US1659569A

US1659569A - Flash light

Info

Publication number: US1659569A
Application number: US172227A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frederick L Humeston
Original assignee: Winchester Repeating Arms Co
Current assignee: Winchester Repeating Arms Co
Priority date: 1927-03-03
Filing date: 1927-03-03
Publication date: 1928-02-21
Anticipated expiration: 1945-02-21

Description

Feb. 21, 1928. 1,659,569

, F. L. HUMESTON FLASH LIGHT Filed March 5, 192.7

INVENTOR HIS ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 21 1928.

V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE} FREDERICK I1. HUMESTON, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO WINCHES- TER BEPEATING ARMS COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORIIPORA-v spare bulbs in its place, thus TION OF CONNECTICUT.

FLASH LIGHT.

Application filed March 3, 1927. Serial No. 172,227.

This invention relates to battery hand lamps of the type including a casing for the battery, a lamp bulb, a switch mechanism for controlling the electric current through the battery and the bulb, and a bottom end cap for closing the bottom end of the casing and holding the battery in proper position within the casing. The present invention more particularly concerns supporting means carried by the bottom end cap of a hand lamp of the type described, whereby such lamp may be conveniently supported from a hook, peg or other support.

It has been found desirable and convenient to provide hand lamps of the type described with suitable means, such as a loop or ring, for use in hanging the lamp vertically from a hook or peg, the lamp casing extending downwardly from such support. A supporting means of this type should be so mounted that it does not in any way interfere with the operation and handling of the lamp, while at the same time it is readil ac-' cessible when it is desired to hang the amp on a support. 1

It has been proposed heretofore to provide means for carrying one or more spare lamp bulbs within a batte hand lamp so that whenever the bulb which is connected in circuit with the battery becomes broken or burned out, it is merely necessary to remove the useless bulb and insert one of the placing the lamp again in condition for use.

With the above and other considerations in mind, it is proposed in accordance with the present invention to provide a battery hand lamp having an improved form of sup porting means mounted on the bottom end cap thereof, and, more specifically, it is proposed to provide a supporting ring or loop of this t pe which is so mounted and ar obj ect's.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hand lamp of the type described including improved means for carrying a spare lamp bulb within the bottom end cap t ereof.

means.

casing 1 and the base of the lowest cell of Other specific objects, advantages and characteristic features of the invention will become apparent as the description thereof progresses.

In-describing the invention in detail, reference will be made to the ccompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is a sectional side view of a portion of t e casing of a hand lamp together with the bottom end cap embodying the lamp supporting means and the spare bulb carrying device of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view of the lower end of the bottom end cap, showing the lamp supporting means;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 1, showing the lamp supporting means open and in use; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the bottom end cap, taken along the line H of Fig. 2, and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the lamp comprises a metallic battery casing 1, carrying abattery 2 composed of one or more dry cells arranged end to end in series connection in the usual and well known manner. A bottom end cap 3 closes the lower end of the casingl, being secured thereto by a screw threaded engagement therewith as shown, or by other suitable The electrical circuit between the the battery 2 is completed through a sprin 4 and a spare bulb carr ing device 5, whic parts will be hereina er more fully described.

Referring now more particularly the lamp supporting means comprising one important feature of the present invention, the bottom face of the end cap 3 isprovided with a-depression or recessed portion'6 of.

general diamond shape as shown in Fig. 2. This depression 6 is preferably pressed or stamped in the sheet metal of which the cap 3 is formed, and is so disposed that the surface of the bottom of the cap extends around this depression in an unbroken plane. An extension or pocket 7 is formed at one corner of the depression 6, and oppositely disposed openings 8 and 9 are provided 1n the vertical walls of this extension. Two inwardly projecting ledges or extensions 10 and 11 are formed at the up er edges of the two adjacent side walls of t e depressionS remote from the pocket 7 as shown in Fig. 2.- A supporting loop or ring 12 of general diamond shape is mounted within the depression 6.in the cap 3, this loop being semred to the cap by means of the engagement of the outwardly turned

ends

13 and 14 of the p 12 w th the oppositely disposed openin s 8 and 9 respectively in the pocket 7 of the depression 6. The loop 12 is formed of a suitable resilient material such as spring steel, and is of such a size that it fits snugly within the sidesof the depression 6 and is engaged and overlapped by the ledges 10 and 11 .when in the closed position, as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

The depression 6 is formed with enlarged rounded corners, 15, 16 and 17, which extend back away from the corners of the loop 12 when in the closed position asshown 'n Fig. 2. The

corners

15 and 16 permit he loop 12 to be compressed as it is snapped pa t the ledges 10 and 11, the opposite corner. 18 and 19 of the loop moving'slightly' into the

corners

15 and 16 respectively of the depresion 6 during this operation. The enlarged pocket or corner 17 of the depression 6 provides a convenient space by means of which the operator may insert his finger I nail beneath the loop 12 to pry this loop out of the depression 6 when it is desired to employ the loop for supporting the lamp.

. When "thelamp is to be used portably, the loop 12 is folded down and snapped into the depression 6, the ledges 10 and 11 holding this loop firmly in place as shown in Figs. 1, '2 and 4. It should be particularly noted that when the loop is snapped into the depression 6, all parts of the loop 12 are entirely within the plane of the botf om face of the end cap 3 and the loop is thus completely protected against'accidental displacement by contact with the clothing or hands of the operator or with other ob-' jects. This complete" protection of the loop is a highly important feature. If the loop 12 were at any point exposed in such a man- 4 ner that it could be accidentally opened,

this loop might catch on objects and the lamp might be drawn from the operators hand or such opening of the loop might in various other ways inconvenience the operator in handling the lamp. It should be further noted that with'the loop 12 folded down within the recess 6, the exterior surface of the bottom end cap 3 is unbroken when viewed from the side of the lamp, and in this manner, a lamp of pleasing appearance is provided. With the loop 12 folded into the depression 6, an unbroken plane surface is presented around the rim of the cap 3, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4 and the lamp may be placed on end on a table or other plane surface if desired.

It is often desired to hang the lamp'on a-hook or peg so that a light beam there swung out at substantially right angles to the end of the cap 3 and may be passed over a hook, nail or peg as shown in Fig. 3. The lamp may be conveniently hung up in this manner when not in use.

The contact spring and spare bulb carrying device of the invention will now be described. The bottom end cap 3 is formed with a substantially semi-circular groove 20 extending around the inner cylindrical wall thereof at a point just above the depressed portion 6 as, clearly shown in Fig. 1. This groove 20 is entirely separate from the loop carrying depression 6, and may be knurled on th@ outside of the-cap to provide a convenient surface which may be gripped. by the operator in removing the-cap. A spiral spring 4 is provided in the cap 3, its lowest coil being of a slightly larger diameter than the inside diameter of the cap 3 whereby this coil may be slightly com? pressed, inserted within the cap, and snapped cup is preferably formed of drawn sheet metal, and is secured to the spring 4 by a rivet 21 as shown, or by other suitable means.

Secured within the cup 5 is a supporting clip C comprising two flexible fingers or tangs 22 having arcuate depressions therein for engagement with the base 23 of the lamp bulb 24. The clip C may be secured-to the base of the cup 5 by means of the rivet 21 whiclr secures the cup to the spring 4, or other means may be provided for this purpose. A U-shaped slot 25 is preferably provided in the cylindrical wall of the cup 5,.

and the extreme end of'the lamp bulb base 23 extends through this slot when the lamp is in position between the fin ers 22. The

lampbulb may be easily an quickly removed from the clip 0 b pressing upwardly on the extreme end 0 the base 23 which extends through the slot25. It is not essential that the slot 25 be provided as, if the cup 5 is large enough in proportion to the size of the bulb 24, this bulb can be removed by inserting the fingers at either side thereof Within the cup.

It is to be understood that the present in vention is not limited to the particular embodin'ient illustrated and described, but includes such modifications thereof as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

For example, the bottom end cap with its associated supporting loop may e formed with or without the bulb carrying cup, and the manner in which the supporting loop is securedto the cap may vary in certain respects from the specific construction shown.

I claim:

1. In a hand lamp, the combination of a battery casing, a cap secured to one end of said casing and sion of substantially diamond shape, a resilient loop of substantially diamond shape hinged within said depression, and ledges on the walls of said depression for overlapping said loop and retalning said loop within said depression, said depression having enlar ed rounded corners whereby said loop may e sprung past said ledges.

2. In a hand lamp, the combination of a battery casing, a cap secured to one end of said casing and having a central depression of substantially diamond shape in the end thereof, a resilient loop of substantially diamond shape hinged in an enlarged corner of said depression, and means for retaining said loop within said depression comprising at least one extension on the wall of said depression for overlapping said loop.

3. In a hand lamp, the combination of a casing, a battery therein, an end cap for the casing, a spring member within said end cap, and a spare bulb support compris ing ,a cup fixed to said spring member and having integral cylindrical side walls for engaging said battery, said cup having an opening in the cylindrical wall thereof through which the end of the spare bulb base protrudes, and means fixed within said cup for gripping the base of the spare bulb.

4. In a hand lamp, the combination of a battery casing, a cap secured to one end of said casing and having a substantially diamond shaped central depression therein, said depression having a pocket at one corner thereof, a substantially diamond shaped 100 of resilient material hin ed in said poc et andmovable to a position within having a central depres= said depression, and ledges on the walls of said depression for retaining said loop within said depression, said depression having enlarged corners to permit the deformation of said loop as said loop is sprung past said walls of said depression opposite said hinge connection, said ledges retaining said loop within said depression when not in use, and said depression having enlarged corners to permit the compression of said loop as said loop is sprung beneath said led es.

6. In a hand lamp, the combination of a battery casing, a cap secured to one end of said casing and having a central depression in the end thereof and means secured to said cap for hanging said casing from a fixed support comprising a loop of resilient material hingedly securedwithin a pocket extending from the wall of said depression toward the edge of saidcap, said loop being slightly sma ler than said depression and being adapted to fold within said depression when not in use, and ledges on the walls of said depression for releasably retaining said loop within said depression.-:

-7. In a hand lamp, the combination of a casing, a battery therein, an end cap forthe casing, a spring member havingone end thereof secured within said end cap, and a spare bulb support comprising a cup having a base portion secured to the free end of said sprlng member and a cylindrical side portion adapted to engage the battery with its free edges, whereby the spare bulb and the support are disposed between the free end of the sprin member and the battery. In testimony w 'ereof I aflix my signature.

FREDERICK L. HUMESTON.