US2948806A

US2948806A - Underwater electric lantern

Info

Publication number: US2948806A
Application number: US686943A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harold J Anderson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1957-09-30
Filing date: 1957-09-30
Publication date: 1960-08-09
Anticipated expiration: 1977-08-09

Description

1960 H. J. ANDERSON 2,948,806

UNDERWATER ELECTRIC LANTERN Filed Sept. 30, 1957 JNVENTOR. ,2, flaw/a J 4/702/350/7 A rraki/g.

2,948,806 Patented Aug. 9, 1960 2,948,806 UNDERWATER ELECTRIC LANTERN Harold J. Anderson, 28 E. Dartmouth Road, Kansas City, Mo.

Filed Sept. 30, 1957, Ser. No. 686,943

6 Claims. (Cl. 240-1066) This invention relates to lantern structure and more particularly, to an electric lantern adapted for underwater use.

The most important object of this invention is to provide an electric lantern which is adapted to be suspended from the wrist of a user and which includes novel switch structure disposed in a position so that the user may operate the switch thereof with his corresponding gand so that his other hand and wrist are left completely Another important object relates to the provision of a lantern as described which is constructed so as to be completely water-tight, thereby rendering the lantern useful for underwater operations.

A further important object of the invention is to provide an'underwater lantern having a looped wrist strap connected thereto and a looped electrical conductor suitably coupled with the components of the lantern and having a switch interposed therein in a position whereby when the user employs the strap to suspend the lantern from one of his wrists, he may actuate the switch with his corresponding hand, thereby freeing his other hand and wrist.

Other important objects of the present invention include the provision of a lantern as described which includes a case and a lamp swingably mounted thereon and wherein the conductor is coupled to the lamp and the case to the end that the lamp may be swung free in a predetermined are relative to the case by virtue of the play in the conductor; the provision of such a lantern wherein the wrist strap on the case is disposed in a position so that a plane therethrough is substantially parallel witha plane through the lens of the lamp so that the beam of light emanating from the lamp is in substantial alignment with the users arm whereby the latter may aim the light by merely moving his arm to point in the required direction; the provision of a flexible strap on the uppermost part of the case which is constructed so that the length thereof may be adjusted at will and thereby permit the user to expand the loop a suflicient amount that he may move the strap upwardly on his arm until the lantern is in an out-of-the-way position during swimming and other operations; the provision of a switch Controlon the lantern which is manually movable to and from o and on positions so that if the lantern is accidentally displaced from the users wrist when the lantern is on, he may readily recover the same by virtue of the beam of light emanating from the lamp; the provision ofa water-proof lantern which is inexpensive, rugged and trouble-free in operation and which is also adapted for use. in many situations not requiring underwater operation; and, other less important objects and details of construction which will become apparent as the following-specification progresses.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the instant invention illustrating the way in which the same is suspended from onelof theusers wrists and also, the manner in which the switch control is readily accessible to the users fingers of his corresponding hand; and

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the wiring forming a part of the present invention.

An electric illuminating device in the nature of an underwater lantern is broadly designated in the drawings by the numeral 10 and includes a metallic, cupshaped, hollow, cylindrical case 12 provided with an opening at the uppermost end thereof normally closed by a top wall 14 which in turn has a continuous, downwardly projecting flange (not shown) joined to the outer peripheral edge thereof and adapted to engage the outer surface of the upper portion of case 12.

A circular band 16 is suitably secured to the flange of top 14 in surrounding relationship thereto and is provided with a series of outwardly struck, integral, equally spaced loops 18 adapted to receive corresponding uppermost ends of a plurality of U-bolts 20. The uppermost ends of bolts 20 are preferably threaded in a manner to' receive respective screw caps 22 above each of the corresponding loops 18 so that, upon threading of caps 22 onto bolts 20, top wall 14 is drawn down tightly against the uppermost end of case 12. It is to be pointed out that rubber gasket means or the like (not shown) is provided between the upper edge of case 12 and top wall 14 to render the interior of case 12 watertight.

Case 12 receives a source of electrical energy in the nature of battery 24 indicated schematically in Fig. 2 of the drawing, and a lamp, broadly designated 26, is swingably secured to cover plate 14. Lamp 26 includes an outer housing 28 and a pair of spaced, upstanding lugs 30 secured to the rear face of housing 28 in offset relationship to the central axis thereof.

An elongated mounting bracket 32 is attached to the uppermost face of top wall 14 by fastening means 34 and includes a bearing 36 at the outermost end thereof pivotally receiving elongated bolt and nut means 38 passing through bearing 36 and suitable, aligned perforations in lugs 30.

A pair of diametrically opposed, spaced, substantially U-shaped hanger elements 40 are secured to the upper face of top wall 14 in parallel relationship to the longitudinal length of bracket 32 and receive the free ends of an elongated, flexible bail or loop member broadly designated 42.

Bail member 42 comprises an elongated, flexible strap.

Means for holding each of the S-shaped portions '48 in a designated position relative to the rem'ainderof strap 44 preferably takes the form of a substantially S-s'haped clip 56 having a length 52 in overlapping relationship to" the stretch 54 of S-shaped portions 48, a length 56 lo' cated between stretch 54'and a stretch 58 'of portions 48 j against the main stretch 62 and a length 60 positioned of strap 44.

g A pair of electrical conductor poles 64 and 66 are provided in'cover plate 14 beween elements 40uand disposed in parallel relationship to the latter and are elc-x trically connected with battery 24. An elongated, looped,

flexible electrical conductor or cable-68 is coupled-with lamp 26 and case 12 and includes a pair of leads 71 and: 73 which are operably connected with poles' 6.4 and (.66.

and bulbs 69 within housing 28. '7,

As clearly shown in Fig. l, conductor 68 passes through housing 28 between lugs 30 and is of sufficient length to form a loop extending upwardly above the uppermost face of cover plate 14 in perpendicular relationship to strap 44. interposed in conductor 68 intermediate the ends thereof, is a control switch 70 having a rotatable switch control or member 72 movable to and from oil and on positions.

A rubber washer or the like 74 is provided at the point where conductor 68 enters housing 28 to provide water integrity and suitable means is provided at the points where leads 71 and 73 are connected with respective poles 64 and 66 to prevent entrance of water into case 12.

The wiring diagram of lantern is illustrated in Fig. 2 and includes the battery 24, leads 71 and 73, bulb 69 and switch 72, it being noted that cable 73 serves as a ground between bulb 69 and battery 24.

In operation, lantern 10 is adapted to be carried in a position as shown in Fig. 1 and is constructed so that the same may be suspended from the wrist 76 of the users hand 78 in a position so that switch control 70 may be readily grasped by the users fingers 80. It can now be seen that because of the fact that lantern 10 may be suspended from the users wrist 76 with switch control 70 located in a readily accessible position for operation by his fingers 80, the users other hand remains free and unincumbered in any manner whatsoever.

Inasmuch as strap 44 is located so that a plane therethrough is substantially parallel with the lens of lamp 26, the beams of light emanating from bulb 69 are in substantial alignment with the users forearm. Thus, the direction of the beams emanating from bulb 69 may be directed in a specific direction by merely moving the arm in that direction. Furthermore, because of the looped nature of conductor 68, switch control 72 may be readily grasped in fingers 80 without the users other hand being necessary to turn bulb 69 off and on.

Another important feature relates to the fact that because of the looped nature of conductor 68, lamp 26 may be swung freely about the axis of bolt and nut means 38 without in any manner interfering with the operation of conductor 68 and control switch 72.

Inasmuch as the length of strap 44 may be varied by adjusting stretches 54 and 58, the distance at which lantern 10 is suspended from the users wrist 76, may be varied at will. In this manner, the length of strap 44 may be extended if desired, so that the strap may be pushed upwardly upon the users arm to a point where it will not in any manner interfere with swimming operations or the like. By the same token, the efiective length of strap 44 may be shortened if it is desired to more firmly attach lantern 10 to the wrist 76 to preclude loss or displacement of the same from the users hand 78.

Bolts provide an eflective seal between top wall 14- and case 12 and because of the rugged construction thereof, lantern 10 will withstand considerable shock and wall 14 is not subject to easy dislodgment during underwater operations.

Although other types of control switches could be utilized, one employing a rotatable switch member such as 72, is preferable because of the ease with which the same may be turned oil and on while lantern 10 is suspended from the users wrist 76. If lantern 10 is accidentally dislodged from the users wrist it can be appreciated that if bulb 69 is lighted, the beam emanating therefrom will lead the user to the location thereof even in murky water, this being true because switch control 70 remains in the on position even when not held in theusers fingers 80.

Thus, it can now be appreciated that lantern 10 is advantageous over previously disclosed lanterns of this type because the same may be carried and operated by the same hand.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a case having a top wall and containing a battery; a lamp alongside said case and mounted on the top wall; a pair of spaced, diametrically opposed hanger elements secured to the top wall; an elongated, flexible strap having opposed ends, each swingably attached to a corresponding hanger element, the strap extending upwardly from the top wall, forming a first loop adapted for loose suspension from one wrist of a user, and disposed to direct light beams emanating from the lamp outwardly beyond said wrist in alignment therewith; a flexible, conductive cable operably coupling the battery with the lamp and having one end thereof terminating at the top wall between said elements, said cable extending upwardly from the top wall, forming a second loop between the lamp and the strap substantially in alignment with said wrist and said light beams; and a switch interposed in said cable intermediate the ends thereof for ready accessibility to that hand of the' user adjacent said one wrist when the strap is looped over the latter, thereby leaving the other hand and wrist free.

2. In a combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said switch requires manual resetting to an open or closed position.

3. In a combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said switch includes a rotatable disc control member whereby the user may readily operate the switch with his thumb and forefinger.

4. In a combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein is provided means adjustably securing opposed ends of the strap to the hanger elements whereby the user may vary the effective length of said first loop.

5. In a combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said means includes a U-shaped bracket for each end of the strap, secured to said casing and receiving 2. respective end of the strap and an S-shaped clip on each end of the strap above a corresponding bracket for releasably maintaining the outer extremities of the strap in predetermined, overlapped relationship relative to the central portion of the strap.

6. In an electric lantern including an electric battery having a pair of electrical terminations, an electric lamp having a pair of electrical terminations, structure mounting said lamp on said battery, and electrically conductive means for electrically coupling one termination of said battery with one termination of said lamp, the improvement of which comprises a first flexible, looped cable including an electrical conductor electrically coupledwith the other termination of said lamp, said cable extending from the lamp rearwardly and upwardly to an'intermediate bight portion thereof and thence rearwardly and downwardly to a point of electrical coupling of said conductor with the other termination of said battery; an electric switch interposed in said bight portion ofsaid cable and electrically coupled in series with said conductor; and an elongated, flexible, bail member having a bight part disposed rearwardly of and extending transversely relative to said bight portion of the cable, and a pair of downwardly extending side leg parts physically coupled with said battery, said bail member being adapted to receive the wrist of a user for suspending said battery and lamp on the latter from the users wrist in orientation permitting convenient accessibility of the users cor responding hand to said switch for controlling thelatter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 14,608 Gould Apr. 8, 1856 1,167,878 Benedict Jan. 11, 1916 1,617,793 Compton et a1 Feb; 15, 1927 FOREIGN PATENTS 110,611 Great Britain Oct. 29, 1917