US2966578A - Flashlight umbrella or cane - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 27, 1960 D. J. COFFEY FLASHLIGHT UMBRELLA OR CANE Filed Jan. 14, 1957 INVENTOR. Daniel J. Coffey ATTORNEY United States Patent FLASHLIGHT UMBRELLA 0R CANE Daniel J. Colfey, 1704 Zerega Ave., Bronx 61, NY.

Filed Jan. 14, 1957, Ser. No. 633,887

1 Claim. (Cl. 240-642) This invention relates to umbrellas, canes and the like.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide an umbrella or cane with a flashlight releasably secured thereto wherein the owner of the umbrella or cane Will be provided when using the umbrella or cane with a warning or signal light to indicate his blind condition or his presence on the highway at night and wherein the flashlight can be readily released from the handle when not using the umbrella or cane and is of a size that can readily be placed in the pocket and carried like a fountain pen.

It is another object of the present invention to provide in an umbrella or cane handle a coin or token holder for the end of the handle.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a cord means on the umbrella or cane adapted to be readily fastened to the clothing of the owner so that as the owner is seated the umbrella or cane will be connected to him so that upon standing up to leave his seat the umbrella or cane will be lifted with him and he will not be permitted to forget them, the cord being easily retractable into the device when it has been detached from the clothmg.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a retractable cigarette holder adapted for use on umbrellas or cane handles to facilitate smoking while the umbrella is in one hand and a package in the other hand.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an umbrella or cane handle with a detachable flashlight, coin or token holder, fastener to prevent loss of the umbrella, cigarette holder which are assembled on a single handle in a simple manner, built flush into the handle to consume little space, of pleasing appearance, eflicient, readily accessible, compact and efficient in use, and a handle which can be reused.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an umbrella handle having the various features of the invention embodied therein,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken through the short end of the ,handle and looking upon-one end of the flashlight andthe coin 'or token holder,

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the coin or token holder,

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the long end of the handle and looking upon the retractable cigarette holder,

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an umbrella with the fastening cable cord attached to the buttonhole of a coat to prevent the owner of the umbrella from leaving the umbrella in the conveyance or any other place where he may have been,

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of ice the cord fastening device with portions broken away to show the interior construction of the same,

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view of the cord fastener device taken on line 88 of Fig. 7,

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a fountain pen-type flashlight holder parts attached to the sides of a cane, and

Fig. 10 is an elevational view of one of the flashlight holder parts as viewed on line 10-10 of Fig. 9, and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary elevational view of a still further form of the invention with portions broken away to show the interior construction thereof.

Referring now particularly to Figures 1 to 3, 15 represents a handle for an umbrella having the usual curved hand grip portion. This handle has two holes 16 and 17 axially-aligned with one another and through which a fountain pen-type flashlight 18 may be extended. Lying adjacent to the hole 17 in the short end of the handle is a ball detent 19 adapted to engage the side of the flashlight.

This flashlight has a bulb end 21 that projects from the opening 16 and a snap switch button 22 for turning the flashlight on and off. A clip 23 is provided on the flashlight 18 so as to enable the owner of the flashlight and the umbrella to carry the flashlight in his pocket at times when the umbrella is not being used. The clip 23 will also be shouldered against the edge of the opening 1-7 to serve to locate the flashlight properly in the handle and can pass through slot 20 in the short end of the handle, Fig. 2.

There is drilled into the short end of the handle an opening 24 into which a coiled compression spring 25 is placed and retained by a movable plate 26 adapted to be depressed into the opening, and a fixed retaining plate 27 generally of horseshoe shape having a finger slot 27 and fiXed to the end of the handle by a screw 28. A coin or token 29 is slid under the pressure plate 26 and will be held over the finger slot 27'. To remove the coin or token it will only be necessary to apply the finger to the coin and pull it laterally outward from under the pressure plate 26. This coin holder on the umbrella handle provides ready access to coins or tokens so it is unnecessary for one to reach into the pocket or pocketbook to locate such coins or tokens and may thus have them ready for immediate use as in subway, buses and so forth.

In Figs. 4 and 5, there is shown a vertically-extending slot 31 which is provided in the handle 15 into which a cigarette holder 32 mounted on a pivot pin 33 can be pivoted when not in use. If one desires to use this holder arm 32 for a cigarette he may withdraw the holder arm upwardly by grasping a projection 34 on the outer end of same so access can be had to an opening 35 on the open end thereof. A cigarette holder or mouthpiece 36 can be placed on the opening 35 and a cigarette 37 attached thereto. By grasping the umbrella the mouthpiece 36 can be easily brought to the mouth for smoking purposes. One can thus still smoke while carrying umbrellas and packages in the hands.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1, 6, 7 and-8,

there is shown a cord fastening device 40 provided on' the long arm of the handle and by which the umbrella indicated generally at 41 may be attached to a buttonhole 42 of the owners coat 43.

This cord fastening device 40 comprises an attaching ring 44 which is secured to the long end of the umbrella handle 15 by tight fitting engagement therewith. A long screw 46 extends through a cord storing sleeve 47 that provides a chamber 48 into which a cable cord 49 passes through a hole 50. The sleeve 47 is held against rotation on the screw 46 by a pin 47 driven through the bottom of the sleeve 47 and into handle 15. This cord is fixed at 51 to a knob 52 that is journalled on the screw 46 which will return the cord into the groove 48 as it is turned and will be stopped from being turned only when the entire cord has been retracted and by a ball 53 on the end of the same. When it is desired to extend the cord 49, the ball 53 is grasped and the cord is pulled outwardly and placed through the buttonhole 42 of the coat 43. The umbrella can then be rested against the body of the owner when he is seated, then should the owner stand up and fail to grasp the umbrella, it will be picked up with him automaticallv and be grasped by him, whereby loss of the umbrella is prevented. After the cord 49 has been released from the buttonhole 4-2 it is retracted into the device 40 by turning the knob 52.

In Figs. 9 and 10, there is shown a cane handle 60 to the opposite sides of which mounting blocks 61 and 62 are respectively connected by fastening screws 63 and 64. Both of these mounting blocks have respective holes 61' and 62' extending therethrough that are aligned so as to receive a fountain pen-type flashlight 65. The block 62 has a groove 66 running therethrough to accommodate clip 67 as the flashlight is forced through the opening in the block 62 and its head end shouldered in the block end 61. the slot the flashlight is turned so that the clip is out of registry with the slot 66 and shouldered against the inner face of the block 62. There is preferably suflicient resiliency in the connection of the blocks 61 and 62 with the handle to provide such frictional engagement of the end of the clip 67 with the face of the block 62 so as to prevent it from being easily turned and from becoming aligned with the slot 66 while the cane and flashlight is in use. On the clip end of the flashlight is a switch button similar to the switch button 22 by which the flashlight can be turned on or off. A flashlight bulb is located in tapered forward end 68 of the flashlight.

While this arrangement is shown with blocks attached to the handle of the cane for supporting the flashlight it will be understood that the blocks can be similarly attached to umbrella handle. Likewise the flashlight can be mounted in a cane handle in the same manner that it is mounted in the umbrella handle shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 11, there is shown a still further manner on which the flashlight may be mounted in a cane or umbrella. In this form of the invention there is provided in a handle 70 of a cane a tubular container 71 transparent and closed at one end as indicated at 72 and projecting outwardly from one side of the cane. The other end of the container is opened and threaded to receive a cap 73 which has an opening through which switch button 74 of flashlight 75 can extend. Bulb end 76 of flashlight 75 will extend into the transparent end 72 of the container 71 and be held tightly by the cap 73 so that pressure can be applied to the button 74 and the flashlight held against sliding movement in the container 71. It will be seen that this is a simple and effective means of mounting the flashlight in the cane handle so that it can be readily and easily removed therefrom at times when not needed thereon.

In Figs. 1 and 6, there is shown a clip 15' for supporting the umbrella from a pocket or strap on the clothing of the wearer. If the owner of the umbrella is seated Once the clip 67 has passed through the clip can be extended over the pocket of the suitcoat in the same manner that a fountain pen is placed in the pocket and should he stand the umbrella will be lifted and taken with him. This clip is used thus prevents the owner from forgetting his umbrella. The umbrella can be attached to the owners pocket by the clip and carried in this way or can be temporarily placed thereon to leave his hands free to make change, carry bags, or grasp the handrails when entering or leaving a public conveyance, and at other times when his hands need to be free.

It should also be apparent that the complete handle can be removed from the umbrella rod and placed on other umbrellas. In other words, the handle assembly with the various devices in it can be made and sold separate from the umbrella.

It should now be apparent that with the flashlight in the handle of the umbrella or cane that the lower end of the umbrella can be grasped and with the light on and the umbrella or cane held into the air it can thereby be used in a crowd'to signal a taxicab.

It should also be apparent that the umbrella or cane now can be applied to more uses than that for which it has been ordinarily intended.

While various changes may be made in the detailed construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

An umbrella, cane or the like having a curved handle with long and short portions interconnected by a curved portion of approximately comprising a pocket flashlight provided with a securing clip, and a pair of mounting blocks to receive the flashlight and each mounted and secured on each portion of the handle, each block having an opening therein aligned with each other with one opening of a block being of a diameter equal to the diameter of the flashlight with a slot extending longitudinally throughout the internal length of the opening, the opening in the other block being of a smaller diameter at one end thereof to act as an abutment for the flashlight, said blocks receiving the flashlight with the securing clip passing through the slot and with the flashlight turned slightly the latter will be locked in the blocks by the clip abutting against the block with the slot therein so as to be out of alignment thereof, and the other block receiving the bulb end of the flashlight projecting from the smaller end of the opening to thus secure the flashlight in the blocks.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,032,199 Frederiksen July 9, 1912 1,330,974 Bauman Feb. 17, 1920 1,427,138 Walicki et al. Aug. 29, 1922 1,520,070 Nelson Dec. 23, 1924 1,807,501 Alexander May 26, 1931 1,824,449 Sjoberg Sept. 22, 1931 2,478,325 Russell Aug. 9, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 101,585 Great Britain Oct. 5, 1916 a va -r

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