Portable flashlight

[57] ABSTRACT

A flashlight integral with a harness so it can be supported from the shoulders of a person and child so that their hands are free for other tasks. The device consists of a flashlight unit equipped with an electric lamp and dry cell battery which is attached to a pair of flexible hollow stems each of which is secured to an adjustable shoulderband and a mercury actuated switch pivotally attached to one of the shoulder bands.

Claim, 4 Drawing Figures

<img file="US3731084A_D0001.tif" />

<img file="US3731084A_D0002.tif" />

3,731,084

PORTABLE FLASHLIGHT

This invention relates generally to portable flashlight devices.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a flashlight which is attached to a harness so it can be worn by any person or child so that their hands are free to do other things while the flashlight is held to aim light in a desired direction.

Another object is to provide a portable flashlight which accordingly is ideal for children to light their way to a bathroom if they get up at night, and allow their hands free to open doors and do other things.

Another object is to provide a portable light which is ideal for students or other persons who wish to read in bed without disturbing others in the room, and which allows their hands free to hold the book or papers while the flashlight is adjusted to aim the light at the same.

Another object is to provide a portable light which is ideal for persons whose hands are busy and need a light aimed in the direction of the work, such as a lady sewing, or a craftsman making some object and needing a very close light so to better see.

Yet another object is to provide a portable light which is ideal for rural children walking home along a road at dusk and their hands are occupied with school books, the lamp being directed around a side of them so to warn approaching traffic of their presence.

Other objects are to provide a portable flashlight which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use, and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily apparent upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention worn by a person.

FIG. 2 is a side view thereof worn by a child.

FIG. 3 is an electric circuit thereof.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a portable flashlight in use while a person reads in bed.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 3 thereof at this time, the reference numeral 10 represents a portable flashlight according to present invention, wherein there is a flashlight case 11 containing a lamp 12 and dry cell batteries 13. The case is supported by a pair of flexible hollow stems 14 which as attached to a pair of shoulder bands 15 that are self-adjustable at 16 shape to the shoulders of a wearer. One of the shoulder bands may contain a mercury switch 17 for automatically closing a circuit to the lamp when the wearer assumes a position for operating the device, but which automatically opens the circuit when a wearer changes his position, such as when a person slumps over asleep while trying to read in a chair or bed. The switch is connected to the battery and lamp by a wire 18 that runs through the follow stem.

As shown in FIG. 3, the top electric contact inside the mercury switch comprises a ring 19 located above the mercury when the switch is in erect position.

The shoulder bands are pivotable at 20 respective to the hollow stem so the gooseneck and flashlight may be directed upward more directly if desired.

In FIG. 4, the portable flashlight 21 includes the mercury switch 17 being mounted pivotally on a rivet 22 so that a person can recline at any desired angle and adjust the switch for an operative position. Thus it will work for persons when erect, or laying prone as well. Also the batteries 13 may be stored in the shoulder band where there is more room for holding more of them, and the lamp unit 23 is thus made smaller so to hold only the lamp 12 which thus is lighter on the end of the goosenecks and less obstructs the view. Thus a modified design of the invention is shown.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it is understood that such changes will be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as is defined by the appended claims.