US3252733A

US3252733A - Electric hand lantern

Info

Publication number: US3252733A
Application number: US411832A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arthur H Moore; Joseph G Bacevius
Original assignee: Bridgeport Metal Goods Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Bridgeport Metal Goods Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1964-11-17
Filing date: 1964-11-17
Publication date: 1966-05-24
Anticipated expiration: 1983-05-24
Also published as: GB1043034A

Description

May 24,4 1966 A. H. MOORE ETAL 3,252,733

ELECTRIC HANDLANTERN Filed Nov. 17, 1964 k m r.: 'llllllllll/y/Aljui-vllllll/llqgmigq y United States Patent O 3,252,733 ELECTRIC HAND LANTERN Arthur H. Moore, Fairfield, and Joseph G. Bacevius, Bridgeport, Conn., assgnors to The Bridgeport Metal Goods Manufacturing Company, Bridgeport, Coun., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Nov. 17, 1964, Ser. No. 411,832 8 Claims. (Cl. 24010.63)

invention relates to an electric hand lantern and, more particularly, to such a lantern employing a plurality of electric cells.

Although a number of variations of electric hand lanterns exist, they may be broadly considered to fall into two categories. The first of these categories is that of the standard flashlight which contains one or more cells positioned in line in a tubular body. The best known and most widely used flashlights contain two such cells. Although more powerful flashlights utilizing three and four cells are sometimes employed, they areunwieldy `and diicult to store due to their excessive length.

v In order to overcome the disadvantages of the standard flashlight, a second type of hand lantern is often employed. This type lantern customarily includes a lens assembly, a handle, and a battery chamber which contains a' battery or battery pack having a rating which may be equal to that of several standard flashlight cells. One difficulty with a lantern of this type is that the batteries which are required are more expensive and more diflicult to obtainthan standard flashlight cells. Another problem is often encountered when the main body of a lantern of this type is formed of an unbreakable plastic material. Since the plastic is not an electric conductor, a simple slide switch ofthe type employed in standard ashlights, wherein the flashlight body is utilized as one of the switch contacts, is unusable. For this reason, lanterns of this type must employ a self contained switch. In other words, aswitch wherein both contacts and the actuating elements vare contained within a single unit. After this unit is mounted on the body, it then becomes necessary towire the switch to the battery and to the lamp. This .type` of construction makes the lantern diflicult to assemble and also increases its cost.

Accordingly, it is the primaryobject of this invention to provide an improved hand lantern. Other objects are to provide such a lantern which employs a plurality of standard flashlight cells; which includes a simple Unwired switch; and which may be molded of a nonconductive plastic material.

. lThe above objects and others are attained by providing fvided to selectively interconnect the other terminal of the lamp with the remaining pole of the other battery.

For a more particular description of a preferred ernbodiment of this invention reference may be had to the following-disclosure, the appended claims, and the figures of the attached drawings wherein:

FIG'. yl is a side elevational view of a hand lantern constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a left end view of the lantern of FIG. l;

- FIGJSfis a'cross section takenalong the line 3 3 of FIG. j4 is an enlarged cross section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross section taken along the line 5 5 of FIG. 4; and

ICC

FIG. 6 is a cross section taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

In the drawings, there is illustrated a hand lantern having a body B molded of a shock-resistant and electrically insulating plastic material, such as polyethylene. The body B includes a rectangular battery chamber 10, a lens sup-port bell 12, and a handle 14. The lens support bell 12 terminates in anl annular cylindrical liange 1.6 (FIG. 6) which is molded with a screw thread encircling its outer surface. The out-er surface of battery chamber 10 is contoured in such a manner as to provide a curved switching surface portion 18 conveniently adjacent the users thumb when the lantern is held in the right hand. The surface porti-on 18 defines a rectangular slot 20 (FIGS. 5 and 6) which serves as a switch guide in a manner to be later described. Directly behind the slot 20, the surface 18 is shaped to form a short rib 22 r-unning transverse to the longitudinal dimension of slot 20.

Each side of the battery chamber 10 is shaped to form a molded lug 24 which extends inwardly of the battery chamber closely adjacent the rear wall. A double coil spring 26 is mounted against the back wall by being slipped beneath the lugs 24. The spring 26 is constructed of a single length of copper coated steel wire formed into two adjacent conical spirals as illustrated.

The body B includes an internally extending shoulder 28 formed between the lens support bell 12 and the battery chamber 10 as shown in FIG. 6. A substantially L- shaped metallic battery contact strip 30 is positioned within the battery chamber 10 adjacent its intersection w-ith the lens support bell 12. The contrat strip 30 includes a vertical portion 30a which tits against the inner surface of one side wall of battery chamber 10. The upper end 30a.' of the vertical portion 30a is curved to conform to the inner surface of the curved surface portion 18. Bent outwardly from the lower end of portion 30a is a horizontally extending clip portion 30b which is curved to clamp ont-o the shoulder 28 to retain the strip in position. Clip portion 30h alsoincludes a formed dimple 30C which extends inwardly of the batterychamber. The battery contact strip 30 is then retained in positionby means of a rivet 3'2 which passes through the wall of surface portion 18.

A metallic switching strip 34 extends longitudinally of the battery chamber 10 and along the inner surface of curved portion 18. The switching strip 34 includes a central portion 34a which is offset'to extend into the slot 20 as shown in FIG. 5. The forwardl end of the switching strip 34 bears resiliently against the rivet 32 and at its forward extremity is shaped to provide a curved contact nose 34b. The opposite end of switching strip 34 is formed in such a manner as to define a raised detent ridge 34e` which resiliently bears against the -rib 22. The switching strip 34 is held in position by means of a rivet 36 which secures the raised central portion 34a of the strip within a recess formed in a plastic sliding switch button 38. The switching strip 34 is formed of a resilient material such as brass and the ends are sprung in such a manner that :they exert outward pressure against the Wall of the bat-tery chamber while switch button 38 is simultaneously urged inwardly against the outer surface of curved portion 18. It will thus be seen -fro-m an inspection of FIG. 5 that the switch button-switching strip assembly is longitudinally slidable in slot 20, the vertical portions of the central portion 34a acting as stops to limit the-forward and backward motion. In FIGS. Sfand 6 the switch `is illustrated -in a central position with the detent ridge 34C on top of rib 22. Forward advancement of switch button 38will cause the ridge 34e-to slide over rib 22 so as to yieldingly position the switch assembly in its forward position. When the button 38 3 is so advanced, the contact nose 34h assumes the position illustrated as 3411. When button .38 is retracted, the `detent ridge 34C slides over rib 22 in the opposite direction and positions the switch assembly in its rearward position.

The construction of the lens end of the lantern of this invention is illustrated most clearly in FIG. 6. As will be noted therein, the metalized plastic lreflector 40 includes an outer rim 40a which tits against the outer edge of flange 16. A threaded plastic lens ring 42 is screwed onto the ange 16 and includes an annular shoulder 42a which bears against rim 40a and retains the reflector 40 in position. A clear plastic lens 44 is also retained within lens 42 by means of a second shoulder 4211. A lamp 46 is positioned within the reector 40 with its shell making electrical contact with an outwardly extending conductive ange -member 48. The lamp 46 is retained in the reflector 40 by means of a threaded plastic insert 50 which includes a tubular rivet 52 pasisng through its base. A coil yspring 54 mounted within the hollow body of the insert makes electrical contact between the tubular rivet 52 and the base of lamp 46 and also serves as a shock absorber to minimize the possibility of breakage of lamp 46.

Standard flashlight dry cells are used to power the lante-rn of this invention. The manner in which they are disposed when assembled is illustrated in FIG. 6. Following is a description of the steps of assembly of the lantern. With the lens ring 42 and the reflector assembly removed, cell C1 is inserted into position with its tip contacting the lower spiral of spring 26; cell C2 is then inserted and it urges cell C1 inwardly against the force of spring 26 until the base of cell C2 is snapped into assembled position behind shoulder 28 in electrical contact With the dimple 30e on battery contact strip 30. After assembly of cells C1 and C2, they are conned and retained in chamber by shoulder 28, as can be clearly Vseen in FIG. 6. As used in the present specifi-cation, the term battery is intended to be given its broadest definition to encompass, for example, either one electrical cell or several cells electrically connected together. Thus, referring to FIG. 6, cells C1 and C2 may be considered. to vform Ia single battery, having one pole connected to a spiral of spring 26 and the other pole connected to battery contact strip 30. Cells C3 and C4 are next inserted with the base of cell C3 in contact with the remaining spiral` of spring 26 and the tip of cell C1 positioned concentrically with respect to the opening formed by the flange 16. The reflector assembly is then inserted through the opening formed by the flange 16; lens 44 is placed in position in lens ring 42 and the latter is Iscrewed onto ange 16. When the lantern is assembled as shown in FIG. 6, 4the rivet 52 contacts the tip of cell C4 and biases cellsC3 and C4 inwardly against the force of spring 26. Cells C3 and C4 may now be consideredto form a second battery in series with the battery formed by cells C1 and C2.

It will be" seen by reference to FIG. 6 that when in the illustrated condition, an open electrical circuit is formed, but the ollowingelements are electrically connected: conductive' flange member 48, the shell of lamp 46, the lamp filament, the base of lamp 46, spring S4, rivet 52, cells C4 and C3, double coil spring 26, cells C1 and C2, and battery contact strip 30 to switching strip 34. In order to light the lantern, it is merely necessary to slide switch button 38 forwardly, thus advancing the contact nose 34h of switching strip 34 against the conductive member 48 so as to close the electrical connection and complete the circuit. The circuit vis broken by sliding the button 38 in the opposite direc-tion.`

. It will be noted that, by means of the present inyention, all of the objectives set forth above have been attained, For example, there is provided a hand lantern which may utilize standard size flashlight cells and which, even though constructed of a nonconductive material, does not require the use of wired, self-contained switches. Other Variations and modications may be made in this inven-tion without departing from its spirit and scope. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the foregoing description `is illustrative only, rather than limiting. This invention is limited only by the scope of the following claims.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: i

1. An electric hand lantern comprising: a body of electrical insulating material defining a chamber adaptedy .g to contain a plurality of batteries; conductor means/ih said chamber positioned to contact opposite poles of at least two of said batteries; lamp positioning means mounted in said body to position a lamp with one of the lamp terminals electrically connected to the remaining pole of one of said batteries; said lamp positioning means including a conductive portion in contact with the other terminal of said lamp; switch means `for selectively electrically interconnecting said conductive portion with the remaining pole of another of said batteries, including a metallic contact strip secured to said body in ak tixed position to contact the remaining pole of the said another of said batteries, and a metallic switching strip movably mounted on said body and arranged to slidingly engage said contact strip at all times -but selectively engage said conductive portion only in one position to which it is movable; and means accessible from the exterior of said body for selectively moving said switching strip into and out of said position.

2. The lantern defined in claim 1 wherein said body is an integral formation of plastic material having an open end; fand la ring is detachably secured to said body, said ring being arranged to support a lens and said lamp positioning means, and when secured to said body to dispose the lens Ano cover said open end.

3. The lantern of claim 1 wherein said contact strip is L-shaped.

4. The lantern of claim 1 wherein said body defines ia slot therethrough and said switching strip includes a finger-activated slidable portion extending through said slot.

5. A lantern as defined in claim 1 wherein said metallic contact strip includes a portion for mounting it on said body.

6. The lantern of claim 1 wherein said body includes a shoulder that confines at least one of said batteries in said chamber.

7. An electric hand lantern which comprises: a body formed of an electrically insulating material defining a chamber therein adapted to contain a first and a second battery in side-by-side relationship; a shoulder formed on said body and disposed to conline said second battery in said chamber; a metallic conductor positioned in said chamber to resiliently contact opposite poles of said batteries; a lamp-reliector yasse-mbly positioned in said body to support a lamp with one of the lamp terminals Vin contact with the remaining pole of said first battery and including a conductive ange .positioned to contact the other terminal of said lamp; a metallic switching strip mounted within said chamber and selectively movable between a first position out of contact with said ange and a second position in contact with said flange; a metallic Contact strip iXedly mounted within said chamber to electrically connect the remaining pole of saidsecond battery with said switching strip; and means on said body to selectively move said switching strip between its-first and second positions.

8. The lantern of claim 7 wherein said metallic contact strip includes a portion for clamping on said shoulder to mount said metallic contact strip on said body.

(References on following page) 5 6 References Cited by the Examiner 2,465,114 3/ 1949 Cury 240-10.65 2,772,349 11/1956 Chambernn 24o-10.65 UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,124,306 3/1964 schatz 24o- 10.65 X 2,226,353 12/1940 wood 24o-10.6

2,420,585 5/ 1947 Crimmins 240-10.66 X 5 NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. AN ELECTRIC HAND LANTERN COMPRISING: A BODY OF ELECTRICAL INSULATING MATERIAL DEFINING A CHAMBER ADAPTED TO CONTAIN A PLURALITY OF BATTERIES; CONDUCTOR MEANS IN SAID CHAMBER POSITIONED TO CONTACT OPPOSITE POLES OF AT LEAT TWO OF SAID BATTERIES; LAMP POSITIONING MEANS MOUNTED IN SAID BODY TO POSITION A LAMP WITH ONE OF THE LAMP TERMINALS ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED TO THE REMAINING POLE OF ONE OF SAID BATTERIES; SAID LAMP POSITIONING MEANS INCLUDING A CONDUCTIVE PORTION IN CONTACT WITH THE OTHER TERMINAL OF SAID LAMP; SWITCH MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY ELECTRICALLY INTERCONNECTING SAID CONDUCTIVE PORTION WITH THE REMAINING POLE OF ANOTHER OF SAID BATTERIES, INCLUDING A METALLIC CONTACT STRIP SECURED TO SAID BODY IN A FIXED POSITION TO CONTACT THE REMAINING POLE OF THE SAID ANOTHER OF SAID BATTERIES, AND A METALLIC SWITCHING STRIP MOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID BODY AND ARRANGED TO SLIDINGLY ENAGAGE SAID CONTACT STRIP AT ALL TIMES BUT SELECTIVELY ENGAGE SAID CONDUCTIVE PORTION ONLY IN ONE POSITION TO WHICH IT IS MOVABLE; AND MEANS ACCESSIBLE FROM THE EXTERIOR OF SAID BODY FOR SELECTIVELY MOVING SAID SWITCHING STRIP INTO AND OUT OF SAID POSITION.