US2593784A

US2593784A - Flashlight structure

Info

Publication number: US2593784A
Application number: US162185A
Authority: US
Inventors: Curt E Nyberg
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1950-05-16
Filing date: 1950-05-16
Publication date: 1952-04-22
Anticipated expiration: 1969-04-22

Description

Ill

11v VEN TOR.

A ril 22, 1952 c. E. NYBERG FLASHLIGHT STRUCTURE Filed May 16, 1950 .member I 6.

Patented Apr. 22, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,593,784 :FLASHLIGHT STRUCTURE Curt EjNyberg, Chicago, Ill.

Application May 16, 1950, Serial No. 162,185

This invention relates to a flashlight struc vture, and is particularly useful in the alternate production of steady light and intermittent flashing light.

Aniobject of the invention is-to provide a flashlight structure of compact arrangement in which alight bulb may be caused to give a steady light :or an intermittent flashing light by selective movement of the light structure. A further object is to provide in such a structure means for 4 Claims. (c in-32's Cit ment of the movable element the flashlight may be converted from an intermittently flashing light to "a steady light, or vice versa. Yet another object is to provide in such a flashlight structure means for providing a plain or colored light whereby the light is useful as an ordinary flashlight or as a warning light etc. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated in a single embodiment, by the accompanying drawing, in -which' Fig. l is a perspective view of a flashlight structure embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a vertical sectional view; Fig. 3, a broken detail sectional view, the section being taken as illustrated at line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a broken detail sectional View, the section being taken as indicated at line 4-4 of Fig.2; and the contacts being shownin ofi or non-contacting position; Fig. 5, a view similar to Fig. .4 but showing one of the contacts in the position for producing an intermittent flashin'g'lig'ht; Fig. 6, a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing a different contact in engagement with the contactof a battery for giving a steadylightyand Fig. 7, a wiring diagram showing the electrical circuits of the device.

In the illustration given, I designates a casing which may be of any suitable shape, and which may be formed of metal, plastic, or any suitable.

In the lower part of the casing are A material. mounted the dry cell batteries II and [2.

spring member I3 is secured to the bottom of the casing and provides a lead between the contact V, I4 at the lower end of battery II and the bot-v tom wall I5 of the battery I2. Thus the batteries are .iconnected in series and the current .is z-adap'ted for flow through battery ll, contact l4,

spring I3, battery l2, and to the upper contact The casing III is apertured at its upper forward end to receive the neck I! of a flashlight casing 18. In the neck I! is mounted a metallic socket I8 "Any suitable current conducting material 2 may be used. A light bulb I9 is provided with a threaded shell 20, which threadedly engages the socket [8 and the shell is provided at its rear with a contact 2|. At the rear of the socket I I3 is an insulated ring 22 of hard rubber, resin .or the like. 7

'To the rear side of the casing I0 is secured a sleeve 23 of insulating material, as shown more clearlyin Fig. 2.

Rotatably mounted in the sleeve 23 is a cartridge or switch element 24. The cartridge consists of a barrel or cylinder preferably formed of insulating material, as, for example, glass, and within the cartridge is mounted a bi-metallic switch element 25 of a well-known construction adapted to open and break the circuit. Such a flasher switch element is of well-known construction, and an example thereof is set out in United States Patent No. 2,074,345.

Mounted upon the rearend of the cartridge or tube 24 is a conductor or contact member 26 having a forwardly-extending tail extension 21. At the forward end of the cartridge 24 is a contact member 28 having a long tail extension 29. Each of the extensions 2"! and 29 may be flared slightl-y outwardly, as indicated more clearly in Figsfli, 5 and 6.

The foremost contact :28 is preferably secured tightly to the insulation ring 22 so that as the heck I1 is rotated, the contact member 28 is also rotated and the cartridge "24 and contact 26 also rotated. The contact 28 is adapted to pass the current therefrom through the'spring 30 to the contact 2| of the'light bulb shell 20.

To support the neck I! for rotation, I'provide a spring bracket 3|, which may be secured by a "rivet to the u er wall of the casing III, the bracket '31 having rounded arm extensions 32 for engaging the neck or barreI H. The bracket or strap 3| also abuts a ring 33 formed by indenting the shell I I outwardly and thus prevents outward movement of the shell H. The ring 33 also engages the upper wall of the battery I I to provide for the flow of current'fro'm' the socket It to the battery.

Mounted in the light casing I8 is a, clear lens 34. Hing'edly mounted upon the outer ring 35 of the casing I8. are the divided lens supports 36 carrying the lens members 31 and 3a. The

lenses

37 and 38 may be colored and may, for example,

Fig. 4 so that'no current flows through the parts and there .-is. .n'o illumination. It the casin should be swung slightly to the right, the tail extension 21 of the contact 26 is brought into an engagement with the contact 16 of battery [2, as illustrated in Fig. 5. The circuit is completed and the current flows through batteries l l and I2 and thence through contact 16, tail extension 21, contact 25, and thence through the bi-metallic structure 25, contact 28, spring 30, and contact 2 I, and thence through the shell 20 and the filament of the light bulb, back through the socket l8 to the wall of the battery I I.

If the casing i8 is rotated in the opposite direction, the tail extension 29 is brought into engagement with the contact I6 of battery l2 and this causes a flow of current from the contact l6 of battery 12 directly to the contact 28, thus by-passing the bi-metallic element 25. A steady light is thus produced. When a steady light is produced,- the hinged members 36 may be swung outwardly, as shown in Fig. 2. When the light is operated as an intermittent flashing light, the lenses 3'! and 38 may be swung to closed position so that a red flashing light serves as a warning.

The driver of an automobile may thus use the flashlight as an ordinary flashlight and for the purposes of illumination or, if an accident has occurred and his car stands at the edge of the pavement, he may place the flasher light in operation so that it is visible through the rear window of the car, with the red lenses in position, as shown in Fig. 2, so that approaching cars will be warned. The cartridge device 24, with its contacts, may be supported for longitudinal movement. I prefer, however, to employ a structure as shown in which a slight rotary movement effects a selection of the spaced contacts to bring about either a flashing or steady light. By providing the tail extension for the contact 28 and also for the contact 26, the two contacts are arranged above the battery contact l6 so that a slight tilting movement enables the selection to be made as to the' type of light desired.

While in the foregoingspecification I have set forth a single structure in considerable detail for the purpose of illustrating my invention, it will be understood that such details of structure may be varied widely by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a flashlight structure, a casing provided with an opening, a, battery power supply therein having plus and minus contacts, a light bulb, a light bulb support member insaid casing and in engagement with one of said battery contacts, a flashlight casing provided with an opening and enclosing said light bulb and a, portion of said support member, said casing having a cylindrical portion received within a circular opening of said casing for rotation therein, said support member having a steady light contact and a flasher contact, at least one of said support member contacts having a tail extension, and a bimetallic flasher switch between said support contacts to cause intermittent flashing of the light when the current flows through said flasher contact, said member being rotatable to bring said tail extension and the other support contact into engagement selectively with the other of said battery contacts to complete the circuit therewith, whereby when the circuit is completed with one of said support contacts the light bulb gives a steady light and when the circuit i completed with the flasher contact of said support the light bulb is -caused give an intermittent flashing of light.

2. In a flashlight structure, a casing provided with an opening, a pair of batteries connected in series Within said casing, a light bulb support member having a cylindrical portion received within a circular portion of said casing for rotation therein, spaced contacts carried by said support member, at least one of said contacts having a tail extension, an electric light bulb in said support, a bimetallic flasher switch between said contacts to cause intermittent flashing of the light when the current flows through one contact, said support when rotated in one direction bringing one of said contacts into engagement with the battery contact and when rotated in the opposite direction bringing the other of said contacts into engagement with the battery contact to thus cause a flow of current selectively through either of said contacts, and a flashlight casing provided with an opening and enclosing said light bulb and a portion of said support and being equipped with clear and with movably-mounted colored lenses.

3. In a flashlight structure, a casing provided with an opening, a battery power supply therein having plus and minus contacts, a flashlight bulb rotatably mounted in said casing, a support for said light bulb within said flashlight casing and extending rearwardly thereof, said support providing at its front a contact between the light bulb casing and one of said battery contacts, said support being provided also with spaced inner and outer contacts, a bimetallic flasher switch interposed between said inner and outer contacts, spaced conductors leading from said inner and outer contacts and adapted to be brought selectively into engagement with the other of said battery contacts upon movement of said flashlight casing, whereby when the circuit is completed with the flasher contact of said support the light bulb is caused to give an intermittent flashing of light.

4. In a flashlight structure, a casing provided with an opening, a battery power supply therein having plus and minus contacts, a flashlight casing provided with an opening and rotatably mounted in said first-mentioned casing, a light bulb supported therein, means connecting the casing of said light bulb to one of said battery contacts, a pair of spaced contacts connected to said light bulb, movable switch means for selectively connecting each of said pair of contacts with the other contact of said battery power supply, and a bimetallic flasher switch extending between one of said pair of contacts and said light bulb, whereby when the circuit is completed with one of said pair of contacts the light bulb givesa steady light and when the circuit is completed with the other of said contacts the current is passed through said flasher switch to give an intermittent flashing of light.

CURT E. NYBERG.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,090,293 Haines Aug. 17,1937 2,104,911 Snyder Jan. 11, 1938 2,165,562 Mack et a1 July 15, 1939 2,171,349 Wiley Aug. 27, 1939 2,491,914 Anderson 1 Dec. 20, 1949