LANTERN HAVING MAGNETIC LAMP FOCUSING AND SWITCHING

• US 3,603,783 A
• Filed: 03/27/1970
• Issued: 09/07/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arthur G. Schwartz
• Original Assignee: Arthur G. Schwartz
• Inventors: Schwartz, Arthur G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Capozi, Louis J.
• Application Number:
  US05/023,379
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 240/10.66,10.69 340/90,92,122,120
• US Class Current: 362/188
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 2/00 Systems of electric lighting devices systems employing both electric and non-electric light sources or exchangeable light sources F21L27/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/00 Electric lighting devices with self-contained electric batteries or cells
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/02 with provision for adjustment, e.g. for focusing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0414 specially adapted to be used with portable lighting devices

Abstract

Lamp excitation, deexcitation, focusing and defocusing is provided in a lantern assembly by means of a single externally controlled magnet which coacts with an internal hard-wired hermetically sealed magnetic reed switch to control lamp excitation and an internal magnetic member for providing lamp position adjustment for infinite focus control. Under high current conditions a pushbutton switch may be a desired substitute for the reed switch. Suitable environmental conditions may further permit the use of slide or wiper contacts for lamp excitation control where good electrical contact between exposed metal surfaces can be readily maintained.

Claims

1. In a lantern having a source of electromagnetic energy adapted to be coupled to a source of power and free to move along the axis of a curved reflector partially surrounding said source, the improvement comprising:

a hollow housing disposed on the convex side of said curved reflector;

an external selectively moveable member mounted on the exterior surface of said housing; and

means mounted within the interior of said hollow housing and to said source of electromagnetic energy to move said source of electromagnetic energy to any desired position within a predetermined range along the axis of said reflector in response to the movement of said external member, wherein one of said member induces a magnetic field in the other of said member.

2. In a lantern according to claim 1, an electrical switch means mounted within the interior of said hollow housing and adapted to be actuated in response to a predetermined movement of said external member for coupling said source of electromagnetic energy to a source of power.

3. In a lantern according to claim 2 wherein said electrical switch means in a magnetic reed switch, said external member is a magnet and said internal member is a magnetic susceptible member.

4. In a lantern according to claim 3 wherein said internal and external members are in the shape of a toroid.

5. In a lantern according to claim 2 wherein said electrical switch means is a pushbutton switch.

6. In a lantern according to claim 2 wherein said electrical switch means comprises a sliding contact switch.