US2522660A - Foldable holder for flashlight elements - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 19, 1950 w. E. BLEDSOE, JR 2,522,660

FOLDABLE HOLDER FOR FLASHLIGHT ELEMENTS Filed Sept. 29, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet l t IN VEN TOR. www e. @AM BY mma www A TTENEVS.

Sept 19, 1950 w. E. BLEDsoE, JR 2,522,660

FOLDABLE HOLDER FOR FLASHLIGHT ELEMENTS Filed Sept. 29, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 i r l l HV e W. E. BLEDSOE, JR

FOLDABLE HOLDER FOR FLASHLIGHT ELEMENTS sept. 19, 195o 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed sept,A 29, 1947 IN VEN TOR. Zz/ibm, Mob BY Patented Sept. 19, 1950 FOLDABLE HOLDER FOR FLASHLIGHT ELEMENTS William E. Bledsoe, Jr., Milwaukee, Wis., assigner to Badger Carton Co., Milwaukee, Wis., a. corporation of Wisconsin Application September 29, 1947, Serial No. 776,674

(Cl. 24U-10.68)

2 Claims. 1 This invention relates to improvements in foldable holders for flashlight elements, and more particularly to holders which are adapted to provide for the reception and housing of flashlight elements to produce an inexpensive flashlight, or to conductively engage flashlight elements for testing purposes.

The conventional ilashlight comprises a rigid and bulky casing or container which, in its simplest form, carries a small incandescent bulb and houses dry cell batteries, the casing being equipped with a switch mechanism which controls the electrical connection between the batteries and incandescent bulb ordinarily provided by a metal jacket or other conductor within the casing. Owners of flashlights find it necessary to frequently replace the incandescent bulbs or batteries, or both, and it is a common practice for stores to handle, not only complete flashlight assemblies, but the component parts thereof. Ii, for instance, a customer desires a new or fresh bulb or battery, it is the practice for the seller to test such articles before completing the sale, and equipment is provided in the store for applying small battery bulbs to batteries to determine the condition of the bulbs and to likewise test the batteries being sold by applying them to bulbs.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a very inexpensive, compact and oldable holderl in which flashlight battery bulbs and batteries may be readily associated for testing purposes, and which holders may also serve as complete flashlight assemblages when equipped with bulbs and batteries.

Due to the rigidity and bulk of conventional flashlight casings, flashlights, whether complete or in a disassembled condition, are bulky and 'present storage and shipping problems. The

present invention further aims at the provision of a foldable or knockdown holder for flashlight batteries are not mounted therewithin, be disa nature to advantageously bear advertising posed in a fiat compact condition wherein a great is extremely inexpensive to manufacture and of g legends and to furthermore prominently display the batteries housed thereby.

A further object of the invention is to provide a foldable holder for flashlight elements formed of light paper board or the like lined or partially lined or coated with an electrically conductive material.

A further object of the invention is to provide a foldable holder for flashlight elements formed of paper board or the like and having portions thereof, including a foldable flap lined with an electrically conductive material, said flap having a small opening therein with spaced slits extending radially from its circumference for the purpose of receiving the base portion of an incandescent bulb and obtaining positive electrical contact between the bulb terminal and the electrically conductive material through the tension oi such material against the bulb base resulting from the radial slits in the ap.

A further object oi the invention is to provide a foldable holder for flashlight elements formed of light paper board or the like having oppositely disposed foldable end flaps, with portions of the holder, including said end flaps, being coated or lined with an electrically conductive material, the portion oi the holder between the foldable flap being arranged to receive and electrically engage a battery, one flap being arranged to receive and electrically engage a bulb with a terminal of the latter in engagement with a terminal of the battery and the other flap of the holder being yieldngly engageable with the other terminal of the battery to thus complete an electrical circuit through-the battery, bulb and electrically conductive material of the holder.

A further object of the invention is to provide a foldable holder for flashlight elements which is very easy to set up and knock down and which in the latter condition is extremely compact, which is inexpensive to manufacture, which may be quickly arranged to receive flashlight elements, which can be used for advertising, novelty or premium purposes, and which is well adapted for the purposes described.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the improved foldable holder for flashlight elements, and its parts and cornminations as set forth in the claims, and Aall equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawings in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. 1 is an inverted plan view of the simplest form of holder for flashlight elements in its ilat knockdown condition;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional View taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the holder of Fig. 1 in its set up condition containing an incandescent bulb and battery for testing purposes or to provide a flashlight;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view of the flashlight holdei` of Fig. 1 in its set up condition devoid of a bulb and battery;

Fig. 5 is an inverted plan view of a blank for a modified form of holder for flashlight elements in its knockdown condition;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view 0f the blank of Fig. 5 folded into an open box structure to provide a holder for flashlight elements;

Fig. '7 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on line '|--'l of Fig. 6 and on a larger scale;

Fig. 8 is a side view of vthe set up open box holder of Fig. 6 only showing `a bulb and battery operatively mounted therein;

Fig. 9 is an inverted plan View of a blank for still another modified form of flashlight element holder, said blank being shown in its flattened knockdown condition;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a flashlight element holder as folded or set up from the blank of Fig. 9 and operatively holding flashlight elements;

Fig. 11 is a transverse vertical sectional View taken on line H-il of Fig. 10 and on a larger scale only with the bulb and battery omitted; and

Fig. 12 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on line |2--i2 of Fig. 10 on a larger scale and with the incandescent bulb and battery omitted.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, of the drawings, wherein is illustrated the simplest form of foldable holder for flashlight elements, the blank in its flattened, knockdown condition is shown in Fig. 1 and comprises an elongated rectangular sheet of plied material. The outermost layer or ply of the material is indicated generally by the niuneral |5 and is of heavy paper, paper board, fiber board or similar foldable material having insulating qualities. The inner surface of the outer ply i5 carries a thin layer or coating of an electrically conductive material such as metal foil l5. Spaced from the opposite ends of the rectangular strip are transverse fold lines and i8 which define an elongated rectangular bottom or base wall I9 and upwardly foldable end aps 20 and 2|. The end flap 2U is a bulb-receiving nap and punched through the layers or plies thereof is a circular opening 22 having spaced radial slits 23 projecting outwardly from its periphery.

When the blank shown in Fig. 1 is to be used as a holder for flashlight elements to form a simple flashlight or to provide for the testing of the flashlight elements, it is merely necessary to fold the end flaps 2i) and 2| upwardly on the fold lines l1 and i8. Then, a small incandescent bulb 24, such as is used in conventional flashlights, has its glass bulb end pushed through the circular opening 22 in the iap 26 from the inner 0r foil side outwardly and this act forces outwardly small tabs 25 dened by the radial slits 23 with such tabs tightly frictionally engaging the portion of the bulb 24 thereadjacent and presenting, together with the inner face of the flap 20, metallic foil coated surfaces which tightly engage metallic portions of the base or inner end of the bulb 24 for electrical conducting purposes. After a bulb has been tested or whenever it is desired to utilize a new bulb 24, the old bulb may be withdrawn from the opening 22 and a new bulb inserted therein in the manner described. The length of the base portion |9 is somewhat longel` than a conventional ilashlight battery 26 and the battery is placed on the inner face of the base I9 against the inner surface of the upturned rear flap 2|. To use the holder as a tester or flashlight when a bulb 24 and battery 26 are mounted as described and as is shown in Fig. 3, the bulb flap 2D should be held so that the terminal 2l at the inner end of the bulb 24 is in contact with the terminal 28 of the battery,

it being noted that the bottom of the battery is resting on the metallic foil coated surface of the base I9. Due to the fold line |8 the rear flap 2| unless held upright, will normally remain in the broken line position shown in Fig. 3 wherein it is out of contact with the rear terminal 29 on the battery. However, when it is desired to operate the llashlight and when the front liap 2|) is held upright as previously described and with the bulb terminal 2l in contact with the battery terminal 28, it is merely necessary to press the rear nap 2| upwardly and inwardly so that the conductive inner surface thereof will engage the battery terminal 29 whereupon the circuit will be completed and the bulb 24 will be illuminated. Upon releasing the rear flap 2|, it will fall to the broken line position of Fig. 3, acting as a switch to break the circuit and extinguish the bulb 24.

The device of Figs. l to 4 inclusive, because of its simplicity, is best adapted forthe purposes of quickly operatively associating bulbs and flashlight batteries for testing purposes. However, in the condition shown in Fig. 3, the device may readily serve as a 'flashlight The outer surface of the blank of Fig. l may bear advertising matter or legends and the openform of the set up holder permits the battery to be plainly displayed so that the make thereof is readily apparent.

Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive, illustrate a modied form of foldable holder for flashlight elements wherein the blank, in its set up condition, provides an open top box or container for the assembled flashlight elements and consequently, it more adequately houses said elements than does the form of the invention shown inFgs. 1 to 4 inclusive, and the set up container, due to the interlocking and interfolding of parts thereof, maintains its set up condition without being manually held.

The blank shown in Fig. 5 is one piece and is initially in a flattened condition and various container walls and Yilaps are dened by fold lines 30, 3|, 32, 33, 34, 35, 3G, 3l, 38, 39, 40 and 4|. The rectangular area surrounded by the fold lines 32, 31, 33 and 36, forms the outer bottom wall I9 of the set up container or holder. For each longitudinal side wall of the container to be set up there are pairs of complementary locking flaps 42 and 43 which at their inner ends hold on the fold lines 39, 4|, 3S and 40 relative to end wall aps 20 and 2|. The inner longitudinal edges of the locking flaps 42 are separated from the ends of foldably connected side wall forming flaps 44, 45, and 46'by'lines of cut or slits 4l'. Likewise the inner llongitudinal edges of the other pair of side wall rlocking flaps '43 are separated fromfldably associated aps'48,'49 an'd', which form the other side wall of the set up container and an inner bottom, by lines of cut or slits 5|.

As was the case in respect to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the outermost ply or layer of the material from which the blank of Fig. 5 is die cut is of paper, paper board, ber board or a similar material, as indicated by the numeral i5' and its inner surface carries a thin layer or coating of an electrically conducting material I6', such as metal foil. In this form of the invention, as in all of the others, the extent of the inner electrically conducted layer or coating is a matter of choice and it may be far more restricted or local than that illustrated and may be accomplished by suitable lines or areas of an electrical conducting material, but said electrically conducting material should eX- tend unbrokenly from the area surrounding a circular bulb opening 22' in the front ap Eil to a portion on the rear liap 2l' which will make contact with the rear -terminal on a battery 2E.

To arrange the blank shown in Fig. 5 from its flat condition to the set up condition of Fig. 6, the pairs of side locking flaps 42 and 43 are first folded outwardly at right angles to the end ilaps and 2l' and then said end flaps are turned upwardly on the bottom wall I9' and are retained in this condition by hooking together the notched portions 5.2 of the locking flaps of each pair. Next, the side wall iiap 48 is turned upwardly on the fold line 32 against the outer faces of the connected locking flaps 43 to form one outer side of the container, and the connected flap 49 is then folded downwardly over the inner surface of the connected locking iiaps 43. Thereupon, the i'lap 5U is folded on its fold line 3D so as to overlie the inner surface oi the bottom I9', providing an inner bottom layer. The other side wall of the container is completed by folding the a-p 44 upwardly on its fold line 33 so as to cover the outer surfaces of the connected flaps 42, whereupon the associated ap 45 is turned downwardly on its fold line 34 so as to cover the inner surfaces of the connected locking flaps 42. The narrow ilap 4G is folded right angularly on its fold line 35 and is preferably tucked under the free edge of the inner bottom liap 59, as is shown in Fig. 7, whereby the set up structure is locked in the container or holder form of Fig. 6.

As was the case in connection with the form or the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the bulb receiving opening 22' in the end ap 20 has radial slits 23 extending outwardly from its circumference so that when the enlarged portion of an incandescent bulb 24 is pushed through the opening 22' from the inner surface outwardly, it frees the flanges 25 to frictionally engage the bulb and to insure that metal foil coated inner portions of the flap 20' engage metal portions of the base of the bulb 24. A battery 2G is disposed within the set up holder in the manner shown in Fig. 8 so that the forward terminal 28 of the battery is in contact with the terminal 2f! of the bulb 24. It will be noted that the other end wall 2 l of the assembled container, due to the inherent tension on the parts, normally bows outwardly slightly and is provided with a tab portion 53. Said tab portion, the inner surface of which carries a metallic coating or layer which runs through portions of the container unbrokenly to the area engaging the base portion of the incandescent bulb 24, is normally out of contact with the rear terminal on the battery 26, but when said tab portion 53 is pressed inwardly into engagement with the battery terminal, in the manner of a switch, the circuit is completed and the incandescent bulb 24 will be illuminated. Release of pressure against the tab portion 53 will permit it to spring outwardly away from the terminal and thus break the circuit. As in the form of the invention initially described, the outer surface of the paper board box-like holder may bear advertising material or other indicia and due to the open top of the box, the battery is readily visible at all times.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 9 to l2 inclusive, the iiashlight element holder is more complete than that illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive, as an integral cover is provided for the box or container folded from the one piece blank shown in Fig. 9. Also, in this form of the invention an arrangement for receiving a screw in type of incandescent bulb is incorporated.

The blank shown in Fig. 9 is one piece and is initially in a flattened condition and various container walls and flaps are defined by fold lines 39', 3i', 32', 33', 34', 36', 3l', 38', 39', 4B', 4i', 54 and 55. The rectangular area surrounded by the fold lines 32', 36' and 31 forms the bottom wall I9 of the set up container or holder. For each longitudinal side wall of the container there are pairs of complementary locking flaps 42' and which at their inner ends fold on the fold lines 39', 4i', 38 and 48' relative to end wall iiaps 29" and 2i". The inner longitudinal edges of the locking flaps 42 are separated from the ends of foldably connected side wall forming iiaps 44' and d5' by lines or" cut or slits 4l'. Likewise, the inner longitudinal edges of the other pair of side wall locking flaps 43' are separated for foldably associated flaps 43', 49' and 5B', which form respectively the other side wall of the set up container and an integral cover and cover securing iiap, by lines of cut or slits 5 l As was the case in respect to 'the other forms of the invention, the outermost ply or layer of the material from which the blank of Fig. 9 is die cut is of paper, paper board, liber board or a similar flexible material, as indicated by the numeral l5 and its inner surface carries a thin layer or coating of an electrically conducting material IG, such as metal foil or the like. As was the case in connection with the other forms of the invention, the extent of the inner electricity conducting layer or coating is a matter of choice and in lieu or" the layer or coating of metal foil, portions of the container engaged by the battery may be formed with lines or strips of electricity conducting material which should run unbrokenly from the areas which immediately surround a circular bulb opening 22" and radial slits 23" which ultimately cooperate with the opening 22', to a portion of the rear ilap 2l" which acts as a switch and makes contact with the rear terminal on a battery 2S.

To set up the blank shown in Fig. 9 from its flat knock down condition to the box-like form of Fig. l0, the pairs of side locking flaps 42 and 43 are iirst folded outwardly at right angles to the end flaps 20 and 2 l and then said end flaps are turned upwardly on the bottom wall I9" and are retained in this condition by hooking together the notched portions 52' of the locking iaps of each pair. With respect to the end wall flap 20', the foldably connected flap 56 therebeyond is turned on the fold line 54 against the inner surface of the end flap 2U" and the portion with the intersecting die cut lines 23 registers with the circular opening 22". The narrow flap 51 is positioned at right angles to the lower edge of the downturned flap 56 and engages a portion of the inner surface of the bottom I9.

Thereafter, the side wall ap 44' is turned upwardly on the fold line 33 against the outer faces of the connected locking iiaps 42 to form one outer side of the container, and the connected ap 45 is then folded downwardly over the inner surface of the connected locking flaps 42. To complete the other side wall of the container, the side wall nap "18 is folded upwardly on its fold line 32 and the cover flap 49 overlies the top of the container. To hold the cover nap in its closing,T position, the flapv 46 foldably attached thereto is turned interiorly of the opposite side wall or the container, as is shown in Fig. 11.

In the other forms of the invention in each instance an end wall oi the holder or container has been formed to receive a push-in type f battery bulb and in the modification of Figs. 9 to l2 inclusive, a similar arrangement could be employed. However, to show a practical construction for screw-in bulbs, the double end nap arrangement 2132-56 is illustrated. With this form of bulb receiving arrangement, the screw threaded base portion of a screw-in electric bulb 2t is threaded into the opening 22" in the outer Iiap 26" from the exterior inwardly. During the threading operation, t-he base of the bulb will push against the die cut portions 23 in the inner end wall flap 56 and force the same inwardly to provide tabs 25 (see Fig. l2). The inner surface of said tabs 2'5" carry electricity conducting material and frictionally bear against the metal base of the inserted bulb 2li.

A battery 26 is disposed within the set up holder in the manner shown in Fig. so that the forward terminal 28 of the battery contacts the inner end of the bulb base. With respect to the other end wall of the set up container, a tab portion 53 is formed thereon which normally bows outwardly. The metallic coating or electricity conducting material I6 extends to said tab portion '53 and the latter is normally out of contact with the rear terminal on the battery 26. When said tab portion 53 is pressed inwardly into engagement with the battery terminal, in the manner of a switch, a circuit will be completed and the bulb 24 will be illuminated. Release of pressure against the tab portion 53' will permit it to automatically spring outwardly away from the battery terminal and thus break the circuit. In this form of the invention the paper board container or holder may bear advertising matter or other indicia. It may also be mentioned that where the provision is made for a screw-in type of bulb after repeated insertions and removal of a bulb the paper board stock surrounding the circular opening 22 may break down. Even in this event, the inturned portions bearing against the bulb base will insure good electrical contact with the bulb.

In all forms of the invention in forming the aperture in an end wall for a bulb, it is preferable to die cut from the metal foil or coated side of the stock outwardly. This presses or forms the oil into the margin or peripheral portion of the cut and insures metal to metal contact with the inserted bulb.

Throughout the specication and claims where the term paper board is used in connection with the material of the iashlight element holder, it is intended that this term comprehend paper board,

cardboard, ber board, heavy paper or a similar material and the same is intended by the words flexible fibrous material.

The improved holder, in any of its forms, provides when iiashlight elements are associated therewith, a Very inexpensive and novel form of iiashlight which is available for advertising and premium purposes. Likewise, the holder of any of the forms of the invention is well suited for receiving flashlight bulbs and batteries for testing purposes. The improved holders can be stored, shipped and packed in their knockdown fiat condition and when it is desired to utilize the same with flashlight elements, the holders are readily set up from the iiat one piece blanks. The improved flashlight element holder is furthermore of simple and novel construction and is Well adapted for the purposes described.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1. A collapsible holder for ashlight elements, comprising a carton folded from a flat, one-piece brous material blank and of a size to house a lashlight battery and including a base, end walls foldably disposable adjacent opposite ends of a housed battery resting on said base, and complementary, interlocking side strips to hold the carton in set up condition, and a metal foil lining in said carton, one of said end Walls being formed to receive the contact base of an incandescent bulb and to continuously hold it in direct engagement with one end terminal of a housed battery, and the other end wall being operatively yieldingly movable relative to the other end terminal or" the battery.

2. A collapsible holder' for flashlight elements, comprising a folding carton of a size to house a flashlight battery and including end Walls disposable adjacent opposite ends of a housed battery and a bottom wall therebetween, one of said end walls being of double formation with a circular opening through its outer layer and an opening from which the material is inwardly deformable through its inner layer and registering with said circular opening, the openings in said wall being arranged to removably receive the contact base of an incandescent bulb, and a coating of metallic material applied to an inner surface of said doubled wall, including the deformable material of the inner opening, the other end Wall and the bottom wall, the other end wall being yieldingly movable into and out of electrical contact with a terminal of a battery housed in the carton whose other terminal engages the bulb base.

WILLIAM E. BLEDSOE, JR.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,700,768 Kueohenmeister Feb. 5, 1929 1,922,801 Gillingham Aug. 15, 1933 2,166,657 Evelyn July 18, 1939 2,236,071 Roskam et al Mar. 25, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 172,482 England Dec. 15, 1921 544,146 France June 15, 1922 561,719 England June 1, 1944

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