US2053591A - Electric lantern - Google Patents

Description

Sept 8, 1936- i L.. M. WILEY 2,053,591

ELECTRIC LANTERN Filed March 22, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l I N VEN TOR.

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Sept 8, 1936 n.. M. WILEY 2,053,591

ELECTRIC LANTERN Filed March 22, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 luga/uffa),

\ Si INVENTOR- E, E. ee M .I4/276g Patented Sept. i936 rss a isi ELECT@ E lice M. Wiley, Marion, ind., assigner to Delta Electric dem, a corporation or indiana applicant@ anni 22, 193s, serai ne. essere s carne. (el. eremita) 4 The invention relates to electric lights and it has particular relation to a transportable electric lantern oi the battery operated type.

One object of the invention is to provide an 5 electric lantern which optionally may be used to throw .a beam of light in any direction depending upon manual manipulation of the lantern, or to provide a soit and diused light around the lantern when it rests on a supporting surface.

l@ Another object of the invention is to provide an electric lantern having facilities ior directing a beam oi light from one part of the lantern, and facilities for throwing oi a diffused and soft light from another part of the lantern.

i Another object of the invention is to provide an l electric lantern oi the above mentioned character in which a battery is employed and wherein the battery is used optionally with one light or the other.

au Another object of the inventionis to provide an electric lantern having direct beam lighting facilities in one of its side walls, and diiused light facilities in one of its ends walls.

Another object of the invention is to provide t5 an electric lantern having lighting facilities in one of its end walls, and which is so constructed that either end may be used as a. supporting base. Another object of the invention is to provide an electric lantern which hasv improved safety fea- 50 tures enabling a safer use of the lantern in mines or other places where gases have been known to explode as a result oi the use of electric lights.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electric lantern having a bail pivotally secured thereon for the purposes of manually carrying the lantern, in which the position of the lantern with respect to the bail may be reversed so that the lantern may be carried in one position or in an inverted position.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electric lantern having an improved arrangement for supporting dry cells and completing an electrical circuit therethrough and through lighting bulbs mounted in the lantern casing.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description, the drawings relating thereto and the claims hereinafter set forth.

For a. better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a rear elevational view of an electric lantern constructed according to one form of the invention and showing by broken lines how the position of the lantern may be inverted.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on a, larger scale taken substantially along the line Q or Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line @-3 or Fig. 2.

me. el is a oross-sectional View taken snbstan tially along the line e-i oi Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view ci an adapter for supporting separated dry cells, which may be used in the construction sho by Figs. l and 2 instead o a single battery of larger voltage.

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the construc- Tl@ tion shown by Fig. 5 and showing how the adapter with the cells supported thereon cooperate with other parte of the lantern.

Fig. 'l is a plan view of the adapter sho by 5 with the dry cells mounted thereon. R5 Fig. 8 ls a fragmentary cross-sectional view ci a lantern constructed according to another form of the invention and which is particularly adapted ioruse in mines or other places where gas is apt tobe present. all

Fig. 9 is a plan view on e. larger scale and partly in cross section, of the bulb mounting and lens in the iront wall or the lantern shown by Fig. 8.

Fig. lll is a cross-sectional view on a larger ale taken substantially along the line Ill-l0 of 25 Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the lantern comprises a generally cylindrical casing l0 composed of sheet metal which is open at its upper and lower ends, and is provided with a. generally cir- 30 cular opening Il in its side wall substantially midway between its ends. The lower end of the casing is normally closed by a releasable base and cover l2 having a. cylindrical upper portion I3 telescopically receiving the lower end of the cas- 35 ing. This base is releasably secured to the casing by diemetrically disposed pins I4 thereon which are adapted to move upwardly -into slots l5 in the casing well and then be turned with the base. into generally circumferential portions I6 of the 40 slots. The side wall of the base flares outwardly and at its lower edge is interlocked with a base plate l1, which at its center has 9. bar spring I8 secured thereto, adapted for supporting battery elements in the casing.

At that side of the casing opposite the opening Il, a, handle i9 is secured to the casing wall for manual carrying and manipulation ofthe lantern and this handle is disposed in a position substantially equidistant from both ends of the casing. 50

.At its center and as best shown by Fig. 1, the

handle is provided with a. vertically extending and elongated opening 20 which ls enlarged at its center as indicated at 2l so that the lantern may be hung on a. nail or other similar support either 55 with the lantern in the position shown or in an inverted position. It will be understood that in hanging the lantern a nail or other support will pass through the larger portion ill of the opening 2t and then upon movement of the lantern downwardly the nail will move into the upper end ci the opening.

Around the opening i i in the wall of the casing, an outwardly projecting metal element 22 is provided which has e. flange 23 welded or otherwise suitably secured to the casing wall around the opening. This element is provided with a front wail of concave formation which forms a seat for a reflector 25. The reiiector and wall 24 are provided with centrally located, coinciding openings, and suoli openings receive a metal lamp soclret il@ having a shoulder 21 engaging the outer surface of the reflector around the opening therein, and a threaded portion projecting through the opening to a point behind the wall d. At the inner end of such threaded portion, a nut 28 is provided which abuts a washer 2li engaging the wall 2li. This arrangement not only maintains the lamp socket in position, but holds the reflector positively located with respect 'to the element 22 and the casing. A bulb Sii is threaded in the outer end of the lamp socket, and the central terminal of the bulb engages a terminal 3i rigidly secured in a tubular insulating element 32 closely fitting in an opening in the base oi the soclret, but which is movable therein. The inner end of the insulating element 32 has a shoulder 33 to limit outward movement of such element and the terminal 3l, and the inner end of the terminal 2i is exposed and is adapted to engage a contact which will be referred to hereinafter. It will be apparent that the position of the bulb may be varied by varying the degree-it is threaded into the socket and that the terminal 3| may be varied in position by moving the insulating element 32 correspondingly. It will also be apparent that the outer terminal of the bulb, through the socket 26, and the element 22, is electrically in contact with the wall of the casing.

The free edge of the reflector 25 has an annular at portion 35 and a rim portion 38 and between such portions, an annular ring 31 is provided which serves as a support for a lens or glass 38. To hold the lens in position and to provide an eclent seal around the junction of the lens with the reilector, an annular ring 40 split at one point, encompasses the edges of the lens and reector and the ends thereof are adjustably connected by screw adjusting means 4l. By tightening the screw adjusting means, the seal around the edge of the glass can be made very effective.

The upper and open end of the casing has a slightly inset wall portion 43 which terminates in an inwardly directed, annular flange portion 44, which supports a ange portion 48 of an upwardly projecting convex reflector 41 extending over the upper and open end of the casing. Over the flange 46, a ilexible sealing ring 48 is provided, and against this ring, a rim portion 49 of an upper lens 50 is disposed. The lens, ring 48 and reflector are maintained in definite positions as shown, by an annular retaining element 5I having e. flange portion 52 overlapping the rim 49 of the lens, and a side portion 53 telescopically receiving the inset Wall portion 43 of the casing. The retaining element 5l is releasabl'y held in position as best shown by Fig. 1, by means of diametrically disposed slots 54 therein, which are similar to the slots I5 in the bottom edge of the casing, and pins 55 on the casing element adapted aosacoi to move into and out of the slots. .llt its center, the reflector ll is provided with a bulb 55 which in this construction is threaded into a socket permanently mounted with respect to the reector.

The lighting arrangement in the side wall of the casing including the reiiector is adapted for throwinga direct beam oi light over a considerable distance and the bulb mounting is such that the bulb may properly be focused to obtain the desired beam. The bulb and reflector arrangement at the upper end of the casing is adapted for creating a diffused and soit iight and the convex character of thel reflector enables obtaining this result in a very satisfactory manner. While the upper light may be useful under certain circumstances, it is particularly useful ii the lantern is in an inverted position so that the light is then at the lower end of the casing. For enabling the use of the lantern with this light in an inverted position., a guard 53 may be provided, having arms 53 secured as indicated at @il to the side portion 53 of the retaining element 5l. This guard is of open construction and entends around the lens 5l) and with the lantern in its inverted position, serves as a supporting base while still allowing light to pass through the lens 5t to the supporting surface below and around the lens. Frequently it is desirable to dispose the lantern on the ground or other surface and to have a soft light around the lantern and by providing the guard and inverting the lantern. this result may be obtained. It might be noted in 'this connection, that with the guard in place, it would make no difference whether or not the lantern were inverted in so far as carrying it with the handle I9 is concerned, or in so far as use of the light in the side wall of the casing is concerned.

For carrying the lantern in a suspended manner, a bail 53 is provided which has inwardly pro- Jecting trunnion portions 64 at its end, journaled in openings 65 in opposite sides of the side `wall of the lantern casing. These inwardly projecting portions 54 at the inner side of the casing are attened to permit insertion through the openings 65 which are elongated for this purpose, but such openings at their center are rounded to receive the trunnion portions of the bail. When in either of its vertical positions, the flattened portions at the inner ends of the trunnions are disposed vertically so that the handle cannot be released during manipulation oi' the lantern. For releasably holding the bail in its vertical position as shown by Fig. 2, beads 66 and 6l are pressed out oi' the lantern casing in spaced relation and these beads are of such characterA that parallel side portions of the bail may move past either oi them but when disposed between them, the bail is normally held in this position although a forced tilting movement of the bail will cause it to pass over either oi' the beads. Similar beads 68 and 69 are pressed out of the lantern casing wall at the opposite side of the opening 65 so that the bail may bc turned through and similarly positioned with respect to beads 68 and 69. With this arrangement it is apparent that the lantern may be carrled'by means of the bail in the position shown by Fig. 2, or that the bail may be turned through 180 and the lantern inverted and carried in such position with the lens 50 at .the then lower end of the casing. In Fig. 1, the inverted position of the lantern with the guard 58 lowermost is illustrated and it will be appreciated that the lantern then may rest on the guard if this is desired or if the lantern is in its normal posi-*75 tion with the ends uppermost, the base I2 may be used to support the lantern on any surface.

On the lantern casing and at the upper end thereof as shown, an insulating plate 1l is .se-'- cured by means of fastening pins 12, to leg portions 13 extending inwardly from flange M at the end of the casing. These pins also secure a plate ring 1B composed of metal, on the lower side of the insulating plate, and it follows that the ring is electrically connected to the casing. At its center, the insulating plate 1| has a metal washer i5 secured thereto by a metal pin it and above the insulating plate the pin has a larger portion il providing a support for an oscillatory insulating plate 18 mounted on the pin-above the portion ll. Between the insulating plate and the larger portion l'l of the pin, a metal contacting arm 19 is secured to the insulating plate vfor movement therewith in an oscillatory manner. Above the insulating plate '58, a metal washer 80 is mounted on the pin and a takeup washer 8i on the pin above the washer and positively secured to the pin, normally maintains the parts on the pin in close relation while permitting oscillatory movement oi' the insulating plate lil.

- As best shown by Fig. 3, the contact element 'it has a radially extending arm 83 which optionally is adapted to engage a contact at or' a contact 85. The contact 8d forms part of a plate @d secured to the insulating plate ii at the margin thereof, and this plate, as best shown by Fig. 2, has a downwardly extending arm 0l normally urged by its own resiliency into engagement with the inner end of the, terminal pin 3i in the lamp socket provided on the side wall of the casing. The contact 85 forms part of a plate 08 also secured to the insulating plate l, and which has an inwardly extending contact arm t9 adapted to contact with the central terminal of the bulb 56. It will be appreciated that the outer termination of this bulb is in electrical contact with the reflector el, and hence the casing. 1

For moving the contact element it and the arm 83 thereon from a neutral position as shown between the contacts @d and 85, to either contact, an operating arm is secured to the insulating plate l0 and extends to a point adjacent and slightly to the left of the handle i9 and the outer end of such arm terminates in a curved flange extending around the inner wall of the casing and which is secured to a button 0i having a shank portion 92 extending through the casing side wall. As best shown by Fig. 1, the shank portion of the button extends through a slot having a central notch d3 for holding the button in a neutral position, and side notch portions Sil and 95 for holding the button in either of its operative positions. When the button' is moved from its central position it will move the insulating plate lt and hence the contact @Si into engagement with one of the contacts dd and 8b depending upon the direction of movement of the button.

A dry cell battery et is provided within the casing and preferably this is a sii; volt battery having a central spring terminal Si! adapted to engage the inner end of pin it passing 'through4 insulating plate li, and a side spring terminal 93 adapted to engage the plate ring ld. The lower end ofthe battery is resiliently supported on the spring bar ld connected to the cover plate il. lt will be appreciated that the battery may be inserted without requiring it to be turned to a cerc tain position because the annular ring 'iii insures contact with the terminal 00 of the battery at any point around the ring.

If the button 9| is moved counter-clockwise as seen in Fig. 3, contact 03 will engage contact 84 and this will complete a circuit through the battery from the central terminal thereof, through the contacts 83 and 04, through the central terminal of the bulb 30 and then through the bulb to the casing side wall, and from the casing side wall through the pins 'l2 to the plate 14 and then to the other terminal of the battery. It the button is moved in the opposite direction until contact e0 engages contact 85, an electrical circuit is completed from the battery through the central terminal thereof, through the contacts 00 00 to the central terminal of the bulb 56, then through the bulb to the reilector 4l and from the reflector to the side wall of the casing and then through the pins 72 and ring plate it tothe other terminal of the battery.

While the six volt dry battery as a unit may be used as described, it may be advantageous to use an arrangement adapted to accommodate four' separate dry cells and Figures 5. 6 and 7 relate to a construction which may be substituted for the six volt battery already described. Referring to these figures, a bracket support is provided, comprising upper and lower insulating plates H00 and itil and a, web plate H02 also composed of insulating material. At the left side of web im a metal angle plate |00 is secured to the web and the upper side of insulating plate H08 and as best shown by Fig. 5, this plate' has an upwardly extending terminal lud. vertically above the bracket plate E03 and sufllciently spaced therefrom to accommodate battery cells, a contact plate 0M' is secured to the web i02 and this plate has a contact element E05 projecting away from the web and which is in vertical alignment with the projection E04. Another contact elment m6 secured to the web adjacent contact |04 has separatedcontact points 01. A battery cell indicated at 08 is adapted tobe disposed between the projection 804 and contact |05 with the central terminal at one end of the battery uppermost and engaging the contact 905 and with the opposite end of the cell engaging the projection i04. Another cell in inverted position is adapted to be disposed be tween the angle plate |03 and the contacts lill and it will be understood that the central contact on the cell will be lowerrnost and engage the angle plate while the contact E01 will engage the opposite contacting end of the cell.

An angle plate iil identical to plate ttt, but

t oppositely disposed and secured to the upper insulating plate it@ and web at the opposite side of the latter has a projection it@ similar to projection its but which is at the diagonaly opposite'corner of the web itt. Contacts tti and iii? identical to contact elements Mld' and it?? but oppositely disposed and below the latter, are provided on the opposite side ofthe web itt tor supporting another pair of dry cells. A meta-l bar litt connected to the contact plate @dit extends vertically along the web and through an opening in the upper insulating plate it@ and terminates in a resilient portion titi adapted to engage the ring plate ld in the lantern casing. 'A bar titi connected by means of a second bar it@ vtd the contact iii also extends along the web and through anopening in the upper insulating plate iti@ and is adapted to engage the pin lit in the lantern casing. The contacts iili and @i2 are in electrical contact through a. fastening device itil used to secure the plate itil to the web itt. .as

thus arranged with four dry cells in position the cells are connected in series, through the bars and IIB, the contact through the dry cell supported by this contact, through the projection ||0 on the upper angle plate |03, through this plate to the adjacent cell supported by contact ||2, then through this contact and the fastening device ||1 to the contact |04, then through the dry cell below this contact and through the lower angle plate |03 and then through this plate and through the cellI aboveit, to contact |01 and bar ||3. Thus the two -bars ||3 and lil constitute terminals of four cells arranged in series, thus providing approximately six volts as mentioned previously. This assembly may be inserted in the lantern and used`in the same manner as the single battery aireadydescribed and is ad vantageous particularly in making replacements where, because of expense or possibly inconvenience, users might want individual cells.

The arrangement shown by Figs. 8, 9 and 10 is particularly adapted for use where the lantern is employed in mines or other places in which explosive gas is apt to collect. These constructions provide arrangements wherein the bulbs are sealed between the lens and inner wall portions so that gas or vapor is prevented from gaining ingress into and around the bulb. Also in these constructions, means are provided for breaking the electric circuit through either bulb in the event either lens becomes broken. This is advantageous because often times the heat of the bulb will cause an explosion and if the lens should break it is important that the circuit through the bulb be instantaneously broken.

The upper bulb is threaded into a slidable socket which is`slidable in a base |2| secured to the reflector 41 and such base has oppositely disposed slots |22 into which projections |23 on the socket slidably project. A spring |24between the base |2| and socket |20 normally urges the bulb outwardly but it will be appreciated that the projections |23 will engage the rim of the reflector -41 and prevent complete removal `of the socket.

The bulb and socket |20 are normally maintained in the position shown by engagement of the bulb with the lens 50 and if this lens breaks, the spring |24 will instantly throw the socket and bulb out' wardly. The central terminal of the bulb engages a terminal |20 which projects through an insulating plate |21 secured to the projections 13 at the upper end of the casing side wall and while a close nt is obtained between the terminal pin |20 and the opening in the insulating plate |21, the pin may be moved up and down therein upon turning of the bulb. This pin is adapted to engage the contact arm `previously described. The space around the bulb is emciently sealed against ingress of gas or vapor by the reflector, lens and bulb mounting, and in the event the lens breaks the buib'is immediately thrown upwardly to break any electrical circuit therethrough. If found necessary, an annular flange may be used in place of projections 13, so that the insulating plate |21 will seal the space between it and reiiectors 41.

In the :mnt iight, a base m similar to base :s

is provided which slidably receives a socket |3| for the bulb 30. Socket |3| has diametrlcaily opposed projections |32 slidable in slots |33 in the base |30 but complete removal of the socket is prevented by a retaining ring |34 disposed in a groove around the outer edge of the base. A spring |35 normally urges the socket |3| outwardly. Owing to the fact that a direct beam of light is desired and one which can be focused. it is preferred that the bulb 30 not engage the lens 33 but that it be adjustable in its socket and in order to accomplish this result and at the same time cause breaking of the circuit in case the lens 33 breaks. a sleeve |30 surrounds the base |30 and is slidable thereon and this sleeve has notches receiving the projections |32 on the slidable socket |3|. At opposite sides of the bulb, the sleeve |33 has arms |38 which engage the lens as shown by Fig. 9 particularly. Now ii' the lens breaks, it is apparent that the spring will cause the circuit to be broken but that normally the lensthrough its engagement with the arms |33 will maintain the circuit completed.

It will be apparent that a lantern has been provided having facilities for obtaining a direct beam of light and also optional facilities for obtaining a soft, glowing iight, and that the arrangement readily permits inverting of the lantern so that the soft glow light may be either at the top or bottom of the lantern casing. Moreover, the handling facilities are of such character that the lantern may be used as well in one position as in an inverted position. It is also apparent that an arrangement is provided which is particularly useful when the lantern is inverted and the soft glow light is at the bottom, as the open guard provides a support for the lantern in its inverted position while still allowing the soft glow light to light up space surrounding the guard and lantern. Additionally, an optional means is provided which permits use of dry cells in place of a single battery and under certain circumstances this may be preferable by the user of the lantern. Furthermore, the invention provides a safety lantern having the direct beam and soft glow features and inverting characteristics, in which the circuit to either bulb will be broken in the event the lens for that bulb becomes broken. vAlong this line it wiil'be appreciated that each bulb is sealed to the outside sothat gas or vapor may not gain ingress to the bulb and possibly explode by the heat thereof. Experiments have determined that the greatest danger in using electric lanterns or the like in mines or other places where gas is aptto collect is not from any spark that may occur but is from the heat of the bulb itself and for this reason it is particularly important that the circuit to the .bulb be instantaneously broken upon breaking of the lens.

It will be appreciated that in the front light, focusing of the bulb in order to properly obtain a beam is advantageous and if the bulb directly engaged the lens. this usually would be dimcult. In the construction illustrated, however, it is apparent that focusing of the bulb may be obtained properly while still obtaining an operative engagement with the lens to the end that if the latter becomes broken, the bulb will be quickly moved outwardly and the circuit therethrough broken. j

It will also be appreciated that the llantern casing is of such character, that the upper and lower ends thereof may be opened quickly and that a battery may be readily inserted'through the lower end.

Although more than one form of the invention has beeniilustrated and described in detail, it

et means mcvably mounted on the casing at the inner side of the lens for receiving the bulb, spring means acting to move the socket means, means for completing an electrical circuit through the bulb and socket means, means for breaking the circuit through the bulb and socket means upon breaking of the lens and including an element engaging' the inner side of the lens and holding the socket means against movement, means for limiting movement of the socket means and bulb, and means for separately adjusting the bulb towards or from the lens without interrupting the circuit normally completed through the bulb when the element is in engagement with the lens.

2. An electric lantern comprising a casing, an insulating plate in the casing, battery contacts on one side of the plate and adapted to engage terminals of a battery in the casing, a pin ex tending through the plate and connected to one oi said contacts, a second pin extending through the plate and connected to the other contact, means mounting the plate on the casing including one of the pins, a. bulb contact mounted on the plate at the side thereof opposite the battery contacts and being insulated from the latter and from the pins, and a movable switch arm on the other of said pins and which is adapted to engage the bms contact upon movement of the arm, said bulb contact comprising a strip of metal fastened to the plate and having a portion in the path of movement of the arm and a resilient free end portion extending over the arm and which is adapted to engage the bulb.

3. An electric lantern comprising a casing, an insulating plate in the casing, battery contacts on one side of the plate and adapted to engage terminals of a battery in the casing, a pin extending through the plate and connected to one of said contacts, a second pin extending through the plate and connected to the other contact, means mounting the plate on the casing including one of the pins, a bulb contact mounted on the plate at the side thereof opposite the battery contacts and being insulated fromy the latter and from the pins, and a movable switch arm on the other of said pins and which is adapted to engage the bulb contact upon movement of the arm, said bulb contact comprising a strip of metal fastened to the plate and having a portion in the path of movement of the arm and having a resilient free end portion extending over the edge of the plate and beyond'the opposite side thereof and which is adapted to engage the bulb.

LEEM. WILEY.

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