casing. 16 the usual threaded metal band secured upon the outer end of the casing 10 to receive the threaded sides of the band 15, 17 the reflector, 18 the lamp bulb, 19 the saddle having a threaded opening 2O in its transverse member to receive the threaded neck 21 on said reflector, 2Q' a customary terminal extending along the inner side of the casing 10 and connected at its upper end with the eircuit closer easing' Q8 and at its lo\ver end vith the metal band 13, and 2l the customary `erininal extendingT alone' the oute portion ol" the inner surface of the casing 19 and in this instance eine` electrically connected with the saddle 19. The lower end of the terminal is secured by a rivet E25 vto the casing 10 and upon said rivet and fastened against the said terminal E24 is a pring switch 26 adapted to be engaged by a conducting member 27 carried by a thumb piece or slide 28 which is mounted on the casing; rthe parts QG, 27 constitute the main circuit closer members, and in Fig. 2 these members are shoivn as separated from each other, the circuit being` broken. lVhen the slide Q8 is moved upwardly on the casing` 23 the contact member i2? is placed in int ivith the switch 26 and then the circuit is completed due to the electrical connectionv of the terminals With each otl in a. manner Well understood in this art.

The battery 11 is of the usual type and it is seated upon a spring 29, as usual.

rThe more important features of my invention reside in the construction provided at the outer end of the casing' 10, and these features include the saddle 19 and reflector 17 having' the threaded neel; Q1 to be screived into the hole or opening' 20 at the center of the transverse member of the saddle 19. The saddle 19 is of sheet metal having sides 30 Which support the transverse member and are secured to lthe Walls oit the casing or shell 19 by inea. s of rivets 81, 'the outer ends of said rivets being` ivithin the recesses formed in the shell or easing' 10 so as to avoid any contact of said rivets with the band or sleeve 1G.

l` he transverse member of the saddle 19, in the construction illustrated in the drawings, spans across the interior of the shell or casing 10, as shown in Fie'. f2, and said transverse member is less in Width than the diameter of said shell or casing' 10, u'hereby reasonably ivide spaces are left betvveen the side edges of said transverse menber and the adjacent Walls of 'the shell or casing` 10. The reflector' 1i' is -formed ivith the inwardly extending` threaded nozzle E21, and this nozzle is adapted to receive the lamp end also to be screvved into the hole or opening' 20 in the transverse member of the saddle 19. The upper edge of the reflector 1T is flanc/'ed outwardly, as at 32, and this outwardly extending; flange 32 is seated upon the upper ends of the sides of the saddle 1. and also upon the insulating' casing tube 10 and is shown in the drawings as seated upon a shoulder formed by recessing` out, as at 83, the upper inner edges of the shell or easing 10, rthe provision of the recess 33 is to prevent electrical connection of the reflector l? -with the metal band 1G, the object being,-

tion th the conductor The conductor on.

i ezt-ends ifipu'ardly along the outer tace ot' one of the sides ot' the saddle 19, as shown at the upper right hand side of Fig. 2, and is secured against the saddle by the rivet 31, shown at said portion of Fig. 2. rl`he threadet socket of the lamp 18 may be screwed into the threaded neck 21 of the reflector' 17 and then said reflector may be screwed into the opening 2O of said saddle until the flange 32 of the reflector becomes seated Within the recess thereafter the lens 14 may be readily applied by means of the band or cap 15. ai.' the battery 11 is in the shell or casing' 10 ivhen the reflector and lamp are applied t position, a terminal of the lamp to vrill be carried against the usual terminal of the battery in oppositionV to the upi'vardly exerted force ol'l the spring Q9. rthe securingI of the reflector 1T in the saddle 19 is of considerable ii'nportancc, since thereby the reflector may not only be Very firmly and evenly and centrally secured, but the spring` :29 is prevented from forcing the ref'ector outcvardly beyond its normal position, -whereby the lens 14k may be very readily secured upon the outer end of the casing,` l0.

lllhen the switch members 2G, 2T are in engagement with each other the circuit is made through the conductors Q2, 9A, as usual, but in this instance the circuit is "ou l reflector 17 and lamp l of the battery, the

f 16 l band or cap 15 being kept out of circuit. lt will be obvious that in the construction preimi te l7 the flash light could ed against a metal tool or other iietal surface connecting the cap 15 and v7itheut the lamp becoming li ,lit'ed7 and this in itself is an important considerafurther important part of my in ven tion resides in the provision ot' the thread ed neel; on the reflector to be screwed into the threaded opening' in the saddle, the re` flector and lamp beine' thereby rmly and properly held and it being rendered very easy to apply the reflector and lamp and thereafter the lens. The central opening Q9 in the saddle and he spaces left between the side edges of tl saddle and the adjacent side 'walls o" e shell or casing 10, may be advantageously used in forcing' the battery from said shell or casing,r should the battery by corrosion or other means become stuck therein. l'he thread in the opening Q0 of the saddle 19 is of novel formation in that the sheet metal containingl said opening is at one side of the opening recessed or slitlaterally and flanged upwardly at one side of said recess and downwardly at the other side of' said recess, thus creating spiral reflector. a lamp held thereby, and means for rigidly and Vdetachably holding the reflector and lamp comprising a transverse member in the chamber of said casing part above the battery and having a central opening through Which the lamp socket may project and interlocking means on said reflector and member for positively securing them together, said transverse member being of conducting material and in electrical connection with one of said terminals and with the reflector, which is insulated froml the adjacent exterior metal parts of the flash light by said casing part.

2. In a portable electric flash light comprising an exterior insulating casing part containing a battery and having an end glass, an exterior glass-holding metallic part. terminals and circuit closer` a metallic reflector having a threaded neck, a lamp having a threaded socket screwed Within said neck, and a transverse member in the chamber of said casing part above the battery and having a threaded central opening to engage said threaded neck and positively secure the reflector and member together with the end of the lamp socket exposed through said opening, said transverse member being of" conducting material and in electrical connection with one of said terminals and with the reflector, which is insulated from the adjacent exterior metal parts of the flash light bv said easing part.

3. In a portable electric flash light com prising an exterior insulating casing part containing a battery and having an end glass, an exterior glass-holding metallic part, terminals and circuit closer, a metallic reflector. a lamp held thereby, and means for rigidly and detachably holding the reflector and lamp comprising a transverse member spanning the chamber of said casing part above the battery and having a central opening through which the lamp socket may project and interlocking means on said reflector and member for positively securing them together, said transverse member being of metal and in electrical connection with one of the casing terminals and said reflector and being less in Width than the diameter of said chamber, and said reflector being insulated from the adjacent exterior metal parts of' the flash light by said casing part.

4. In a portable electric flash light comprising an exterior insulating casing part containing a battery and having an end glass, an exterior glass-holding metallicpart, terminals and circuit closer, a metallic reflector, a lamp held thereby, and means for rigidly and detachably holding the reflector and lamp comprising a transverse member in the chamber of said casing part above the battery and having a central opening through which 'the lamp socket may project and interlocking means on said reflector and member for positively securing them together, said member being of metal and in electrical conne tion with one of the cas` ing terminals and said reflector, said reflector being flanged outwardly along its outer edge and said casing part being recessed along the inner edge of its outer end to aord a seat for said flange and protect the reflector against electrical connection with the means securing the lens.

5. In a portable electric flash light comprising an exterior insulating casing part containing a battery and having an end glass, an exterior' glasseholding metallic part, terminals and circuit closer, a metallic reflector having a threaded neck, a lamp detachably held within said neck, a metal saddle having sides secured Within said casing and a transverse member in the chamber ofV said casing above the battery and having a threaded central opening to engage said threaded neck and positively secure the reflector and member together with the end of the lamp socket exposed through said opening, said saddle having one of its sides in electrical connection with one of the battery terminals, and said reflector being insulated from the adjacent exterior metal parts of the flash light by said casing part.

(i. In a portable electric flash light comprising an exterior insulating casing part containing a battery and having an end glass, an exterior glass-holding metallic part, terminals and circuit closer, a metallic reflector. a lamp held thereby, and means for rigidly and detachably holding the reflector and lamp comprising a transverse men'ibet in the c :nnber of' said casing part above the battery ind having a central opening through which the lamp soci-cet may project and interlocking means on said reflector and member for positively securing them together, said transverse n amber being of conducting material and in electrical con@ nection with one of said terminals and with the reflector, which is insulated from the adjacent exterior metal parts of the flash light by said casing part, the reflector having a peripheral flange adapted to seat upon said casing part.

7. A portable electric light having, in combination, a metallic reflector'. a metallic lamp socket. a metallic plate in electrical connection With and ren dering support to the reflector and lamp socket, and casing means inclosing and electrically insulating the re- CID flector and lamp socket and said plate against electrical exposure at the outside of said casing means.

8. A portable electric light having, in combination, a metallic reflector, a metallic lamp socket carried by the reflector and projecting inwardly therefrom, a metallic plate provided with a socket-receiving opening for receiving and rendering support to the lamp socket and in electrical connection with the lamp socket and reflector, and casing means inclosing and insulating said reflectorl and lamp socket and plate against electrical exposure at the outside of said casing means.

9. A portable electric light having, in combination, a metallic reflector, a metallic lamp socket carried thereby, a metallic plate in electrical connection with the reflector and lamp socket, a metallic outer casing part, means for supporting the reflector and lamp socket and plate in electrically insulated relation to said casing part, and means including a manually operable circuit controller for including said plate in a lighting circuit.

10. A portable electric light having, in combination, a metallic reflector, ay metallic lamp socket carried by the reflector and projecting inwardly therefrom, a metallic plate provided with a socket-receiving opening for receiving the lamp socket and in electrical connection with the lamp socket and reflector, a metallic outer casing part, means for supporting said reflector and lamp socket and plate in electrically insulated relation to said metallic casing part, and means including a manually operable circuit controller for including said plate in a lighting circuit.

1l. A portable electric light having, in combination, av metallic reflector, a metallic lamp socket, an outwardly exposed metallic casing part, a metallic supporting member for said reflector' and lamp socket, and an insulating casing part interposed between and insulating said supporting member from said outwardly exposed metallic casing part.

12. A portable electric light haring, in combination, a metallic reflector, a metallic lamp socket carried by the reflector and projecting inwardly therefrom, a metallic outer casing part, a metallic supporting member for said reflector and lamp socket provided with a socket-receiving opening for receiving the lamp socket and in elec trical connection with the lamp socket and reflector, an insulating casing part interposed between and electrically insulating said supporting member from said outer casing part, and means including a manually operable circuit-controller for including said supporting member in a lighting circuit.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 5th day of September A. D. 1914.

BERNARD BENEDCT.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR MARION, CrrAs. C. GlLL.

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

Correction ln Letters Patent No. 1,250,545.

lIt is hereby certified that the assignee in Letters Patent No. 1,250,545, granted December 18 1917 u `'on the an liention of Bernard Benedict, of New York, N. Y.,

J 7 P p for an improvement in Flash-Lights, was erroneously described and speeied as Beacon Miniature Company, Ine, Whereas seid assignee shouid have been described and speeied as Beacon iiifrriaffwre Elevar/ic Company, Inc., said corporationl being owner by 'mesme assfignme'nis of' the entire interest in said invention, as shown by the records of assignments in this oice; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the seme may Conform to the record of the ease in the Potent Office.

Signed and sealed this 12th den,T of Februery, A. iD., 1918.

J. T. NEWTON, Commissioner of Pate/nts.

[SEAL] Cl. 24o- 8.5.

t is hereby certified that the assignee in Letters Patent No. 1,250,545, granted December 18, 1917, upon the application of Bernard Benedict, of New York, N. Y.,

for an improvement in Flash-Lights, was erroneously described and specified as Beacon Miniature Company, Ina, whereas seid assignee should have been described and s eciied as Beacon Miniature Elect-ric @omn am Inc. seid cor eration l 1 P being owner by meme assignments or" the entire interest .in seid invention, as shown by the records of assignments in this orioe; end that the seid Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the oase in the Potent Office.

Signed and sealed this 12th day of Februery, A. il, 1918.

[SEAL] J. T. NEWTON,

Uommz'sso/lw?" of Patents.

Cl. 24o-8.5.

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