US2380636A - Electric lantern - Google Patents

Description

July 31,1945. :EDRUMM 2,380,636-

ELECTRIC LANTERN Filed May 2'7, 1945 Il'lVEl'l'tEll" E.E.Urumm Patented July 31, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC LANTERN Elmer E. Drumm, Manitowoc, Wis. Application May 27, 1943, Serial No. 488,641

1 Claim.

This invention pertains to electrical lanterns,-

and more particularly to a lantern of the adiustable ray type.

The invention has primarily for its object to improve lanterns of the foregoing type, by the provision of a comparatively simple, and comparatively inexpensive structure, in which a djustment of the light rays is quickly and easily effected by a rotatable mechanism.

Incidental to the foregoing. a more specific object is to provide relative longitudinal movement between the reflector and the bulb socket by means of a rotatable inclined plane connection between the two.

A still further object resides in rotatably mounting the ,refiector on the lantern casing which carries the light socket, and providing an inclined plane connection between the reflector and casing for imparting longitudinal movement to the reflector upon partial rotation of the same.

Another object resides in attaching the lens to the movable reflector, which extends over the end of the casing, and limiting the rotatable movement'of the reflector to less than of a turn.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction,

combination, and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly defined by the appended claim, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claim.

In the accompanying drawing is illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of the present invention constructed according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a lantern incorporating the present invention, parts being broken away and in section, the latter being indicated by the line l-i of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 2-2. of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a similar section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure l; and

Figure 4 is fragmentary detail sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing, the numeral i designates generally a casing, which houses a conventional dry cell battery, indicated in dotted lines, and which carries other elements included in the device, as hereinafter explained.

The casing l consists of a cylindrical shell 2, open at its upper end and provided with a removable cover 3, to which a leaf spring 4 is attached for exerting pressure upon the battery, to urge its terminals into engagement with a light bulb socket contact and the bottom 5 of the shell, as hereinafter described.

Mounted in the bottom 5 of the shell is a socket 6 for reception of the usual light bulb I. The socket 6 is insulated from the bottom of the shell by fiber or com osition discs 8, disposed upon its opposite sides, while a contact 9 secured to the socket projects through the discs for engagement with the central spring terminal ID of the battery grounded to the shell by an outer spring terminal ID, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure l.

Mounted upon the lower face of the bottom 5, and secured thereto by screws H, or other suitable fastening means, is a flanged ring l2, the peripheral wall of which is provided with a plurality of inclined angular slots l3, preferably three in number, and evenly spaced about the periphery of the ring.

While the shell and ring have been illustrated and described as separate elements suitably connected, it is to be understood that the same may be formed integrally without departing from the invention, and if desired, the ring may be entirely eliminated, and the inclined slots l3 formed directly in the peripheral wall of the shell 2, without affecting the invention.

Rotatably mounted upon the lower end of the shell 2, and the ring i2, is a cup 14 provided with a circular concave depression forming a reflector l5, having a central opening 16 surrounding the socket 5, and through which the light bulb 1 projects. Secured to the skirt of the cup l4 and projecting inwardly, are a plurality of studs or projections II. which extend into the inclined slots [3. Obviously upon manual rotation of the cup l4, the slot and pin connections between the cup I4, and ring if, will cause the reflector to be longitudinallyshifted on the casing with relation to the light bulb, thereby effecting the character of the light rays to provide either a diffused or concentrated beam of light, the slots serving as inclined planes, and also limiting rotary movement of the cup to less than 5 of a turn where three slots are employed. which is the least preferredv number for eliminating bind between the cup and easing.

Positioned upon an outer end of the cup I4 is a asket i4 upon which a domed lens i8 is seated. A channeled ring 20 serves to lock the lens is against the gasket H to insure a tight seal for the reflector and bulb compartment.

The locking ring 20 comprises upper and lower flanges i8 and 18', respectively. The upper flange I8 surrounds the cup I4 and engages spaced studs 2! carried by the cup, while the lower flange 18' engages and clamps the lens i9 upon the gasket For assembly of the lens and ring on the cup, the upper flange i8 the ring is provided with spaced notches 38 to permit passage of the ring over the studs 2|, after which the ring is rotated to its locked position shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

In order to close the circuit between the battery and bulb socket 6, a contact finger 22 is connected to the base of the socket and projects radially to a point closely adjacent the periphery of the ring l2.

Mounted upon the peripheral wall or the shell 2, for reciprocal longitudinal movement is a manually operable circuit closing mechanism 23. which comprises a contact strip 24, the lower end or which projects through an opening in the bottom of the shell, and terminates in an ofiset lip 24' in longitudinal alinement with the end of the contact finger 22. Obviously, as the contact 24 is longitudinally shifted in one direction, it will engage the finger 22 to ground the battery circuit passing through the lamp socket to the shell for illumination of the bulb.

A crimped ofl'set 25 formed in the contact 24, normally extends into an annular depression 26 formed in the interior of shell, to releasably latch the contact in its open position, while the spring tension created between the contact and shell, when the crimp is moved out of the depression, serves to hold the contact in closed position.

For manipulaing the contact 24, a channel plate 21 straddles the end 01 the contact and carries a stud "passing through the contact, and a flat plate 30 mounted in a longitudinal depression 3| formed in the wall oi the casing. A knurled nut 32 threaded upon the outer end or the stud 28 to serve as a manipulating button, and also looks the assembly together. The outer end of the stud is slightly upset to prevent undesired detachment of the nut.

While a specific structure of switch or circuit closer has been shown and described, it is to be understood that any shiftable circuit closing mechanism may be employed without departing from the invention, the present form of switch being the subject matter of a companion application Serial No. 488,642 filed with the present case.

Pivotally secured to the peripheral wall of the shell 2-, is a bail or handle 33, together with. a guard ring.34, the arms 35 of which are mounted upon the pintles 36 that carry the handle 33, thus permitting relative adjustment of the casing with relation to both the handle and guard ring, to project the light rays at any desired angle, it being understood that the ring 34 serves not only as a guard, but in some instances as a base or support for the lantern.

From the foregoing explanation, considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be apparent that a comparatively simple, inexpensive and emcient electric lantern has been provided, in which the character of the light rays can be quickly adjusted by slight rotation of the reflector cup upon the casing, the inclined plane connections between the cup and easing serving to longitudinally shift the reflector with relation to the light bulb.

Inasmuch as the lens is carried by the reflector, which extends over the outer periphery of the casing, possible entrance of dirt or other deleterious material into either the casing or lamp compartment is entirely eliminated.

As previously stated, it is preferred to employ only three inclined slots for the longitudinal adjustment of the reflector, inasmuch as the same reduces bind between the reflector and casing to a minimum, and naturally required less than /:i of a turn of the reflector to effect desired adjustment.

I claim:

In an electric lantern, a casing for receiving a dry-cell battery, 9. light bulb socket carried by said casing, a one-piece reflector cup having a skirt extending over and snugly surrounding the end of the casing, said casing being provided with spaced inclined slots in its peripheral wall, projections carried by said skirt and extending into said slots for imparting axial movement to said cup upon rotation of the same, a lens mounted on the face of said cup, a sealing gasket disposed between said lens and cup, spaced radial studs secured to the periphery of said reflector cup, and a locking ring mounted on said cup for compressing the lens on said gasket, said ring having upper and lower flanges for engaging said studs and lens respectively, the upper flange of said ring being notched to permit the passage of said ring over said studs.

ELMER E. DRUMM.

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