US2301353A

US2301353A - Focusing lamp assembly

Info

Publication number: US2301353A
Application number: US347100A
Authority: US
Inventors: Myron J Zimmer
Original assignee: KATZINGER EDWARD CO
Current assignee: EDWARD KATZINGER Co; KATZINGER EDWARD CO
Priority date: 1940-07-24
Filing date: 1940-07-24
Publication date: 1942-11-10
Anticipated expiration: 1959-11-10

Description

Nov. 10, 1942. J Z|MMER FOCUSING LAMP ASSEMBLY Filed July 24, 1940 INVENTOR. MyronJ. immer ATTORNEY:

Patented Nov. 10, 1942 FOCUSING LAMP ASSEMBLY Myron J. Zimmer, Chicago, Ill.,' assignor to The Edward Katzinger Company, Chicago, 111., a

corporation of Illinois Application July 24, 1940, Serial No. 347,100

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a focusing lamp assembly for flashlight and the like having structural characteristics particularly adapted for use in connection with front-end loading types of flashlight cases. a

It is a further object of this invention to provide an attachment for flashlights which combines in a single portable structure, the lens, reflector, lamp and focusing mechanism.

With the above and other objects in view, as

will be apparent, this invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all as hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing a flashlight with the present invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a broken similar section showing the parts of the focusing lamp assembly in an operating position different from that shown in Fig. 1.

The flashlight shown in Fig, 1 represents one type of structure in connection with which the present lamp assembly'is readily applicable and consists of a metal conductive tubular case l0 provided with an integral closed rear end H and open at its front end through which dry cells l2 and I3 may be loaded in the Well known manner.

The front end of the case "J is referably 30 The lamp structure shown herein is that of a 49 pre-focus type embracing a filament or bulb portion 20, a smooth cylindrical base or neck portion 2| and a collar 22 developed at the end of the neck portion adjacent said bulb portion, said collar having a predetermined relation to said filament for instantaneous positioning of the fila- 'ment 2'0 with relation to a reflector, such as the reflector l9. Surrounding the neck 2| of the lamp is a metallic sleeve 23 provided at its forward end with an inwardly extending annular shoulder 24 adapted to engage the front face of the collar 22 on the lamp. The rearwardly extending portion of the sleeve 23 is surrounded by a cylindrical socket member 25 having an inend on which is mounted apertured insulating disks 2'! and 28, through which a conductor rivet 29 or the like passes for engagement at its outer end with the central electrode of the battery l2 and at its inner end with a conductor tip 30 at the base of the lamp. A cylindrical shell 3|, secured as at 32 to the edge of the reflector aperture, provides an axially aligned tubular extension projecting rearwardly of the reflector 19 adapted to telescope on the outer surface of the socket member 25. An annular shoulder 33 at the end of the shell 3| adjacent the reflector provides a reference surface coacting with the collar 22 of the lamp, and the overlying portion of the shoulder 24 On the sleeve 23, to accurately and instantly locate the filament of the lamp relative to the reflector l9 to project a concentrated spot of light.

The socket member 25 and conductor rivet 29 are urged in a position rearward of the shell 3| through a coil spring 34 pressing against the shoulder 33 of the shell and in the opposite direction against an out turned flange 35 at the rear end of the sleeve 23. Thus the spring 34 acts against the case, through the reflector l9 and lens l5, to press the lamp conductor tip 30 into engagement with the central electrode of the battery [2. As a result, when the lens I5 is partially unscrewed from the case I!) to occupy the position shown in Fig. 2 for example, the spring acting against the shoulder 33 pushes the shell 3| and reflector l0 forwardly of the lamp so as to effect a focusing adjustment by which a diffused or spreading light projection is obtained as distinguished from a concentrated spot of light resulting when the lens is screwed home, as shown in Fig. 1.

When the lens I5 is completely unscrewed from the case [0 for the purpose of removing the entire lamp assembly, an in turned flange 36 carried by a cap 31 screw threaded to the rear vend of the shell'3l, as at 38, serves as a stop coacting with the shoulder 26 of the socket member 25 to maintain the spring 35 in a state of compression and prevents accidental withdrawal of the socket member 25 and its cooperating parts from the sleeve 3| during removal of the lens and reflector from the case; Likewise, the removable screw cap 31 provides a simple and exwardly extending annular shoulderZB at its rear the combination ofthe lens, reflector, lamp-a d,

focusing mechanism in a single portable structure, which, when removed from the case clears the front end of the case of all obstructions thereby affording easy access to the interior of the case through said front end.

It will be further observed that the spring 34 as applied in connection with the present focusing assembly, not only assures constant engagement of the lamp tip 30 with the central electrode of the battery l2 so that the flow of current therethrough is not interrupted during the focusing adjustment, but eliminates the necessity for the usual spring in the rear end of the case l for making contact with the rear terminal of the endmost battery cell. Instead, a rigid contacting device, such as a metal bolt 42 or the like, secured in a mounting block 43 of insulating material, may be inserted in the closed end of the case I0 for effecting electrical contact between the case iii and the endmost battery.

The electrical circuit between the case ID and the side terminal of the lamp may be closed in any suitable manner, such as by means of a bar 39 slidable on the inner surface of the case Hi to engage a conductor disk 40 carried by the cap 31, as shown in the drawing. Operation of the bar 39 is obtainable by means of a button 4| on the outside of the casing Ill. The circuit of the lamp is accordingly completed as follows: from conductor tip 30 of lamp, rivet 29, dry cells l2 and I3, bolt 42, case 10, bar 39, conductor disk 40, cap 31, sleeve 3|, spring 34, sleeve 23 to lamp collar 22.

The advantages of a focusing lamp assembly for flashlights as described will be readily understood, it is believed, and although a preferred embodiment of the assembly is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

l. A focusing lamp assembly for flashlights comprising a lamp having a filament portion, a base terminal portion and a laterally extending collar having predetermined relation to said filament, a parabolic reflector having a central aperture of a diameter adapted to pass the filament portion of said lamp therethrough, a metallic sleeve surrounding the base portion of said lamp, an inwardly extending annular shoulder at the forward end of said sleeve adapted to engage the front face of the lamp collar, a cylindrical socket member having an inwardly extending annular shoulder at its rear end carrying a battery contacting conductor member engageable with the base of the lamp, said socket member being adapted to telescope said sleeve, a cylindrical shell secured to the reflector providing an axially aligned tubular extension projecting rearwardly of the reflector adapted to telescope the socket member, a stop at the end of the shell adjacent the reflector coacting with the shoulder at the forward end of the sleeve, a spring pressing against said stop on the shell and against a flange at the rear end of said sleeve to cause said stop at the end of the shell to move into a position away from the shoulder at the forward end of the sleeve, and a stop coacting with the shoulder on the socket member to maintain the spring in a state of compression and to prevent withdrawal of the socket member from the reflector shell.

2. A focusing assembly for a flashlight comprising a lamp having a bulb portion, a reflector having a central aperture through which the bulb portion of said lamp is adapted to project, a seat adjacent the edge of said reflector aperture, a sleeve carried by said lamp providing a flange at the inner limits of the bulb portion of the lamp and a flange in rearwardly spaced relation to said flange at the inner limits of the bulb portion of the lamp, said flange at the inner limits of the bulb portion of the lamp being adapted to locate the lamp in spotlight focal position relative to the reflector when the bulbward surface of said flange at the inner limits of the lamp bulb is in engagement with said seat, a socket member adapted to telescope said sleeve and having conductive means engageable with the base terminal of the lamp, and resilient means normally urging said seat and said flange at the inenr limits of the lamp bulb in opposite directions including a helical spring disposed about the axis of the sleeve and acting against said rearwardly located flange and said seat, and means coacting with said socket member to limit movement of said seat relative to said flange at the inner limits of the lamp bulb.

3. A focusing assembly for a flashlight comprising a lamp having a bulb portion, a reflector having a central aperture through which the bulb portion of said lamp is adapted to project, a seat adjacent the edge of said reflector aperture, a sleeve carried by said lamp providing a flange at the inner limits of the bulb portion of the lamp and a flange in rearwardly spaced relation to said flange at the inner limits of the bulb portion of the lamp, said flange at the inner limits of the bulb portion of the lamp being adapted to locate the lamp in spotlight focal position relative to the reflector when the bulb ward surface of said flange at the inner limits of the lamp bulb is in engagement with said seat, a socket member adapted to telescope said sleeve and having conductive means engageable with the base terminal of the lamp, resilient means normally urging said seat and said flange at the inner limits of the lamp bulb in opposite directions including a helical spring disposed about the axis of the sleeve and acting against said rearwardly located flange and said seat, a tubular extension on said reflector projecting rearwardly and axially of said reflector aperture, and means at the rear end of said extension cooperating with said socket member to limit movement of said seat relative to said flange at the inner limits of the lamp bulb.

4. In a flashlight, a casing, a reflector supported on said casing for movement axially of the casing, a lamp receiving aperture in said reflector adapted to admit the bulb portion of a lamp therethrough, lamp carrying means supported on said reflector and arranged rearward- 1y axially of said reflector aperture, a shoulder at the reflectorward end of said lamp carrying means for engagement with means at the inner limits of the bulb portion of a lamp carried thereby to locate said lamp in spotlight focal position relative to said reflector, and means 01)- erated through movement of the reflector axially outward of the casingto cause said shoulder to move from a position in engagement with said lamp seating means to a position in forwardly spaced relation thereto,

5. In a flashlight, a casing, a reflector supported on saidcasing for movement axially of the casing, a lamp receiving aperture in said reflector adapted'to admit the bulb portion of a lamp therethrough, lamp carrying means supported on said reflector and arranged rearwardly axially of said reflector aperture, a shoulder at the reflectorward end of said lamp carrying means for engagement with means at the inner limits of the bulb portion of a lamp carried thereby to locate said lamp in spotlight focal position relative to said reflector, means operated through movement of the reflector axially outward of the casing to cause said shoulder to move from a position in engagement with said lamp seating means to a position in forwardly spaced relation thereto, and a stop cooperating with said lamp to limit movement of said shoulder from a position in engagement with said lamp seating means to a predetermined position in forwardly spaced relation thereto.

6. In a flashlight, a casing, a reflector supported on said casing for movement axially of the casing, a lamp receiving aperture in said reflector adapted to admit the bulb portion of a lamp therethrough, lamp carrying means supported on said reflector and arranged rearwardly axially of said reflector aperture, a shoulder at the reflectorward end of said lamp carrying means for engagement with means at the inner limits of the bulb portion of a lamp-can ried thereby to locate said lamp in spotlight focal position relative to said reflector, means operated throughmovement of the reflector axially outward of the casing to cause said shoulder to move from a position in engagement with said lamp seating means to a position in forwardly spaced relation thereto, and means removably supported on said lamp carrying means providing a stop cooperating with said lamp to limit movement of said shoulder from a position in engagement with said lamp seating means to a predetermined position in forwardly spaced relation to said lamp seating means.

7. In a flashlight, a casing, a reflector supported on said casing for movement axially of the casing, a lamp receiving aperture in said reflector adapted to admit the bulb portion of a lamp therethrough, lamp carrying means supported on said reflector and arranged rearwardly axially of said reflector aperture, a shoulder at the reflectorward end of said lamp carrying means for engagement with means at the inner limits of the bulb portion of a lamp carried thereby to locate said lamp in spotlight focal position relative to said reflector, means operated through movement of the reflector axially outward of the casing to cause said shoulder to move from a position in engagement with said lamp seating means to a position in forwardly spaced relation thereto, and means supported on said lamp carrying means providing an adjustable stop cooperating with said lamp to limit movement of said shoulder from a position in engagement with said lamp seating means to a predetermined or selected position in forwardly spaced relation to said lamp seating means.

8. In a flashlight, a casing, a reflector supported on said case for movement axially of the casing, a lamp receiving aperture in said reflector adapted to admit the bulb portion of a lamp therethrough, lamp carrying means supported on said reflector and arranged rearwardly axially of said reflector aperture, a shoulder at the reflectorward end of said lamp carrying means for engagement with seating means at the inner limits of the bulb portion of a lamp carried thereby to locate the lamp in spotlight focal position relative to said reflector, and means operated through movement of the reflector axially outward of the case to cause said shoulderto move from a position in engagement with said lamp seating means to a position in forwardly spaced relation to said lamp seating means including a spring opposing movement of the shoulder toward said lamp seating means.

9. In a flashlight, a casing, a reflector supporting means on said case for movement axially of the casing, a deflector carried by said reflector supporting means, a lamp receiving aperture in said reflector adapted to admit the bulb portion of a lamp therethrough, lamp carrying means supported on said reflector and arranged rearwardly about said reflector aperture, a shoulder at the reflectorward end of said lamp carrying means for engagement with seating means at the inner limits of the bulb portion of a lamp carried thereby to locate the lamp in spotlight focal position relative to said reflector, and means operated through movement of the reflector supporting means axially outward of the casing to cause said shoulder to move from a position in engagement with said lamp seating means to a position in forwardly spaced relation thereto.

10; In a flashlight, a casing, a lens supported on said case for movement axially of the case, said lens having a rearwardly opening recess, a reflector having its rim engaging the inner limits of said recess, a lamp receiving aperture in said reflector adapted to admit the bulb portion of a lamp therethrough, lamp carrying means supported on said reflector and arranged rearwardly axially of said reflector aperture, a shoulder at the reflectorward end of said lamp carrying means for engagement with seating means at the inner limits of the bulb portion of a lamp carried thereby to locate the lamp in spotlight focal position relative to the reflector, and means operated through movement of the lens axially outward of the case to cause said shoulder to move from a position in engagement with said lamp seating means to a position in forwardly spaced relation to said lamp seating means.

11. In a flashlight, a casing, a reflector supported on said case for movement axially of the casing, a lamp receiving aperture in said reflector adapted to admit the bulb portion of a lamp therethrough, a tubular extension on said reflector projecting rearwardly and axially of said reflector aperture, means for supporting a lamp for endwise movement in said extension including a sleeve having a forward flange coacting with a lamp therein to provide a seat at the inner limits of the bulb portion of said lamp and a flange spaced rearwardly therefrom, a shoulder at the reflectorward end of said extension engageable with said forward flange of the sleeve to locate the lamp coacting therewith in spotlight focal position relative to said reflector, and means operated through movement of the reflector axially outward of the casing to cause said shoulder to move forwardly away from said forward flange on the sleeve including a spring acting against said rearward flange normally urging said shoulder and said forward flange on the sleeve in opposite directions and a stop at the rearward end of said extension cooperating with said lamp to limit movement of said shoulder in a direction away from said forward flange on the sleeve.

MYRON J. ZIMMER.