US2347532A - Flashlight - Google Patents

Description

April 25, 1944. M. N. YARDENY FLASHLIGHT Filed June 20, 19 12 FIG.3

Maya N fiRas/vy INVENTOR BY 1 g W, MW

ATTORNEY container.

Patented A r. 25, 1944 FLASHLIGHT Michel N. Yardeny, New York, N. Y assignor to- American Type Fcunders, Incorporated, Elizabeth, N. 1., a corporation of New Jersey Application June 20, 1942, Serial No. 447,792

3 Claims.

My invention relates to flashlights and has particular reference to portable electric lamps.

This" application contains subject matter disclosed in my application Serial No. 423,703, filed December 20, 1941, and which became abandoned on April 15, 1942.

My invention has for its obect to provide a flashlight which can throw a beam of light downward but will be automatically extinguished when an attempt is made to direct the light forward or upward. My flashlight is therefore especially adapted to'blackout conditions, when it is not permitted to have a portable light unless it is directed downward.

In a modification I provide a removable insert for an ordinary tubular flashlight, the insert be-' ing in the form of a flat container which can be placed under the rear cap of the flashlight between the spring and the .rear dry cell. The container is provided with a'gravity switch and resistance element so that the light intensity is reduced and the lamp burns only when theflashlight is turned slightly downward. As a modiflcation, I provide an insert within the switch as a replacement unit for one of the battery cells.

My invention is more fully described in the ac companying specification and drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 'is a sectional view of my flashlight in the "off" position;

Fig, 2 is a fractional sectional view of the same in the on position; 4

Fig. 3 is an elevational view partly in section of an ordinary flashlight provided with my gravity switch in a removable container;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the container with the gravity switch;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the bottom part of the container;

Fig. 6 is .a plan view of the top part of the Fig. 7 is a sectional view or another modifica- The invention is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The casing 32 is oia conventional type, having cylindrical battery cells 35 and a threaded cap 4| with a spring 40, pressing the cells against each other and against the lamp I8, there being a-spaoe 33 under the cap. A container 621s placed in the space-33, being under pressure of the spring 45. The container has a cap portion 64 with a pin 55 attached outside to a disc 66 in contact with the spring 45. A metal ball 28 is attachedto one endof a flexible wire .51 whose other end is at tached to the pin 45. A resistance element 3! may form a portion of the wire. The walls of the container inside are tapering or converging toward the front so that the ball slides back when the flashlight is held in a horizontal position, out of contact with a metal contact plate 66, the latter being connected by a pin 61 with an outer contact plate 68, resting against the metal bottom of the cell 35, The contact is established only when the flashlight is tilted downward.

A second modification is shown in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive, in which a gravity switch is enclosed in a small flat container or casing 42 which can be placed in an ordinary tubular flashlight 32 be tween the rear end of the cell 35 and a spring of an ordinary rear cap 4|. The container consists of a bottom cup-shaped portion 43 and a top cup-shaped portion 44, both frictionally engaging each other, made of a suitable insulating plastic material. A contact ring 45 is fitted in the bottom portion, connected by a resistance element or wire 46 with one of the two metal plugs 41 passing through the wall of the container bottom portion of the outside and contacting the rear metal wall of the cell 35. An insulation disc 48 is placed between the wire 45 and ring 45.

A pin 49 is supported in the wall of the top container portion 44, terminating on the outside with a contact plate 50, engaged by the end of the spring 40. The pin extends inward and is provided with a conical head 5|, retaining a movable contact member 52. The latter represents a metal plate, loosely hanging on the pin and I adapted to engage the contact ring 45 when the flashlight is inclined downward, The tapering or conical portion of the pin causes the contact member to slide rearward, away from the ring 45, so that there is no contact between the members 45 and 52 when the flashlight is held in a horizontal position, the contact being established when the flashlight is inclined, causing the member 52 to tilt outward against the ring 45.

The container 42 can be inserted in an ordinary tubular flashlight between the rear cell 35 and the rear cap 4|. It can be made sufliciently thin so that no changes in the construction of the.

ment 38 maybe included as a portion or the wire although thisusually is not necessary since the 4 container 53 represents a replacement unit, substituting one of the cells 35, thereby resulting in a reduced lamp voltage, and therefore, a er light. Not only the desired efiect is obtained but an economy is also efiected by eliminating one of the battery cells.

The switch pendulum or movable contact member 52 is suspended on a pin 59 whose shank portion is riveted or otherwise secured in the wall of the cap 55. The movable contact member 52 is placed between a conical base 68 and head Si in such a manner that the switch remains in the off position when the flashlight is turned into a horizontal position, the tapering portion or base S6 keeping the member 52 away from the ring (it; vand onlywhen the flashlight is furtherinclined, the member at begins to climb on the conical base tii, coming in contact with the ring 35.

I have found that the resistance element, or reduction of voltage by a dummy replacement unit 53, is essential for the operation of the flashlight, to prevent flickering of the light when the flashlight is being shaken.

I claim as my invention:

1. A flashlight attachment comprising a container adapted to be placed in a flashlight lamp circuit and formed of an upper and a lower cup,

shaped portions made of a plastic material frictionally engaging each other; a ring-shaped stationary contact member supported in one of the cup-shaped members; a central contact plug extending from the contact member to the outside; a pin centrally supported in the other cup-shaped member extending to the outside; and a movable contact member rotatively supported on the pin in the container adapted to engage the stationary contact member when the front end of a the flashlight is turned downward, the plug andthe pin extension contacting metallic elements of the lamp circuit.

2. A flashlight attachment comprising a flat container adapted to be placed in a flashlight 10 housing in a lamp circuit; a stationary contact member in the container; a movable contact 'member in the container adapted to engage the stationary contact member whenthe front end of the flashlight is turned downward, thereby i5 OIOSing the circuit for the lamp, and a tape member in the container for preventing the movable member from engaging the stationary mcmher when the flashlight is in a horizontal position, or when front end is raised upward.

3. a gravity switch comprising a container adapted to he placed in a circuit and formed of an upper and a lower cup-shaped portions; stationary contact member supported in one of the cap-shaped members; a contact plug extending from the contact member to the outside; a pin centrally supported in the other cup-shaped member extending to .the outside,- the pin and the stationary contact member being insulated from each other; a movable contact member supported on the pin in the container; adapted to engage by gravity the stationary contact member when the front end ofthe switch is turned down ward, and means to prevent the engagement when the switch is raised to a horizontal position or the front end is raised upward.

' MC 23!.- i N. YARDENY.

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