US3535506A - Blinker light lantern - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 20, 1970 A, H. MQORE ETAL 3,535,506

BLINKER LIGHT LANTERN Filed Nov. 1, 1967 ze 32%@ 5 Z8 24 2a c 44 43 ze 5^? United States Patent `O U.S. Cl. 24U-10.63 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A battery powered lantern having a light translucent plastic body, a iirst slidable switch for controlling the usual lamp, and a second slidable switch carrying a holder at one end for supporting a blinker lamp within the body. The holder includes switching means to selectively energize the blinker lamp to intermittently illuminate a portion of the body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a lantern similar to the type shown and described in Pat. No. 3,252,733 issued on May 24, 1966 to the same inventors as the instant application, and more particularly to such a lantern incorporating a blinker light and switch therefor for illuminating the body of the lantern.

It is well known in the prior art to provide lanterns with blinker head safety lights which enable the user to flash an intermittent distress signal by yselectively closing a usual second switch to energize the blinker lamp. One diculty with these lanterns is that they generally employ self-contained switch units which are wired to the battery and the blinker lamp thus increasing the cost of the lantern. The blinker lamps of these lanterns are most frequently housed within a blinker head comprising a distinctive, red, translucent globe mounted atop an arm extendable from the lantern body. This construction allows the comparatively small blinker head to be extended above the body and to be visible for a greater distance while simultaneously making the lantern less able to withstand the rough usage to which it is often subjected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is the primary object of this invention to provide an improved impact resistant hand lantern which may be molded of a nonconductive light translucent plastic material and having positioned therein a blinker lamp actuable by means of a simple unwired switch to intermittently illuminate a large portion of the body.

To accomplish these objects in one form, we have provided a blinker light lantern having a light transparent body formed of a nonconductive material including a battery receiving chamber and an enlarged forward end, conductor means to contact opposite poles of the batteries, a conductive portion positioned in the enlarged forward end and in electrical contact with the remaining pole of one of the batteries, a movable switching strip in constant contact with the remaining pole of the other battery, a blinker lamp holder mounted upon the switching strip and carrying a contact strip, a blinker lamp positioned with one terminal in contact with the switching strip and the other terminal in contact with the contact strip and means in contact with the contact strip positioned to engage the conductive portion for completing the circuit through the blinker lamp when the switching strip is selectively moved forwardly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. l is a side elevational view of a blinker light lantern incorporating our invention showing the tandem switch buttons;

FIG. 2 is a section taken substantially along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section taken substantially along line 3 3 of FIG. 2 showing the internal construction of our irnproved lantern;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional viewl taken substantially along line 4 4 of FIG. 2 showing the tandem slidable switching strips;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 5 5 of FIG. 4 showing the blinker lamp switching strip and lamp holder;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing the movable blinker lamp holder; and

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the movable blinker lamp holder with the blinker lamp removed taken in the direction of line 7 7 of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With particular reference to the drawings there is illustrated a hand lantern having a body generally designated by the numeral 10 formed of a shock resistant, nonconductive, light translucent plastic material such as polyethylene. The hand lantern is similar to the lantern disclosed in Pat. No. 3,252,733 issued on May 24, 1966 to Arthur H. Moore and Joseph G. Bacevius assigned to the same assignee as the instant application. The body 10 includes a rectangular battery receiving chamber 12, a lens support bell 14, and a handle 16. The lens support bell 14 terminates in an annular cylindrical extension 18 (note FIG. 3) which is formed with a screw thread 19 on its outer surface. A switching surface 20 is formed on the wall of the battery chamber 12 beneath the handle 16 adjacent the lens support bell 14. Thus, the surface 20 lies in an area protected by the handle yet conveniently located adjacent the users thumb when the lantern is held by the handle in the users right hand. Rectangular switch guide slots 22 and 24 are defined in the switching surface 20 to guide the switch in a manner to be described hereinafter. Formed upon the interior wall of the switching surface 20 directly behind slots 22 and 24 are ribs 26 and 28 which run transverse to the longitudinal dimension of the slots 22 and 24.

The body 10 further includes an internally extending shoulder 30 positioned between the lens support bell 14 and the battery receiving chamber 12 on the lower portion of the body. As fully set forth in the above mentioned Moore et al. patent the shoulder 30 supports a substantially L-shaped metallic battery contact strip 32 mounted Within the chamber 12. The Io-shaped contact strip includes a curved horiontally extending clip portion l32a which clamps onto the shoulder 30 to retain the strip in position, a vertical portion 32h which lies contigous to the inner wall of one side of the chamber i12 and an upper end portion 32e which is curved to conform to the inner wall of the switching surface 20` (note FIG. 2). The contact strip 32 is retained in position by means of a rivet 34 which passes through the wall of the switching surface 20 in line with the switch guide slot 221.

A iirst metallic switching strip 36 formed of a resilient material such as brass extends longitudinally of the battery chamber 12 along the inner |Wall of the switching surface 20. The switching strip includes a central offset portion 36a Which extends into the slot 22, a planar contact portion 36b which bears against the rivet 34 and is thereby in electrical contact with the contact strip 32, a curved contact nose 36C formed at its forward e-xtremity and a raised detent portion 36d which cooperates with the rib 26. The switching strip 36 is held in position in the body l by means of a rivet 3'8 which secures the offset central portion 36a within a recess formed in a plastic sliding switch button 40 in such a manner that the switch button-switching strip assembly is longitudinally slidable in the slot 22, the vertical portions of the offset central portion 36a acting as stops to limit forrward and rearward motion. The detent portion 36e cooperates with the rib 26 to positively position the switch assembly in its forward and in its rearward positions.

A second metallic switching strip 42 also formed of a resilient material such as brass extends longitudinally of the battery chamber 12 along the inner wall of the switching surface in line with the switch guide slot 24. The switching strip 42 includes a central offset portion 42a :which extends into the slot 2-4 as shown in FIG. 5, a raised detent portion 42b which cooperates with the rib 28, and a planar contact portion 42C which bears against the upper end portion 32e of the contact strip 32. The second switching strip 42 is held in position in the body 10 by means of a rivet which secures the offset central portion 42a within a recess formed in a plastic sliding switch button 43 so that the switch button-switching strip assemb'ly is longitudinally slidable in the slot 24 in the same manner as the first switching strip 36. The forward end of the switching strip 42 comprises a support portion for a blinker lamp holder 44 including a rivet receiving aperture 42d and a longitudinally extending offset portion 42e formed at its forward extremity. The blinker lamp holder 44 comprises a nonconductifve plastic member preferably formed of a rigid material such as styrene. The holder includes a socket portion `44a partially of arcuate cross-section having internal threads 44h described thereon (note FIG. 7), an inclined end wall portion 44C dedining a central slot 44d therethrough and an offset mounting portion 44e having a rivet receiving aperture 44f. The holder 44 supports an L-shaped contact strip 46 formed of a resilient material such as brass, including a mounting leg 46a having a rivet receiving aperture- 46b dened therethrough and an inclined lamp terminal contact leg 46c formed to exert pressure against the inclined end wall 44C of the holder. A rivet 48 including a contact head 48a has a shank 48b which passes through the rivet receiving apertures 42d, 44j and 46b is spun over at its end to secure the blinker lamp holder 44 and the L-shaped contact strip upon the movable second switching strip 42. A washer 50` formed of electrically insulating material including an axial collar portion 50a surrounds the rivet shank 48b to insulate the rivet from the second switching strip.

A usual blinker lamp F52 is threadedly engaged in the socket portion 44a being supported in part by the offset portion 42e of the second switching strip which makes electrical contact with the shell of the lamp. The blinker lamp 52 should be engaged suiiiciently for its central terminal to make electrical contact rwith the L-shaped contact strip 46.

The lens construction of the lantern of our invention is clearly illustrated in FIG. 3. As will be noted therein the metalized plastic reector 154 includes an annular flange 54a which tlits against the rim of the cylindrical extension 18. A threaded plastic lens ring 56 is threadedly engaged with screw thread 19 on the cylindrical extension and includes an annular iiange 56a which bears against a clear plastic lens 58 to retain the reiiector `54 and lens 58 in position.

A usual lamp `60` is retained in a threaded plastic insert 64 positioned within the reilector154, and its shell making electrical contact 'with an outwardly extending conductive flange i612. A U-shapedcontact spring strip |66 is mounted through the rear wall of the insert [64 for making electrical contact between central terminal of the lamp 60 and the usual flashlight dry cells C. The U-shaped strip 66 also serves to secure a second conductive liange 68 in electrical contact Iwith the dry cells C, the ange y68 being of smaller diameter than the tiirst flange 62 and including a central slot 70` through which the U-shaped spring strip 66 may pass.

A double coil spring 72 is mounted against the rear wall of the body in a usual manner. In order to power the lantern of our invention, standard flashlight dry cells C1, C2, C3, and C4 are inserted into the body in two rows between the shoulder 30 and the double coil spring 72 and between the spring and the lamp y60 in a manner fully described in the above mentioned Moore et al. patent.

The operation of the lantern for illuminating the lamp 60 is fully described in the above mentioned Moore et al. patent and therefore only the operation of the blinker lamp circuit will be described herein. With reference to FIG. 3, there is illustrated an open electrical circuit in which the following elements are electrically connected: the second conductive flange 68, the U-shaped spring strip 66, cells C4 and C3, double coil spring 72, cells C1 and C2, L-shaped contact strip 312., second switching strip 42, the shell of blinker lamp 52, the lamp iilament, the central terminal of lamp 52, L-shaped spring strip 46 and the rivet 48. In order to energize the blinker lamp it is merely necessary to slide the switch button 43 forwardly to advance the second switching strip 42 thus carrying the entire blinker lamp holder 44 forwardly. This moves the contact head 48d of the rivet against the second conductive iiange I68 to close the electrical connection and complete the circuit. The circuit is 'broken by sliding the button 43 in the opposite direction.

Since the blinker lamp 52 is positioned within the enlarged lens support bell 14 a large portion of the lantern body is illuminated. This is due to the positioning of the lamp adjacent the rear reflective surface of the metallized plastic reflector 54. Approximately twenty percent of the lantern surface area is illuminated, this being larger than the area of the usual translucent blinker globes of the prior art constructions.

Having described our invention of a blinker light lantern it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in this art that a lantern embodying our invention is simple in design, low in cost and ingenious in operation. It will be noted that by means of the present invention the objectives set forth abo-ve have been attained. For example, we have provided an impact resistant lantern with an internal, protected blinker lamp assembly mounted upon a unique slidable switching strip in a novel manner and which may intermittently illuminate a large portion of the lantern body.

It should be understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in details of construction and the. combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from thel true spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. An electric hand lantern comprising: a body of electrical insulating material defining a chamber :for receiving a battery and having an enlarged light translucent portion at one end; lamp positioning means mounted in said body to position a lamp therein; first switch means for selectively electrically connecting the terminals of said lamp with the poles of said battery; a first electrical contact within said body, in electrical contact with one pole of said battery; a second electrical contact within said body in electrical contact with the other pole of said battery; a metallic switching strip mounted within said body for movement between a rst and a second posi tion and slidingly engaging said first contact at all times; an auxiliary lamp holder mounted on said switching strip to position an auxiliary lamp within said enlarged portion, one terminal of said auxiliary lamp being electrically connected to said switching strip; a third electrical contact carried by said switching strip in electrical contact with the other terminal of said auxiliary lamp and positioned to` engage said second electrical contact when said switching strip is in its second position; and means accessible from the exterior of said lbody for moving said switching strip from its first toits second position where- -by said enlarged light translucent portion is illuminated upon energization of the auxiliary lamp".

2. The electric hand lantern defined in claim 1 wherein said auxiliary lamp is a blinker lamp and further including a concave refieetor surrounding said lamp and having highly reflective front and rear surfaces whereby said entire enlarged light translucent portion is illuminated when said auxiliary lamp is energized.

3. An electric hand lantern comprising: a body of electrical insulating material defining a chamber for receiving a plurality of cells forming a battery and having an enlarged light translucent portion at one end; conductor means positioned in said chamber to contact opposite poles of at least two of said cells; a conductive portion positioned within said body in said enlarged portion and in contact with one pole of said battery; lamp positioning means mounted in said body to position a lamp therein; first switch means for selectively electrically connecting the terminals of said lamp with the poles of said battery; an auxiliary blinker lamp; a selectively movable lamp holder mounted within said body in said enlarged portion; and second switch means including a first metallic contact strip secured to said body in a fixed position to contact the remaining pole of said battery, a metallic switching strip movably mounted on said body and arranged to siidingly engage said first contact strip at all times, said lamp holder being mounted upon said switching strip and positioning said 'blinker lamp with one of the lamp terminals in contact with said switching strip, a second metallic contact strip carried by said holder in position to contact another of said lamp terminals, means carried by said second contact strip to selectively engage said conductive portion only in one position to which said switching strip is movable for completing an electricaly circuit through sad b-linker lamp; and means accessible from the exterior of said body for selectively moving said switching strip into and out of said position.

4. The blinker light lantern defined in claim 3 wherein said blinker lamp holder includes an electrically insulating body having a threaded portion within which said blinker lamp may be positioned.

5. The blinker light -lantern defined in claim 3 wherein said contact strip includes a forward planar portion upon which said blinker lamp holder is mounted and a forwardmost offset portion positioned to support said blinker lamp in said holder and to contact one of the lamp terminals.

6. The blinker light lantern defined in claim 5 wherein said blinker lamp holder includes a mounting portion and said second metallic contact strip also includes a mounting portion and further including securing means for mounting said second contact strip mounting portion and said holder mounting portion upon said forward planar portion of said switching strip. l

7. The blinker light lantern defined in claim 3 wherein said means to selectively engage said contact portion comprises a fastener positioned to secure said second contact strip and said holder upon the forward end of said switching stnip and wherein said securing means is in electrical contact with said second contact strip and is electrically insulated from said switching strip. f

8. The blinker light lantern defined in claim 3 wherein: said lamp positioning means positions said lamp with one of the lamp terminals electrically connected to said remaining pole of said battery, said lamp positioning means including a second conductive portion in contact with the other lamp terminal; and said first switch means includes a second metallic switching strip movably mounted on said body and arranged to slidingly engage said first contact strip at all times but selectively engage said second conductive portion only in one position to which it is movable; and further including second means accessible from the exterior of said body for selectively moving said second switching strip into and out of position.

9. The blinker light lantern defined in claim 8 wherein said conductive portion and said second conductive portion comprise radially outwardly extending flanges, said conductive portion having a smaller diameter than said second conductive portion.

10. The blinker light lantern defined in claim 9 wherein: said blinker lamp holder includes an electrically insulating body and a mounting portion; said contact strip includes a forward planar portion and a forwardmost offset portion positioned to support Said blinker lamp in said holder and to contact one of the lamp terminals; said second metallic contact strip having a mounting portion; and said means to selectively engage said contact portion comprises a fastener positioned to secure said second contact strip mounting portion and said holder mounting portion upon said forward planar portion of said switching strip.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/ 1937 Stimson 24o-10.63 3/1965 Jones Q 24U-10.63 X

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