US2454931A - Automotive spotlight - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 30, 1948.

R. T. LARSON AUTOMOTIVE SPOTLIGHT Filed Sept. 5, 1946 3 Sheets Sheec 1 ATTOR Nov. 30, 1948. R. T. LARSON AUTOMOTIVE SPOTLIGHT 3 Sheets-Sheet s Filed Sept. 5,;41946 km 0 v v f .3 N o QQ ET 0 mm Qm Wm Mn. 'Vn l A N 4 \k H! 4 v m mug, am k K b an Rh m Patented Nov. 30,1948

Ram-nd T.- Larson,

by memo assigmnontato Park Ridge, 111;; assignor',

Arnolt- (dorporatiom a corporationof Indiana Application semester 5, 19ie;;ser'ar1t@.still-ita This invention relates to automotive spotlights and particularly to such spotlights that embody a universal mounting ior the light and means for operating the light iromithe interior of theautomobile.

Automotive spotlight's of-the general character" towhich th'e present inventionrelates have in the past been: arranged for universal movement or adjustment by operating means disposed Within the body of the automobile,- but such prior spot lights have been relatively comphcated i n" structure so' as to be expensive to" manufacture and difilcult to: assemble; and' to enable" these objec tionable characteristics to be eliminated in spotlights of theaforesaid character is the primaryobject of the present invention. An'ob ject related to the foregoing is to simplify the motiomt'rausmitting means in such spotlights whereby the universal. adjusting movement is ti'ansmitted fromthe operating handle tothe spotlight More specifically it. is an object of the. present" invention to enable adjustingfmovementof thelightabout one of". the mounting. axes thereof to be transmitted from the operatinghandle by means of a flexible charactersuch-as a cable so" asto' thereby simplify the manufacture as well as the assembly and adjustrrlent of the spotlight;

Other and further objects of theipresentinveh tion' will be": apparent from" the following descrip tion andclaim's and areillustrated in' the accom panying drawings which; by way of illustration,

e claims (o1. aim-61 .13)-

show a preferred embodiment andthe principle thereof and what-I now consider to be'the best' mode in :which-1*have-contemplatedapp1ying: that principle. Other embodiments of the inven'-" tion embodying the same or equivalent principle may be used and structural changes" may be made as desired by those skilled'in: the art with-- out departing'from thepresentinvention ahd=the purview of the appendedmlai'ms.

In the drawings; Fig 1 is a fragmentarysideelevationalview of a spotlight embodying the-features'of the inven-' tion;

Fig. 2 is apla'n view-taken'pairtly-inseotionand illustrating-the mannerin which' the spotlight is mounted,

Fig. 3 'is -a longitudinal verticalsectional View of the spotlightconstruction;1

Figc3A is-a perspective view o'fflthelamp. supportin'gstud Fig; 4 is a' longitudinal viewtaken along the line 44-" of Eig: 3;:

Fig; 5 i is a vertical sectional view" taken alon 2. Fig. 6 is a sectional view generally similar to Fig; 5 andtakeh along thelirie 6-6 of Fig. 3 Figl-7 is a View simila'rtoa portion of Fig. 4 and illustrating the operating mechanism in one ex treme' position of adjustment; and

Figxd is a view similar toFi'g. '7- and' showing-the parts the ether xtreme position of adjustment.

For purposes of disclosure the invention is here ini'll ustrated as embodied in a spotlight l0 that is-s'ho'wn its operative or mounted position on an element of an automobile body such as the front column l l=that-border's one'edge of-the windshield l2 of the automobile body. The column H which the spotlight Iilis'supported is normally se1ected a's' being theo'ne located adjacent to the driver's seat in the'a utomobi-le' body,= and the spot light fll is s'o related tothecolumn' I! that a supportiii'g torque tube l5 o'ithe spotlightextends throu'g'h the coluihhso as to's'upport auniversally mountedlaiiip' I 6 outside' of the vehi'cle bo'dywhile operetih'g handle n is'supported' on the inner end ofthe operating tube 1 5 and-within the auto: rhbbil bou-yse as" to" be readily accessime to the operator. p

The dpei atiiri g tube i 5, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 df the drawings, is eXteridd'fihfOugYi Suitable}; openings: I gene 20*foriried in the column 1 I ,an'd on the outer faoeof the-column H amounting fixture 22 is secured to the 'iorward" or outer face ol the 'colunin l l'by'means such as' screws 23 that aref siicwrr iii-Figs. 1; and 3' or the' drawings. The" fixture'zz 'has an internally threaded neck 22N' formed thereon arid into which a cup-shaped re taiiier '2 is threaded asindicated at 24A inFig. 3'.- I -h'e retainer-"Z'E has aniiiternal boreifl'B that isarranged to snugly enibraoe-andafiorda r'otative bearing for the mounting tube l 5; and thernount in'g tube eiiterids forwardly o'r outwardly of the bore- 243- and extends into the stem 26S of am'ou'htiii'g headiZ 6 the's'tem'ZBS having a bore"2BB" formed =the'rein*wihich engages the mounting tube l'bwith a driveior frictionalfitsuchthaitrotationo'f the tu'be Ii'5-' wi11'= impart rotativie movement to the fitting 2E iabouttl'ie axis of thetube' IS". The 5 right-hand endToFthestem'Z-BS,.asviewed'in 'Figl 3; :has 215 reduced :pdrtioniZBR that is extended into thecup shape'd member '2 4'; andr'a' pin :2 1* extended" throughtheficup shapedmember 24; is engaged' with a grooveWlG iormedinthe' reducedportion 26R so asto thereby hold-the stem-25S and-the-- surfaceiof thecolumnll ,wandto-enablethe: face 22F to be properly located in abutment with the face of the column, the axis of the neck MN is disposed at what may be termed an acute angle to the plane of the face 22F. After the fitting 22 has been put in position, the stem l may be inserted in a right-hand direction as viewed in Fig. 3

so as to thereby bring the screw-threaded portion 24A into position-so that it may be screwed into the threaded neck 22'N.

After the operating tube has been thus put into position, a retaining hub 29 which is of split-collar construction is put into position on the tube l5 and in abutment with the inner l'40 by flexible cable means that are extended face of the column II, and a clamping screw 30 i in the hub 29 is tightened so that the hub 29 engages the tube I5 with a firm frictional action. The relationship of the hub 29 however is such that the tube I5 may be rotated therein, even" when the screw 30 is tightened, and an arm 29A extended downwardly from the collar 29 is securedto thejcolumn I l by means such as a screw 3| so as -to,hold the collar 29 against rotation. The collar;-29 is arranged to cooperate with a thrust collar 32 that is clamped by, means of a screw 33 in a. predetermined longitudinal and rotative relation on the tube l5, and interengagingteeth' 32'1 and 29T enable the collars 29 and 32 to cooperate to limit .rotative movement of the tube [5. The tension applied to the stationary hub 29 by tightening of the sorew 30 is such that thetube i5 will be held frictionally in any position, of rotative adjustment to which it may be moved. i

The handle H is secured on the rear or inner end of the tube I5 and this is accomplished by affording a, split-collar construction ITC, Figs. 1 and 3, whereby the handle I! may be clamped upon'the innei end of the tube I5. Thus as will be evident in Figs. 3 to 5, the handle H has a bore IIB formed therein into which the inner end of the tube 15 may extend, and by tightening aclamping screw 35, the handle l1 may be se cured in tany desired longitudinal and rotative adjustment on and with respect to the tube l5.

The mounting fitting 26 is utilized to support the lamp I6 and to this end, the mounting fitting 26 has an upwardly extending portion 26U that is bored at right angles to the bore 263 as indicated at 25M, the bores 26B and 26M being arranged to-intersect. The upwardly extending portion 2517 is utilized to afford a rotatable hear- :ing upon which the lamp I 6 may be rotated on an axis that is perpendicular to the axis of the bore 26B, and forthis purpose a fitting IGF secured to the body of the lamp has an annular seat [6S that rides upon the upper end of the extension ZGU, there being an annular flange ISM on the fitting .IBF that extends downwardly into a seat afforded by a rabbeted annular groove orcounterbore 26R that is formed in the bore 26M. Amounting stud 40 is: extended upwardly as viewed in Fig. 3 through an opening 4| formed in the fitting 2B coaxially with respect to the bore 26M, and the head 40H of the stud 40 is disposed within a counterbore MC so as to bear against an expansive spring 42 that is disposed within the counterbore (3.1 At its upper end, the mounting stud 40 has a reduced squared portion 40R. that extends upwardly through a com plemental opening in the fitting 16F and is secured thereto by means including a clamping screw 44. The stud 4|! thus serves to hold the fitting [SF in position on the seat 26R, and by rotation of the stud 40, rotation may be imparted to the lamp is about the axis'of the annular seat iromthemounting stud 40 through the mounting tube l5 for association with operating means forming a part of the handle ll. Thus as will be evident in Figs. 3 to 8, an elongated flexible operating cable 55 is secured to and wound about the mounting stud 40 and the opposite end portions 55R and 55L are extended inwardly from opposite sides of the stud 40 and through the mounting tube 15 and the bore 11B of the handle, and within'the handle these ends of the operating cable 55 are associated with an operating stud 56 that, is arranged-forrotation by a laterally projecting cylindrical portion H of the handle I1. In fixing the cable 55 to the stud 40, a transverse slot 408 is extended downwardly in the stud 40, as shown-in Figs. 3A and 4, to substantially the level of the axis of the bore 26B. The cable 55 is then inserted into the slot 403 and to the bottom-of such slot, and is then wound about the stud as shown in Figs. 3, 3A, and 4, so that the ends 55L and 55B extend from opposite sides of the stud and through the tube (5., Suchconnectionof the cable with the stud is of course effected before the stud 40 is secured in position in the fitting 26.

. The rotatable stud to which the inner ends of the cable 55 are connected is relatively long and is extended downwardly through the handle I! so as to have the upper end-thereof disposed within a bore 57 formed in the handle El, and a separatelyiiormed head 56H of the stud 56 is disposed-within a counterbore 51C of. the bore 57. A spring 58 is disposed within the counterbore 510 sov as to act against the head SSH, and the head56I-I is drawn downwardly so as to compress the spring in a manner. that will hereinafter "he described in detail. The bore 57 is arranged as shown in Figs. 3 to 6, so as to enter into an enlarged transversebore formed in the handle H so as to afford a chamber 59, and the lower end ofthe chamber 59 is closed by a separately formed bottom plate member 60 which has a sleeve portion 585 formed thereon which extends upwardly into the chamber 59 So as to afford a rotative bearing for the stud 56 at a point that is spaced considerably in a downward direction from thebearing afforded by the bore 5T. Below the lower flat face of the bottom enclosure member: 60,- the shaft or stud 55 is formed, as will be evident in Figs. 3, 5 and 6, so as to afiord a square portion 56S, and this square portion 56S'of the stud 56 is engaged by a complemental opening 52 formed in the upper wall of the (handle, element I'll-I, there being a wa'slierl 63 having "a" squared opening 638 formed therein and disposed between the upper end of. the handle portion llI-I and the lower face of the bottom plate 60.; The lower end of the: handle section I 7H is afforded by a separate member 55 that is flanged at 65 so as to cooperate and laterally interlock with the lower end of the handle portion HH, and a screw 61 is extended upwardly through the-section .65 and is threaded at 68 into the lowertendjof the squared portion of the stud 56. Thus "when the screw 5-! is tightened, the stud 5B is drawn downwardly against the tension of the spring 58, and hence the stud is held in position and a frictional action is introduced between the washer 63 and the plate 68 tending to maintain the stud 55 in any rota'tive position to which it may be adjusted by the operator. At substantially the level of the axis of the bore l 113, stud 55 has a transverse bore 69 formed therein, and a longitudinal bore H3 in the stud 5B is extended downwardly from the bore 69 so as to open into a transverse slot H formedin one face of the square portion 568 of the stud 56 at such a point as to be disposed within the handle section I'll-I. The bore H! ex tends throughout'the length of the stud 56-, and tapped portions at the opposite ends of this bore are utilized to receive the bolt 61 and the thread ed anchoring stem of the head 56H. The bores 89 and ill are utilized in providing proper con nection between the ends of the cable 55 and the stud 55. Thus after being wound about the stud 55 at the level of the bore 69, the end 55B of the cable is extended into the right hand end of the bore 69 'as viewed in Fig. 6 and then is extended downwardly through the bore Ill and into the slot 1 I. Similarly the left hand end of the cable 55L is wound about the stud 56 and is extended into the left hand end of the bore 59 and then downwardly through the 'bore 35 and into the slot H. The ends of the cable 55 are then anchored within the slot H by means of a clamping plate I! and a clamping screw 18. When the cable 55 is thus being associated with the stud '58, the screw 6! is removed and the stud 56 is projected upwardly so that the opening or bore 69 is accessible above the handle 11. After the cable has been properly wound about the stud'56 and the ends of the cable have been passed downwardly through the bore 10 and into the slot 1 l, the stud 56 may be moved downwardly into the position shown in Fig. 3 and after drawing the cable relatively tight the clamping screw 18 may be tightened to secure the ends of the cable 55 to the stud 5B. The handle HH may then be put in position so as to complete the assembly, and the cable portions between the two studs at and 56 may be finally tensioned by moving the handle 11 in an inward direction until the desired tension is reached, and by tightening of the screw 35, the handle I! may be secured in this position. It will be observed in this regard that the handle I! is preferably disposed in such a position that the stud 56 is parallel to the stud 40.

In the spotlight of the present invention means are aiiorded on the handle H for controlling the operation of the lamp l5 and such switch means are shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. Thus the chamber 59 has a rearward extension 85 formed therein so as to extend downwardly to the bottom of the handle section l1, and the lowei' end of this chamber 50 is enclosed by a portion GDP of the plate 60. Within the chamber 80, a pair of aligned slots 82 are formed in the opposite walls of the chamber so as to extend to the lower end of such chamber, and spaced outwardly from the slots 82, another pair of similar slots 86 are formed. The slots 82 serve as a mounting means for an insulating plate 85, and

ate'rminal 81 is provided on theplate 85 to which.

the inner end of the wire 48 is connected. An other terminal 89 is also provided on the plate 85 and a wire 90 is connected to the terminal 89 and is extended outwardly through the handle Use that it may be connected to a source of electrical power. The slots 84 serve as a mountingfor a switch plate 52 that has a switch handle "93 formed thereon so as to project through a slot 9-4 formed in the inner faceof the handle H. The switch plate is somewhat shorter in a vertical sense than the slots 85 so that the switch member or plate 9'2 may be moved up and down in the slots 84. On the inner face of the switch plate 92, a spring contact member is mounted, and when the switch plate 92 is in its upper position this contact '96 engages the two stationary contacts 81 and 89 to thereby complete a circuit from thewire e0 to the wire 48, and when this is done the lamp of the spotlight is energized. Itwillbe evident of course that when the bottom plate 60 is removed, the insulating plate B5 may be moved downwardly into such a relation that the wire 48 may readily be connected thereto, and thus the electrical connections may readily be completed at the time when the spotlight is being installed.

From the foregoing description it will be evident that the spotlight that is aiiorded by the present invention is unusually simple in construction and is so arranged that it may readily be mounted in its position of use upon an automobile body. It will also be evident that the provision of flexible cable means for imparting rotative movement to the light about one of its axes of adjustment renders the present spotlight unusually economical insofar as cost of manufacture may be concerned, and this feature of construction also materially simplifies assembly and adjustment of the spotlight on an automobile. The present invention also affords an unusually simple switch arrangement that is adapted for convenient conne'ction to the lead wire that extends from the light, and the arrangement is such that t is electrical connection may be established readily and easily at the time when the operating cable is being adjusted and fixed in position.

Thus while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification and I therefore do not Wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim: V g

'1. In a universal spotlight, an elongated cylindrical mounting tube, means fixed at one end of said tube and affording a bearing, a lamp secured on said bearing for rotation on an axis perpendicular to the axis of said tube, a flexible cable o'p-eratively connected to said lamp for imparting rotation to said lamp and extended through said tube, a handle base secured to the other end of said tube and having a transverse chamber formed therein and a longitudinal bore establishing communication between said tube and said transverse chamber, a stud having a central bore formed therethrough and having a cylindrical outer surface adjacent one end and a non-circular outer surface throughout at least a portion of the balance of its length, means forming part of said base and disposed at one end of said chamber to afford a first bearing for rotatably supporting said stud, a removably associated end wall for said chamber aiiording a second bearing for said stud, means at said one end of said stud for limiting movement of the stud in one direction relative to said base, a hollow handle element surrounding and fixed to the other end of said stud in a rotatively inter-locked relation to said non-circular surface of said stud and acting against said end wall to hold said end wall in position and limit endwise movement of said stud in the other direction relative to saidbase, said stud having a transverse opening intersecting said longitudinal bore, and said cable being extended into said transverse opening and said longitudinal bore of said stud and into said hollow handle, and means disposed in said hollow handle and adjustably fixing said cable to said stud.

2. In a universal spotlight, an elongated cylindrical mounting tube, means fixed at one end of said tube and affording a bearing, a lamp secured on said bearing for rotation on an axis perpendicular to the axis oi said tube, a flexible cable operatively connected to said lamp for imparting rotation to said lamp and extended through said tube, a handle base secured to the other end of said tube and having a transverse chamber formed therein and a longitudinal bore establishing communication between said tube and said transverse chamber, a stud having a central bore formed therethrough and having a cylindrical outer surface adjacent one end and a non-circular outer surface throughout at least a portion of the balance of its length, means afiording spaced bearings for rotatably supporting said stud, a removably associated end wall for said chamber, a washer disposed against the outer surface of said wall, means including a spring at said one end of said stud for limiting movement of the stud in one direction relative to said base, a hollow handle element surrounding and fixed to the other end of said stud in a rotatively inter-locked relation to said non-circular surface of said stud and acting against said washer to hold said end wall in position and limit endwise movement of said stud. in the other direction relative to said base, said spring being operable to impart a frictional action between said washer and said base to retard rota- ,tive movement of said handle, said stud having a transverse opening intersecting said longitudinal bore, and said cable being extended into said transverse opening and said longitudinal bore of said stud and into said hollow handle, and means disposed in said hollow handle and fixing said cable to said stud.

3. In a universal spotlight, an elongated cylindrical mounting tube, means fixed at one end of said tube and affording a bearing, a lamp secured on said bearing for rotation on an axis perpendicular to the axis of said tube, a flexible cable operatively connected to said lamp for imparting rotation to said lamp and extended through said tube, a handle base secured tothe other end of said tube and having a transverse chamber formed therein and a longitudinal bore establishing communication between said tube and said transverse chamber, a stud having a central bore formed therethrough and having a cylindrical outer surface adjacent one end and a non-circular outer surface throughout at least a portion of the balance of its length, means forming part of said base and disposed at one end of said chamber to aiiord a first bearing for rotatably supporting said stud, arremovably associated end wall for said chamber affording a second bearing for said stud, switch means mounted in said handle and including a terminal plate removably disposed in said handle and held in position therein by said end wall, means at said one end of said stud for limiting movement of the stud in one direction relative to said base, a hollow handle element surrounding and fixed to the other end of said stud in a rotatively inter-locked relation to said non-circular surface of said stud and acting against said end wall to hold said end wall in position and limit endwise movement of said stud in the other direction relative to said base, said stud having a transverse opening intersecting said longitudinal bore, and said cable being extended into said transverse opening and said longitudinal bore of said stud and into said hollow handle, and means disposed in said hollow handle and fixing said cable to said stud.

4. In a. universal spotlight, an elongated tube, a lamp mounted on said tube adjacent to one end thereof for rotation about a first axis perpendicular to the axis of said tube, means for mounting said tube for rotation about its axis to thereby afiord the other of the axes of adjustment for said lamp, a handle base mounted on the other end of said tube and having a chamber formed therein and opening laterally through one side of said base and having an elongated slot opening through the end of said base, a terminal plate removably dsposed in said chamber and having spaced terminals thereon, a switch plate slidably mounted in said chamber having a contact thereon movable into bridging engagement with said terminals by sliding movement of said switch plate, an operating element on said switch plate and extended through said slot, a closure member for said lateral opening and 0perable to hold said terminal plate in position in said chamber, a handle element, means releasably securing said handle element on said handle base for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the axis and operable to hold said closure member in an efiective closing relation to said lateral opening of said handle base, and flexible cable means extended through said tube and 0peratively connected to said handle element and said lamp to transmit rotative movement of said handle element to said lamp.

5. In a universal spotlight, an elongated tube, a lamp mounted on said tube adjacent to one end thereof for rotation about a first axis perpendicular to the axis of said tube, means for mounting said tube for rotation about its axis to thereby afford the other of the axes of adjustment for said lamp, a handle base detachably mounted on the other end of said tube and having a chamber formed therein and opening laterally through one side of said base and having an elongated slot opening from said chamber through the end of said base, said chamber having two spaced pairs of guide grooves formed in the sides thereof parallel to said slot, a closure member for lateral opening, a terminal plate'disposed in one of said pairs of grooves and having spaced terminals thereon, a switch plate slidable in said other pair of grooves and having a contact thereon movable into bridging engagement with said terminals by sliding movement of said switch plate, an operating element on said switch plate and extended through said slot, a handle element, means releasably securing said handle element on said handle base for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the axis and in position to hold said closure member in an effective closing relation to said lateral opening of said handle base, and flexible cable means extended through said tube and operatively connected to said handle element and said lamp to transmit rotative movement of said handle element to said lamp.

6. In a universal spotlight, an elongated tube, a lamp mounted on said tube adjacent to one end 9 thereof for rotation about a first axis perpendicular to the axis of said tube, means for'rnounting said tube for rotation about its axis to thereby afford the other of the axes of adjustment for said lamp, a handle base detachably secured on the other end of said tube and having a chamber formed therein and opening laterally through one side of said base and having an elongated slot opening through the end of said base, said chamber having two pairs of guide grooves formed in the sides thereof parallel to said slot, a closure member for lateral opening, a terminal plate disposed in one of said pairs of grooves and having spaced terminals thereon, a switch plate slidable in said other pair of grooves and having a contact thereon movable into bridging engagement with said terminals by sliding movement of said switch plate, an operating element on said switch plate and extended through said slot, a handle element, means including a stud extended through said handle base and releasably securing said handle element on said handle base for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the axis and operable to hold said closure member in an efiecw tive closing relation to said lateral opening of said handle base, and flexible cable means extended through said tube and operatively connected to said handle element and said lamp to transmit rotative movement of said handle element to said lamp.

RAYMOND T. LARSON.

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

UNITED STATES; PATENTS Number Name Date 1,355,783 Sagle Oct. 12, 1920 1,444,896 Young Feb. 13, 1923 20 1,740,909 Shaw Dec. 24, 1929

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