US2420362A

US2420362A - Diver's light

Info

Publication number: US2420362A
Application number: US557465A
Authority: US
Inventors: James F Ekleberry
Original assignee: C ROY MILLER
Current assignee: C ROY MILLER
Priority date: 1944-10-06
Filing date: 1944-10-06
Publication date: 1947-05-13
Anticipated expiration: 1964-05-13

Description

y 1947- i EKLEBERRY 2,420,362

DIVERS LIGHT Filed Oct. 5, 1944 Inventor Patented May 13, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DIVERS LIGHT James F. Ekleberry, Miami, Fla., assignor of one-half to 0. Roy Miller, Miami, Fla.

Application October 6, 1944, Serial No. 557,465

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a divers light and more particularly to such a light adapted to be applied to the helmet of a diver.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved divers light characterized by the provision of means for adjusting the angle of the light.

A further important object of this invention is the provision of means in association with such a light whereby the pressure contained in the lamp itself is equalized with the pressure on the inside of the diving suit to compensate the water pressure against the glass thereof.

A still further object is the provision of such a light which may be readily adjusted. by the diver.

Still another object is the provision of such a light which will be substantially leak-proof, which will be sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and efficient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to install and manufacture.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention proceeds and shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a fragmentary perspective view of a diver helmet showing the light in assembled relation therewith.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view partially in section and partially in elevation showing the light disclosed in Figure l, and

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the light as seen in Figure 2.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Having reference now to the drawings, there is shown at H] a fragment of a divers helmet provided with the customary guarded apertures for vision I i and the conventional front plate I2 adapted to be secured in closed position as by a wing nut is in conventional manner.

Integral with or secured to in sealed relation the helmet I2 is a lamp housing generally indicated at [5 provided with a socket-shaped interior portion l6 and a plurality of fluid-tight sealing rings ll. Positioned within the socket i5 is a ball-shaped portion its having a conical interior depression l9 and being provided with a reflector 28. At the extremity of depression i9 is a light bulb socket 2i supplied by current through a cord 22 extending from a desired source of electrical power and having positioned therein an electric lamp 23.

The outer end of ball-shaped member I8 is flared as at 24 and provided with threads 25 adapted to engage with the corresponding threads of an annulus 26 having a flange 21 thereon providing a circular opening, within which is adapted to be positioned a plate 28 of relatively heavy glass.

Ball member is is movably secured within socket It as by a curved annulus 30 which is held in position exteriorly of the greatest diameter of the ball as by screws 3| engaging in suitable sockets 32.

It will now be seen that the light may be readily adjusted manually to any desired angle within the normal range of the divers view, and that such adjustment may be made manually by the diver with a minimum of effort. It will also be seen that the lamp remains fluid-tight under all positions of normal adjustment. Obviously, the number of sealing rings can be increased as may be necessary to insure such a fluid tight seal.

One primary difficulty in the use of divers lights hitherto known has resided in the fact that the glass protecting the light must be of exceedingly great thickness to resist the pressure of the outside water, at any material depth.

An important feature of this invention is the provision of means for overcoming such difllculty. This is accomplished by providing a communication for air between the interior of the housing l5 and the divers suit, wherein the pressure is retained at a sufficient height at all times to resist the pressure of the outside water thereon. From recess I6 in housing 15 a bore 35 extends through ball-shaped member [8 having its inner extremity in communication with the conical recess l9 and its outer extremity positioned adjacent the socket 2| in such position that it will not be adapted to be closed by any normal rotation or variation in movement of the ball I8. From this it will be seen that the pressure on the inside of glass plate 28 is at all times equal to the pressure within the divers suit, and that such pressure is effective to preclude the possi-' bility of the breaking of the glass and consequent disruption of the light bulb.

Obviously, any suitable guard members may be provided to protect the glass 28 from accidental breakage.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided a device accomplishing all the objects of this invention and others including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and. as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Iclaim:

1. In a device of the character described, in combination, a divers helmet, a casing thereon forming a socket, a ball member having an open recess therein movably seated in said socket, a light secured in said recess, sealing rings positioned about said socket, transparent means closing the open end of said recess, and means equalizin the air pressure in said recess with that of the surrounding fluid, said last-mentioned means including means forming a passage communicating with the interior of said divers helmet.

2. In a light for a divers helmet, the combination of a socket secured to the helmet, a ball having a recess therein' in said socket, a light secured in said recess, a transparent closure for said recess, sealing means between said ball and said socket, and means forming a passage through said ball and socket for equalizing the interior pressure on said transparent closure.

3. In a light for a divers helmet the combination of a first recessed member secured to said helmet, a second recessed member secured in swiveling engagement with said first member, sealing means in substantially air and water tight engagement with said members, a. light secured in the recess of said second member, a transparent closure for said last mentioned recess and a passage through each of said members for equalizing the air pressure in said last mentioned recess with that of the surrounding fluid.

JAMES F. EKLEBERRY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: