US2843730A - Flashlight - Google Patents

Description

y 15, 8 s. SCHWARTZ 2,843,730

FLASHLIGHT Filed Sept. 24, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 uvmvrozz l7 5/04 17 Sewn 4,01

July 15', 1958 s. SCHWARTZ 2,843,730

' FLASHLIGHT Filed Sept. 24, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet'Z United States Patent FLASHLIGHT Sidney Schwartz, New York, N. Y., assignor to Bantam- Lite, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 24, 1954, Serial No. 453,122

7 Claims. (Cl. 240 10.65)

This invention relates to an improved portable electrically lighted device and more particularly is directed to a pocket mirror vanity flashlight, such ascan be conveniently carried in the pocket of a garment or in a womans handbag.

Among the objects of the invention is the provision of an improved device of the character described comprising few and simple parts which are easily assembled to form a reliable and dependable electrically lighted vanity flashlight capable of withstanding rough and hard use yet which shall be small and compact so that it can be readily carried in a pocket or in a handbag, which shall be of more desirable dimensional over-all proportions for use as a vanity flashlight, which shall be neat in appearance, convenient to handle, operate and maintain, which shall include a simple and eflicient spring operated mirror attachment means, which shall be relatively cheap to manufacture in quantity production, and which shall be practical and eflicient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists of features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter disclosed, the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims following.

In the accompanying drawing in which an illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown:

Fig. l is an enlarged perspective view partly broken away of a pocket mirror vanity flashlight showing a top, side and end thereof, with the mirror in a ready to use effective open position with respect to the light bulb thereof constructed to embody the invention.

Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged end views of the improved pocket mirror vanity flashlight as in Fig. 1 showing the mirror swung in effective open and in a closed position, respectively.

Fig. 4 is a top plan enlarged view of the improved compact showing the top closure removed to expose the interior construction and assembly of the flashlight portion thereof, partly broken away to show the recessed reflector casing portion.

Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged cross-sectional views of the improved vanity flashlight taken on lines 5-5 and 6-6 in Fig. 4, respectively, showing further details of the interior construction and assembly.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the spring pressure member for retaining a dry cell battery in effective assembly circuit removed from the flashlight casing, and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the jumper-switch contact member removed from the assembly shown in Figs. 4 and 6.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 10 denotes a pocket mirror vanity flashlight of a type that can conveniently ice be carried in the pocket of a garment or in a womans handbag constructed to embody the invention.

Said vanity flashlight 10 may comprise a suitable outer casing 11, here shown as being formed of a one-piece molded plastic box having a top open face 11a fitted with a cover 1112. In said casing 11, there is assembled standard electric batteries, series connected, such as, for example, dry cells 12 and 13 of the short miniature type, arranged in angular relation thereby providing more de sirable dimensional over-all proportions for vanity flashlight 10 and utilizing the available space within casing 11 to its maximum practical capacity for an assembly including incandescent lamp 14, switch 15 for making and breaking the circuit to said battery dry cells through jumper contact member 16, and retained by battery cell spring pressure member 17.

Also interposed between jumper contact member 16 and front side wall of casing 11, there may be provided a spring bail support or coupling 18 bent to clear an opening 16a formed in jumper contact member 16 through which incandescent bulb 14a projects. The latter extends into reflector passageway 11x formed in a mid-portion of easing front side wall 110 for locating illumination from bulb 14a on the exterior of casing 11 above a framed mirror 19, the latter being hinged from opposite sides thereof at aligned pivoting sockets 19a into which opposite ends 1822 of bail support 18 extend. Said bail support ends 13b project for free movement through slits 11k formed in the bottom side wall 11d adjacent casing end walls He and 11 to permit swinging said framed mirror 19 in and out of effective illuminated position against spring action provided by said bail support 18, as is clear from Figs. 1 to 4 and 6.

As is clear from Figs. 4 to 6, dry cells 12 and 13, incandescent lamp 14, switch 15, spring pressure member 17, and jumper contact member 16 form a circuit construction assembled of removable and replaceable parts within casing 11 in a unique manner. Thus, zinc terminal 12b of dry cell 12 may be retained a spaced distance from the interior surface of end wall 11a and rear side wall 11g of casing 11 by spaced apart integrally formed ledges 11h so that said dry cell 12 may be readily inspected and easily replaced by simple finger operation.

Carbon terminal 13a of dry cell 13 may be positioned to electrically contact a mid-portion of the cylindrical wall of dry cell zinc terminal 12b, said dry cell 13 extending in relatively right angular relation to dry cell 12, thereby permitting casing 11 to have dimensional proportions of somewhat greater length than width for more convenient grasping by the fingers in the palm of the users hand.

As seen in Fig. 4, incandescent lamp 14, which may be of the standard miniature flashlight type having a lens tipped bulb 14a, a base ferrule contact 1415 and center contact 14c, is positioned in parallel spaced alignment with respect to battery dry cell 12, said lamp 14 being retained in a proper set position between a mid-portion of the cylindrical wall of dry cell zinc terminal 13b contacted by lamp center contact and mid-portion of jumper contact member 16 which has an opening 16a through which said lens tip of bulb 1441 projects and extends beyond through reflector passageway 11x. Integrally formed large L-shaped ledge 11.5 upstanding from the casing bottom side 1103 has one leg thereof extending along base ferrule contact 14b to retain lamp 14 against lateral displacement when switch 15 is in closed position, as is clear from Fig. 4.

Battery dry cell 13 is retained in assembly by spring pressure member 17, a mid-portion 17a thereof being stamped to provide a spring tongue or fin 17b anchoring spring pressure member 17 between rear side wall 11g and I-shaped ledge 1111 integrally formed to upstand from casing bottom side 11d.

Spring pressure member 17 terminates in a resilient end 170 which in the assembly normally applies pressure against the bottom flat surface of zinc terminal 13b of battery dry cell 13 forcing carbon terminal13a thereof into firm electrical contact with a mid-portion of the cylindrical wall of dry cell zinc terminal 12b and simultaneously the resilient end 17d of spring pressure member 17 opposite said resilient end 17c applies pressure against the mid-portion of the cylindrical wall of zinc terminal 13b urging the opposite side of the latter against incandescent lamp center contact 14 thereby rigidly retaining the assembly operative. If desired, resilient end 17d may be formed with a longitudinal depression or cradle 17:: shaped to conform to said cylindrical wall surface of zinc terminal 12b to aid in retaining battery dry cell 13 in seated position.

A pair of small L-shaped ledges 11m are integrally formed to upstand from casing bottom side 11d spaced apart on opposite sides of lamp 14 for engaging tongues or fins 16b stamped from jumper contact member midportion 160 on opposite sides of opening 16a serving to anchor jumper contact member 16 in assembly against front side wall 11c.

Jumper contact member 16 has extending from midportion 160 an offset spring connector end 16d which may be formed with a depression seat 16h and in the assembly is positioned to be forced into electrical contact with battery dry cell carbon terminal 12a. Oifset spring connector end 16d and depression seat 1611 also firmly retains battery dry cell 12 in position against accidental displacement. Jumper contact member end 16e opposite oflFset connector end 16d is bent about one of said pairs of ledges 11m and forms a resilient arm 16 which has a central section split off as a spring tongue or fin 16g positioned to provide a scraping contact as at 14d on lamp base ferrule 14b when switch 15 is in the closed circuit position, shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 4, with camming portion 15b of said switch 15 moved to flex said arm 16' Switch 15 may be a molded plastic part seen in Figs. 4 and as having a hub portion 15a mounted for turning movement on hollow spindle 11g integrally formed to upstand from casing bottom side 11d. Carried on the periphery of hub portion 15a are camming projection 15b extending radially into casing 11 engaging jumper contact member resilient arm 16 and a finger actuator extension 150 extending radially opposite projection 15b to pass through casing cutout 111 for exterior accessibility.

Bail support 18 may be made of spring metal wire stock bent into the form best shown in Fig. 6 to have an inverted U-shaped mid-portion 18a from which symmetrical angular sections 180 project to form .apices 18d resting on bottom side wall 11d. Free opposite ends 18b terminating the angular sections 180 and projecting through said slits 11k in bottom side wall 11d are bent inwardly forming pintles for hinging framed mirror 19, through said pivoting sockets 19a.

Casing 11 with the above described assembly therein has closure side 11b securely fastened over top open side 11a by an integrally formed latching lip 11;; extending from one edge of said closure side 11b and engaging in a complementary recess 11t provided in casing end wall He adjacent rim edge of said open side 11a. An end portion of said closure side 11b spaced from said lip 11p may be provided with screw-fastening means 20 which may be made of molded plastic threaded axially into said spindle 11g.

Slotted head 20a of screw-fastening F means 20 may be countersunk into closure side 11b to provide a smooth even exterior surface for casing 11.

The practical utility of the invention will now be apparent. After providing the various parts as hereinbefore described and shown in the drawings, vanity flashlight 16 may readily be assembled by placing spring bail support or coupling 18 against front side wall with opposite ends 18b extending through slits 11k and apices 1%! resting on bottom side wall 11d spaced apart on opposite sides of reflector passageway 11x. Jumper contact member 16 may then be slipped into place between spring bail coupling 18 and ledges 11m, the latter by engaging tongues 16b, as is clear from Fig. 4, position opening 16a in alignment with reflector passageway 11x and also retain spring bail support 18 against front side wall 11c. Framed mirror 19 may then be mounted on outer casing 11 by placing one of the pintles 18b into the corresponding socket 19a and by flexing bail coupling 18 at the opposite apex 18d, the opposite pintle 19a is projected down beyond its normal position shown in full lines to the position shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 6 and then readily snapped into the corresponding socket 19a completing the hinged mounting thereof.

After spring pressure member 17 is inserted in casing 11 with tongue 17b engaging I-shaped ledge 11n to anchor mid-portion 17a against rear side wall 11g, lamp 14 is positioned with bulb 14a projecting through jumper contact member opening 16a and reflector passageway 11x and with base ferrule 14b aligned against large L- shaped ledge 11s as a stop. Battery dry cells 12 and 13 then are easily placed in position in casing 11 by deflecting offset spring connector end 16d and spring pressure member resilient ends 17d and 172 so that upon release the parts are retained in electrical contact.

Switch hub portion 15a is mounted for turning movement on spindle 11: with camming projection 15b and actuator extension 15c extending as shown in full lines in Fig. 4. After closure side 11b is secured over open side 11a by positioning latching lip 11p in recess 11t and threading screw-fastening means 20 into spindle Hz to retain all the parts in place, vanity flashlight 10 is now completely assembled and ready for use either for service as a flashlight or as illumination for applying cosmetics and the like utility.

In the latter case, framed mirror 19 may be swung from a closed position shown in Fig. 3 to an open position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and is retained in either position by the spring detent action of bail coupler 18, inverted U-shaped mid-portion 18a serving to augment the resiliency of coupler 18 by permitting slight movement between apices 180! when pintles 18b are sprung.

The lighting of lamp 14 is readily accomplished by operation of switch 15 on finger tip movement of actuator extension rearwardly in cutout 11r, from the position shown in full lines to that'shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 4, rotating hub portion 15a and camming projection 15b on hollow spindle 11q from the open position shown in full lines to the closed position indicated in dot and dash lines in Fig. 4 thereby flexing resilient arm 16] toward base ferrule contact 14b so that tongue 16g makes electrical contact therewith at 14d. As will be clear from Fig. 4, resilient arm 16g is so shaped as to retain switch 15 in both open and closed positions by spring pressure.

To make replacements of burned out or used flashlight parts, closure side 11b is readily removed by unscrewing fastening means 20. Battery dry cell 13 is then dislodged by deflecting member resilient ends 17d and 17e leaving bulb 14 free for removal while battery dry cell 12 may be removed upon deflection of spring connector end 16d. Replacement parts may then be inserted as hereinbefore described and closure side 11b secured in place.

Although vanity flashlight 10 is shown in the drawing utilized with framed mirror 19 extending downwardly,

it is to be understood that vanity flashlight may be held in any desired position, as for example, turned upside down with respect to the position shown in Fig. 1 so that framed mirror 19 extends upwardly above lamp 14 or held sidewise so that mirror 19 extends laterally on either the right or the left of lamp 14.

It is thus seen that there is provided an improved pocket mirror vanity flashlight construction whereby the several objects of this invention are achieved and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A portable flashlight of the character described comprising a hand-grip size plastic box having a bottom wall, four side walls and an open face opposite said bottom wall fitted with a removable cover, a pair of battery cells each formed with an axial terminal and a cylindrical container terminal, the first of said cells positioned within the box to extend along a first of said side walls, the second of said cells positioned within the box at right angles to the first cell, the axial terminal of the second cell being in electrical contact with a curved portion of the cylindrical container terminal of said first cell, a second side wall adjacent the first side wall being formed in a mid-portion thereof with a reflector passageway, an incandescent lamp having center and base terminals and a bulb portion extending into said reflector passageway, said incandescent lamp otherwise being positioned within said box to lie parallel to said first battery cell and at right angles to said second battery cell, the lamp center terminal being in electrical contact with a curved portion of the cylindrical container terminal of said second cell, spring means anchored within said plastic box resiliently urging said second battery in an axial direction against said first battery and in a sidewise direction against said lamp center terminal, and switch means connecting the axial terminal of said first battery cell with the base terminal of said incandescent lamp for completing the circuit and lighting the lamp.

2. The portable flashlight defined in claim 1 in which said switch means includes a current carrying spring jumper, a mid-portion of said jumper having a throughopening aligned with said reflector passageway through which said lamp bulb portion extends, one end of said jumper extending in spring pressed contact with said axial terminal of the first battery cell, and the other end of said jumper being bent around in angular relation to said mid-portion and terminated by a scraping edge contact to provide make-and-break connections with said lamp base contact on flexing said other end toward and away from said lamp.

3. The portable flashlight defined in claim 1 in which said switch means includes a current carrying spring jumper having a contact end portion and a swivel mounted switching cam, the latter including a spindle integrally formed to upstand from said box bottom wall and spaced in close proximity to a third of said side walls adjacent said second side wall, and a hub integrally formed with a finger actuator extension and a camming projections extending radially from the hub in opposite directions, said hub being mounted on said spindle for swiveling movement with said finger actuator extension projecting through a slot formed in said third side wall and said camming projection engaging said contact end portion of the spring jumper to provide make-andbreak connections with said lamp base contact on swiveling said hub by movement of said finger actuator extension from one end of said slot to the other.

4. A portable electrically lighted device of the character described comprising a hand-grip size casing having an open-sided box and a cover enclosing a pair of elongated dry battery cells, right angularly positioned in direct electrical series circuit relation with an incandescent lamp having a bulb projecting through a passageway in a front wall of said casing, said lamp extending in parallel relation to a first of said battery cells and electrically contacting the other battery cell, a jumper having a switch operated flexible end portion interconnecting said first battery cell with a base terminal of said lamp to open and close the circuit through the lamp, said jumper having a mid-portion extending along said casing front wall and having an opening aligned with said front wall passageway through which said bulb extends, a finger operated camming switch positioned adjacent said lamp base for selectively moving said jumper flexible end portion for making and breaking said circuit to the lamp base, said camming switch being supported for rotation on a spindle upstanding from a bottom of said box, said spindle being internally threaded, and a headed screw fitting said threaded spindle securing said cover to the box.

5. In a portable electrically illuminated device of the character described, a pair of battery cells each formed with an axial end terminal and a cylindrically shaped container terminal, said cells being positioned in a relatively right angle relation and directly connected in series circuit with said axial terminal of a first of said cells bearing against a curved portion of the cylindrically shaped terminal of a second of said cells, an incandescent lamp having center and base terminals, said lamp being positioned in right angle relation to said first cell with the lamp center terminal in electrical contact with the cylindrical terminal of said first cell, a current carrying jumper switch connecting in circuit the axial terminal of said second of said cells with said lamp base terminal, a mid-portion of said jumper having a through opening wherethrough a bulb end of said lamp projects, spring means positioned to exert pressure on said cells for retaining said electrical connection circuit against displacement, one of said spring means terminating an end portion of said jumper, and a casing for said device retaining said battery cells, lamp jumper switch and spring means in said relation.

6. In a portable electrically illuminated device of the character described, a hand grasping sized casing formed of plastic material comprising an open-sided body, a plurality of first spaced apart integrally formed ledges upstanding from a bottom side of said body adjoining a first side wall thereof positioning a pair of battery cells in right angle relation directly connected in series circuit, a second integrally formed ledge upstanding from a mid-section of said bottom side of the body positioning an incandescent lamp in the angle formed by said battery cells with one lamp terminal in electric contact with a first of said cells, a pair of third ledges upstanding from said casing bottom side spaced from said second ledge, each of said pair of third ledges being positioned on opposite sides of the lamp and adjacent a second side wall, a current carrying jumper anchored between said third ledges and second side wall, said jumper having one end connecting with a terminal of the second of said cells and an opposite end positioned on flexure to contact a second terminal of said lamp to close the circuit thereto, a spindle integrally formed to upstand from a mid-portion of said casing bottom side adjacent said jumper opposite end, and a switch cam means swivelly mounted on said spindle to effect said flexure of said jumper opposite end to open and close the circuit.

7. In the portable electrical illuminating device defined in claim 6, said spindle being formed with an internally threaded axial bore, and a side wall of said body having a recess adjacent the rim edge of said open side, a closure side for said body having an integrally formed latching lip extending from one edge thereof positioned to engage said recess and formed with an opening aligning with said spindle axial bore, and a headed screw fitting said threaded spindle securing said closure side to said body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,169,669 Mitchell Jan. 25, 1916 8 Lamb Oct. 30, Allen Aug. 22, Florma-n Dec. 10, Gelardin July 15, Pell Nov. 11, Santilli Apr. 26, Segal Mar. 28, Ross Apr. 26,

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