US2695403A

US2695403A - Flashing flashlight

Info

Publication number: US2695403A
Application number: US389408A
Authority: US
Inventors: James E Stoker; Donald L Messenger
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1953-10-30
Filing date: 1953-10-30
Publication date: 1954-11-23
Anticipated expiration: 1971-11-23

Description

J. E. STOKER ETAL FLASHING FLASHLIGHT Filed Oct. 30, 1953 INVENTORS A ORNEY Nov. 23, 1954 kwith Asubstantially conventional Vflashlight parts to lin alconventional manner .for supplying a foolproofin positioning the parts for fently preferred embodimentL United States Patent fhce FLASHING FLASHLIGHT James E. Stoker, East Springfield, and Donald L. Messenger, Girard, Pa.

Application ctober 30, 1953, Serial No. 389,403

v7 Claims. (Cl. 346-321) This 'invention relates to 'a novel flashing flashlight andnmore particularly to .afiashing attachment for use provide animproved flashlight capable of. functioning either steady light beam or an. intermittent fiashinglight.

Aprimary object of the presentinvention is to provide Ya `flashlight `having anovel .flashing unitfor producing an intermittent hashing light especially adapted for use in conjunction with the flashlight holder as disclosed in our copending application Serial No. 389,409, led Getober 30, 1953.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a i'lashlighthavinU a flashing unit of extremely simple construction associated therewith and including a separate switch means lfor energizing the flashlight to produce a flashing light and which may be moved to a secondary position enabling the flashlight to`be utilized in a conventional manner by the closing of a conventional flashlight switch for providing a steady beam of light.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel flashlight the movement of which is substantially closing an electric circuit through the flashing unit thereof.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawing, illustrating a presthereof, and wherein:

Figure l is a longitudinal Aide elevational view, partly in section, of the improved flashlight;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view thereof taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 2 2 of Figure l and with the detachable flashing unit removed;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view looking toward the inner side of the lower portion of the flashlight casing as seen in Figures l and 2;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view through the rear portion of the ashlight taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 4 4 of Figure l, and on an enlarged scale;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view, partly in elevation taken through a portion of the forward end of the flashlight, and

Figure 6 is a diaaramamtic view illustrating the electric circuit of the flashlight.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, the novel combination flashlight in its entirety and comprising the invention is designated generally 8 and includes a flashlight barrel or casing, designated generally 9, adapted to house any desired number of conventional dry cell oatteries 1d, mounted therein in a conventional manner, two of which have been illustrated. The barrel 9 has an enlarged threaded forward end 11 constituting a part of the head thereof and an opposite threaded end 12 which may be of slightly reduced diameter. A conventional reflector 13 is disposed in the head portion 11 electrically insulated from the barrel 9, as illustrated in Figure 5, and contains a conventional light bulb 14. of the type employed in flashlights, one contact of which is electrically connected in a conventional manner to the forward positive contact of the fcrwardmost battery 1t), and the other contact of which is in electrical contact with the reflector 13, as illustrated in Figure 6. Said reflector 13 is formed of an electrical conducting material and constitutes a part of each electric circuit of the flashlight, as will hereinafter be described. A conventional flashlight switch 15 is mounted on the barrel 9 and has one yand 25 which are insulated from said barrel.

2,695,403 Patented Nov. 23, 1954 'contact 16 thereof electrically connected to the barrel 9,

which is formed of electrical conducting material, and its other contact 17 electrically insulated from the barrel V9 `and connected to the reflector 13'by a conductor strip 18,

V,convolution of the s rin Ztl bears a ainst the rear, negative end ofthe rear dry cell battery l@ and makes electrical contact therewith. A strip of electrical conducting niaterial 22 extends longitudinally along a part of the rear portion of the barrel 9 and is disposed on the inner lside thereof and Velectrically insulated therefrom by a strip of electrical insulating material 23 which is disposed between the conductor strip 22and the barrel 9. The

strips

22 and 23 are secured to the barrel 9 by fastenings 24 One end of the conductor strip y22 is disposed in the open rear end 12 and is spaced from an intermediate, adjacent convolution of the conductor spring 2li. rlhe insulating strip 23 extends forwardly beyond the forward end of the conductor strip 22 and has a forward portion disposed beneath a conductor strip 25, a rear portion of which is anchored in the barrel 9 by a fastening 27, corresponding to the fastening 25. The other end of the conductor strip 26 yieldably bears against and makes contact with the reflector 13, similarly to the forward end of the conductor strip 13. The

fastenings

25 and 27 have studs 28 which project from the outer ends thereof and outwardly with respect to the barrel 9 and which form mounting posts and electrical conductors which engage in bores or recesses 29 in the end portions of a conventional flasher unit 31 of the type as disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,388,- 712. The posts 28 make electrical Contact with electrical conductor portions 3i? which line the bores or recesses 29.

As best illustrated in Figure 4, a leaf spring 32 formed of electrical conducting material has one end secured by a fastening 33 to the outer side of an intermediate convolution of the spring 2l), which is located adjacent the conductor strip 22. The strip 32 extends circumferentially of said convolution and has an opposite outwardly bowed free end 34.

The forward end 11 of the barrel 9 preferably is closed by and supports a lens 38, corresponding to the lens 38 as describedin detail our copending application, previously refered to, and which lens includes a front wall 39 formed of a clear transparent material, an outer side wall 4t) and a rear wall 41, which walls 49 and 41 are preferably formed of a colored transparent or translucent maferial. The lens 38 which is preferably formed of a plastic also includes a threaded inwardly extending annular flange 42 which threadedly engages in the head portion 11 and the wrench land portion 45. However, it is to be understood that a conventional flashlight lens and retaining ring could be substituted for the lens 38.

The flasher unit 31 constitutes a female unit or socket which is removably applied to the two posts or prongs 28 similar to the attachment of a conventional electric socket to an electric plug, and said flasher unit 31 is supported by engagement with the prongs or posts 28. The cap 19 of insulating material and the coil spring 20 and leaf spring 32, carried thereby, constitute a switch of the auxiliary flasher circuit. When the cap 19 is tightened to its full extent on the threaded rear end 12 of the barrel 9, as illustrated in Figure l, the outwardly bowed free end 34 of the contact leaf spring 32 will be disposed in engagement with the conductor strip 22, as illustrated in Figures l and 6 and in full lines of Figure 4, so that an electric circuit will be completed from the coil spring 20 through the battery or batteries 1), bulb 14, reflector 13, strip 25. flasher unit 31, strip 22 and the spring 34 back to the spring 2f) for energizing the bulb 14. However, the unit 31 will cause an intermittent energizing of the bulb 14 to produce a flashing light which will be emitted through the

lens walls

39, 40 and 41. This circuit is clearly illustrated in Figure 6, diagrammatically.

By backing olf the cap 19 from its fully tightened position of Figure 1, a portion of a complete turn, the leaf spring 34 is moved out of contact with the conductor strip 22 interrupting the aforedescribed asher circuit. When the spring portion 34 moves out of contact with the conductor strip 22, the resiliency of the spring 32 causes said portion 34 to spring outwardly and into engagement with the inner surface of the barrel portion 12, as illustrated in dotted lines in Figures 4 and 6. When thus disposed, the switch 15 can be operated in a conventional manner for energizing the light bulb 14, when said switch is closed, to provide a steady beam as is conventional in flashlights. When the flashing circuit previously described is again desired, it is only necessary to fully tighten the cap 19 whereby the flashing circuit will be completed and maintained until the cap is again backed ol as previously described. Thus, as the ashing light is usually employed in an emergency and where haste is required, the user is not required to adjust the cap 19 until the ashing circuit is established and can insure immediate establishment of the flasher circuit by merely turning the cap to a fully tightened position. Obviously, when the spring 32 is in its dotted line position of Figure 4 and the conventional switch 15 is in an open position, the flashlight is completely deenergized.

Obviously, the flashlight 8 may be of various sizes and may be supplied with current by one or any desired number of dry cell batteries 10.

Various other modifications and changes are likewise contemplated and obviously may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter delined by the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

l. In a ashlight of the character described, a cap of electrical insulating material threadedly connected to the rear end of a ashlight barrel of electrical conducting material and supporting a coil spring in electrical contact with a dry cell battery of the flashlight and electrically insulated from the flashlight barrel, an auxiliary iashing circuit including a asher unit, said auxiliary circuit having electrical contact with the flashlight bulb, and an electrical conductor element forming a part ot said auxiliary flasher circuit electrically connected to and carried by said coil spring and movable into and out of engagel ment with another conductor element of the auxiliary circuit by rotation of the cap for energizing said auxiliary circuit to intermittently energize the flashlight bulb when the cap is rotated to a position to cause said conductor element to engage said other conductor element of the auxiliary circuit.

2. In a flashlight as in claim l, said first mentioned conductor element comprising a leaf spring having one end secured to a convolution of the coil spring and disposed on the outer side and circumferentially thereof,

said leaf spring having a. free end spring biased into engagement with said last mentioned conductor element and being spring biased outwardly into engagement with the flashlight barrel When the cap is turned to move the leaf spring to a position circumferentially spaced from said last mentioned conductor element to form an electrical connection between the coil spring and the ashlight barrel.

3. A ashlight as in claim l, said irst mentioned conductor element being disposed relatively to the coil spring to engage said last mentioned conductor element when the cap is moved to a fully tightened position on the rear end of the flashlight barrel.

4. in a flashlight as in claim l, said auxiliary hashing circuit including spaced conductor posts electrically insulated from one another and from the ashlight barrel and projecting outwardly from the ashlight barrel, and said flasher unit having socket portions engaging said posts and electrically connected thereto for forming an electrical circuit through the flasher unit between said posts, said posts demountably supporting the flasher unit on the flashlight and externally of the flashlight barrel.

5. ln a flashlight as in lclaim 4, said last mentioned conductor element being electrically connected to one of said posts, and a third conductor element of the auxiliary ashing circuit electrically connected to the other post and to the flashlight bulb.

6. In a llashlight of the character described, an auxiliary flasher circuit electrically connected to a llashlight bulb and electrically insulated from a flashlight barrel of electrical conducting material, said auxiliary circuit including a flasher unit demountably supported externally of the llashlight barrel, a capV of electrical insulating material threadedly connected to the rear end of the liashlight barrel and supporting a coil spring of electrical conducting material in contact with a battery of the ashlight and electrically insulated from the flashlight barrel, and an electrical conductor element connected to said coil spring forming a part of said auxiliary flashing circuit and movable with the coil spring by rotation of the cap into or out of electrical contact with another part of said auxiliary llashing circuit for completing an electric circuit to the ilashlight bulb when said conductor element is in engagement with said last mentioned part of the asher circuit.

7. In a flashlight as in claim 6, said conductor element being spring biased into engagement with the flashlight barrrel when moved to a position circumferentially spaced from said last mentioned part of the auxiliary flashing circuit for interrupting said auxiliary flashing circuit and for completing an electrical connection between said coil spring and the flashlight barrel.

No references cited.