US1835233A - Pistol light - Google Patents

Description

A. s. LYHNE PISTOL LIGHT Filed June 26, 1950 Patented Dec. 8, 1931 l 7 UNITED STATES ANKER S. LYI-INE, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT; THE BRIDGEPORT CITY TRUST CO., OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT EXECUTOR OF SAID( ANKER S. LYI-INE, DECEASED, ASSIGNOR T THE BRIDGEPORT METAL GOODS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF BRIDG-EPORT, CONNECTICUT', A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT PISTOL LIGHT Application filed .Tune 26,

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in flashlights and has particular relation to a flashlight shaped or formed to resemble an automatic pistol.

L An object of the invention is to provide a flashlight of very simple construction and so constructed as not to include a switch or switches, and wherein the circuit through the bulb from the battery is closed by bodily l0 moving the battery to bring the center contact thereof into engagement with the center contact of the bulb.

Another object is to provide a pistol flashlight wherein the light and the reflector 16 therefor are disposed in the end of the pistol barrel and wherein the battery of the light is disposed in the pistol barrel in the rear of the bulb and reflector and is'readily replaceable or renewable, it being only necessary to remove the reflector and bulb and slide the old battery out of the barrel and slide a new battery into the barrel.

A further object is to provide a pistol flashlight wherein the light bulb is disposed in the end of the .pistol barrel and wherein the light battery is disposed in the pistol barrel, means being provided in the pistol handle or grip I'and including a trigger member and operating on being pressed to move the battery to make a contact and energize the bulb.

An additional object is to provide a pistol flashlight including a barrel, in one end of which is disposed a light bulb, and a pistol handle or grip including a portion embracing the barrel to secure the barrel to the handle or grip.

A still further object is to provide a pistol flashlight including a barrel and a handle,4 the handle being stampe-d from sheet metal and formed and wrapped about the barrel to secure the barrel to the handle.

Yet another object is to provide a pist-ol flashlight wherein the light bulb and battery are arranged in the pistol barrel and wherein the pistol handle or grip contains only a trigger mechanism and may therefore be permanently closed.

A further object is to provide a pistol flashlight wherein the parts are of sheet metal and capable of being made by stamping and 1930. Serial No. 463,912.

forming operations and thus produced in quantities at reasonable cost.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein a form of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a complete flashlight;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the grip removed;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the grip before the same is applied to the barrel;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the trigger removed, and

Fig. 6 is an end view of a modified grip.

Referring in detail to the drawings the improved flashlight as shown is generally in the form of an automatic pistol and includes a tubular barrel 10 and a grip portion 11. At itsl forward end the barrel 10 is crimped as at 12 to form a screw thread and within this end of the barrel is threaded a reflector 13 of any or the usual construction. Threaded through the reflector 13 is alight bulb 14 the center contact 15 of which preferably projects beyond the inner end of the reflector.

Also disposed within the barrel 10 and located rearwardly of the bulb 14 is a battery 16. Disposed at the forward end of the battery 16 and surrounding the center contact 17 thereof is an insulator 18 against which bears one end of a coil spring 19, the other end of said spring bearing against the reflector 13. Obviously, the reflector has contact with the barrel 10 and the spring maintains the battery spaced from the bulb, and the insulator 18 prevents the spring from forming a. contact or electrical connection between the contact 17 of the battery and the other parts of the flashlight.

Handle or grip 11 is preferably of sheet metal and formed to resemble the grip of an automatic pistol. As formed, the grip 11 includes similar opposite sides 20 connected by a substantially tubular portion 21. The

size of the tubular portion 21 is such that CTL when the sides 20 of the grip are secured together the tubular portion 21 will snugly receive and grip the barrel 10. In fact, the parts may be assembled by slipping the barrel 10 through theI tubular portion 21, the end of the barrel carrying the bulb 14 being first inserted and the barrel then being pushed through the portion 21 until the enlarged or flanged closed rear end 22 of the barrel engages the portion as shown in Fig. 1.

The sides 20 of the handle or grip are secured together as by means of rivets 23, 24 and 25 although screws or bolts may of course be used if desired. Pivotally mounted on the rivet 23 is a trigger member 26 comprising a finger portion 27, mounting armsl 28 through which the rivet 23 extends and operating extensions 29.

Pivotally mounted on the rivet 24 is an operating part 30 slotted as at 31. The slotted portion of the part 3() is received between the extensions 29 o'f the trigger member and pivotally connected to them by means of a pin 32 carried by the extensions and passing through the slot 31. The under side of the barrel 10 is cut away or slotted as at 39 and the upper or hook like portion 33 of the part 30 extends through such slot and has its rounded portion 34 in engagement with the rear end ofthe battery 16.

When the parts are assembled as shown and described, the bulb 14 may be energized by pressing the finger portion 27 of the trigger member in a direction to move said p0rtion toward the handle or grip 11. This action results of course in movement of the trigger member about its pivoting rivet 23 and such movement of the trigger member is imparted through the pin 32' to the part 30, resulting in such part being shifted about its pivot 24 in a direction to cause its end 34 to move the battery forward in the barrel. The battery is of course moved forward against the action of s ring 19 and when the battery has been moved) forward the required distance its center contact 17 will engage the center contact 15 of the bulb.

As before stated the bulb through the reflector 13 is grounded on the pistol, particularly on 'the barrel 10. Through contact of the portion`34 with the exposed end of the battery, the battery is also grounded on the pistol, and therefore, on the center contacts 15 and 17 being brought into engagement a circuit is completed through the bulb 14. In this connection it is to be noted that the end 34 ofthe part 30 has a sliding connection with the end of the `battery and will constantly wipe the end of the battery whereby good contact will always be made.

In Fig. 6 is shown a slightly modified form of grip, the same comprising two separate pieces 35, the pieces being complemental parts of the grip and each including a curved ex- \---"-j5\tens\ion 36, the extensions 36 extending toward each other and being adapted to grip the barrel 10 between them when they are assembled. The grip of Fig. 6 very closely resembles the grip of the other figures and when the parts 35 are secured or riveted together the edges 37 of the extensions 36 will y form a substantially tubular portion, similar to the tubularvportion 21 of the other figures, and in which the barrel 10 will be clamped as already described. Any suitable ornamentation may be stamped on the handle members. Thus, they may be embossed as indicated at 38 to represent scale or check plates or the like, and give a more attractive and realistic appearance.' Also the shape of the barrel may be changed to give the appearance desired and to more nearly resemble a real pistol barrel. It need not be cylindrical, as it may be hexagonal or other shape in cross section, and it may be of larger diameter at the handle end than at the light end, or the like.

' From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a flashlight free of switches and which comprises the minimum number or parts. Further it will be seen that the handle and barrel are readily assembled and that the battery may be removed for renewal without opening the handle or touching the trigger mechanism. It is simply necessary to remove the reflector which will carry the bulb with it, and then to hold the barrel to permit the battery to drop out pushing the spring ahead of it if the latter was not removed with the reliector. The spring may be secured to the reflector by crimping or soldering it thereto. The insulator l18 may also be secured to the spring. Another battery is simply inserted into the barrel, the spring being replaced, the reflector and bulb are screwed into place, and the operation of renewing the battery is completed. If the reflector, spring and insulator are connected together they are all replaced by merely screwing the reflector into the barrel.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a flashlight generally in the form of a pistol including a barrel and a grip, an electric bulb in. the end of the barrel, a battery in the barrel, a trigger on the grip, and means operable by the trigger to move the battery toward the bulb to bring the center of contact of the battery into engagement with the center contact of the bulb.

2,.,/Ii1 a flashlight generally in the form of a pistol including a barrel and a grip, an electric bulb in the end of the barrel, a battery in the barrel, a spring disposed between the bat-' tery and the bulb and normally holding them in spaced relation, a trigger mechanism on the grip, and said trigger mechanism includinga portion adapted to move the battery toward the bulb to bring the center contact 0f the battery into engagement with the cen- )opta ter contact of the bulb when the trigger is pressed.

3. In a flashlight generally in the form of a pistol including a barrel and a grip, an electric bulb in the end of thebarrel, said bulb grounded on the pistol, a battery in the barrel, a spring disposed between the battery and the bulb and normally holding them in' spaced relation, a trigger mechanism on the grip, said trigger mechanism including a portion adapted to move the battery toward the bulb to bring the center contact of the battery into engagement with the center contact of the bulb when the'trigger is pressed, and said portion of the trigger mechanism serving to ground the battery on the pistol.

4. In a flashlight generally in the form of a pistol including a barrel and a grip, an electric bulb in the end of the barrel, a battery in the barrel, a spring disposed between the battery and the bulb and normally holding them in spaced relation, an insulator between the spring and the battery and surrounding the center contact thereof, a trigger mechanism carried by the grip, and said trigger mechanism including a portion adapted to move the battery toward the bulb to bring the center contact of the battery into engagement with the center contact of' the bulbwhen the trigger is pressed.

5. A flashlight generally in the form of a pistol, the same comprising a tubular barrel having an enlarged portion, and a grip including a portion engaging the side of the barrel and against which the enlarged portion of 'the barrel abuts to locate the barrel and grip relatively, said porti-on of the grip mounting the grip on the barrel.

6. In a lashlight generally in the form of a pistol including a tubular barrel and a grip, said grip including a portion embracing. the barrel and mounting the grip on the barrel, and a pair of hollow grip portions carried by the embracing portion, va trigger mechanism within the hollow grip portions and including a part extending into the tubular barrel, a bulb and battery within the barrel and normally in spaced relation and said part of the trigger mechanism extending into the barrel adapted to move the battery to close a circuit through the bulb on the trigger mechanism being operated.

7. In a iashlight generally in the form of a pistol including a barrel and a grip, a bulb in one end of the pistol barrel, a battery in said barrel, and a trigger mechanismen the grip for bringing about the closing of a circuit between the battery land bulbl on the trigger mechanism being operated, said bulb being removable through its end of the barrel, and said battery being removable through said end of the barrel for replacement and the like, on removable of the bulb.

8. In a ilashlightgenerally in the form of a pistol including a barreland a grip, an

electric bulb in one end of the barrel, a battery in the barrel, a trigger mechanism carried by the grip, said trigger mechanism including a pivotally mounted part projecting into the barrel and engaging the battery, and a trigger connected with said part and adapted on being operated to move said part about its pivot and move the battery forward 0 y([zlose a circuit through the battery and 9. In a flashlight generally in the form of a' pistol including a barrel and a grip, an electric bulb in one end of the barrel, said bulb grounded on the barrel, a battery in the barrel, a trigger mechanism carried by the grip, said trigger mechanism including a part pivotally mounted in the grip and having an extension projecting into the barrel and engaging the battery, said part grounding the battery, and a trigger connected with said part and adapted on being operated to move said part about its pivot to have the same move the battery forward to bring the center contact of the battery into engagement with the center contact of the bulb to energize the latter.

10. In a flashlight generally in the form of a pistol including a tubular barrel and a grip, an electric bulb in one end of the barrel, a battery in the barrel, said grip comprising members having portions cooperating to clamp the barrel between them, means for securing the grip. members together, and manually operated means in the grip for closing the circuit through the bulb.

11. In a flashlight generally in the form of a pistol including a tubular barrel and a grip, an electric bulb in one end of the barrel, a battery in the barrel, said grip comprising members having portions co-operating to clamp the barrel between them, a plurality of means securing the grip members together, a trigger pivoted on one of said means, a lever pivoted on another of said means and extending into the valve in the rear of the battery, and a pin and slot connection between the trigger and lever whereby on the trigger being pressed the lever is moved about its pivot to force the battery in the direction of the bulb to close a circuit through the battery and bulb.

In testimony whereof I aiX my signature.

ANKER S. LYHNE.

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