US1732970A - Electric signal lamp - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 22, 1929. H, w, CNES Er AL 1,732,970

ELECTRIC SIGNAL LAMP 'Filed Nov.11, 1925 2 sheets-sneer 1 Z0 l] f I'NVENTOR:

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Oct. 22,A 1929. H. w, JONES p -r AL 1,732,970

ELECTRIC SIGNAL LAMP Filed Nov. 1l, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 1.929

" UNITED( STATES PA'isN'i' oFFicE HOHER W. UONES AND RALPH R.'SMITH, 0F J'ACKSN HEIGHTS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS 'T0 NATIONALCARBON COMPANY, INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK ELECTRIC SIGNAL LAMP Application led November 11, 1925. Serial No. 68,413.

This invention relates to electrical signal devices, and more particularly to a unitary battery hand lamp adapted to be used for signalling urposes,fas by the police for regulating tra c at night.

The primary object of the present invention is' to provide a simple unitary illuminated signal device adapted to be conveniently carried in the palm of either hand of the operator and to be easily operated by his thumb.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel case and mounting for the several parts of the lamp to render them easily accessible, and to provide a novel hook and band construction on the case to hold'tlie latter in its proper position on the operators hand.

Other features andadvantages of the invention will be made clear by a description of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment Fig, 3 is a rear view of the signal device;

and A Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are, respectively, views of the front, top and bottom of the cell-supporting frame and the case section carrying it.

Broadly speaking, a hand signal device einbodying the present invention comprises a battery case adapted to be carried 1 n and secured to an operators hand by suitable attaching means M on one side ofthe case. The opposite side of the case carries a lamp Land a switch S is disposed on the upper edge of the case so that the operator may close the lamp-and-battery circuit by operating the switch with his thumb when he wishes to lash the lamp.

Referring to the drawings, a case A adapted to carry all the parts of the hand signal device may consists of complementary front and rear sections 10., 11 joined together ermanentl along one edge by a hinge 12 and ocked at t e other edges by a depressible catch 13. The front 10 ispressed out as at 10 to provide a boss forming a chamber 14,'

cular opening to receive the shell 17 that carries the switch S. said shell being soldered or otherwise secured in the recess in the front section and projecting into the casing. The switch S may consist of a depressible button 18 forming an enlarged head on a stem 19 that has a washer 20 secured to its lower end, as by a reducedpart 21 on the stem that lprojects through the washer and is, riveted over. A spring 22 bears againstthe inside bottom of the shell 17 and against the under side of the button 18 to restore the latter to normal position after it has been depressed, and the stem 19 projects through and is guided by an apertured neck 23 in the bottom of the shell. The washer 20 is carried by the stem outside the shell and is of larger diameter than the aperture in the neck 23 so that/ the washer limits the outward movement of the push-button.

The push-button is operable to connect the lamp L in circuit with the battery through a conductor D which is securedto the inside of the front section 10 by a rivet 25 but insulated therefrom by suitable insulation 26, One resilient arm 27 of the conductor projects opposite the lamp socket 15 to be engageable by the center lamp contact, while the other resilient arm 28 projects beneath the end of the stem to be depressed by the latter into contact with the spring cell terminal or contact 29 secured to the frame F that carries the battery cells. The side of the arm 28 adjacent the switch stem is covered by an eXtension of the strip 26 to insulate it from said stem. l The cell-supporting frame F is mounted on the inside wall of the rear casing section 11 and may be of any suitable design to carry two dry cells side by side in series circuit with one another, with one pole of theseries-connected cells electrically connected to the casing and the other pole ,electrically connected to the terminal contact` 29. As

shown, theframe F comprises a U-shape bracket 30 secured thereto but insulated therefrom and having upper and lower limbs 31, 32, the limb 31 comprising an arm 33 having the terminal 29 secured thereto but insulated therefrom. The other arm 340i the limb 31 is spaced from the arm 33, and the contact29 projects opposite the space between said arms so as to be engageable by the depressible arm 28 that projects opposite said space perpendicular to the contact 29.y The' lower limb 32 provides a bearing for a member 35 that-has two resilient arms 36 and 37, the arm 36 being electrically in circuit with the cell thereon and the arm 37 being insulated from the cell which it supports. The container electrode of the latter cell may be connected directly to the casing by a conductor strip 39. The secured end of the contact 29 is engageable by the center carbon pole of the cell which has its zinc container lelectrode disposed on the arm 36, and the arm 36 is electrically in circuit with the arm v' 34 that is engageable by thecenter pole of the cell that rests on the arm -37 whereby the cells are electrically connected in series through the U- shape member 30'. The cells are individually removable and replaceable, and by closing the sections 10, 11 together the arm 28 is moved into place above the contact 29 so that the lamp may be flashed by depressing-the button 18,

In order to secure the casing to the hand of 4 an operator, attaching means M are provided on the rearvof said casing. The said means comprises a band 40, preferably of elastic material, fastened at one end to a hook 41, and

`at thelower endto a plate 42. Another slotted plate 43 is provided to 'receive the hook, 41. The plates 42, 4 3 may be secured to the outside of the case section 11 by the rivets 44 which secure the frame F to the inside of said section.

The operation of the improved signal deviceis self evident-from the foregoing description and the drawings. By inserting yfour fingers of either hand between the casing and the elastic band 40, the thumb of the hand holding the device isv in position to operate the push-button. The device is desirably placed in front of the palm of the hand, where it is held firmly in placeby the band, but for some 'purposes it may also be used on the back of the hand. The' button operating the control switch located on the top ofthe casing is easily actuated by a slight pressure from the operators thumb. When the switch is depressedthe end of the stem 19 engages the, end ofthe conductor 28 and forces 1t against contact 29 to completethe electrical circuit from the cells. to the lamp. It will be observed that the switch and lamp are substantially within the outline of the casing to avoid damaging them.

While a preferred construction isv illustrated and described, it is to be understood that variations may be made without departing from the-scope and spirit of the `invention. r

We claim: 1

1. A battery hand lamp comprising the combination of a hinged two-partv casing, a lamp mounted on the front wall ofl one part of said casing, aconductor secured to said front wall having a part disposed to be engaged by said lamp and a part extending opposite the upper wall of said casing,

cell'supporting means mounted on the other part of said casing and having a terminal, and a switch operable to electrically connectl said terminal and last-mentioned .part of said conductor.

A2. A battery hand lamp comprising the combination composed of complementary hinged. members, a' lamp mounted on the front wall of one memberof said casing, a conductor secured to said front wallhaving a part engageable bythe center contact of said lamp and a part extending inwardly opposite the top wall of said casing, cell supporting means mounted on the other member of said casingand having a terminal, and a switch disposed within the outline of the top of said casing and operable to depress the last-mentioned part of said conductor intogcontactwith said cell terminal.

-3. 'A battery hand lamp comprising 'thel combination of a casing, means on the rear wall thereof for securing it to a support, cell supporting means carried by said wall and having a terminal, a lamp mounted on the front wall of said casingya conductor having a part engageable by the center contact of said lamp and a part disposed adjacent said terminal, and a switch operable to deflect the last-named part of said conductor to electrically' connect the same and said terminal'. o

4. A battery hand lamp comprising the combination of a casing consisting of front 1`15` 5. A battery hand lamp as claimed in claim '4, in which said sections are hinged to one another, said conductor is secured inside said front section, and said switch comprises a,

f housing secured in one of said recesses and tures.

projecting Within said casing.

v.6. A battery hand lamp as claimed in claim 4, in which said sections are hinged together and the recesses are in the upper Walls of the sections, said cell-supporting means comprises a frame arranged to support two cells side byvside, ysaid' conductor is secured inside said front section above said-lamp, and said` switch comprises :i housing secured in one voil? said recesses 'and projecting into said casing und includes a depressible member adapted to move said conductoi` part against said terminal, which latter i's secured to said cellsupporting frame. t

In testimony Wliereo, We affix our signa- HoMER W; JONES. RALPH R. SMITH.

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