US2790068A - Keyhole illuminator - Google Patents

Description

April 23, 1957 c. F. RUSClTTl 2,790,068

KEYHOLE ILLUMINATOR Filed Sept. 25, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR CLAUDE F.- RUSCITTI BY ama: Cwaza,

ATTORNEY April 23, 1957 c. F. RUSCITTI 2,790,068

I KEYHOLE ILLUMINATOR Filed Sept. 25, 1953 a Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR CLAUDE F RUSCH'T) "FIET4 akwmzck'm ATTORNEY April 23, 1957 c. F. RUSClTTl 2,790,068

KEYHOLE ILLUMINATOR Filed Sept. 25, 1955 a Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR" v CLAUDE 'F. RUSUTTI ATTORNEY United States Patent KEYHOLE ILLUMINATOR Claude F. Ruscitti, Milford, Mass.

Application September 25, 1953, Serial No. 382,277

9 Claims. (Cl. 2402.13)

The present invention relates to illuminating means and more particularly to means for illuminating do or-latches.

Attempting to locate and fit a key into a keyhole in the darkness though a seemingly simple operation has at some time or other caused almost everyone some degree 'of d-ifiiculty. The relatively small size of most keyholes and the darkness combine to make this relatively simple operation quite difiicult. The regularity with which the key is dropped while fumbling for the keyhole in the darkness also adds to difficulty of this operation and results in an unnecessary amount of lost time. As a result of the universal difiiculty encountered in attempting to locate a keyhole in the darkness it has become standard procedure to first locate the keyhole with the fingers of one hand, and after so locating the keyhole to keep the fingers adjacent the keyhole to act as a guide while the key is inserted into the lockwith the other hand.

The foregoing described procedure is a result of the dilficulty encountered in locating a keyhole in the darkness, but does not in any manner make the location of the keyhole any simpler or easier, rather it assures that once the keyhole is located that the location will not be lost while the key is being inserted into the lock. This customary procedure, however, totally fails when the person attempting to locate the keyhole has his or her arms wholly or partially occupied holding a number of packages or a small child which cannot be set aside while attempts are being made to locate the keyhole, In. such instances the person may have a hand free to hold the key and insert it into the look when located, but does not have the other hand free to fumble for the location of the lock, or to strike a match to illuminate the lock area !f the door.

M'any efforts have been heretofore made to provide means for facilitating the location of :doorlatches. Those that have met with particular success are of the type disclosed in United States Letters Patent 2,254,842 issued to W. A. Gray, wherein means is providedfor casting a beam \of light onto the doorla-tch area thereby readily and immediately showing the location of the keyhole.

The Gray patent represents a considerable improvement in the art by employing a selectively actuated (electric lamp for illuminating the lock area which obviously circumvents the foregoing described fumbling efforts to locate the lock. 7

The present novel invention provides improved illuminating means for casting a beam of light upon the doorlatch area which is positively and easily actuated by novel foot controlled or remotely controlled means which leave both hands of a person free to unlatch and open the door. In addition the present novel invention is of improved construction over devices heretofore known in the art which results in a minimum number of inexpensively manufactured parts which are ideally suited fior packaging in kit form and which can be installed by the average homeowner with readily available standard house hold tools.

It is therefore a major object of this invention to provide novel means for locating doorlatches in the darkness.

Another object of this invention is to provide novel means for illuminating doorlatches to facilitate the loca tion thereof.

Still another object of this invention is to provide novel means for selectively actuating an electric lamp to illuminate a do'orlatch.

An additional object of this invention is to provide novel illuminating means for doorlatches selectively actuated without the use of the hands to illuminate the doorlatch and leave both hands free for unlatching and opening the :door.

A further object of this invention is to provide novel illuminating means to illuminate the aperture of a lock wherein the illuminating means is selectively actuated by novel treadle means.

Another object of this invention is to provide novel battery powered illuminating means for illuminating doorlatches actuated by novel means which leave both hands free to unlatch and open the door.

Still another object of this invention is to provide novel battery powered illuminating means for illuminating doorlatches actuated by novel foot controlled atreladle means.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide novel illuminating means for doorlatches powered by the standard household electrical circuit and actuated by novel means which leaves both hands free.

,An additional object of this invention is to provide novel illuminating means for illuminating cloorlatches powered by the standard household electrical circuit and selectively actuated by novel foot controlled trea-dle means which leaves both hand free.

These and other objects will appear from the following description and appended claims when read in conjunction with the attached drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevati'onal View of a door having a key controlled lock and showing a preferred embodiment of the present novel invention;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a partially exploded front elevational view of the novel treadle means for actuating the preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 5 is a side elevation view of the treadle means shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a front elevational view of the novel hood or cover for the illuminating means;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary schematic view illustrating a further embodiment of the present novel invention;

Figure 8 is a schematic view illustrating still a further embodiment of the present novel invention;

Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating one form of electric lamp employed in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 7; and

Figure 10 illustrates a form of switch used with the embodiment shown in Figure 8.

Referring now to the drawing and more particularly to Figure 1 there is shown an elevational view of a conventional door 20 in conjunction with which a preferred embodiment of the present novel invention, generally indicated at 32, is shown. Door 20 is mounted in the conventional manner in a doorway defined by spaced parallel jambs 22 and threshold 24. As illustrated in Figure 1, door 20 is provided with a conventional knob plate 26 rotatably mounting door knob 30 and having a conventional keyhole 28, therein. The illustrated type of lock shown in Figure 1 is the well known plate type lock, however, it is to be understood that the'present novel invention is equally applicable to other forms of locks,

3 such as: the well known cylinder type lock mounted independently of the knob plate, as illustrated in Figure 7; or the cylinder type lock which is coaxially mounted within the knob itself.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention, generally indicated at 32, comprises a battery powered light means generally indicated at 34, mounted in a fixed relation to jamb 22 closely adjacent to and lying in a plane perpendicular to lock or keyhole 28. Conduit means 36 fixedly secured to jamb 22 extends vertically downwardly from light means 34 to switch means 38 and serves to house electrical leads externally of jamb 22. Conduit means 36 is fixedly secured to the exposed face of jamb 22 as by means of bracket 37 fixedly secured in overlying relation to the conduit means, as by screws (not shown). Bracket 37 permits the easy assembly and disassembly of conduit means 36 to permit ready access to the electrical leads housed therein for repair or replacement, if necessary.

Switch means 38 is of the normally open circuit type having a push button 98 slidably mounted therein and selectively movable to circuit closing position against the biasing force of a spring (not shown). Switch means 38 is mounted at the lower end of jamb 22 closely adjacent the juncture of jamb 22 and threshold 24, for a purpose to be more fully explained hereinafter. Pivotally mounted treadle means is mounted for coaction with switch 38 and is selectively movable relative to jamb 22 and threshold 24 to actuate switch 38 and bulb or light means 34, as will be more described hereinafter.

Turning now to Figure 2 there is shown the details of the novel battery powered light means 34. A suitable elongate aperture 40 is cut in jamb 22 with the long axis of aperture 40 lying in a horizontal plane perpendicular to the plane of lock 28 in door 20. Aperture 40 receives hollow open-ended sheet metal container 42, preferably with a light press fit. Peripheral flange 44, surrounding the open end of container 42 abuts the adjacent exposed face of jamb 22 and is secured thereto together with. a hood by means of screws 43. It is to be understood that container 42 may be formed from a suitable moldable heat-resistant plastic, or like material rather than metal, if so desired.

Mounted within container 42 is a metallic U-shaped yoke defined by a pair of spaced parallel legs 46 and 48 interconnected at adjacent ends by integral leg 50. As clearly seen in Figure 2, conductor strip 52 of a suitable conducting metal such as copper, is fixedly secured to the inner face of leg 46 by means of intermediately disposed insulator strip 54 which is vulcanized to leg 46 and strip 52. Vulcanizing insulator strip 54 to leg 46 and conductor strip 52 serves to securely mount conductor strip 52 without any additional attaching elements, however, it is to be understood that conductor strip 52 may be secured to leg 46 as by insulated rivets or screws if so desired, but. I find that the vulcanized type of mounting results in a satisfactory mounting with fewer parts and makes a much neater assembly. The intermediate mounting of insulator strip 54 between conductor strip 52 and leg 46 insulates the conductor strip from leg 46 for a purpose which will appear hereinafter.

Spaced conductor strips 56 and 58 are mounted in a similar manner as conductor strip 52 to the inner face of leg 48 on intermediately disposed insulator strip 60. Insulator strip 60 effectively insulates conductor strips 56 and 58 from leg 48 and together with the spacing between the conductor strips insulates the strips from each other for a purpose which will appear hereinafter.

As best seen in Figure 3 conductor strips 56 and 58 are provided with downwardly extending lug portions 62 and 64, respectively, which depend below the lower edge of leg 48 and are adapted for connection to electrical leads, as will be described, hereinafter.

Small coil springs 66 and 68 are fixedly secured at one end by suitable means to the upper portion of con- Cir 4 ductor strip 52, as clearly seen in Figure 2, and to conductor strip 58. Springs 66 and 68 are so connected to the respective conductor strips so as to allow the free flow of electrical current from the strips through the springs for a purpose which will be more fully described hereinafter.

A pair of the well known dry cell type batteries having a rating of 1.5 volts, and indicated at 70 and 72 are mounted intermediate legs 46 and 48. Battery 70 is mounted with its base in contact with spring 66 and its anode or center post in contact with conductor strip 52. Battery 72 is reversely mounted between legs 46 and 48 with its base in contact with spring 68 and its anode or center post in contact with conductor strip 56, as clearly seen in Figure 2. Batteries 70 and 72 are connected in series, as will hereinafter appear, and springs 66 and 68 in addition to assuring the proper contact of the anodes of the batteries with their respective conductor strips also establishes electrical contact between the bases of the batteries and the adjacent conductor strips, as clearly seen in Figure 2. With the batteries connected in series there is a flow of electrical current from the positive pole of battery 72 to the negative side or case of battery 70 as will be more fully described hereinafter, and this flow of current results in a maximum voltage delivery of 3 volts to a small flashlight type bulb to be hereinafter described. It is to be understood that the size or capacity of the batteries is not restricted to that described above but may be varied to increase or decrease the amount of illumination as desired, the foregoing sizes and capacities being given here merely for the purposes of illustration.

A bulb assembly, generally indicated 74, is mounted on the right hand side of leg 48, as viewed in Figure 2. Bulb assembly 74 comprises an essentially V-shaped bracket 76 having a leg 78 fixedly secured to leg 48, by suitable means such as rivets, solder, screws, or the like; in alignment with battery 70, as clearly seen in Figures 2 and 3. Leg 80 of bracket 76 is integral with leg 78 and extends outwardly from one end thereof to define an acute angle with leg 78. A corrugated or threaded sheet metal mounting shell 82 is fixedly secured at one end to the outer face of leg 80 by suitable means such as soldering, and serves to threadedly mount a standard 2 to 5 volt flashlight type bulb 84. Leg 80 is provided with an aperture into which is mounted a screw and nut assembly 86 which is insulated from leg 80 by grommet 87 of rubber or like material. The inner end of screw and nut assembly 86 which contacts the center of bulb 84 within shell 82 as clearly seen in Figure 2 while the outer end serves to mount an electrical lead as will become apparent. Another screw and nut assembly 88 is secured to the underside of shell 82 as clearly seen in Figure 3, for connection with a wire lead to be presently explained. One end of wire lead 90 is connected to lug 62 as by screw and nut assembly 92 and another wire lead 94 is connected to mounting shell 82 by means of screw and nut assembly 88. A short connecting wire lead 93 is connected at one end to lug 64 by means of screw and nut assembly 96 and at its other end to screw and nut assembly 86 to form an electrical connection from con tact strip 56 to bulb 84 in Figures 2 and 3 for a purpose which will be explained.

The opposite ends of wire leads 90 and 94 extend downwardly along the outer face of jamb 22 and are connected to opposite terminals of standard bell type push button switch 38 spring biased to a normal open circuit position. Conduit 36 is secured to jamb 22 in overlying relation to leads 90 and 94, as heretofore described, and protects the leads from damage yet permits ready access in the event that repairs or replacement is required. As heretofore described in connection with Figure 1 switch 38 is fixedly secured to the lower end of jamb 22 at its juncture with threshold 24 by a plurality of screws not shown. The mounting of switch 38 at the juncture of jamb 22 and threshold 24 permits easy and positive actuation of switch 38 as will hereinafter be more fully described.

It will be readily appreciated from the foregoing that the depression of push button 98 of switch 38 will close the switch and will define an electrical circuit for the flow of current from battery 72 through conductor strip 56, lead 93 to bulb 84 through screw and nut assembly 86, and from bulb 84 through lead 94, switch 38, through lead 90 to the case of battery 70, which is the negative or ground side of the circuit.

As best seen in Figure 3 the diameters of batteries 70 and 72 are sufficiently greater than the thickness of legs 46 and 48 so that the outer peripheries of the batteries are in sliding contact with the inner walls of container 42. Batteries 70 and 72 thus serve to support the yoke defined by legs 46, 48, and 50 in non-contacting relation with respect to the inner walls of container 42. A suitable insulating sheet 100 is mounted in surrounding relation to the battery and yoke assembly to prevent this assembly from contacting the container and short circuiting the electrical flow path.

Secured to the outer face of jamb 22 in overlying relation to flange 44, as by a plurality of screws 43 is a hollow hood 104 which serves to protect bulb 84 and the associated wire leads from damage. Hood 104 has an angulated face 106 facing lock or keyhole 28 and is provided with an opening 108 to permit the rays of light from bulb 84 to be cast upon lock 28. The underside of hood 104 is provided with an opening 110 into which the upper end of conduit 36 is received with a slight press fit. Hood 104 is pre-formed for either a right or left hand mounted door lock; that is, opening 110 is formed in hood 104 in accordance with whether the assembly is to be used with a right or left hand mounted door lock. Hood 104 can be formed from sheet metal and provided with a lens in opening 108, if so desired. Hood 104 can also be formed from a suitable moldable heat resistant opaque plastic having a transparent portion at the location of opening 108 to permit the rays of light from the bulb to be cast upon the lock. Also in order to prevent the accumulation of moisture within the hood a small drain aperture 112 is provided on the underside of hood 104.

In order to assure the positive and easy actuation of push button 98 of switch 38, without the use of the hands, no matter how dark it may be, I provide novel foot controlled treadle means generally indicated at 39.

Treadle 39 comprises a sheet metal bracket 118 the end of which is rolled over to form axially aligned spaced openings 120 and 122 separated by intermediate slotted portion 124. Bracket 118 has a vertically downwardly extending portion 126 which terminates in right angularly bent portion or shoulder 128, which in turn terminates in integral downwardly extending portion 130. The lower end of portion 130 terminates just short of threshold 24 in order to be in non-interfering relation with respect thereto. Elongate weighted member 132 is secured to the lower end of portion 130, asclearly seen in Figures 4 and 5, to effect a clockwise turning force on bracket 118 about its hinges to maintain bracket 118 in an operative position with respect to push button 98, as will become apparent hereinafter.

A pair of hinge members 134 and 136 each having axially extending pivot pins 138 and 140, respectively, are fixedly secured to jamb 22 on opposite sides of portion 126, as by screws (not shown) mounted in apertures 142 of hinges 134 and 136. In the assembled positions pivot pins 138 and 140 extend into axially aligned openings 120 and 122, respectively, and serve to pivotally mount bracket 118 on jamb 22. It will be readily apparent from the foregoing and Figures 1, 4, and that conduit 36 which extends downwardly from hood 104 extends through slot 124 behind portion 130 and fits into opening 114 in the top of switch 38, as heretofore described.

To operate the novel keyhole'light herein disclosed a person need only place his foot on top of the threshold and slide it toward the left, as viewed in Figure 1, until the foot contacts weighted member 132 fixedly secured to the lower end of portion 130. Further leftward movement of the foot will cause bracket 118 to pivot on pins 138 and in a clockwise direction depressing push button 98 and closing the electrical circuit to bulb 84.

Weighted member 132 assures bracket 118 of treadle 39 of always being in the right position in contact with push button 98 for actuation by the foot of a person, however weighted member 132 is not of sufiicient weight of itself to depress the push button and close the electrical circuit but must be moved by the foot of a person when it is desired to illuminate lock 28 and knob 30. Of additional importance is the mounting of switch 38 at the juncture of jamb 22 and threshold 24, and the close proximity of the lower end of portion 130 and weighted member 132 with the upper surface of threshold 24; by virtue of this configuration positive actuation of switch 38 is always assured upon sufficient sliding movement of the foot along the upper surface of threshold 24 toward the jamb no matter how dark it may be.

It will be readily appreciated from the foregoing that there is herein disclosed and described a simple, inexpensively manufactured device for illuminating doorlatches; positively and easily actuated in such a manner as to leave both hands of a person free to unlatch and open the door; which is readily adaptable to kit form easy installation by the average homeowner with standard readily available household tools.

Turning now to Figure 7 there is schematically illustrated a further embodiment of the novel door latch illuminating means, like numerals indicating like parts throughout.

The embodiment illustrated in Figure 7 is adapted to operate from the standard 110 volt electrical system of most households. A hollow bulb mounting socket having diametrically opposed bayonet slots 152 is mounted in a small suitable aperture 154 drilled in jamb 22, preferably with a slight press fit. Socket 150 has its longitudinal axis lying in a horizontal plane perpendicular to the lock 156 and has a pair of oppositely extending integral flanges 153 fixedly held in position with respect to jamb 22 by means of screws 151. Within socket 150 there is mounted a spring biased contact element 157 which contacts the center post of bulb 158. Bulb 158 is provided with radially outwardly extending diametrically opposed pins 160 which slidably engage bayonet slots 152 in the well known manner to retain bulb 158 in assembled position in socket 150. Pins 160 are also in contact with socket 150 to define with contact 157 an electrical circuit through bulb 158 to energize the bulb as will hereinafter become apparent.

The inner or left hand end of socket 150 is provided with terminals 162 and 164 which are electrically connected to socket 150 and contact 157, respectively to define the electrical circuit to the bulb 158, in the well known manner. One end of Wire leads 166 and 168 are connected to terminals 162 and 164, respectively. Wire leads 166 and 168 are of sufficient length to pass downwardly from terminals 162 and 164 behind jamb 22 to threshold 24. The wire leads can be fished or pulled down through the opening provided at the base of jamb 22 for the mounting of switch 38.

Lead 168 is connected to one terminal of switch 38, clearly seen in Figure 7. The other terminal of switch 38 is connected to short lead 169 which extends through threshold 24 and is connected to one of the low voltage terminals 1'70 or a standard bell-type step-down transformer 172. Lead 166 also extends through threshold 24 into the basement of the building and is similarly connected to the other low voltage terminal 170 of step-down transformer 172. High voltage terminals 174 of transformer 172 are connected by means of leads 175 directly to the standardllO volt circuit of the building or to a suitable plug 176, of the two prong type, which can be slidably mounted in the well known household electrical outlet.

Treadle 39 is mounted in the same manner as shown in Figure l and serves to permit foot controlled actuations of switch 38 to energize bulb 158 for selectively illuminating lock 156. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 7 split hinges for mounting treadle 39 are not necessary since there is no outside conduit in this embodiment as in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2. Thus in the embodiment shown in Figure 7 a single unitary hinge element may be used in place of the afore mentioned split hinges. The hood 104 is also similar to the hood that is illustrated in the embodiment shown in Figure l, and can be either formed from sheet metal and provided with a lens or can be formed from a suit able moldable heat resistant plastic or like material. It is also to be understood that a screw type bulb assembly similar to that shown in Figure 2 may be used in place of the bayonet type bulb assembly of Figure 7, if so de sired.

It will be readily appreciated from the foregoing that actuation of treadle 39 and switch 38 closes the elec' trical circuit to bulb 158 so that voltage from the standard 110 volt household circuit is stepped down through transformer 172 and a low voltage is delivered to low voltage bulb 158. The actuation of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 7 is the same as that shown in Figure 1 thus leaving both hands of the person attempting to unlatch the door free either to hold a child or packages or to be wholly employed in opening the door.

Turning now to Figures 8 and 1.0 there is schematically shown still a further embodiment of the present novel door-latch illuminating means wherein the illuminating means is controlled automatically by the opening and closing of a screen or storm-door usually associated with the standard household door.

Switch 180 is a standard type switch normally biased by suitable means to circuit closing position, and comprises a cylindrical body 182 axially slidably mounting externally extending push button 184. Cylindrical body 182 is press fittedly mounted in cylindrical opening 186 out in the lower end of jamb 22, with integral fiat mounting plate 188 lying in abutting relation and flush with the exposed surface of jamb 22, as clearly seen in Figure 10. A pair of screws 190 fixedly securing switch 180 to jamb 22. Terminals 192 and 194 are connected to light 158 and stepdown transformer 172 in the same manner as shown in Figure 7.

As clearly seen in Figure 8 switch 180 is so mounted in jamb 22 that the end of push button 184 abuts the end of a screen or storm-door 196 when the door is closed to open the electrical circuit and prevent the em ergizing of bulb 153. When door 396 is opened push button 184 is biased to the circuit closing position which permits the flow of electrical current to bulb 158 and the illumination of lock 156.

It will be readily seen from the foregoing that there is herein provided a new and novel illuminating means for door latches of improved construction and operation, which is simple and inexpensively manufactured, is adaptable to kit form for instaliation by the average homeowner with readily available household tools, and assures positive and easy actuation for illumination of the doorlatch while leaving both hands of a person free to either use while unlatching and opening the door or to hold a. small child or packages and still permit easy unlatching and opening of the door.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

i. In combination with a door mounted in a doorway defined by spaced jambs and a threshold, an illuminating device for the latch of said door comprising, a hollow housing mounted in one of said jambs adjacent said latch; support means mounted in said housing and supported in spaced relation to the sides thereof; contact means on said support means defining a series electrical path; a plurality of batteries mounted in said support means in abutting contact with said contact means; a mounting member secured to said support means; a bulb mounted in said mounting member for casting a beam of light on said latch when energized; a push button switch normally biased to open circuit position mounted at the lower end of said one jamb closely adjacent said threshold; electrical leads operatively connected to said batteries, bulb, and switch to define an electrical circuit therebetwcen, a foot controlled treadle pivotally mounted on said one jamb in contacting relation with said switch operable when contacted by a foot slidably moved along said threshold toward said one jamb, whereby said switch is moved to closed position and said bulb is energized to illuminate said latch; and means on said treadle to maintain said treadle in closely adjacent relation to said switch at all times.

2. In combination with a door mounted in a doorway defined by spaced jambs and a threshold, an illuminating device for the latch of said door comprising, a hollow housing mounted in one of said jambs adjacent said latch; support means mounted in said housing and supported in spaced relation to the sides thereof; a plurality of dry cell batteries mounted in said support means; contact means fixedly secured on said support means and operatively interposed between said support means and said batteries defining a series electrical connection between said batterics; a mounting member secured to said support means; a bulb mounted in said mounting member for casting a beam of light on said latch when energized; means removably secured to said one jamb in overlying relation to said bulb for directing the beam therefrom onto said latch; a push button switch normally biased to open circuit position mounted at the lower end of said one jamb in closely adjacent relation to said threshold; clectrical leads operatively connected to said batteries, bulb, and switch to define :an electrical circuit therebetween; a foot controlled bracket pivotally secured to said one jamb above said switch and extending downwardly in closely adjacent relation to said switch and terminating in closely adjacent relation to said threshold operable when contacted by a foot slidably moved along said threshold toward said one jamb to move said switch to closed position, whereby said electrical circuit is closed and said bulb energized to illuminate said latch; and a weight fixedly secured to the lower end of said bracket to maintain said bracket in closely adjacent relation to said switch at all times.

3. In combination with a door mounted in a doorway defined by spaced jambs and a threshold, an illuminating device for the latch of said door comprising, a hollow housing mounted in one of said jambs adjacent said latch; a U-shaped support removably mounted in said housing and supported in spaced relation to the sides thereof; a plurality of dry cell batteries mounted between opposcd legs of said Ushaped support; contact means fixedly secured to the inner faces of said opposed legs and in contact with said dry cell batteries to define a series connection therebetween insulating means operatively interposed between said contact means and the legs of said U-shaped support; a mounting member secured to said U-shaped support; a bulb mounted in said mounting member for casting a beam of light on said latch when energized; means removably secured to said one jamb in overlying relation to said bulb for directing the beam therefrom onto said latch; a push button switch normally biased to open circuit position mounted at the lower end of said one jamb in closely adjacent relation to said threshold; electrical leads connected to said batteries, bulb, and switch to define an electrical circuit therebetween; a foot controlled bracket pivotally secured to said one jamb above said switch and extending downwardly in closely adjacent relation to said switch and terminating in closely adjacent relation to said threshold operable when contacted by a foot slidably moved along said threshold toward said one jamb to move said switch to closed position, whereby said electrical circuit is closed and said bulb energized to illuminate said latch; and a weight fixedly secured to the lower end of said bracket to maintain said bracket in closely adjacent relation to said switch at all times.

4. The device as set forth in claim 3 wherein biasing means are operatively interposed between an end of each of said batteries and an adjacent leg of said U-shaped support.

5. The device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said insulating means is vulcanized to said contact means and legs of said U-shaped support to thereby fixedly mount said contact means on the legs.

6. The device as set forth in claim 3 wherein the contact means mounted on one of said legs comprises a pair of spaced electrically conductive metallic strips.

7. The device as set forth in claim 6 wherein each of said spaced strips is provided with downwardly extending projections.

8. The device as set forth in claim 7 wherein a pair of electrical leads are connected to said downwardly extending projections and said switch, and extending therebetween externally of said one jamb.

9. The device as set forth in claim 8 wherein conduit means is mounted in overlying relation to said external leads and is removably secured to said one jamb.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,297,390 Mueller Mar. 18, 1919 1,424,650 Kubik Aug. 1, 1922 1,961,865 Remington June 5, 1934 2,136,677 Doeppel Nov. 15, 1938 2,152,486 Knight Mar. 28, 1939 2,156,443 Zook May 2, 1939 2,176,662 Babb 1. Oct. 17, 1939 2,283,444 Koehler May 19, 1942 2,482,550 Koertge et al. Sept. 20, 1949 2,529,234 Swanson Nov. 7, 1950 2,709,745 Sundt May 31, 1955

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