US1981544A - Flash light device - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 20, 1934. T. w. FREcH si' Al.

FLASHy LIGHT DEVICE Filed Nov. 30, v-1932 .ZNI/ENTDB. 5' THE'DDUAE W FREEH JUHN T11-ADAN JUHNF DDMD MAN ELA/IEA E7. JSA-Aa Patented Nov. 20, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENTl OFFICE l Fagan, Cleveland Hei East Cleveland, and Elmer B. Isaac,

Heights, Ohr

ghts, John .F.

Donovan, Cleveland o, assignors to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application November 30, 1932, Serial No. 645,002 4 Claims. (Cl. 24o-10.61)

Our invention relates to illuminating devices and more particularly to flashlight lamps. Still more particularly our invention relates to electric flashlight lamps comprising a battery and an electric lamp flxedly united so as to constitute a single inseparable unit. The object of our invention is to provide a flashlight which will be inexpensive and easily manufactured.

One of the features of our invention is a metal terminal which supports an unbased electric lamp at. one end while the other eni is designed to slip over the carbon electrode of a dry battery. One of the leading-in wires of the lamp is attached to the said metal terminal, thereby con- 16 stituting said terminal both a support for said lamp and an electrical connection to the said carbon electrode. The second leading-in wire of the lamp is connected to a suitable switching arrangement by Which contact can be made with the metal container which comprises the second electrode of the dry battery. Other features and advantages of our invention will appear from the following .detailed description o f species thereof.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a flashlight device comprising our invention; Fig. 2 is an elevation thereof turned at an angle of 90 from Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of a terminal used therein; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation of a modified form of our device; and Fig. 5 is a perspective,view, on an enlarged scale, of a terminal and switching arrangement `tmed therein.

Referring to Fig. 1, the device comprises an electric incandescent lamp preferably of the type l comprising a solid glass spherical lens portion 10 having a tubular neck portion 11 depending therefrom. A filament 12 in said neck portion is mounted on inner leading-in wires 13-14, portions of which are sealed in a glass bead 15. Said inner leading-in wires 13--14 pass through the wall of the neck portion 11 and terminate in outer leading-in wires 16-17. The lamp 10 is seated in a metal terminal which comprises a substantially circular collar or band portion 18 (Fig. 3) surrounding the neck portion 11 of the lamp, and a smaller substantially circular collar or band portion 19 surrounding the end of a battery terminal rod 20, generally a carbon rod. 'I'he collar portions 18-19 are formed at each end of an lnterconnecting body portion 21. 'I'he rod 20 comprises one electrode of a dry cell while the second electrode consists of a metal container 22, usually of zinc, which holds the battery mix 23. A disc 24, usually of cardboard, is located in the container 22 on top of the battery mix 23. A second 38 on top of which is located dry cell comprising a container 25 and center electrode 26 may be provided below the first dry cell with the electrode 26 in contact with the container 22 of said rst dry cell. The leading-in wire 16 passes through a slot 27 (Fig. 3) in the collar portion 18 of the terminal 2l and is connected to the body portion thereof, preferably by soldering. 'Ihe other leading-in wire 17 is connected, by soldering orclamping, to a metal strip 28 which has an insulating enamel coating thereon. Said strip 28 passes down along the sides of the dry cells 22-25, then across the bottom of the cell 25, terminating in a curved springy portion 29. 'I'he end 30 of said curved portion 29 is free of insulating enamel so that it may be used as a switch to contact with the container 25 to light theffilament 12. A tube 31, preferably of heavy paper or cardboard, surrounds the entire assembly extending from the lowest point of the curved switch 29 to a point just above the center of thespherical lens l0. A sealing cement or wai' 32 is poured into the tube 31 so that the cell 22 is sealed off and the lamp 10 and parts connected thereto are iixedly sealed in.

The flashlight is vpreferably assembled in the following manner:

The neck portion 11 of the lamp is inserted in the collar portion 18 of the terminal 21 and the leading-in wire 16 is brought out through the slot'27 therein and soldered to the said terminal. The collar portion 19 of the terminal 21 is slipped over the end f the carbon rod 20 of the cell 22 to which the terminal 26 of the second cell 25 may be soldered. 'I'he insulated metal strip 28 is then placed along the sides of the cells 22-25 and the paper tube 31 is slipped over. the said cells from the bottom until the top thereof is flush with the top of cell 22. The leading-in wire 17 is now clamped or soldered to the strip 28, the tube 31 is pushed up to a point just above the center of the lens portion 10 of the lamp-and the sealing cement 32 is poured in.

In Figs. 4 and 5 is shown a modified form of flashlight in which the neck portion 11 of the lamp is set in a collar portion 33 of a terminal 10 34 comprising also a smaller--collar portion 35 which is slipped over the end of an electrode rod 36 of a vdry cell. Said dry cell comprises also a metal container 37 which holds the battery mix 39. The collar portion 35 of the terminal 34 is split and has straight; skirt portions 40 extending therefrom, said skirt portions terminating in oppositely disposed hook portions 41. One end of a metal strip 42 having an insulating 11 a cardboard disc 1 05 enamel coating thereon is located between the hooks 4i. Said strip 42 passes up over the top of the container 37, then down along the outside wall thereof, terminating in a curved portion 43. The end 44 of said curved portion 43 is free of insulating enamel so that it may be contacted with the container 37, which comprises one of the electrodes of the dry cell. The leading-in wire 17 of the lamp is coimccted tothe strip 42, the enamel being, oi course, removed. The container 37 is filled to the top with a seaiing cement or wax 45 thereby sealing oil the cell and sealing in the lamp l0 and connecting parts. bling this ashlight, the lamp 10, terminal 34, and strip 42 may be assembled as shown in Fig. 5 and the entire assembly placed in the con taine; 37 with the collar or band portion 35 surrounding the end of the carbon rod 36. The sealing cement 45 is then poured in through the top to complete the flashlight. The container 37 may be given a mottled or colored finish to improve the appearance.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a flashlight, the combination of an electric lamp having a bulb comprising a neck portion,.a light source in said bulb, and a pair of leading-in wires extending externally of said bulb, a dry battery comprising a positive and a negative electrode, a metal terminal member comprising an upper collar portion adapted to receive the said neck portion of said lamp, a lower portionshaped to tit with a portion of one of said electrodes of said battery, and an intermediate body portion connecting said upper and lower portions, one of said leading-in Wires of said lamp being electrically connected to said terminal member, and a switch comprising a metal strip connected at one end to the second leadingin wire of said lamp and adapted to make contact with the second electrode of said battery.

2. In a flashlight, the combination of an electric lamp comprising a bulb, a light source in said bulb. and a pair of leading-in wires extend- -ing externally of said bulb, a container comprising one of the electrodes of a dry battery having also a second electrode, one of said leading-in wires of said lamp being connected to said second electrode, a switch comprising a metal strip con- In assem-y nected to the second leading-in wire of said lamp, said strip extending along, and insulated from, .the side of said container and across the bottom thereof and adapted to make contact with the said bottom of said container, an insulating tube surrounding the sides of said container, said strip, and a portion of said bulb, and a filling of insulating cement in said tube surrounding the lower portion of said bulb to hold it lxedly therein.

3. In a flashlight, the combination of a metal terminal member comprising an upper collar portion adapted to receive the neck of a lamp, a lower portion shaped to fit with a portion of a battery electrode and having a hook portion exm tending therefrom, and an intermediate body portion connecting said upper and lower portions, and a metal strip having an insulating coating thereon, one end of said strip being mounted in said hook portion of said lower terminal member and the other end being adapted to make contact with the second electrode of said dry battery.

4. In a' flashlight, the combination of an electric lamp having a bulb comprising a neck portion, a light source in said bulb, and a pair of leading-in wires extending Aexternally of said bulb, a dry battery comprising a positive and a negative electrode, a metal terminal member comprising an upper collar portion adapted to receive the said neck portion of said lamp, a lower portion shaped to iit with a portion of one of said electrodes of said battery and having a hook portion extending therefrom, and an intermediate body portion connecting said upper and lower portions, one of said leading-in wires of said lamp being connected to said terminal member, a switch comprising a metal strip having an insulating coating thereon, one end of said strip being mounted in said hook portion of said lower collar portion o! said terminal member and the other end being adapted to make contact with the second electrode of said battery, the second leading-in wire of said lamp being electrically connected to said strip.

' THEODORE W. FRECH.

JOHN T. FAGAN. JOHN F. DONOVAN. ELMER B. ISAAC.

Images