US641463A

US641463A - Portable electric lamp.

Info

Publication number: US641463A
Application number: US71471899A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hermann J Muller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1899-04-27
Filing date: 1899-04-27
Publication date: 1900-01-16
Anticipated expiration: 1917-01-16

Description

No. 64!,463. Patented Jan. l6, I900. H. J. MULLER.

PORTABLE ELECTRIC LAMP.

(Application filed Apr. 27, 1899.)

(No Model.)

I F I F" a! I w" mwmf/ln/ flWL- I 7 W 1 g ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

IIERMANN J. MULLER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PORTABLE ELECTRIC LAM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 641,463, dated January 16, 1900.

Application filed April 27, 1899. Serial No. 714,718, (No model.)

T0 61 whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HERMANN J. MULLER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, in the borough of Manhattan and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Electric Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved portable electric lamp which is intended for use in the nature of a candle for going from room to room or from one floor to another of a house, the electric circuit of the lamp being automatically closed as soon as the lamp is lifted away from its point of support and reopened when the lamp is replaced on its support, whereby the same is ready for instant use-whenever required without necessitating the turning of a switch by the user; and the invention consists of a portable electric lamp comprising a lamp-body, a source of electricity located in said lamp-body, an incandescent electriclamp, conductors extending from the source of electricity to said lamp, and a switch located in the base of the lamp-body and operated automatically by the gravity of the lamp and body, and adapted for closing the circuit when lifting the lamp-body from its point of support and opening the circuit when returning it to its position thereon; and the invention consists, secondly, of a portable electric lamp comprising a lamp-body, a source of electricity located in said lampbody, an incandescent electric lamp supported on the body, electric conductors between the source of electricity and the incandescent electric lamp, an ordinary switch for opening or closing the circuit, and a switch automatically operated by the gravity of the lampbody located in the base of the same and adapted to close the circuit when the lamp is lifted from its support and open the circuit when the lamp-body is placed on the point of support.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my improved portable electric lamp shown as standing upon a support and with the light extinguished. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the lamp held in the hand and lighted. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section on line 3 3, Fig.

1, showing in detail the parts within the bod y imitation of a candle, such as is commonly.

used in gas-fixtures, or any suitable support which is provided with a socket d for receiving the miniature electric lamp D, which is screwed into the same, so as to form connection with the electric conducting-wires which pass from the battery through the figure E and socket d. At the side of the lamp-body A is preferably arranged an ordinary switch F, which when turned closes the circuit in which the lamp is located, so that the same is lighted. A second or auxiliary switch G is arranged in the base of the lamp, said switch being composed of a spring contact-plate g, provided with a pin g, that projects through an opening in the base B sufficiently so that the pin and contact-spring are automatically pressed inwardly when the lamp-body is placed on any suitable point of support. By the inward movement of the pin and contact-plate the lamp-circuit is opened, so that no current can pass from the battery to the incandescent lamp D. As soon as the lamp is lifted bodily from its support to be carried by the hand the pin projects below the base by the action of the spring contact-plate, and the latter forms contact with the contact-point g of the switch and closes the circuit of the battery, so that the required current is supplied to the lamp.

When the lamp is replaced on the table, mantelpiece, or other point of support, the pin and spring contact-plate are pressed inwardly again by reason of the gravity of the entire lamp, and the lamp-circuit thereby interrupted and the lamp extinguished. In this manner the portable electric lamp sup plies light as soon as it is lifted off its point of support, so that it can be used like a candle, supplying light as soon as lifted, so that sufficient light is obtained by which to see ones way in walking through the rooms or from floor to fioor by the light of the lamp. When the lamp is placed on a suitable support, the circuit is interrupted and the lamp extinguished.

hen it is desired to have light while the lamp is standing on the table or other support, the regular switch F can be turned on, as in the position indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, so that light is obtained as long as required even while the lamp is standing. My improved portable electric lamp serves, therefore, for a twofold purpose-namely, as an ordinary lamp while supported on a table or other point of support by turning on theordinary switch or by using it as a candle or portable lamp in walking about by the automatic action of the auxiliary switch.

It is obvious that my improved portable electric lamp can be made up in any desired form, in plain or artistic style, provided, however, that all the parts of the lamp are presentnamely, the source of electricity, incandescent electric la mp, conductors leading from the battery to the same, an ordinaryswitch, and an auxiliary switch that is automatically operated by the raising of the lamp from its point of support or by replacing the lamp thereon.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent A portable electric lamp, consisting of a lamp-body, a source of electricity located in said lamp-body, an incandescent electric lamp supported on the body, electric conductors connecting said source of electricity and incandescent lamp, and forming two independent electric circuits between the same, a gravity-switch located in one of said circuits, said switch being adapted to close the circuit when the portable electric lamp is lifted from its point of support, and open the circuit when the lamp is set down, and a hand-operated switch located in the other of said circuits and adapted to open or close the same independently of said gravity-switch, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in pres ence of two subscribing witnesses.

HERMANN J. MULLER.

Witnesses:

J. II. NILES, M. H. WURTZEL.