US2587124A

US2587124A - Circuit controlling mechanism for rotatably adjustable spotlights

Info

Publication number: US2587124A
Application number: US29292A
Authority: US
Inventors: Paul F Early
Original assignee: Standard Thomson Corp
Current assignee: Standard Thomson Corp
Priority date: 1948-05-26
Filing date: 1948-05-26
Publication date: 1952-02-26
Anticipated expiration: 1969-02-26

Description

Feb. 26, 1952 CIRCUIT coNTRoLLTNG MECHANISM FOR ROTATABLY ADJUSTABLE SPOTLIGHTS 4.1m mi i, ki

Patented Feb. 26, 1952 PATENT OFFICE CIRCUIT CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR ROTATABLY ADJUSTABLE SPOTLIGHTS Paul F. Early, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to Standard-Thomson Corporation, Daytonhio, a corporation .of Delaware Application May 26, 1948, ,Serial No. 29,292

This invention relates to a mounting for a rotatably adjustable spot light.

One object of the invention is to .provide such a mounting which is of an efhcient and durable construction and is easily operable to accurately adjust the lamp.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a mounting in which the relatively movable parts thereof and the connections between they same are simple in construction, positive in operation and not liable to disarrangement in service.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a mounting in which the electrical connections between the relatively movable parts of the lamp circuit are of a direct, positive character and not easily disarranged.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a mounting in which the circuit controlling switch is mounted in the handle in direct engagement with a contact on the lamp adjusting shaft.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient switch adapted to be mounted in the handle and to be easily actuated from the exterior of the handle.

Other objects of the invention may appear as the invention is described in detail.

In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a mounting embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the mounting; Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a switch; Fig. 5 is a section taken through the switch on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4; Fig. G is a section taken on the line 6 5 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a group view showing in perspective the disassembled parts Of .the switch; Fig. 8 is a group view showing in perspective the disassembled parts of a rotary contact member; and Fig. 9 is a section on line 9 9 of Fig. 2. i

- In the drawings I have illustrated oney embodiment of the invention and hav-e shown the mounting as comprising a tubular supportingv structure, herein called a bracket, and including a rear portion It and a forward portion II. The

rear portion is provided with a base I2 adapted to be attached by means of screws i3 or the like to a relatively fixed support, such as the rearwardly inclined side frame member of the windshield of an automobile, as indicated by the line It. In the present instance the mounting is adapted to support the lamp for rotation both about an axis transverse to the bracket and about the longitudinal axis of the bracket. To

permit the rotation of the lamp about theA 1onf, thereon by a snap ring 23.

s claims. (o1. 24o-61.13)A

gitudlnal axis the forward portion it of the bracket is separate from and is rotatably connected with the rear portion Il), as by a sleeve I5 rigidly mounted in the rear portion of the 5;. bracket and projecting into and supporting the forward portion thereof for rotation with relation to said r-ear portion.

The forwardly extendingportion II of the bracket is provided adjacent its forward end 10. with a transverse opening I6 in one wall thereof and in which is mounted a suitable bearing Il, :here shown as screw threaded into the opening. Rotatably mounted in the bearing is a tubular stud, or short shaft, I8, which is preferl5 ably provided with an outwardly facing shoulet and extends through an opening in the lamp casing 20 which preferably rests upon a spacing element 2Ir supported on the outer end of the bearing II. A collar` 22 is mounted about the stud I8 within the lamp casing and is retained A coil spring 24 is confined between the collar 22 and the wall of the casing so that the spring tends to urge the tubular stud outwardly and maintain the shoulder thereof in contact with the bearing, thus preventing vibration and rattling while permitting free rotation of the lamp. A metallic plate 2E is interposed between the spring and the wall of the casing and a conductor 26 is connected with this plate and thus grounded, the other end of the conductor 26 being connected with one of the terminals of the lamp bulb or sealed unit 2l. A conductor 28 connected with the other terminal of the lamp bulb extends through the tubular stud and is connected at its inn-er end with a con- 403, tact member 29 mounted in an insulating sleeve 30 in the lower end of the stud and axially movable therein.

An elongate tubular member 3| is mounted in the bracket, extends rearwardly therefrom and -y is rigidly connected at its forward end with the fixed sleeve I5 and at its rear end with a part 32 of a handle 32', said part having therein a cavity 33. The handle is rotatable with relation to the `-member 3l about the axis of the latter but I its rotation is frictionally resisted, as by a clampy member 3| and spaced therefrom is an inner tu- 3 bular member 36 the forward end of which is rigidly mounted in a bushing 31, as by soldering, the bushing being here shown as screw threaded into the forward portion of the rotatable part II of the bracket, the bushing and the tubular member 3`I being locked against rotation as by a set screw 38. The rear end of the member 36 extends into the cavity 33 in the handle and is rigidly secured to the latter by a set screw 39. Rotatably mounted Within the inner tubular member 36 is a tubular shaft 48 which extends through said member and beyond both ends thereof. The forward end of the tubular shaft is drivingly connected with the rotatable tubular stud I8. This connection may be of any suitable character but preferably it includes the beveled gear 4I which is rigid with, and in the present instance is formed integral with, the inner end of the tubular stud I8, and a beveled gear 42 meshing with the gear 4I, rigidly secured to the forward end of the shaft 48 and having its rear surface abutting against and rotatable with relation to the forward end of the inner tubular member 36. The rear end portion of the tubular shaft v 46 extends through the cavity 33 and is secured to a beveled gear 43 for rotation therewith, the gear having a hub portion rotatably mounted in a bearing 44 in the handle. The handle includes a rotatable part which is here shown as a hand grip 45 rotatably connected with the forward portion 32 of the handle and having secured thereto a beveled gear 46 which meshes with the beveled gear 43. Thus the rotation of the rotatable part 45 of the handle about its individual axis will rotate the shaft 40 and the tubular stud I8 and thus move the lamp about an axis transverse to the axis of the shaft. The rotatable part of the handle extends at an angle to the tubular members and may be utilized to rotate the part 32 of the handle with relation to the stationary outer tubular member 3l, against the friction of the clamp 34, and thus rotate the tubular member 36 and the forward rotatable portion II of the bracket, and thereby rotate the lamp bodily about the longitudinal axis of the bracket. Usually it is desirable to limit the rotation of the lamp about the longitudinal axis of the bracket@4 For this purpose the rotatableA part II of the bracket is provided with an inwardly extending lug I I' and the forward end of the fixed sleeve I5, which in effect constitutes an extension of the outer tubular member 3|, is recessed to receive the lug II', the longitudinal edge Walls of the recess forming spaced stops I in the path of the- A conductor 41 extends through the tubular shaft 40, is insulated therefrom by a tube 48 of insulating material, and is connected at its forward end with a rotatable contact memberL 49, which as here shown comprises an enlarged end portion of a short conducting tube 50, the rear portion of which extends through the beveled gear 42, and is rigidly secured to the gear andthe forward end of the shaft 40. The diameter of the enlarged portion of the contact member 49 is such that it rotates in contact with the contact member 29 in the tubular stud I8, a spring 5I acting on the insulating bushing 30 to maintain the contact 29 in engagement with the rotatable contact 49. At its rear end the shaft 48 extends into the cavity 33 and has connected therewith and insulated therefrom a rotatable contact member. In the present construction this contact member comprises a spool-like body of insulating material 52, Fig'. 8, having a longitudinal slot 52' and having parallel openings 53 through which eX- tend the bifurcated end portions 54 of the shaft. Mounted about the sleeve of insulating material is a band 55 of conducting material, the ends 56 of which are bent into the slot 52 and between the bifurcated portions of the shaft at one side of the latter. The rear end of the conductor 41 extends through a central opening in the spool A52 Aand is bent laterally into the end of the slot 52' and then forwardly between the inturned ends 56 of the band and is rigidly secured to the latter,

as by soldering, as shown at 51, the arrangement being such that the outer surface of the part 51 of the conductor is substantially flush with the cylindrical surface of the band. The bifurcated end portion of the shaft extends beyond the rotatable contact member 55 and into the hub of the gear 43 and is connected with the hub for rotation therewith by a pin 58 extending through the hub and between the two arms of the bifurcated portion of the shaft.

Mounted in the cavity 33 in the handle is a switch which, in the form here shown, comprises a casing of insulating material formed in two parts 59 and 66 shaped to fit into the cavity 33 immediately below the rotatable contact 5f. Mounted in the lower portion of the body 59 of the casing is a conducting member 6I having means, such as a looped portion 62, by which it may be connected with a conductor 63 leading to a source of current exterior of the handle. The connecting member 6I is bent about a raised portion 64 of the bottom wall of the part 59 of the casing and has a flat upper surface. The bottom wall of the part 60 of the switch casing is provided with a raised portion 65 the flat upper surface of which is substantially in the plane of the upper surface of the conducting member 6I. Mounted in the casing is a second conducting member 66 of resilient material, bent upon itself to substantially V-shape and having a lower portion 61 of a width approximating the Width of the space between the upright side walls of the casing and arranged immediately above but out of contact with the conducting member 6I. The upper portion 68 of the member 66 constitutes a brush to engage the rotatable contact member 55, is relatively narrow and preferably has its end turned downwardly slightly as shown at 59. The side walls of the casing, which are preferably molded from plastic material, are provided with projections, one of which is shown at10, and which project into the spaces between the lower part 61 of the member 66 and forwardly extending inclined fingers 61 to support the member 66 in a position in which the upper part of finger 68 extends through an opening in the top wall of' the casing and into engagement with the rotatable contact band 55 on the shaft, and with the lower portion 61 substantially parallel with and spaced from the surface of the fixed con tact member 6I and the parts 64 and 65 of the casing. Slidably supported in the casing between the side walls thereof is a member adapted Ato be moved into and out of a position between the conducting members 6I and 61 and to thus estab- -lish or interrupt the electrical contact between the same and close or open the lamp circuit. As here shown a block shaped structure 'H of insulating material is slidably mounted in the casing and has a relatively thin portion l2 adapted to slide into and out of the space between the meinbers 6I and 67. The part 12 has an opening 'i3 therethrough in which is supported a rotatable contact member Ill, such as a brass ball, of such a diameter that when the block 'H is moved in one direction the spherical member will move between the members 6I and 61 and will be held in firm contact therewith by the resiliency or" the member 6l and thus close the circuit through the lamp. When moved in the other direction the ball will move off the contact member 6l and into engagement with the non-conducting part 65 of the casing and will be held thereon by the part 61 of the member 68, and the circuit will be opened. Preferably the part 61 has a depressed portion 15 which serves to prevent the free movement of the device I I 'M and suicient pressure must be exerted thereon to cause the member 61 to yield before the contact member 14 can be moved from one position to the other position. Sliding movement may be imparted to the block 'Il in any suitable manner but in the present instance a push bar 'I6 extends through openings 'Vi in the side Walls of the handle and through recesses 18 in the rear edges of the side walls of the switch casing and is so connected with the block 'H that the latter will slide therewith, as by providing the block with a recess E9 to receive a part 8l! of the push bar which is of reduced thickness and which provides shoulders on the opposite sides of the block 'Il to cause it to move with the push bar. The push bar is of such length that one or the other of the ends thereof will at all times project beyond the handle so that the switch can be operated from the exterior of the handle. Thus it will be seen that the switch is in constant engagement with the rotatable contact on the shaft and that the lamp circuit is maintained closed in all rotary positions of the lamp about either an axis transverse to the supporting bracket or about an axis extending lengthwise of the bracket.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having now fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a mounting for a spot light, a lamp supporting structure, a handle connected with and extending rearwardly from said structure, having therein a cavity and having a rotatable part, a tubular lamp adjusting shaft rotatable in said structure and extending through said cavity, a contact member secured to and extending circumferentially about an. intermediate portion of said shaft in said cavity and insulated from said shaft, a conductor connected with said contact member and extending through said tubular shaft to connect said contact member With a lamp supported on said structure, a gear ro- 6 tatably supported in said handle and drivingly connected with said shaft in the rear of said contact member, a second gear in said handle meshing with the first mentioned gear and drivingly connected with said rotatable part of said handle,

and a switch mounted in said cavity having a part to yieldably engage said contact member and having means operable from the exterior of said handle to connect said part of said switch with and disconnect the same from a source of electric current.

2. In a mounting for a spot light, a lamp supporting structure, a handle connected with and extending rearwardly from said structure, said handle having therein a cavity and a bearing at the rear end of said cavity, a rearwardly facing gear rotatably supported in said bearing, a tubular lamp adjusting shaft extending through said supporting structure and said cavity and CAZ connected with said gear for rotation thereby, a substantially cylindrical insulating member on said shaft in said cavity, a band of conducting material extending about and supported on said insulating member, a conductor connected with said band and extending through said shaft to connect said band with a lamp on said supporting structure, a conducting member engaging said band, means operable by the hand which grasps said handle to connect said conducting member with a source of electric current, and a second gear in said handle meshing with the first mentioned gear, said handle having a rotatable part operatively connected With said second gear.

3. In a mounting for a spot light, a lamp supporting structure, a handle comprising a part supported byv said structure, and having a cavity therein, and a rotatable part, a tubular lamp adjusting shaft rotatable in said structure and having a bifurcated rear end portion extending into the cavity in said handle, an insulating member on said shaft having openings through which the arms of said bifurcated portion extend, a conducting band extending about said insulating member and rotatable therewith, a conductor connected with said band and extending through said shaft to connect said band with a lamp supported by said structure, a switch in said cavity including a contact member having a part engaging said band, a second contact member and a device operable from the exterior of said handle for electrically connecting said contact members, and means for drivingly connecting the rotatable part of said handle with said shaft in the rear of said insulating member.

PAUL F. EARLY.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,702,772 Gross Feb. 19, 1929 1,747,739 Sklarek 1 Feb. 18, 1930 1,756,531 Aldeen et al. Apr. 29, 1930 1,921,784 Sklarek Aug. 8, 1933