US3215827A

US3215827A - Illuminating stand for bedside tables and the like

Info

Publication number: US3215827A
Application number: US268255A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harvey N Bliss
Original assignee: Britton Corp
Current assignee: Britton Corp
Priority date: 1963-03-27
Filing date: 1963-03-27
Publication date: 1965-11-02
Anticipated expiration: 1982-11-02

Description

Nov. 2, 1965 H. N. BLISS 3, ,8

ILLUMINATING STAND FOR BEDSIDE TABLES AND THE LIKE Filed March 27. 1963 INVENTOR. HARVEY N. BLISS AHorney United States Patent 3,215,827 ILLUMINATING STAND FOR BEDSllDE TABLES AND THE LIKE Harvey N. Bliss, Windsor, Conn, assignor to The Britton Corporation, Newington, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Mar. 27, 1963, Ser. No. 268,255 Claims. (Cl. 2406.4)

This invention relates to an illuminating stand for bedside tables and the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel illuminating stand which is easily and conveniently operable at the bedside even in the absence of other illumination, desirably for placement on a bedside table to illuminate the dial of a wristwatch supported thereon.

Another object is to provide such an illuminating stand which may be economically manufactured and is relatively simple and durable in construction.

Still another object is to provide such an illuminating stand for supporting a wristwatch which is easily disassembled into a compact unit requiring a minimum of storage space and which is otherwise particularly adapted to the needs of the traveler.

A further object is to provide an attractive and compact illuminating device for nightstands and the like which may be used as a portable emergency source of illumination.

Other objects and advantages will be readily apparent from the following detailed specification and the attached drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an illuminating device embodying the present invention and having a wristwatch support with a wristwatch supported thereon in phantom line and also illustrating an operators hand for one mode of operation;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the illuminating device of FIGURE 1 with a side wall broken away to reveal internal construction;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom view thereof with the bottom member removed to reveal internal construction;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom perspective view thereof with the bottom member displaced outwardly and with the electric cell in phantom line and portions of the side and end walls broken away to reveal internal construction; and

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the illuminating device of FIGURE 1 in the base portion of a traveling container ready for packing in a suitcase or the like with the watch support member detached and lying fiat upon the base and with the electric cell removed.

It has now been found that the foregoing and related objects can be readily attained by an illuminating stand comprised of a base having a cavity opening on the bottom thereof and adapted to seat an associated electric cell. An electric light bulb member is mounted in an aperture in the top wall of the base and projects thereabove. A bottom member is mounted on the base and extends across the cavity therein and electrical circuit means are provided in the cavity for completing an electrical circuit between the light bulb member and an associated electric cell. The circuit means includes a pair of contacts normally spaced apart and which are movable into circuitcompleting contact by movement of one of the light bulb and bottom members towards the other. For use as a stand for Wristwatches, a support member is seated on the base and extends upwardly therefrom rearwardly of the light bulb member for supporting an associated wristwatch with the face thereof in a generally vertical position so as to be clearly illuminatable by the light bulb member.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the bulb member is resiliently mounted in the aperture in the base which extends from the cavity to the top surface 3,2i5,827 Patented Nov. 2, 1965 by seating in a spring metal conductor strip adjacent a free end thereof for resilient deflection of the bulb member and strip inwardly of the base towards the bottom membet. The bottom member is mounted on the base and has at least a portion oscillatable towards and away from the base so that movement of either the bottom member or the bulb member towards the other will bring the con tacts together and close the circuit. The watch support member has a vertical leg portion removably seated in a seating orifice in the top surface of the base and has a horizontal portion spaced above the base adapted to sup port a wristwatch. The watch support member may be detached from the base and is adapted to lie flat upon the base for convenient packing and storing.

Referring now in detail to the attached drawing, therein is illustrated an illuminated watch stand embodying the present invention and having a base generally indicated by the numeral 2, an upwardly extending watch support member generally designated by the numeral 4 and an electric light bulb member generally designated by the numeral 6. The light bulb member 6 is desirably of the bulls-eye type so as to provide diffuse illumination when the concentration at the top thereof is shielded by the finger of a user.

As best seen in FIGURES 2-4, the base 2 has a cavity 8 therein opening on the bottom thereof generally defined by the

side walls

10, 12,

end walls

14, 16 and top wall 18. The light bulb member 6 is seated in an aperture 20 which extends from the upper surface of the top wall 18 into the cavity 8 and the support member 4 is removably seated in an elongated seating orifice or slot 22 which extends into the base 2 from the upper surface of the top wall 18 adjacent the rearward end thereof and at an angle inclined towards the front end of the base. The watch support member 4 preferably is fabricated from a transparent synthetic plastic material and is generally of flagshaped configuration with a vertical leg portion 24 which slides into the seating orifice 22 and a horizontally extending arm portion 26 which is spaced above the base 2. The arm portion 26 is adapted to support. a wristwatch generally designated by the numeral 28 as shown in phantom in FIGURE 1 with the face 30 in an inclined but generally vertical position.

Extending across the cavity 8 is a generally rectangular bottom member or cover 34 which is mounted at the rearward end thereof upon the base 2 by a threaded fastener 38 having a shank portion extending through an elongated slot 36 opening on the rearward end of the bottom member, thus permitting the bottom member 34 to be slid from under the head portion of the fastener 3%. To facilitate gripping by the fingers of the bottom member 34- and removal thereof from the fastener 258, finger grips are provided by a notch 49 in the forward or free end thereof, and an aperture 42 adjacent the center thereof. The cover or bottom member 34 is fabricated of a resiliently deflectable material such as paperboard or synthetic plastic and has its free or forward end portion resiliently movable inwardly or towards the base 2 for a purpose to be described more fully hereinafter.

As best seen in FIGURES 3 and 4, within the cavity 8 is an electrical circuit assembly provided by a pair of sheet metal

conductive members

44, 46 having

spring arm portions

48, 50 between which is seated an electric cell generally designated by the numeral 58. The conductive member 44 is secured to the base 2 by a threaded fastener and has a downwardly displaced spring contact arm portion 56 adjacent the forward end of the cavity 8 and spaced below the light bulb member 6. The conductive member 45 is secured to the base 2 by the fastener 38 and has a spring contact arm portion 52 extending forwardly of the cavity 3 with an aperture 54 in which is threadably seated the threaded terminal portion 53 of S the light bulb member 6 so as to carry current thereto from the terminal 62 of the cell 58. The contact or terminal portion 55 on the bulb member 6 is spaced upwardly from the spring contact arm portion 56 in the normal position so that the circuit to the terminal 60 of the cell 58 is normally open.

To close the circuit, the spring contact arm portion 56 and contact 55 on the light bulb member 6 may be moved relative to each other into circuit-completing contact. This may be effected by placing downward pressure upon the light bulb member 6 against the upwardly biasing pressure of the spring arm portion 52 as shown in FIG- URE 1 or by placing upward pressure on the free or forward end of the bottom member or cover 34 which will move the spring contact arm portion 56 upwardly against the contact 55, or by a combination of both. In each instance, the resiliently deflectable character of the spring arm 52 or of the spring arm 56 and bottom member 34 will bias the circuit open upon removal of the pressure.

As shown in FIGURE 5, the stand of the present invention may be readily disassembled into a compact unit which is easily transported in a box 64 desirably having a lining 66 of cotton or other packing material. The support member 4 is disengaged from the seating orifice 22 and laid fiat upon the top wall 18. The electric cell 58 is desirably removed from the cavity 8 for packing and periods of non-use by temporarily removing the bottom member 34.

In use of the wristwatch stand, it may be placed upon a table or elsewhere adjacent the bedside with the face of the watch properly disposed upon the support member. The user need only reach over and feel for the light bulb to press it down to illuminate the face or alternatively press upon the bottom member, or both. For an emer gency source of illumination, the support member may be removed and the bottom member preferaby used as the means of closing the circuit to avoid interference with the light produced by the bulb member.

The base may be conveniently and economically fabricated from synthetic plastic or wood and the support member is conveniently fabricated from synthetic plastic. The cover or bottom member is easily fabricated from flexible material such as paperboard or synthetic plastic and the conductive members are easily formed from sheet metal such as copper and aluminum.

Thus, it can be seen that the illuminating stand of the present invention is easily and conveniently operable at the bedside by exercise of the sense of touch even in the absence of other illumination. The stand is relatively simple and durable in construction and may be economically manufactured or disassembled into a compact unit requiring a minimum of storage space for traveling. In addition to providing convenient illumination at the bedside, the device may be held in the hand to provide a source of general illumination in emergencies.

Although but one specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described herein, it will be understood that modification may be made within the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, 1 claim:

1. An illuminated wristwatch stand comprising a base having a cavity therein opening on the bottom thereof and adapted to seat an electric cell, said base having a seating orifice opening on the top surface thereof, a generally flag-shaped member having a vertical leg portion removably seating in said seating orifice of said base and extending upwardly therefrom and a horizontally extending arm portion spaced above said base for supporting an associated wristwatch with the face thereof in a generally vertical position; a light bulb member mounted on said base and having a base portion extending below the top surface of said base and a bulb portion projecting above the top surface of said base forwardly of said support member for illuminating the face of an associated wristwatch on said support member; a bottom member on said base extending across the cavity therein, one of said light bulb and bottom members being mounted on said base for resilient movement towards the other of said members; and electrical circuit means in said cavity for completing a circuit between an electric cell received therein and said light bulb, said circuit means including a pair of contacts normally spaced apart, said contacts being movable into circuit-completing contact by resilient movement of said one of said bottom and light bulb members toward the other of said members.

2. An alluminated wristwatch stand comprising a base having a cavity therein opening on the bottom thereof, said base having an aperture extending between the top surface thereof and said cavity, and a seating orifice spaced from said aperture and opening on the top surface thereof; means in said cavity for seating an electric cell; a generally flag-shaped support member having a vertical leg removably seated in said seating orifice of the base and having a horizontally extending arm portion spaced above said base for supporting an associated wristwatch with the face thereof in a generally vertical position; a light bulb member having a base portion extending below the top surface of said base and a bulb portion forwardly of said support member for illuminating the face of an associated wristwatch on said support member, said bulb member having a tip contact at the inner end of said base portion; means resiliently mounting said light bulb member in said aperture for deflection inwardly of said base; a bottom member of resiliently deflectable material having one end mounted on the base and the other end free for deflection inwardly of said base; and electrical circuit means in said cavity for completing an electrical circuit between an electric cell received therein and said light bulb member, said circuit means including an upper contact in electrical connection with said base portion of said bulb member and movable with said electric bulb member and a lower contact movable with said other end of said bottom member, said bulb tip and lower contacts being normally spaced apart, each of said bottom and light bulb members being resiliently movable toward the other of said members to move said bulb tip and lower contacts into contact with each other for completing the electric circuit.

3. An illuminating stand for night stands and the like comprising a base having a cavity opening on the bottom thereof and an aperture extending through the top wall thereof to said cavity; means in said cavity for seating an electric cell; a light bulb member in said aperture having a base portion extending below the top surface of said top wall and a bulb portion projecting above said top wall said base portion having a tip contact at the inner end thereof; means in said cavity resiliently mounting said light bulb member in said aperture for resilient deflection downwardly towards said base; a bottom member of resiliently deflectable material extending across said cavity and having one end mounted on said base and the other end free for deflection inwardly of said base; and electrical circuit means in said cavity for completing an electrical circuit between an electric cell received therein and said light bulb member, said circuit means including an upper contact in electrical connection with said base portion of said bulb member and moveable with said electric bulb member and a lower contact movable with said other end of said bottom member, said bulb tip contact and lower contact being normally spaced apart, each of said bottom and light bulb members being resiliently movable toward the other of said members to move said bulb tip and lower contact into contact with each other to complete the electric circuit.

4. An illuminating stand for night stands and the like comprising a base having a cavity therein opening on the bottom thereof adapted to seat an electric cell and an aperture extending through the top wall thereof to said cavity; a light bulb member in said aperture having a base portion extending below the top surface of said top wall and a bulb portion projecting above the top wall of said base, said bulb member base portion having a threaded portion and a tip contact at the inner end thereof; a bottom member mounted on said base extending across the cavity therein and having at least a portion thereof oscillatable towards and away from said base; and a pair of sheet metal conductive members mounted in the cavity of said base intermediate their ends, said conductive members having spring arm portions at one end thereof in spaced apart relationship for receiving an electric cell therebetween, one of said conductive members having a spring contact arm portion at the other end thereof adjacent said top wall, said spring contact arm portion having an aperture therein which threadably receives said threaded base portion of said light bulb member in electrical contact therewith and provides resilient mounting of said light bulb member for limited deflection thereof towards said bottom member, the other of said conductive members having a spring contact arm portion at the other end thereof spaced below the tip contact of said light bulb member, said second mentioned spring contact arm port-ion being movable with said oscillata'ble portion of said bottom member for limited deflection towards said bulb member, each of said bottom and light bulb members being resiliently movable toward the other of said members to move said bulb tip contact and said second-mentioned contact arm portion into circuit-completing contact.

5. An illuminated wristwatch stand for night stands and the like comprising a base having a cavity opening on the bottom thereof, an aperture extending through the top wall thereof to said cavity and a seating orifice opening on the top surface thereof spaced from said aperture; means in said cavity for seating an electric cell; a light bulb member in said aperture having a base portion extending below the top surface of said top wall and a bulb portion projecting above said top wall, said base portion having a tip contact at the inner end thereof; means in said cavity resiliently mounting said light bulb member in said aperture for resilient deflection downwardly toward said base; a bottom member of resilrient deflectable material extending across said cavity and having one end mounted on said base and the other end free for deflection inwardly of said base; electric circuit means in said cavity for completing an electric circuit between an electric cell received therein and said light bulb member, said circuit means including an upper contact in electric connection with said base portion of said bulb member end movable with said electric bulb member and a lower contact movable with said other end of said bottom member, said bulb tip contact and lower contacts being normally spaced apart, each of said bottom and light bulb members being resiliently movable toward the other of said members to move said bulb tip and lower contacts into contact with each other to complete the electric circuit; and a generally flag-shaped support member having a vertical leg portion removably seated in said seating orifice and a horizontally extending arm portion spaced above said base for supporting an associated Wristwatch with the face thereof in a generally vertical position for illumination of the face thereof by said light bulb member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,310,936 7/19 Walker 240-81 1,442,896 1/23 Maier 2406,43 1,875,650 9/ 32 Pemberton 2406.45 2,166,657 7/39 Evelyn 240-1061 2,311,3 3'2. 2/43 Fleischner.

2,392,696 1/46 Rucker 240--6.43 2,785,288 3/57 Lewis 240-1061 NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

Claims

2. AN ALLUMINATED WRISTWATCH STAND COMPRISING A BASE HAVING A CAVITY THEREIN OPENING ON THE BOTTOM THEREOF, SAID BASE HAVING AN APERTURE EXTENDING BETWEEN THE TOP SURFACE THEREOF AND SAID CAVITY, AND A SEATING ORIFICE SPACED FROM SAID APERTURE AND OPENING ON THE TOP SURFACE THEREOF; MEANS IN SIAD CAVITY FOR SEATING AN ELECTRIC CELL; A GENERALLY FLAG-SHAPED SUPPORT MEMBER HAVING A VERTICAL LEG REMOVABLY SEATED IN SAID SEATING ORIFICE OF THE BASE AND HAVING A HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING ARM PORTION SPACED ABOVE SAID BASE FOR SUPPORTING AN ASSOCIATED WRISTWATCH WITH THE FACE THEREOF IN A GENERALLY VERTICAL POSITION; A LIGHT BULB MEMBER HAVING A BASE PORTION EXTENDING BELOW THE TOP SURFACE OF SAID BASE AND A BULB PORTION FORWARDLY OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBER FOR ILLUMINATING THE FACE OF AN ASSOCAITED WRISTWATCH ON SAID SUPPORT MEMBER, SAID BULB MEMBER HAVING A TIP CONTACT AT THE INNER END OF SAID BASE PORTION; MEANS RESILIENTLY MOUNTING SAID LIGHT BULB MEMBER IN SAID APERTURE FOR DEFLECTION INWARDLY OF SAID BASE; A BOTTOM MEMBER OF RESILIENTLY DEFLECTABLE MATERIAL HAVING ONE END MOUNTED ON THE BASE AND THE OTHER END FREE FOR DEFLECTION INWARDLY OF SAID BASE; AND ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT MEANS IN SIAD CAVITY FOR COMPLETION AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BETWEEN AN ELECTRIC CELL RECEIVED THEREIN AND SIAD LIGHT BULB MEMBER, SAID CIRCUIT MEANS INCLUDING AN UPPER CONTACT IN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION WITH SAID BASE PORTION OF SAID BULB MEMBER AND MOVABLE WITH SAID ELECTRIC BULB MEMBER AND A LOWER CONTACT MOVABLE WITH SAID OTHER END OF SAID BOTTOM MEMBER, SAID BULB TIP AND LOWER CONTACTS BEING NORMALLY SPACED APART, EACH OF SAID BOTTOM AND LIGHT BULB MEMBERS BEING RESILIENTLY MOVABLE TOWARD THE OTHER OF SAID MEMBERS TO MOVE SAID BULB TIP AND LOWER CONTACTS INTO CONTACT WITH ECH OTHER FOR COMPLETION THE ELECTRIC CIRCUIT.