US1688006A - Flash-light switch guard - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 16,. 1928. I 1,688,006

C. E. DUISENBERG FLASH LIGHT swI'rcn GUARD Filed Feb. 14, 1927 by WW1.

Patented Oct. 16, 1928.

UNITED STATES" CHARLES EDWARD DUISENBERG, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

FLASH-LIGHT SWITCH GUARD.

Application filed February 14, 1927. Serial No. "188,080.

My invention relates to improvements in switch guards for pocket flash lights and the like, whereby the inadvertent operating of a flash light switch may be prevented.

In carrying electric flash lights, either in the pocket or in a suit case, automobile side pocket, or otherwise, it frequently happens that the switch is inadvertently moved to, turn on the current with the result that the battery becomes burned out and the flash light is found to be inoperative and useless when later sought to be placed in service. The primary object of the present invention is therefore to provide a guard arranged to normally shield 1 the switch and prevent the inadvertent operation of the switch, whereby the annoyance and inconvenience can be effectually avoided.

A further object is to provide an improved guard whichwill be neat and compact and 2 which will not materially alter the appearance or increase the. bulk of the flash light and switch.

Another object is to provide an improved guard which will be simple in construction and operation and which will not alter the construction and normal operation of the switch. v

A still further object is to provide an improved guard which may be readily applied upon present flash lights as well as assembled upon new flash lights. 7

I accomplish these and other objects by means of the improved device, disclosed in the drawings forming a part of the-present 1 application wherein likecharacters of reference are used to designate similar parts throughout the specification and drawings,

and in which,

Fig. 1 is a broken side elevation of a flash light and switch showing my improved guard applied thereon.

Fig. 2 is a broken planviewof the switch and guard as shown in closed position Fig. 3 is a view similar'to Fig. 2 showing the guard moved to open position to permit 7 the operation of the switch.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section through the flash light casing showing how the guard is mounted and swung from closed to open position.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section showing a modified form of mounting for the guard.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 is used to designate in. general a flash light provided with the usual switch 2 which is arranged and operated in the well known manner by advancing a slidable switch operating button 8 to close an electrical connection be tween a battery and a lamp, not shown. The arrangement and operation of the switch 1s well known in the art and requires no detailed'description herein, other than that the contact forming means are mounted within a housing member 4 secured upon the surface ofthe flashlight body, and the SllClLblB operating member 3 is'mounted, upon said memv ti'on6 preferably stamped from suitable sheet 7 metal and having extensions 7 and 8 formed upon opposite sides thereof. The body 6'is made of a size adapted to substantially enclose the member, 8, said body being preferably' made concave upon its'under side and convex upon its upper surface'whereby the button 3 may be normally received within the concavity upon the under side of the member 6 and the convex outer surface will prevent the member from forming any appreciable obstruction when the flash light is inserted into a pocket or a close fitting container.

The extension 7 is pivotally connected to a mounting member 9 secured adjacent the switch housing member 4. The opposite extension 8 is shaped to form a latch arranged to engage a retaining lug 11 secured upon the opposite side of the housing 1. The member 9 may be riveted,-soldered, or otherwise secured upon the housing member 4; or upon the casing of the flash light and ispreferably arranged to receive a pintle 12 forming a hinge mounting for the member 6. The retaining lug 11 is carried by a member 13 securedin any suitable manner adjacentthe opposite side of the housingmember 4; whereby the latch extension 8 may serve to normally hold the member 6 in operative position extending across the button 3 to prevent movement thereof. I

InFig. 5 of the drawings, I have illustrated a slightly modified form of the invention wherein a split ring 145 has one end arranged to form the hinge mounting for the member 6, and the lug 11 is formed upon the opposite end of the ring 14, said ring being adapted to be .fitted around the body of a flash light adjacent the housing member i to facilitate the application of shield to existing flash lights.

In operation the member 6 is swung downwardly to operative position as shown in full lines in Figs. 1, 2, and 4 of the drawings, the extension 8 latching over the lug 11 to retain the member 6 in closed position. So long as the guard member 6 is retained in closed position the switch operating button 3 is thoroughly shielded and the operation of the button, either intentionally or unintentionally is prevented. The flash light may now be carried in any manner without danger of causing the switch to be closed and the battery wasted.

When it is desired to operate the flash light, the guard is unlatched by moving the extension 8 outwardly to disengage the lug 11. The guard G is then swung outwardly upon its hinge mounting as indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 4., and in full lines in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The button 3 is thus rendered accessible and may be moved to operate the switch in the usual manner, as by advancing the member 3 from the OH position indicated in full lines in F 3 to the on position indicated in dotted lines in said fig- .ure. When the use of the flash light is discontinued, the guard 6 is snapped back to closed position to protect the switch against inadvertent operation until the flash light is to be used again. i

The guard 6 and its mounting and retaining members are preferably finished to conform to the finish of the switch housing 4, thereby maintainingthe ordinary appearance of the flash light. The guard may be readily ap plied upon. existing flash lights without interfering with the ordinary operation of the switch. The guard fits closely over the switch so that the bulk is not appreciably increased, and a neat and attractive appearance maintained. The specific details oi? construction and arrangement may, of course, be modified in numerous ways to conform to dii'lerent sizes and styles of flashlight. I, therefore, do not wish to restrict myself to the specific construction illustrated and described, but dc sire to avail myself of all modifications which may fall within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

The combination with a flash light and switch therefor, of a guard arranged. to normally shield the switch and prevent the inadvertent operation thereof; a split ring detachably engaging the flash light adjacent the switch, said ring having one end hingedly connected to the guard and forming a hinge mounting therefor, and the opposite end of the ring being arranged to releasably latch the guard in closed position.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my signature.

CHARLES EDWVARD DUISENBERG.

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