US2655593A - Lamp clip for dry cells - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 13, 19.53 M. o. FREDRlcKsoN 2,655,593

LAMP CLIP FOR DRY CELLS Filed Sept. 21, 1951 |514 EG. C;

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NW6/Mi @frag/MEMS Patented Oct. 13, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.`

LAMP CLIP FOR DRY CELLS Milton 0. Fredrickson, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application September 21, 1951, Serial No. 247,633 4 claims. (o1. 24o-10.61)

This invention relates to an inexpensive electric lamp and dry cell combination, and to a clip for mounting the lamp on a dry cell so that the lamp may be energized thereby.

A primary object oi the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive clip that can be readily applied to a dry cell and which will serve to support an electric lamp thereon so that the lamp may be energized thereby In this manner, a dry cell and lamp may optionally be converted into either a. steadily burning lamp or into a flashlight by the application of the clip to the dry cell and positioning of the lamp thereon.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a clip for mounting lamps on dry cells which is very easily and extremely economical to manufacture and which may bey readily applied to a dry cell and which, when in applied position, will serve to sturdily hold the lamp in a, position so as to be energized by the dry cell. The improved clip is so constructed that it may be readily removed frozn one dry cell and applied to another when a dry cell becomes exhausted.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be made manifest in the following detailed description and specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference is had to the accompanying drawing for an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dry cell showing an electric lamp mounted thereon by means of one form of clip embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a slight- 1y alternative form of clip that may be emp-loyed;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating another alternative form of construction;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially upon the line 4 4 upon Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the clip.

Referring to the accompanying drawing wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, II! indicates a conventional dry Cell having a central electric terminal II electrically insulated from the outside case or outside terminal l2. In the usual dry cel1 construction the outside terminal I2 is frequently surrounded by a cylindrical cardboard jacket I3, but the presence or absence of such a jacket is not essential insofar as the present invention is concerned. I 4 indicates an electric lamp, the lament of which indicated at I5 is electrically connested to a threaded base I6 within which there is a central terminal I'I. The base I6 and the central terminal I'I are electrically connected to the opposite sides of the lament I5 in accordance with conventional construction.

The clip embodying the present invention consists of a single length of wire centrally bent at I8 to form a loop I9 capable of receiving the threads on the base I6. This loop is shown as having crossed ends 20 and 2| which are slightly spaced from each other in a vertical direction so that the plane of the loop corresponds to the pitch of the threads on the base. It is not essential that the ends of the loop cross each other but the loop should be at least larger than a semi-circle so as to retain the base of the lamp therein. If desired, the loop may be formed of a plurality of superposed turns or windings, a1- though in the usual situation a single turn or loop is sufficient. When the loop is formed of a single turn and has crossed ends the loop may be opened or closed slightly so as to assure a snug t with the threads of the base I6.

The loop I9 which constitutes a socket to receive the base of the lamp has its ends 20 and 2| bent downwardly as depicted in Figs. 1 and 2 to form two spaced arms or lengthwise extending members 22 and 23 which have their lengths arranged approximately parallel to the axis of the socket formed by the loop I9. These lengthwise extending members extend the complete length of the dry cell and as depicted in Figs. 1 and 5, the bottoms of these members are then bent inwardly as at 24 and 25 in a direction extending generally toward the axis of the socket. The terminal portions 24 and 25 are adapted to be positioned beneath the bottom of the dry cell and cooperate with the loop in forming a type of clamp holding the central terminal I'I of the lamp in rm engagement with the central terminal Il.

In the form illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the bottom of the case of the dry cell is exposed and the terminal portions 24 and 25 engage this exposed portion of the case so that the electric cir- Cuit through the filament of the lamp is completed. In the form shown in Fig. 1 and in Fig. 2, the lamp is continuously burning or continuously energized by the dry cell when the clip and lamp are in position thereon. As a means for retaining the clip on the dry cell, sections 28 and 29 of pressure sensitive tape may be employed to adhesively fasten the arms or lengthwise extending members 22 and 23 to the cardboard jacket I3.

In the construction shown in Fig. 2, the terminal portions 24 and 25 are somewhat extended and terminate in hooks 26 and 2l. These hooks may be positioned over a bar or transverse wire B to suspend the dry cell and lamp thereon. For example, in a lantern, such as a Japanese lantern or in a Halloween pumpkin, the lantern or pumpkin, as the case may be, may be equipped with a transverse wire or bar B and the combination suspended therefrom so as to illuminate the lantern.

Whenever the dry cell becomes exhausted the pressure sensitive tapes 28 and '29 may be peeled from the jacket and the clip and lamp removed. As the adhesive on the tapes remains tacky these same tapes may be employed to applythe'clip-and lamp to a fresh dry cell.

In Figs. 3 and 4, an alternative form-'of tconstruction is disclosed Whereinthefjacket .-43.-is removed from the outside case or terminal of the dry cell. The clip and lamp are-'applied thereto but sections 30 and 3| of insulating materialareV interposed between the(Y lengthwise ex- -tcmling members ;22 -and4V 23 to electricallyinsulate these membersfrom thelsides ofthe case. The-:tapesections .28 and 29 may be employed 'which .are-'of such `length as toiextend beyond `the 1endsfof :the insulatingmaterial Iand thus --ffastenfthe clip yand the sections ofinsulating materialto the case. In a similarmanner,A a

disc` of Ainsulating material indicated at. .-32 is interposed; between the bottom of the case and the inwardly-extending portions:Y 24gandi v25.

When the clipnis :applied: in this manner portions; 33-ffand 1341 ofI the lengthwise extending members.22 and-.23 are `disposed closely .adjacent --butdn spaced relation to the outside terminal l2. These portions can-be.-'flexed. byA the application o-.pressure -into engagement with the case \|2,.-thus closing*the-circuit'through the filament of the lamp. 'When these portions are released f their inherent ,resiliencyxreturns themto a. position spaced from-the case, thus automatically opening the circuit. v The flexed'position is shown -in dotted :lines on Fig. 4 and-the full-line .posif. tion shown on Fig; 4 illustratesthe normal posi- -tion occupied by the por-tions.-V 33.-.and 34.

.- this 4-mannerpthe -clip enables a llamp -and dry -cellto be easilyvand quickly converted` intoa ashlight.

In lieu ofremovingthe. jacket l3 and theiapf plication-of the sections -.3IJ vand 3| of insulating material an .opening maybe cut in the A,jacket .-Iluto expesea-portioncofcthe case: -I2 therethe same manner as above-described.

l It .will fbe -appreciated .from-the :above-dea .scribed construction` that a very. simple land inexpensive clip is provided which willV enable-.the

lamp vto-be firmly. mounted on a dry-'cell and yheld inV position so that its central :terminal .l1

is pressed against the central terminal-II.

. .the -two lengthwise extending portions -22 and 23 `are spaced from each otherand -are fastened to theside of the.- dry cell, these portions co- .operateto hold the socket-and consequently the lamp, against .lateral displacement-relative'to 'the dry cell. Optionally, the clipmay be. used to cause the lamp to be continuously energized as depicted in Fig. 1, or to be intermittently energized as-depicted in Figs. 3 .and.4. If desired, the clip may also be employed to suspend the combination from a suspending structure B as depicted in Fig. 2.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit 5 and scope of the invention as dened by the appended claims.

I claim: l. A device of the class described comprising a single length of wire bent to provide a pair lofof .spaced4 parallel lengthwise Aextending members,'the space betweenthe 'members being less than the diameter of a dry cell, one end of each vmember being connected to the other by a loop, lthe` plane'- of which is substantially at right angles to the length of the members forming a-'scketada-pted to receive the base of an elec- .,.tric lamp.. the axis .of the loop being equidistant from the members so that when the members are both held in position against the cylindrical surface of a dry cell, the axis of the loop will coin- -fcide;substantiallyfwiththe. axis-of the vdry cell thus maintaining the central contact ofthe lamp -in line with the-central terminal of the..dry.cell, the free ends of the members extending inwardly x-generally towardthe axis ofthe loop and being ,adapted to. be posi-tionedfbeneath the bottom .of aI dry cell, the-.distance between `.the free` ends and theloop-beingv such that the.centra.l. contact of f theV lamp-twill be --pressed against the central Aterminal of the dry cell.

.Y 2.'.Affdevice offthe classi described comprising a single llength of wire-bent, to--provide-. a. pair of spaced-parallellengthwise .extending .mem- 'bers-yV the space between the; membersbeing. less 'than the diameter-of a dry-cell,.one end ofeach member being connected to the-other by aloop. the plane of which is substantially atright-angles to the length-:ofthe members -vforming asocket adapted -to receive-the baseof` an ,electric lamp, 0 the- -axisof'the -loopbeingequidistant from .the members so that when the-,members--are lboth -held--in--positionagainst-thecylindricalfsurface of a dry cell;-the -axis of the-.loop will vcoincide substantially-withltheaxis-'of the dry cellfthus maintainingfthe-central-contact of the lamp in line with Ythe centralterminalof the dryv cell, .the-freer ends .ofthe members extendinginwardly ,.generallytowardtheaxis ofthe loop and-being adapted to-be-positioned.-beneath the bottom-:of a dry cell,. the.-distance-between the.free ends andthe loop-beingv suchthat the central contact :of the llamp willzbe- -pressed against the .central terminal of the dry cell, the extremeiends'of-the membersterminating--in--hooks by which the de- .-vice-may-be suspended.

3. A device of the class described comprising a f single. length: fofwire-bent ltocprovide a'pair of spaced parallel -length-wise- `extending -mexn- ---'bers-,- the ,space fbetweenf the' members being less 60 than the diameter of a dry-cell, one-endo(V each member being-'connected' to the i other by a loop, the :plane ofwhich is substantially at right-angles to the length -ofthe members-forming a socket adapted--torreceive the base of -an electric lamp, g-the axisotthe loop` beingequidistantrt-romrthe members .so 4 that. when the members are both held- .in position@ againste the cylindricalsurface of a `dry-cell, the axis-of the -lo'op wil-lcoincide substantially with the axis ofthe dry-,ceILthus 'I0-.maintainingthe-,centralcontact of. the lamp in line with the. central terminal of the dry cell,- the extreme ends. fof.. the `.members --terminating r. in hookskby .which the device maybe-suspended.

. 4;.A-,device-rof the class .described `comprising 75. a single` length ofv wire bent to.- provide a pair oi spaced parallel lengthwise extending members, the space between the members being less than the diameter of a dry cell, one end of each member being connected to the other by a loop, the plane of which is substantially at right angles to the length of the members forming a socket adapted to receive the base of an electric lamp, the axis of the loop being equidistant from the members so that when the members are both held in position against the cylindrical surface of a dry cell, the axis of the loop will coincide substantially with the axis of the dry cell thus maintaining the central contact of the lamp in line With the central terminal of the dry cell, the free ends of the members extending inwardly generally toward the axis of the loop and being adapted to be positioned beneath the bottom of a dry cell, the distance between the free ends and the loop being such that the central contact of the lamp will be pressed against the central terminal of the dry cell, the extreme ends of the members terminating in hooks by which the device may be suspended, the hooks 6 being substantially diametricallyvopposed to said loop and curved in a direction away from said loop.

MILTON O. FREDRICKSON.

Publication: Popular Mechanics, September 1945, page 126.

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