US1949538A

US1949538A - Electric light

Info

Publication number: US1949538A
Application number: US586048A
Authority: US
Inventors: Burton S Floraday
Original assignee: Dura Co
Current assignee: Dura Co
Priority date: 1932-01-11
Filing date: 1932-01-11
Publication date: 1934-03-06
Anticipated expiration: 1951-03-06

Description

B. S. FLORADAY ELECTRIC LIGHT March 6, 1934.

Filed Jan. 11, 1932 INVENTOR Zzcran SC/"Zara day;

ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC LIGHT Application January 11, 1932, Serial No. 586,048

15 Claims.

This invention relates generally to lights of the self-contained portable unit type wherein a light bulb at the upper end of a battery casing is under the control of a switch within a base at the lower I end of said casing, and refers more particularly to the switch structure thereof.

One of the essential objects of the invention is to produce a switch wherein means is provided for interrupting or opening the light bulb cir- "1'0 cuit when the base is placed on a support such as a table, desk, etc., but which is operable automatically to close the light bulb circuit when the base is lifted and carried about in the hand.

Another object is to produce a switch wherein l'l means is provided for maintaining the light bulb circuit closed regardless of whether the base is on or oif the support aforesaid.

A further object is to produce a switch wherein means is provided for interrupting the light bulb "'20 circuit regardless of whether the base is on or off the said support.

A further object is to produce a switch wherein a plunger engageable with the support is capable v of both longitudinal and turning movements and 26 is associated with the movable switch contact element in such a way that the latter may be moved both vertically and horizontally by the plunger.

A further object is to produce a switch that is a self-contained unit which may be easily and quickly attached to or detached from the base of the light.

A further object is to produce a switch wherein tongues struck out from the disc supporting plunger guide constitute stationary switch contact elements and eifectively hold the guide in operative position on the disc.

A further object is to provide a switch unit wherein a spring serving to hold the battery in raised operative position relative to the light bulb has an extension that constitutes a follower for the movable switch contact element and urges the latter into proper contacting relation with the stationary contact element.

Other objects, advantages and novel details of .construction of this invention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when'considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

33 Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a light embodying my invention;

1; Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the lower end'of the light and showing the base restingup'on a support;

55 Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 and showing the parts after the base has been lifted from the support;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the switch unit per se;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 56 of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the plunger guide.

Referring now to the drawing, 1 is the base adapted to rest upon a suitable support 2 such as a table and having a central chamber 3 with

openings

4 and 5 respectively at the top and bottom thereof, 6 is a tubular casing threadedly engaging the walls of the opening 4; 7 is a dome, preferably of glass mounted in the upper end of the casing 6; 8 is an electric light bulb within the dome 7 and having its terminal 9 anchored within the upper end of the casing 6; 11 is an electric battery within the casing and preferably comprising two dry cells, and 12 is the electric switch unit in the base and including a spring 13 for holding the battery 11 in engagement with the bulb terminal 9. As shown, this switch unit 12 preferably comprises a disc 15 fastened by screws 16 to the top wall 17 of the opening 5, a plunger 18 of insulating material movable in an opening 19 in the disc and engageable with the support 2, a circular body 20 of insulating material on the disc 15 and constituting a guide for 85 the plunger 18, an electric contact element 21 fastened by a bolt 22 and nut 23 to the upper end of the plunger 18 and provided at diametrically opposite points thereof with radially extending

arms

24 and 25 respectively that are adapted to be received in radially extending

grooves

26, 27, 28, 29, and 31 respectively in the upper edge of the guide 20; tongues 32 struck out from the disc 15 and crimped over the

bases

33, 34, 35 and 36 respectively of the

recesses

26, 27, 28 and 95 29 respectively, holding the body 20 on the disc 16 and constituting switch contacts adapted to be engaged by the

arms

24 and 25 of the contact element 21, and a segmental sheet 37 of insulating material on the disc 15 at one side of the guide 20 and constituting a seat for the spring 13. Preferably this spring 13 comprises a strip of sheet metal fastened by a bolt 38 and nut 39 to the disc 15 and sheet 37 and is provided inwardly of the bolt 38 with an extension 40 that overlies and constitutes a follower for the plunger 18.

In use, the follower 40 bears against the nut 23 on the upper end of the plunger 18 at all times except when the

arms

24 and 25 are on or just above the

bases

41 and 42 respectively of the

recesses

30 and 31. When the

arms

24 and 25 of the contact element 21 on the plunger 18 are in the

recesses

30 and 31 the circuit is interrupted regardless of whether the base 1 is on or oil the support 2. For example when the base 1 is on the support 2, the

arms

24 and 25 will be held by the plunger in raised position above the

bases

41 and 42 respectively of said recesses. As a result the circuit to the bulb 8 is interrupted. When the base 1 is lifted from the support the follower 40 will urge the plunger 18 downwardly until the

arms

24 and 25 rest upon the

bases

41 and 42. However,

such bases

41 and 42 are of insulating material so that the circuit to the bulb 8 is still interrupted. Should it be desired to have the circuit to the bulb 8 interrupted when the base 1 is on the support but closed when the base is lifted from the support, the plunger 18 is pressed inwardly and turned by hand so that .the

arms

24 and 25 will be received in the

recesses

26 and 27. Thus when the base 1 is on the

support thearms

24 and 25 are held by the plunger 18 above the contacts 32 on the

bases

33 and 34 of said recesses, but as soon as the base 1 is lifted the follower 40 will urge the

arms

24 and 25 into proper engagement with the contacts 32 on said

bases

33 and 34 and the circuit to the bulb 8 ,will accordingly be closed. Likewise if it should be desired to have the circuit closed regardless of whether the base 1 is on or ofi of the support the plunger 18 may be raised and turned by hand so that the

arms

24 and 25 will be received in the

recesses

28 and 29, whereupon such arms will be urged by the follower 40 into proper engagement with the contact elements 32 on the

bases

35 and 36. In this connection it will be noted that the

recesses

26, 28 and 30 correspond to the

recesses

27, 29 and 31 respectively and are in stepped relation. Consequently the desired results may be obtained by simply adjusting the plunger 18 so that the

arms

24 and 25 respec- ,tively will be received in the proper recesses in the body 20.

I What I claim as my invention is:

1. An electric switch unit for use in the bases of lamps of the self-contained portable unit type, including a supporting member, a battery contact member on the supporting member and having a spring arm, a plunger movable in the supporting member toward and away from the spring arm, a guide for the plunger on the supporting member, and means for establishing an electrical connection between the supporting member and arm including parts associated with the plunger and guide rendered effective when the plunger is in one position relative to the guide and rendered ineffective when the plunger is in another position relative to the guide.

'2. An electric switch unit for use in the bases of lamps of the self-contained portable unit type, including a supporting member, a battery contact member on the supporting member and having a spring arm, a plunger movable in the supporting member toward and away from the spring arm, a guide for the plunger on the supporting member, and means for establishing an electrical connection between the supporting member and arm including cooperating electric contact elements carried by the plunger and guide respectively, rendered effective when the plunger is in either of two positions relative to the guide and rendered ineffective when the plunger is in a third position relative to the guide. '3. An electric switch unit for use in the bases of lamps of the self-contained portable unit type, including a supporting member, a battery contact member on the supporting member and having a spring arm, a plunger mounted in the supporting member for both rotary and longitudinal movements relative to the arm, a guide for the plunger 0n the supporting member, and means for establishing an electrical connection between the supporting member and arm including electric contacts carried by the guide at spaced points thereof, and an electric contact element carried by the plunger and successively engageable with said contacts.

4. An electric switch unit for use in the bases of lamps of the self-contained portable unit type, including a supporting member, a battery contact member on the supporting member and having a spring arm, a plunger mounted in the supporting member for both rotary and longitudinal movements relative to the arm, means for guiding theplunger including a body of insulating material on the supporting member provided with stepped radially extending grooves, and means for making and breaking an electrical connection between the supporting member and arm including electric contacts in certain of said grooves, and an electric contact carried by the plunger, adapted upon rotation of the plunger to successively engage the grooves aforesaid, and adapted upon longitudinal movement of the plunger to engage the contacts in said grooves.

5. An electric switch unit for use in the bases of lamps of the self-contained portable unit type,

including a supporting member, a battery contact member on the supporting member and having a spring arm, a plunger movable in the supporting member relative to the arm, a guide for the plunger on the supporting member, and means for establishing an electrical connection between the supporting member and arm, including an electric contact element on the plunger, and parts struck out from the supporting member holding the guide and adapted to be successively engaged by the electric contact element on the plunger.

6. In an electric switch for lights of the selfcontained portable unit type, an electric contact element mounted for both rotary and longitudinal movements, a plurality of fixed electric contacts arranged in stepped relation and adapted to be successively engaged by the first mentioned element, and actuating means for the first mentioned element including a spring pressed plunger mounted for both rotary and longitudinal movements.

7. A switch for lights of the self-contained portable unit type including a member attachable to the base of a light, cooperating fixed and movable switch elements on the member, and actuating means for the movable element including a plunger movable in the member and engageable with a support for the base, and a battery contact spring carried by the base and having a portion for actuating the plunger when disengaged from the support for the base.

8. An electric switch for use in the base of a light of the self-contained portable unit type, including a member attachable to the light base, a battery contact element on the member and having a spring arm, a plunger movable toward and away from said arm, a guide for said plunger carried by the member, said plunger being mounted for both rotary and longitudinal movements in said guide, an electric contact element carried by and movable with said plunger, and

a series or electric contact elements carried by said guide so as to be successively engageable with the contact element carried by the plunger.

9. An electric switch for use in the base of a light of the self-contained portable unit type, including a member attachable to the light base, a battery contact element on the member and having a spring arm, a plunger movable toward and away from said arm and mounted for both rotary and longitudinal movements in the member, a guide for the plunger provided with a series of radially extending recesses, an electric contact element carried by the plunger and movable thereby into said recesses, and electric contact elements in certain of said recesses in the path of and adapted to be engaged by the contact element aforesaid when it is received in said recesses.

10. An electric switch for use in the base of lamps of the self-contained portable unit type, including a metal member attachable to the base of the lamp and having an opening therein, a body of insulating material on the member and having an opening in alignment with the opening in the member, and provided at one end of said opening with radially extending recesses, a plunger of insulating material mounted for both rotary and longitudinal movements in said aligned openings, an electric contact element carried by said plunger and movable thereby into said recesses, and electric contacts in certain of said recesses and cooperating with the member to hold the body on said member.

11. In an electric switch, a metallic supporting member attachable to the base of a lamp, a body of insulating material on said member, having means for guiding a plunger and having recesses for receiving an electric contact element carried by the plunger, and electric contacts in certain of said recesses and cooperating with said member to hold the body on said member.

12. In an electric switch, a plunger, a guide for the plunger, an electric contact element carried by the plunger and movable over the guide, and a support for the guide having struck-out portions holding the guide on the support and forming electric contact elements for engagement by the contact element carried by the plunger.

13. In an electric switch, a plunger, a guide for the plunger, an electric contact element carried by the plunger, a support for the guide, and electric contact elements on the guide engageable by the contact element on the plunger and cooperating with the support to secure the guide thereto.

14. In combination, a lamp base having means for supporting an electric battery, and an electric switch including a disc secured to the base, a battery contact element on the disc and having a spring arm, a body of insulating material on the disc and having radially extending recesses of various depths therein, a plunger of insulating material mounted for both rotary and longitudinal movements in the body aforesaid, an elec tric contact carried by the plunger engageable with the spring arm and successively engageable with the recesses, and tongues projecting from the disc into certain of said recesses and engageable by the electric contact carried by the plimger.

15. An electric switch unit of the class described, ccmprising a disc attachable to the base of a lamp, a battery contact element on the disc and having a movable arm, a body of insulating material carried by the disc and having recesses therein, a body of insulating material movable in the body aforesaid, an electric contact carried by the last mentioned body engageable with the arm and successively engageable with the recesses, and tongues projecting from the disc into certain of said recesses and engageable by the electric contact carried by the last mentioned body.

BURTON S. FLORADAY.