This invention relates to flashlight devices such as carried in the pocket or purse, or used in combination with instruments, as for example, incorporated in the body of an electrically lighted mechanical pencil, or in the handle of a similarly lighted screw driver, safety razor or the like hand tools.

Among the objects of the invention is to improve devices of the character described comprising few and simple parts which are readily assembled and incorporated in bodies or handles of instruments and in hand tool structures, which shall form attractive appearing, small, light-weight and compact articles adapted to be carried conveniently about the person, which shall be capable of withstanding rough and hard service without becoming inoperative, which shall be cheap to manufacture, which shall permit ready and easy replacement of conventional or standard parts such as batteries and lamps, and which shall be practical and efficient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of an electrically lighted screw driver made to embody the invention, partly broken away to expose the interior construction.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a light projecting end of an embodiment of the invention showing the provision of a cover cap for said end and a plurality of interchangeable instruments or tools for use on said end when the cover cap is removed.

Fig. 2a is a fragmentary front elevational view of the construction shown in Fig. 2 showing the cap removed and the screw driver blade seated in effective position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view showing an electrically lighted pencil end of another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 3a is a fragmentary front elevational view of the switch control end of the electrically lighted pencil shown in Fig. 3, and

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of another modification of the invention showing an improved construction embodying an electrically lighted razor.

The invention may be embodied in various electrically lighted articles which are adapted to be carried about the person either in the pocket, purse or in a toilet kit. An embodiment of the invention incorporating an electrically lighted screw-driver 20 as shown in Fig. 1, will first be described.

Said screw-driver 20 is seen to comprise a body or handle 21 which preferably is formed of a metallic tubular casing for housing an electric dry cell 22 of conventional or standard construction. A free end 21a of said handle-casing 21 may be provided with a suitable switch 23 which is constructed as shown and operates in the manner hereinafter described. The other end 21b of said handle-casing 21 has removably mounted thereon a hollow, transparent conical shaped member 24, the smaller tapered end 24a of which terminates in a screw-driver blade 25. The larger end 24b of member 24 is seated on the handle-casing end 21b by means of a suitable coupling 31, which, as shown in Fig. 1, may be of screw joint type.

To releasably lock the member 24 to the handle-casing 21 at said coupling 31, there may be provided a suitable flat spring 32 which is anchored by one end thereof at 32a to the handle-casing end 21b. Said spring 31 carries on its free end a projecting pin 32b which is adapted to pass through the handle-casing end 21b at coupling 31 and engage said large end 24a of member 24 to prevent any relative movement of the latter with respect to the handle-casing 21 when the above described releasable locking means is in effective position as shown in Fig. 1. To release said locking means the flat spring 32 is sprung out to withdraw the pin 32b from its effective engaging position to permit the unscrewing of member 24 from the handle-casing 21 at the coupling 31.

The member 24 may be made of a non-metallic material such as “lucite” or other similar molded so-called “plastic” product. Said tapered end 24a of said member 24 carries a metallic holder 26 firmly secured thereto from which the screw­driver blade 25 extends. Said holder 28 is seen to comprise a socket portion 26a for anchoring the shank 25a of the blade 25 and a band 26b encircling the exterior of said smaller end 24a, said socket portion 26a and band 26b being constructed to serve as a reinforced seat for the blade 25 as shown in Fig. 1. If desired, a pin 26c may be provided to positively retain the member 24, holder 26 and blade 25 against relative movement.

Within the handle-casing end 21b an electrical incandescent lamp 27 is supported. Said lamp 27 has the filament bulb 27a extending up into the larger end 24b of member 24. The screw base end 27b of said lamp 27 may be provided with a metallic disc or washer 28 which centralizes the lamp 27 so that the center terminal contact 27c of the lamp screw base 27b aligns with the central carbon terminal 22a of the battery cell 22.

The handle-casing 21 may be made longer than the battery cell 22, and a compression coil spring 29 interposed between said lamp base 27a and the cell terminal 22a with one spring end 29a of said spring 29 electrically connecting with the lamp screw base 27b, the other spring end 29b of said spring 22 being positioned to contact the shell 22c for the battery cell 22. The spring 29 normally keeps the electrical circuit open between said lamp center terminal 27c and cell carbon terminal 22a as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The electrical circuit for supplying current from the battery cell 22 for lighting the lamp 27 is controlled by switch 23 at the handle-casing end 21a. Said switch 23 may be of any suitable construction for moving the battery cell 22 within said handle-casing 21 against the action of spring 29 to cause the lamp base terminal 27c to contact the battery cell terminal 22a as shown in full lines in Fig. 1.

The switch 23 may comprise of a screw portion 23a which is threaded into the handle-casing end 21a for abutting the bottom end 22b of the battery cell 22 within the said handle-casing end 21a, the threaded portion 23a having a head 23b for manipulating said switch 23.

If desired, the screw driver 20 may be provided with a pocket clip 30 which may be permanently attached to the handle-casing 21 by prongs 30a in any conventional manner.

With the parts of screw driver 20 constructed as described above and assembled as shown in Fig. 1, it may be utilized by grasping the handle-casing 21 and manipulating the screw driver 20 in the usual manner after engaging the blade 25 in the head of the screw (not shown) in the well understood manner. Illumination at the working region where the blade 25 is to be used is provided by turning of the head 23b of the switch 23 for moving the battery dry cell 22 in the handle-casing 21 until the circuit to the lamp 27 is closed. The light beams or rays from said lamp 27 pass through the member 24 and thus illuminates the working area to which the blade 25 is applied. When light from the lamp 27 is no longer required the head 23b is turned to permit the battery cell 22 to be moved by the action of the spring 29 within the handle-casing 21 for breaking the circuit.

The releasable locking means positively holds the member 24 to the handle-casing 21 so that they act as a single integral unit and is rigid to take care of any stresses or strains to which the screw driver 20 is subjected in turning movement in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, the coupling 31 and said locking means also serving to retain said member 24 and handle-casing 21 against any possible separation.

For replacing the battery 22 or lamp 27 the spring 32 is moved releasing the pin 32b to permit disconnection of the screw coupling between the member 24 and the handle-casing 21.

When the screw driver 20 is carried around for use in the pocket, a supporting portion of the user's garment is engaged between the clip 30 and the casing 21 (not shown) in the well understood manner.

In Fig. 2 there is shown the provision of a cap 40 for covering the member 24. The use of such cap 40 is contemplated where there is a modification of the invention in which a blade 125, which corresponds to the blade 25 of the screw driver 20, shown in Fig. 1, is interchangeable with other instruments seated on the holder 126. Such instruments or tools may be a reamer 41, an awl 42 or other like tools, the shanks of the blade 125, reamer 41, awl 42 and the like being interlockingly secured in place on the holder 126 as shown in Fig. 2a. Those instruments, when not in use may be removably mounted on the inner side of the closed end 40a, of the cap 40 and may be so arranged that they nest between the member 24 and the wall 40b of the member 40 as shown in Fig. 2. Said closed end 40a of the member 40 with the instruments mounted thereon may be made to be detached from the wall 40b so as to facilitate dismounting of said instruments.

In Figs. 3 and 3a there is shown a modification of the invention embodying the construction of an improved pencil light 220 instead of a screw driver. Said construction may be similar to the screw driver 20 above described with the exception that the holder 26 on member 24 is replaced by a suitable mechanical lead pencil mechanism 226 of any conventional construction, preferably one in which lead 226a is releasably retained therein. The switch 223 shown in Fig. 3a instead of having the head shaped like that for screw driver 20 as shown in Fig. 1 is terminated in a cylindrical rubber tip 223b which is adapted to be used as an eraser 223b for the pencil light 220. The pencil light with the eraser may be used in the well understood manner with or without light for the lamp 27 in the same manner as described above for the screw driver 20 and controlled by the switch 223.

In Fig. 4 is shown a further modification of the invention as applied to the construction of an improved razor light 320 instead of a screw driver 20 or a pencil light 220. Said construction may be similar to that of the screw driver 20 or pencil light 220 with the exception that the holder 26 and the mechanical lead pencil mechanism 226 is replaced by a mounting 326 on which a suitable head or holder and guard 325 of a safety razor is mounted. Since this razor light 320 would generally be carried in a kit or other suitable container, the clip 30 may be dispensed with.

In using both the pencil light 220 and the razor light 320 there is usually very little or no twisting strains between the parts corresponding to the member 24 and the handle casing 21, the releasable locking means may also be dispensed with, if desired.

The razor light may be used with or without the light from the lamp 27 in the same manner as described above for the screw driver 20 and pencil light 220 and controlled by the switch 23, the razor portion manipulated and used in the well understood manner.

It will thus be seen that there is provided means whereby the several objects of this invention are achieved and which are well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A flashlight device of the character described comprising a handle-casing, a dry battery cell fitted into said casing, a screw threaded switch carried at one end of said casing for cooperating with said cell, an electric incandescent lamp insertable into the other end of said casing and resiliency mounted to extend therein, said lamp, normally being disconnected from an electrical circuit with said cell and being connected in circuit through operation of said switch, a transparent member extending from said last mentioned casing end through which light rays from said lamp pass to serve as a cap over said lamp and as an abutment for retaining the lamp in the casing, threaded coupling means integrally formed on the casing and member for attaching said member in position at said last mentioned casing end, means within the casing movable with the lamp base and mounted inwardly of said coupling means for retaining a center terminal of the lamp base in alignment with a central terminal of said cell, releasable spring locking means mounted on the exterior of said casing having a portion thereof projecting through the coupling means beyond said means movable with the lamp base, said coupling means including openings in the casing and said member adapted to be moved into registered alignment for receiving said locking means portion, and an instrument terminating said member so constructed and arranged to have a region where the instrument is to be used lighted by rays passing through the member from said lamp during the manipulation of said instrument; the handle-casing, locked coupling means, member and instrument being interconnected for use as a rigid unitary power transmitting structure enclosing said cell and lamp for control by said switch.

2. A flashlight device of the character described comprising a handle-casing housing a dry-battery cell, an incandescent lamp resiliently mounted to extend within the casing adapted to be connected with the cell, a hollow tapered transparent molded member extending from said casing through which light rays from said lamp pass to serve as a cap over the lamp, said member having an integrally formed attachment part at its larger end, a holder on the smaller end of said member, said holder including a metallic socket extending into said smaller end, an attachment part integrally formed on the casing engaging the attachment part of said member to form a coupling means, a metallic disk within the casing mounted on the base of the lamp for movement therewith inwardly of said coupling means for retaining a center terminal of the base of the lamp in alignment with a central terminal of the battery cell, releasable spring locking means mounted on the exterior of the casing having a portion thereof projecting through the coupling means beyond said disk, said coupling means including openings passing through the attachment parts of the member and casing adapted to be moved into registered alignment for receiving said locking means portion, an instrument rigidly mounted in said socket so constructed and arranged to have a region where the instrument is to be used lighted by rays passing through the member from the lamp during the manipulation of the device; the handle-casing, locked coupling means, member and instrument being all interconnected for use as a rigid unitary power transmitting structure enclosing said battery and lamp.

Samuel Osterman.