US2908901A - Combined night stick, flashlight, and audible alarm - Google Patents

Description

R. D. LEWIS oct. l13, 1959 COMBINED NIGHT STICK, F'LASHLIGHT, AND AUDIBLE ALARM Filed July 26, 1957 INVENTQR. K. uffy Lewzs iniridr Mu/m/LL'CMy, Dez/wels i Marc/1 ATTOR/x/EYS and club.` y `M f' f Another feature ,of the invention resides inthe pro- Il ni`1:V states Patent() This invention Yrelates to protective devices of the type adapted to be carried byV people forl the purpose of enabling them to protect themselves in the event of threat ,of `bodilytrharm, burglary and the like.

, An 4objectof the invention is to provide'a novel and improved'proteetivedeyice of the above type, which combines la singleunit anight stick or` club, a hash-light and ari-'audible alarm. -5

- Another object -of Athe invention is to provide an improved protective Idevice las above'characterized, wherein the audible alarm will be automatically energized or set olf if the device should'be jarred or jolted, as by being dropped and striking-the pavement, or by being ysuddenly, halted as when moving rapidly and striking an impediment. e

A still further object of the invention isrto provide aan.A improved `protective, device as characterized, wherein appreciable land suicient weight isobtained from the -various 'components utilized in providing: the `flash-light and signal means in conjunction with a hollow metallic casing therefor of somewhat increased thickness,. to

Venable, .the device to satisfactorily function as a club -or stick.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of an improved protective device as above set forth, wherein the overall shape andconguration is not greatly'difl'erent from Vthat Yof an ordinary round andstout stick .Y J

vision `of an improved device for personallprotection incorporating the above construction wherein easily operable manualswitch means are disposedto enable either Y "the flash light` or the audible signal means or both to rbe readily `activated whenv desired.

`Yet another feature of the invention resides in the pro- Other features andv advantages will hereinafter appear. In the drawings accompanying this specification, simidevice made in accordancewith the invention. .p

Fig. 2 is a transversesectional view-taken on line 2-p-2 of Fig.` l. s

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Fig. 4vis a transverse sectional View taken on line v4-4 `of Fighyl.

y A `As shown, the improved protective device `of the present inventioncomprisesE an elongate tubular casing 10 whichvmay` bewadvantageously formed of metal tubing or ,pipel having a relatively thick wall to provide the l-I V:asin gwrith ,acertain amount of ,desirable weight whereby it is usable substantially as a night stick orclub.-

.lar characters of referenceindicate corresponding parts .wherever possible in` theseveral views, in which: i, VFigure lis an-'axial sectional view of aV protective Fig. 3 is a transversesectional v iew taken on line 3-3 2,908,901 Patented Oct. 13, 1959 Disposed at one end 11 off the casing 10 I provide an audible signal means indicated generally by the numeral 12, and at the other casing end 13 I provide 'electric llash light means indicated generally by the numeral 14.- Intermediate the ends 11 and 13 ofthe casing and the signal and light means 12 and 14 there is disposed a battery power means which may be advantageously in the form of a plurality of flash light cells 15 vpositioned to effect a series connection between them.

The audible vsignal means 12, flash light means 14 and batteries l15 provide advantageously an additional Weight to the casing 10, to render the same more effective when it is being used as a club, as will be readily understood.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2,'the audible signal means 12comprises a diaphragm 17 disposed across the interior of the casing 10, said diaphragm being adapted to vibrate Vso asto constituteywith the casing end 11, a horn. The diaphragm 17 is preferably of .magnetic material, by which it is attracted by a magnet coil 18 having a core 19 extending in close proxiniity to theinner face of the diaphragm. Y t

As shown in Fig. 1, vthe magnet coil 18 may be mounted in a metal cup 20, which when formed of magnetic material will constitute in large measure a return magnetic circuit for the coil 18. The cup 20 is shown as fitting normally within the casing 10, and in the event-thatthe casing "should alsobe constituted of magneticvmaterial it would further actas a part of a return magnetic circuit for the magnet. j,

The end 11 of the'casing 10 has a perforated grill plate or disc 22 which is securedfinasleeve 23 snugly tted in the casing 10 and at its inner end Yhaving an inturned flange for positioning an annular insulating ri'ng 25 in which the diaphragm 17 is carried. An externally threaded ring 26 secures `the insulating ring 25 in place, against the internal flange of-the sleeve 23.

Attached to the diaphragm 17 is a breaker arm 28 to which one end 29 of the coil 1'8 isV attached, said breaker arm extending through an opening 30 inthe cup 20 and being engageablewith alcontact 31 carriedby a. stepped contact cup 32 mounted within anl insulated sleeve 33 snugly Vfitted in thecasing 10. l

Attraction of the diaphragm 17 by the core `19 will eiect a flexing `of the diaphragm and a'separation of the breaker arm 28 from thercontact 31,` and suchl action is utilized to continually interrupt the circuit throughthe Vmagnet coil 18. in the well-known mannerV of a buzzer,

to eifect continuous vibration of the diaphragm 17. This will, in the manner of a horn, provide a loud audible signal, the sound emanating from the protective end grill 22. -v

Between the audible signal 12 and the batteries 15 I provide a manually operable switch means comprising in part the stepped contact cup 32 and a second contact `cup 35, the latter being also carried within the insulating sleeve 33 and being adapted to engage a center terminal post 36 of the adjacent battery 15. The insulating `sleeve 33 has. slots or notches 38 and 39, through which lin a formedV sheet metal slide member 42, which may be attached to the casing 10 by any suitable means, that shown beingV in the form of rivets. Completion of the circuit for the signal 12 is effected by connecting the remining wire 44 from the con 1s to the mem Acup zo which is grounded on the casing 10. It will be understood, as is also hereinafter disclosed, that the remaining terminal of the battery power means 15 is also grounded on the casing at all times. By Vthe above construction, the person carrying the protective device may whenever desired activate the signal 12 by shifting the button 41 into the position of Fig. 1, and may shutA olf the signal by returning the button to its open-circuit position.

In accordance with the present invention I also provide an automatic switch means for activating the audible signal 12, said automatic being responsive to any appreciable jarring or jolting of the casing 10. This automatic switch means is shunted across the manually operable switch means, and comprises a metal weight 46 carried by a metal coil spring 47 which is rigidly secured to thebottom of the contact cup 35. The weight 46 has an eye or loop 48 engageable with an insulating hook 49 which is secured to the bottom of the cup 32 and is constituted of an insulating material such as nylon plastic or the like. Normally, when the weight 46 is hooked as shown in Fig. 1, the automatic switch is open-circuit. However, if the casing 10 should be jarred or jolted it would disengage the'weight 46 from the hook 49 and the said weight would then rest against a ridge or shoulder 50 of the cup 32, by virtue of the spring 47 yielding under the force of the weight, thereupon electrically connecting the contact cups 32 and 35 and closing the circuit through the alarm device 12. The alarm will now be given, and may be shut off by standing the protective device on its end 11, in an upright position. Since such positioning of the protective device is extremely unlikely during a scuffle, or when the device falls to the ground, it is virtually impossible to prevent the alarm from being sounded once the weight 46 has become disengaged from the hook 49.

Also, in accordance with the present invention I provide novel means for energizing the flash light portion 14 of the protective device. This means comprises a metal tube or sleeve member 53 which surrounds the casing 10 and is insulated therefrom by an interposed insulating sleeve 54. On the tubular member 53 I provide a formed metal slide member 56 carrying a switch button 57 which has a connecting arm 58 extending through slots 59, 60 and 61 in the sleeves S3 and 54, and the casing 10 respectively. The contact arm 58 is adapted to engage a contact button 63 carried by the insulating sleeve 33 and the contact cup 35, such button being electrically connected to said cup. By this organization, shifting of the button 57 from left to right as viewed in Fig. 1 will cause the arm 58 to engage the contact 63, thereby applying an energizing potential to the outer metal tube or sleeve 53.

At the end 13 of the casing 10 I provide a removable cap in the form of an annulus or ring 65 having a lens disc 66 and a reflector 67 in which latter a bulb 68 is carried. The ring 65 has bayonet slots 70 cooperable with bayonet pins 71 of the casing end 13 whereby the cap may be readily applied to or removed from the casing. The cap also comprises a metal cup 73 secured to the ring 65 and having a coil spring 74 engageable with the bottom terminal surface of the end battery cell to effect a grounding connection from the battery power means to the casing 10.

In the cup 73 there is provided an insulating strip 76 carrying a contact member 77 engaged with the tip contact of the bulb 68, said member extending through a slot 78 in the cup 73 and engaging a contact stud 80 which is carried by the outer tube 53 and is insulated from the casing 10 by a bushing 81. In this manner a circuit is eifected from the tube 53 through the lamp 68 to the ground or casing 10, inasmuch as the reilector 67 is of metal and engages not only the shell of the lamp 68 but also the cap ring 65. f

It will be readily understood that actuation of the Cil switch button 57 may now eifect energizing of the lamp 68 from the batteries 15. It will be seen that batteries 15 may be readily removed and replaced by merely removing the cap ring 65 and ash light assemblage attached thereto, as made possible by the bayonet slot and pin connection between the ring 65 and the casing 10.

It will be further understood that, as effected by the above construction, I have provided a novel and improved protective device constituted to function as a night stick or club, said device having incorporated therein a flash light means and an electric, audible alarm means and further including an automatic switching arrangement by which a loud sound or signal will be given in the event that the device is suddenly jarred or jolted. The construction is relativelyv simple and utilizes few components which may be economically fabricated and assembled.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

l. A device of the character described, comprising in combination -an elongate tubular casing in the form of a club adapted to be held in the hand, said casing having relatively thick and heavy side walls; battery power means `disposed in said casing; electric ash light means in said casing; audible electric signal means in Isaid casing; manually operable switch means on the casing, for energizing said light means or said signal means at will from the power means by a person holding the casing in the hand; an automatic shunting switch means connected to said manually operable switch means, for permanently closing the circuit through the audible signal means in response to the said casing suffering a jolt, said shunting switch means in the absence of the said jolt being normally inoperative to close the circuit regardless of the position in which the casing is placed, and said switch means includinga conducting, circuit-closing element and a mechanical supporting structure normally holding said element in an open-circuit position, said structure being deformable in response to the casing being jolted, to release the element for closing the said circuit.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the audible signal means is disposed at one end of the casing, in which there is an open sound cavity at said one case end, in which the light means is disposed at the other end of the casing, and in which the battery power means is disposed intermediate the ends of the casing, between the said signal means and light means.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 in which the manually operable switch means comprises a pair of electric switches having manually operable members respectively, disposed outside of the casing, one operable member being located adjacent and controlling the signal means and the other operable member being located closer to the said light means than the said one operable member and controlling said light means, the said relative positions of the operable members being thus indicative of means which they control.

4. The invention as dened in claim 3 in which the casing comprises an inner metal tube connected to one terminal of the power means, and comprises a second and outer metal tube enclosing and insulated from the rst-mentioned tube, said second metal tube being connected to one of said electric switches and 4thereby adapted for connection to the other terminal of the power means, said battery power means being carried in and being separate from said inner metal tube.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 in which the flash-light means'comprises a bulb and reflector therefor, in which there is a cap attached to an end of the casing, mounting said bulb and reflector, and fin which there is an insulated contact carried by said cap, connected with the said outer tube of the casing when the cap is attached to the latter.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 in which there is a bayonet pin and slot connection between the said cap and casing.

7. The invention as dened in claim 2 in which `the manual switch means comprises a pair of rings disposed in the casing between the signal means and the power means, comprises means insulatedly mounting said rings, and Aa manually operable bridging member adapted to electrically connect the rings with each other and disconnect the rings from each other according to its position.

8. The invention as defined in claim 2 in which the manual switch means isydisposed in the casing between the signal means and the power means.

9. The invention as dened in claim 1 in which the audible signal means comprises a diaphragm extending across the interior of the casing at one end, and electric means for vibrating said diaphragm at a rapid rate said diaphragm having its peripheral portions secured to the caslng.

10. The invention as defined in claim `1 in which the audible signal means comprises a diaphragm disposed in the casing and electro-magnetic means for vibrating said diaphragm, including a magnet coil disposed in back of the References Cited in the'le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 786,040 Liberman Mar. 28, 1905 1,205,271 Safford NOV. 21, 1916 2,257,227 Dater Sept. 30, 1941 2,260,639 Powell Oct. 28, 1941 2,671,209 Habib Mar. 2, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS i 96,712 Austria Apr. 25, 1924 149,736 Austria May 25, 1937

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