US2027912A

US2027912A - Battery light

Info

Publication number: US2027912A
Application number: US668646A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harry T Kingsbury
Original assignee: KINGSBURY Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: KINGSBURY Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1933-04-29
Filing date: 1933-04-29
Publication date: 1936-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 1953-01-14

Description

H. T. KINGSBURY EWZKQM BATTERY LIGHT Filed April 29, 1935 Patented Jan. 14, 1936 UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE Application April 29, 1933, Serial No. 668.646

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in electric battery lamps, and more particularly to improvements in portable electric battery lamps of the flashlight type.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved portable electric lamp, of the type referred to, wherein a cap member, which is adapted to aid in supporting a light bulb and switch mechanism, is adapted to be fitted directly over the terminal end. of an electric battery and to be frictionally held thereon.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flashlight, of the type referred to, wherein the light support fits Within an opening in. the cap .15 member and. is adapted to telescope therein and wherein resilient means are adapted to act upon the light support to normally hold the light bulb terminal out of contact With the battery terminal. v 20 A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved light support and. switch unit which may be directly applied to and held by friction on the terminal end of the battery.

A still-further object of the invention is to pro- 25 vide an improved unit, i the type referred to,

which may he applied to the terminal end of electric battery and which is {adapted to effect an rinterrnittent [or continuous lighting circuit.

A still further :object :of the invention is "to 30 provide, in a-device of the character referred to, .an improved light z rsupport and friction ring interfitting relationship and normally gheld apart by a spring member and :a ;cap member which is adapted to aid i-niholding rthe component parts 35 together and which :is :provided "with means for efiecting ca econtinuous :lighting (circuit when the light :support :is slightly iturned.

The invention estill further aims :to :provide an improved rcap laSS6Il'lb1y,:'df :-the type referred to,

' whichimayibegapplied. directl-yito aabatterywhere- "l by to provide :an inexpensiveflashlight which -is readily assembled sandwhich is efficient ain operation to aif'ord I either continuous or iintermittent illumination.

These and. other objects of the inventionwill appear-obvious and *will behereinaf ter=more fully "described.

In the drawing:

. Figure-1 isa perspective view showing the comshowing the.cap.assembly withJthe circuit open.

Fig.3 isalsimilar viewmsho-wing the relative position ofithe.parts .when the circuit is closed.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the cap assem bly.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of the cap member when used with anotherform of battery.

In general, the present invention aims to provide a novel light support and switch assembly which may be directly applied to and frictionally held on the terminal end of the usual dry cell battery whereby to provide an inexpensive flashlight. A cap member is adapted to frictionally engage the side of the battery and isprovided with a central opening above the battery top.

A light supporting member and a friction ring are loosely connected to prevent disengagement from the action of an enclosed coil spring which norl5 mally holds the same apart, but the connection is such that the light support may be moved to- Wardthe battery top when pressure is applied. The friction ring rests upon the top of the battery and encircles the battery terminal. The depending edge of the opening in the cap member is provided with cam surfaces which" are engaged by lugs on the light support to prevent disengagement thereof but to permit telescoping movement of the light support within the opening in the cap member so that the light terminal mayoontact with the battery terminal when the light support is depressed toward the battery. When the light support is turned in a clockwise direction, the lugs thereon will passover the cam surfacesand so cause the light support to descend within the opening in the cap member whereby the light terminal may be held in contact with the battery terminal in order to provide a continuous lighting-effect.

Referring more indetail to Figures 1-4 of the accompanying drawing,.one form of dry cell battery .lil isshown with the usual flhrouscovering .H and 'metaljacket 12 which is provided with a metal top closure 13 throughwhich extends the 40 batteryterminal l4. Suitable insulating compoition l5 preventscontact-between the metal top and the battery terminal. A bottom closing member lfi maylbe fitted over one endof the battery and irictionally held thereon toprevent extraneous ,matter ,from contacting therewith. A cap member ll ispprovided with an offset depending skirt 18 which may be slipped on the terminal end of thebattery and frictionally held thereon. The oifset portioniS o-fthecap member i1 is adapted to rest upon the top of the battery in order to insure the proper assembly of thevariops parts to be hereinafter described. There extends upwardly from the offset portion 19 of the cap member. I ta vertical wall, in. which isinwardly bent to provide a depending skirt portion 2| thus providing a central opening through the top of the cap member. The depending skirt portion 2| is provided with a series of cam or wedge surfaces 22 the function of which will be described hereinafter.

A dome-shaped member 23 is provided with a central opening and an angular projection 24 which permit the threaded end 25 of a light bulb 26 to be screwed therein whereby the bulb is supported. The depending edge of the light supporting member 23 is provided with a series of outwardly extending lugs 21 which are adapted to engage the edges of the wedge surfaces 22 of the cap member II in order to prevent the light support from becoming disengaged from the cap member. The light supporting member 23 is also provided with a series of alternately spaced inwardly extending lugs 28 which are adapted to engage the bottom face of the horizontal flange 29 of a friction ring 30. The lower edge of the friction ring 33 is bent to provide a channel 3|, the bottom of which rests upon the surface of the metal top l3 of the battery I and encircles the battery terminal I4. A coil spring 32, having one end seated in the channel portion 3! of the friction ring 30 and the other end thereof pushing against the under surface of the light supporting member 23, is adapted to normally hold the light supporting member in the position shown in Fig. 2 whereby the terminal 33 of the light bulb 26 isout of contact with the battery terminal M. In this position, the lugs 21 engage the reduced edges of the wedge faces 22 on the cap member and the lugs 28 engage the under face of the flange 29 of the friction ring 30. It is thus apparent that the light supporting member cannot become disengaged and it is also apparent that the electric circuit is open.

When it is desired to merely flash the light bulb on, it is simply necessary to press down with a finger upon the light support 23 to overcome the spring action so that the light terminal 33 will contact the battery terminal I4 so that an electric circuit is completed between the battery terminal through the light bulb, light support and friction ring to the metal top I3 of the battery cell. Then, when pressure is released from the light support 23, it will be urged back by the action of the spring 32 to the position shown in Fig. 2. If it is desired to continuously close the electric circuit 50 that the light bulb will remain illuminated, it is necessary to merely rotate the light support 23 in a clockwise direction about a quarter of a turn, as shown in Fig. 3. When the light support is rotated, the lugs 21 thereon engage the cam or wedge surfaces 22 and the support 23 is gradually depressed until the light terminal 33 contacts with battery terminal 14 to close the electric li hting circuit. To open the circuit, the light support 23 may be rotated in a reverse direction until the position shown in Fig. 2 is again assumed.

In some dry cell batteries, there is no metal top to the battery but simply an entire covering of insulating composition. In this type of battery, as shown in Fig. 5, the fibrous jacket Il may be cut to provide openings 34 and the depending rim or skirt portion l8 of the cap member I! may be provided with inwardly projecting lugs 35 to register with the openings 34 in the jacket whereby to engage the metal portion of the battery so that an electric circuit may be completed in the manner previously described.

To assemble the cap assembly, the light support 23 and the friction ring 30 are interfltted with the coil spring 32 in position therebetween. The assembly of light support and friction ring. are then inserted in the opening in the cap member I! which is then slipped over the terminal end of the battery and frictionally held thereon.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the present invention provides a novel device which may be applied to the end of.

a dry cell battery whereby to furnish an eX-'= tremely efficient and inexpensive flashlight which permits the ready removal and replacement of the batteries.

It is, of course, obvious that minor changes in details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.

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

1. A flashlight comprising a battery, a cap" member adapted to frictionally engage said battery, said cap member having an opening above the battery, cam surfaces around the edge of the opening in said cap member, a light bulb supporting member adapted to telescope within the opening in said cap member, means on said supporting member for engaging said cam surfaces to close an electric circuit upon rotation of said supporting member in one direction and said cam surfaces being adapted to limit the rotation of said supporting member in the opposite direction, and means for normally holding the light bulb terminal out of contact with the battery terminal.

2. A flashlight comprising a battery, a cap member adapted to frictionally engage said battery at the terminal end thereof, said cap member having an opening above the battery terminal, a light bulb supporting member adapted to reciprocate within and relative to the opening in said cap member, means for limiting the outward movement of said supporting member, a friction ring interconnected with said light bulb supporting member and resting upon the end of the battery and encircling the battery terminal, and a coil spring seated in said ring and bearing against said supporting member whereby to normally hold the light bulb terminal out of contact with the battery terminal.

3. A flashlight comprising a battery, a cap member adapted to frictionally engage said battery and having an opening therein, a light bulb supporting member adapted to telescope within and relative to the opening in said cap member, means for limiting the outward movement of said supporting member, a friction ring interconnected with said light bulb supporting member and resting upon the end of said battery and encircling the battery terminal, and a coil spring seated in said friction ring and adapted to normally urge said supporting member away from the battery.

4. In a flashlight, a lamp supporting and switch assembly comprising a cap member having an opening therein, a lamp supporting member adapted to telescope within the opening in said cap member, cam surfaces on said cap member, lugs on said supporting member adapted to engage said cam surfaces, a friction ring having a horizontal flange, additional lugs on said supporting member adapted to engage said horizontal flange, and a spring member adapted to normally urge said supporting member and said friction ring apart.

5. A flashlight comprising a battery, a cap member adapted to frictionally engage said battery and having an opening therein above the end of the battery, a lamp supporting member adapted to telescope within the opening in said cap member, a friction ring resting upon the battery and encircling the battery terminal, a coil spring seated in said friction ring and adapted to normally urge said supporting member away from the battery, and means operative upon the rotation of said supporting member for causing the lamp terminal to engage the battery terminal whereby to close an electric circuit.

6. A flashlight comprising a battery, a cap member adapted to engage the terminal end of said battery, said cap member having an opening therein, a supporting member adapted to fit within the opening in said cap member, a light bulb carried by said supporting member, means for connecting said supporting member to said cap member to permit a limited reciprocal movement of said supporting member within the opening in said cap member, a resilient member having one end thereof bearing against said supporting member whereby tourge the same outwardly, and means connected to said supporting member for receiving the opposite end of said resilient member.

7. In combination with a battery, a hollow cap member adapted to be fitted over the terminal end of said battery in fixed relation thereto, said cap member having an inwardly bent and depending peripheral portion above said battery, a lamp supporting member, means associated with said supporting member and the depending portion of said cap member for limiting the outward movement of said lamp supporting member, said lamp supporting member being movable inwardly to close an electric circuit, and means for normally urging said lamp supporting member outwardly to open the electric circuit.

8. In combination with a dry cell battery, a hollow cap member engaging the terminal end of said battery in fixed relation thereto and having an inwardly curled depending peripheral portion disposed above said battery, a supporting member fitted within the depending portion of said cap member and movable relative thereto, a light bulb carried by said supporting member, means on said supporting member for engaging the depending portion of said cap memher for limiting the outward movement thereof, said lamp supporting member being adapted to be forced inwardly whereby to contact the central light bulb terminal with one of the battery terminals, means for electrically connecting the other battery terminal with the other light bulb terminal, and resilient means for normally urging said supporting member outwardly whereby to open the electric circuit.

9. In combination with a dry cell battery having an opening in the side covering thereof, a hollow cap member engaging the terminal end of said battery in fixed relation thereto, said cap member having an inwardly projecting. portion adapted to enter the opening in said battery covering whereby to contact one terminal of said battery, a lamp supporting member interconnected with said cap member and adapted to move relative thereto, said. supporting member being adapted to be urged inwardly whereby to close the electric circuit by bringing the central terminal of the lamp into contact with the central battery terminal, and a spring member for normally urging said supporting member outwardly whereby to open the electric circuit.

10. A flashlight comprising, in combination, a battery, a cap member fixedly engaging the terminal end of said battery and having a central opening above said battery, a lamp supporting member mounted for relative reciprocation within the opening in said cap member with a portion thereof protruding above said cap, member, stop means for limiting the outward movement of said supporting member, and spring means for normally urging said supporting. member outwardly to a position wherein said stop means is brought into operation and wherein the electric circuit remains open.

11. A flashlight comprising, in combination, a battery, a cap member fixedly engaging the terminal end of said battery and having a central opening above said battery, a lamp supporting member mounted within the opening in said cap member for reciprocation relative thereto, resilient means for normally holding said supporting member in circuit opening, position, said supporting member being depressible to momentarily close the electric circuit, and cam means operative upon the turning of said supporting member for causing the lamp terminal to contact a battery terminal whereby to hold the electric circuit close.

HARRY T. KINGSBURY.