US974226A - Portable lamp and guard therefor. - Google Patents

Description

R. B. BENJAMIN.

PORTABLE LAMP AND GUARD THEREFOR.

APYLIGATION FILED JUNE 7, 1907' 9?4,Q & Patented Nov. 1,1910.

v I 2 SHEETS-$113111 l.

R. B. BENJAMIN.

PORTABLE LAMP AND GUARD THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7, 1907.

Patentad 31 0V. 1, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. To'all whom it may concern:

"smart s OFFICE! i REUBEN B. BENJAMIN,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB TO BENJAMIN ELECTRIC. MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

PORTABLE LAMP AND GUARD THEREFOR.

Be. it known that l. lti-zrnsx I). lnxannx,

a citizen of the United States, residingwat Chicago, in. the county of Cook and State of ;-,-Illinois, have invented new and usetullm- 1 clear, concise, and exact description, rel'erence being had to the aet'otiipan ving drawin forming a part of this specification.

a l invention relates to improvements in o1table electric lamps, and has for its ohects,tirst. a new form of lamp-holding device; and second, an lll'lpltfi'td guard for the bulb to protect the same from mechanical. injury as well as to prevent any metallic part. of the deriee from coming into accidental contact with a live wire or a live part of any electrical apparatus in the neighborhood of which the user may be working.

A third object is to provide a lamp guard in which the minimum of obstruction to the radiation of light from the lamp is present, while, at the same time, great rigidity in the structure is secured.

These and other objects of my invention will become apparent as the specification proceeds. 1

In the drawings. which illustrate one cmhodiinent of my invention, Figure l is a side View of my portable electriclamp and guard; Fig. .2 :is a top View of the same; Fig. 3 is a section on line Il-3, Fig. l Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional View on line 4'l. l ig. showing the lamp-socket and the connecting wires leading thereto, in elevation; Fig. 5 IS a top view. partly HI sec- (hi5 a fragtion. on line Fi". l

mum, on line tei'erring to the. drawings, the handle 1,

of convenient size and shape and made of (S and 7. As is usualin such sockets, one of Specification of Letters Patent.

. expedient for electrically comieetiiw I ii the ter- 65 the terminals (.indicated byfi in Figs?) and e the form of a cylindrical shell orslining Patented Nov. 1, 191 0. Application filed June i907. Serial No. 377,735. f j

is centrally located, while, the other ter-" nnnal (indicated by 7 in Figs. 3 and 5). is in,

screawtlu-eaded seas to receive the screw...

threaded metallic neck or shauk of tlie lain pQ i When the lamp is in place in the socket, the

central terminal 3 engages a correspondingly located terminal on the lamp, as is well an- (lt't'Stuutl b those skilled in. tht art. 'lh is the ter minalsol' an incandescent bulb wit minals of the receiving socket, is so common and well known in the art that. furtherjdeseription thereof" is believed to beeun'n'ecessary. 'lhe terminals (3 and 71ha've binding screws S for electrically contieeting'thcileads 9 there\\'ith.' lhe handle'l is formed with a bore 10 through which the leads extend to openings 11 in the base of the soeket 4, as

clearly shown in Figs. -1 and 5. In this" way I readily etl'ect electrical. connection 75 between the leads and the lamp-socket, although it is apparent that other arraugements may he resorted to for accon plishs'. in o; the same purpose; the precise arrange numt-slu'm'n being merely for the sake of so illustration. 'lhe socket 4 is eonvenientljt" secured in its recess by means of screws 12 which pass thrt'iugh the sides of the head 2, and at their ends preferably projectinto' notches 13 on the socket to lock the against rotation.

It will thus he seen that my improved portable lamp, as above (lCSCIlbOtLlS a dc- \-'ice compact and simple in structure, and" convenientlyhandled. Of especial use is my portable lamp to persons in charge of clecl-' trical apparatus'-sueh as switchboards where it. is frequently necessary to inspect: certain parts located in more or less dark places, in which it; is impossible to \vorlc withouta light. My portable lampv isad-f mirahly adapted for use in such instaiuesl.v But, in order to prevent mechanical"injury 5 to'the electric bulb, as well as to guard againstinjury to the user and to apparatusflOO by keeping the metallic portions oithe jlamp outof possible contact with anylive cireuit, I surround the bulb withaniivel foray; ofguard. 14, whose structure I shall now proceed to describe inv detail. This guardisf mfi made of insulating-material (I haVe found 2. vulcanized fiber excellent, forthje pufrposehg and eonsists of a plurality gthin strips latter '35 ribs 15, connected at their endsto rings 16 spread apart by the ring 17 to form an openmg of suflicient size to permit the ready 1 bands in place by screws or rivets .27 which passage therethrough of the bulb, as well as the firm seating of the guard upon the head 2 of the handle. 'lo impart to the guard an appearance of ncatness, I form the upper ends of the ribs with inwardly projecting To prevent the lugs 24 from slipping out of their slots in the ring 17, I wind a few layers of thin flexible bands 26 of insulating material, such as vulcanized fiber) about the base portion of the guard. I secure these hold the bands against the ring 1T about mid 'ay between ad acent rlbs, as mostclearly illustrated in Fig. 3. I thus provide, in effect, a flexible corrugated clampportions 18, held in close proximity to each 5 other by the connecting ring lti. In this way I provide the guard with a contour ,more or less similar to that of the bulb. Of

course, it is to be understood that the general configuration of the guard may be of any desired style. A stiffening ring 19 may be employed to connect the ribs in a plane about midway between the ends of the ribs. One method of conveniently assembling the parts comprising the guard is as follows: It. will be observed that the inwardly curved ends of the ribs have L-shaped lugs or projections 20. whose outer portions 21 are adapted to be inserted through the slots 22 in the ring 16, when the ribs are held in a position substantially at right angles to that in which they are shown in Figs. 1 and i. In other words, to connect a rib with the ring 16, the parts are so held with respect to each other, that the portion 21 of the lug 20 on the rib extends toward the center of the ring into one of the slots 22.

pushed radially inward through the slot. whereupon the rib may be pivoted or rocked into the portion shown in Fig. l. During this rocking of the rib the portion 21 will move from the inwardly extending or radial position it occupied in the beginning of the operation, to the upwardly extending or longitudinal position shown in Fig. 4. At the same time, when the rib approaches the limit of its rocking movement, care is taken that the central part of the rib enters the corresponding slot 23 in the stiffening ring 19, and that the lug 24 at: the other end of the rib passes into its corresponding slot 25 in the ring 17. In this simple manner the proper assemblage of the elements constituting the guard is readily and easily efi'ected. Attention is called to the fact that the ribs are arranged radially edgewise. The object of this arrangement is two-fold,- first, to impart to the structure a greater degree of firmness and rigidity by causing the ribs to receive the stress of the impact. to which the guard is liable to be subjected during the ordinary usage of the same, in the. direction of the. longer axes of their cross-sectional areas; and second. to present. the minimum amount ol. interfering surface to the rays of light radiating from within the guard, and thereby obstruct the. light as 5 little as possible,

With the parts in this position the portion 21.

ing ring, which, by tightly embracing the lower ends of the ribs, gives considerable strength to the structure of the device.

To attach the guard to the handle, it is only necessary to slip the ring 17 over the head 2, the parts being so proportitmed that the ring 17 fits snugly over the head 2, so as to be held there by friction. The peripheral shoulder or projection 28 on the head 2 limits the movement of the guard on the head. I may, however, employ additional means for securing the guard to the handle, in the shape oflscrews 29 which, when the guard is forced over the head, enter slots 30. A little tightening of the screws 29 locks the guard firmly to the handle.

Inasmuch as the handle and the guard are constructed of insulating material, it will be observed that my improved portable lamp may be used with perfect safety around electrical apparatus, as above mentioned. The. only exposed metal parts are the isolated screws 27 and 29, which are incapable of completing a circuit in the event that they come into contact with the exposed portion of a charged wire. In other words, the lamp is inclosed in an insulating sheath or housing which protects the lamp mechanically as well as electrically.

I do not claim to be the first to devise a portable electric lamp, or a guard for a lamp, but

IVhat. I do claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A lamp guard comprising an end member, a plurality of guard strips interlocking ond end member interlocking with the other ends of said guard strips, and means for retaining, one of said end members and the ends of said guard strips in their interlocked position. I

2. A lamp guard comprising an end member. a plurality of guard strips interlocking at their ends with said end member. a second end membe r interlocking with the other ends of said guard strips. and a retaining member surrounding said last-mentioned end member and the ends of the guard strips to retain them in their interlocked position.

A lamp guard comprising an end member, a plurality of guard strips interlocking at their ends with said end member, a ring interlocking with the other ends of said guard strips, and a retaining member surring W us o' -awetad str ps to retain them n their 'mt'erlo'eked pe ',S1t1o'1'1 renndin g'sa'id -4 t lainp guard.comprisingianend memher, a ilura'ht'y efzgum-d stripsinterlock1ug retain them in their"interlocked. position,

I said .retainingjs'trip being secured to said :rin g, .atpoints intermediate the gna rd strips.

Adanip gnardcoin )rising an end member," a plurality guart strips connected at their lents' t liere t a ring interlocking with ..--=;thc,, t;herends 0. said guard strips. means fortrctaining the ends of said guard strips and'sai'drihgin' interlocked relation, and a spacing ring engaging said guard strips in- 2? termediate their ends.

6. A lamp guard comprising in combination a plurality of circularly disposed flat insulating strips arranged radially edgewise a member interlocking with the ends of said strips so as to connect them together, a ring intermediate the ends of said strips, said ring being formed of non-conducting sheet material and arranged edgewise with respect to the lamp, and said ring being notched for the reception of said strips, and means for connecting the other ends of said stripstogeth'ei:

ft. Aiamp guard comprising a plurality of circularly disposed flat insulating strips arranged radially edgewise, a ring arranged to interlock with the correspomling ends of said strips ,:a member to which the opposite ends ofzthe strips are attached, and a flat ring of insulating material intermediate the 43 ends'of the strips, said ring being arranged edgewise. with respect to the lamp and having' its outer edge notched for the reception of the-inner edges of said strips.

-H. A. lamp-guard comprising. in comhination. a plurality of circularly disposed strips of insulating material arranged radially wilt-Jew .fe. and means forspacing the corre sponding ends, ofsaid strips. said spacing means heingadap'ttal to. interlock with said strips and thereby secure them together.

'9. lira lamp-guard, in combination, a plurality ofrircularlv disposed strips arranged radially 'edgewise. a ring to which corre- Sponding ends'ol the strips meattaehed, a second ring towhich the opposite ends'ot' the strips are connected. and a flexible corrugated hand mirried by said second ring and mbracing the lower ends ol the strips to hold tht-flsa'nnl'n-mly upon the ring.

" ltl." in a lamp giuard. in'cmnhination, a ,pair oli rings provided crult with suitably spaced slots. -a plurality of strips having rad ally projecting'lugs at their upper andldtrt-r ends,'said lugs extending into said slots to conne t the rings and the strips -"together;whereby ring.

is formed! I p 11. In a lamp-guard."i'n combmatibnf a. pair otgrings prorided cat-h witlrsnitiilily spaced slots, a plurality 'ot' strips flfaiuing 7O rad'i'allr projectingiugs at their upper-and lower ends, said. lugs extendinginto-"said slots to'connect the ring and'thdstrip !."ether. anda-ficxible corrugated baud citr- .ried by one of-said rings andembl i said strips to' hold the sauiel irmly tlpt '12.'In .a wlamp-guard. injt-ombinfatu pair of rings m'ovuled each with suitab spaced 'slots, h plurality of stripshavi 8-? lugs at their upper and'loirer ends lugs cxtending into said slots to coiine i: rings and the strips together, and a an iiig memht'" arranget'lsubstaiitiallymlditiy betweelr'said"rings to engage thestri I bracing the same. i i

t r131 13. In alamp-guard, ll] (2t)llll)tlltttl()lll' 2t t *w,;'"= pair of rings provided each with suitably spaced slots, a plurality of strips having lugs at their upper and lower ends, said lugs extending into said slots to connect the rings and the straps together, a flexible corrngated 'band carried by one ofsaid rings rand embracing said strips to hold the same.

firmly upon the ring, and an :mxiliarymcui- '9 her arranged substantially midway between said rings and provided with radial slots for engaging the strips to brace the same.

14. A lamp guard comprising a plurality of llat strips of insulating material disposed around the lamp and arranged radially edgewise, a ring arranged to interlock with. the correspomlil'ig ends of the strips,'amemher to which the opposite ends of the strips are attached, and an insulating ringintermediate the opposite ends of said strips. said ring being notched for the reception of said strips, I 15. A guard for a. lamp comprising a plurality of flat insulating strips with their edges presented to the lamp and curved to conform to the shape of the lamp, a member interlocking with the correspomling ends of said stripsya member to which the opposite ends oi the strips are. attached, and a flat ring Of.ltlSttlttllltg'tltuttt'ittl lo cated betweenthe'ends of said strips and having its outer edge notched 'l'or the reception ol the inner edges ol'- said strips.

It A portable electric lamp, comprising in combination, an insulating handle having an enlargement at one end. thereof, said enlargement having a portion reduced in external diameter, a lamp carried by said 125 handle, an'd a guard-for the lamp ren to\-'abl-y secured to said enlargement. and extending around said reducedportion, said guard be.- ing formed of insulating mutc"ial'.

l7.' A portableelectric lam comprising, in combination, an insulating handle having I i l an enlargement at one end, thereof, a lamp carried by said handle, and an insulating skeleton-structure embracing said enlargement and secured thereto for inclosing the lamp, said enlargement having a portion of reduced diameter providing a shoulder against which the guard is seated.

18. In a lamp-guard, in combination, a plurality of strips, lfltztl'lSjliOl' spacing and connecting the lower ends of said strips to form the base of the guard, and a ring to which the opposite ends of the strips are connected, said ends being provided with legs which, when ,the parts are in position, extend along the periphery of the ring to prevent separation of the strips therefrom.

19. Tn a lamp-guard,- in combination, a plurality of strips, means for spacing and connecting the lower ends of said strips to form the base of the guawd, and a ring to which the opposite ends 701' the strips are connected, said ends being, provided with lugs which, when the parts are in position, extend axially along the inner periphery of the ring to prevent separation of the strips therefrom.

20. In a'lamp-guard, in combination, a plurality of strips, means for spacing and connecting the lower ends of said strips to form thc'base of the guard, and aslotted ring for receiving the opposite ends of the strips, said ends being provided with lugs or projections thatextend first radially through the slots in said ring and thenin a direction parallel to the axis of the ring.

21. In a, lamp-guard, in combination, a plurality of strips, means for spacing and connecting the lower ends of said strips tov form the base of the guard, and a slotted ring for receiving the opposite ends of the strips, said ends being provided with L- shaped lugs or projections whereby the strips may be connected with said rin for assembling the parts, and firmly held t rereto after the parts are thus assembled. V

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence oftwo witnesses.

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN.

.lVitnesses l ARTHUR H. Bon'r'rcnnn, I C. L. HOPKINS. i

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