US2411100A

US2411100A - Closet light

Info

Publication number: US2411100A
Application number: US558151A
Authority: US
Inventors: Roderick A Macdonald
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1944-10-11
Filing date: 1944-10-11
Publication date: 1946-11-12
Anticipated expiration: 1963-11-12

Description

Nov. 12, .1946. R. A. MACDONALD CLOSET LIGHT Filed Oct. '11, 1944 INVENTOR- floderfb/fflJqdrdmza ld' BY 2 WWM- m- Patented Nov. 12, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in illuminating devices and pertains particularly to a improved means for illuminating the interior of closets, wardrobes and similar compartments with a hinged door for access thereto.

It is well known to install an electric lighting device within a closet or the like and to connect it to a wiring system over switching means for controlling the light. This method of illuminating closets or similar compartments, however, requires comparatively expensive installations for a light which is used ordinarily only for a few minutes each day.

It is, therefore, the main object of the present invention to provide an improved illuminating device of simple and practical construction which may be readily mounted or placed into a closet or the like without requiring any wiring and Which will automatically illuminate the interior of the closet or of a similar compartment when the door is opened and which will also automatically switch ofi the light when the door is closed.

Further objects of the instant invention reside in any novel feature of construction or novel combination of parts present in the embodiment of the invention described and shown in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a preferred embodiment of my invention shown as it appears in a closet when the door is closed;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3, showing the device as it appears when the door of the closet is open; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

In the drawing, the numeral l denotes the top, 2 the door, 3 the rear wall, 4 the upper front portion, 5 an upper shelf, and 6 a side wall of a closet which is shown partially broken away. A casing I, which is adapted to be affixed to the inner Side of the upper front portion 4 by means of nails (not shown) or in any other suitable manner, contains a dry battery (not shown) and is provided at its top with switching means, preferably with a push button switch 8, adapted to close an electric circuit between said battery and an electric light bulb l2 attached to the lower portion of casing 1, when the push button of switch 8 is depressed. The upper flange portion of a U-shaped arm II is hingedly attached to the top of the casing 1 at I0 and is provided with a small pressure plate 9 in such a manner that it tends to swing toward the door 2. Arm l I consists preferably of a resilient, flat longitudinal piece of material or of a thin rod, a wire, or the like, and its lower end is provided with a cap l3 for preventing a scratching on the inner side of door 2. I prefer to arrange arm II and switch 8 near one of the vertical side portions of casing l and to place the light l2 in the center of the angle formed by the bottom and front portions of casing 1, so that the shadow of arm II will not be thrown straight into the compartment.

As long as door 2 is closed, arm H is in the position shown in Fig. l and the part 9 is spaced apart from the push button of switch 8; the light I2 is switched off. When door 2 is opened, the arm I I swings downward by means of gravity, and the weight of arm ll, of cap I3 and of plate 9 depresses the push button of switch 8, thus closing the electric circuit so that the light [2 will illuminat the interior of the closet as long as door 2 is open.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel feature of the invention as applied to a single modification, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be mad by those skilled in the art without departing from the-spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claim.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Lette Patent in the United States is:

An illuminating arrangement for a compartment with a hinged door for access thereto comprising a casing mounted within said compartment and secured thereto, a battery within said casing, a lamp bulb mounted on the lower portion of said casing, a push button switch attached to the top of said casing and adapted to close an electric circuit between said battery and said lamp bulb when the push button is depressed, and a thin U-shaped arm the upper flange portion of which is pivoted to the top of said casing above said push button, said arm being arranged around said casing in such a manner that its lower flange portion tends to be moved by means of gravity toward the door of the compartment and that said arm is in spaced relation to the casing when said door is closed, but that its upper flange portion rests against and depresses said push button when the door of the compartment is open, all substantially as described.

RODERICK A. MACDONALD.