US2304222A - Flashlight switch - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 8, 1942. F. c. SCHULTZ FLASHLIGHT SWITCH Filed Aug. 1, 1941 Fig.5. F926. F y- FRED 0 5c H U LTZ INVENTOR.

- v ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 8, 1 942 Fred C. Schultz, Chicago, 11., assignor to The Edward Katzinger Company, Chicago, Ill., a

corporation of Illinois Application August 1, 1941, Serial No. 405,929

(ill. zoo-cc) 6- Claims.

This invention relates to a flashlight switch and has for its object the provision of a switch which is simple and inexpensive in its construction and adapted for ready assembly.

According to the present invention the improved switch includes a housing or operating member mounted to slide on the outer surface of a battery case, and a switch element secured to the housing for sliding movement internally of the case, and means for locking said switch element in oif position including a flexible extension which is depressible to release the switch element for movement to on position as an incident to movement of the housing toward said on position.

The switch element may be depressed by aroll assembly according to the present invention, and

shown in on position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the switch in off position.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the parts shown in Fig. 2 whenturned through an angle of 90 degrees relative to the position thereof shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. t is a detail bottom view of the operating member.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail view of the hashlight case illustrating the arrangement of the apertures cooperating with the operating member contemplated by this invention.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail view of the switch element, including the flexible extension thereof.

Reference being had more particularly to the drawing, ii] represents a tubular flashlight casing of conductive material, such as metal. The switch contemplated by the present invention comprises a housing or operating membe I! in the form of a finger piece having a peripheral flange 12, part of which at each side of the finger piece is slit and bent angularly to provide a pair of opposed guidin arms I 3 which extend through suitable apertures M in the wall of the case. The

"zss zzz ii GE FICE arms !3 have inturned ends adapted to be passed through said apertures and occupy a position at some distance inwardly from the inner surface of the case iii when" the arms it are fully projected through said apertures.

Coastin with said operating member I l to provide an element for opening and closing the lamp circuit is a contact member or strip it of brass or similar material, having an extension or shank portion ii adapted to be interposed between the lit. The shank H, as shown in the drawing, is of a thickness corresponding to the clearance provided between the ends l5 of the arms iii and the inner surface of the case Ii] opposite thereto While the width of the shank is such that the inner surfaces of the arms l3 slidably guide the longitudinal edges of the shank to accommodate entry of the shank thercbetween by movement in a path lengthwise thereof. Such inserticn of the shank ll from an entering position to a position wherein a portion of the shank overhangs or projects beyond the limits of the ends it of the arms I3 is limited by the abutment of aligned stops or shoulders [8 at the inner end of the shank with the edges of the arms iii. The portion of the shank thus projecting beyond the arms iii and ends I5 is slit longitudinally as at 59 to provide a pair of aligned tongues 20 normally sprung outwardly from the surface of the shank ll facing the bearing surface of the ends it and presenting transverse edges 21 which engage the edges of the ends l5 at the outlet side thereof to prevent withdrawal of the extension or shank ll when the shoulder i8 is in engagement with the edges of the arms it. The resiliency of the tongues permits them to be pressed inwardly toward the plane of the shank during their passage through the space defined by the arms it, ends it and inner surface of the case iii wlriereupon the tongues 2%, on reaching a position clear of the edge of the ends l5 will spring outwardly and snap into engagement with said edge of the ends if; to lock the shank ll against withdrawal from the arms 13.

When so assembled, the operating member H and contact strip It are rigidly and securely interlocked for movement as a unit in the apertures E4 of the case wall, with the shank or extension i'l slidable against the inner surface of the case opposite the rear end of the operating member.

In the off position of the contact strip l6, as shown in Fig. 2, a pair of transversely aligned lugs 22 struck inwardly from the inner surface of the case provide keepers engageable with the edges of notches or recesses 23 formed in the longitudinal edges of the extension l1. On depressing the extension I! downwardly (as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2) the extension is movable to unlocked position relative to the lug 22 and is prepared to be moved to on position by sliding the operating member H forwardly, to the position shown in Fig. 1.

For the purpose of facilitating depression of the extension I? as an incident to the operation of sliding the housing or operating member I I to on position, a roller or spherical member 25 is mounted in the housing H for movement therewith as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. An elongated opening in the wall of the case It underlying the housing H provides a pair of opposed edges 25 extending lengthwise of the path of movement of the housing and tapering inwardly and forward- 1y from the rearward end thereof. These edges provide guideways on which the lower portion of the roller 25 rides during sliding movement of the housing I i. In the off position of the contact member it (as shown in Figs. 2 and 3) the roller is so disposed as to coact with the widest part of the edges 26 enabling a portion of the roller to project inwardly of the case. Thus the extension operates to urge the roller outwardly against the rim 28 of an opening in the rearward top surface of the housing H, through which opening a portion of the roller protrudes for ready access. Accordingly, when the protruding portion of the roller is pressed inwardly of the housing H, the surface of the extension is acted upon by the roller to move the extension downwardly to clear the lugs 22. When the roller is carried forward toward on position, the forwardly tapering edges or guideways 25 of the opening operate to elevate the roller so as to relieve pressure on the extension I6 and prevent flexing thereof when the roller is in such position. By so limiting the flexing of the extension !6, except at such intervals as it is necessary in connection with moving the contact member from off to on position, the life of the contact member is prolonged.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the housing l i may be wholly preformed and the assembly operation involved in the manufacture and production of the present switch consists merely of placing the roller in the opening 26 and placing the housing H over the roller, with the flange l2 resting against the outer surface of the case and the arms l3 extending through the apertures M in the case, and then inserting the contact strip through the space between the arms l3 until the tongues 29 engage the rear edge of the ends i5 of the arms IS.

The contact member I6, as shown herein, is adapted to engage at the forward end 30 thereoi with a reflector disposed adjacent to the front end of the case and surrounding an electric lamp 32, the circuit through said lamp being closed when the member i6 is in engagement with the reflector. The source of current for the lamp is available, for instance, from one or more dry battery cells 33 adapted to make contact at one end thereof with the rear tip of the lamp under the action of a helical spring 34 interposed between the closed or capped end of the case l8 and the other end of the battery. With such an arrangement the circuit can take place by way of the rear tip of the lamp 32, the battery terminal, the spring 34, the case 10, the operating member H, the strip (8, the reflector 3! and thence to the side terminal of the lamp 32.

While certain features of the present invention are more or less specifically illustrated, it is to be understood that various changes in form and proportion may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims; similarly, that the materials of the several parts employed may be such as the experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate or various uses may demand.

What is claimed is:

1. In a flashlight, the combination of a battery case, a housing mounted to slide longitudinally thereof, a roller mounted in said housing and moving therewith, means providing an opening through which said roller is adapted to project partially internally of the case, a switch element secured to said housing and having a flexible extension engaging the portion of the roller projecting internally of the case and urging said roller outwardly of the case, means for locking said switch element in off position including interengaging elements on said case and flexible extension from which the element releasable by depressing the roller, and means for preventing depression of said roller when the housin is moved away from its position corresponding to off position of said switch element.

2. In a flashlight, the combination of a battery case, a housing mounted to slide longitudinally thereof, means providing an elongated opening in the path of movement of said housing, a switch element secured to said housing, a roller mounted in said housing and moving therewith, said roller coacting with the dges of said opening to project partially internally of the case at one extremity of the opening and progressively move to a position clear of the inner surface of the case in movement thereof toward the other extremity of the opening, a flexible extension on said switch element engaging the portion of the roller projecting inwardly of the case and urging the roller outwardly of the case and means for locking said switch element in 01f position including interengaging elements on said case and flexible extension from which the element is releasable by depressing the roller.

3. In a flashlight, the combination of a battery case, a housing mounted to slide longitudinally thereof, a roller mounted in said housing and moving therewith, an opening in the case through which said roller is adapted to project partially internally of the case, a switch element secured to said housing and having a flexible extension engaging the portion of the roller projecting internally of the case and urging said roller outwardly of the case, means for locking said switch element in off position including a lug struck inwardly from the inner surface of the case engageable with an element on said flexible extension from which the switch element is releasable by depressing the roller, and means for preventing depression of said roller when the housing is moved away from its position corresponding to off position of said switch element.

4. In a flashlight, the combination of a battery case, a housing mounted to slide longitudinally thereof, a spherical member mounted in said housing and moving therewith, an opening in the case through which said spherical member is adapted to project partially internally of the case, a switch element secured to said housing and having a flexible extension engaging the portion of the spherical member projecting internally of the case and urging said roller outwardly of the case, means for locking said switch element in off position including interengaging elements on said case and flexible extension from which the switch element is releasable by depressing the spherical member, and means for preventing depression of said spherical member when the housing is moved away from its position corresponding to off position of said switch element.

5. In a flashlight, the combination of a battery case, a housing mounted to slide longitudinally thereof, a spherical member mounted in said housing and moving therewith, an opening in the case through which said spherical member is adapted to partially project internally of the case, a switch element secured to said housing and having a flexible extension engaging the portion of the spherical member projecting internally of the case and urging said spherical member outwardly of the case, means for locking said switch element in ofi position including interengaging elements on said case and flexible extension from which the element is releasable by depressing the spherical member, and a guideway associated with said opening coacting with said spherical member to obstruct depression of said spherical member when the housing is moved away from its position corresponding to off position of said switch element.

6. In a flashlight, the combination of a battery case, a housing mounted to slide longitudinally thereof, an opening in the case wall, in the path of movement of the housing, said opening having edges defining opposed guideways tapering laterally inwardly with respect to the path of movement of said housing, a switch element secured to said housing for sliding movement interiorly of the case and having a flexible extension movable in a path opposite said opening, means for locking said switch element in off position including interengaging elements On said case and flexible extension from which the switch element is releasable by depressing the flexible extension, and means coasting with said flexible extension for depressing the latter including a roller movable with said housing and cooperating with the widest portion of said guideways when said housing and switch element are in off position to project partially internally of the case and cooperating with the narrowest portion of said guideways when said housing and switch element are in on position to recede to a position sub stantially clear of the inner surface of the case and said flexible extension.

FRED C. SCHULTZ.

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