US2338078A - Flashlight - Google Patents

Description

0. T. WOOD Dec. 28, 1943.

FLASHLIGHT Filed July 11, 1940 I 1 I 41 z 1 I I 1 r/ 1/ I I I I 0 M wmw 8 m 5 4 22 it B 1 H 3. x4 e m m I O 7 6 7 1 4% 4 5 2 1 2 fin W W 1%" ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 28, 1943 FLASHLIGHT Orville T. Wood, Clinton, Mass., assignor to Blake Manufacturing Corporation, Clinton, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application July 11, 1940, Serial No. 344,879

Claims.

This invention relates to electric flashlights and hand lanterns of the kind in which a removable battery of dry cells is connected and disconnected at will to an incandescent lamp from which the light is reflected in a given direction.

An electric hand lantern or flashlight has heretofore been proposed in which the light fromthe lamp may be selectively thrown as a beam or spotlight, that is,'concentrated on one spot, or as a diffused light spread over a wider area. This has been accomplished, in some situations, by a sleeve comprised, say, of frosted glass which is movable between a position between or surrounding, as the case may be, a lamp with respect to a reflector whereby the light rays are diffused and a position in which the light rays are not intercepted by the screen whereby the light rays are directed by the reflector as a beam.

It has also been proposed to so mount a lamp within a reflector that the filament of the lamp, which, of course, is the light source, is definitely fixed against displacement at the focus of a reflector.

The present invention has for one of its objects to selectively throw a beam of light, that is, concentrate the light at one spot or alternatively diffuse the light over a wider area. In carrying this aspect of the invention into effect, a reflector is provided composed of a plurality of parts, one at least of which is relatively movable with respect to an adjacent part.

A further object of the invention i to utilize a fixed reflector for one type of'light and a relatively movable reflector for a second type of light. In carrying this object of the invention into effeet, in its preferred embodiment, a fixed reflector is so disposed with respect to a source of light and is so proportioned as to normally receive the light rays from the light source and direct them as a beam of light While a second reflector is movable into position to spread the light from the light source and give in effect a light difiused over a relatively wide area.

Another object of the invention is the provision of reflector sections one of which is relatively fixed with respect to a fixed light source and the other of which is relatively movable with respect to the first reflector to change the characteristics of the light. In carrying this aspect of the invention into effect one of the reflectors telescopes with respect to the other reflector.

Yet another object of the invention is to selectively concentrate the light from a light source. To this end, a shield-like member of predetermined characteristics is movable relative tothe lamp from such position that substantially no light from the lamp strikes a reflector to a position at which all of the light from the lamp is received by the reflector and thrown in a predetermined direction.

It is also an object of the invention to support the movable reflector in a flashlight or hand lantern. In carrying this aspect of the invention into effect, the movable reflector is carried with a slidable actuating device adapted to be selectively actuated at the option of the user.

Still another object of the invention is a flashlight or hand lantern having provision for closing the circuit between the source of light and the source of electrical energy coincident with the pre-selection of the type of light desired.

A further object of the invention is a light transmitting closure for the reflector of varying light transmitting characteristics. Accordingly, the light transmitting closure may have one area of a refractive index different from that of another area. In the illustrated embodiment the central portion of the light transmitting closure is conveniently formed as a plano-convex lens while the peripheral portion of the closure may take a plate-like form.

The invention also seeks a hand lantern or flashlight which is practical from the standpoint of ease and cheapness of manufacture and durability and effectiveness in use.

These and other objects of the invention and the means for their attainment will be more apparent from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating one embodiment by which the invention may be realized and in which:

Figure 1 is a 'view substantially entirely I in longitudinal axial section showing a flashlight to which this invention may be applied and illustrating particularly the relation of parts when the circuit is open;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 1 but with the reflector in position to diffuse the light from the lamp source over a relatively extended area, that is, a flood-light;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing the reflector in position to direct a concentrated beam of light, or spot-light;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken in the plane indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrowsj and Figure 5 is a fragmentary view showingthe circuit closer actuating device taken in the plane indicated by t e line E--b of Figure l and looking in the (1 tion of the arrows.

Ti e flashli ht or hand lantern of this invention comprises generally a casing S of any desired configuration illustrated cylindrical and formed with threads it at its upper end. The rim is inwardly deflected, as at 2, and then outwardly deflected in transverse plane, as at M, to the cylindrical plane of the casing 8 and then upwardly as at it in that cylindrical plane to be again bent inwardly as a lip at It over a lamp socket supporting disc 2b of non-conductive material supported on the transverse ledge [4.

The disc 28 is preferably formed centrally thereof with an aperture 22 to receive the lamp socket 24, portions of which are crirnped over and under the edge of the aperture 22 to retain the lamp socket in position. This lamp socket support receives and supports in proper position the lamp 26.

Secured to the lower surface, as viewed, of the lamp socket supporting disc is a disc-like contact member 28 also apertured to register with the aperture 22 of the lamp socket support and retained in position against the disc 25! by the outwardly turned lower end of the lamp socket E4. The edge of the contact member 23 is bent downwardly and is curvilinear in vertical cross section preferably on the arc of a circle as indicated at 32 to permit a circuit closure contact element indicated generally by the numeral 3 to easily position itself in electrical connection with the contact member 2a.

inwardly the lamp socket support 25 and in the lower portion thereof is a non-conductive sleeve 38, conveniently extending below the outwardly turned end Sal of the lamp socket support and secured in any convenient fashion as by a forced fit within the lamp socket. Also mounted within the contact shell 32 is a gen erally rectangular or elongated insulating strip 563 or" non-conductive material of a thickness in the axial direction of the casing 25 greater than the thickness of the outwardly turned end 30 of the lamp socket support which is received within an aperture 33 formed in the strip and which serves together with the sleeve to prevent electrical contact with the lower portion of the lamp socket. Disposed within the sleeve 36 and supported by the insulating strip is an upwardly bent leaf spring contact which is secured by means of one of the rivets id which secure the insulator 158 to insuiating disc 23, the rivets to passing through oversize holes in the contact member as, as will be understood. Contact member A2 is adapted to make yielding contact with the center terminal oi the lamp base 4. Contact #22 is in direct electrical connection with a transversely extending contact member 46 which makes contact with the central terminal it of the battery as. Contact it is held in place by the two rivets ie. The electrical circuit between battery terminal and lamp terminal 34 includes contact til, rivet and contact d2.

Slidable along the inner surface of the casing 8 is an actuating member offset inwardly, as at and passing outwardly of contact member 32 through a slot or notch 5d formed in the insulating lamp socket support 2% Above the lamp socket support so the actuating member is bent inwardly in a radial direction, as at 5B, and is formed with an aperture 5? of a diameter greater than the aperture of the lamp socket is with which it is concentric but in spaced relation.

Mounted within the aperture in the actuating member to is a irusuo-conical reflector member the lower end of which is crimped, as at 60, around the edge of the aperture in the actuating member. The crimped portion til is insulated as by an annular insulating collar 62', channel shaped i: cross section, to prevent accidental short ClIC'L tbetween the lamp base and the refiector.

The reflector is moved by the actuating member 5i inwardly and outwardly of a fixed refiector M formed with a rim 66 at its outer end suitably insulated, if desired, as at 68, and mounted on the threaded end 10 of a hood member F2 conveniently threaded on the threaded end Id of the flashlight casing.

In the drawing, the reflector 54 is illustrated as a parabolic reflector fixed with respect to the light sourc and directs a beam of light therefrom. it is formed in its inner end with an aperture l8. The frusto-conical reflector 58 is movable from a position without the reflector 64 to a position within the reflector 64 to intercept the light from the light source. The reflector may, if desired, direct a diffused light from the light source. To this end, the light reflecting characteristics of the reflecting means of the shieldlike member may have an inner reflecting surface or reflecting means of predetermined but different characteristics from the characteristics of the reflecting means 64.

Resting on the rim E6 of the reflector or the insulation 5i! thereon, as the case may be, is a so-called lens it, it whereof the central portion '56 is illustrated of a shape such as plano-convex so as to have retracting characteristics while the peripheral portion M may have plane parallel surfaces to permit light to pass therethrough without refraction. As shown, the edge of the aperture it at the inner end of the fixed reflector M is outwardly bent to form an edge or stop 8! against which the inwardly bent end 56 of the actuating member may contact or, as illustrated, an eyelet 82. Eyelet .82 retains an angularly shaped piece of insulation M on the inner sur face of the actuating member which is adapted in the Figure 1 position to insulate the angularly bent upper end 83 of the contact member 34 thereof from the conductive member As illustrated, the contact member 34 is a ribbon or strip of conductive material bent outwardly as at at at its lower end and passed through an aperture 37 in th actuator portion and held in position by the downwardly bent extremity 83 thereof.

The electrical circuit between the zinc cup terminal of the battery iii and the lamp base includes casing 8, slide yielding contact 34, contact member 23 and lamp socket 7.24.

The circuit closing member of this invention and the actuating member associated therewith has three positions, to wit, an open circuit position illustrated in Figure 1, a closed circuit position illustrated in Figure 3 and a second closed circuit posit on iliustrated in Figure 2. In the position of Figure l, which is the open circuit position, the movable reflector 58 is in inoperative position, but the circuit being open, no light is at this time emitted from the lamp 295. When the actuati g member 5% is moved to the position illustrated Figure 3, the circuit is closed by contact of the member 3% with the conductive member but the movable reflector 58 is at such position with respect to the fixed reflector 84 that reflector 58 receives no light rays or substantially none from the lamp and all the'light rays fall upon th reflector 64 and are directed as a beam of light or, as it is called, a spotlight through the transparent closure 14, 16. When, however, a diffused light, or as it is called, a flood-light, is desired, the frusto-conical shield or reflector 59 is moved to the position shown in Figure 2 where the light from the light source 26 falls only on the transparent closure 74, 19 through which it passes as a diifused light or, as it is called, a flood-light.

To actuate the combined circuit closure and reflector actuator 59, the casing 8 is provided with three axially aligned apertures of generally circular shape the lowermost being indicated at 90, the intermediate one at 9| and the uppermost one at 92, which apertures are joined by axial slots 94 and 95. A plunger 9699 is adapted to move in these apertures and slots. This plunger 99-99 is shown as having a thumb piece or push button 96 formed with an enlarged inner rim 9?, a shank portion 98, and an enlarged inner end portion 99. The collar or rim 9'! prevents outward movement of the button in the aperture- 692 in the depressed portion I93 of a slide I94 while the plunger 9699 tends to remain in its outermost or protracted position, being urged by a resilient strip I96 secured at its lower end by an eyelet I91 to the lower end of the actuating member 59. At its upper end I98 the spring I96 bears on or, if desired, may be secured to the enlarged inner portion 99 of the plunger 9699. Obviously, the opposed side edges of the slide may be conveniently provided with tongues, not shown, passed through parallel slots, also not shown, in the casing 8 and bent inwardly, as is common in the art, to retain the slide I04 on the casing 8 and limit its axial movement.

It will be observed that in the Figure 1 or inoperative position, the insulatory member 84 is interposed between the contact 34 and the conductive member 32 so that the circuit between the lamp casing and the lamp is interrupted. In this position, the locking plunger 99-99 of the slide is in the lowermost aperture 99 as illustrated in Figures 1 and 5. In order that the reflector 53 assume the position of Figure 3, the thumb piece or button 96 is depressed until the shank 98 thereof lies in register with the slot 95 in the casing and is then advanced to'the second aperture 9| which the enlarged inner endis permitted to enter to retain the actuating member 59 and reflector 58 in the position of Figure 3 or spot-light position. Whena flood-light is desired to be emitted from the flashlight, the plunger is again depressed and the slide advanced to the uppermost aperture 92 which the enlarged portion 99 is again permitted to enter to lock the slide in its most advanced position. That is the position illustrated in Figure 2 The operation of the flashlight of this invention should be apparent from the foregoing description. Suffice it to say that a flashlight is provided by this invention which affords either a spotlight or a diffused light and the relative movement with respect to the light source is conveniently, although not necessarily, effected by the same instrumentalities that close the circuit at either operative position of the reflector and open the circuit coincidentally with movement of the reflector to a non-operative position. It will be readily understood, however, that the invention is not limited to coincidental movement of the circuit closure and reflector since a separate circuit closure may be readily provided by those skilled in the art, and in that event, for instance, the reflector need be capable of movement only between the positions illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

Various modifications will occur to those skilled in the art in the composition, configuration and disposition of the component elements going to make up the invention as a Whole as Well as in the selection and combination of particular elements of this invention to accomplish specific purposes and no limitation is intended by the phraseology of the foregoing description or illustrations in the annexed drawing except as indicated in the appended claims. i

What is claimed is:

1. In a flashlight, in combination, a source of light, a fixed reflecting means normally receiving light, a second reflecting means comprising a shield having an interior reflecting surface, circuit closing means, manually actuated actuating means supporting said second reflecting means and the circuit closing means and moving said second reflecting means between a circuit open position, a circuit closed position and a second circuit closed position at which the second reflecting means is interposed between the light source and th fixed reflecting means and intercepts light from the light source.

2. In a flashlight, in combination, a lamp socket, a support therefor, a first reflector formed with an aperture and stationary with respect to the lamp socket support, an actuating strip slidable longitudinally of the casing, a frusto-conical shield member having an inner reflecting surface carried by the actuating strip to surround the lamp socket and move in the first reflector aperture between two positions of the actuating strip at which a circuit is closed, circuit closing means at the aforesaid two positions, means on the strip to close the circuit at either of said two positions, a slide on the casing operatively connected with the actuating strip and manually actuatable means on the slide to releasably lock the actuating strip in the aforesaid two positions and in a third position at which the circuit is open.

3. In a flashlight, in combination, a lamp socket, a support therefor, a contact carried thereby, a first reflector formed with an aperture and stationary with respect tothe lamp socket support, an actuating strip slidable longitudinally of the casing, a second frusto-conical shield member having an inner reflecting surface carried by the actuating strip to surround the lamp socket and move in the first reflector aperture, a contact carried with the actuating strip and adapted to make contact with the contact on the lamp socket support in two positions of the actuating strip, a slide on the casing operatively connected with the actuating strip and manually actuatable means on the slide to releasably lock the actuating strip in said two positions and in an open circuit position.

4. In a flashlight, a relatively fixed parabolic reflector, a light source substantially at the focal point of the reflector, an opaque shield movable coaxially of the light source and having a reflecting surface directing a diffused light therefrom and facing toward the light source, said reflecting shield being movable from a position interposed between the parabolic reflector and the light source to a position permitting the parabolic reflector to receive light from the light source and a plane lens formed centrally with a condensing lens portion comprising a minor portion of the lens area to enhance the flood light efiect of the flashlight when the movable shield is in interposed position. 7

5. In a flashlight, in combination, an electrical circuit comprising a source of light and a source of electrical energy, reflecting means fixed with respect to the light source to direct the light rays a beam of light, an opaque shield having an interior reflecting surface of characteristics to reflect a difiused light, a manually actuated member to move said opaque shield from an inoperative position to an operative position between the light source and the fixed reflector to intercept and reflect the light from the light source as a diiiused light, circuit closing means, said manually actuated member causing said circuit closing means to close said circuit when said opaque shield is in an operative position.

ORVILLE T. WOOD.

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