US2049069A - Combined flashlight and warning signal - Google Patents

Description

July 28, 1936. w, MARTlN 2,049,069

COMBINED FLASHLIGHT AND WARNING SIGNAL Filed Oct. 19, 1934 awe/rm I provided with a lens.

Patented July 28, 1936 CODIBINED FLASHLIGHT AND WARNING SIGNAL William Earl Martin, Denver, 0010.

Application October 19, 1934, Serial No. 749,038

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in flashlights of the electric type and has reference more particularly to a flashlight having an ordinary electric light at one end and a reflector for reflecting red rays of light at the other end.

It is customary for automobilists and others to carry an electric flashlight which is used in emergencies for illuminating the work when repairing tires at night or when any other repairs are necessary after dark. With the ordinary electric flashlight, the light is emitted from one end, and when the flashlight is viewed from the.

other end there is no indication of light, and therefore if a workman is occupied in repairing a tire along. the roadway and a car approaches from the direction of the dark end of the flashlight, the driver of the car will not be warned of the presence of the worker and accidents have occurred for this reason.

It is the object of this invention to provide the normally dark end of the flashlight with a reflector jewel, preferably of red glass, so that lights from the headlight of an approaching car will .strike this jewel and be reflected, thereby apprising the driver of an obstruction.

This light is also of great service for peoplewalking a ong the roadway, because it can be carried in the hand'and the light projected in the direction in which the person is walking, while at the same time a car approaching from behind will be warned by the reflected red light from the reflector element.

Another object of this invention is to produce a flashlight that will be operative as a warning signal, even if the battery is worn out, and in this way the possessor of this flashlight will be in position to signal cars after dark with a flashlight that is otherwise inoperative.

This invention, briefly described, consists in an electric flashlight of ordinary construction having a tubular body member within which is located a flashlight battery and which is provided at one end with a lamp enclosed within a housing A switch is provided for controlling the electric light, all as is now old and well known. To the other end of the flashlight is a jewel secured in such a way that when light rays strike it, they will be reflected and if this jewel is made of red glass, a red warning signal will thus be produced.

Having thus briefly described the invention, and the objects thereof, the same will now be described in detail, and for this purpose reference will be had to the accompanying drawing in which the invention has been illustrated, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a section through the removable end cap of the flashlight shown in Fig. 3 and shows the manner in which the jewel and the reflector are secured to the end cap;

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the manner in which this combined flashlight and warning signal functions; and

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a flashlight provided with my improvement.

In the drawing reference numeral 5 indicates the body of the flashlight and 6 indicates a switch for controlling the electric lamp that'is located within the housing I. The lens 8 usually of clear glass, closes the outer end of the housing I. The arrangement of the parts has not been shown because the flashlight shown in Fig. 3 is an ordinary well known construction, to which applicant has added the red reflector jewel 9.

Referring now to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the end cap 10 to which the reflector jewel 9 is secured is provided at its outer end with an outwardly projecting bead II, that is spun over the edge B2 of the jewel. A concave reflector l3 has its peripheral edge located in the groove formed by the flange I I and is held in place between the shoulder of this groove and the inside of the jewel. A spring I4 is provided for making electrical contact with the battery in the usual way. When light strikes the jewel in the direction indicated by arrow l5, it passes through the jewel and is reflected from the concave surface of the reflector l3, and is then reflected rearwardly in the direction of arrow [6.

Referring now to' Fig. 2, it will be seen that. when the flashlight 5 is carried by a person walking along a highway with the light projected forwardly, as indicated by arrows H, the jewel 9 will project rearwardly and when light from a headlight l8 strikes the reflector, this light will be returned and reflected rearwardly in the direction of arrow l6, thereby striking the eye of the driver of the car, who will thus be warned of the presence of the pedestrian. 7

Attention is called to the fact that in this particular instance, both the electric. light operated by the battery and the reflector element, function simultaneously and cooperate to insure the convenience and safety of the pedestrian. The light emitted from the lamp serves to illuminate the path or the work while the reflector serves to reflect the lights of approaching automobiles and in this way cooperation is present between the reflector and. the ordinary electric light.

Attention is called to the fact that any existing electric flashlight can be provided with a reflector element by merely replacing the end closure sleeve with one constructed in the manner shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

Special attention is directed to the construction of the end closure sleeve and the manner in which the jewel and the reflector are applied thereto.

Having described the invention what I claim as new is:

1. As an article of manufacture, a butt-end closure cap for conventional flashlight assemblies, said cap comprising a threaded, tubular sleeve arranged for threaded, telescoping engagement with the butt end of a flashlight unit, and a faceted reflecting jewel fixed transversely of and closing the outer end of said tube.

2. As an article of manufacture, a butt-end closure cap for conventional flashlight assemblies, said cap comprising a threaded tube arranged to threadedly engage on and telescope over the butt end of a flashlight unit, a reflector-backed, faceted jewel flxed transversely of and in closing relation with the outer end of said tube, and an expansive coil spring element flxed at one end adjacent said jewel within said tube and extending axially and toward the open end thereof.

WILLIAM EARL MARTIN.

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