US818449A - Portable electric light. - Google Patents

Description

La@ 7a for. f

` l EUBEET.- EOET'ABLE ELECTRIC LIGHT."

f AIPLIUATION FILED HAY 19l 1905.

No. 818,449.v

gm/W5@ CONRAD HUBERT, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

PORTABLE ELECTRIC LIGHT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patenten Apru 24, 1906. p

' Application filed May 19, 1905. Serial No. 261,156.

To @ZZ v.whom t may conc-ern:

I Be it known that I, CONRAD HUBERT, a' citizen of the United States, residing-in the 'borough of Manhattan) city of New York, in

the county lof New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Electric Lights, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanyingwdrawings, forming a part thereof.

y 'invention relates to portable electric lights, and particularly those of small dimensions and'convenient shape to adapt them to be carried i n the pocket of the user.

My invention has for its objects simplicit and compactness of construction, non-liab ity to accidental closure of circuit and consequent exhaustion of battery, durability, ease and reliability ofoperation, and ready change from acondition wherein .light is obtainable only so lon as the circuit-closing device is held .closed by the o erator to a condition in which the circuit wil be maintained in closed condition and the light maintained without abutment.

effort on the part of the operator.

In portable electric lights of this class the amount of battery-power which can be obtained in an appliance of such small dimensions is necessarily not great, and accidental or unnecessary closures would too speedily eXhaust the'battery. It is therefore desirable that allcircuit-closing means should be effectually shielded. It is also desirable'that the operation of closing the circuit and therebyy obtaining the light should be readily and easily erformed and that when the light is desired) for momentary or short eriods the circuit-closer should automatica] y open the Grcuitand that when the light is desired for lono'er periods the circuit may be kept closed i without effort on the part of the user.4

The improved means embodying my invention enable the user to force the circuitcloser into closed-circuit condition by coperation of a push-button and a fixed abutment on the casing. Means are provided whereby the push-button is normally held in a position such that it is operative in the usual manner and permits the circuit-closer to automatically return from closed-circuit to o en-circuit condition, but may also be forcibly moved from this normal position to force the circuit-closer into closed-circuit condition by wedging between it and the fixed My invention also includes improvements consisting of a helical spring Z.

in the construction and attachment ofthe lamp socket and lens. l

I will now describe the portable electric light illustrated in the accompanying drawings and embodying my invention and will thereafter point out my invention in claims.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the portable light, partly in section. Fig. 2 is a side elevation looking toward the narrow side of the device with the circuitcloser adjusted for momentary closure and automatic openin Fig. 3 is a similar view, partly in section, wit the circuit-closer locked in closed position. Fig. 4 is an underneath lan view of the u per cover of the device etached to show t e iitting of the lamp-socket in the upper cover. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the device, taken in a plane indicated by the line 5 5 in Fig, l, the battery not being shown in section. Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the contact device in its open-circuit position and automatically-openin condition. Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectiona view of the contact devicev in its locked closed-circuit position.

-The casing a, is isha ed to form a thin flat package without an u ar corners or pro'tuberances, so as to be we l adapted to be carried in the pocket ofthe user. The body ofthe casing 'is made of' metal or conductive material, and lthe casing is wide at the flat sides and semicylindrical at v.the thin sides, so as to follow Within the casing and consists of a miniature incandescent electric'lamp e, which is threaded intoa metallic socket c and which carries at its lower end a yielding contact device This lampsocket k is shaped like an inverted dome and is fitted to the upper cover b by means of lateral projections shown as formed by a flange m of generally circular outline with diametrically opposite portions flattened so as to be of smaller diameter, so that the portions of smaller diameter freely enter the cover and upon turning the lamp-socket through about a quarter of a 'turn the circular portions of the flange enter counterpart recesses n and firmly lock the lamp-socket in position. The

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I inner wall of the socket is provided with a reecting-surface, and as a result of its concave shape produces in common with the directing action of the lens o a powerful and effective hght. This lens is fixedly set in the casmg, being seated in a rim on the outer face of the cover and held against the rim by the flange of the combined light-refiector and :lamp-socket lc, which bears tightly against the base of the lens. Access may be had to the lens and the lamp also for removal or replacement by removing the upper cover b fromthe casing and'then removing the lampsocket k from the upper cover.

Upon the inner face of one of the thin sides o f the casing a two rounded spacing projections p arfprovided. These bear against the adjacent side of the battery-package and not onlyprevent any free movement of the batterry-package and the consequent short-circuiting of the uncovered portions'of the latter with the casing, but also assure a space between the battery-package and the casing "or the -movement of the contact-spring q .25

against the Zinc terminal of the battery-cell. A circuit-closer is provided adapted for manual operation and located at one of the sides of the casing, so that 'it is in convenient.

position to be operated'- by the thumb or one of the fingers of the user. l The circuit-closer is resilient and is normally in circuit-opening position. It comprises a push-button 1 and a spring contact-finger g, the' contact-iinger being shown as secured at its lower end by a rivet to the inner' face of the thin side of the casing a and the push-button being externally located within a shield s, this shield being shown as of nearly elliptical form and mounted upon the outer surface of the casing and secured thereto by two side iiaps t. This shield so surrounds and protects the pushbutton as to obviate the liability of accidental closing of the circuit when the device is carried in the pocket of the user. The pushbutton r is shown as made up of a circular head r, a circular base r2, with two intermediate portions u and v, the front intermediate 'portion a being of smaller diameter than the head and the rear intermediate portion o being of larger diameter than the portion a, so that an annular grooveis formed at u, and the rear intermediate portion c being of smaller.

diameter than the base r2, so that it moves freely through'the upper circular part of an opening a: in the shield, while the base forms a shoulder of larger diameter than the orifice at, eectually preventing removal exteriorly of the push-button.

The push-button is not fastened to the contact-finger but these parts are provided with an engaging projection and depression which tend to hold the push-button in a predetermined position relatively to the contactspring, such position being that in which the push-button is retained in and automatically sienes returned to open-circuit condition. As shown, a rounded projection fw is formed at the rear face of the base of the push-button and the contact-spring has a registering perfora- .tion to receive this projection, this construction being exceedingly simple and reliable.

To providefor maintaining a closed-circuit condition, the opening x in the shield has, in addition to the circular upper part above mentioned, an elongated lower part or slot of such width as to receive the annular groove u of the push-button, so that the push-button may be pressed slightly inward from the normal position (shown in Fig. 6) to register the groove uwith the outer wall of the shield and may then be pressed downward in the slot of the shield with the groove u engaged by the walls of the shield, the rear projection w of the bush-button riding out of the perforation of the contact-spring and the push-button bearing against the contact-spring and forcing it inward as the push-button is moved downward until the contact-spring bears against the conductive wall of the adjacent battery-cell, this being its circuit-closing position. With the parts in this position the resilienceof the contact-spring causes' an outward pressure on the push-button, which develops suflicient friction to hold the parts in this position, and the parts are, in

fact, locked in closed-circuit condition. rl`his locked closed-circuit condition is shown in Figs. 3 and 7. it will be maintained until the push-button is moved upward by the operator. As the pusli-button attains its norr mal position relatively to the contact-spring therounded rear projection w will enter the perforation in the contact-spring and the contact-spring will force the push-button outward and all parts will attain the normal open-circuit position (shown in Figs. 2 and 6,) the groove u being-held out of register with the slot in the shield. For ordinary pushbutton use it is only necessary to press the push-button in and hold it in so long as the light is required. The engagement of the push-button and contact'- spring prevents shifting of the parts from normal positions,

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this being also aided by normal alinement of the larger intermediate art .v of the pushbutton with the .wall o' the socket, whichA IIS venience of manufacture and sale of the bat 13o l .lhe electric conductive means for the cir-.

. cuit of the battery and lamp are partlypro- -`v1dedby the casing and include the normally, open circuit-closer, comprising the push-button 1' and contact-'spring g previously described. rlhe lamp e has one of its terminals l in direct contact with the carbon terl mina'l of the middle cell g of the battery. The

several cells ,of the battery are connected in series in usual manner', the carbon terminal of the middle cellg and the zinc casing ofthe right-hand outer cellf being the end terminals o the battery. The zinc'casing of the"cell f is included4 in the lamp-circuit by direct contact of the' spring or circuit-closer g with the conductive casing a, the. insulated Wra ping being removed in proximity to the point of contact. The current passes to the cover I,

Hows through the combined reiector andlamp-socket k, and enters'the lamp e.

It -is obvious that 'various modifications may. be made in the construction shown and above particularl described Within the principle and scope o my invention.

- What l claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A portable electric light comprising a casing and a battery therein, an electric lamp carried by the casing, and circuit-completing means -from the battery to the lamp including a push-button and a contact, the casing having afiXed abutment for tlie'pushbutton and the push-button being movable from a position in Which the contact is lactuatable by thepush-button to close the circuit and is permitted to automatically return from circuit-closing to circuit-opening condition, to a position in which the push-button is coperative -With* the fixed abutment to force the contact intocircuit-closing condition. v l l 2. A portable electric light comprising a casing and a battery therein, an electric lamp carried by the casing, and circuit-completing means from the battery to the lamp including a push-button and a contact-linger, the contact-finger being Within the casing andarranged to abut against a battery-terminal, the casing having an abutment for the pushbutton and the push-button being movable from a position in which the contact-finger is actuatable by the push-button to close the circuit and is permitted to automatically return from circuit-closing to circuit-opening condition, to a position in which the pushbutton is cooperative with the abutment. to force-the contact-finger into circuit-closing condition.

3. A portable electric light comprising a casing and a battery therein, an electricA lamp carried by the-casing, and circuit-completing means from the battery to the lamp including a push-button and a contact-finger, the push-button and the contact-ringer having an en aging' projection and depression to norma ly hold the push-button in a position in which the .contact-finger is actuatable by the push-button to close the circuit and is permitted to automatically return from circuit-closing tc circuit-opening. position, andv the push-button and casing having a sliding connection Wlierebythe push-button may be -moved lrelatively to the contact-ringer to abut against the casing and force the contactfinger into circuit-closing position.

4;, The combination of a casing and a battery therein, vand means or closing the circuit of the battery, including a push-button anda contact-finger, the casing being provided Withan opening in part large enough' vfor vthe battery including a push-button and a contact-iingerfthe push-button having a peripheral groove and the casing being provided With an opening in part large enough to permit `'-Lhe `usb-button to be moved in- Ward to thi ist .he contact-finger into circuitclosing position With freedom to automatically return from such circuit-closing position, and the opening in the casing being in part narrower to engage the peripheral groove of the push-button and permit the push-button to be moved to Wedge the contact-iinger into circuit-closing position. 'i

6. The combination of a casing and a battery therein, and circuit-completing means `for the battery including a push-button and a contact-finger, the push-button and the contact-finger having an engaging projection and depression and the push-button having a peripheral groove therein, the casing being provided with an opening in part large enough to permit the push-button to be moved in Ward to thrust the contact-finger into circuitclosing position with freedom to automatically return Jfrom such circuit-closing position, the en aging projection-and depression being located so as to normally hold the push-button in suchposition of automatic return, and the opening in the casing beingin part narroWer to engage the peripheral groove of the push-button and pernlit the push-button to be moved .to Wedge the nontact-iinger into circuit-closing position. 7. The combination of a casing, a shield permit the push-button to ybe moved in- IIO thereon, a battery carried by thercasing, and i means for closin the circuit of the battery including a pushutton and a contact-inger, the shield being provided with an opening in part large enough to permit the push-button to be moved inward to thrust the contactiinger to the circuit-closing position with freedom to automatically return from such circuit-closing position and the opening in the shield being in part adapted to engage the push-button and permit the push-button to Wedge the contact-iinger into circuit-closing position,

' 8. The combination of a casing, a shield thereon, a battery carried by the casing, and means for closing the circuit oi the battery including a push-button and a contact-finger,`

the push-button and contact-iinger having an engaging projection and depression and the shield having an opening therein in-part large enough to permit the push-button to be moved inward toA thrust the co1itactiinger into circuit-closing position with freedom to automatic ally return from such circuit-closing position, the engaging projection and depression normally such position of automatic return, and the opening in the shield being in part adapted to engage the push-button and permit the push-button to be moved to Wedge the contact-finger into circuit-closing position.

'9. The combination of a casing, a shield thereon, a battery carried by the lcasing, and means for closing the circuit of the battery including a push-button and a contact-finger,

thev contact-finger being arranged so as to closethe circuit by contact With the battery,

holding the push-button in,

'acl` projections extending `inward from s t e4 wa l 'of the casing above and belowy the' the conf turn from circuit-closing to circuit-opening position and the push-button being movable relatively to the contact-finger to lock the .contact-finger in circuit-closing condition.

10. A portable electric light comprising-a casing anda battery therein, a cover for the casing having recesses therein, an electric lamp, a lamp-socket having opposite lateral projections adapted to be engaged in the recesses of the cover by part rotative movenient of the lamp-socket relatively tothe cover,.and means for completing and closing the circuit from the batter to the lamp.

11. A portable electric ight comprising a casing and a battery therein, a `cover for the casing having recessed portions therein, an electric lamp, a lamp-socket having'opposite lateral projections adapted to be engaged in the recesses of the.`cover by part rotative movement of the lamp-socket relativel to the cover, a lens fitted in the cover and eld in place by the lamp-socket, and -means for completing and closing the circuit from the battery to the lamp.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CONRAD HUBERT.

Witnesses HENRY BARNES, HER-MAN DANEMAN.

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