US3539800A

US3539800A - Flashlight with magnetic support

Info

Publication number: US3539800A
Application number: US697387A
Authority: US
Inventors: William H Doring
Original assignee: Union Carbide Corp
Current assignee: Edgewell Personal Care Brands LLC
Priority date: 1968-01-12
Filing date: 1968-01-12
Publication date: 1970-11-10
Anticipated expiration: 1987-11-10
Also published as: GB1157399A; FR1564286A

Description

w. H. BORING 353,@

FLASHLIGHT WITH MAGNETIC SUPPORT 5. Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. WILLIAM H. DORING ATTORNEY mw wm mm E.

l ov. W, H970 Filed Jan.. 12, 1968 ov., lm R70 W. H. BORING l I 39539 FLASHLIGHT WITH MAGNETIC SUPPORT Filed Jan. 12,` 196e 3 sheets-sneet 2 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM H. DORING ATTORNEY jam; W. H.

FLASHLIGHT WITH MAGNETIC SUPPORT Filed Jan. 12. 1968 5 Sheets-,Sheet INVENTOR. WILLIAM H. DORING mired yStates Patent 3 539 800 FLASHLIGHT WITH IVIAGNETIC SUPPORT William H. Doring, Old Greenwich, Conn., assignor to Union Carbide Corporation, a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 12, 1968, Ser. No. 697,387 Int. Cl. F211 15/18 U.S. Cl. 240-52.15 10 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLSURE This invention relates to magnet devices.

It has heretofore -been known to secure a magnet to an article, for example a flashlight, to enable the article to be removably attached to a magnet attracting surface. Magnets are commonly riveted to the article or enclosed in a housing which is riveted to the article.

These magnets have traditionally been bulky and have detracted from the general appearance of the article. In many instances the magnets, thus attached, have also interfered with the utility of the article. For example, when attached to a flashlight, they have prevented easy insertion and removal of the flashlight from ones pocket or, when attached to the switch of a flashlight, they have greatly increased the chances of accidentally turning on the flashlight while slipping it into ones pocket.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a magnet attachment device which does not detract from the appearance or operation of the article to which it is attached.

It is another object to provide a magnet attachment device which is substantially hidden from view when not 1n use.

These and other objects are accomplished by a magnet assembly for detachably attaching an article to a magnet attracting surface which assembly is movable from a position substantially hidden within said article to a position at least partially protruding therefrom, when said article is positioned proximate to a magnet attracting surface, to magnetically engage' said surface and attach the article thereto until magnetic contact between the magnet and the surface is broken.

The invention will be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational View partly in section of a flashlight incorporating the device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2 2 0f FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a View similar to FIG. 2 but showing the magnet assembly in its raised operative position; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded View of the parts of the magnet assembly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Referring in detail to the drawings, there is shown a flashlight adapted to receive therein conventionl batteries 12. The flashlight is constructed in three sections, a head assembly 14, a bottom cap 16 and an intermediate case 18. The bottom cap 16 is made of thin gage 'metal such as chrome plated steel, aluminum, ybrass or copper coated steel or other conductive material, preferably a ice metal capable of being finished to a highly polished state. The intermediate case 18 is preferably molded from a suitable plastic material, and the head assembly 14 is preferably a thin gage metal or a molded plastic.

The head assembly 14 contains the usual lens, reflector, bulb and

bulb holder parts

20, 22, 24 and 26. A bulb holder llange 28 is secured to the reflector 22 and electrically contacts one terminal of the bulb filament. The other terminal of the bulb filament, that is, the end portion of the bulb base makes contact with a terminal 30 of the bulb holder 26. The terminal 30 is maintained in electrical Contact with the batteries 12 by a coil spring 32 which bridges a void between the batteries 12 and the terminal 30. The positioning of the coil spring 32 between the batteries 12 and the terminal 30 permits the batteries 12 to be inserted in the flashlight with both positive terminals facing either the front or rear of the flashlight, a desirable feature which is not found in the usual flashlight construction where the spring is placed at the rear of the flashlight.

The Ibatteries 12 are in electrical contact with the bottom cap 16 of the flashlight 10 and the electrical circuit between the filament of the bulb 24, the bottom cap 16 and the batteries 12 is completed by means of the usual switch assembly 34. The switch assembly 34 comprises an elongated rectangular contactor strip 36 made of a thin gage electrically conductive material such as bronze or brass coated steel and has an elongated flexibly resilient extension section 38. The contactor strip 36 is disposed inside the intermediate case 18 with the extension section 38 projecting toward the head assembly 14. The contactor strip 36 extends, at the end opposite the resilient extension section 38, in a direction toward the bottom cap 16 and slidingly contacts a wear plate 40 of a conductive metal which is in contact with the bottom cap 16.

Actuation of the contactor strip 36 into engagement with the bulb holder flange 28 is: performed by manipulating a switch slide 42 disposed outside and adjacent the intermediate case 18. The switch slide 42 is made from a non-conductive material, for example, polypropylene, and operatively engages the contactor strip 36 through an aperture in the intermediate case 18. In this manner the switch slide 42 together with the contactor strip 36 may be reciprocatingly slidingly moved as.` a unit, relative to the intermediate case 18, a distance sumcient to complete and break the electrical circuit.

The magnet assembly 44, which embodies the present invention, is positioned inside the intermediate case 18, opposite the switch assembly 34, in the void between the head assembly 14 and the batteries 12. The magnet assembly 44 is enclosed within a rectangular lbox-like housing 46 disposed withinand adjacent the wall of the intermediate case 18. The housing 46 is made from the same non-conductive material as the intermediate case 18 and is preferably molded as an integral part thereof. Positioned in the housing 46 are a pair of opposed elongated collector bars or angles 48 made of nonmagnetic, but magnet conductive material, for example, steel. Each collector 48 consists of a relatively short leg 50 fwhich, in assembly with the other collector, is disposed in spaced planar relation thereto and forms a short gap therebetween, and a relatively longer leg 52 adapted to lit into a corresponding slot 54 in the intermediate case 18. Seated within the housing 46 and in nested engagement with the angled collector bars 48 is a permanent magnet 56, preferably made of Alnico metal. The collector bars 48 and the magnet 56 are held together by magnetic attraction and are kept in alignment by an elongated insulating member or spacer 58 disposed between the magnet 56 and the collector bars 48.

The housing 46 is suiciently deep to permit the magnet 56, the spacer 58 and the collector bars 48, which make up the magnet assembly 44, to nest at the bottom thereof in a manner such that the longer legs 52 of the collector bars 48 are aligned with slots 54 but are not protruding therefrom (FIG. 2). An elongated leaf spring 60 is disposed between the magnet 56 and the intermediate case 18 and is arcuately bowed with its medial portion in resilient engagement with the topside of the magnet 56 and its ends in resilient contact with the underside of intermediate case 18. The spring 60 is made from a non-magnetic material such as brass and is of a length which will permit it to lie flat within the housing 46. The spring 60 is resilient enough to maintain the magnet assembly 44 against the innermost wall of housing 46 but is flexible enough to allow the magnet assembly 44 to rise to the underside of the intermediate case 18 upon magnetic attraction of the legs 52 to an external magnet attracting surface 62. The legs S2 serve to conduct the magnetism beyond the housing 46 through slots 54 in order that the magnet strength may be strongly applied to the magnet attracting surface 62 lwithout significant loss or attenuation of the magnet strength by the intermediate case 18.

The operation of the magnet assembly can best be described as a hidden magnet which automatically pops up when needed to magnetically attach the flashlight to a magnet attracting surface. The magnet assembly is retained in a hidden position within the flashlight by the spring until the flashlight is positioned proximate to a magnet attracting surface whereupon the attractive force of the magnet, directed through the collector legs, overcomes the resiliency of the spring and allows the magnet assembly to pop up. The legs thereupon protrude from the flashlight through the slots, engage the attracting surface and magnetically hold the flashlight against the surface (FIG. 3).

To disengage the flashlight from the attracting surface it is merely necessary to pull the flashlight in a direction away from the attracting surface with sufficient force to overcome the magnetic attraction. Once the flashlight is free of the attracting surface the spring is unopposed by magnetic attraction and retracts the magnet assembly to its initial position.

While a leaf spring is preferred, it is to be understood that a helical or coil spring or any other resilient and deformable member can be used. Also while it is preferred to construct the magnet and a pair of collectors as separate parts, it is also possible to form the collectors as parts of the magnet itself or to use a single collector or more than two collectors with a corresponding number of slots being provided.

The invention has been particularly described with reference to use in a flashlight, but it is to be understood that the magnet assembly of the present invention has use in articles other than flashlights. Any article which it is desired to detachably attach to a magnet attracting surface can be used in combination with the present invention.

Likewise, it will be understood that while this invention has been described with reference to many specific details thereof, it is apparent that the invention is not limited to such details.

What is claimed is:

1. In a flashlight having a casing, bulb filament and battery parts, the improvement which comprises a magnet assembly for detachably attaching the flashlight to a magnet attracting surface, such assembly comprising a spring, a magnet, and a collector means associated with said magnet, said magnet and said collector means being substantially wholly positioned within said casing and being resiliently held away from the outer wall thereof by said spring, said outer wall having at least one aperture therein aligned with said collector means, and said magnet being of sufficient force to overcome the resiliency of said spring thereby allowing said magnet to approach said outer wall and said collector means to partially protrude through said aperture when said magnet assembly is positioned proximate to a magnet attracting surface.

Z. A flashlight in accordance with claim 1 `wherein said collector means is a pair of oppositely disposed angled collector bars straddling said magnet.

3. A flashlight in accordance with claim 1 wherein the resiliency of said spring is sufficient to retract said collector means and said magnet to their initial substantially hidden position upon removal of said flashlight from the immediate vacinity of said magnet attracting surface.

4. A flashlight in accordance with claim 1 wherein said spring is a coil spring.

5. A flashlight in accordance with claim 1 wherein said magnet is Alnico metal.

6. A flashlight in accordance with claim 1 wherein said magnet assembly is positioned between the battery and the bulb filament parts of said flashlight.

7. ln a flashlight which is an elongated casing having a lens housing at one end thereof, a battery compartment at the opposite end thereof, a metallic spring within said casing contacting said lens housing and said battery compartment and a switch means on said casing for completing and interrupting the electrical circuit between said battery compartment and said lens housing, the improvement which comprises a magnet assembly disposed substantially wholly Iwithin said casing between said battery compartment and said lens housing, such assembly comprising a spring, a magnet, and a collector means associated with said magnet, said magnet and said collector means being positioned within said casing and lbeing resiliently held away from the outer wall thereof by said spring, said outer wall having at least one aperture therein aligned with said collector means, and said magnet being of suflicient force to overcome the resiliency of said spring thereby allowing said magnet to approach said outer wall and said collector means to partially protrude through said aperature when said magnet assembly is positioned proximate to a magnet attracting surface.

v8. A flashlight in accordance with claim 7 wherein said collector means is a pair of oppositely disposed angled collector bars straddling said magnet.

9. A flashlight in accordance with claim 7 wherein the resiliency of said spring is suflicient to retract said collector means and said magnet to their initial substantially hidden position upon removal of said article from the immediate vicinity of said magnet attracting surface.

10. A flashlight in accordance with claim 7 wherein said spring is a coil spring and said magnet is Alnico metal.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,341,701 9/1967 Moore et al. 240-52.1S XR 2,690,348 9/1954 Teetor 335-285 X 2,886,664 5/1959 Graubner 240-52.15 X

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner R. L. MOSES, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 24'0-5 2.5; 248-206