US1396829A - Handlamp-switch - Google Patents

Description

G. D. GALLAGHER.

HANDLAMP SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED1UNEB,1920.

Nov. 1921.

Patented UNITED STA TES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE `ID. -.GrALLAG HER, lF t"W'SIFHN'(SrIfON, DISTRICT WINCHESTER y'Rxlfillg;'IZIING ARMS A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

OF COLUM-Bllk, ASSIGNOR T0 COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT,

HAivpLnMP-,swimcm Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Nov. 15, 1921..

Application filed `.Tune .8, 1920. Serial No. 387,278.

i Be it rlmown that I, GEQRGED GALLA- einen, a citizen of the United States, residing` fat V/Vashington, District of Columbia, have invented vvcertain new and useful Improvements in `Handlamp-Switches; and I do hereby declare the .following t0 be .a vfull, clear', andV exact description of the inventOn, .Such will enable others Skilled in the artjfto which it appertains to make and .use the .'Seme. i'

lille .present ,invention relates `t0 battery Lhandglampsof 7the kind in Whhe 'bat-telt .andasmall incandescent lamp are mounted vin va casing together with suitable switch mechanism for controlling the Vvflow of cur- -rent from the battery through the lamp.

The obj ects and g advantages of the present invention will become clearfroin the following detaileddescriptiomtaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, Awherein one embodiment of the present invention is .described ,and illustrated.

ln the drawings, Figure 1 is a fragmental, sectional elevation of a complete handlamp of the flator vest pocket type; Fig. .2 is

a fragmentah longitudinal section showing the switch mechanism closed; Fig. 3 is za Similar View `with vthe switch mechanism in safety position; Fig. 4 is a plan .view of v the `,Switch mechanism; Fig. is a sectional elevationoll heline 5-5 of 1; Fig. '6v is a Similar sectionon the line 6 6 of Fig. l; vF ig. 7 shows the slots cut inthe side of the meta`l case; Fig. 8 is a plan view of the housing by which the push-buttoncontact is moved along thedouble keyhole slot of Fig. 7 ;v Fig. 9 is a detail of the leaf spring .Mid thepush-button mounted thereon.

In the embodiment illustrated, the hand lamp comprises ka case 1, which may be of metal, and fiat, as shown. At the front end kof this caseand threaded .thereto isa lamp Q ,the inner terminal 3 of which makes contact with .the longer terminal 4 of a battery 5 positioned within the case. This brattery basa-short exposedterminal 6 at which Ythe. battery circuit through the lamp is controlled. One of the rounded edges ocase ;1; iscutor punched to form guideways 7 and 8 y (Fig. 7) and a tongue oriinger 9 between these l ,fuideways is severed at its ffront edge 1.0 but left integralwith the case atfthe. rear edge, and is pushed down into e 'rush-button l8- the position shown in Fig. 1 to serve as a resilient battery retaining finger. This 1inger not only 'positions the ybattery"within the case, ,but keeps'it from rattling around. There is also provided a double lzey ,hol-e slot Flg 7) consisting of a large round .epe/11mg 1l7 alleltroweropenine '12ga Second large y,round .opening 1 3, anda narrow bottomend 14.

Mounted to slidealongcase 1 is a thumbv Ctuated housing 1 5 vhaving integral tangs 16and 17 forengagement with slots 7 and 8, respectively, and having a round opening near `its'front end inl ywhich is yhoused Mounted within {housving ,1 5 and secured thereto v at one end, as

by .a .rivet 19, .is2L leef Spring 20 (Fs- 9)- At the front Q1' free `endoileaf spring 20, is mounted apush-button contact element openings 11 and Y13 of the double key' hole `.s lota'nd z.above this is a cylindrical portion 2st having a diameter comparable to the narvrow portions 12 andrlt of the key hole slot.

rFhe push-button contact, as above described, and as illustrated in Fig. 1, is movable by vthumb pressure on button 18 into and4 out of contact-making engagevmentiwith the exposed terminal `6 of the battery to control the flow of current from `battery 5through lamp 2, but the sliding movement of the housing and the coperation 'of the double key hole slot with the enlargement '23 on the push-button stud,

.effect new and desirable results, as hereinafter explainedmore ,in detail.

VWith the switch mechanism positioned asin Fig; 1, the enlargement 23 of the pushbutton contact rests in the enlargement 13 (Fig. 7) of the key hole slot, and

the resiliency of spring 2O holds the button in its outer position. In this position the push-buttonv contact is not in engagement with the exposed battery terminal 6, but by thumb pressure on button 18 can be ing engagement with pushed into engagement with that terminal as for momentary flashing of the lamp in signaling. If continued burning of the lamp is desired, the operator first depresses the push-button to move enlargement 23 out of locking engagement with opening 13 of the key hole slot, and then with his thumb pulls back on the housing to slide it backward along the case, thereby moving the stud into the narrowed end portion 14 of the double'key hole slot, and at the Sametime bringing the stud into continui battery terminal 6. Then, if the push-button be released by removal of the thumb, the lamp will continue to burn with enlargement 23. frictionally Vengaging the innerV face of the case immediately adjacent t0 the lower or end portion 14 of the double key hole'sl'ot. If then they operator wishes to extinguish the light,

Ahe can merely push forward with-his thumb onl housing 15 until enlargement'Q snaps into the enlarged portion 13 ofthe slot, thereby openingrthe circuit at contact 6.

. But, fin addition to being able to flash the lamp as in signaling, and to burn thumb pressure device has the mechanism can that inadvertentlighting ofthe lamp,

advantage that the switch be put in. such condition as 'when the lamp is being shipped 0r carried about, is in large measure,"avoided- To move the switch mechanism to Ysafety/position, it is necessary. .to depress-the thumb vbutton"llthereliiy disengaging enlargement i Q3 from opening 13 of the slot, and to push f the housing forward along the case until the enlargement snaps into opening 11 of the slot. Battery terminal 6 is so positioned with respect tothe key hole slot that when enlargement' 23 is in opening 11,y

these conditions thumb-pressure on button 18 will not close the circuitbecause stud 2l will not touch battery terminal 6. Furthermore, backward sliding movement of housing 15 isv prevented because of the lookingv engagement between enlargement 23. and

v opening 11. Therefore, to change the switch mechanism from this safety positiontoone fin Vwhich the lamp can be lighted, it is necessary, first to depress the push-button, and then to pull back on the housing until-enargement 23 snaps again into opening 13.

Although l"flat or vest pocket type, it will bevunderstood that I contemplate such changesin it 'will `be beyond the-end of terminal 6. Under the embodiment illustrated in. .the drawing, and above described, is of the ingly movable with said springand housing, substantially as described;

.2. In a battery hand lamp, the combination of a metal case having longitudinal slots therein, a housing mounted to slide in said slots, a leaf spring carriedby said housing and a bush-button contact mounted on said spring and movable along said Vcase with said spring and housing, substantially as described.

` 3. In a battery hand lamp, the combination of a battery case 'having a key hole slot, a housing mounted to slide longitudinally along said case, a leaf spring carried by said housing and a push-button Contact attached to said spring and'movable along Ysaid key hole slot, substantially as described. the lamp continuously without continuing on the button, the present 4. In a battery hand lamp, the'combination of a'battery case having a key hole slot, a battery therein having an exposed terminal, a housing mounted to slide longi-V tudinally along said case, a leaf springr carried by said housing, and a push-button contact mounted on said spring and having shoulderfor continuously engaging one end of said'key hole slotA when continuing,

connection with said battery terminal is desired. 'i

6. In a battery hand lamp, the combinationofa battery case having adouble key hole slot, a battery within said case4 having an exposed terminal, a housingV mounted to slide vlongitudinally along sai'd case, a leaf spring connectedfatV oneend to said housing, .a push button contact mounted on the other end of said springend having an enlargementengageable with either enlarged portion of thel double key hole slot to prevent sliding movement of said housing. except when said push-buttonV contact v-is depressed.

f7. In a battery'haiid lamp, the: combination of a'battery case havingv a double key. hole slot, a'battery thereinhaving an exposed terminal, la' housing mounted i' to slide longitudinally 'along said case, a leaf spring 130 connected at one end to said housing, a push-button Contact fastened to the other end or' said spring, said push-button contact having an enlargement preventing sliding movement of said housing except when said push-button Contact is depressed, said enlargement being adapted to underlie the lower end of said slot when Continuing contact with the exposed battery terminal is desired.

S. In a battery hand lamp, the combination of a battery oase, a housing mounted to slide longitudinally thereof, a leaf-spring having one end riveted to said housing and a push button engaging the other end of said spring, said push button being movable along said Case with said spring and housing.

9. In a battery hand lamp, the combination of a battery case, a housing mounted to slide longitudinally thereof, a push button mounted in said housing and moving therewith, and a leaf-spring having one of its ends rigidly attached to said housing and its other end engaging said push button, and means impeding free sliding movement of said housing and said spring along said case.

ln testimony whereof l aHiX my signature.

GEORGE D. GALLAGHER.

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