US3185831A

US3185831A - Illuminated compacts

Info

Publication number: US3185831A
Application number: US167864A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ray Emma Jean; Irich Eugene
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-01-22
Filing date: 1962-01-22
Publication date: 1965-05-25
Anticipated expiration: 1982-05-25

Description

May 25, 1965 E. J. RAY ETAL ILLUMINATED COMPACTS Filed Jan. 22, 1962 INVENTOR. EUGENE IRICH United States Patent 3,185,831 ILLUMINATED COMPAT Emma Jean Ray, 1111 S. Culver, and Eugene Erich, 3348 N. 69th St, both of Lincoln, Nebr. Filed Jan. 22, 1962, Ser. No. 167564 1 Claim. (Cl. Flo-6.45)

This invention concerns an illuminated compact and more particularly one in which a battery and light are supported in an elevated position Within the base of the compact.

Numerous illuminated compacts have been proposed, but many of these are complicated in structure, requiring a large number of individual pieces and complicated assembly. This multiplicity of parts in turn results in a costly product which, because of its complexity, is short lived and subject to undesirable malfunctions.

It is a primary object of our invention to provide a device in which the compact may be case in two major portions, one of which supports a battery in elevated position to reduce corrosive action.

Another object of our invention is to provide a device in which the battery may be readily removed and replaced.

Another object of our invention is to provide a device in which a battery cover incorporates the light bulb and positions it relative to the battery.

Another object of our invention is to provide a device in which the contact member is a single fixed spring.

It is yet another object of our invention toprovide a device in which the component parts may be assembled to a single pivotal pin.

Other and further features and objects of the invention will be more apparent to those skilled in the art upon a consideration of the accompanying drawings and following specifications, wherein is disclosed a single exemplary embodiment of the invention, with the understanding, however, that such changes may be made therein as fall within the scope of the appended claim, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In said drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of a compact constructed according to our invention.

FIGURE -2 is a cut-away view in perspective of the portion of the device in which the battery is positioned, and

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view of the battery container portion of the compact.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGURE 1; a compact constructed according to our 0 invention contains three primary sections, the base ll, the lid 12 and the battery cover 13. The compact is preferably manufactured of some material which can be molded, the most desirable material being one of the commonly used plastics. The base section 11 is rectangular in shape and formed as an open box with side walls such as 14 and 15 with two upwardly extending

cars

16 and 17. Internally of the base at the end in which the two cars are formed is a ridge portion 18 which extends the width of the base. This may be best seen in FIGURE 2. Also formed integrally with the base section are two spacer ears l9 and 20. These are inwardly curved or recessed at 21 and 22 to hold a battery, and also notched to hold the electrical contact spring 23. These spacers serve to position the battery and the contact spring, and also hold it up up away from the inner surface of the base.

The base has a rearwardly extending tab 24 which has a small hole 25 extending through its length. This hole is provided to hold a pin 26. Also mounted on this pin 26 is a battery cover section 13. This is also molded Patented May 25, 1365 ice of plastic and is angular in cross section. One edge is provided with cars, such as 27 and 28, which will receive the pin 2s. The other edge has a lip 29 which engages the partition 18 in the base. Also in this cover portion is an opening 39 which receives the light bulb 31. The button-like base contact of the bulb is in contact with the contact strip 23 and the threaded metal shoulder of the bulb contacts the terminal 31a of the battery 32.

Also in the base member 11 is mounted a switch 33 which extends through the wall of the angular section 16 and abuts against the upturned end 34 of the contact strip 23. By pushing this button 33 inwardly, the contact strip is brought into engagement with the base of the battery, completing an electrical circuit which extends from the battery terminal through the bulb base, through the contact strip, and back to the opposite end of the battery.

To complete the assembly, the lid portion of the compact is a single molded piece, having downwardly extending ears, one of which is shown at 35 in FIGURE 1, to engage the hinge pin 26. This cover section is angular to mate with the upwardly extending ears l6 and 17 in the base and has a snap catch 36 on the forward edge to engage the lug 37 on the base member.

The cover portion also carries a mirror 33 which is illuminated by the light bulb 31. The light bulb 31 is of the type which has a small lens portion 39 at its outer extremity, and the bulb is mounted at a slight angle in the base member so that this lens will focus on the face of the person using the compact, which light will be reflected in the mirror. The base section contains a tray 40 which is provided to hold face powder and a space for a powder puff 41.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that we have provided a device in which relatively few parts may be assembled into a uni-t, each major part having cars which can be joined through the medium of a common hinge pin to the other portions. There is nothing loose which can fall out of the compact and become lost. The battery is readily removed and replaced. The electrical circuit is simple and consists of a single terminal strip.

Although We have described a specific embodiment of our invention, it is apparent that modifications thereof may be made by those skilled in the art. Such modifica tions may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention as set forth in the appended claim.

We claim as our invention:

In a compact, an open box-like base section rectangular in shape and having upwardly extending ears on the side walls thereof and having a transverse ridge portion internally of the base at the end in which the said two cars are formed, and having also two recessed spacer ears formed between the rear wall of the box and the ridge portion and having transverse notches therein, a battery received in the recessed ears and a contact strip extending beneath the battery and located in the notches and having an upturned end to selectively engage the base of the battery, a battery cover angular in cross section, the frontal portion of the angular cover having an opening therein, an illuminating lamp received therein, the end of the contact strip opposite the upturned end positioned to make contact with the button base contact of the lamp and the threaded metal shoulder of the lamp contacting the terminal of the battery, a lever at one end of the base member extending through the wall of the base member and abutting against the upturned end of the contact strip whereby pressure on the lever moves the upturned end transversely of the case to close the circuit through the battery and the lamp, a lid hinged to the rear of the box, the lid being prow vided with a mirror on the inside and the rectangular 2,487,168 11/49 Mordkin 20645.11 base having a tray to hold face powder and powder puff. 2,677,044 4/54 Lawler 240--'-6.45

References Citefi by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 433,816 8/35 Great Britain.

1,496,575 6/24 Hanna 2406.45 2 392 51 1 4 Aronek 240 5 NORTON ANSHER, y Examine"- 2,453,621 11/48 Chinn 240-645 LAWRENCE CHARLES, Examiner.