Flashlight construction

Claim 2

A flashlight construction comprising: means defining a housing, a bulb reflector connected to said housing, said reflector including an integrally formed bulb socket having a circumscribing wall portion, said socket having an inturned shoulder to define a bulb seat, retaining means integrally formed and circumferentially spaced about the internal wall surface of said circumscribing wall portion of said bulb socket and, said retaining means being spaced from said inturned shoulder, a light bulb having a laterally projecting flange, said flange being adapted to be snapped fitted and retained between said shoulder and said retaining means, a battery means disposed within said housing, conducting means operatively connecting said bulb in circuit with said battery means, and a switch means operatively associated with said conducting means for making and breaking the circuit to said bulb.

Claim 3

Th flashlight construction as defined in claim 1 wherein said retaining means includes a series of spaced apart inwardly projecting bosses having inclined surfaces, said inclined surfaces diverging toward said shoulder which permit the flange of said bulb to be snapped in place and positively retained in seating position between said bosses and said shoulder.

Claim 4

The flashlight construction as defined in claim 1 wherein said conducting means includes: a first spring conducting means connecting said bulb in circuit with an electrode of said battery means, and a second spring conducting means adapted for connecting said bulb in electrical contact with the other electrode of said battery means, each of said spring conducting means having one end thereof exerting a spring bias on said bulb in the assembled position thereof, and said second conducting means having its other end movably mounted to define a switch end for engaging and disengaging with said other electrode.

Claim 5

A flashlight construction comprising: means defining a housing, a bulb reflector connected to said housing, said reflector including a bulb socket, said socket having an inturned shoulder to define a bulb seat, retaining means circumferentially spaced about the internal wall surfaces of said bulb seat and spaced from said inturned shoulder, a light bulb having a laterally projecting flange, said flange being adapted to be received and retained between said shoulder and said retaining means, a battery means disposed within said housing, conducting means operatively connecting said bulb in circuit with said battery means, and a switch means operatively associated with said conducting means for making and breaking the circuit to said bulb, said conducting means including a first spring conducting means connecting said bulb in circuit with an electrode of said battery means, and a second spring conducting means adapted for connecting said bulb in electrical contact with the other electrode of said battery means, each of said spring conducting means having one end thereof exerting a spring bias on said bulb in the assembled position thereof, and said second conducting means having its other end movably mounted to define a switch end for engaging and disengaging with said other electrode, a switch actuator operatively associated with said switch end of said second conducting means, said switch actuator being slidably mounted on said housing, said actuator including a cam means for engaging said switch end of said second conducting means, and said actuator having a depending flange extending to one side of said second conducting means, arranged to engage the edge of said second conducting means to provide for positive mechanical action.

Claim 6

A flashlight construction comprising: means defining a housing, a bulb reflector connected to said housing, said reflector including a bulb socket, said socket having an inturned shoulder to define a bulb seat, retaining means circumferentially spaced about the internal wall surfaces of said bulb seat and spaced from said inturned shoulder, a light bulb having a laterally projecting flange, said flange being adapted to be received and retained between said shoulder and said retaining means, a battery means disposed within said housing, conducting means operatively connecting said bulb in circuit with said battery means, and a switch means operatively associated with said conducting means for making and breaking the circuit to said bulb, said conducting means including a first spring conducting means connecting said bulb in circuit with an electrode of said battery means, and a second spring conducting means adapted for connecting said bulb in electrical contact with the other electrode of said battery means, each of said spring conducting means having one end thereof exerting a spring bias on said bulb in the assembled position thereof, and said second conducting means having its other end movably mounted to define a switch end for engaging and disengaging with said other electrode, a switch actuator operatively associated with said switch end of said second conducting means, said switch actuator being slidably mounted on said housing, said actuator including a cam means for engaging said switch end of said second conducting means, and said actuator having a depending flange extending to one side of said second conducting means, arranged to engage the edge of said second conducting means to provide for positive mechanical action.

Claim 7

The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said housing includes opposed side walls having internal ribs arranged to locate and space differently shaped batteries between the side walls of the housIng.

Claim 8

The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein said ribs are spaced to define cells for locating independently cylindrically shaped batteries and spacers for locating a unitary block type battery between the side walls of the housing.

Claim 9

A disposable flashlight comprising: a housing defined by complementary shell portions, said shell portions defining a lens opening in the assembled position, a reflector mounted on said lens opening, said reflector including a bulb socket, said socket being defined by an inturned shoulder forming a bulb seat, retaining means circumferentially spaced about said socket and from said shoulder, a bulb having a base portion and a laterally extending collar whereby said bulb is positively retained within said socket by securing said flange in the space between said shoulder and said retaining means, battery means disposed within said housing, a first spring contact, said first spring contact being formed of an electric conducting material having a reversed bent end portion adapted to engage with an electrode of said battery means, and having its other end disposed in electrical contact with the base end portion of said bulb, a second spring contact formed of electrical conducting material, said second spring having one end engaging said base portion of said bulb under spring tension, and said second contact spring having its other end free to flex into and out of electrical contact with the other electrode of said battery means, a switch actuator slideably mounted on said housing, said switch actuator including a cam operator disposed in engagement with the switch end of said second contact, and a laterally disposed flange guide disposed to one side of said cam operation to locate said second contact spring relative to said electrode and providing for positive mechanical movement therebetween.

Claim 10

A disposable flashlight comprising: a housing defined by complementary shell portions, said shell portions defining a lens opening in the assembled position, a reflector mounted on said lens opening, said reflector including a bulb socket, said socket being defined by an inturned shoulder forming a bulb seat, retaining means circumferentially spaced about said socket and from said shoulder, a bulb having a base portion and a laterally extending collar whereby said bulb is positively retained within said socket by securing said flange in the space between said shoulder and said retaining means, battery means disposed within said housing, a first spring contact, said first spring contact being formed of an electric conducting material having a reversed bent end portion adapted to engage with an electrode of said battery means, and having its other end disposed in electrical contact with the base end portion of said bulb, a second spring contact formed of electrical conducting material, said second spring having one end engaging said base portion of said bulb under spring tension, and said second contact spring having its other end free to flex into and out of electrical contact with the other electrode of said battery means, a switch actuator slideably mounted on said housing, said switch actuator including a cam operator disposed in engagement with the switch end of said second contact, and a laterally disposed flange guide disposed to one side of said cam operation to locate said second contact spring relative to said electrode and providing for positive mechanical movement therebetween.

Claim 11

The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein each of said shell portions includes integrally formed ribs forming spacers for positioning and maintaining said battery means in predetermined relationship within said housing in the assembled position.

Claim 12

The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said battery means includes a pair of cylindrically shaped batteries, said ribs defining a cell adapted to position said batteries within said housing, and a third spring contact connected to the bottom portion of said housing for electrically connecting said batteries in series circuit.

Claim 13

The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein said third spring means comprises a substantially V-shaped spring having a base portion and connected arm portions, anchor means for securing the base of said V-shaped spring to said housing, and said arm portions being bent to exert a spring tension on each of said batteries in the assembled position thereof.

Claim 14

The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein said third spring contact comprises: a pair of interconnected coil springs formed of a unitary electrical conducting material whereby the respective coil spring exerts a biasing force on said batteries in the assembled position.

Claim 15

The invention as defined in claim 1 and including means defining a slot formed in a circumferential portion of said bulb socket.

Claim 16

The invention as defined in claim 8 and including guide means formed on the complementary shell portion to define a saddle for said reflector, bulb socket, and the base portion of said bulb retained therein.

Claim 17

The invention as defined in claim 13 and including a switch guide rib formed on one of said shell portions.

Claim 18

A flashlight construction comprising: a housing, a bulb reflector disposed in said housing, said bulb reflector having a bulb socket, having an inturned shoulder and a circumscribing wall portion, said bulb socket having a slotted opening formed thereon, a light bulb having a base portion and a laterally extending flange adapted to be seated against Said inturned shoulder, means for retaining said light bulb in said socket, said retaining means being circumferentially spaced about the internal surface of said circumscribing socket wall portion and spaced from said shoulder, said bulb flange being snapped fitted and retained against said shoulder by said retaining means, a battery means disposed in said housing, conducting means operatively connecting said bulb in electrical circuit with said battery means, said conducting means including a first contact member engaging the end of said bulb base portion in circuit with one electrode of said battery means, and a second contact member having one end extending into said slotted opening to contact said bulb base portion and having the other end adapted to engage the other electrode of said battery means.

Claim 19

A flashlight construction comprising: a housing, a bulb reflector disposed in said housing, said bulb reflector having a bulb socket, having an inturned shoulder and a circumscribing wall portion, said bulb socket having a slotted opening formed thereon, a light bulb having a base portion and a laterally extending flange adapted to be seated against Said inturned shoulder, means for retaining said light bulb in said socket, said retaining means being circumferentially spaced about the internal surface of said circumscribing socket wall portion and spaced from said shoulder, said bulb flange being snapped fitted and retained against said shoulder by said retaining means, a battery means disposed in said housing, conducting means operatively connecting said bulb in electrical circuit with said battery means, said conducting means including a first contact member engaging the end of said bulb base portion in circuit with one electrode of said battery means, and a second contact member having one end extending into said slotted opening to contact said bulb base portion and having the other end adapted to engage the other electrode of said battery means.

Claim 20

A flashlight construction comprising: a housing, a bulb reflector disposed in said housing, said bulb reflector having a bulb socket, said bulb socket having a slotted opening formed thereon, a light bulb having a base portion, means for retaining said light bulb in said socket, a battery means disposed in said housing, conducting means operatively connecting said bulb in electrical circuit with said battery means, said conducting means including a first contact member engaging the end of said bulb base portion in circuit with one electrode of said battery means, and a second contact member having one end extending into said slotted opening to contact said bulb base portion and having the other end adapted to engage the other electrode of said battery means, said bulb retaining means comprising: an adaptor arranged to be received in said bulb socket, said adaptor including a tubular body portion having an internal thread, said body portion having a slotted opening arranged to be disposed in alignment with the slotted opening of said bulb socket, means for retaining said adaptor in position within said bulb socket, and said bulb having a threaded base portion adapted to complement said internal thread whereby said bulb can be readily threaded to said adaptor.

Claim 21

A flashlight construction comprising: a housing, a bulb reflector disposed in said housing, said bulb reflector having a bulb socket, said bulb socket having a slotted opening formed thereon, a light bulb having a base portion, means for retaining said light bulb in said socket, a battery means disposed in said housing, conducting means operatively connecting said bulb in electrical circuit with said battery means, said conducting means including a first contact member engaging the end of said bulb base portion in circuit with one electrode of said battery means, and a second contact member having one end extending into said slotted opening to contact said bulb base portion and having the other end adapted to engage the other electrode of said battery means, said bulb retaining means comprising: an adaptor arranged to be received in said bulb socket, said adaptor including a tubular body portion having an internal thread, said body portion having a slotted opening arranged to be disposed in alignment with the slotted opening of said bulb socket, means for retaining said adaptor in position within said bulb socket, and said bulb having a threaded base portion adapted to complement said internal thread whereby said bulb can be readily threaded to said adaptor.