US2382646A

US2382646A - Electrical switching means

Info

Publication number: US2382646A
Application number: US434627A
Authority: US
Inventors: Henry J Mccarthy
Original assignee: Sylvania Electric Products Inc
Current assignee: GTE Sylvania Inc
Priority date: 1942-03-13
Filing date: 1942-03-13
Publication date: 1945-08-14
Anticipated expiration: 1962-08-14

Description

H. J. MCCARTHY I 2,382,646

ELECTRICAL SWITCHING MEANS Filed March 13, 1942 Fig. 5 7

H en1 H J. M0 Ca 1 thHJNVENTOR.

BY M

ATT ORNEY Patented Aug. 14, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,382,0 6 ELECTRICAL SWITCHING MEANS,

Henry J. McCarthy, Danvers, Masa, assignor to Sylvanla Electric Products Inc., a corporation of Massachusetts Application March 13, 1942, Serial No. 434,627

' 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to portable electric illuminating devices. It relates more specifically to means for controlling and limiting their shown inFigure 1, the cutout l is placed in the socket 4 between the bulb 2 and the terminal 3.

The cutout I, shown in section, is comprised of the 'drive screw contact 5, the metal plug contact 8 and th insulator l. Enclosed in the chamber formed by the plug and the insulator'is a drop of mercury 8. The size of this drop of mercury; the

' length of the drive screw, and the angular disgerous and unlawful to have a source of light that can be seen above the horizontal. However, in such times of stress it is entirely possible that one might unintentionally shine a light upwards, particularly in the case of rescue workers who must both carry on their work and provide their own light. Furthermore a dropped light might con tinue to burn in a vertical position. Various systems of masking and dimming flashlights have been employed to minimize the danger of showing excessive light. There has not been any means thus far devised which will keep the light from shining when a flashlight isso disposed that the lens is directed upwardly. Therefore, an object or my invention is to provide-a practical means for breaking the electrical circuit between the light and its power source, thereby xtinguishing the light when said light is handled in such manner as to expose direct rays so that they may be seen from above. Another object of my invention is to have the switching means automatic so that it is completely. foolproof. An advantage of my invention is that it is extremely compact, adding no bulkiness whatsoever to the device. Further it may be incorporated into any portable illuminating device commonly in use. This may be done simply, by anyone, as it does not require technical knowledge to install. Finally, it may be made and sold economically. Still other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of the bulb socket of an ordinary flashlight and the cutout oi. my invention incorporated therein.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of a modification of said cutout. 1

Figure 3 is a perspective'oi said cutout- My invention may be employed by removing the bulb from any flashlight, inserting the cutout into the bulb holder, and replacing said bulb. As

position of the portion of the chamber wall formed by the insulating member determine the angle at which the cutout will break the circuit by means of the mercury 8 rolling away from the drive screw 5 breaking the contact between contact 5 and the plug 8. Since a flashlight bulb gives only a feeble glow unless directionalized by means of a reflector and lens, it is reasonable to consider the direction or its light output synonymous with its longitudinal axis so that the beam 0! light will be projected in the same direction as the angle or plane which the longitudinal axis assumes.

In Figure 3, the cutout I is shown in perspective,

element 5 being the head of the drive screw and element 6 the metal plug contact.

In Figure 2, the plug 6 and the drive screw 5 are altered to accommodate a substitution of material used for element 8. As above disclosed said element 8 is a drop of mercury. However, it may be found desirable to substitute a silver-plated ball. In such a case element 6 would have a lipon its edge which would also be silver-plated. This structure, in conjunction with a beveled edge on element 5, would tend to improve the contact through element 8. In such a case the angle at which the cutout would take effect is controlled by the pitch of the lip of element 8.

What I claim is:

In combination with a socket and an electric lamp having a sleeve-like outer contact member and an axial inner contact member, a control unit detachably received in said socket comprising a cylindrical body member of insulating material having arecess in each end connected by an axial aperture, the recess adjacent the lamp being of inwardly convergent conical form, a conductor extending into said other recess into close proximity to said conductor, and a mobile body of conductive material within said cup shaped contact of sufllcfent size to bridge the space between said contact and said conductor when said unit is in aparticular range of positions.

. HENRY J. MoCARTHY.