US1680169A - Flash light - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 7, EWS. llml@ c. OSEAN FLASH LIGHT Filed March 23. 1922 Patented Ango' 7, i928.

UNHT Srl-Vlu lptddlt@ garantirv onirica CHARLES OSEAN, OF WOOIDCLIFF, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR '10 NATIONAL CARBON COMPANY, INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

FLASH LIGHT.

Application filed March 23, 1922. Serial No. 546,090.

This invention relates to flashlights and particularly to an improved end cap and spare lamp holder therefor.

lVhen the lamp in the lighting circuit of a flashlight is burned out `or otherwise. rendered inoperative, it is advantageous to have a spare lamp immediately available, and to insure this it is desirable that the spare lamp be carried along with the flashlight so that ioa new lamp may be quickly substituted for the defective one. ln focusing flashlights it is moreover desirable to have an end cap provided with rigid means for engaging the bottom end of the battery to adjust the lamp i5 with respect to the reflector to vary the spread of the light rays from the lamp.

Accordingly, the primary objects of the invention are tov provide an improved end cap and spare lamp holder arranged to 2o house one or more spare lamps and which shall not materially increase the size of the flashlight easing with which it is used. A further object of the invention is to provide an end cap and spare lamp holder especially adapted for use with focusing flashlights, whereby the focus of the operative lamp may be readily adjusted and whereby access may be had to the spare lamp compartment without disturbing the focal adjustment of the ashliglit.

The above and other desirable objects are attained by the present type of end cap and spare lamp holder which, generally speaking, comprises a tubular body threaded at one end whereby it may be adjustably coupled to the rear end of the flashlight casing, and to the open end of which a conductive cup-shaped spare lamp holding shell is secured. The bottom of the spare lamp holding shell is disposed so as to engage the bottom end of the flashlight battery to adjust it axially in the casing as the tubular body is screwed onto the casing. The open end of the cup-shaped shell faces rearwardly so that access may be had to the interior thereof without unscrewing said body from the casing. rlhe lamps may be loosely disposed in the shell, but to prevent rattling and breakage thereof it is desirable that the lamp or lamps be securely held, as by fingers punched from the body of the shell or formed separately and secured therein. The open end of the shell may be closed by a cover, desirably one thatis removably attached to the shell or to the tubular body. The tubular body and the lamp holding shell are removable from the casing as a unit when it is desired to renew the battery or inspect the inside of the casing.

The above and other objects and the novel features of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the drawings in which Figure l' 1s a longitudinal sectional view of a flashlight embodying this invention7 parts being shown in elevation; Figure 2 is an enlarged central sectional view of a combined end ca p and spare lamp holder illustrated in Figure 1 and Figures 3, l and 5 are central sectional views of'other combined end cap and lamp holders embodying this invention.

l/Vhile the invent-ion is illustrated as applied to a focusing flashlight of a desirable construction it will be understood that may be advantageously applied to other types of focusing flashlights as well as those of the non-focusing type. ln Figures l and 2 of the drawings a flashlight casing C of metal, libre or other suitable material has a flaring front end F that contains a. reflector .e

lt and a cover glass `or'lcns L. rlhe reflector R and a miniature incandescent lamp A are mounted for relative adjustment axially of the reflector to vary the position of the lilan nient of the lamp with respect to the focus of the reflector and thereby change the spread of the light rays from the lamp. Such relative adjustment may be accom* plished in any suitable manner, the arrangement disclosed being more fully set forth in the application of Lee J. Voorhees, Serial No. @56,639, filed May ll, 1921. Briefly, this arrangement comprises a lamp holder or socket 10 that is slidable in a central aperture in the reflector, a helical spring l1 having one end bearing against the reflector and its other end bearing against an enclosing member l2 secured to the holder l0 and retaining the latter with the lamp carried b y it at the inner limit of its adjustment. The spring l1 also maintains a conductive part of the holder always in contact with the centrai carbon contact of the battery B within the casing. When the battery is moved against the pressure of the spring 11, the socket 10 and the lamp A move therewith along the axis of the reflector, changing the position of the lamp filament with respect to the focus of the reflector and varying the spread of the rays from the lamp. rEhe comthereto.

pressed spring 11 is adapted to move the lamp and battery in the reverse direction, as will be apparent.

The improved means for effecting the adjustment of the battery B and the lamp A in circuit with it comprises an end cap and spare lamp holder that is adjustably and detachably coupled to the bottom end of the ca sing C. The lamp holder is desirably a receptacle in the end cap body, which receptacle may of course carry other spare parts. The end cap member comprises a tubular metal body that is provided with means such as threads for coupling it to a corresponding portion at the rear end of the casing C. The rear wall of the end cap is in part at least made up of a receptacle that carries the spare bulb or spare parts. This receptacle is desirably in the form of a cup-shaped metal shell that is secured in the tubular body in contact therewith and has its bottom disposed so as to rigidly bear against the bottom of the battery in the casing when the end cap -body is coupled Accordingly, when the end cap body is adjusted along the casing the lamp A will be moved inwardly or outwardly along the axis of the `rellcctor. The, cupshaped spare lamp holding shell being desirably of conductive material, also is a negatlve contact for the battery and forms a part of the electrical circuit including t-he end cap, the battery B and the lamp A, which circuit is controlled by the switch S, in the usual manner.

As illustrated in Figures land 2, one desirable form of spare lamp holder and end cap comprises a suitable tubular metal body 20 having threads 21 at its open end whereby the same may be adjustably coupled 'to the usual threads 22 at the rear end of the casing C. The other end of the tubular body 20 has an inturned flange 23 leaving an aperture to accommodate the cup-shaped spare lamp holding shell 24 that has its open end secured to the ange 23, as by means of the interlocking seam 25. The lamp holder shell 24 is desirablv of metal so as to form a conducting member between the tubular body 20 and the battery B against which the bottom wall 27 of the shell is arranged to bear. The wall 27 may have an outward projection 28 to engage the bottom end of the battery. The shell 24 forms a recep tacle to contain spare arts, such as one or more spare lamps. hese lamps may be loosely contained in the shell 24, but to avoid rattling and breakage they are desirably either held in place by packing, such as paper or cotton, or they may be rigidly supported by fingers which are either punched from the body of the shell 24 and bent into the same or formed separately and secured into the shell. In the form shown in Figures l and 2, the lamps may be carried by U-shaped clips 30 secured to the inner side of the bottom wall 27 as by rivets 31, the limbs of the clips 30 being spring ingers which support the spare lamps with their axes in the same plane and parallel to the bottom wall 27 but with the bulb and base of one lamp opposite the base and bulb of the other lamp.

The open endv of the shell 24 faces rearwardly and may be closed by a suitable cover. As illustrated, a cover 32 may have a fiange 33 that lits Ainto the mouth of the shell 24 and may be secured in place by su-itable means, as by threads 331 which lit the threadedportion 231 of the shell. The' outer surfaces of the tubular body 2O and the cover 32 may be knurled to facilitate manipulating them.

In operation, when the body 2O is secured onto the casing C, the shell 24 acts as a follower, the bottom projection 28 thereof engaging `the bottom end of the battery B and moving the same as wall as the lamp holder 10 and the lamp A along the axis of the reflector to vary the spread of the rays as desired. When the body 20 is turned in the reverse direction, that is, to unscrew it, the compressed spring 11 acts to move the lamp holder with the lamp and battery in the opposite direction, as the body 20 and the shell 24 are retracted, restoring thelainp to its original position with'res ect to the reflector focus. At any of its adjusted positions the tubular body 20 will retain the lamp A at a desired focus, and a lamp may be withdrawn from the lamp holding shell 24 and substituted for the lamp A without disturbing the focal adjustment.

While Figures 1 and 2 illustrate an advantageous type of end cap and spare lamp holder and a combination of the same with a focusing `flashlight, it will be understood that the details of the construction of the combined end cap and lamp holder may be varied without departing from the principles of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and the end cap and spare lamp holder may be advantageously embodied in a non-focusing flashlight. For example, in Figure 3 the lamp holding shell 242 may have its lip or outer end 242 secured in a groove 202 by the inwardly curled flange 202, and the cover member 322 may be detachably connected to the device by a bayonet Slot 322 in the cover that engages the pin 322 within the shell 242. Otherwise the combined end cap and spare lamp holder shown in Figure 3 is substantially the same as the one shown in Figures l and 2.

Another type of combined end cap and spare lamp holder is illustrated in Figure 4 in which the tubular body 203 is provided at one end with threads 35 whereby the body may be adjustably and detachably coupled to the threaded part 22 of the casing C. At its opposite end the body 203 has threaded portion 36 that is adapted to fit the threaded part 37 of the end cap 38 that usually is fitted to the casing C, which thus serves as a cover for the shell 243. T he body 203 has an interior groove 203 that is arranged to receive and retain the edge 243 of the cupshaped lamp holding shell 24?. The lamp holding members carried by the shell 243 are formed integral therewith by stamping out tongues 39 with apertures 40 therein of a size to have the bases of the spare lamps screwed into the same.

The improved end cap and lamp holder illustrated in Figure 5 comprises a tubular body 204 that has threads Ll2 whereby it may be coupled t-o a flashlight casing and threads 43 whereby the usual end cap 38 of the casing may be. coupled thereto to close the shell 244,.as in the arrangement shown in Figure 4; The sparc lamp holding shell 244 is secured in the body 204 in a different manner, however, an inwardly extending flange 204 having its edge united to the lip or outer edge of the lamp holder shell by an interlocking seam 25', as in the form shown in Figures 1 and 2. The lamp holding tongues 39 are similar to those shown in Figure 4.

The invention is not limited to the exact details of construction illustrated and described, as various changes may obviously be made therein.

I claim: y

1. A closure for a flashlight casing comprising a tubular body having means for detachably coupling it to such easing, a spare lamp receptacle secured in said body and adapted to bear against a battery in said casing, and a removable cover for said receptacle.

2. A combined end cap and spare part holder for flashlights comprising, the combination of', a threaded tubular body adapted to be coupled to a flashlight casing, a cupshaped spare part holding shell carried by said body and having its open end facing rearwardly, the bottom of said shell being arranged to bear against a battery in said casing, and a removable cover closing the open end of said shell.

3. The combination with a body having means for coupling it to a flashlight casing, of a conductive cup-shaped shell secured therein to provide a compartment within said body and having its bottom end arranged to continuously engage the bottom of a battery in said casing torsupport such battery.

4. A combined end cap and spare lamp holder for flashlights comp-rising the combination of a tubular body threaded at one end for coupling :it to a flashlight casing, a cup-shaped spare-lamp holding shell having its open end united to the other end of said body and means at its bottom end arranged to bear against a battery in said casing, and a cover closing the open end of said shell.

5. A combined end cap and spare lamp holder for flashlights comprising the combination of' a threaded tubular body adapted to be coupled to a flashlight casing, a conductive cup-shaped spare lamp holding shell carried thereby and having its bottom end arranged to engage the bottom of a battery in said casing, and a removable cover closing the other end of said shell.

6. A combined end cap and spare lamp holder for flashlights comprising the combination with a cup-shaped spare lamp holding shell carrying lamp supporting means,

of a tubular body having means adjacent one end thereof1 for coupling the same to a flashlight casing and having means securing the open end of said shell thereto, and a cover for closing the open end of said shell.

7. A combined end cap and spare lamp holder for flashlights comprising the combination of a threaded tubular body adapted to be coupled to a flashlight casing, and a cup-shaped shell therein carrying spare lamp supporting means.

8. A combined end cap and spare lamp holder for flashlights comprising the com-l bination of a threaded tubular body adapted to be coupled to a flashlight casing, and a cup-shaped shell therein. comprising spare lamp holding means and having means at one end adapted to bear against the bottom of a battery in said casing.

9. A flashlight comprising the combination of an incandescent lamp, a battery `in circuit with said lamp, a casing containing said battery, a conductive cup-shaped shell having its bottom end bearing against the bottom of said battery, and a shell-supporting member detachably coupled to said cas-` ing and having a grooved part cooperating y with the edge at the open end of said shell to retain the latter in said member.

10. A flashlight comprising, in combination, an incandescent lamp, a battery in circuit with said lamp, a casing therefor, a 'cupshaped shell having its bottom bearing against the bottom of said battery, a cover for said shell, and means for enclosing said shellA and coupling it to said casing.

11. A flashlight comprising a miniature incandescent lamp, a reflector, means whereby' said lamp and saidl reflector are relatively movable to permit the adjustment of said lamp with respect to the focus of said reflector, a battery in circuit with said lamp, a casing therefor, a conductive cup-shaped shell having its bottom bearing against the bottom of said battery, and a tubular body carrying said shell and' comprising means for adjustably coupling. it to said casing.

12. A flashlight comA rising a miniature incandescent lamp, a re ector, means whereby said lamp and reflector are relativel adjustable, a battery in circuit with said amp, a casing for said battery, an adjustable conductive cup-shaped shell comprising lamp holding means and having a bottom part engaging the bottom of said battery, and a cover for said shell.

13. A ashlight comprising an incandescent lamp, a reflector, means whereby said lamp is mounted for movement axially of said reflector, a battery in circuit with said lam and movable therewith, a casing for sai battery, and a combined end cap and spare lam holder comprising a threaded tubular boIdy adjustably coupled to said casing, a conductive cup-shaped shell secured to sald body, said shell carrying lamp holding means and having a bottom part engaging the bottom of said battery, and a cover closing said shell. 4

14. The combination of a tubular body havingemeans adjacent one end Whereby'it may detachably coupled to a flashlight casing, and conductive means in said body for engaging against a cell to hold it in place in said caslng and constructed to carry a spare lamp for a ashlight.

`15. The combination of a tubular body having means adjacent one end whereby it may be detachably coupled to a flashlight caslng, and a rigid conductive metal shell in said body providing a compartment to contain a spare bulb and arranged to engage against the bottom of a battery cell in said casing to hold such cell in place in said casing and to form a part of the circuit including said cell.

16. The combination of a cap closed at one end and threaded adjacent its opposite end whereby it may be detachably coupled to a flashlight casing, said cap having an interior groove, and spare lamp carrying4 means in said cap having a part engaging in said groove to secure said means in place and a part arranged to bear against the bottom of a cell in said casing and to form a portion of a circuit including said' cell.

17. The combination of a cap closed at one vend and threaded adjacent its opposite end whereby it may be detachably coupled to a flashlight casing, said cap having an interior groove, and a metal shell within saidl cap having a portion engaging in said groove and a portion spaced from the threaded art of said cap and arranged to engage the ottom of a cell to hold it in place in said casing 19. A flashlight comprising the combination of an incandescent lamp, a battery in circuit with said lamp, a casing for said battery, an end cap detachably coupled to said casing, `and a rigid conductive shell secured within said end cap and engaging the bottom of said battery said shell forming a com-I partment inside said cap.

In testimony whereof, I aix my signature.

CHARLES OSEAN.

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