U.S. patent number 3,877,171 [Application Number 05/381,830] was granted by the patent office on 1975-04-15 for flashlight amusement device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Mattel, Inc.. Invention is credited to Wanda L. Clearwaters, Conrad B. Sloop.
United States Patent |
3,877,171 |
Sloop , et al. |
April 15, 1975 |
Flashlight amusement device
Abstract
A novel flashlight type amusement device having a reflecting
member rotatably mounted in the longitudinal axis of a conventional
type flashlight and located within the path of a light beam
emanating from such flashlight. The reflecting member has a mirror
like surface for reflecting light at predetermined angles upon
rotation of the reflecting member in response to a slight movement
of the flashlight. In one embodiment of the invention, the
reflecting member is coupled to an eccentrically weighted member
that rotates with the reflecting member. Thus, with a slight motion
of the flashlight, the eccentrically weighted member causes the
reflecting member to rotate the light beam at an angle
approximately normal to the longitudinal axis of the flashlight. In
another embodiment of the invention, a weight is eccentrically
mounted to the back side of the reflecting member so as to rotate
the reflecting member upon even a slight movement of the
flashlight.
Inventors: |
Sloop; Conrad B. (Huntington
Beach, CA), Clearwaters; Wanda L. (Hermosa Beach, CA) |
Assignee: |
Mattel, Inc. (Hawthorne,
CA)
|
Family
ID: |
23506546 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/381,830 |
Filed: |
July 23, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/485;
273/142R; 362/282; 362/202; 362/310 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F21L
4/005 (20130101); F21V 14/045 (20130101); A63H
33/22 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63H
33/22 (20060101); A63h 033/26 () |
Field of
Search: |
;46/228,229 ;272/142R
;116/18,20 ;240/10.6,49,24,6.45,10.66,41,42 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Mancene; Louis G.
Assistant Examiner: Lever; J. Q.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Shirk; Max E. King; Stephen L.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An amusement device comprising:
a light source emanating a beam of light; and
reflecting means rotatably mounted on the longitudinal axis of said
light source and within the path of said beam of light for
providing a rotating beam of light, said reflecting means including
an eccentrically mounted weight member to ensure rotation of said
reflecting means upon movement of said light source.
2. An amusement device as recited in claim 1 wherein said
reflecting means has a reflecting surface positioned to reflect
said beam of light at an angle of approximately 90.degree..
3. An amusement device as recited in claim 1 wherein:
said light source is comprised of:
a housing:
a power source located within said housing;
a light bulb connected to said light housing; and
connecting and switching means coupling said power source to said
light bulb for controlling the emanation of light from said light
source; and
said reflecting means is comprised of:
stationary means mounted to said housing of said light source;
and
a disc shaped member rotatably mounted to said stationary means in
the longitudinal axis of said light source.
4. An amusement device as recited in claim 3 wherein said disc
shaped member has a mirror-like surface and is mounted in
longitudinal axis of said light source at an angle of approximately
45.degree..
5. An amusement device comprising:
a light source emanating a beam of light; and
reflecting means rotatably mounted on the longitudinal axis of said
light source and within the path of said beam of light for
providing a rotating beam of light, said reflecting means having a
front surface and a rear surface, said front surface having a
mirror-like finish that is positioned to receive said beam of
light, said reflecting means also having a weight eccentrically
mounted to said rear surface.
6. An amusement device as recited in claim 3 wherein said
stationary means is a cup-shaped colored plastic member having an
opening located at its distal end and said disc shaped member is
rotatably mounted in said opening.
7. An amusement device comprising:
a light source emanating a beam of light; and
reflecting means rotatably mounted on the longitudinal axis of said
light source and within the path of said beam of light for
providing a rotating beam of light, said reflecting means being
comprised of:
stationary means mounted to said light source, said stationary
means having an inner surface and an outer surface and an opening
in the longitudinal axis of said light source;
a disc shaped member located within said inner surface of said
stationary means; and
an eccentric weight member located outside of said outer surface of
said stationary means and adapted to be coupled to said disc shaped
member.
8. An amusement device comprising:
a light source emanating a beam of light; and
reflecting means rotatably mounted on the longitudinal axis of said
light source and within the path of said beam of light for
providing a rotating beam of light, said reflecting means including
a disc shaped member that responds to an eccentrically mounted
weight on said reflecting means to rotate around the longitudinal
axis of said light source upon movement of said light source.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to flashlights and more particularly to a
novel amusement type flashlight for reflecting light in a random
fashion.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
In the past, there have been numerous devices manufactured that
could be attached to standard flashlights to either direct light in
a definite path or to modify the light emanating from the
flashlight. These prior art flashlight were primarily concerned
with utilizing the flashlight as a signalling device or as a device
for limiting the direction and/or intensity of the light emanating
from the flashlight.
It is welll known that children enjoy playing with the standard
type of flashlight. They like to whirl the flashlight around their
playroom and follow the spot of light as it "jumps" around the
room. However, since all of the standard flashlights provide a
child with the same identical type of amusement, the novelty of the
enjoyment soon ends. In some instances, the parents would like to
have the child understand that a flashlight is not a toy but that
it is a household tool that should be used for practical purposes.
Therefore, in most cases, the child either quickly tires of the use
of the flashlight or he is forbidden to play with the
flashlight.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a
novel amusement device to provide enjoyment for young children.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel
amusement device in the form of a flashlight from which light
emanates in a random fashion.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a
novel flashlight type device which may be moved about with ease to
provide a whirling erratic beam of light.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the objects set forth above, the present
invention provides a novel flashlight type amusement device
featuring a reflecting member rotatably mounted in the longitudinal
axis of a conventional type flashlight and located within the path
of light beam emanating from such flashlight. The reflecting member
has a mirror like surface for reflecting a light at predetermined
angles upon the rotation of the reflecting member. In one
embodiment of the invention, a reflecting member is coupled to an
eccentrically weighted member that rotates with the reflecting
member. Thus, with a slight motion of the flashlight, the
eccentrically weighted member causes the reflecting member to
rotate the light beam at an approximate normal angle to the
longitudinal axis of the flashlight. In another embodiment of the
invention, the weight is eccentrically mounted to the back side of
the reflecting member so as to rotate the reflecting member upon
even a slight motion of the flashlight.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Additional objects, advantages and characteristic features of the
present invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description of the preferred embodiments of the invention when
taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a flashlight type amusement
device, partially sectioned to illustrate the particular parts
thereof, in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the reflecting portion of
the amusement device of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present
invention; and
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of another type of reflecting
member that may be incorporated within the amusement device of FIG.
1 in accordance with the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a side elevational view of
a flashlight type amusement device 10 in accordance with the
principles of the present invention. The amusement device 10 is
basically comprised of a conventional hand-held type flashlight 11
and reflecting means 12 attached to the top of the flashlight 11.
The flashlight 11 consists of a cylindrical housing 13, a pair of
dry cell batteries 14, a light bulb 15, a conventional light bulb
retaining and reflector member 16, a lens 17, a lens holder 18, an
on/off switch 19, and a conventional electrical circuit, not shown,
for operating the flashlight 11. The reflecting means 12 is
comprised of a cup-shaped member 20, reflector 21, a reflector
mounting member 22 and its associated eccentrically mounted weight
23. The cup-shaped member 20 is constructed of a transparent
plastic material and may be of any color so as to add to the
enjoyment the child will receive from operating the amusement
device 10. The bottom of the cup-shaped member 20 may be affixed to
an upwardly extending flange 26 of the lens holder 18 by
conventional means, such as, an adhesive to retain the reflecting
means 12 to the flashlight 11.
The reflector 21, the reflector mounting member 22 and its
associated weight 23 are rotatably mounted on the cup-shaped member
20 on the longitudinal axis of the flashlight 11 so that upon
movement of the flashlight 11 by a child, the light beam emanating
from the light bulb 15, as illustrated by the arrows 24, will be
reflected radially from the longitudinal axis X to form a reflected
light beam, as illustrated by the arrows 25. Upon rapid movement of
the flashlight 11, the reflected light beam 25 will form a donut
shaped area of light that is normal to and encircles the
longitudinal axis X of the flashlight 11. The member 22 is so
shaped that the chile may also enjoy the amusement device 10 by
rotating the member 22 with his free hand so as to rotate the
reflector 21.
Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown an exploded perspective
view of the reflector means 12 of the amusement device 10 of FIG.
1. The reflector mounting member 22 is comprised of a plurality of
radially reinforcing ribs 27 and a hollow tube 28. The weight 23
may be mounted to the reflector member 12 by conventional means,
for example, by means of an adhesive. In constructing the amusement
device 10, the hollow tube 24 of the reflector mounting member 22
may be inserted into an opening 29 of the cup-shaped member 20. A
rod-shaped member 21' of the reflector 21 may be then urged into
the hollow tube 28 of the reflector mounting member 22 and may be
retained therein by means of an interference fit or by means of an
adhesive.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the reflector 21 is mounted in the
cup-shaped member 20 at an angle of approximately 45.degree. to the
longitudinal axis X of the flashlight 11. The reflector 21 may be
of any suitable material to provide a good reflecting surface or
may be constructed of plastic and have a coating that would provide
a mirror-like surface. As can be readily appreciated by examination
of FIG. 2, the weight 23 is eccentrically mounted on the reflector
mounting member 22 so that upon even a slight motion of the
flashlight 11, the reflector mounting member and the reflector 21
will readily rotate around the longitudinal axis X of the
flashlight 11 to form the donut-shaped area of light.
Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a side elevational view of
another type of reflecting means that may be incorporated within
the amusement device 10 of FIG. 1 in accordance with the principles
of the present invention. There is shown a reflector 31 having a
weight 30 eccentrically mounted thereto. Further shown is a
reflector mounting member 33 that includes a hollow tube 34 for
providing an interference fit to a rod member 32 to retain the
reflector 31. As may be readily appreciated, the reflecting means
of FIG. 3 may be rotatably mounted in the opening 29 of the
cup-shaped member 20 of FIG. 2.
Thus, although the present invention has been shown and described
with reference to particular embodiments, for example, a reflecting
disc mounted at an angle of 45.degree. to the longitudinal axis of
the flashlight, nevertheless, various changes and modifications
obvious to a person skilled in the art to which the invention
pertains, for example, a cup-shaped reflecting disc mounted at some
suitable angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the
flashlight, are deemed to lie within the spirit, scope and
contemplation of the invention as set forth in the appended
claims.
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