PORTABLE SPOTLIGHT

• US 3,576,437 A
• Filed: 04/03/1968
• Issued: 04/27/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eugene F. Peron
• Original Assignee: Eugene F. Peron
• Inventors: Peron, Eugene F.
• Application Number:
  US04/718,470
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• US Class Current: 362/486
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/245 Searchlights, e.g. adjustable from within the vehicle adjustable headlights B60Q1/06

Abstract

A portable spotlight adapted for use as a spotlight inside a motor vehicle employed by law enforcement officers and being constructed for storage in a compartment when not in use. The spotlight is provided with a plug adapted to be connected into the cigarette lighter socket for the light to be electrically powered therefrom. The spotlight has an outwardly extending mounting post with a locking pin mounted adjacent the end opposite from the end mounting the spotlight and extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the mounting post. A compression spring is seated on the mounting post for securely holding the spotlight in a preselected locked position. The spotlight coacts with a mounting plate located above the windshield and having apertures for receiving the mounting post and locking pin therethrough and readily rotatable into and out of locking position. The mounting post is releasably maintained in locked position through the compressive action of the compression spring.

Claims

1. A portable spotlight adapted for use as a spotlight inside of a motor vehicle employed by law enforcement officers as an undercover vehicle, the vehicle having a windshield, a cigarette lighter adjacent the windshield and a storage compartment, the spotlight being constructed and defined for storage in the compartment when not in use, the spotlight comprising an energizable spotlight having an outwardly extending mounting post, the spotlight including electrical means adapted to be connected into the cigarette lighter socket to be electrically powered therefrom, the mounting post being constructed and defined for securely locking the spotlight adjacent to the windshield for illumination in a direction related to the windshield in a nonpermanent relationship, the mounting post having locking means comprising a locking pin mounted adjacent an end of the mounting post opposite from the end mounting the spotlight and extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the mounting post and compression spring means seated thereon for securely holding the spotlight in a preselected locked position when the locking means is placed in a locked position through the urging of the compression spring means including when the vehicle is traveling at high speeds yet allowing the spotlight to be rotated in its locked position or completely unlocked therefrom, the mounting post further carrying seating means for the spring and securing means for securing the spring between the seating means in yieldable abutting relationship with the locking pin and for controlling the compressive urging of the spring through said securing means, and a flat mounting plate adapted to be secured behind the sun visor over the windshield of the motor vehicle and adapted to secure the locking pin therein, the mounting plate having a first aperture for receiving the end of the mounting post therethrough and a second aperture communicating with the first aperture for receiving the transverse locking pin therethrough and upon rotation of the pin out of alignment with the second aperture when positioned therein causing the interengagement of the pin and mounting plate thereby locking the pin to the mounting plate and maintained in locked position in response to the compressive action of said spring acting through said seating means engaging the opposite side of the mounting plate from the Locking pin and yet readily released from the mounting plate upon rotation of the mounting post to position the pin into alignment with the second aperture of the plate.