US3099399A

US3099399A - Combination flashlight and key holder

Info

Publication number: US3099399A
Application number: US213658A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kibby Howard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-07-31
Filing date: 1962-07-31
Publication date: 1963-07-30
Anticipated expiration: 1980-07-30

Description

y 0, 1963 H. KIBBY 3,099,399

COMBINATION FLASHLIGHT AND KEY HOLDER Filed July 51, 1962 4? Z g ow/ 0 fiaey United States Patent 3,099,399 COMBINATION FLASHLIGHT AND KEY HOLDER Howard Kibby, Box 943, la], N. Mex. Filed July 31, 1962, Ser. No. 213,658 3 Claims. (Cl. 240-64) The present invention relates to a combination flashlight and key holder of the type employing a pin-light dry cell battery.

An object of the present invention is to provide a combination flashlight and key holder which is of small size, one which enables the user thereof to illuminate a key hole for the insertion thereinto of a key, and one which has special means for deactivating the flashlight when the key is in the key hole.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a combination flashlight and key holder in which the casing is of a sturdy construction, the flashlight and key holder being of simple structure readily manufactured on plastic extruding machines or casting machines, one which is economical to manufacture and assemble, and one which is highly eflective in action.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to a person skilled in the art from the following description when taken in connection with the annexed drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view partially in section showing the combination key holder and flashlight of the present invention,

FIGURE 2 is a view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG- URE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a View taken on the line 3-3 of FIG- URE 1,

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view of the device of the present invention shown in a condition of use with the key inserted in a key hole,

FIGURE 5 shows the device of the present invention in elevation and partially broken away with the casing of the device shifted to a light oil position with the key in the key hole,

FIGURE 6 is a view taken on the line 66 of FIG- URE 5,

FIGURE 7 is an exploded view on an enlarged scale, of the means for attaching the slide element and the key to the stud of the device, the slide element being shown in full lines in a position prior to insertion upon the stud and in dotted lines in position on the stud,

FIGURE 8 is a view taken on the line 88 of FIG- URE 7, and

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of the slide element removed from the stud.

Referring in detail to the drawing in which like numerals indicate like parts, the flashlight and key holder of the present invention comprises a casing 10 preferably fabricated of a molded or extruded plastic material or the like.

Arranged longitudinally within the casing 10 is a flashlight battery 12, the exterior surface of the battery 12 constituting the shell terminal of the battery. The battery 12 has on one end an end terminal 14, the battery 12 being of conventional construction. Mounted in and projecting from one end of the casing 10 is a flashlight bulb 16 the shell of which constitutes one contact. The bulb 16 has an end contact 18 in contact with the battery end terminal 14, in the conventional manner.

A screw plug 20 in the other end of the casing 10 permits the insertion therethrough of the battery 12 when it has to be replaced. A spring 22 within the screw plug 20 forces the battery 12 against the contact 18 of the bulb 16.

ice

As shown in FIGURE 1 the casing 10 is provided with opposed slots 24 and 26 and the exterior of the casing is formed to have a trackway 28 contiguous to the slot 24 and another trackway 30 contiguous to the slot 26.

Means is provided for supporting a key for movement into and out of each of the trackways 28 and 30 and as such means is the same for each of the trackways, it will be described with reference to the trackway 28 on the uppermost side of the casing 10 in FIGURE 1.

The trackway 28 extends from one end of the casing, as at 32 in FIGURE 1 to a point spaced inwardly from the other end 34 in which the bulb 16 is anchored.

The slot 24 extends beyond the end of the trackway 28 remote from the casing end 32 and provides room for the turning of a key 36 when free of the trackway 28.

The novelty of the present invention resides in the provision of a stud 38 slidable and rotatable in the trackway 24. One end portion of the stud 38 is within the casing 10 and the other end portion of the stud 38 is exteriorly of the casing 10.

As shown in detail in FIGURES 7 to 9, the stud has -a portion 40 within the casing 10 square in cross-sectional configuration so as to fit within a square aperture 42 provided in the slide element 44.

After the slide element 44 has been inserted upon the stud portion 40, the portion 40 is peened over as shown in FIGURE 1.

A midpart of the stud 38 is enlarged to provide a shoulder, as at 46 against which the key 36 bears with the key 36 being held in place by means of a washer 48 and a nut 50 threadably engaged upon the threaded end portion 52 of the stud 38 which is exteriorly of the casing 10. i It will be seen therefore when the nut 50 is tightened down upon the washer 48, the key 36 will be held against the shoulder 46 so that it will rotate with the stud 38 and also will slide with the stud 38 into and out of the associated trackway 28.

The slide element 44 is secured by its lid part to the stud 38 and the end portions of the slide element 44, as at 54 and 56 are curved so as to provide sliding contacts to engage, as shown in FIGURE 1, the shell contact of the bulb 16 and the shell terminal of the battery 12 at 58 and 60, respectively. When the slide element 44 is in this position the bulb 16 is energized by the battery 12. The slide element 44 associated with the trackway 30, in FIGURE 1, is shown withdrawn to the position in which both of its end portions are engaging the shell of the battery 12, in which condition the battery 12 is disconnected from the bulb 16.

An important feature resides in the provision of the rotatable stud 38 which permits shifting of the key 36 -a quarter turn relative to the casing 10 as in FIGURES 5 and 6. When in this condition, the key 36 effects the rotation of the slide element 44 from a position longitudinally of the casing 10 to a position transversely of the casing 10 as shown most clearly in FIGURE 5.

In this latter position the bulb 16 is not energized and the battery 12 is saved from unnecessary discharge.

In use, the combination flashlight and key holder of the present invention may be employed to carry at least two keys and to project one or the other key 36 from the end adjacent the bulb 16 which movement energizes the bulb 16 and illuminates a key hole in a lock such as is designated by the numeral 62 in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6.

After insertion of the key 36 into the lock 62 the casing 10 may be swung to the vertical position of FIGURE 5 which rotates the casing 10 relative to the slide element 44 and cuts 011 the current to the bulb 16.

While only a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown and described other embodiments are contemplated and numerous modifications and changes 3 may be made therein without departing from the spirit thereof as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a combination flashlight and key holder including a casing, a flashlight battery within said casing, said battery having a shell terminal and an end terminal, and a bulb mounted in one end of said casing, said bulb having an end contact electrically in circuit with said battery end terminal, there being a slot in said casing, the improvement consisting in the provision of a stud mounted in said slot for sliding movement therealong and for rotary movement relative to said casing when in the projected position, a slide element within said casing and having a midpart fixedly secured to said stud for sliding and rotary movement with said stud, and means operatively connected to the portion of said stud exteriorly of said casing for securement thereto of a key for sliding and rotary movement with said stud, said slide element having the portions adjacent the ends thereof engaging said battery shel-l terminal when said stud is in the retracted position, and said slide element having one end portion engaging said shell terminal and the other end portion engaging said bulb shell contact when said stud is in the projected position, said slide element when said stud is in the projected position and rotated a quarter turn having said end portions out of engagement with both said shell contact and said shell terminal.

2. In a combination flashlight and key holder including a casing, a flashlight battery within said casing, said battery having a shell terminal and an end terminal, a bulb mounted in one end of said casing, said bulb having an end contact electrically in circuit with said battery end terminal, there being a slot in said casing, and a trackway on the exterior surface of said casing contiguous to the portion of said slot adjacent one end of said slot, the improvement consisting in the provision of a stud mounted in said slot for sliding movement therealong and for rotary movement relative to said casing when in the projected position, said stud having a portion adjacent one end within said casing and a portion adjacent the other end exten'orly of said casing, a slide element within said casing and having a midpart-fixedly secured to said stud for sliding and rotary movement with said stud, and means operatively connected to the portion of said stud exteriorly of 'saidcasing for securement thereto of a key for sliding and rotary movement with said stud,

said key when said stud is in the retracted position being within said trackway, said slide element having one end portion engaging said shell terminal and the other end portion engaging said bulb shell contact when said stud is in the projected position, said slide element when said stud is in the projected position and rotated a quarter turn having said end portions out of engagement with both said shell contact and said shell terminal.

3. In a combination flashlight and key holder including a casing, a flashlight battery within said casing, said battery having a shell terminal and an end terminal, a bulb mounted in one end of said casing, said bulb having an end contact electrically in circuit with said battery end terminal, there being a slot in said casing, and a trackway on the exterior surface of said casing contiguous to the portion of said slot adjacent one end of said slot, the improvement consisting in the provision of a stud mounted in said slot for sliding movement therealong and for rotary movement relative to said casing when in the projected position, said stud having a portion adjacent one end within said casing and a portion adjacent the other end exteriorly of said casing, a slide element within said casing and having a midpart fixedly secured to said stud for sliding and rotary movement with said stud, means operatively connected to the portion of said stud exteriorly of said casing for securement thereto of a key for sliding and rotary movement with said stud, said key when said stud is in the retracted position being within said trackway, and means on the portion of said stud exteriorly of said casing adapted to be gripped by the fingers of the hand of a user for shifting said stud along said slot and for rotating said stud, said slide element having one end portion engaging said shell terminal and the other end portion engaging said bulb shell contact when said stud is in the projected position, said slide element when said stud is in the projected position and rotated a quarter turn having said end portions out of engagement with both said shell contact and said shell terminal.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,393,373 Hendrix I an. 22, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS 510,358 Great Britain July 27, 1939 530,249 Great Britain Dec. 9', 1940

Claims

1. IN A COMBINATION FLASHLIGHT AND KEY HOLDER INCLUDING A CASING, A FLASHLIGHT BATTERY WITHIN SAID CASING, SAID BATTERY HAVING A SHELL TERMINAL AND AN END TERMINAL, AND A BULB MOUNTED IN ONE END OF SAID CASING, SAID BULB HAVING AN END CONTACT ELECTRICALLY IN CIRCUIT WITH SAID BATTERY END TERMINAL, THERE BEING A SLOT IN SAID CASING, THE IMPROVEMENT CONSISTING IN THE PROVISION OF A STUD MOUNTED IN SAID SLOT FOR SLIDING MOVEMENT THEREALONG AND FOR ROTARY MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID CASING WHEN IN THE PROJECTED POSITION, A SLIDE ELEMENT WITHIN SAID CASING AND HAVING A MIDPART FIXEDLY SECURED TO SAID STUD FOR SLIDING AND ROTARY MOVEMENT WITH SAID STUD, AND MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE PORTION OF SAID STUD EXTERIORLY OF SAID CASING FOR SECUREMENT THERETO OF A KEY FOR SLIDING AND ROTARY MOVEMENT WITH SAID STUD, SAID SLIDE ELEMENT HAVING THE PORTIONS ADJACENT THE ENDS THEREOF ENGAGING SAID BATTERY SHELL TERMINAL WHEN SAID STUD IS IN THE RETRACTED POSITION, AND SAID SLIDE ELEMENT HAVING ONE END PORTION ENGAGING SAID SHELL TERMINAL AND THE OTHER END PORTION ENGAGING SAID BULB SHELL CONTACT WHEN SAID STUD IN IN THE PROJECTED POSITION, SAID SLIDE ELEMENT WHEN SAID STUD IS IN THE PROJECTED POSITION AND ROTATED A QUARTER TURN HAVING SAID END PORTIONS OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH BOTH SAID SHELL CONTACT AND SAID SHELL TERMINAL.