US1363698A - Portable electric light - Google Patents

Description

6. W. WACKER.

PORTABLE ELECTRIC LIGHT.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I4 1918.

Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

Z SHEETSSHEET 1.

G. W. WACKER.

PORTABLE ELECTRIC LIGHT.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 14, 1918.

1,363,698, Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

ATTORNEYS.

UNITED sung PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. WACKER, OF RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL CARBON COMPANY INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PORTABLE ELECTRIC LIGHT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

To all whom it concern Be it known that I, GEORGE W. WAOKER,

a citizen of the-United States, residing at Rutherford, county of Bergen, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Electric Lights, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, forming part thereof.

My inventioi1 .relates to self-contained or battery-operated portable electric lights and relates more particularly to those having fiat casings and in which the lamp is exposed at one of the fiat sides of the casing which forms the front of the light. Objects of my invention are to provide a light of this kind which is simple in construction, inexpensive, of manufacture, durable, reliable, dependable, convenient in use, requiring little attention, adapted to a wide range of uses, and which is particularly suited for the use of soldiers, although also entirely well adapted for general use by all. Other objects and advantages of my invention will hereinafter appear. 1

1 My invention includes various features of construction and combinations of parts, as

will appear from the following description.

For example my invention includes novel supporting means in the form of a combined hook-forming and handle-forming clip. My'invention also includes novel compass-supporting means, shown as in the form of a pivoted compass-carrying apron. My invention also includes novel circuitcompleting means, and novel means for supporting a lamp-carrying reflector.

-I shall now describe the two portable electric lights illustrated in the accompanying drawings embodying my invention and shall thereafter point out my invention in claims.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of one embodiment of the portable electric light of my invention. j

Fig.2 is an elevation of the same as viewed from the left in Fig. 1. I

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the same as viewed from the left in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal section on a vertical plane indicated by the line 44 of Fig. 1 as viewed from the left, with the battery and the lamp appearing in eleva- -tion.

Fig. 5 is ,a partial longitudinal section on vertical planes indicated by the offset line 55 of Fig. 1 as viewed from the right, and illustrates more particularly the means provided for movably supporting the compass and holding it in different positions on the front of the light.

Fig. 6 is a similar View with parts omitted and with the compass-carrying apron raised from the lower folded position appearing in Fig. 5 to the horizontal operative position appearing in Figs. 13, 14 and 15.

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the compassholding spring appearing in Figs. 5 and 6, and indicated in broken lines in Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a partial longitudinal section on a vertical plane indicated by the line 88 of Fig. 11 as viewed from the left, and better illustrates a feature of the circuit-completing contact member.

Fig. 91s a perspective view of the contact member appearing in section in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a rear elevation on a reduced scale showing the hook-providing and handle-forming sheet metal clip member ata different position than that in which it appears in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4. a

Fig. 11 is a front elevation as viewed from the right in Figs. 2 and 4, but with the hinged lamp-carrying and compass-carrying casing door in the open position.

Fig. 12 is a partial rear elevation with the hook-forming and handle-formin supporting clip raised to its upper handFe-forming position.

Fig. 13 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 2, but with the supporting-clip raised to its upper handle-forming position, similarly in this respect to Fig. 12 and as viewed from the right in Fig. 12, and also with the compass-carrying apron raised to the horizontal operative position of the compass carried thereby.

Fig. 14 is a plan view as viewed from above in Fig. 13, but with the supportingcli folded to its hook-forming position.

Fig, 15 is a view similar to Fig. 14, with parts omitted, showing the compass as turned to a different rotative or angular position in respect to the points of the comam.

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the catch member provided for the clip, appearing in Fig. 12 and in other figures of the drawings.

Fig. 17 is a reduced frontelevation of a Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

modified form of my invention in which the feature of the compass is omitted.

The portable electric light embodying my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings has a fiat substantially rectangular elongated sheet metal battery-containing and lamp-carrying casing, provided with outwardly indented stiffening ribs, as appears in the drawings, and is shown as having slightly rounded corners. This casing comprises a battery-containing casing box 1 provided at the front with a closure or door 2 which is hinged at thebottom on pivots 3 to open angularly forward and clownward, and which at the top is provided with a rearwardly projecting bent spring tongue forming a latch 1 engageable with an outwardly indented catch rib 5 shown as provided adjacent to the front margin of the top of the battery-containing rear casing part or casing box 1.

A supporting ring 6 is fixed, for example, by means of solder, inan opening provided in the upper margin of the flat side of the hinged casing door 2, and is shown as projecting both to the inside and to the outside of this door 2, and at its outer or forward end this supporting ring 6 is shown as provided with a slight inturned flange which engages at the front margin and prevents the escape outward of a usual form of lens 7. A metallic lamp-supporting reflector 8 of substantially usual form is shown as provided with a marginal outwardly projecting flange which is adapted to press against the inner margin of the lens 7, and the reflector 8 is centrally provided with an inwardly-projecting screw-threaded metallic lamp socket 9, shown as formed in one piece therewith. A clamping ring 10 is screwed into the supporting ring 6 from the inside of the door 2, for firmly holding in place the lens 7 and reflector 8, this clamping ring 10 being shown as providedwith a slight inturn'ed flange at each end thereof, for providing the required stiffness and rigidity, and the inner of these flanges engages the outturned flange upon the reflector 8, as-clearly appears in the drawings, particularly in Fig. 4 thereof. Also it is to be noted that this clamping ring 10 is knurled at-its inner end, as most clearly appears in Fig. 11 of the drawings, so as toafi'ord a firm grip to the fingers for screwing this ring 10 into place or removing it from the supporting ring 6 for the purpose of renewing the lamp, as will be readily understood. A usual miniature electric lamp has its screw-threaded ter minal-forming metallic base 11 screwed into and in electrical connection with the metallic lamp socket 9, with its bulb 12 exposed outwardly within the refiector 8 and with its central terminal 13 projecting-inwardly and exposed within the rear casing part or metallic battery-containing casing box 1, as most clearly appears in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The reflector-supporting and lamp-carrying means just described form a feature of my present invention, and has the advantage of minimizing the amount of extent of the projection of the supporting ring 6 and lens 7 at the front of the front casing part or door 2, and also has the further advantage that by reason of the screwing in of the clamping ring 10 from the inner side of the casing or from the back of the door 2, there is no possibility in the usual closed condition of this door of the accidental unscrewing or disengagement and loss of any of the parts.

The casing box 1 having the hinged front door 2 is adapted to contain a usual dry battery 14 below the inwardly projecting lamp socket 9, this battery 14 having a usual short and substantially upright spring contact terminal 15 and also having a usual longer transverse angularly upwardly extending spring contact terminal 16. By reason of the transverse arrangement of the lamp, its central terminal 13 is not in a position to be directly engaged by the longer spring battery terminal 16, as will clearly appear from the drawings, particularly Fig. 4 thereof, and accordingly circuit-complet- -ing means now to be described and forming a feature of mypresent invention are provided for completing the electrical connection between the longer battery terminal 16 and the central terminal 13 of the lamp.

A combined circuit-completing and battery-supporting contact member 17 is supported by and insulated from the upper horizontal top wall of the battery-containing rear casingpart or casing box 1 at the inside thereof above the battery 14. and

forms an electrically conductive extension of the longer battery terminal 15, and in the closed position of the door 2 this contact member 17 is adapted to complete the electrical connection between the transversely extending longer battery terminal 16 and the central terminal 13 of the lamp. The circuit completing and battery supporting member 17 is formed from a single strip of sheet metal which is bent into a peculiar shape or conformation which clearly appears inthe drawings, in which this member 17 is shown as comprising an upper transversely arranged U-shaped part from which and forming a continuation of lower leg of the U there extends downward a substantially J-shaped lower part.- The upper end of this circuit-completing and battery-supporting member 17, comprising the rearwardly extending upper leg of the U, is secured to but insulated from the top wall of the casing box 1. Two superposed layers or plates comprising a lower or inner layerorplate 18 and an upper or outer layer or plate 19 are interposed between the upper rearwardly horizontally extending end part of the con tact member 17 and the adjacent inner'surface of the top wall of the casing box 1, these layers or plates 18 and 19 being of suitable strong insulating material, such for example, as hard or vulcanized fiber. These two insulating plates or layers 18 and 19 are firmly secured to the top of the metallic casing box 1, by means of a pair of tubular rivets or eyelets 20 adjacent to the ends of these insulating plates or layers. The upper end of the metallic circuit completing and batterysupporting member 17 is firmly secured to the lower or inner insulating plate 18 by means of a pair of tubular rivets or eyelets 21 which do not pass through the upper insulating plate 19, so that, as will be readily understood, the battery-supporting contact member 17 is supported by and insulated from the horizontal top of the metallic casing box 1 at the inside thereof, as clearly appears in the drawings.

The longer transversely and angularly upwardly extending battery terminal 16 is adapted to engage or come into contact with the lower horizontally extending leg of the U formed by the upper part of the contact member 17, and this battery terminal 16 is adapted at' its rear edge to be partly received into a transverse groove or notch formed between the lower side of the lower leg of the U and the top of the J-shaped lower part of the contact member 17, and at its forward edge the contact terminal or contact strip 16 of the battery is adapted to be received behind a small downwardly and rearwardly extending hook 22 shown as punched out from the sheet metal forming the contact member 17, as appears in the drawings. The upright or stem portion of the J formed by the lower end part of the contact member 17 is disposed in the path of and is adapted to be engaged by the central terminal 13 of the lamp when the casing door 2 is in the closed position, and as appears most clearly in Fig. 4 of the drawings, and the lower or upturned end of the contact member 17 in its lower curved part is disposed just above the upper end of the battery 14, as appears in Figs. 4 and 11 of the drawings. It is now to be noted that any shifting movement of the battery 14 within the casing box 1 is effectively prevented by the combined circuit-completing and battery supporting member 17. In this connection it is to be noted, that the engagement of the contact terminal or contact strip 16 of the battery behind the downwardly and rearwardly projecting hook 22 will'prevent the battery 14 from becoming accidentally dislodged from or dropping out of the casing in the open condition of the door 2 illustrated in Fig. 11. Also it is to be noted that the engagement of the lower curved or upturned end of the contact member 17 with the upper end of the battery 14 will operate to prevent any objectionable upward shifting movement of the battery within the casing box 1. In the closed position of the casing door 2, it is to be noted, that the inner end of the reflector-clamping ring 10 also effectively assists in holding the battery 14 in proper position within the casing box 1, as is clearly evident from the drawings, particularly from Fig. 4 thereof. The lower vertically arranged or upright end part of the battery-supporting and circuit-completing member 17 engages and presses forwardly upon the central terminal 13 of the lamp with a spring tension so as to make a good electrical contact at this point, and this circuit-completing member 17 at all points is substantially spaced forwardly from the adjacent rear wall of the metallic casing box 1, as appears in Fig. 4 of the drawings. However, in order to prevent any possibility of this metallic contact member 17 coming into contact with the rear wall of the casing box 1, it is preferred, as shown in Figs. 4 and 11 of the drawings, to inter-pose a lining sheet 23 at the inner side of the rear metallic wall of the casing box 1, this lining 23 being composed of any suitable insulating material, for example, paper.

A manually operable circuit controller, which may be of any suitable form, is shown as provided for electrically connecting the short upright battery terminal 15 with the rear metallic casing part or l)IttQIY-C0l'ltilll1 ing casing box 1 for thereby completing the circuit of the battery 14 through the lamp when desired. A metallic spring contact strip 24 is secured at its lower end by means of a rivet 25 to the inside of the lateral wall or marginal side wall of the casing box 1. At its upper free end this spring strip 24 is provided with an inwardly projecting contact stud 26. the inner free end of which is normally outof contact with or spaced from the adjacent upright short battery terminal 15, as appears most clearly in Fig. 11 of the drawings. The contact stud 26 has formed upon its outer end an outwardly rounded push button 27 which projects through an opening 28 in the casing box 1 for manual circuit-completing actuation in a usual way. The push button 27 is also adapted to be operated in its circuit-closing movement by means of a slide 28 mounted for longitudinal sliding circuit-controlling movement on the casing box 1.

As a feature of my Invention, supporting means for the light are provided by which the light is adapted to be releasably or detachably supported upon the apparel of the person carrying the light, and also by which the light may be conveniently carried in the hand or hung up in a suspended position if desired. A combined hook-forming and handle-forming resilient clip 29 is formed of suitable sheet resilient material, such as spring brass. At its upper end, in the folded position thereof appearing in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 14, the clip 29 is provided at the middle thereof with an attaching lug 30 by which this clip 29 is pivotally secured to the upper margin of the metallic casing box 1 by means of a strong pivot-forming tubular rivet or eyelet 31, which passes not only through the attaching lug 30 and the adjacent wall of the casing box 1 but which at the inner side of the latter also passes through an inner reinforcing washer 32, and also passes through a combined catch member and reinforcing plate 33 which is interposed between the attaching lug30 and the adjacent outer surface or back of the rear wall of the casing box 1, and which besides serving as a retaining catch for the clip 29, as will presently appear, also serves the further purpose of reinforcing and strengthening the comparatively thin metallic casing wall so as thereby to provide a secure attachment for the resilient clip 29, as will be readily understood. At its lower margin, this casing reinforcing catch plate 33 is shown vas further secured to the back wall of the casing by means of a small rivetforming eyelet 34:, as clearly appears in the drawings. It is to be noted, that the axis of the pivot formed by the eyelet 31 is in parallel relation to the axis of the lamp socket 9 and of the lamp carried thereby,

so that the supporting clip 29 is adapted to swing in a lateral or sidewise direction in planes parallel to the flat front and rear sides of the casing, but is rigidly supported in planes parallel to the axis 'of the pivot formed by the eyelet 31. At the lower margin of the attaching lug 30 the supporting clip 29 is shown as offset outwardly so as to form a shoulder 35 below which, asappears in the drawings, the resilient sheet.

metal clip 29 in its lower or folded position extends downward in spaced relation to the adjacent outer surface of the back of the casing box 1, and so extends for a considerable distance substantially parallel to this wall of the casing box, and then gradually inclines inward on curved lines until its lower tapered and rounded end comes into contact with the lower margin of the back of the casing box '1 against which it presses with some initial tension, and this extreme lower end of the supporting clip 29 in itsv hook-forming position IS shown as provided with a transverse outwardly indented ridge forming at the inner side thereof a tranverse groove 36 which is adapted to engage or fit over the adjacent transverse stiffening rib shown as located at this point at the back of the casing box 1, as clearly appears in the drawings, particularly in Figs.

3 and 4 thereof. The inwardly inclined lower end part of the supporting clip 29 is shown as slightly widened or increased in width at the beginning of its tapered end part and within this larger free end part of the spring clip 29 there is shown as provided an opening or aperture having a large circular part 37, a small circularly'curved part 38 and a reduced neck or connecting part 39.

In its lower or hook-forming position appearing in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4,11 and 1 1 of the drawings, the spring clip 29 is adapted to be slipped over and behind the usual belt of a soldier or other} person for thereby supporting the light upon-this part of the apparel, the weight of the light then being adapted to rest upon the shoulder 35, and the spring clip 29 being adapted to releasably engage the belt for thereby supporting the light against any likelihood of accidental disengagement while readily permitting its easy removal or detachment from the belt at will. The engagement with the belt of the hoolr" formed by the spring clip 29 may be very readily effected by first moving the spring clip 29 to an angular or inclined position such as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 10 of the drawings, thereby leaving the lower end of the hook freely pro ecting so that it may be easily thrust behind the belt, and in doing this preferably the casing box *1 is turned to a slightly angular position so that 'the hook formed by the spring clip 29 may be pushed straight down over and at the back of the belt and then the casing box 1 may be readily brought to the vertical position and into alinement with the clip 29.

In its upper or extended handle-forming position, appearing in Figs. 12 and 13 of the drawings, the spring clip 29 may be releasably engaged with a' button of a garment, and which is adapted to pass freely through the larger) circularly curved opening 37, and the weight of the device or a slight pull thereon will cause the neck or attaching eye of the button to pass through the reduced slot 39 into the smaller opening 38 for thereby securely retaining the clip 29 in engagement with the button, with the battery-containing and lamp-carrying casing part 1 suspended therefrom. Also, if desired, the upwardly extended clip 29 may be very conveniently employed as a handle and in this case one of the fingers may be conveniently passed through the larger opening part 37 so that the clip 29ithenl serves as a bail. Also obviously, if desired, the light may be suspended from a nail or other suitable projection. Also the flat bottom of the casing box 1 permits the light to stand on its lower end when desired.

Means are provided for yieldably retaining the combined hook-forming and handleforming spring clip 29 at its lower hookforming position, appearing in Figs. 1. 2. 3, 4, 11 and 14, and also for likewise retaining the spring clip 29 at its handle-forming position, appearing in Figs. 12 and 13. At the side of the attaching ing 30 and projecting upwardly from theshoulder the clip 29 is shown as provided with spring tongues having therein transversely thereof outwardly indented rounded ridges 41 forming at the inside thereof corresponding transverse grooves, as will be readily understood, these grooves being shown as formed or arranged substantially in alinement with each other and also as substantially in alinement with the center or axis of the pivot-forming rivet 31. These spring tongues 40 form latches, the transverse grooves 41 of which are adapted to resiliently engage with sloping or rounded ridges 42 formed on and projecting outwardly from upwardly extending lateral prongs 43 formed by slitting the upper end of the underlying plate which forms the catch member 33. as clearly appears in the drawings, particularly in Fig. 16 thereof. In either of the vertical positions of the clip 29. whether extending downward to form a supporting hook or extending upward to form a supporting handle, the transverse grooves 41 will be pressed by the spring tongues 40 into resili ent engagement over the rounded shoulders formed by the ridges 42 which project from the catch-providing tongues 43 of the catchforming reinforcing plate 33, thereby securely holding the clip 29 in either of the above noted positions of use, while permitting the rotative shifting of this clip 29 from either of these positions of use to the other merely by the pressing of the hand upon the edge of the clip 29, for moving it.

in either direction, as will be readily understood.

As a further feature of my present invention means are providedfor supporting or carrying thereon a compass which when not in use may occupy a folded position of convenience and safety, and which when in use may occupy an extended operative position in which the face of the compass is in a position adapting it to be illuminated by some of the forwardly projected rays of the lamp, which is exposed at the upper margin of the flat front casing side provided by the casing door. as hereinbefore described.

Also means are provided by reason of which in its operative and-illuminated position the compass may be adjusted so that regardless of the direction in which it! is desired to travel, the light of the'lamp may be projected straight ahead while at the same time the compass needle will correctly coincide w1th the north and south indications or points of the compass, and consequently the direction in which the person is traveling will appear on the compass dial at all times straight ahead or at the front and coinciding with the forward direction in which the rays from the lamp are projected.

The compass is thus movably supported by means of a sheet metal apron 44 which at its upper end is pivoted to the door 2 by means of a transversely extending or horizontally arranged hinge pin 45. By reason of this hinge connection the compass-carrying apron 44 is adapted in its lower or folded position to lie flat against the outer surface of the flat front side of the lower part of the door 2, and in its extended or operative position this compass-carrying apron 44 is adapted to project forwardly substantially horizontally and at right angles to the flat front surface of the door 2, the folded position of this apron 44 being shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5, while the extended or operative position thereof appears in Figs. 6, 13, 14 and 15. In this connection it is to be noted that the hinge pin 45 which forms the horizontal transverse pivot for the apron 44 is located near the middle vertically of the door 2 and just below and slightly spaced from the reflector-supporting and lens-supporting outwardly projecting ring 6.

The lower or free part of the apron 44 has therein a comparatively large compassreceiving hole or opening 46 through which the compass frame passes, the compass frame having retaining shoulders engaging at the inner and outer sides of the adjacent marginal part of the apron 44 surrounding the compass-receiving opening 46. In the coin struction shown in the drawings, the compass frame has an inner circular box part 47 closed at the front by a glass disk 48 which is held in place by a flanged retaining ring 49 which screws over a reduced threaded outer part of the casing box 47 which projects from the inner to the outer side of the apron 44 through the opening 46 therein, the casing box 47 at the beginning of the outer reduced screw-threaded part thereof forming a shoulder at the inner side of the apron 44 and the inner end of the glass-retaining ring 49 forming a similar shoulder at the outer side of the apron 44. for securely holding these parts 47 and 49 and thereby. the entire Compass upon the hinged apron 44, as is clear from the drawings, particularly Fig.

4 thereof. The arrangement and proportions of the )arts are made such that the outer screw-tl ireaded end of the casing or compass box 47 and the slight inturned flange at the outer end of the retaining ring 49 will grip the glass disk 48 at its peripheral margin without the shoulders at opposite sides of the sheet metal apron 44 coming into gripping contact with the apron, thereby providing, when the two compass parts 47 and 49 are tightly screwed together, for the relative rotative movement of these parts as a whole upon the compass-carrying apron 44 within the opening 46 provided therein, although the friction between the parts is sufficient to reliably retain the compass frame including the box 47 in any desired angular or rotative position of adjustment relatively to the apron 44. It is to be noted that the periphery of the outer ring 49 and also the corresponding periphery of the inner part of the compass box 47 are shown as knurled for conveniently screwing these parts together or unscrewing them as desired, and this nurling also facilitates the above noted rotative adjustment of the compass. The compass has a usual magnetic needle or pointer 50 provided centrally with a usual jewel bearing 51 pivoted upon a bearing stud 52 fixed in and projecting outwardly from the inside of the center of the rear casing part or compass box 47. lVithin the box part 47, inwardly from the pivoted magnetic needle or pointer 50, there is pro vided a usual dial plate 53 having the points of the compass indicated thereon, as appears in Figs. 14 and 15 of the drawings, and this dial plate 53 is shown as securely held in place within the box part 47 and so as to move rotativel therewith by means of an annular retaining band or ring 54 which is tightly pushed or pressed into the box 47 and against the margin of the dial plate 53, as is shown in Fig; 4 of the drawings.

It is to be noted that the knurled outer end ring 49 projects at the front of the sheet metal apron 44 and that the rear knurled shoulder-forming part of the box 47 similarly projects to the rear of this apron, and in order to provide for the folding of the compass-carrying apron 44 fiat against the outer face of the casing door 2, a sufficiently large circular opening 55 is shown as provided in the lower part of the door 2 so as to permit the inwardly projecting closed back of the compass box 47 to freely pass through the door 2 to the inner side thereof where ample space is provided at the front of the lower part of the battery 14, as most clearly appears in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The compass-supporting apron 44 is shown as of circular contour in its lowerpart and of somewhat greater width than in its upper part adjacent to the hinge pin 45, and the extreme lower end or edge of this sheet metal compass-carrying apron 44 is shown as terminating at the front of and as slightly projecting outwardly from a lower transverse stiffening rib formed transversely upon the lower margin of the 'casing door 2 so that this slightly projecting edge or end of the apron 44 may be readily engaged for lifting the apron from its vertical depending or folded position appearing in Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 5, to the operative position thereof appearing in Figs. 6, 13, 14 and 15.

Resiliently acting yielding means are provided for yieldingly holding the apron 44 and the compass carried thereby at-either the one or the other of its two above described positions. At one of its lateral margins adj acent to and shown as just above the hinge pin 45, the apron 44 is provided with a positioning lug or tongue 56 which in the folded or lower position of the apron 44 projects to the rear and slightly upwardly at an angle at the back of the door 2 within the casing, as perhaps most clearly appears in Fig. 5 of the drawings. This inwardly projecting lug 56 is engaged by the lower transversely extending free end of an L-shaped sheet metal apron spring 57 which at its upper end is firmly secured to the inner side of the door 2 adjacent to an upper corner thereof by means of a pair of rivet-forming eyelets 58, as appears in Figs. 1, 5 and 6 of the drawings. In the extended or operative position of the apron 44, the retaining lug or positioning lug 56 thereof will lie substantially flat in contact with the adjacent inner face of the door 2, as appears in Fig. 6 of the drawings, and will be securely but yieldingly maintained at this position for holding the compass-carrying apron 44 at its horizontal operative position appearing in Figs. 6, 13, 14 and 15.- In the lower or folded safety position of the compass-carrying apron 44, the pressure of the lower free end of the L-shaped apron spring 57 upon the inwardly and slightly upwardly projecting free end of the positioning lug 56 will be effective to maintain this apron in its folded position of safety, as will be clearly evident from Fig. 5.

In the elevated or horizontal operative position of the compass-carrying apron 44 appearing in Figs. 6, 13, 14 and 15, the forwardly projected rays of light from the lamp bulb 12, as directed by the reflector 8 and lens 7, will quite clearly illuminate the dial 53 of the compass by reason of the fact that a sufficient number of rays of light in the lower part of the forwardly directed slightly flaring beam of light will be intercepted by the dial plate 53 and by the retaining ring 54 thereof, which has been found in practice to act as an effectir e refiector for distributing and diffusing the light over the dial plate 53 of the compass, as will be readily understood, the inner annular surface of this retaining ring 54 preferably being of polished or semipolished sheet metal such as brass. Merely by glancing down at the front of the lens 7 the indications given by the compass may be easily read, while at the same time the greater part of the light of the lamp bulb 12 will be directed to the front above the compass for there illuminating objects in the path, substantially as usual. For traveling at night by the aid of the light and compass, the compass apron 44 may be thus left in its operative forwardly projecting horizontal position for conveniently observing the compass of the case. Obviously when there is no necessity of using the compass, the compass apron 44 may be left at its downwardly folded safety position in which it is entirely out of the way.

In using the compass it is highly preferable and is of very great advantage to have the point of the compass in the direction in which it is desired to travel straight at the front and in order to accomplish this the entire compass may be rotatively moved upon the apron 44, as hereinbefore explained. For example, in the position of the compass illustrated in F ig. 14, the rotative adjustment of the compass is such as to be suitable for traveling due north. However, if it is desired to travel in a northeasterly direction then the compass should be rotated until this indication or point of the compass will be straight at the front, as appears in Fig. 15 of the drawings, and the true direction of travel in this north-easterly direction may be then correctly maintained merely by watching the compass needle or pointer 50 and traveling in such direction as will maintain it at the north and south indications upon the dial plate 53, as is also illustrated in Fig. 15. In like manner for other angular or rotative positions of adjustment of the compass any direction of travel may be conveniently and correctly-pursued merely by observing the compass while progressing straight ahead in the path illuminated by the forwardly projecting beam of light.

In Fig. 17 of the drawings, there is illustrated a simpler embodiment of my invention in which the feature of the compass is omitted, the construction there illustrated being in other respects the same as that hereinbefore described in reference to Figs. 1 to 16 inclusive. In this construction, a hinged door 59 is provided, the entire lower part of which below the lens 7 and its supporting ring 6 there appearing is simply in the form of a flat sheet which forms the lower part of the front of the light.

It is obvious that various modifications may be made in the constructions shown in the drawings and above particularly described within the principle and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A portable electric light having, in combination, a battery-containing and lampcarrying casing, a lamp socket carried by the casing and adapted to expose the lamp bulb at one side of the casing, and a combined hook-forming and handle-forming supporting clip pivoted to the other side of the casing from the lamp socket on a pivotal axis arranged substantially parallel to the axis of the lamp socket'said clip being rigidly mounted in planes parallel to its said pivot and adapted to be rotated on its pivot so as to extend downward for receiving between itself and the casing a part of the apparel for supporting the light thereon or to be rotated on its pivot so as to extend upward into a handle-forming position above said casing.

2. A .portable. electric light having, in combination, a flat battery-containing and lamp-carrying casing, a lamp socket carried by the casing and adapted to expose the lamp bulb at one of the flat sides of said casing forming the front of the light, and a combined hook-forming and handle-forming sheet metal clip pivoted to the flat back of the casing adjacent to the upper margin thereof for lateral rotative movement between a' lower hook-forming position and an upper handle-forming position, such cli'p being rigidly mounted in planes parallel to the axis of said pivot and being adapted in its lower position to receive between itself and the flat back of the casing a part of the apparel for supporting the light thereon.

3. The invention claimed in claim 1 in which yieldable resiliently acting catch means are provided for retaining said clip at each of its said positions of use.

4:. The invention claimed in claim 2 in which resiliently acting means are provided for yieldably maintaining said clip at either of its said positions of use.

5; The invention claimed in claim I in which said sheet metal clip is of resilient material and in which a part of said spring clip and an adjacent part of said casing are provided with interengaging rounded complementary depressions and projections which form the said means for holding the clip at either the one or the other of its said positions of use.

6. The invention claimed in claim 5 in combination with a catch member mounted upon the back of said casing part and having rounded projecting ridges thereon and in which said sheet metal spring clip is provided with resilient flat engaging projecting tongue parts having therein rounded grooves or depressions corresponding to said projections or ridges of said catch member and yieldably engaging therewith at the two said positions of use of said clip.

7. The invention claimed in claim 6 in which said projections on said catch member are in the form of ridges in. alinement with each other and located at opposite sides laterally in relation to the pivot for the clip and in which said cooperative depressions in the clip are in the form of transverse grooves in alinement with each other and also substantially in alinement with rid pivot and in which the resilient tongues in which these grooves are transversely formed project in a substantially opposite direction to that in which the free end of said supporting clip projects.

8. The invention claimed in claim 2 in which said clip is provided adjacent to its free end with an opening adapted to have engagement with a button of a. garment for supporting the light thereon.

9. The invention claimed in claim 7 in which said sheet metal clip has provided therein adjacent to the free end thereof an opening adapted to receive a button of a garment in the upwardly extended position of said clip for thereby supporting the light.

10, In combination, a portable electric lamp adapted to project a beam in substantially a single direction, and a compass having a dial adapted to assume a substantially horizontal position in which it will be illuminated by the lamp, said dial being rotatable about an axis substantially intersecting the axis of the light beam from the lamp, whereby said light beam may be projected toward any desired point of the compass.

11. The invention claimed in claim 1.0 in which the compass is rotatively mounted in an opening in a swinging apron for the purpose described.

12. The invention claimed in claim 11 in which the compass frame is composed of detachable members forming when joined, a constricted portion passing through the hole in the apron, and spaced shoulders for engaging the apron while permitting rotation of the frame withrespect t0 the apron for the purpose described.

13. A portable electric light having, in combination, a flat battery-containing and lamp-carrying casing of which one of the flat sides forms the front of the light, said casing comprising openable front and rear casing parts, the front casing part having an opening therein, and a supporting ring fixedly carried by said front casing part in register with and circumscribing said opening and provided at its outwardly exposed end with an inturned flange, a reflector fitting within said ring from the inside of the front casing part and prevented from out 'ard escape by said inturned flange on said ring, and a retaining ring for the reflector detachably fitting within the inner end of said ring for clamping and holding said reflector in place therein.

14. The invention claimed in claim 13 in which the inner reflector-retaining ring screws into the outer fixed ring from the inside of the front casing part.

15. A portable electric light comprising a fiat metallic battery-containing casing box open at the front. a hinged metallic door for closing the front of the casing. a circuit' completing member carried by the casing at the inside thereof and insulated therefrom and forming an extension of one of the ter' minals of the battery and adapted to complete the circuit from such battery terminal to one of the terminals of the lamp when the door is in the closed condition. a metallic lamp socket fixedly carried by the door at the front thereof and arranged to expose the lamp bulb at the front and outside thereof, means including a manually operable circuit-controller on the casing for connecting the remaining terminal of the battery with the other terminal of the lamp, said circuit-completing member being adapted to form an electrically conductive extension of and to complete the circuit between the longer transversely extending battery terminal and the central terminal of the lamp and being provided with means for preventing the battery from falling out of the casing box when the door is in the open condition.

16. The invention claimed in claim 15 in which said means for retaining the battery in the casing box is a hook formed on said circuit-completing member and engageable with said battery terminal at the front thereof.

In testimony whereof, I have aflixed my signature to this specification.

GIGORG E \V. WA C K ER.

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