Self-illuminated case

• US 4,210,953 A
• Filed: 11/19/1976
• Issued: 07/01/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wilfred S. Stone
• Original Assignee: Wilfred S. Stone
• Inventors: Stone, Wilfred S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bentley, Stephen C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Miles, Edward F.
• Application Number:
  US05/743,414
• Time in Patent Office: 1,320 Days
• Field of Search: 240/10.6, 240/10.65, 240/10.66, 240/10.67, 46/45, 200/60, 362/394
• US Class Current: 362/189
• 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: F21V 13/08 the elements being filters or photoluminescent elements and reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/08 Devices for easy attachment to any desired place, e.g. clip, clamp, magnet
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/32 characterised by the arrangement of the photoluminescent material
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2023/0025 on containers
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 23/00 Advertising on or in specific articles, e.g. ashtrays, letter-boxes on or in vehicles G09F21/00

Abstract

This invention relates to a flashlight (1) that may be seen in the dark, (2) which carries a universal mounting on one external wall, and (3) an internal switch adjacent the opposite wall which is elastic and which on pressing will close the switch. By mounting the flashlight above, for example, a keyhole, the flashlight can be seen, and when the outer wall is pressed, the keyhole is illuminated. Moreover, the light bulb within three or four seconds restores the phosphorescent band to luminosity, (reactivation chamber) because part of it is located in a regenerative phosphorescent chamber so that it performs not only the normal lighting function, but regenerates the phosphorescent material on the chamber walls as well. The phosphorescent material, a zinc sulphide or zinc-cadmium sulphide (harmless) has a persistence of glow of two to twelve hours.

Claims

1. An electrical flashlight comprising

a flashlight case having a resilient contact portion of electrically insulating material,

at least first and second electrically coupled batteries carried within said case, each of said batteries having an electrically conducting can acting as one terminal thereof and a terminal post acting as a second terminal of opposite polarity electrically isolated from said can,

an externally directed electrically energizable flashlight bulb carried by said case and having a pair of electrical terminals, each one of said terminals being mutually exclusively electrically coupled to a terminal of opposite polarity of each of said batteries, and

a resilient electrically conducting cantilevered switch wire having one end electrically coupled to and supported from one terminal of one of said batteries and an opposite free end extending to a position normally adjacent to and spaced from a terminal of opposite polarity of the other of said batteries, said switch wire being carried within said case adjacent to said resilient electrically insulating contact portion such that said switch wire is closed into electrical contact with said adjacent normally spaced battery terminal to illuminate said flashlight bulb upon flexing said resilient contact portion of said flashlight case.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein one end of said resilient electrically conducting cantilevered switch wire is secured to the terminal post of said first electrically coupled battery and the free end thereof extends to a position adjacent to but spaced from the electrically conducting can of said second electrically coupled battery such that upon flexual movement of said resilient electrically insulative contact portion of said flashlight case an electrical circuit will be completed for illuminating said flashlight bulb.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the electrical terminals of said flashlight bulb comprise first and second flexible electrically conductive leads,

said first electrically conductive lead being secured to the can of said first electrically coupled battery, and

said second electrically conductive lead being secured to the terminal post of said second electrically coupled battery.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flashlight case comprises a resilient electrically insulating material.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein securing connections are welds.