US2528416A - Portable electric lantern with writing pad attachment - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 31, 1950 R. BoTENsTEN 2,528,416

PORTABLE ELECTRIC LANTERN WITH WRITING PAD ATTACHMENT Filed Aug. l, 1947` 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ROY L. BOTE/vsrf/v i Oct. 3l, 1950 R. L. BOTENSTEN PORTABLE ELECTRIC LANTERN WITH WRITING PAD ATTACHMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. l, 1947 z-zzE/.z-Tyzr ROY L. BOTENsTf/v Patented Oct. 31, 1950 OFFICE PORTABLE ELECTRIC LANTERN WITH WRITING PAD ATTACHMENT Roy L. BotenstemChicago, Ill.

Application August 1, 1 947,.Serial No. 765,287

61Claims. 1

This invention relates to a portable electric lantern equipped with an illuminated writing pad.

Specifically, the invention deals with a railroad lantern carrying a holder for a railroad switch list enabling a brakeman to copy information from freight oars directly onto the switch list while illuminating both the list and the portion of the freight car containing the information.

Electric lanterns for railroad brakemen lare fairly well standardized and include a metal battery case, a guard projecting from one end of the case, a reflector mounted on the case within the guard, and a pair of lamps projecting beyond the reflector and adapted for selective energization by the battery when moved to the center of the reflector.

In accordance with this invention, the battery case receives a flat pad arranged to detachably support Writing paper, such as switch lists. An electric lamp is provided either 'on the pad or on the .body of the ,lantern for illuminating the switch list. This lamp is selectively energized through its own separate switch from the main battery of thelantern. A combination guard and reflector is preferably provided to protect the pad-illuminating lamp.

The pad is preferably detachably mounted on the lantern.. In one embodiment of the invention, the pad-illuminating lamp is removable with the pad, while in another embodiment of the invention the-lamp is mounted on the main body of the lantern.

. The devices of this invention permit focusing of the lantern light on the indicia marked on railroad cars while the lantern is held in the palm of one hand so that the indicia is conveniently copied `on the illuminated list carried by the pad. In switching railroad cars at night a slight flick of the thumb or finger illuminates the switch list for split-second checking of classification or destination of cars.

It is, then, an object of the present invention to provide a record-type lantern having an illuminated pad or bed for'detachably supporting Writing paper and having a lamp for illuminating objects containing indicia to be marked on the writing paper'. K

A still further object of the invention is to provide a writing pad attachment for railroad lanterns.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the annexed sheets `of drawings which, by way of preferred examples only, illustrate two embodiments of the invention.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a railroad lantern equipped with a writing pad according to this invention.

Figure 2 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary vertical cross-sectional View, with parts in side elevation, taken along the line II-II of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary transverse crosssectional view taken substantially along the line III-III of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a modied form of pad-equipped lantern according to this invention.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary transverse cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of Figure 4.

As shown on the drawings:

'In the first form of the invention, shown in Figures 1 to 3, the reference numeral I0 designates generally a railroad lantern having an elongated, flat-sided battery casing II preferably substantially square in cross section. It should be understood, however, that the battery casing can have any desired coniiguration. Thus, a casing circular or oval in cross section can be used if desired. The rear end of the casing II is closed by a cap I2. The front end of the casing II is closed by a circular end plate I3 having an upstanding circular flange I 3a and an outturned end flange I3b. As shown in Figure 2, the plate I3 projects beyond the iiat side walls of the casing I I to form shoulders ISC.

Brackets I 4 are affixed to opposed flat side walls of the casing I I and support U-shaped leg members l5 having the legs projecting forwardly from the end of the lantern to carry a guard ring I6 in spaced relation from the end of the lantern. As will be hereinafter described, this guard ring protects the lamp bulbs of the lantern and forms a support for the lantern. The brackets I4 are mounted closely adjacent the shoulders |30.

A U-shaped handle I'I straddles the casing II and has the bight portion thereof spaced sufficiently from the casing so that the handle can be swung about the casing on pivots I8 provided on the side walls of the casing I I.

The end plate I3 has a slot I9 in the central portion thereof closed by a strip of insulation material 20 which underlies the plate. A rubber diaphragm seal 2l overlies the insulation strip 20 and is retained in an apertured metal cover 22 riveted to the plate at 23. A conductor post 24 extends through the insulation 2G, the rubber diaphragm 2I, into the aperture in the plate 22 and a metal disk is riveted onto this post. A spring 26 of conductor material overlies the post 24 and passes through the insulation 23 to be anchored on the post between the seal 2l and the insulation 20.

A dry cell battery B is mounted in the casing I I and is bottomed on a clip 2l carried by the end cap I2. The battery is of the type having two terminals projecting from one end thereof and includes a coil spring terminal T1 and a leaf spring terminal Tz. The terminal T1 engages the post 24. The terminal T2 engages the plate 22.

A reflector disk 23 is mounted on the end plate I3 and has a circular flange 23a snugly fitting within the flange I3a. Screws such as'23 attach the reflector to the plate I3. The reflector 28 has a slot 28h across the axial center thereof and a slide member 36 is mounted under the reflector to bridge this slot. A pair of lamps 3l is carried c by the slide member 36 and these lamps have Suitable contacts for engaging the spring contactor 26 thereby completing a circuit for energizing the lamps. An actuator (not shown) is provided for shifting the slide member 36 to selectively position each lamp into engagement with the spring 26. It will be noted that one lamp 3l is disposed at a higher level than the other lamp. These two levels are useful in giving a selective focusing of light.

In accordance with this invention a flat side face of the casing I I adjacent a face carrying the brackets I4 and the handle pivots I3 is covered with a pad 32. This pad 32 includes a at metal plate 33 somewhat wider and longer than the casing Il. The plate 33 has downturned flanges 33a around the periphery thereof. Side strips 34 are mounted on the side flanges 33a and have bottom legs 34a straddling the casing Il in close relation to the side walls thereof adjacent the wall covered by the plate 33. The end edges of the bottom flanges 34a serve to hold the pad against side movement.

The side strips 34 also have top flanges 34h overlying the side edges of the plate 33 in spaced relation to provide a groove 33.

An end strip 35 overlies the front end edge of the. plate 33 and is shaped to rest on the casing Il. A tongue 35a (Figure 2) projects forwardly and upwardly from the strip 35 midway between the strips 34 and is adapted to t into a slot 31 in the shoulder portion I3c of the plate I3.

The strip 35 also has a flange 35h mating with the flanges 34h of the side strips 34 to continue the groove 36 across the front end of the plate 33.

The rear end of the plate 33 carries, on its under face, a wall member 38 which is secured to the adjacent flange 33a and has a flange 38a projecting toward the end cap I2. As best shown in Figure 2 this end cap I2 carries a spring 39 with a hook edge 39a, projecting beyond the cover to lock against the flange 38a. A button 4I) is secured on the spring 39 and projects through a hole in the cover I2 so that the spring may be depressed manually to the dotted line position for releasing the flange 38a.

In order to mount the pad in position on the casing I I, the tongue 35a is inserted in the slot 3l and the rear end of the pad is then swung downwardly to bring the flange 33a against the lip portion 39a. of the spring 39 whereupon the spring will automatically be depressed until the ange rides under the lip, whereupon the spring will snap back to lock the pad on the casing.

A sheet of paper such as a railroad switching list L is retained on the plate 33 in the grooves 36 and can be readily tted into the grooves from the rear end of the plate which, as shown in Figure 1, is not overlapped by a strip, If desired, a plurality of sheets can be mounted in stacked relation on the pad 33 in the grooves 36 and will be retained therein by friction.

The flange I3a of the end plate I3 has a lamp socket 4I mounted thereon inside of a reflector shield 42 also carried by the flange. As shown in Figure 1, the reflector shield 42 can be aiixed to the flange I3a by screws or rivets 43 passed through flat ears on the sides of the reflector. The lamp socket 4I receives a lamp 44 in threaded relation therein. The lamp is carried above the pad 32 and the reflector is so shaped as to direct light over the entire list L carried by the pad. The lamp 44 is energized through a wire 45 from aswitch 46 mounted on the casing I I. The switch, in turn, is energized from a wire 4l secured to the contact spring 26. The switch 46 is conveniently operated with the thumb of the hand carrying the lantern by the handle' Il so that the lamp 44 can be conveniently turned on and off as desired.

The electric circuit to the lamp 44 is established by means of a wire 41 which is energized from the battery, the switch 46, the wire 45, an insulated ber plug 48 having a contact 43, the lamp 44, the metal socket 4I, and the metal end plate I3.

In the embodiment Illa of the invention shown in Figures 4 to 6 the same lantern assembly is provided and identical parts have been marked with the same reference numerals. In the embodiment I Ba, the pad arrangement 32a is also generally similar to the pad 32 and identical parts have been marked with the same reference numerals. However, the pad 32a carries its own lamp, reflector, and switch.

Angle members 50 are secured to the side walls of the lantern casing II adjacent the wall covered by the pad 32a. These angle members have outturned legs forming tracks for the flanges 34a of the side strips 34. The pad is mounted on the casing II by sliding it forward on the tracks provided by the angle members until the flange 38a on the rear end member 38 is locked under a spring 5I carried by the cover I2. This flange 33a preferably has an upturned tang 38h engaged by the spring as shown in Figure 5.

The forward end of the pad 32a is bottomed against the shoulder I3c afforded by the end plate I3 of the casing when the tang 3817 is locked under the spring 5I.

An insulated fiber lamp socket 52 is mounted on the pad 32a to receive a lamp 53 overlying the list L on the pad. A wire 54 extends from the socket to a switch 55 mounted on a side strip 34 of the pad. The switch can be grounded on the casing or pad to complete an electrical circuit as hereinafter explained.

The pad also carries a reflector and lamp guard 56 overlying the socket 52 and lamp 53. A prong 51 extends from the lamp socket rearwardly through the reflector in insulated relation therefrom and is seated in a socket 58 of an insulated post 59 mounted on the side flange I 3a of the end member I3. A wire El] connected to the contact member 26 is provided for energizing the socket 58. Thus, current flows rfrom the positive terminal T2 of the battery through the wire 6U to energize the socket 58 which, in turn, energizes the prong 51 to energize the lamp 53. The lamp 53 is then grounded through the wire 54 and switch 55 back to the lantern casing I I for completing the circuit.

Theprong 5l fits in the socket 58 with a relatively tight' friction grip so as to hold the pad against removal. Thus the prong coacts with the spring 5| in retaining the pad on the lantern casing. 1

From the above descriptions it will be understood that this invention provides a portable electric lantern with an illuminated writing pad that is detachable from the main body of the lantern casing and is selectively illuminated independent of the illumination of the lantern. The combined lantern and writing pad is especially useful to railroad workers at night in connection with the switching of trains and cars. safety factor, since heretofore switch lists and the lantern required use of both hands, whereas the present unit requires use of one hand only, leavingI ther other free for throwing switches, holding car ladders, etc.

It will, of course,be understood that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing' from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A switchmans lantern comprising a casing having flat side walls, a removable cap closing one end of said casing, a circular member closing the other end of said casing and dening shoulders along said side walls, a reflector carried by said circular member, a slidable lamp support between said reflector and said circular member arranged to be energized by a battery in said casing, a lat pad overlying one side wall of the casing and bottomed against one of said shoulders, said pad having side flanges extending alongside of the adjacent side walls of said casing and in sliding guiding contact therewith and an end flange spacing'said pad above Vsaid one side wall, means on said removable end cap of the casing releasably engaging said pad to hold the pad in fixed relation on the casing, and means for retaining the paper in flat writing position on said pad.

2. A lantern comprising a casing having flat side walls, a pad overlying one side wall of said casing and having side flanges straddling the adjacent side walls of the casing in close relation and an end flange spacing the pad from said one side wall, means for detachably mounting the pad on the casing, a lamp socket carried by said pad, a switch carried by said pad for energizing said socket, and separable electric means in the space between said pad and said casing for energizing the socket from a battery in said casing.

3. A lantern comprising a battery casing, a shoulder at one end of said casing, a removable end cap at the other end of said casing, a flat plate overlying the side of said casing, side walls The unit affords the worker an added,

on said plate straddling said casing in close relation to hold the plate in overlying relation to said side of the casing, tongue means projecting from said plate into said shoulder, and spring means coacting with the other end of said plate for retaining the plate on the casing in detachflector, primary switch means accessible fromA the outside of said casing for energizing the primary lamp from a battery in the casing, a detachable writing pad tting over the side wall of the casing, a secondary lamp carried by said pad and arranged to illuminate the pad, a secondary switch on said pad in circuit relation with said secondary lamp, means for releasably locking the pad on the casing, and coacting electric Contact means on the pad and casing for energizing the secondary lamp from a battery in the casing.

6. A rwriting pad attachment for a railroad switchmans lantern of the type having a battery casing with two primary lamps projecting from one end wall of the casing and a guard ring carried by the casing in spaced relation from said end to protect the primary lamps, said pad being constructed and arranged to t over a side wall of the battery casing in rm engagement therewith and having a flat top writing surface, a secondary lamp guard mounted on one end of said pad, a secondary lamp mounted on said pad under said guard for illuminating the pad, a switch on said pad in circuit relation with said secondary lamp, and electric contact means on said pad for coacting with contact means on the battery casing to energize the secondary lamp from the same battery in the casing used to energize the primary lamps.

ROY L. BOTENSTEN.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,145,848 Robins July 6, 1915 1,180,460 Whitney et al Apr. 25, 1916 1,541,014 Wagner June 9, 1925 1,677,977 Menasco July 24, 1928 v1,719,050 Freeman July 2, 1929 2,011,858 House Aug. 20, 1935 2,289,276 Packer July 7, 1942 2,329,556 Raabe Sept. 14, 1943 2,427,051 Goudreau Sept. 9, 1947

Images