US2987718A - Hand light in combination with flasher unit - Google Patents

Description

June 6, 1961 A. G. DAVIS HAND LIGHT IN COMBINATION WITH FLASHER UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 14, 1958 FIG. 2

FIG.3

INVENTOR. m/(fflwa zzmm ATTORNEY June 6, DAVIS HAND LIGHT IN COMBINATION WITH FLASHER UNIT Filed July 14, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGS lNVENTOR ARTHUR G. DAVIS HAND LIGHT m COMBINATION wrrn FLASHER UNIT Arthur G. Davis, Marlboro,'Mass., assignor m Koehler Manufacturing Company, Marlboro, Mass, :1 corporation of Masachusetls Filed July 14,1958, Ser. No. 748,342

' 6 Claims. 1 (Cl. 340-366) I This invention relates to electrical lighting equipment .and, more particularly, to a portable hand light of the 'dry-cell battery operated class with-which is combined a signal accessory.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide an improved hand light which is characterized by long operating life combined with a maximum of efliciency and portability.

tion selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of the hand light of the invention with a signal accessory attached in an operative position;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view showing the structure indicated in FIG. 1 by further illustrating the signal accessory in a disconnected position; 1

- FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken approximately on the line 33 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 4 is a plan cross-sectional View taken on the line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a modification of warning signal light; and

FIG. 6 is a view partly in cross section showing the light of FIG. 5 with an extension conductor in a stored position.

In accordance with the invention I have devised a hand light and signal accessory combination which is based on the novel concept of utilizing a battery member of the dry-cell type as a hand light base and further utilizing the battery terminals as threaded fastening posts for solidly anchoring thereto a dual light source unit. An importantfeatureof this combination is a pair of special threaded fastening caps which canbe engaged with the threaded terminal posts by a simple thumb and finger turning action to obtain a suitable securing action of the parts to one another. Each of these threaded fastener caps is formed with an annular bore in which may be received electrical contact elements for energizing through the battery a signal accessory,

In the structure shown in the accompanying drawings, numeral 2 denotes a dry-cell battery which may, for example, comprise a rectangular shaped member capable of providing a stable seating base at its bottom surface so that the battery may be disposed and positioned in an upright position when so desired.

At its upper side the battery is formed with a rim 4 which defines a recessed top area. From this top area projects threaded battery terminals 6 and 8 best shown in FIG. 3. Arranged to seat on this rim 4 in spaced relation to the top area is the light source unit S of the invention which comprises essentially an enclosure body of a somewhat similar rectangular shape as the battery although slightly larger in over-all dimension so as to United St te Patent 0 Patented June 6,1961

provide a protective over-hang as will be observed from an inspection of FIG. 1.

The light source unit S is formed with a recessed light supporting part 10 at one end of which is solidly monnted by welding, or other suitable means, a reflector housing element 12 which is recessed at 12a to provide for a slight over-hang as best shown in FIG. 2. The reflector housing 12 fitted with a retaining rubber ring 14 which extends all the way around the housing and cooperates with or without a bezel ring 16 to adjustably secure together a lens 18 and a reflector 15.

In the reflector housing 12, at its opposite side, is a cylindrical opening 20 through which extends a bulb socket 22 in which is removably secured a bulb 24. The socket 22 is slidable in the reflector 15 and has its inner end solidly secured to one leg of an L bracket 26, the opposite leg of which is slidably supported against an adjacent wall surface 27 of the member 10. This bracket serves as a *focussing adjustment member and may be secured in a desired focussing position by tightening a thumb nut 28 having a threaded extremity which passes through a slot in the wall'27 and is threaded into the leg of the bracket as best shown in FIG. 4.

In the preferred form of my invention I combine with the light source unit S described, a special electrical contact and conductor arrangement for energizing the bulb 24 and simultaneously providing means for supporting and electrically energizing a second signal accessory light A. This signal accessory light A may be of intermittent flasher type of conventional nature and equipped with a red signal lens A1.

Considering in further detail the electrical means to thus energizing both the bulb 24 and flasher light A, attention is directed to FIGS. 3 and 4. As noted therein an electrical conductor 30 extends through the socket 22 into electrical contact with the base of the bulb 24. At its opposite end the conductor 30 is connected to a terminal strip 32 of a switch block 33. The switch block 33 is fastened to an inner wall surface of the part 10 and is controlled by switch button 33a which projects from the part 10 as suggested in FIGS. 1 and 2. A sec end terminal strip 34 on the switch block 33 is electrically connected to a terminal arm 35 which is in turn connected to a tubular conductor member 36.

The tubular conductor member 36 is reclined in a bushing 38 and is internally threaded for being engaged about the threaded terminal post 6. At the upper end of the tubular conductor 36 is fixed an insulating cap 40 and by turning this cap, the threaded conductor may be solidly engaged with the post 6, thus tending to secure one side of the part 10 to the upper flanged edge of the battery 2. Similarly, a second threaded tubular conductor 42 is supported in a bushing 44 and has fixed at its upper end an insulating cap 46 by means of which the tubular conductor 42 may be solidly engaged with the terminal post 8.

When the two threaded tubular conductors 36 and 42 are firmly threaded on the respective terminal posts 6 and 8, an electrical circuit may be completed through the battery and bulb 24 with the switch 33a in a closed position.

In accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the invention, I form the upper ends of tubular conductors 36 and 42, together with their respective caps 40 and 46 with openings into which may be received two electrical contacts 48 and 50 of the signal accessory light A as shown in FIG. 3. When the electrical contacts 48 and 50 are firmly inserted, they make an electrical contact through the respective tubular conductors 36 and 42 and, thus provide a path along which current may flow from the battery to the flasher bulb A2 of the light A.

The electrical contact 50, iS, moreover, solidly secured to a bracket 52 which is solidly fastened to an inner face seen that-I have provided, thrugh-a simple combination 'of fastening screws,'a means for locking the light source -unitaon to the battery and, at thesame time, provided'for onee'leotrical circuit which is under the control of the switch 33a. -Moreover, the flasher unit may be either used or disconnected without in any way interfering with the operation of the main light bulb 24. I

Tofacilitate'handling the portable lamp unit described, :1 may provide supporting ring elements as 60 and 62 through whichare-received a handle 64.

a As will'be apparent from an inspection of'FlG. 3, by

sm'erely loosening caps '40 and 46 and disengaging them fromtposts'6 and '8, the entire light source unit may be grasped by the handle 64 andlifted away from the battery -to aprovide for battery replacement, storage, or other ;purposes.

InFIGS. 5 and 6 I have illustrated a modified form of warning light which is designed to be placed on the highway or other desired locality at some little distance from the battery. 'In this form of light, a cylindrical base 70'istprovided'with a-flat base for supporting a lamp 72 of theflasher type in a stable, upright position. A bulb -72ais fitted into an electrical cable enclosure 74 detachably secured in the base 70. A cable 76 is fitted at its ends with electrical contact pins 78 and 80 which "are adapted to be engaged in the battery terminals 40 and 46. When not in use, the cable 76 maybe wound :uponitself by turning the enclosure 74a by coiling the cable upon'itself with the enclosure 74 removed.- There is thus.provided a compact and efficient warning light accessory which can be'placed at some distance from the battery when illumination is desired at one point and a warning light is desired at another point.

While I have shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood-that changes and modifications may be resorted to 'within the scope of the appended claims. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l.In atportable hand light construction, a battery member having a pair of terminals projecting upwardly from the top surface thereof in spaced-apart relationship, a terminalenclosure body mounted at the said top surface'of the battery, a lighting unit supported at one side of the enclosure body, a pair of "fastener membersfor engaging with the battery terminals and detachably securing the enclosure body against the top surface of the battery, each of said fastener members presenting an "upper exposed cap portion of electrical insulating mate- "rial and a lower engaging portion of electrically conductive material, means for electrically connecting the said lighting unit to one of said lower engaging portions of electrically conductive material, and an electrical switch 2,987,718 it r *1 1 7 located externally on the enclosure ody for selectively controlling "flow of current "from thesaidbattery' through the fastener means and fighting unit.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1, in which each of 5 the exposed cap portionsqis constructed with a reduced barrel {portion =extending1 through ith'e enclosure body and received in a tiglitly fi'tted lbushing, and each of said lower-"enga'gingl-portions of r electrically conductivematerial are secured in the lower extremities of respective 10 bushings. I 5

3. A structure as defined inclaim l including a flasher light assembly detachablysupporteii on the enclosure body-and electrically connected tothe said battery'termi- -nals through said fastener means whereby the flasher 'light-assembly-may be energized independently ofsaid electrical switch. a

' '4.;In a portable hand light-construction, a battery member having a pair of spacedaapart threaded terminals projecting upwardly from the top surface thereof in spaced-apart relationship, a terminal enclosure body mounted at thesaid top-surface ofthe battery in'overhanging relationship therewith, ,a spotlight apparatus supported in alaterally extending position at one side of the terminal enclosure body, threaded fastener means for engaging with the said threaded terminals and detachably securing theenclosure body against the top,surface of said' battery, said threaded fastener means consisting of a pair ofthumbnuts, each of said thumb nuts presenting ,an upper exposed cap portion of electrical insulating ma- .terial .and an electrically conductive lower portion, an

electrical switchterminalblock secured within the enclosure body and electrically connected to one of said electrically conductive lower portions of the thunibnuts and 'to said spot light apparatus, an electrical switch located externally on the enclosure body for selectively controlling flow'of current from said battery through the said thumb nuts and said spot light apparatus.

5. A structure according to claim 4 in which the said electrically'insulatedtcapportion of the thumb nuts are formed with central openings communicating with respective electricallyconduetive alower portions-thereby to provide receptacles for receiving electrical: conductor elements and furnishing curt'ent'fromthe battery independently of said switch and-switchterminal block.

=6. A structure as defined 'in claim *2, including a flasher lighttunit, bracket means attached to the 'flasher light for supporting the flasher' light upon'the enclosure 'body and electrical conductor means for engaging through said openings in the thumb nuts and energizing saidflasher light-unit.

References Cited in the file or this, patent 'UNITED 'STATES PATENTS Great'Britain ofl9'0l

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