US2729740A - Hermetically sealed flashlight - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 3, 1956 J D I 2,729,740

HERMETICALLY SEALED FLASHLIGHT Filed Jan. 9, 1952 1 '4 Z x 11 a; 11 74 I N V EN TOR. Jeramz Elm 11s United States Patent HERMETICALLY SEALED FLASHLIGHT Jerome I. Davis, Croton-on-Hudson, N. Y., asslgnor to P. R. Mallory & Co., Inc., Indianapolis, Ind., a corporation of Delaware Application January 9, 1952, Serial No. 265,596

11 Claims. (Cl. Mil-10.66)

'This invention relates generally to battery-operated electric flashlights and is specifically directed to such devices including means and methods for providing disposable, portable flashlights which are hermetically sealed against moisture and gases.

The present flashlight invention is directed toward a hermetically sealed flashlight unit which can be operated safely in the presence of explosive gases and can function either intermittently or continuously, as the necessity becomes apparent. The flashlight includes an internal switch mechanism which is unattached to the outer casing thereof and thus eliminates the necessity for sealing usually required in the use of threaded or riveted assemblies.

Such a flashlight, which is hermetically sealed against conditions of moisture, is especially adapted for utilization under conditions of extreme physical hazard and climatic environment. The present novel flashlight has been uniquely constructed so that each individual unit or component thereof is directed toward an overall purpose of affording an inexpensive, disposable, long-life type of flashlight.

The utility of such a flashlight under battle or maritime conditions is apparent from the novel configuration and the rugged construction thereof, wherein such a flashlight is made impervious to all climatic conditions, including submersion and proximity to explosive gases or substances.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved flashlight including a battery, an electric light and switching mechanism as a complete unitary device, the components of which have been constructed in a manner such as to allow their use in the presence of moisture or explosive gases.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a portable flashlight wherein the case and switch mechanism ifs-inexpensive enough so that it becomes economical to dispose of the entire unit on the completion 'of the life of the battery used thereby.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide in a portable, hermetically sealed flashlight unit, a battery and bulb light combination whose service life is substantially equal, so that upon the complete usage of the battery, the entire unit may be discarded without loss in economy.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a flashlight which may be submerged in a liquid without affecting the utility thereof and which can function either intermittently or continuously owing to the provision of a novel switch included in the flashlight assembly.

Still another object of the present invention is to pro- Vide a disposable flashlight unit for use in various atmospheres and climates and/or conditions of extreme rough handling without affecting the efficiency or operation thereof.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a novel flashlight assembly unit which is readily and efficiently manufactured at a cost allowing for the disposition thereof after complete usage of the battery utilized therein.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical, cross-sectional view of the present invention adapted to illustrate the novel constructional features thereof, and as pertinent in showing the rugged, simple and efficient construction thereof;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view useful in illustrating the rugged construction of the assembly and also in showing the compact arrangement of the several components thereof, together with the disposition of the novel switch mechanism utilizable therein;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1, as adapted to illustrate the internal arrangement of the front section of the flashlight and as used to illustrate the conformity of the components therein so as to show the hermetically sealed arrangement thereof;

Fig. 4 is a profile view of the complete hermetically sealed disposable flashlight of the present invention illustrating and depicting pictorially the assembly of the flashlight within its rubber outside casing; and

Fig. 5 is a telescopic view of the flashlight assembly, per se,-as cooperatively arranged with respect to its battery component and showing the interlocking and eflicient coupling of the various components to form a unitary struc ture.

Generally speaking, the hermetically sealed flashlight of the present invention, as hereinafter described, comprises an inside flashlight unit made of several interlocking individual components which are surrounded by a thin sheath or casing of resilient material which may be of a thin plastic or rubber fabric construction. The inside unit or flashlight, per se, has many features of individual construction which permit the interlocking of its individual components in a mutually tightly engaging manner, without the necessity of cumbersome and costly means of fitting the several parts together.

The front end of the flashlight, or the light dispersal portion, is mounted upon the battery generating means of the flashlight so as to include the same therewithin in an essentially inextricable manner. A switch mechanism of novel and simple construction is provided so as to be retained in one of the components of the flashlight in intimate engagement at one end thereof with the battery. The

other end of the switch-engaging mechanism, by the construction of the mechanism, is adapted to provide the circuit completion means necessary so as to allow the lighting of the lamp carried at the front end of the flashlight. The

individual construction of the switch mechanism provides In the construction of the front end of the flashlight, the 1 lens portion which covers the lamp of a flashlight provides a front shoulder means which, as will appear hereinafter, allows the resilient casing to be maintained in a substantially rigid manner over the entire length of the flashlight. The flashlight, then, including the portion covering the lamp, may be mounted within the resilient casing without the necessity of the lens portion being carried or supported in the outer resilient casing as is the situation as shown by several patents, for example, Patent No. 2,234,972 of the prior art. The lens or lamp covering portion may be simply cemented to the outside casing in any desired fashion so as to provide a waterproof seal therebetween.

It is apparent, therefore, that the unique construction shown by the present invention supersedes the prior art and is a great improvement thereover, since the construction affords a disposable unit, in contradistinction to any of the replaceable battery units shown by the prior art. The internal construction of the flashlight, per se, as distinguished from the external jacket or casing, provides a rugged and simple means of maintaining an essentially sturdy, yet compact, assemblage wherein the external configuration of a slim, cylindrical, hermetically sealed flashlight is shown, yet wherein each of the individual parts may be fabricated as efiiciently and economically as possible without utilizing unnecessary materials and parts.

Referring now to the figures of the drawings, the complete improved disposable and hermetically sealed flashlight of the invention is generally characterized by reference numeral 10. As shown, the flashlight has a resilient casing or outer covering 11 which may be fabricated of a waterproof plastic or rubber material and is adapted to include the flashlight per se, shown by reference numeral 12 therewithin. The flashlight 12 has a transparent cap or lens portion 13 adapted to be fitted over the electric lamp of the flashlight 14. The lamp of the flashlight 14 is carried in a metal bulb contact means 15 which, in turn, is supported within a bulb retainer 16. This bulb retainer 16 is adapted, as hereinafter described, to slideably fit over the topmost portion of battery 17 in the flashlight in an essentially inextricable manner and is seated thereupon.

The switch mechanism comprises a spring 18 having.

shell through a slot IO-formed in bulb retainer 16 and to suitably engage bulb contact 15 as desired for intermittcnt or continuous operation thereof at its topmost end 21 by stressing or contraption of predetermined portions of spring switch 38. Between the lamp of the flashlight and the central terminal 2290f the battery, a contact coil spring 23 is positioned which is also slideably fitted within a concentric aperture or bore 24 formed in bulb retainer 16. In this manner, the several components are interfitted so as to comprise a complete, integrally coupled flashlight unit which is adapted to be hermetically sealed within the outside casing in the construction of the present novel flashlight assembly.

One of the features providing for the compact and sturdy construction of the flashlight is evidenced in the utilization of the bulb retaining means 16 as stated above, and which is adapted to be placed on the flashlight battery. The bulb retainer 16 of the flashlight may be of an integrally molded construction having a top U-shaped socket or head portion 25 adapted to carry the bulb contact 15 therein, and a neck portion 26 integrally molded and connected thereto affecting a keyhole configuration whose eyelet aperture 27 allows for the contact spring 23 to be inserted therewithin and to penetrate therethrough so as to make electrical contact with the bulb as maintained by the bulb contact means in the head of the bulb retainer. Connected to the neck portion 26 and unitarily formed therewith, is a skirt portion 30 which fits over the flashlight battery so as to allow the same to be firmly contained therewithin for .a considerable extent so that a substantially. rigid seat may be established for the entire bulb retainer, and so that in actuality a completely interfitted unit is provided among the several components, and specifically between the bulb and the battery. A slot having two sections 31, 31 is formed or cut out of the bulb retainer for a length which traverses the entire extent thereof, with the exception of a small land portion 32 having an aperture or slit 20 cut horizontally therethrough so as to allow the contact making spring or switch 1b to go through and be supported thereby while the same lies flatly within the slot formed in bulb retainer 16, with the land portion thus being adapted to firmly maintain and hold the portion of the switch spring therein so as to substantially adapt and conform the same without unnecessary movement within the slot traversing the entire bulb retainer.

It is to be seen that the neck and head portion of the bulb retainer has less of a cross-sectional diameter than a the skirt portion to which it is integrally molded so that a shoulder 33 is formed therebetween corresponding to the differential thickness thereof. This shoulder portron 33, together with the slit formed horizontally in land portion 32, and which is cut through the shoulder portion of the bulb, is adapted to act as a mounting means or bearing surface to rigidly maintain the contact spring or switch means against the face 34 of shoulder 33. As is seen, a portion 35 of the spring 18 is bent substantially at right angles to the shoulder surface thereof to generally conform to its configuration for a small part of its difference thickness lying between the head and neck. The spring 18, which is constructed as a flat ribbon, has a main portion 19 overlying the battery 17 and making electrical contact with its shell, and also has a third portion 36 sloped at an angle away from the preceding portion of the spring that is bent at right angles to the main portion along the shoulder surface above described. Thus, this third portion 36 slopes at an angle from the second portion and has a terminus 37 at a point near the juncture of the head and neck portions of the bulb retainer. At this point, the flat ribbon spring is returned in a U-shaped manner back on itself by having a fourth portion 39 thereof bent and angulated at substantially degrees to the sloped portion of the spring. From this bent portion, a. small portion 40 of the spring is unitarily connected to the preceding U portion of the spring, but is bent in a plane substantially similar to the slope of the spring as priorly described. Integrally connected and joined to this latter portion of the spring, another portion 41 thereof is formed by again bending the spring in a U-shaped manner, substantially in the same plane as that of the first U-shaped bent portion, so as to return the spring in a direction toward the bulb contact means. Joined to this latter U-shaped portion is a bowed section of the spring 42 unitarily formed therewith, which is maintained in a resilient are above the bulb contact means. At the topmost point or end of this bowed section is a tongue portion 43 which is bent in a hooked shape manner with reference to the bowed portion of the spring, and which is adapted to cooperate with a detent means 44 in .the bulb contact as hereinafter described, so that it will interlock with this detent means to provide the completion of electrical circuit between the battery and the bulb contained in the bulb contact in either a continuously operating or intermittently operating manner.

Thus there has been provided a simple construction of a unitarily formed switching means constructed of a single ribbon of electrical contact material which, being uniquely formed in a sinuated construction, is adapted to provide, because of the several unitarily connected sections thereof, a sturdy, eflicient and practical switch means wherein the natural resiliency of the construction and the inherent stress and contraction characteristics of the material being used are adapted to provide the operating means of obtaining the necessary switch movement to positively make or break an electrical circuit established between the battery and the flashlight bulb.

In order to adapt the components of the flashlight in a tightly fitting manner, including considerations for rigidly and ruggedly maintaining the lamp of the flashlight within its associated lamp contact, and further to substantially and solidly maintain the spring switch mechanism in efiicient engagement between the battery and the bulb contact, the molded construction of the bulb retaining means, which has been seen to uniquely adapt each of the individual components for its conceived operation in the entire assembly, has grooves molded therein, for example, lengthwise to assume a keyhole configuration or crosswise to provide shoulder means which can be used for supporting .the switch mechanism or, in addition, the lens cap which is slideably mountable over the bulb retaining means.

To support the flashlight lamp in an upright manner at the front of the flashlight, there is constructed a bulb contact means 15 which is adapted to provide an electrical connection to the brass terminal of the lamp itself, and which is further adapted to be snugly inserted within the head. or socket portion 25 of the bulb retainer 16. As seen, the socket portion of the bulb retainer has a moulded cradle-like configuration having a pair of individual bowed side walls 48, 48' which are integrally connected to the bottom wall 50 thereof by means of a pair of dependent side walls 49, 49', respectively. The bulb contact means 15 may be stamped out of a single thin sheet of metal and is bent to a similar cradle-like configuration also having a pair of bowed side walls 51, 51 from which may extend a pair of dependent side walls or flanges 52, 52'. The bulb contact cradle is thus adapted to be fitted within the cradle of the bulb retainer and to be retained therein by means of the natural resiliency of its metal cradle which snugly ,hugs the side walls of the retainer socket so as to be tightly held therewithin. At the top of the bulb contact, further, there is struck out an ear or detent 44 having an edge 45 which, when the front tongue 43 of the switch spring is slid thereunder by means of pressing the aforesaid switch spring at the front thereof, locks the same so as to close the circuit between the bulb and the battery in a positive fashion with said spring being retained thereby until, upon proper back retractable pressure being applied, it may be released so as to free the spring tongue of the lip or edge of the ear of the bulb contact means, thus to open the circuit and render the flashlight inoperative.

Contact is made to the central terminal of the battery and to the central terminal of the bulb by means of a contact coil spring connected therebetween and included in the bore portion of the neck section of the bulb retaining means. Thus, when the spring switch member is closed, an electric circuit is completed from the positive electrode of the battery through the switch spring, to the brass terminal of the lamp, through the lamp itself, to the central terminal of the lamp, through the contact coil spring, and thence to the center terminal of the battery. A complete electrical circuit is thus simply, efiiciently and compactly formed with a minimum of parts and fabrication.

To provide a shockproof cover for the lamp and front portions of the flashlight, and further to aid in providing a rigid supporting assembly for the thin flexible plastic or rubber sheath or covering of the flashlight, a moulded plastic unitarily formed cap structure is constructed. By this means, a rigid, slim and compact, cylindrically shaped construction is afforded for the entire flashlight so as to adapt the same for easy utility. Moreover, the cap has a piece cut out lengthwise therefrom so as to form a slot wherein the novel spring switch mechanism of the flashlight device is fitted so as to allow the facile and positive operation of the switching means of the flashlight by mere pressure through the waterproof sheath overlying the same.

This cap structure or cover 13 comprises a moulded hollow sleeve in which a transparent partition or disc 60 is diametrically disposed therein to divide the same into a front 61 and back section 62. The two sections thus formed by means of the transparent disc may be of unequal length, with the front section thereof forming a cup-like configuration smaller in volume than the conjoining back section. The front section or cup has a circumferential side wall 63 extending up from the periphery of the disc, with the disc forming the bottom thereof. The hollow back section 62 of the cap has a greater volume than the front section and has a circumferential side wall dependent 65 from the periphery of the disc partition. This latter circumferential side wall of the back section of the cap is slotted so as to conform the same to the wall structure and configuration of the bulb retainer above described, and to provide for the inclusion therewithin of the switch mechanism of the 6 flashlight. The circumferential side wall of the back section, dependent from the disc, isof a length which brings it somewhat close to the shoulder formed in thebulb retainer with the disc of the cap becoming the top or closure of the back section so as to overlie and protect the bulb of the flashlight, 'which is placed beneath the closure in the bottom section.

The flashlight, per se, comprising the above-described interfitting components, is adapted to be inserted within a waterproof jacket or casing 11. The walls of the waterproof jacket'or casing are fabricated of a thin gauge flexible plastic or rubber material and are unitarily moulded as a one-piece, cylindrical casing having a diametric cross-section that will snugly and conformingly fit over the inside flashlight assembly. Prior to being slipped over the flashlight, the jacket has the top end 70 thereof open, but when the jacket is completely fitted over the flashlight assembly to contain and include the same therewithin, it is seen that the cap of the flashlight has its circumferential side walls tightly abutting the casing at its open end so that a lip 71 of the cup portion of the cap structure is situated near the lip end 72 of the moisture-proof jacket in snug engagement therebetween. Lip 71 may be slightly short of lip 72 so that the longer length of lip 72 provides a hood extending beyond the end of the bulb so as to limit the angle of observation, which in military applications may be important. -The cap of the flashlight is circumferentially and hermetically sealed to the casing at a point near this open end of the casing by using heat, cement or other means to provide a moisture-proof seal between the casing and the cap.

In moulding the jacket, at the end opposite the open portion thereof, a lanyard hole is formed which provides means for passing a hook or line therethrough, should this be desired. Further, as an aid in gripping and retaining the complete flashlight assembly, the waterproof casing has a ribbed portion 84 moulded so as to offer a multiplicity of ribs 81, 81 extending longitudinally for a substantial distance therealong. It is to be noted that the top end of the jacket has a top portion indicated at 82, 82, with portion 82 being slightly rolled, and which joins the lip of the jacket 72 to an intermediate portion 83 connected between it and the ribbed portion 84 of the jacket. The juncture 85 formed between the rolled portion 82 and 82' aids in the snug accommodation or fitting of the casing over the flashlight components. On the intermediate portion 83 of the casing, and situated directly over the spring switch, is a switch covering means 86 which is integrally moulded to the casing and has converging sloped sides 87 and 88 forming a wide angle at their junction. The sloped side 87 nearest the top of the casing has circuit defining means impressed therein denoting where to positively press the same and place it in the operative or on condition, whilethe sloped side 88 nearest the end of the casing denotes where to press the switch to retract the same so as to disconnect the switch and place the flashlight in the off position.

It is manifest that the presently improved, hermetically sealed, disposable flashlight'otfers an ease of assembly providing many economies in the construction thereof. In the assembling of the flashlight, switch spring 18 is inserted into bulb retainer 16 through the slot 20 formed therein. Bulb retainer 16 is then snapped or seated atop battery 17. The contact coil spring 23 is next inserted into bulb retainer 16 through the top thereof. The bulb contact 15 is placed in bulb retainer 16 to be substantially firmly fixed therein, and then the bulb of the flashlight is pressed therewithin. The cap 13 of the flashlight is then pressed over the bulb retainer 16 and the entire unit is then slipped into waterproof casing 11 and suitably hermetically sealed, as by electronically joining the cap to the waterproof jacket. Thus, by this type of bond there is obtained an integral assembly differentiable from the conventional cement seal. Before the flashlight assembly, per se, is put into the waterproof improved, hermetically sealed, disposable flashlight unit,

is merely illustrative and not exhaustive in scope, and

since many widely different embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown (in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In a flashlight device comprising an external, separate waterproof jacket, a flashlight insertable therewithin comprising a battery, a stationary, insulative bulb re tainer having a skirt and shoulder for seating the same on said battery, a flashlight bulb for said flashlight having a pair of electric terminals metal bulb-holding contact means having a detent ear struck out therefrom adapted to be retained by said bulb retaining means, said bulb of said flashlight adapted to be held therewithin, single switch means for said flashlight, a portion of said switch means making electrical contact with the shell of said battery with another portion thereof being adapted to make contact as desired with said detent ear of said bulb contact means, a coil spring conductor held within said bulb retainer connecting one of said terminals of said flashlight bulb with the second connection of said battery, and cap vmeans adapted to be fitted over said bulb retaining means and said flashlight bulb to protect the same, said flashlight jacket being hermetically sealed to said cap means of said flashlight.

2. A flashlight comprising a battery, a stationary, insulated moulded bulb retainer mounted on said battery having a skirt portion including a shoulder seated thereupon, said skirt portion having its side extending for a part of the way therealong, socket means formed at an end of said bulb retainer, a midportion of said bulb retainer moulded to said socket and said skirt portion to form a unitary construction for said bulb retainer, a bulb for said flashlight having a pair of electrical contacts, a metal holder for said bulb adapted to be retained in said bulb retainer, with said bulb supported in said holder and said bulb retainer, a spring switch for said flashlight adapted to be held and supported by said bulb retainer, said spring switch having a sinuated construction having portions bent back on themselves with a portion making electrical contact with the shell of said battery and a top portion thereof adapted to make contact with said metal holder of said flashlight bulb, spring coil electrical connecting means held by said walls of and penetrating said retainer means and interconnecting a contact of said bulb with a terminal of said battery, said switch thus adapted on contact with said metal holder to complete an electrical circuit for said flashlight whereby said bulb is lighted, a lens for said flashlight overlying said metal holder and said flashlight bulb, said lens being supported on said retainer of said flashlight and extending therealong to a point short of said skirt of said retainer, and a waterproof jacket for said flashlight adapted to be inserted over said flashlight, said jacket having an open portion adjacent the flashlihgt lens and means for making hermetic seal therebetween so as to provide a waterproof and hermetically sealed flashlight assembly.

3. A flashlight comprising a long-life battery, a stationary, insulative moulded bulb retainer having a multiplicity of integrally moulded individual portions, one portion thereof adapted to have a U-shaped configuration to provide a bulb-retaining socket means, a midportion having a bore therethrough and a skirt portion including a shoulder adapted to be mounted upon said long-life battery and to be supported thereby, said skirt portion having a slot formed therethrough, a switch comprising a thin metal spring, portions of which are bent in a manner to form a sinuated coction, said spring having an end portion thereof adapted to be fitted within said slot of said skirt so as to make electrical contact with the shell of said battery, a bulb contained in said socket portion of said retainer, said bulb having a pair of contacts, a coil spring passing through said bore of said retainer electrically interconnecting one of said'terminals of said battery of one of said contacts of said bulb, contact-making means integrally formed on said sinuated shaped switch means adapted to be connected to said other contact of said bulb when pressure is exerted on said spring, completing the electrical circuit for said flashlight so as to light the bulb retained in said socket of said retainer.

4. A flashlight comprising a long-life battery, a stationary, insulative moulded bulb retainer having a multiplicity of integrally moulded individual portions, one portion thereof adapted to have a keyhole configuration of a circular head portion substantially centrally connected to a slot to provide a bulb-retaining socket means, a midportion having a bore therethrough and a skirt portion including a shoulder adapted to be mounted upon said long-life battery and to be supported thereby, said skirt portion having a slot formed therethrough, a switch comprising a thin metal spring, portions of which are bent back upon themselves to form a sinuated construction, said spring having an end portion thereof adapted to be fitted within said slot of said skirt so as to make electrical contact with the shell of said battery, a bulb contained in said socket portion of said retainer, said bulb having a pair of contacts, a coil spring passing through said bore of said retainer electrically interconnecting one of said terminals of said battery to one of said contacts of said bulb, a hook integrally formed on said sinuated switch means adapted to be connected to said other contact of said bulb when pressure is exerted on said thin metal spring to complete an electrical circuit for said flashlight so as to light the bulb retained in said socket of said retainer, and a protective cap for said flashlight comprising a hollow cylinder including two portions separated by a partition, said partition overlying said bulb so as to protect the same.

5. A flashlight comprising a battery, a stationary, insulative moulded bulb retainer mounted on said battery having a skirt and a shoulder seated thereupon, said skirt extending for a distance therealong, socket means formed on an end of said bulb retainer opposite said skirt, a midportion of said bulb retainer moulded to said socket and said skirt portion interconnecting the same to form a unitary construction for said bulb retainer, a bulb for said flashlight having a pair of electrical contacts, a metal holder for said bulb adapted to be retained in said bulb retainer means, said holder having an ear struck out therefrom to form a detent above said bulb supported in said holder and said retaining means, a spring switch for said flashlight adapted to be held and supported by said bulb retainer, said spring switch having a sinuated, flat construction with a portion thereof making electrical contact with the shell terminal of said battery and having a lip portion adapted to be retained by said ear of said metal holder of said flashlight bulb, and coil spring connecting means penetrating said retainer means and interconnecting a contact of said bulb with the concentric terminal of said battery, said switch thus adapted on contact with said metal ear of said bulb holder to complete an electrical circuit for said flashlight whereby said bulb is lighted.

6. A flashlight comprising a battery, a one-piece stationary, insulative moulded bulb retainer adapted to be held by said battery, said retainer having a skirt portion extending long said battery for a portion thereof, socket means formed at an end of said bulb retainer opposite said skirt portion, said socket having a keyhole configuration of a round head and centrally connected neck including a bore formed through the center thereof, a separate midportion for said bulb retainer unitarily moulded to said socket and said skirt portion interconnecting the same with a shoulder formed between said midportion and said skirt portion, a bulb for said flashlight having a pair of electrical contacts, a metal holder formed of a sheet of metal and having a cradle-like or bowed configuration adapted to be retained by said bulb retaining means and to further accommodate said light bulb therewithin, said metal holder having a detent struck therefrom at the upper surface thereof adjacent a spring switch formed of a flat metal ribbon having portions thereof overlying each other in a sinuated configuration so as to adapt the same to be stressed and provide a resiliency therefor, said switch adapted to be held and supported by a portion of said skirt of said bulb retainer, a hole formed in the shoulder of said bulb retainer whereby said spring switch may be adapted to fit over the shell of said battery to make electrical contact therewith, a top portion of said switch forming a lip adapted to make contact with said detent of said metal holder and to be retained thereby, and a coil spring placed in the bore of said bulb retainer interconnecting said bulb of said flashlight with a concentric terminal of said battery, said switch thus adapted on making contact with said struck-out portion of said metal holder to complete an electrical circuit for said flashlight, whereby said bulb is lighted on pressure being offered to the top portion of said switch.

7. A flashlight comprising a battery, a stationary, insulative bulb retainer being unitarily moulded and having a keyhole'configuration of a round head and integrally connected neck mounted on said battery and extending for a portion therealong, said retainer comprising a cradle-like or bowed socket portion, a midportion having a bore cut therethrough and connected to said socket portion, an end portion of said bulb retainer connected to said midportion extending therefrom so as to cover said flashlight battery, a light bulb for said flashlight having a pair of contacts, a U-shaped contact means made of metal and adapted to be accommodated within said bulb retaining means, said bulb of said flashlight tittable therewithin so as to be held thereby, switch means supported on said skirt of said retaining means, a portion of said switch means making direct electrical contact with the shell of said battery and having another portion thereof adapted to make contact with a contact on said bulb, and a spring coil penetrating said bore of said midportion of said bulb retainer and connecting one of said terminals of said flashlight bulb with a concentric connection of said battery to complete the electrical circuit when said switch makes contact with said contact means of said flashlight.

8. A disposable, waterproof flashlight as in claim 7, including a cylindrical cap tittable over said bulb to protect the same, said cap having a lip thereon, an openended sheath formed of a waterproof material enveloping said flashlight, with said open end being placed adjacent said lip of said flashlight cap, a hermetic seal made therebetween to render the flashlight impervious to moisture and explosive gases.

9. A waterproof flashlight as in claim 8, wherein said sheath is a moulded construction and comprises a main body portion having a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally therealong for easy fitting thereof, a rolled front portion adapted to snugly overlay said cap of said flashlight and wherein a lanyard hole is integrally formed at an end opposite said rolled portion thereof.

10. A flashlight comprising a battery, a stationary, insulative moulded bulb retainer mounted on said battery, socket means formed on an end of said bulb retainer,v a midportion of said bulb retainer connected to said socket means, a skirt formed at an end opposite said socket of said bulb retainer, a shoulder connecting said skirt of said midportion so as to form a unitary construction for the bulb retainer, a bulb for said flashlight having a pair of electrical contacts, a metal holder for said bulb adapted to be retained in the socket of said bulb retainer, said holder having an ear struck out above said bulb supported in said holder and said bulb retainer, a spring switch for said flashlight adapted to pass through said shoulder of said bulb retainer so as to be held and supported thereby, said spring switch having a flat ribbon-like construction with individual portions thereof being bent back so as to form a sinuated construction having a natural resiliency, one portion of said spring making electrical contact with the shell of said battery, and still another portion of said spring having a tip therefor adapted to fall within said ear of said metal holder so as to lock the same within said ear, and coil spring electrical connection means penetrating said bulb retainer at the center thereof so as to interconnect a contact of said bulb with a concentric terminal of said battery, said switch being adapted when pressed to make contact with said metal ear of said bulb holder so as to complete an electrical circuit for said flashlight whereby said bulb is lighted.

11. A flashlight comprising a battery, a stationary, insulative moulded bulb retainer connected to said battery by means ofa skirt surrounding the same, socket means integrally formed at the end of said bulb retainer to accommodate a metal'bulb contactmeans adapted to receive a bulb for said flashlight, said bulb of said flashlight having a pair of electrical contacts and said metal holder being fabricated of a single sheet of metal to form a bowed cradle-like structure having a circumferential side wall adapted to conform to the shape of said bulb accommodated therewithin, integral means joined to the top of said metal holder so as to form a detent structure and situated adjacent said bulb and being electrically connected to said metal holder, a switch means fabricated of a flat metal ribbon, a portion of which makes direct electrical contact with the shell of said battery and having a lip portion thereof adapted to make contact with said detent means of said metal bulb holder upon pressure being applied to said switch, said switch being thus adapted to be stressed so as to lock said lip portion to said detent of said metal holder, and coil spring electrical connecting means for connecting a contact of said bulb to the concentric terminal of said battery thereby completing an electrical circuit between said bulb and said battery so as to light the bulb thereof.

References Cltedin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,110,110 Compo Sept. 8, 1914 1,971,266 Kingsbury Aug. 21, 1934 2,234,972 Lennan Mar. 18, 1941 2,296,287 Leyde Sept. 22,-1942 2,385,640 Packer et al. Sept. 25, 1945 2,489,806 Oliver Nov. 29, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 561,575 Great Britain May 24, 1944

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