US2448080A - Automatic light for cabinets - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 31, 1948. E. R. coBBs AUTOMATIC LIGHT FOR CABINETS Filed March 18, 1947 3mm EVERETT R. C0656:

Patented Aug. 31, 1948 UNITED STATES Les;

This invention relates to automatic light apparatus for cabinets, closets, ice boxes, desks, and other enclosures provided with doors or lids, the object being to provide an improved lighting structure that will coact with the door or lid to automatically provide a light when the door or lid is opened, and automatically extinguish the light when the door or lid is closed.

Another object is to provide an improved light structure wherein a novel switch is provided for opening and closing the circuit.

Another obieot is to provide a lamp and switch unit that will be compact and simple in construction, that may be readily manufactured and assembled at low cost, and that in use will provide efficient and convenient lighting.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a schematic front elevation of the new and improved lamp and switch unit.

Figure 2 is a side view, partially in section, of the same structure.

Figure 3 is an end view of the same device.

The device comprises a light bulb 10 that is adapted to be energized from a battery or other source of electrical energy. The electrical circuit includes a movable spring contact 20, to be more fully described hereinafter. A movable plunger 30 is so mounted that when it is depressed, it will move the spring switch 2|! out of contact with the rest of the circuit and thereby extinguish the bulb Ill. The plunger 30 is adapted to be operated by the lid of a desk, the door of a refrigerator or closet or cupboard, so that in the closed position of said lid or door, the electrical contact will be broken and the light ID will be out. When the door or lid is opened, or otherwise moved, the pressure on the plunger 30 will be released, and the spring switch 20 will automatically close the circuit and light the bulb l0. Conversely, the light I and associated mechanism may be mounted on a movable door or lid, or, if desired, the circuit may be so arranged that the light will be on when the lid or door is closed, and extinguished when the lid or door is opened.

The movable switch 20 is made of resilient conducting material, preferably brass. One end thereof has an enlarged flange portion 2| that is fixed by means of a screw 22 to a base 23. To

provide firmer anchorage for the spring 20, the flanged end portion 2| is recessed into the base 23, as shown more particularly in Figure 2. The spring member 20 is arcuate shaped and is curved more than three-quarters of a circle, that is, more than 270". This shape is designed to furnish adequate spring energy to restore the plunger 30 to inoperative position. The fixed end portion of the spring member 20 is laterally extended to provide a support and contact 24 for the base H of the bulb NJ.

The bulb in is designed to be received in a spring or screw clip l3. The clip I3 is made of a conducting material and is attached to the non-conducting base 23 by means of an insulating switch l4 and screw l5. A conducting wire I6 is soldered, or otherwise permanently fastened to the clip l3, and the other end of the wire l6 leads to one of the terminals [1. The other terminal I8 is permanently joined to a contact screw H! by means of a conducting lug 9. The terminals l1 and I8 are, of course, connected with a dry cell, or battery, or other source of electrical energy.

A bearing 3| may be fixed to the base 23 or to the wall of the closet or desk to provide a support for the movable plunger 30. The base 23 may be provided with a hole, or plurality oi holes, 24 with which it may be fastened to the closet, cupboard, or door, as the case may be. The Whole device may be accommodated within a plastic enclosure 35 that is transparent or partially transparent.

Let it be assumed that the device is designed to operate with the bulb l0 fixed in position, and the plunger 39 operated by the movement of a door or lid. As hereinbefore indicated, the structure is so arranged that when the plunger 30 is in the position shown in Figure 1, the switch 20 will be in contact with the contact screw l9, completing the circuit from the terminal l1, through the conducting wire l6, through the clips l3 and into the lamp ID, through the spring switch arm 20, through the contact screw l9, and back through the lug 9 into the terminal l8. When the door or lid is moved against the plunger 13, the latter will be shifted from right to left against the energy of the spring 20 to break contact between the switch 20 and the contact screw I9, and the lights will go out.

When the door is opened, the energy of the spring 2!! will restore the plunger 30 to the position shown in Figure 1, and the switch arm 20 will again make contact with the contact screw l 9.

What is claimed is:

An illuminating device for cabinets and the like, comprising a relatively thin flat insulating base, a conducting spring clip fixedly mounted upon the base, a. light bulb secured within the spring clip and having one terminal in electrical contact therewith, a single substantially L- shaped resilient contact arm secured to the base and including a transverse portion arranged in permanent electrical contact with the opposite terminal of the light bulb and a free portion extending longitudinally of the light bulb for substantially its entire length, said free portion being biased laterally outwardly from the light bulb, a pair of fixed terminals mounted upon the base and adapted for connection with a source of current, a wire connecting one of said fixed terminals with said spring clip, the opposite fixed terminal being normally engaged by the free portion of the L-shaped contact arm to complete a circuit through the light bulb, and a reciprocable plunger mounted upon the base near the end of the free portion and projecting laterally beyond a side of the base, the inner end of the plunger engaging the free portion and directly shifting the same toward the light bulb to open the circuit when the plunger is moved axially inwardly.

EVERETT R. COBBS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

2,285,454 Moss June 9, 1942

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