US2999922A - Neon flash light assembly - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 12, 1961 SCHMIDT 2,999,922

NEON FLASH LIGHT ASSEMBLY Filed July 20, 1959 INVENTOR, 14L FRED T JcHM/D 7';

United States Patent 2,999,922 NEON FLASH LIGHT ASSEMBLY Alfred T. Schmidt, 5547 Vineland, North Hollywood, Calif. Filed July 20, 1959, Ser. No. 828,371 Claims. (Cl. 240-114) At the present time it is customary to provide so-called neon flash light assemblies which include a mounting box or casing provided with a flasher element of some form, and a battery. Such devices are placed at excavations or at any location which is dangerous and might result in an accident to a pedestrian, motor vehicles, or children and which serve as warning lights. Such devices when they incorporate neon tubes, are often subjected to rough handling, or struck by children or others which may break the neon tube thus rendering the warning device inoperative.

An object of the present invention is to provide a suitable support for a neon tube of helical form, whereby direct shock to the neon tube is prevented.

The average flasher light utilizing a neon tube of helical form depends upon the tube ends to support the same which is unsatisfactory if the neon tube is subjected to sudden shock. It is evident that when such a tube is broken that the device is useless until replaced and as a rule this takes considerable time and a skilled operator to disassemble and reassemble the device.

The present invention acts as a support for a helical neon tube without in any manner detracting from the light giving properties of the neon tube and which assures against breakage of the tube under ordinary service conditions.

Another object is to provide a neon flasher light assembly which is inexpensive in cost to manufacture, of simple construction and generally superior to devices of this character known to the inventor.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a flasher light assembly incorporating the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing means for supporting a helical neon tube; and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a member utilized in the practice of the invention.

Referring now with particularity to the drawing, I have shown my invention as incorporated in the usual form of a flasher light casing or head 1, this casing includes a circular side wall 2, a back wall 3, and an annular front wall 4. A lens 5 is secured to the annular front wall 4 usually by providing the front wall 4 with an annular groove 6 for receiving the circular edge of the lens. Usually the circular side wall 2 is provided intermediate its width with an internal web 7 formed with a central cut-out portion indicated at 8, which in the present instance is substantially square. Secured to the inner surface of the side wall 2 are a plurality of equidistantly spaced apart transverse enlargements 9 and which extend to the web 7 but terminate inwardly from the outer edge 10 of the side wall 2. Such enlargements are provided on both sides of the web as best shown in FIGURE 2 at 11. These enlargements are formed with screw threaded bores, the back 3 being held within the confines of the circular side wall 2 for bearing engagement against ends of said enlargements 9 with screws 12 passed through openings in the back wall 3 and into the tapped bores of said enlargements 9. The annular front wall 4, sometimes termed a web rests against the outer ends of the enlargements 11 and may be held thereagainst by passing screws through holes in the front wall 4 and into the tapped bores in the said enlargements 11. In this "ice manner the parts of the casing are held in working relationship.

The web 7 has secured thereto at diametric points, members such as shown in FIGURE 4 and which mem bers in each instance comprise a clip 13 and a channel member 14 secured to said clip. As is usual, the clip includes a member 15 which is flat surfaced while the other member 16 is deformed or bent so as to have pinch engagement with the member 15. The channel member 14 includes a base 17 and two parallel side walls 18 and 19, the base 17 being secured to member 15 of the clip. One side wall 19 is provided with a bore 20 near the top edge thereof while the opposite side 18 is provided with an upwardly slanting slot 21. As before stated, two of said devices are provided and the clips in each instance embrace the web 7 as shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3. The clips are diametrically aligned.

A neon tube 22 is provided having convolutions or a helical coil 23 and a tube length 24 which is axially passed through the coils of the helix as shown at 25 while the opposite tube end of the helical coil is bent to provide a depending portion 26 which is substantially in right angular relationship to the portion 25. Electrodes 27 and 28 extend from the ends 25 and 26. To support the neon tube, I provide a straight transparent tube 29 which axially fits within the helical coils 23 with ends of said tube 29 cut away-beyond the helical coils to provide half round portions 30 and 31. The half round portions 30 and 31, are-received within and between a pair of the channel members 14 which are secured to To hold the half round portions of the transparent tube within said channel members, a spring wire 32 is passed through the bore 20 of each channel member while the opposite end is passed inwardly of the inclined slot 21 which bends the wire in passing over the half-round end in the manner shown in FIGURE 3 and securely holds the tube. As shown, the portion positioned within the tube 29, the electrode 27 extending outwardly of the half round portion 30. The web 7 is provided with a radial channel portion 33 within which the tube portion 26 is received. The wall 2 is provided with an external enlargement 40 and a tubular extension 41 which is externally screw threaded at 42. The electrodes 27 and 28 are passed through the enlargement 40 and through the tube 41.

This assembly is adapted to be fastened to a housing of some form which may contain means for flashing the neon tube as well as a battery and the tubular extension 41 is received in said housing and secured thereto by means of a nut engaging the threads 42. This latter arrangement is not shown and does not form a part of the present invention.

'It is believed that the operation, of the invention as just described scription given. However, it may be pointed out that the assembly is easily opened for access to the neon tube, by removing the screws 12. The wires 32 may be removed from the channel members 14 which will release tube 29 and the neon tube supported thereby. Thus replacement may be easily made of a broken neon tube although breakage of such a tube is reduced to a minimum for the reason that the neon tube and specifically the ends thereof, such as the end 26, does not support the tube. Vibration, shock and the like will have no effect upon the neon tube for the reason that the portions 25 and 26 are non tube supporting and each helical coil of the neon tube is carried on the periphery of tube 29.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character disclosed, a casing having a circular side wall, a web secured to and within the confines of said side wall, diametrically disposed channel members secured to said web in substantial alignment,

uses and advantages the web 7 as shown.

25 of the neon tube is are obvious from the dea transparent tube provided with half round ends, the half round ends being confined in the aligned channels of'said channel members, and a helical neon tube surrounding the transparent tube. between the half around ends thereof for supporting said helical neon tube, said channel meme bersv being formed to detachably receive spring wires adapted to overlie the half round portions of the transparent tube for holding the half around portions within said channel members.

2. In a device of the character disclosed, acasing having a circular side wall, a web secured to and Within the confines of said side Wall, diametrically disposed channel members secured to said web in substantial alignment, a transparent tube provided with half round ends, the half round ends being confined in the aligned channels of said,

channel members, and a helical neon tube surrounding the transparent tube between the half round ends thereof for supporting said helical neon tube, one end portion of said helical neon tube axially extending from one half around end through the transparent tube to the other half round end.

3. In a device of the character disclosed, a casing hav-' ing a circular side wall, a web secured to and Within the confines of said side wall, diametrically disposed channel members secured to said web in substantial alignment,

formed with a radial concavity and the opposite end of,

said neon tube being bent to be spacedly received within said concavity, both ends of 'said helical neon tubetbeing provided with electrodes.

4. In a device of the character disclosed, a casing having a circular side wall, a web secured to and within the confines of said side Wall, diametrically disposed channel members secured to said web in susbtantial alignment, a transparent tube provided with half round ends, the half round endsbeing confined in theaIigned channels of said channel members, and a helical neon tube surrounding the transparent tube between the half round ends thereof for supporting said helical: neon. tube, each channel member provided with a clip for securing the channel member to the Web.

5. In a device of the character disclosed: a casing providedwith a circular side wall formed to carry a lens, a web within said casing and a pair of diametrically disposed channel members supported by said web, each channel member having a pair of legs, one leg of each member being formed'with a transverse hole and'the opposite leg of each channel member formed with an inclined slot opening inwardly from one edge of the leg; a substantially transparent tube formed with half round end portions, disposed between the channels of said channel members, deformable wire members passed through the hole and the inclined slot of each channel' member leg and overlying a half-round'end'of the transparent tube for holding the tube to said channel members, and a helical neon tube supported by and surrounding the transparent tube. 7

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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