U.S. patent number 3,716,170 [Application Number 05/186,241] was granted by the patent office on 1973-02-13 for chemical ejecting flashlight.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Daco Safety Products. Invention is credited to Ralph W. Mangels.
United States Patent |
3,716,170 |
Mangels |
February 13, 1973 |
CHEMICAL EJECTING FLASHLIGHT
Abstract
A dual purpose flashlight containing within its casing a
pressurized chemical source which may be actuated to dispense a
chemical within the range of the rays of its light by a trigger
mounted on the exterior of its casing.
Inventors: |
Mangels; Ralph W. (Phoenix,
AZ) |
Assignee: |
Daco Safety Products (Tempe,
AZ)
|
Family
ID: |
22684172 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/186,241 |
Filed: |
October 4, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/162;
362/96 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41H
9/10 (20130101); F41B 15/00 (20130101); F21V
33/0064 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F21V
33/00 (20060101); F41B 15/00 (20060101); F41H
9/10 (20060101); F41H 9/00 (20060101); F21v
033/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;240/6.45,6.46,2FD,6.4R
;222/162,192 ;273/84 ;128/9,225,172.1,22 ;32/69 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Tollberg; Stanley H.
Claims
I claim:
1. A chemical ejecting flashlight comprising:
a casing for receiving one or more batteries and an aerosol
container,
said casing being closed at one end and provided with a light
reflector at the other end,
a light bulb mounted in said reflector and electrically connected
through an electric switch to the batteries,
an electric switch mounted on the outside of said casing for
selectively connecting the batteries to said light bulb to energize
said bulb,
chemical discharging means mounted on said reflector to extend
outwardly therefrom for discharging fluid under pressure,
said chemical discharging means being adapted to receive at one end
the tip of the aerosol container when it is moved longitudinally
into said chemical discharging means to cause the aerosol container
to discharge at least a part of its fluid under pressure through
said chemical discharging means outwardly of said flashlight,
a triggering switch means mounted on the outside of said casing for
selectively moving the aerosol container into said chemical
discharging means for discharging at least a part of its fluid
under pressure.
2. The chemical ejecting flashlight set forth in claim 1 wherein
said casing receives in axial alignment one or more batteries and
the aerosol container and said chemical discharge means comprises a
nozzle means.
3. The chemical ejecting flashlight set forth in claim 2 wherein
said electric switch and triggering switch means are aligned on the
outside of said casing longitudinally of the axis of said
casing.
4. The chemical ejecting flashlight set forth in claim 1 wherein
said chemical discharge means is mounted on said reflector to
discharge fluid under pressure from the aerosol container within
the zone of the rays of light of said bulb.
5. The chemical ejecting flashlight set forth in claim 1 wherein
said chemical discharge means is mounted on said reflector to
discharge fluid under pressure from the aerosol container in the
same direction as the rays of light of said bulb.
6. The chemical ejecting flashlight set forth in claim 1 wherein
said chemical discharge means comprises a nozzle mounted on said
reflector for discharging fluid under pressure from the aerosol
container through the rays of light of said bulb when said bulb is
energized and said aerosol container is moved into said nozzle
means.
7. The chemical ejecting flashlight set forth in claim 1 in further
combination with an interlocking means mounted on said casing for
prohibiting the movement of said actuating means until moved in a
predetermined direction.
8. A chemical ejecting flashlight comprising:
a casing for receiving one or more batteries and an aerosol
container having a spring biased discharging tip,
said casing being closed at one end and provided with a light
reflector at the other end,
a light bulb mounted in said reflector and electrically connected
to the batteries,
electric switching means mounted on the outside of said casing for
selectively connecting the batteries to said light bulb to energize
said bulb,
a nozzle means mounted on said reflector extending from within said
casing through said reflector,
a transparent covering mounted on the front of said reflector,
a hollow tube connected to said nozzle means and extending through
said covering outwardly of said flashlight,
said nozzle means being adapted to receive within said casing one
end of the tip of the aerosol container when it is moved
longitudinally into said nozzle means to cause the aerosol
container to discharge at least a part of its contents under
pressure through said nozzle means, and said hollow tube outwardly
of said flashlight,
an actuating means mounted on the outside of said casing for
selectively moving the aerosol container into said nozzle means for
discharging its contents under pressure,
said nozzle discharging the contents under pressure within the zone
of the rays of light of said bulb.
9. The chemical ejecting flashlight set forth in claim 8 wherein
said casing is provided for receiving the batteries and aerosol
container in axial alignment.
10. The chemical ejecting flashlight set forth in claim 9 wherein
said transparent covering comprises a lens.
11. The chemical ejecting flashlight set forth in claim 8 in
further combination with an interlocking means mounted on said
casing for prohibiting the movement of said actuating means until
moved in a predetermined direction.
12. The chemical ejecting flashlight set forth in claim 8 wherein
said reflector is off set from the longitudinal axis of said
casing.
13. The chemical ejecting flashlight set forth in claim 12 wherein
said hollow tube is mounted along the longitudinal axis of said
casing.
14. The chemical ejecting flashlight set forth in claim 8 wherein
said reflector and hollow tube are arranged to extend outwardly
from said casing at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said
casing.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to flashlights and more particularly to
flashlights incorporating chemical dispensers.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a hand held device for spraying chemicals
and more particularly to a flashlight which dispenses chemicals
within the pattern of its rays of light and is particularly
effective as a non-lethal weapon.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Heretofore chemical dispensers have been designed for dispensing
the product without regard to the purpose for which the chemicals
were intended. Flashlights have been used for producing rays of
light and non-lethal weapons have been designed to look like guns.
None of these devices have been effectively combined.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention claimed an improved flashlight is
provided having the usual casing containing a switch on its outside
for connecting an electric bulb to a source of battery power which
flashlight also contains a source of pressurized chemicals arranged
to be dispensed in the range of the rays of light of the flashlight
by a triggering means mounted on the exterior of the
flashlight.
It is, therefore, one object of this invention to provide a new and
improved non-lethal weapon.
A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved
flashlight for dispensing chemicals.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a new and
improved flashlight for dispensing chemicals in the range of its
rays of light.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a new and
improved flashlight which can dispense chemicals substantially
parallel to the rays of light of the flashlight.
A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved
flashlight which can be actuated at will to dispense chemicals
through the rays of its light.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as
the following description proceeds and the features of novelty
which characterize this invention will be pointed out with
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this
specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The present invention may be more readily described by reference to
the accompanying drawing in which:
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the flashlight of this invention with
some parts shown in elevation and broken away;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of a portion of the
front or light source and chemical dispensing end of the
flashlight;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of a portion of the
flashlight barrel with some parts shown in section taken
substantially on the line 3 -- 3 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view through
the barrel of the flashlight taken substantially on the line 4 -- 4
of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 1 showing a modified
form of the flashlight of this invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring more particularly to the drawing by characters of
reference FIG. 1 discloses a dual purpose flashlight 10 comprising
a hollow housing or casing 11 having longitudinally extending
tubular rear barrel portion 12 and an integral circular and offset
front portion 13. The inner components of the flash-light are
retained in their respective positions in the barrel and head
portions by suitable closure caps, such as closure cap 14 threaded
on the rear end of barrel portion 12 and the closure cap 15
threaded on head portion 13 of the casing. All of the components of
the flashlight are preferably fabricated of a high impact strength,
chemical resisting plastic material such as polyethylene or the
like, to prevent corrosion or other damage to the flashlight
especially under the severe handling and usage to which this
particular type of flashlight might be subject to.
The inner perimeter of bore 16 of barrel portion 12 is provided on
its upper and lower surfaces with pairs of integral escarpments 17,
spaced mid-way from the vertical center line 18 to form upper and
lower recesses or cavities 19 and 20 in which the metallic spring
leads 21 and 22 are enclosed in sliding relation therein. The inner
flat surfaces and edges of the escarpments 17, together with
longitudinally extending and inwardly projecting integral beads 23,
are adapted to provide a circular insulative space 24 between the
cylindrical metallic inner components of the flashlight, including
several "D" batteries 25 and an aerosol container 26, the purpose
of which will be further described.
Located approximately mid-way longitudinally of bore 16 of the
barrel portion 12 is positioned a bridge piece 27 integral with
casing 11 which serves to reinforce barrel portion 12 and has a
central bore 28 and a flat transverse top portion 29 which serves
to support and rigidly retain, as by means of a round headed screw
30, a flexible metallic contact member 31. Member 31 is adapted to
be put in electrical contact with the downwardly extending hooked
rear end 32 of the metallic spring lead 32 when the thumb activated
switch 33 is pushed forward in the direction of arrow 34.
Batteries 25 which supply the electrical energy to illuminate a
standard flashlight bulb 35, are arranged in the rear of bore 16 of
barrel portion 12 in the usual manner, that is, with their center
posts 36 contacting either the head of screw 30 or the bottom
metallic surface 37 of an aligned battery. The bottom surface of
the rearmost battery is contacted by the usual metallic spring 38
which is compressed between the bottom surface of the battery and a
metallic washer or lining 39 secured in closure cap 14. Lining 39
contacts the rear flanged end of metallic spring lead 22 when the
closure cap is screwed in place, thereby partially completing the
flashlight's electrical circuit.
The center of the circular shaped front head portion 13 of
flashlight casing 11 is offset upwardly on the vertical center line
18, from the horizontal center of the tubular barrel portion 12, as
indicated in FIG. 1 and 2, by their respective center lines 40 and
41. This design feature causes the flashlight to always lay in an
upright position when at rest and allows for quick pickup, ease of
operation, and other desirable features. The inner walls of head
portion 13 define a hollow cavity 42 which communicates with bore
16 of barrel portion 12 in which a parabolic shaped reflector 43 is
removably mounted in a non-rotative manner. Reflector 43 is locked
in position by suitable projecting lugs 44 which mate with notches
formed in the inner periphery of the circular wall which forms the
front access end of head portion 13. A glass or clear plastic lens
45 is removably and non-rotatatively secured between the front face
of the reflector 43 and the circular flange 46 of the open end
front closure cap 15 when the cap is screwed onto the threaded
front end of head portion 13.
The parabolic reflector 43 is preferably fabricated of insulative
plastic material and its front reflective face 46' is coated with a
smooth brilliant surface material such as chrome or silver, having
good reflective properties, to provide a strong beam of light when
illuminated by bulb 35. Bulb 35 projects through a suitable
counterbored hole 47 centered on line 40 and is adapted to receive
and support the circular flange of the metallic rear end portion 48
of the conventional bulb. Bulb 35 is held securely in position for
good electrical contact and easy removable by spring pressure
applied to the rear contact end portion 48 of the bulb by the upper
end of the flexible metal lead member 49.
Projecting rearwardly from the lower curved surface of the
reflector member 43 and located in vertical alignment on the center
line 18, are the integral bosses 50 and 51 respectively. Bosses 50
and 51 have reduced outer end portions 52 and 53, respectively,
which are adapted to receive and support the lower end of spring
lead 49 so as to contact the extreme front flexible end of the
lower spring lead 22, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The extreme front
end of the upper spring lead 21 is provided with a turned up end
portion 54, which normally is held out of contact with the upper
end of the lead 49 by a downwardly projecting boss 55 which is an
integral extension of the head portion 13. Lead 21 may be placed in
electrical contact with the metal end portion 48 of bulb 35 when it
is pushed forward in the direction of arrow 34 by thumb pressure
being applied to switch 33 and by the resulting forward movement of
a depending lug 56. Lug 56 extends through an aperature in the rear
end of lead 21. This lug is an integral part of the inner portion
57 of switch 33 and is adapted to slide forward and backward on a
flat raised surface 58 of casing 11 and in a rectangular opening 59
formed in the top center of barrel portion 12. The forward movement
of switch 33 serves to complete all the required electrical
contacts necessary to activate the flashlight to produce a beam of
light. Deactivation of the flashlight is accomplished by simply
moving switch 33 in a rearward or opposite direction.
The preceding paragraphs describe the various features pertaining
to construction, electrical components and operation of the
flashlight. The following description describes a special feature
of the design, construction, components and operation of the
disclosed structure which accomplish other purposes of this
flashlight, namely the ejection of a spray or stream of any desired
non-lethal chemical, directly through and parallel with the center
of the array of light, when desired.
To accomplish this second purpose there is inserted in the forward
end of bore 16 of barrel portion 12 of casing 11, a cylindrical
shaped aersol type container 26, having a diameter approximately
the same as batteries 25. Container 26 is spaced from the inner
wall of bore 16 by the insulative air space 24 and is adapted to
freely slide forward or rearward on the inner top surfaces of
escarpments 17.
The characteristics and function of aerosol containers or bombs as
they are sometimes referred to, are well known in the art,
therefore only the specific features that pertain to and are
utilized in this invention will be described. Container 26 may
store any kind of colloidal particles in a gas, fluid or liquid
under pressure within the container and provides for the ejection
of this mixture in the form of a spray or stream from the nozzle
end 60 of the container when the nozzle is manually restracted or
tilted. The retracting or tilting action opens a spring biased
valve (not shown) within the head of the container to release the
gas under pressure. It should be understood that any non-lethal
type chemical, such as mace, tear-gas or an insecticide could be
stored in the aerosol container.
The aerosol container of this invention may be inserted in the
front end of flashlight casing 11 by simply removing closure cap
15, reflector 43 together with lens 45 and their associated parts.
An ejection tube 61 and ejection tube holder 62 are arranged to
extend through reflector 43, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. When
container 26 is thus inserted its rearward movement is limited by
front face 63 of bridge piece 27. Its forward movement is limited
to only a slight change of position by the insertion of nozzle 60
in the rear chamfered end 64 of the ejection tube holder 62. Slight
clearance between nozzle 60 and the chamfered end 64 of the
injection tube holder 62 and a suitable O-ring 65 is provided when
reflector 43, lens 45 and associated parts are reinstalled and
closure cap 15 tightly secured to casing 11.
It should be noted that the ejection tube 61 is small in diameter,
preferably tubular in cross section containing a minute bore (not
shown) and is of sufficient length to extend slightly through lens
45 at its front end. Ejection tube 61 also extends through
reflector 43, lead 49 and into a spacer 66 which bears against one
side of O-ring 65 and the flat end surface of the reduced end
portion 52 of boss 50, all of which are secured as by cementing or
otherwise, in the bore of ejection tube holder 62.
The chemically charged aerosol container 26 will always remain
stored in the position shown in FIG. 1 until a direct force is
applied to the rear surface 67 of the container by means of the
manually operated trigger arrangement 68. The trigger arrangement
68 comprises an exterior actuating portion 69 which is positioned
adjacent to and preferably directly forward of and in horizontal
alignment with switch member 33 to allow for quick manipulation of
one or the other by the operator of the flashlight. The trigger
arrangement 68 also includes an interior portion 70, which extends
upwardly through a rectangular opening 71 in the raised flat
surface 58 on the top of barrel portion 12 upon which the actuating
portion 69 is adapted to slide, forwardly and rearwardly, in a
manner similar to electrical switch 33.
The interior trigger portion 70 of the trigger arrangement 68 is
secured in a cavity in the actuating portion 69, for example, by
cementing, to provide for unified movement of the two parts. The
interior trigger portion 70 has an integral lower portion 72 having
upper angular or curved surfaces 73 which are adapted to slide
freely within the projecting escarpments 17 as shown in FIG. 4. The
lower portion 72 is also provided at its rearmost end with a pair
of spaced integral depending arms 74 which form an open space 75
therebetween in which spring lead 21 and switch lug 56 can move
without interference from the adjacent trigger parts. The depending
arms 74 of the trigger arrangement 68 project downwardly into the
open space to the rear of container 26 with their front edge
surfaces adjacent the rear surface 67 of the container.
Therefore when manual pressure is applied to actuating portion 69
in a forward direction, as indicated by the arrow 34, arms 74 will
contact the rear surface 67 of container 26 forcing it to move
forwardly in barrel portion 12. This action depresses aerosol
nozzel 60 by its contact with O-ring 65, and opens the valve in the
container, causing the particular non-lethal chemical to be ejected
in a fluid form from the orifice of ejection tube 61. As shown in
the drawing the fluid is ejected in the same direction and parallel
to the center 40 of the light beam as previously described. When
manual pressure is released from the trigger or actuating portion
69 of the container it will automatically be returned to its normal
position by the spring actuated nozzle 60 returning to its released
extended position. This action causes container 26 to move
rearwardly until it reaches the front face 63 of bridge piece 27.
O-ring 65 provides a sealing relation between the mating ejection
elements during the travel of the container.
When switch 33 is being utilized to activate the flashlight, it is
conceivable that the operator's thumb or finger might slip from the
switch and accidentally activate the trigger mechanism for
container 26 causing gas to be emitted when not wanted. To
eliminate this possibility, a safety locking device 76 has been
provided, which includes a flat T-shaped piece 77. Angular serrated
ends 78 and 79 of piece 77 are adapted to project through suitable
openings in the side walls of the actuating portion 69, allowing
its flat base and forward projecting leg 80 to slide transversely
from left to right, or vice-verse, bearing on the flat raised
surface 58 of barrel portion 12. When the T-shaped piece 77 of the
locking device 76 is in locked position as shown in FIG. 3, the
projecting leg 80 of the T-piece 77 abuts a raised projection or
lug 81 which may be an integral extension of the barrel portion 12.
This action prevents trigger assembly 68 from moving. Should it be
desired to make the ejection feature of the flashlight ready for
instant use, the operator merely moves T-shaped piece 77 to the
right, thereby allowing the projecting leg 80 to bypass lug 81,
allowing the trigger assembly 68 to be moved forward to eject the
non-lethal chemical.
Referring now to FIG. 5 of the drawing, it will be evident that the
components that make up the dual purpose flashlight of this
invention are similar in most respects to those shown in FIGS. 1 --
4 with the exception that the head portion 13 and its assembled
components, including the ejection tube 61, face at right angles to
the center of barrel portion 12. The electrical leads have been
modified somewhat by splitting lead 49 into two separate leads 49a
and 49b. Ejection tube holder 62a is an integral transverse portion
of tubular barrel portion 12. In addition to the preceding
exceptions, an auxilliary compression spring 82 has been added
which bears on the ejection tube holder 62a and the face of the
aerosol container 26 which provide an extra spring as a safety
means to return the container to its normal position in the
possible event of malfunction of the container nozzle valve spring.
In other respects the function and results obtained with the
modification illustrated in FIG. 5 are the same as described for
the structure shown in FIGS. 1 - 4.
FIGS. 1 -- 5 show the chemical ejecting means as dispersing fluid
under pressure out of the flashlight within the beam of light but
substantially parallel to the center line of the light reflector.
Although this is preferable, it is intended that the fluid may be
dispersed out of the flashlight at an angle to the center line of
the light reflector, if so desired. Further, the batteries and
aerosol container can be mounted in the flashlight in any axial
alignment or side by side as required by the flashlight
configuration.
Although but two embodiments of the invention have been shown and
described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that
various changes and modifications may be made therein without
departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the
appended claims.
* * * * *