US2210313A - Circuit closer - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 6, 1940. Q T, WOOD 2,210,313

CIRCUIT CLOSER Filed April 13, 1939 INVENTOR O/PI// Z' WOOD ATTORNEYS 15 ator.

Patented Aug. 6, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CIRCUIT CLOSER Application April 13, 1939, Serial No. 267,543

7 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to circuit closers for flashlights and hand lanterns, although not so limited. More particularly, the invention relates to a circuit closer of the kind known in the art as a two-position switch, that is, one in which the actuating member of the switch has two definite positions, first, an open circuit position in which the electric circuit is open and, second, a closed circuit position in which the electric circuit is closed.

One object of this invention is to provide a two-position switch construction which is denitely and positively prevented from closing the electrical circuit except at the will of the oper- Accordingly, the slidable switch actuating member carries a movable locking device, such as a button, normally and preferably yieldingly held in a recess or aperture, say, in the switch housing, in open circuit position and which must 2p be released therefrom by the operator for movement to closed circuit position.

Another object of the invention is a circuit closer of the character described which can be readily released for movement to closed circuit position by the same action of the linger or thumb in moving the sliding operating member to closed circuit positionv The invention also seeks a practical and simple two-position circuit closer for flashlights and 3o electric hand lanterns which is practical from the standpoint of ease and cheapness of manufacture, simplicity of assembly and in number of parts, and certainty and convenience of operation.

These and other objects of the invention and the means for their attainment will be more apparent from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating one embodiment by which ,lo the invention may be realized and in which:

Figure l is a View, in longitudinal section, showing a portion of a flashlight casing to which the switch of this invention is applied, the switch being shown in open circuit and locked position;

andy Figure 2 is 'a view similar to Figure l, but with the parts shown in closed circuit position.

A fragmentary portion of the battery containing casing of a flashlight or an electric hand I5,0 lantern is indicated at 5. In the illustrated embodiment, the circuit closer is shown as applied to a tubular or cylindrical battery containing flashlight casing which, if desired, may be of increased diameter, as at l, to receive the reilector and parts associated therewith, such as the lamp socket support. The casing 5 is provided with a recess 8, formed by contiguous depressed portions 9, lil, terminating at the forward end of the recess 8 in a slot l2. The slot I2 is formed by severing the depressed portion 9, I0 of I5 the casing from the forwardly disposed portion M of the casing, whereby a passage is afforded between the recess 8 and the interior of the casing for the passage of a contact member 32. The casing 5 is also pierced at It for an eyelet 10 or rivet I8.

A switch housing 2D covering or enclosing the recess 8 is formed with a forwardly extending tab portion 2l at its front end and a flange portion 23 at its sides and rear, the side portions 15 being so shaped and disposed as to contact with the peripheral surface of the casing 5 on either side of the depressed portion 9, i0. The housing 20 is securely attached at its forward end to the casing 5 by engagement of the tab portion 2| v2i) in the slot l2. At the rear, the flange 23 is secured to the casing by the rivet I8 in the aperture I6.

Slidable in a longitudinal direction on the switch housing 20 is an operating member 26 25 which is conveniently stamped or pressed in inverted dish shape with a lip or ange 22 which rests on and slides on the upper surface of the housing 2i). From each side edge of the operating member 26 depends an ear 2S which extends through one of a pair of parallel longitudinally extending spaced slots 30 in the upper surface ofk the housing 2D, as will be understood.

Within the housing 20 and in the recess 8 formed by the depressed portions 9, i0 is a con- '35 tact member v.i2-3&1- taking the form of an elongated strip or ribbon of relatively stiif material having the desired degree of resiliency, the rear end of which is oli-set upwardly as at 33,

Sli to lie within the housing 2i! and with thea() rearward end 34 in substantial sliding engagement with the underneath side of the top wall of the housing 2B. The contact member extends forwardly from the off-set portion 33, 34 conveniently to a companion contact (not shown) at 45 the forward end of the flashlight. It will be understood, however, that the extension 32 may take any desired shape whereby it may be used to open and close a circuit. It has heretofore been proposed, in copending application Serial 50 No. 96,364 led August l'l, 1936, to form a flashlight casing with a depressed portion having a passage at one end opening into the casing interior and through which a circuit closing member passes. 4,55

Rearwardly the oiT-set portion 34 of the contact member is apertured, as at 35, to receive a cup-shaped flanged button 36, 31, 36 lying at all times within the aperture 35 and limited in its upward movement by the ange 3l. The button 36 is adapted, in open circuit position, to enter an aperture 39 formed in the top wall of housing 20, at which position the aperture 35 in the contact strip registers with the aperture 39. Beneath the off-set portion 34 of the contact member is disposed a leaf spring 46, also movable with the sliding operating member 26, and preferably having its rear end 4l bent upwardly to engage the flange 31 on the bottom of the button 36, 3l and urge it upwardly either against the bottom of the top wall of the housing 20 in advanced or closed circuit position or into the aperture 39 thereof in retracted open circuit or locking position.

The off-set end 34 of the contact member and the leaf spring 40 are secured together to slide with `the operating member by means of the ears 28 which pass through cut away portions of the members 34 and 40 and whereof the lower ends re bent, as at 29, beneath the leaf spring, all in a well known manner.

In the open circuit position shown in Figure 1, the button 36 is disposed within the aperture 39 and the contact member passing through the passage l2 is locked against accidental displacement. Preferably the operating member 26 is provided in its rear end with a cut-away portion 43, in which the button 36 is disposed when in locking position. This cut-away portion is substantially semi-circular in outline and upwardly extending parts 45, in continuation of the raised portion of slide 26, extend on opposite sides of the cut-away part 43 to shield the button from accidental unlocking.

The operation of the device will be apparent from the foregoing description. Suice it to say that when the button 36 is within the aperture 39, the circuit closer end 34 is held in open circuit position, the button being retained in the aperture 39 by the leaf spring 46. When, however, the thumb or finger is applied to the slide 26 to advance the same, it is conveniently applied at that portion of the slide proximate the button, so that when the same pressure is utilized that advances the slide to the closed circuit position shown in Figure 2, the button is depressed and slips beneath the top wall 20 of the housing.

In order to alford ample clearance for the button during depression and in its depressed position with the leaf spring depressed, a portion l0 of the casing beneath the housing and rearwardly of the bottom portion 9 of the recess is depressed but to a lesser extent, as shown at IU, to provide a recess offering a clearance for the button.

Various modifications will occur to those skilled in the art in the composition, configuration and disposition of the component elements going to make up the invention as a whole as well as in the parts thereof and no limitation is intended by the phraseology of the foregoing specication `or illustrations in the accompanying drawing eX- cept asI indicated in the appended claims. iWhat is claimed is:

1. Ina flashlight, in combination, a battery containing casing formed with a recess, a switch housing covering the recess, a slidable operating `member on the housing, a contact strip in the recess operatively connected with theslidable operating member, said contact strip and housing having apertures adapted to register at one position of the switch, a button movable in the apertures and a leaf spring urging the button upwardly in the apertures.

2. In a flashlight, in combination, a battery containing casing formed with a recess, a switch housing covering the recess, a slidable operating member on the housing, a contactfs'trip in the recess operatively connected with the slidable operating member, said contact strip and housing having aperturesl adapted to register at one position of the switch, a button movable in the apertures and a leaf spring urging the button upwardly in the apertures, said operating member being formed with a cut away portion adapted to register with a portion of the aperture in the housing in open circuit position.

3. In a flashlight, in combination, a battery containing casing formed with a depressed portion defining a recess having a bottom surface having at least two portions at different elevations, a slidable operating member on vthe housing, a contact strip in the recess operatively connected with the slidable operating member,'said contact strip and housing having apertures face of the recess of greater elevation providing clearance for the locking button.

4. In a flashlight, in combination, a battery containing casing formed with a recess' having an opening into the casing interior, a switch housing covering the recess, a slidable operating member on the housing, a contact strip in the recess and movable in the opening and having an upwardly off-set portion within the housing operatively connected with the slidable operating member, said oir-set portion and housing having apertures adapted to register at one position of the switch, a locking button movable in the apertures, a leaf spring urging the button upwardly in the apertures, means to move the slidable operating member and the off-set portions of the contact and the leaf spring in unison, said operating member being formed with a cut away portion adapted to register with a portion of the aperture in the housing in open circuit position, the depressed portion of the casing of less depth providing clearance for the locking button and that depressed portion of the casing of greater depth providing clearance for the contact strip. l

5. In a ashlight, in combination, abattery containing casing formed with a recess, a switch' housing covering the reces-s, a slidable operating member on the housing, a conductive contact strip in the recess and having a portion within the housing, said contact strip and housing having apertures adapted to register at one posi-A tion of the switch, a button movable in the apertures, a leaf spring urging the button upwardly in the apertures, means to move the slidable operating member and the contact strip and the leaf spring in unison, said button engaging in the aperture in the housing in one position and being beneath the top wall of the housing in another position.

6. In a flashlight, in combination, a battery containing casing formed with a depressed por-1 tion defining a recess having a bottom surface having at least two portions at different elevations, a housing for the recess, a slidable operating member on the housing movable betweena,

locked and an unlocked position, a contact strip in the recess operatively connected with the slidable operating member, said Contact strip and housing having aperturesadapted to register at one position of the operating member, a locking button movable in the apertures and a leaf spring having an angularly upturned end engaging and urging the locking button upwardly in the apertures, said end being substantially horizontal in unlocked position of the operating member to support thelocking button, that portion of the bottom surface of the recess of greater elevation providing clearance for the locking button.

7. In a flashlight, in combination, a battery 15 containing casing whereof the Wall comprises a housing portion and is formed with an aperture, a Contact strip within the casing, means formed with an aperture, a button normally in the last named aperture, spring means urging the button upwardly in the apertures, means to move the contact strip and apertured means in unison between a position wherein the apertures are in register and a position wherein the apertures are offset with respect to one another whereby said butt-on engages in the rst named aperture in one position and engages the lower surface of the wall of the casing at a point spaced from the rst aperture in the other position.

ORVILLE T. WOOD.

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