US1527792A

US1527792A - Electric signal lamp

Info

Publication number: US1527792A
Application number: US509296A
Authority: US
Inventors: Henry W French
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1921-10-21
Filing date: 1921-10-21
Publication date: 1925-02-24
Anticipated expiration: 1942-02-24

Description

- 1F w F; Y O a M j /5 36 Feb. 24. 1925. 1,527,792

- H. W. FRENCH ELECTRIC SIGNAL LAME Filed Oct. 21.1921

Witnessgs: Inventor: 76 Hen1y,WFrench.

2 S W B 4 v morney Patented F eb. 24, 3925.

HENRY W. FRENCH, F CHICAGO, ILLIHOR.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL LAMP.

Application filed October 21, 1821. Serial No. 503,296.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, HENRY W. FRENCH, a citizen of the United States, and a resi dent of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrio Signal Lamps, of which the following is a' specification.

, My invention relates to new and useful improvements in electric signal lamps, and more particularly to electric hand signal lamps adapted for use while driving an automobile in the dark, and my main object is to provide a lamp which may be attached to the hand or the wrist and which is conveniently made operatively by the joints oi? the hand, as by opening and closing the hand.

Another object is to provide such a lamp with means for reading. and for finding trouble spots around an automobile.

A further object is to provide such a lamp with means to either suspend the lamp or support it on a flat surface and to provide means thereon which will automatical- 1y make contact and illuminate the lamp when so suspended or supported.

And another object is to provide said contact makin means with adjusting means to adapt the amp to hands of different shapes and sizes.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings formingl a part of this specification, and

; in whic Fig. l is aview of the device mounted on I the left hand, showing in full lines the hand in released position and the device in inoperative position, and in dotted lines the hand extended and the resultant operative position of the device.

Fig. 2 is a plan view, with parts broken away, showing the device supported on a flat surface and in the operative position automatically assumed thereby, and

F ig. 3 is a side view, showing the device in the operative position, which it automatically assumes when suspended.

In the form of my invention illustrated the device is shown mounted on the left hand by means of a strap 7 which is provided with a buckle 8, affording proper atfrom the plate that proper vided tachment on the hand, and which is connected to a metal plate 9 provided with a pad 10 of leather or the like for engaging the hand. The device further comprises a lamp-case 11 substantially cup shaped in form, provided with side openings 12 and inwardly curved flange 13 at its upper edge, the case 12 being detachably mounted on the plate 9 by means of threaded members 14 as shown, or in any suitable manner. The side openings provide means for illuminatmg the hand and for finding trouble spots.

mount the socket 15 of the well-known electric light rigidly in the front wall of the case 11 with its replaceable bulb 16 located near the center of the case and its contact or terminal 1? positioned forward of the case. I 19 which is mounted in said case 11, and is provided with the binding posts 20 and 21, the post 20 extending through the block 19 and engaging the case 11, constitutes the second electric terminal and has one branch 23 of the electric wire 22 attached thereto, while the post 2]. acts as a supporting post for the otherbraneh 24- of the electric wire 22 of the electric light circuit. supporting means is provided for said wire in the form of a cable or strand 25 fastened to the wire 22 and the case 11, as shown in Fig. 2.

A hinge switch is provided, which comprises a plate 27 provided with a book 28 at its forward end, said plate being mounted on an arm or lug 29, extending forwardly 9, by means of a loose or freely swingablc hinge 30. An insulating block 31 is mounted on pin-.027 and a bracket 32 is mounted on said block by screws 33, or in any convenient manner. Said bracket is termed with an arm 3 provided with a threaded collar or boss '35 at its free end in which a threaded member 36 is adjustably and rotatably mounted. By the adjustability of member 36 in boss 35, means is provided for adjusting the switch to the particular size or shape of the hand, in order contact is always made between member 36 and'plate 17, when the hand is opened, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The wire 22 of the electric circuit is proat its free end with a plug 38, of any suitable well known construction, which may be inserted in any suitable socket on the automobile as a gage lamp socket, the spotlight socket, or a similar socket, or a socket provide an insulating block Further ported in an may be provided for the purpose on thecar denote-danger, is mounted in the top of the the upper bulged portion of the case by rearwardly on means of, a spring wire s1 inserted beneath the flange 13 and crystal 40, said wire and crystal. being readily removable, or the crystal may be removably mounted on the case in any other convenient manner.

In ogeration my improved lamp is fastened tits the Fig. 1, the switch being normally open, in view of'the loose hinge 30, while the hand is in a normally released position; and when a stop is to be made and the arm extended from the automobile the hand is naturally opened, thereby engaging the hook 28 on the end of the plate 27 and closing the switch, the threaded member 36 being properly adjusted to suit the particular size and shape of the hand for makingthe proper contact. As the light is'illuminated by the closing of the circuit the danger signal is indicated crystal 40 on the -case,.and at the same time the hand is illuminated through the openings 12 to draw attention to the direction. in

which thefingers point to indicate the intended direction oi travel of the automobile. The device thus makes a very eficientand efi'ective hand signal lamp for use in driving an automobile in thedark, and the light is also very useful, by means of its openlugs 12 for, illuminating the page or an 0t or part around the; automobile, as wel as for reading a paper or anything else. The device ma be strapped to the wrist as well as as to t e hand, either on the inside or, outside of the wrist and the switch maybe actuated by the palm or the back of the hand. The liooir 28 on the plate 2? or the switch provides means for suspending the device, the construction being so arranged that member 36 automatically engages contact point 17 on thesocket 15, thereby closing the switch while the. device is suspended, as best shown in Fig. 3, This hook 28 in conjunction with the plate 9 also provide means for supporting the device appended claims.

on a flat surface, and while so supported close the switch, asbest shown in I. ig;2.

"While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for car-r ing my invention into efiect, this is capable of variation and modification without "de parting from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to beilimited tothe precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the glass or crystal so, preferably case and is held in position in top of the hand, as shown in the automobile by the .red-

heaviness.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters latent is:-

1. An electric signal device comprising means for mounting said device on the back of a hand; a light mounted on said means;

vice on'the back of a hand; a case mounted on said. means; a signal light mounted -1n said case; a circuit for said light; an arm extending from said fastening means; and.

means. loosely hinged to said arm to extend over the fingers of said hand and provided with adjustable contact means for engaging a contact point connected to said light to close said circuit 3. An electric signal device comprising in combination means including av plate for coming saic device on the back of a hand; a light mounted on said plate; an arm extending from said plate; a member hinged to said arm in position to be engaged by the lingers; a circuit including an electric conductor attached to said member; and electric contact means mounted on said member "for engaging a co-operating contact connected to said light, said contact means being so constructed as to be adjustable to suit the size and shape of said hand in actuating said hinged member.

4. An electric signal device comprising in combination, means for mounting said device on the back of a hand; a light mounted on said means; a circuit for said light; a switch in said circuit including a contact part connected with said light and a memer hinged to said means and postioned to extend over the fingers, said swil ,h member being provided with means to rlspend said lamp and automatically clos said circuit while said lamp is suspended;

5. An electric signal device c mprising in combination, adjustable-means or fastening the said device on the. hand and including a base plate; a light mounted on said late; a contact point connected to said lig it; a circuit for said light, rovided with a' switch member hin ed to sai plate, a hook on said switch mem or for suspending said lamp;

and an adjustable contact point on said switch member for engaging said contact point connected to said light for closing said circuit while the lam is suspended.

6. An electric signs device comprising in combination, means for fastening said ale-e member being effective in closing said switch while so supported.

7. An electric signal device comprising in combination, means for mounting said device on the hand; a light mounted on said means; a circuit for said light including a switch provided with a member hinged to said means and a contact point connected to said light; said hinged member being providerl with means to either suspend said device or to be engaged by. a joint of the attached hand, and in either case to automatically close said circuit for operating said light.

8. An electric signal device comprising in combination, means including a plate for securin said device on the hand; a light mount on said-plate; an arm extending from said plate; a member hinged to said arm; a bracket mounted on and insulated from said hingedmen ber; a normally open electric circuit including said bracket; and

an adjustable contact point mounted on said bracket, said hinged member being adapted to be actuated by a part of said hand to engage said contact point with a co-operating point on said light and close said circuit.

9. An electric signal device comprising in combination; means for mounting said device on the hand; a light mounted on said means; a circuit for said light; a switch in said circuit and including a contact element associated with said light and acontact member hinged to said means, said contact member being provided with means to either suspend said lamp or to be engaged by a joint of the attached hand and in either case to automatically close said circuit for operating said light said first means downwardly curved parts cooperating with said suspending means to support said device on a flat surface and thereby join the movable and stationary contacts to close said circuit.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY W. FRENCH.

Witnesses:

CLARENCE E. 'lmmnnr, 'FREDA G. Arrnn'ron.