US3067324A

US3067324A - Portable electric lamps

Info

Publication number: US3067324A
Application number: US81114A
Authority: US
Inventors: William C Thompson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-01-06
Filing date: 1961-01-06
Publication date: 1962-12-04
Anticipated expiration: 1979-12-04

Description

Dec. 4, 1962 w. c. THOMPSON PORTABLE ELECTRIC LAMPS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 6, 1961 m N my 4 TTOR NE Y Dec. 4, 1962 w. c. THOMPSON PORTABLE ELECTRIC LAMPS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 6, 1961 INVEN TOR.

W/L LIAM C. THOMPSON A TTORNE Y vd qu wwdwwv hwwwwwwwwwwwmvm viii-ii I United States Patent Oflice 3,067,324 Patented Dec. 4, 1962 3,067,324 PORTABLE ELECTRIC LAMPS William C. Thompson, P.0. Box 371, Desert Hot Springs, Calif. Filed Jan. 6, 1961, Ser. No. 81,114 Claims. (Cl. 240-1061) My invention relates generally to lamps and more particularly to electric torches commonly referred to as flashlights which utilize a dry cell as a source of electrical energy.

An object of my invention is to provide a flashlight which is structurally characterized in a manner to dispense with the relatively costly metal case containing the dry batteries, so as to materially simplify the construction and reduce the cost of the flashlight by enabling an exteriorly insulated and water-sealed dry cell to be detachably secured directly to a permanent lamp and switch unit which i rigidly supported on the dry cell with the latter being held in the hand to carry the flashlight and to manipulate the switch of the unit, as Well as being instantly replaceable when exhausted, by a fresh cell.

Another object of my invention is to provide a flashlight of the above described character in which the electrical circuit from the dry cell to one electrode of the lamp and to the water-sealed switch of the unit will be completed automatically upon attaching the cell to the unit in a manner to form a water-sealed joint therebetween, with the actuating member of the switch being mounted on the unit at a location conveniently accessible for operation by a finger of the hand holding the flashlight, to close and open the lamp circuit.

A further object of my invention is to provide a flashlight of the above described character in which a transparent glass protecting cover for the lamp is cushionmounted in the unit to prevent breaking or cracking the cover should the flashlight be dropped, the cover being sealed fluid-tight to protect the flashlight against the ingress of moisture.

With these and other objects in view, my invention resides in the combinations, arrangements and functional relationships of elements as set forth in the following specification and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

FiGURE 1 is a view showing in longitudinal axial section, one form of portable electric lamp embodying my invention, and showing the switch of the lamp in open position;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view showing a portion of the lamp with the switch in closed position;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view of the lamp taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a view in side elevation, of the lamp shown in the preceding figures;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a view in longitudinal axial section, of a second form of portable electric lamp embodying my invention, and showing the switch of the lamp in open position;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary view similar to FIGURE 6 with the switch in closed position; and

FIGURE 8 is a view of the combined lamp and switch unit of FIGURES 6 and 7 in side elevation.

Referring specifically to the drawings and particularly to FIGURES 1 to 5, inclusive, this form of my invention comprises a combined lamp and switch unit U and a source of electrical energy such as a dry battery or cell B, which latter displaces the usual relative costly metal case or container (not shown) for the battery and is attached directly to the unit U.

The unit U is composed of a tubular body 10 of suitable electrically insulating material with one end flared and externally screw threaded at 11. At the base of the threads 11 the body is provided with an annular shoulder 12 on which seats a sealing ring 13. The flared end of the body 10 forms an annular seat 14 for the peripheral flange 15 of a plastic reflector 16 the front of which is closed by a transparent disk cover 17 bounded around its peripheral portion with a cushioning and moisturesealing member 18 of U-shaped cross section. A clamping ring 19 of electrically insulating material is provided with internal annular shoulders 20 and 21 and is further provided with internal screw threads 22 for co-action with the screw threads 11 in clamping the glass cover 17 and reflector flange 15 fluid-tight against the body 10, while the sealing ring 13 seals the joint between the body and clamping ring fluid-tight.

The reflector 16 is provided with a central opening 25 in which is crimped at 26 the neck portion 27 of an openended metal collar 28 forming part of and projecting centrally from a lamp supporting element 29 in the form of a cup to provide a disk 30 having a peripheral electrical contact wall or flange 31 spaced from the inner wall of the body 10. The collar 28 is provided with internal screw threads 32 for co-action with external screw threads 33 on a cup shaped lamp holder 34 of electrically insulating material. The holder 34 freely receives the metal electrode-forming base or shell 35 of an electric lamp 36, and co-acts with an annular flange 37 on the base 35 to force the flange into firm engagement with an internal annular shoulder 38 formed at the juncture of the collar 28 and its neck portion 27, with the bulb 39 of the lamp projecting freely through the opening 25, all to the end of rigidly supporting the lamp, yet enabling the lamp to be readily removed for replacement when burned out, by simply unscrewing the holder 34 when the latter has been rendered accessible by unscrewing the ring 19 and removing the cover 17 and the reflector 16 from the body 10.

Secured in a central opening in the bottom wall 40 of the lamp holder 34 is a contact 41 provided within the holder with a contact spring 42 which is urged into firm engagement with the center electrode 43 of the lamp 36 when the holder is screwed tightly into the collar. The contact 41 is formed exteriorly of the lamp holder 34 into spring contact arms 44 adapted to electrically coact with the battery B in a manner to be hereinafter described.

Molded or otherwise secured in the wall of the body 10 at spaced locations along the length thereof are

contacts

45 and 46 of a switch S for controlling the flow of current from the battery B to the lamp 36. The

contacts

45 and 46 are provided with

spring arms

47 and 48, respectively, with the arm 47 being disposed to make a firm wiping electrical contact with the periphery 31 of the lamp supporting element 29 when the reflector 16 is rigidly supported in the body 10 by the clamping ring 19.

A bridging contact 50 in the form of a bowed leaf spring with partially curled ends, Works in a recess 51 in an actuating member 52 of electrical insulaing material, and is secured between its ends to the actuating member by a headed pin 53. The member 52 is reciprocably mounted in the body 10 in fluid-sealing engagement therewith by a sealing member 54 or other means, for movement between a stop shoulder 55 on the body 10 and a stop pin 56 driven into the body, by means of tongues 57 on opposite sides of the member slidably fitting into guideways 58 formed in the body 10.

enemas In the open position of the switch S shown in FIGURE 1, one end of the bridging contact 50 is spaced from the contact 45, whereas the other end of the contact 50 engages the contact 46 and releasably retains the switch in open position by seating in a depression 60 in the contact 46. In the closed position of the switch S, the contact 50 engages the contact 45 and remains in engagement with the contact 46 so as to electrically conmeet the

contacts

45 and 46, with said other end of the contact 50 seating in a second depression 61 in the contact 46 to releasably retain the switch in closed position, all as shown in FIGURE 2.

It will be noted that in order to prevent the reflector 16 from rotating in the clamping ring 19, the flange 15 is provided with one or more peripheral lugs 62 disposed to engage detents 63 on the ring.

The battery B embodies conventional construction to the extent of using well known active filer material 65 in a zinc cup 7% which, in accordance with my invention, is covered throughout its sides and bottom with a cover 71 of electrically insulating and waterproof material such as plastic coated paper. The top end of the cup 70 projects from the cover 71 and is reduced in diameter and externally screw threaded at 72 to provide an attaching portion or collar 73 which is detachably secured to the unit U by being screwed into threads 74 of the body until the end of the body bears against a sealing ring 75 which seats upon an annular shoulder '76 formed on the cup 70 by the attaching portion 73 thereof, all to the end of producing a fluid-tight joint between the battery B and the unit U.

In the assembled position of the battery B and the unit U as shown in FIGURE 1, the outer metallic-capped end of the centrally located carbon electrode 80 of the battery makes electrical contact with the center electrode 43 of the lamp 36 through the contact arms 44 of the contact 4 1, whereas the screw threaded attaching portion 73 of the Zinc cup 70 makes a firm wiping contact with the spring arm 48 of the switch contact 4-6.

Thus, it will be clear that upon moving the switch S from its open position shown in FIGURE 1 to its closed position shown in FIGURE 2, current will be supplied to the lamp 36 by completing an electrical circuit as follows:

From the carbon electrode 80 of the battery B, through the contact 41, contact spring 42, center electrode 43 of the lamp 36, lamp filament, lamp shell 35, supporting element 29, switch contact 45, bridging contact 50, switch contact as and zinc cup 70 so as to supply current to the lamp to light same.

From the foregoing description it will be manifest that when the battery B is exhausted, a fresh battery can be substituted with the utmost ease and dispatch, and that by directly attaching the battery to the permanent lamp and switch unit U, the usual relatively costly metal case or container for the battery is dispensed with.

Referring now to FIGURES 6, 7 and 8, this second form of my invention comprises a combined lamp and switch unit U which also utilizes the identical dry cell or battery B previously described in detail, to displace the usual metal container or case for the battery and is attached directly to the unit U;

The unit U is composed of. a tubular body 18a of suitable electrically insulating material and of cylindrical form with open ends and an outside diameter corresponding to that of the battery B. The body 10a is provided with an internal annu ar shoulder 11a to form a seat for a transparent glass disk cover 12a bounded around its peripheral portion with a cushioning and moisture sealing member 13a of Ushaped cross section.

The body 1011 is internally screw threaded from its other end to a point adjacent to the shoulder 11a as indicated by 74a to receive a cup shaped supporting element 29a of sheet metal which is externally screw threaded at 16a to enable it to be screwed into the body for co-action of an internal annular flange 17a on the open end of the element 29a with an external annular flange 1811 on a metallic reflector 19a to clamp the glass cover 12a and the reflector against the shoulder 11a and provide a fluid-tight joint therebetween as well as cushion the cover against breakage should the flashlight be dropped.

The disk portion 30a of the element 29a is provided with finger pieces 26a punched out of the metal, by which the element can be screwed into and out of the body 10a with the utmost ease and dispatch. The element 29a is further provided with a central opening bounded by an internally screw threaded sleeve or collar 2&1 projecting axially into the element and supporting a lamp holder 34a of electrically insulating material which is externally screw threaded at 33a to enable it to be screwed into the collar. The holder 34a freely receives the electrodeforming base or shell 35a of an electric lamp 36a and co-acts with an annular flange 37a on the base 35a to force the flange into firm engagement with the reflector the around the central opening 25a of the latter through which the lamp bulb 39a projects, all to the end of rigidly supporting the lamp, yet enabling the latter to be readily removed for replacement when burned out, by simply unscrewing the holder 34a.

Secured in a central opening in the bottom wall 40a of the lamp holder 3 M is a contact 41a provided within the member with a contact spring 42a which is urged into firm engagement with the center electrode 43a of the lamp 36a when the holder 34a is screwed tightly into the sleeve 28a. The contact 41a is formed exteriorly of the lamp holder 34a into spring contact arms 44a adapted to electrically co-act with the center electrode 80 of the battery B in the manner previously described in the first form of my invention.

Molded or otherwise secured in the wall of the body 10a at spaced locations along the length of the body are contacts 45:: and 46a of a switch 5' for controlling the flow of current from the battery B to the lamp 36a. The contacts 45a and 46a are provided with spring arms 47a and 48a, respectively, with the arm 47a being disposed to make a wiping electrical contact with the periphery 31a of the supporting element 2% when the latter is screwed tightly into the body 10a as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7.

A bridging contact 50a in the form of a bowed leaf spring with partially curled ends, works in a recess 51a in an actuating member 52a of electrical insulating material, and is secured medially betwen its ends to the actuating member by a headed pin 53a. The member 52a is reciprocably mounted on the body ltla in fluid-sealing engagement therewith by a sealing member 54a or other means, for movement between a stop lug 55a on the body 10a and a stop pin 56a driven into the body, by means of tongues 57a on opposite sides of the member, slidably fitting into guideways 58a formed in the body 1% as shown in FIGURE 8.

In the open position of'the switch S shown in FIGURE 6, one end of the bridging contact 50a is spaced from the contact 45a and releasably retains the switch in open position by seating in a depression 60a in the contact 46a. In the closed position of" the switch S, the contact 50a engages the contact 45a and remains in engagement with the contact 46a so as to electrically connect the contacts 45a and 46a, with said other end of the contact 50a seating in a second depression 61a in the contact 46a to releasably retain the switch S in closed position.

The external screw threads 72 on the attaching portion or collar 73 of the battery B are screwed into the threads 74a of the body 10a so that the carbon electrode 80 of the battery makes'electrical contact With the center electrode 43a of the lamp 36a through the contact arms 44a of the contact 41a, whereas the attaching portion 73 of the zinc cup makes a firm Wiping contact with the spring arm 48a of. the switch 46:: Thus, it will be clear that upon moving the switch S from its open position shown in FIGURE 6 to its closed position shown in FIGURE 7, current will be supplied to the lamp 36a by completing an electrical circuit as follows:

From the carbon electrode 80 of the battery B through the contact 41a, center electrode 43a of the lamp 361;, lamp filament, lamp shell 35a, reflector 16a, element 29a, switch contact 45a, bridging contact 50a, switch contact 46a and zinc cup 70, so as to supply current to the lamp to light same.

From the foregoing description, it will be manifest that this form of my invention provides the same advantages as the previously described form shown in FIGURES l to 5, inclusive.

1 claim:

1. A flashlight comprising: a tubular body of electrically insulating material internally screw threaded and provided with an annular shoulder; a transparent cover seating against said shoulder; a metallic reflector having a central opening and bearing against said cover; a metallic supporting element externally screw threaded and screwed into the threads of said body with said element bearing against said reflector to clamp the latter and cover tightly in the body and electrically connect the element and reflector; a lamp holder of electrically insulating material mounted in said element and adapted to receive the base of a lamp with the bulb of the lamp projecting through the reflector opening and the lamp base in electrical contact with the reflector; said lamp holder having a contact adapted to electrically engage the center electrode of the lamp; a switch having contacts supported by said body and exposed interiorly thereof with one of said contacts electrically engaged by said element; a dry cell having a carbon electrode and an electrode-forming cup provided with an electrically insulating water-sealed cover; said cup having an attaching portion projecting from said cover at the top of the cell and screwed into said threads of the body to detachably secure the cell to the body with the other switch contact engaged by said attaching portion of said cup and the contact of said lamp holder engaged by said carbon electrode of the cell, so that upon closing of said switch through its contacts, a circuit will be completed to include the cell and the lamp.

2. A flashlight comprising: an open ended tubular body of electrically insulating material internally screw threaded and provided with an annular shoulder; a transparent cover seated against said shoulder; a metallic reflector having a central opening and a perimetral flange bearing against said cover; a cup shaped metallic supporting element externally screw threaded and screwed into the threads of said body; said element having a perimetral flange bearing against said reflector to clamp the latter and cover tightly in the body and electrically connect the element and reflector; said element having a central opening and an internally screw threaded collar bounding said opening a cup shaped lamp holder of electrically insulating material externally screw threaded into said collar and adapted to receive the base of a lamp with the bulb of the lamp projecting through said reflector opening and the lamp base in electrical contact with the reflector; said lamp holder having a contact adapted to engage the center electrode of the lamp; a switch having a plurality of spaced contacts extending through the wall of said body and having portions exposed interiorly and exteriorly of the wall, with one of said contacts electrically engaged by said element; said switch including an actuator reciprocably mounted on said body and having a bridging contact disposed to bridge said switch contacts in one extreme position of the actuator; a dry cell having a carbon electrode and an electrode-forming cup provided with an electrically insulating water-sealed cover; said cup having an attaching collar of reduced diameter projecting from said cover at the top of the cell and provided with external screw threads screwed into said threads of the body to detachably secure the cell to the body with the other of said spaced switch contacts engaged by said attaching collar and said contact of said lamp holder engaged by said carbon electrode of the cell, so that when said switch contacts are bridged by said bridging contact, a circuit will be completed to include the cell and lamp.

3. In a flashlight, a combined lamp and switch unit for dry cells comprising: a tubular body of electrically insulating material internally screw threaded and provided with an annular shoulder; a transparent cover seating against said shoulder; a metallic reflector having a central opening and bearing against said cover; a metallic supporting element externally screw threaded and screwed into the threads of said body with said element bearing against said reflector to clamp the latter and cover tightly in the body and electrically connect the element and reflector; a lamp holder of electrically insulating material mounted in said element and adapted to receive the base of a lamp with the bulb of the lamp projecting through said reflector opening and the lamp base in electrical contact with the reflector; said lamp holder having a contact adapted to engage the center electrode of the lamp; a switch having contacts supported by said body and exposed interiorly thereof with one of said contacts electrically engaged by said element with the other of said contacts adapted to be electrically connected to one electrode of a dry cell and said contact of the lamp holder electrically connected to the other electrode of the cell when the cell is attached to the body.

4. In a flashlight, a combined lamp and switch unit for dry cells comprising: an open ended tubular body of electrically insulating material internally screw threaded and provided with an annular shoulder; a transparent cover seating against said shoulder; a metallic reflector having a central opening and a perimetral flange bearing against said cover; a cup shaped metallic supporting element externally screw threaded and screwed into said threads of the body; said element having a perimetral flange hearing against said reflector to clamp the latter and cover tightly in the body and electrically connect the element and reflector; said element having a central opening and an internally screw threaded collar bounding said opening; a cup shaped lamp holder of electrically insulating material externally screw threaded into said collar and adapted to receive the base of a lamp with the bulb of the lamp projecting through said reflector opening and the lamp base in electrical contact with the reflector; said lamp holder having a contact adapted to engage the center electrode of the lamp; a switch having a plurality of spaced contacts extending through the wall of said body and having portions exposed interiorly and exteriorly of the wall, with one of said contacts electrically engaged by said element; the other of said spaced contacts adapted to be electrically connected to one electrode of a dry cell, and said lamp holder contact electrically connected to the other electrode of the cell when the latter is attached to the body.

5. A combined lamp and switch unit for portable electric lamps comprising: an open ended tubular body of electrically insulating material internally screw threaded and provided with an annular shoulder; a transparent cover seating against said shoulder; a metallic reflector having a central opening and a perimetral flange bearing against said cover; a cup shaped metallic supporting element externally screw threaded and screwed into said threads of the body; said element having a perimetral flange bearing against said reflector to clamp the latter and cover tightly in the body and electrically connect the element and reflector; said element having a central opening and an internally screw threaded collar bounding said opening; a cup shaped lamp holder of electrically insulating material externally screw threaded into said collar and adapted to receive the base of a lamp with the bulb of the lamp projecting through said reflector open ing and the lamp base in electrical contact with the re: flector; said lamp holder having a contact adapted to err- '7 gage -the center electrode of the lamp and adapted to be engaged by one electrode of a dry cell; and a switch mounted on said body and including one contact electrically engageable with said element, and another contact adapted to electrically connect with the other electrode of the dry cell.

2,121,1114 Beck June 21, 1938 8 Kuhns May 21, 1940 Deibel Feb; 10, 1942 Miller Sept. 9, 1947 Hipwell et a1. M I 18, 1949 Samalion Jan. 10, 1950 Garland Oct. 7, 1952 Schotz Aug. 27, 1957 Schildbach Sept. 10, 1957 Moore Dec. 24, 1957 Lockwood July 21, 1959 Bruehl Apr. 5, 1960