US1502582A - Cover for electric switch keys - Google Patents

Description

l-Jul 22, 1924. 1,502,582 I C. E. NEIDIG COVER FOR ELECTRIC swm'cn KEYS Filed Oct. 21 1922 JNVEHTOR A TTORIIEKS' WI T/VESSES Patented July 22, 1924 am) STA E crinnns nnrore, or carer rirLL, rnnnsrnvama.

COVER, FOREL'ECTBIC SWITCH: KEYS.

Application filed October 21, 1922. Serial No. 596,019.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLAUDE E. Nnrnre, a citizen of the United States, residing at Camp Hill, in the county of Cumberland, State of Pennsylvania, have invented cerlain new and useful In'iprovements in Covers for Electric Switch Keys, of which the following a specification.

My invention is a cover for electric switch keys and itconsists in the con'ibinations, constructions and arrangements of parts herein desc ibed and claimed. 1

An object of my invention is to provide a cover which is adapted to fit upon the usual black switch key {which extends laterally of an electric socket or like electric fitting, whereby the key will be protected and at the same time will beliidden from view, thus permitting the provision of a switch key matching in appearance and finish the appliance of which it is a part.

' A further object of my invention is to provide a cover of the character described which can b readily applied and which embodies means for rendering it luminous when applied to a fitting located in a dark place.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 is a view showing an electric parlor lamp equipped with the invention, a portion of the lamp shade being broken away,

Figure 2 is a relatively enlarged perspective view of the cover detached,

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through the cover, in applied position on a switch key. the latter being shown in dotted lines, and

Figure 4 is a side elevation showing a lighting fixture wall bracket equipped with the invention.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a hollow body 1 which is substantially of cap-shape. being open at its one end and closed at its opposite end, as indicated at 2. In the present embodiment of the invention, the bot y 1 is substantially oblong in cross sectional contour to conform to and closely fit upon the handle portion 3 of a switch key 4 which is of conventional construction. Obviously, the bodyl may have any desired and suitable configuration to fit upon switch key handles or like switch controlling members of arious shapes without departing'froin the spirit and scope of the invention, as will be understood from "be following. i The body, 1 is made of any suitable material, such as a light gage metal andmay have tl'1 f(lC-I-Sll2lbl finish to harmonize with the finish of a socket 5, socket cover, or like fitting, which may form a part of "an electric appliance or fixture, such as the parlor lamp, indicated at 6 in Figure l, or thewall bracket indicated at 1 5 in Figure 4i The latter application I of the invention will probably be of more I frequent occurrence than the former; I i

I A pair of extensions 7+7 integral with confrontingor opposed portions of the side walls of thebody '1 extend beyond the open end of the body andare fashioned to be semi-circular or a-rcuate in cross sectional contour in order to each partially embrace the shank 8 ofthe switch key 4 and to complement each other in holding the body l in applied 'position on the switch key.

Kerfs 99 extend L longitudinally of the body in the said confronting portionsof the side walls thereof from the juncture of each extension 7 with the body and'substantially in alinementwith the opposite side edges of the extension at its juncture with the body, whereby the extensions may be sprung apart to permit the passage of the switch key handle therebetween when the latter is inserted in the body 1. The kerfs 99 diverge slightly toward the closed end of the body so that the shank of each extension 7, which includes the strip located between the kerfs 9 of each pair, has greater flexibility at its free end than at the end thereof which is merged into the walls of the body.

The body l or in any event the portions thereof constituting the shank of the extensions 7 are formed of a material having sufficient inherent spring qualities to cause the extensions 7 to clampingly engage the stem or shank 4: of the switch key when the latter has been inserted in the body 1.

It is desirable that the switch key cover should be luminous when located in a dark place. the body is formed with a socket or seat 10 therein adapted to partially receive a holder 11 for a luminous substance. In the form of the device now preferred by me the socket or seat 10 is substantially semi-circular in To this end, the end portion 2 of cross sectional contour and the holder 11, which ismade of glass or other transparent or translucent material, is cylindrical in form and is partially received within the seat or socket, being retained therein by fingers 1212 which are of tapered formation and respectively extend from opposite sides of the seat or socket adjacent to opposite ends of the latter, being adapted to be bent into embracing relation to the protrud ing peripheral portion of the holder and tothus clamp the latter in place.

As stated, the holder 11 is cylindrical in form and is provided with an axial bore or recess in which a luminous substance maybe disposed, as. indicated at 13. Any suitable luminous substance, such as the various radiumized substances well known in the art may be placed within the: bore of the holder 11.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood. As is well known, electric sockets and other electric fittings comprising a switch are ordinarily provided with a switch key or control ling member having a handle, black in color, and formed of an insulating material, such as a hard rubber composition.- This material is'brittle and switch key handles formed thereof are frequently broken. Moreover, such switch key handles are unsightly in appearance and impair the general appearance of an electric appliance or fixture equipped therewith. A cover embodying the invention may have a finish matching the finish of the electric fitting and may be made of a material lending. itself ready to embellishment so as to enhance instead of impair the appearance of the electric fitting and of the appliance or fixture as a whole. The cover is'formed in a. single piece and may be readily applied or removed from a switch key handle which is hidden from view and protected when the cover is in place thereon.

Obviously my invention is susceptible, of embodiment in forms other than that which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and I, therefore, consider as my own all modifications and adaptations thereof which fzliirly fall within the scope of the appended c aim.

r I claim:

parent, material, said holder being adapted i to hold a luminous substance in the bore thereof, and fingers integral with the body and adapted to be bent at will to embrace the holder to hold the latter against displacement from the seat or to release the holder.

CLAUDE E. NEIDIG.

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