US3711694A - Keyhole light - Google Patents

Abstract

A light is positioned adjacent a keyhole and between a storm or screen door and a house door. When the storm door is opened, the light turns on to light the keyhole, and when the storm door shuts, the light goes out.

Description

United States Patent 1 1 Gronauer 1 Jan. 16, 1973 41 KEYHOLE LIGHT is 2,473,436 6/1949 Lynd ..240/2.13 x [76] Inventor: Charles Gronauer, 5234 N. Diver- 2'l56463 5,1939 Boulevard Whitefish Ba Wis 2.l72,523 9/1939 Soreng sey 1 2,606,980 8/1952 Woofter ..200/6l.76 53217 2,671,162 3 1954 Belinc ..200/6l.81 x [22] Filed: May 13, 1971 Primary Examiner-Louis J. Capozi [2]] 1 Appl' Assistant Examiner-Joseph W. Roskos Attorney-Alter, Weiss & Whitesel [52] US. Cl. ..240/2.l3, 200/6l.76, 240/DlG. 4 [51] Int. Cl. ..E05b 17/10 [57] ABSTRACT [58] Search l 4; g A light is positioned adjacent a keyhole and between a storm or screen door and a house door. When the storm door is opened, the light turns on to light the [56] References cued keyhole, and when the storm door shuts, the light goes UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,8|3,l95 ll/l957 Willey et al. ..240/2.l3 5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures El T4 27 KEYIIOLE LIGHT My invention relates to keyhole lights, and more particularly to a light actuated by an outside storm or screen door.

An automatically operating lamp is a real convenience if placed near a keyhole to light it during the night. However, the light should not be on continuously since it would be an unnecessary power drain and since it unduly displays the front of the house, which might be an invitation to burglary or the like. Thus, there is a need for a light which provides the convenience sought but which reliably remains dark when not in use.

Accordingly, an object of my invention is to provide a'lamp or lighting device that is actuated only when the outer door is open in order to illuminate the keyhole.

Another object. is to design a device which may be placed in any convenient position, either built into the door frame during original construction or located on the door frame as an attachment.

Still another object is to provide a device of the character described that may be actuated by either commercial line current (via a door bell transformer) or by conventional batteries.

Another object is to provide a device which requires no extra switch for its actuation.

The device is simple in construction and requires no separate switch and no special training for its operation or installation.

Other and further objects of my invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds, when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the entire assembled device;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross section of the device with the contact in a closed position to energize the light bulb;

FIG. 3 is a similar view of the device as shown in FIG. 2 with the contacts in an open position;

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross section view of the device, taken at the line 4-4, in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is another vertical cross section view of the device taken at the line 5-5, in FIG. 3.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts and features throughout the several views. More particularly, the character identifies the body or housing of the device, which may be of any convenient form, shape, or contour, or housing constructed of any type of preferably non-conductive rigid sheet material such as metal, plastic, or the like. The body 10 is provided with a cover portion 11 disposed thereon and retained thereon in any efficient manner. The cover 11 includes a transparent lens portion 12 which may be retained in any conventional manner.

There is a contact actuating pin 13 constructed of non-conducting material such as plastic. This pin 13 is slidably mounted at 14-through an opening in the wall 15 of the body 10. At 16, the pin bears upon a contactmaking member 17, which is shown. as being angularly formed. The pin 13 is also shown equipped with an integral projecting member 18, which limits outward pin travel and forms a seat for a compression spring 19. An insulated washer is supported by the upwardly extending portion of the member 17 on the other end.

A resilient contact member 21 is attached at 23 to the wall 22 of the body 10. This member 21 is shown angularly disposed at 24 for making a slidable contact with the insulated pin 13 at 25 (see FIG. 2), and electrical contact at 26 with the member 17. As the pin 13 is forced inward, the member 21 flexes to the left, as viewed in FIG. 3, to break the electrical contact at 26 with the member 17. As will be apparent from an inspection of the drawing, contact 21 has a V-shaped configuration adjacent contact 17 so that edges rub together with a cleaning action.

The entire unit is mounted onto a door frame (not shown) by means of screws passing through the apertures 27 in the lower plate of the body 10 or in any other convenient and efficient manner. When the entire unit is attached to the door frame it is actuated by making a mechanical contact between pin 13 and the outer door, such as a storm or screen door. The outer extending end of the pin 13 is made relatively long.

From the above description, it will become apparent that the lights ignite only when the outer door is opened fully. .If it is only partially open, the pin 13 is long enough to keep the contact from being made at 26.

When the outer door forces the pin 13 inwardly, as shown in FIG. 3, the contact at 26 is open. When the outer door is opened, the pin 13 is forced outward by the spring 19, thereby closing the electrical contact 26, as shown in FIG. 2.

The lamp bulb 28 is supported by a conventional socket 29, and preferably wired in parallel with the door bell button. The lamp bulb 28 is of small wattage so as not to overload the bell transformer 30 when it ignites. The light therefrom is directed through the transparent portion 12 of the cover 11 onto the keyhole being serviced, thus making it easy and convenient for the key to be inserted.

Although I have shown a specific construction and arrangement of the parts and features constituting my invention, many changes may be made without effecting their operativeness. I reserve the right to make such changes as 1 may deem necessary; therefore, the claims are to cover all equivalent structures which do not depart from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A lighting fixture comprising means including a sliding pin for making a mechanical engagement with an outer storm or screen door,

electrical contact means having a V-shaped end in contact with a flat edge to provide a rubbing contact operated by said sliding pin near the start of pin travel for opening and closing an electrical circuit,

said contact and pin being oriented so that extended pin travel does not further effect any contact operation,

said pin being long enough to preclude a closure of said electrical circuit unless said door is fully open, thus precluding closure if said door is slightly ajar, and

lamp means including a bulb positioned adjacent a keyhole and operated when said circuit is closed.

2. The lighting fixture of claim 1 wherein said bulb has limited wattage.

3. The lighting fixture of claim 2 wherein said electrical circuit includes a door bell transformer.

4. The lighting fixture of claim 1 wherein said fixture is enclosed in housing means dimensioned for attachment to a door frame between an outer storm door and a house door,

5. The lighting fixture of claim 4 wherein said electrical circuit includes a door bell transformer.

* a: a! a: 5

Claims (5)

1. A lighting fixture comprising means including a sliding pin for making a mechanical engagement with an outer storm or screen door, electrical contact means having a V-shaped end in contact with a flat edge to provide a rubbing contact operated by said sliding pin near the start of pin travel for opening and closing an electrical circuit, said contact and pin being oriented so that extended pin travel does not further effect any contact operation, said pin being long enough to preclude a closure of said electrical circuit unless said door is fully open, thus precluding closure if said door is slightly ajar, and lamp means including a bulb positioned adjacent a keyhole and operated when said circuit is closed.

2. The lighting fixture of claim 1 wherein said bulb has limited wattage.

3. The lighting fixture of claim 2 wherein said electrical circuit includes a door bell transformer.

4. The lighting fixture of claim 1 wherein said fixture is enclosed in housing means dimensioned for attachment to a door frame between an outer storm door and a house door.

5. The lighting fixture of claim 4 wherein said electrical circuit includes a door bell transformer.

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