US3160722A - Mercury switch mechanism for flashlights - Google Patents

Mercury switch mechanism for flashlights Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3160722A
US3160722A US192838A US19283862A US3160722A US 3160722 A US3160722 A US 3160722A US 192838 A US192838 A US 192838A US 19283862 A US19283862 A US 19283862A US 3160722 A US3160722 A US 3160722A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
capsule
slide
mercury
casing
housing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US192838A
Inventor
Woodrow W Sellers
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to US192838A priority Critical patent/US3160722A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3160722A publication Critical patent/US3160722A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01HELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H29/00Switches having at least one liquid contact
    • H01H29/004Operated by deformation of container
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21LIGHTING
    • F21VFUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V23/00Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices
    • F21V23/04Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices the elements being switches
    • F21V23/0414Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices the elements being switches specially adapted to be used with portable lighting devices

Definitions

  • the principal purpose of the present invention is to provide for a switching combination actionably available for use in connection with flashlights and similar units for the purpose of establishing electrical circuits between "the light and the power means of such unit.
  • the present invention contemplates mounting upon a unit such as a flashlight or kindred device a housing in which is supported a plastic capsule or envelope encasing a globule of mercury and having at either end, positioned for contact by the mercury upon dispersion, leads respectively connected to the bulb and to grounding of the casing, with the battery power for the flashlight or similar device also in contact with the bulb and the casing, with the housing being provided with a slide member adapted upon shift to compress the plastic capsule, thus compressing the mercury contents of the capsule and expressing the same toward the opposite ends of the capsule into circuit completing contact with the respective leads "to the bulb and to ground of the flashlight or unit under consideration.
  • the principle object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel flashlight construction which includes a power source preferably housed within the structure and which includes a shiftable switch mounted upon the structure, said switch comprising liquid metallic means housed within a flexible and compressible container adapted for spreading upon compression into circuit malting contactwith leads from the bulb and ground of the structure.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide such a device in which the liquid metallic element is mercury and the compressible container is formed of a flexible plastic.
  • a further object of the invention is to define such a device in which a metallic liquidacontaining flexible capsule is supported upon the body of a device such as a flashlight, and a slide activated member is slidably engaged with the support for the metallic-containing cape sole, and in which the slide member includes enlarge ment engaging with the capsule upon advancement causing compression of the capsule so as to spread the metallic substance into circuit making association with leads from the bulb and ground;
  • a further object of the invention is to provide such a device in which the flexible capsule includes a lowermost groove-like channel for guiding the mercury to and from circuit making condition.
  • a further object of the invention is generally to improve the design, construction and eliiciency of switch devices utilized in connection with flashlight and similar devices.
  • FIG. 1 represents a substantially conventional flashlight with the switching arrangement of the present invention mounted thereon, and with parts broken away for pur-' poses of illustration.
  • FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale illustrating the switch moved into actuating position, and with additional features schematically shown.
  • FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken as on the line HLUI of FIG. 1.
  • a flashlight 11 having a casing 13, a bulb 15 mounted in an electrically conductive reflector 1s, and a suitable source of power such as the batteries 17.
  • Batteries 17 are mounted within casing 13 and, as is usual, the negative pole of batteries 17 is in electrical contact with ground to the casing as through a spring 19, and the positive pole of batteries 1'7 is disposed for contact by bulb 15.
  • the present invention particularly relates to the switching mechanism for actuating the bulb by completing circuit through the batteries of the present setup.
  • This switching arrangement comprises a housing 21 which is mounted upon casing 13, with housing 551 including a flexible and compressible plastic capsule 23 within which is contained a supply of mercury Mercury 25 is normally positioned as a globule in termediate the length of capsule'ZIi and, in order to assist in the assembly of mercury globule 2 5, capsule 23 is provided with an underlying groove 27, and in some instances a central depression for the mercury globulc' Slide 2a is adapted for fore andaft advancement and retraction relative to housing 21 for the purpose of activating the switching.
  • Slide 29 at its rearward end includes a downwardly extending enlargement Bill which in re:
  • tracted position of the slide as shown in PEG. 1 is adjacent to the position of mercury globule 25 in capsule 23 with the capsule uncompressed, and in advanced condition as shown in FIG. 2, engages with the capsule so as to effect spreading of the mercuryfrom end to end of the capsule.
  • a lead 33 which is suitably connected to casing 13 so as to effect grounding thereof.
  • a lead 3 5 which is connected to bulb 15, preferably through connection to reflector 16.
  • Each oi leads 33, 35 extends through the capsule into the interior of the capsule for engagement with mercury 25 upon compression of the capsule by advancement of slide in the embodiment of the switching device as presently shown, slide 2% is provided with a pair of laterally projecting flanges 37 which slidably engage with elongated grooves 35 formed in housing 2.1, and thus provide for guiding and control of the movement of the slide. it will sneer 2:2
  • grooves 39 terminate short of the ends of the housing so as to restrain the movement of slide 29 against overtravel beyond the housing.
  • Leads 33, 35 are respectively inserted through casing 13 and extended rearwardly and forwardly respectively, with the lead 33 being connected to the casing in order to ground the switching, and with lead 35 being connected to the bulb as by connection to the reflector mounting for the bulb or directly to the bulb itself.
  • slide 29 When use is discontinued, slide 29 is retracted to the position of FIG. 1, relieving the compressive force on the capsule and its mercury contents, thus permitting the mercury to reassemble as a globule, breaking the circuit making contacts with leads 33, 35. When so retracted, enlargement 31 restrains any accidental flow of mercury 25 toward lead 33 and thus insures against accidental energizing of the device.
  • the present device provides a minimum of moving parts in connection with the switching of the flashlight, and provides an efiicient switching mechanism with a minimum of wear and thus preserves the longevity of use of the device. It will also be seen that in the event of an unforeseen disruption in any of the moving parts of the switching arrangement the switch may readily be removed from casing 13 and a new unit replaced thereon, merely requiring the detachment of housing 21 from the casing and the removal of leads 33, 35 from the capsule, with the replacement of the device being simple in the ability to merely replace the housing, at the time of replacement reinserting the leads into the new capsule 23.
  • a switching mechanism for use with a flashlight which includes a casing, a bulb associated with said casing, and a power source mounted in said casing, said switching mechanism comprising a housing mounted on and externally of said casing, 21 compressible flexible plastic capsule in said housing adjacent said casing, an actuating slide above said capsule, said slide having longitudinally extending laterally protruding flanges, said housing including longitudinally extending grooves, said flanges slidably engaged in said grooves, whereby said slide is slidably shiftable fore and aft relative to said housing and said capsule, said slide including at its rear a downwardly projecting enlargement contacting said capsule and adapted to compress said capsule under forward slide shift to spread capsule contents, a supply of mercury contained in said capsule and comprising the contents of said capsule, electrical leads connected into the interior of said capsule and respectively connected to said bulb and said power source, said mercury in fore shifted position of said slide being spread into circuit making contact with said leads, said enlargement compressingly engaging said capsule to spread said mercury
  • a switching mechanism for use with a flashlight which includes a casing, a bulb associated with said casing, and a power source mounted in said casing, said switching mechanism comprising a housing mounted on and externally of said casing, a compressible capsule in said housing adjacent said casing, an actuating slide slidably mounted in said housing above said capsule, whereby said slide is slidably shiftable fore and aft relative to said housing and said capsule, said slide including at its rear a downwardly projecting enlargement contacting said capsule and adapted to compress said capsule under forward slide shift to spread capsule contents, a supply of mercury contained in said capsule and comprising the contents of said capsule, electrical leads connected into the interior of said capsule and respectively connected to said bulb and said power source, said mercury in fore shifted position of said slide being spread into circuit raking contact with said leads, said enlargement compressingly engaging said capsule to spread said mercury into said contact, retraction of said slide relieving said compression to allow reassembly of said mercury out of circuit making contact, said capsule having
  • a switching mechanism for use with a flashlight which includes a casing, a bulb associated with said casing, and a power source mounted in said casing, said switching mechanism comprising a housing mounted on and externally of said casing, a compressible capsule in said housing adjacent said casing, an actuating slide above said capsule, said slide having longitudinally extending laterally protruding flanges, said housing including longitudinally extending grooves, said flanges slidably engaged in said grooves, whereby said slide is slidably shiftable fore and aft relative to said housing and said capsule, said slide compressingly contacting said capsule under forward slide shift to spread capsule contents, a supply of mercury contained in said capsule and comprising the contents of said capsule, electrical leads connected into the interior of said capsule and respectively connected to said bulb and said power source, said mercury in fore shifted position of said slide being spread into circuit making contact with said leads, said slide compressingly engaging said capsule to spread said mercury into said contact, retraction of said slide relieving said compression to allow reass
  • a switching mechanism for use with a flashlight which includes a casing, a bulb associated with said casing, and a power source mounted in said casing, said switching mechanism comprising a housing mounted on and externally of said casing, a compressible flexible plastic capsule in said housing adjacent said casing, an actuating slide slidably mounted in said housing above said capsule, whereby said slide is slidably shiftable fore and aft relative to said housing and said capsule, said slide compressingly contacting said capsule under forward slide shift to spread capsule contents, a supply of mercury contained in said capsule and comprising the contents of said capsule, electrical leads connected into the interior of said capsule and respectively connected to said bulb and said power source, said mercury in fore shifted position or" said slide being spread into circuit making contact with said leads, said slide compressingly engaging said capsule to spread said mercury into said contact, retraction of said slide relieving said compression to allow reassembly of said mercury out of circuit making contact, said slide enlargement disposed in said retracted slide position adjacent and rearward of said collected
  • a switching mechanism for use with a flashligh s Q which includes a casing, a bulb associated with said casing, and a power source mounted in said casing, said switching mechanism comprising a housing mounted on and externally of said casing, 21 compressible capsule in said housing adjacent said casing, an actuating slide slidably mounted in said housing above said capsule, whereby said slide is slidably shiftable fore and aft relative to said housing and said capsule, said slide compressingly contacting said capsule under forward slide shift to spread capsule contents, a supply of mercury contained in said capsule and comprising the contents of said capsule, electrical leads connected into the interior of said capsule and respectively connected to said bulb and said power source, said mercury in fore shifted position of said slide being spread into circuit making contact with said leads, said slide compressingly engaging said capsule to spread said mercury into said contact, retraction of said slide relieving said compression to allow reassembly of said mercury out of circuit making contact, means in said capsule for collecting said mercury in retracted slide position, and means blocking mercury flow

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Arrangement Of Elements, Cooling, Sealing, Or The Like Of Lighting Devices (AREA)

Description

Dec. 8, 1964 w. w. SELLERS 3,160,722
MERCURY SWITCH MECHANISM FOR FLASHLIGHTS Filed May 7, 1962 FIG.|
IN VENTOR,
WOODROW W. SELLERS Mag United States Patent fad 3,15%,722 MERCURY SWlTCH MEtCllANlSh l FUR l lbAfil-lillflll'w Woodrow W. Sellers, 293 N. Hollywood, ll'lemphis, Filed May 7, i962, er. No. 92,333
Claims. (tilt Milkill) This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in switch means for energizing flashlight units. Many attempts have heretofore been made to provide for a convenient switching arrangement for use in connection with flashlight means of the generally conventional type. The prior means that have heretofore been employed have generally been commercially ineificient on account of their inaccuracy of operation, their fragile nature, and the undersirable additional expense that has been connected with their installation from a commercial point of view.
The principal purpose of the present invention is to provide for a switching combination actionably available for use in connection with flashlights and similar units for the purpose of establishing electrical circuits between "the light and the power means of such unit. In order to accomplish this purpose the present invention contemplates mounting upon a unit such as a flashlight or kindred device a housing in which is supported a plastic capsule or envelope encasing a globule of mercury and having at either end, positioned for contact by the mercury upon dispersion, leads respectively connected to the bulb and to grounding of the casing, with the battery power for the flashlight or similar device also in contact with the bulb and the casing, with the housing being provided with a slide member adapted upon shift to compress the plastic capsule, thus compressing the mercury contents of the capsule and expressing the same toward the opposite ends of the capsule into circuit completing contact with the respective leads "to the bulb and to ground of the flashlight or unit under consideration.
The principle object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel flashlight construction which includes a power source preferably housed within the structure and which includes a shiftable switch mounted upon the structure, said switch comprising liquid metallic means housed within a flexible and compressible container adapted for spreading upon compression into circuit malting contactwith leads from the bulb and ground of the structure.
A further object of the invention is to provide such a device in which the liquid metallic element is mercury and the compressible container is formed of a flexible plastic. i
A further object of the invention is to define such a device in which a metallic liquidacontaining flexible capsule is supported upon the body of a device such as a flashlight, and a slide activated member is slidably engaged with the support for the metallic-containing cape sole, and in which the slide member includes enlarge ment engaging with the capsule upon advancement causing compression of the capsule so as to spread the metallic substance into circuit making association with leads from the bulb and ground;
A further object of the invention is to provide such a device in which the flexible capsule includes a lowermost groove-like channel for guiding the mercury to and from circuit making condition.
3,16%,722 Patented Dec. 8, 1964 A further object of the invention is generally to improve the design, construction and eliiciency of switch devices utilized in connection with flashlight and similar devices.
The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the present invention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will be readily understood from the following specification upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 represents a substantially conventional flashlight with the switching arrangement of the present invention mounted thereon, and with parts broken away for pur-' poses of illustration.
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale illustrating the switch moved into actuating position, and with additional features schematically shown.
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken as on the line HLUI of FIG. 1.
Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by numerals, the present invention is specifically illustrated in conjunction with a flashlight 11 having a casing 13, a bulb 15 mounted in an electrically conductive reflector 1s, and a suitable source of power such as the batteries 17. Batteries 17 are mounted within casing 13 and, as is usual, the negative pole of batteries 17 is in electrical contact with ground to the casing as through a spring 19, and the positive pole of batteries 1'7 is disposed for contact by bulb 15.
The present invention particularly relates to the switching mechanism for actuating the bulb by completing circuit through the batteries of the present setup. This switching arrangement comprises a housing 21 which is mounted upon casing 13, with housing 551 including a flexible and compressible plastic capsule 23 within which is contained a supply of mercury Mercury 25 is normally positioned as a globule in termediate the length of capsule'ZIi and, in order to assist in the assembly of mercury globule 2 5, capsule 23 is provided with an underlying groove 27, and in some instances a central depression for the mercury globulc' Slide 2a is adapted for fore andaft advancement and retraction relative to housing 21 for the purpose of activating the switching. Slide 29 at its rearward end includes a downwardly extending enlargement Bill which in re:
tracted position of the slide as shown in PEG. 1, is adjacent to the position of mercury globule 25 in capsule 23 with the capsule uncompressed, and in advanced condition as shown in FIG. 2, engages with the capsule so as to effect spreading of the mercuryfrom end to end of the capsule.
At its rear end capsule 23 is provided with a lead 33 which is suitably connected to casing 13 so as to effect grounding thereof. At its forward end capsule 23 is provided with a lead 3 5 which is connected to bulb 15, preferably through connection to reflector 16. Each oi leads 33, 35 extends through the capsule into the interior of the capsule for engagement with mercury 25 upon compression of the capsule by advancement of slide in the embodiment of the switching device as presently shown, slide 2% is provided with a pair of laterally projecting flanges 37 which slidably engage with elongated grooves 35 formed in housing 2.1, and thus provide for guiding and control of the movement of the slide. it will sneer 2:2
35 be observed that the grooves 39 terminate short of the ends of the housing so as to restrain the movement of slide 29 against overtravel beyond the housing.
In the assembly of the device housing 21 together with its contained capsule 23 and slide 29 is mounted upon the exterior of casing 13. Leads 33, 35 are respectively inserted through casing 13 and extended rearwardly and forwardly respectively, with the lead 33 being connected to the casing in order to ground the switching, and with lead 35 being connected to the bulb as by connection to the reflector mounting for the bulb or directly to the bulb itself.
In operation of the device, after batteries 17 have been inserted in the casing, bulb mounted suitably therein and the switching arrangement mounted upon the casing, forward movement of slide 29 from the position of FIG. 1 to the position of FIG. 2 effects a compression upon the compressible capsule 23 and expresses the globule of mercury 25 from end to end of the collapsed compressed capsule. The mercury thus expressed from end to end of the capsule effects contact between leads 33, 35, and thus completes the circuit activating and energizing bulb 15 for lighting purposes.
When use is discontinued, slide 29 is retracted to the position of FIG. 1, relieving the compressive force on the capsule and its mercury contents, thus permitting the mercury to reassemble as a globule, breaking the circuit making contacts with leads 33, 35. When so retracted, enlargement 31 restrains any accidental flow of mercury 25 toward lead 33 and thus insures against accidental energizing of the device.
t thus will be seen that the present device provides a minimum of moving parts in connection with the switching of the flashlight, and provides an efiicient switching mechanism with a minimum of wear and thus preserves the longevity of use of the device. It will also be seen that in the event of an unforeseen disruption in any of the moving parts of the switching arrangement the switch may readily be removed from casing 13 and a new unit replaced thereon, merely requiring the detachment of housing 21 from the casing and the removal of leads 33, 35 from the capsule, with the replacement of the device being simple in the ability to merely replace the housing, at the time of replacement reinserting the leads into the new capsule 23.
I claim:
1. A switching mechanism for use with a flashlight which includes a casing, a bulb associated with said casing, and a power source mounted in said casing, said switching mechanism comprising a housing mounted on and externally of said casing, 21 compressible flexible plastic capsule in said housing adjacent said casing, an actuating slide above said capsule, said slide having longitudinally extending laterally protruding flanges, said housing including longitudinally extending grooves, said flanges slidably engaged in said grooves, whereby said slide is slidably shiftable fore and aft relative to said housing and said capsule, said slide including at its rear a downwardly projecting enlargement contacting said capsule and adapted to compress said capsule under forward slide shift to spread capsule contents, a supply of mercury contained in said capsule and comprising the contents of said capsule, electrical leads connected into the interior of said capsule and respectively connected to said bulb and said power source, said mercury in fore shifted position of said slide being spread into circuit making contact with said leads, said enlargement compressingly engaging said capsule to spread said mercury into said contact, retraction of said slide relieving said compression to allow reassembly of said mercury out of circuit making contact, said capsule having an internal grooved recess for collection of said mercury in retracted slide position, said slide enlargement disposed in said retracted slide position adjacent and rearward of said collected mercury blocking mercury flow toward one of said leads.
2. A switching mechanism for use with a flashlight which includes a casing, a bulb associated with said casing, and a power source mounted in said casing, said switching mechanism comprising a housing mounted on and externally of said casing, a compressible capsule in said housing adjacent said casing, an actuating slide slidably mounted in said housing above said capsule, whereby said slide is slidably shiftable fore and aft relative to said housing and said capsule, said slide including at its rear a downwardly projecting enlargement contacting said capsule and adapted to compress said capsule under forward slide shift to spread capsule contents, a supply of mercury contained in said capsule and comprising the contents of said capsule, electrical leads connected into the interior of said capsule and respectively connected to said bulb and said power source, said mercury in fore shifted position of said slide being spread into circuit raking contact with said leads, said enlargement compressingly engaging said capsule to spread said mercury into said contact, retraction of said slide relieving said compression to allow reassembly of said mercury out of circuit making contact, said capsule having an internal grooved recess for collection of said mercury in retracted slide position, said slide enlargement disposed in said retracted slide position adjacent and rearward or" said collected mercury blocking mercury flow toward one of said leads.
3. A switching mechanism for use with a flashlight which includes a casing, a bulb associated with said casing, and a power source mounted in said casing, said switching mechanism comprising a housing mounted on and externally of said casing, a compressible capsule in said housing adjacent said casing, an actuating slide above said capsule, said slide having longitudinally extending laterally protruding flanges, said housing including longitudinally extending grooves, said flanges slidably engaged in said grooves, whereby said slide is slidably shiftable fore and aft relative to said housing and said capsule, said slide compressingly contacting said capsule under forward slide shift to spread capsule contents, a supply of mercury contained in said capsule and comprising the contents of said capsule, electrical leads connected into the interior of said capsule and respectively connected to said bulb and said power source, said mercury in fore shifted position of said slide being spread into circuit making contact with said leads, said slide compressingly engaging said capsule to spread said mercury into said contact, retraction of said slide relieving said compression to allow reassembly of said mercury out of circuit making contact, said capsule having an internal grooved recess for collection of said mercury in retracted slide position.
4. A switching mechanism for use with a flashlight which includes a casing, a bulb associated with said casing, and a power source mounted in said casing, said switching mechanism comprising a housing mounted on and externally of said casing, a compressible flexible plastic capsule in said housing adjacent said casing, an actuating slide slidably mounted in said housing above said capsule, whereby said slide is slidably shiftable fore and aft relative to said housing and said capsule, said slide compressingly contacting said capsule under forward slide shift to spread capsule contents, a supply of mercury contained in said capsule and comprising the contents of said capsule, electrical leads connected into the interior of said capsule and respectively connected to said bulb and said power source, said mercury in fore shifted position or" said slide being spread into circuit making contact with said leads, said slide compressingly engaging said capsule to spread said mercury into said contact, retraction of said slide relieving said compression to allow reassembly of said mercury out of circuit making contact, said slide enlargement disposed in said retracted slide position adjacent and rearward of said collected mercury locking mercury flow toward one of said leads.
5. A switching mechanism for use with a flashligh s Q which includes a casing, a bulb associated with said casing, and a power source mounted in said casing, said switching mechanism comprising a housing mounted on and externally of said casing, 21 compressible capsule in said housing adjacent said casing, an actuating slide slidably mounted in said housing above said capsule, whereby said slide is slidably shiftable fore and aft relative to said housing and said capsule, said slide compressingly contacting said capsule under forward slide shift to spread capsule contents, a supply of mercury contained in said capsule and comprising the contents of said capsule, electrical leads connected into the interior of said capsule and respectively connected to said bulb and said power source, said mercury in fore shifted position of said slide being spread into circuit making contact with said leads, said slide compressingly engaging said capsule to spread said mercury into said contact, retraction of said slide relieving said compression to allow reassembly of said mercury out of circuit making contact, means in said capsule for collecting said mercury in retracted slide position, and means blocking mercury flow toward one of said leads in such retracted position.
References (Ii-ted by the Examiner UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,025,981 12/35 Getty 200-172 2,464,184 3/49 Pearce ZOO-60 X 2,477,516 7/49 Haas 200-60 2,560,717 7/51 Boyer 200--l52 2,783,339 2/57 Carden 200-452 2,802,918 8/57 Boyle 200-152 X 2,849,562 8/58 Heller 200-152 X 2,900,493 8/59 Cheng 200-60 2,974,211 3/61 Brede 200-l52 BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.
ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A SWITCHING MECHANISM FOR USE WITH A FLASHLIGHT WHICH INCLUDES A CASING, A BULB ASSOCIATED WITH SAID CASING, AND A POWER SOURCE MOUNTED IN SAID CASING, SAID SWITCHING MECHANISM COMPRISING A HOUSING MOUNTED ON AND EXTERNALLY OF SAID CASING, A COMPRESSIBLE FLEXIBLE PLASTIC CAPSULE IN SAID HOUSING ADJACENT SAID CASING, AN ACTUATING SLIDE ABOVE SAID CAPSULE, SAID SLIDE HAVING LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING LATERALLY PROTRUDING FLANGES, SAID HOUSING INCLUDING LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING GOOVES, SAID FLANGES SLIDABLY ENGAGED IN SAID GROOVES, WHEREBY SAID SLIDE IS SLIDABLY SHIFTABLE FORE AND AFT RELATIVE TO SAID HOUSING AND SAID CAPSULE, SAID SLIDE INCLUDING AT ITS REAR A DOWNWARDLY PROJECTING ENLARGEMENT CONTACTING SAID CAPSULE AND ADAPTED TO COMPRESS SAID CAPSULE UNDER FORWARD SLIDE SHIFT TO SPREAD CAPSULE CONTENTS, A SUPPLY OF MERCURY CONTAINED IN SAID CAPSULE AND COMPRISING THE CONTENTS OF SAID CAPSULE, ELECTRICAL LEADS CONNECTED INTO THE INTERIOR OF SAID CAPSULE AND RESPECTIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID BULB AND SAID POWER SOURCE, SAID MERCURY IN FOIRE SHIFTED POSITION OF SAID SLIDE BEING SPREAD INTO CIRCUIT MAKNG CONTACT WITH SAID LEADS, SAID ENLARGEMENT COMPRESSINGLY ENGAGING SAID CAPSULE TO SPREAD SAID MERCURY INTO SAID CONTACT, RETRACTION OF SAID SLIDE RELIEVING SAID COMPRESSION TO ALLO REASSEMBLY OF SAID MERCURY OUT OF CIRCUIT MAKING CONTACT, SAID CAPSULE HAVING AN INTERNAL GROOVED RECESS FOR COLLECTION OF SAID MERCURY IN RETRACTED SLIDE POSITION, SAID SLIDE ENLARGEMENT DISPOSED IN SAID RETRACTED SLIDE POSITION ADJACENT AND REARWARD OF SAID OLLECTED MERCURY BLOCKING MERCURY FLOW TOWARD ONE OF SAID LEADS.
US192838A 1962-05-07 1962-05-07 Mercury switch mechanism for flashlights Expired - Lifetime US3160722A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US192838A US3160722A (en) 1962-05-07 1962-05-07 Mercury switch mechanism for flashlights

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US192838A US3160722A (en) 1962-05-07 1962-05-07 Mercury switch mechanism for flashlights

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3160722A true US3160722A (en) 1964-12-08

Family

ID=22711241

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US192838A Expired - Lifetime US3160722A (en) 1962-05-07 1962-05-07 Mercury switch mechanism for flashlights

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (1) US3160722A (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3301982A (en) * 1964-12-04 1967-01-31 Amp Inc Fluid switch having deformable envelope and envelope closure means of matched configuration
FR2304955A1 (en) * 1975-03-20 1976-10-15 Goof Sven CONTROL DEVICE, IN PARTICULAR USING A FINGER, FOR A HAND HELD INSTRUMENT
US20050174763A1 (en) * 2004-02-10 2005-08-11 Goswami Vinod K. Disposable flashlight
US6957897B1 (en) * 2000-06-27 2005-10-25 General Electric Company Flashlight with light emitting diode source

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2025981A (en) * 1935-05-29 1935-12-31 Fred I Getty Multiple circuit closer for steering wheels
US2464184A (en) * 1946-08-13 1949-03-08 Syivania Electric Products Inc Manual switch
US2477516A (en) * 1945-05-18 1949-07-26 Paul C Haas Flashlight switch
US2560717A (en) * 1950-11-15 1951-07-17 Dill Mfg Co Electric switch
US2783339A (en) * 1956-03-13 1957-02-26 James W Carden Mercury switch
US2802918A (en) * 1955-04-29 1957-08-13 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Electrostatic relay
US2849562A (en) * 1953-08-06 1958-08-26 Peter V N Heller Acceleration responsive switch
US2900493A (en) * 1955-11-09 1959-08-18 Meyer Manuf Co Ltd Electric torches
US2974211A (en) * 1959-03-23 1961-03-07 Erwin F Brede Electric switches

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2025981A (en) * 1935-05-29 1935-12-31 Fred I Getty Multiple circuit closer for steering wheels
US2477516A (en) * 1945-05-18 1949-07-26 Paul C Haas Flashlight switch
US2464184A (en) * 1946-08-13 1949-03-08 Syivania Electric Products Inc Manual switch
US2560717A (en) * 1950-11-15 1951-07-17 Dill Mfg Co Electric switch
US2849562A (en) * 1953-08-06 1958-08-26 Peter V N Heller Acceleration responsive switch
US2802918A (en) * 1955-04-29 1957-08-13 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Electrostatic relay
US2900493A (en) * 1955-11-09 1959-08-18 Meyer Manuf Co Ltd Electric torches
US2783339A (en) * 1956-03-13 1957-02-26 James W Carden Mercury switch
US2974211A (en) * 1959-03-23 1961-03-07 Erwin F Brede Electric switches

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3301982A (en) * 1964-12-04 1967-01-31 Amp Inc Fluid switch having deformable envelope and envelope closure means of matched configuration
FR2304955A1 (en) * 1975-03-20 1976-10-15 Goof Sven CONTROL DEVICE, IN PARTICULAR USING A FINGER, FOR A HAND HELD INSTRUMENT
US6957897B1 (en) * 2000-06-27 2005-10-25 General Electric Company Flashlight with light emitting diode source
US20050174763A1 (en) * 2004-02-10 2005-08-11 Goswami Vinod K. Disposable flashlight
US7534006B2 (en) * 2004-02-10 2009-05-19 Vinod Kumar Goswami Disposable flashlight

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4286311A (en) Flashlight
US3160722A (en) Mercury switch mechanism for flashlights
BRPI0410818A (en) dumper switch assembly having a capacitor
US2483665A (en) Pocket flashlight
GB1198249A (en) Magnetic Switching Devices
GB1161044A (en) Improvements in or relating to an electric torch
US2712058A (en) Pen light or the like with adjustable head
JPS5888783U (en) jack
US4516194A (en) Pen light
BRPI0410817A (en) dumper switch assembly having a capacitor and resistor
US2363825A (en) Flashlight attachment
CN102087014A (en) Switch circuit in a flashlight
US4060723A (en) Flashlight assembly
GB566300A (en) Improvements in and relating to electric discharge devices
US2471032A (en) Flashlight switch
US2845498A (en) Fluorescent lamp switch
US3222487A (en) Dual purpose electrical contact element
US2918604A (en) Headlight beam selector switch
US736127A (en) Mercury safety attachment for electric circuits.
US3237184A (en) Signal lantern and switch means therefor
SU957299A1 (en) Liquid metal contact assembly
US2630693A (en) Camera flash unit
US2824180A (en) Turn signal switch for vehicles
US1465420A (en) Piston switch
US2595851A (en) Electrical pull-cord socket