US2957169A - Luminous sphere - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 18, 1960 R. H. WHITE, JR 2,957,169

LUMINous slHERE Filed Aug. 3, 1959 N96/ j Quim@ #da/ML United States Patent O LUMINOUS SPHERE Rex H. White, Jr., Arlington, Va., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Filed Aug. 3, 1959, Ser. No. 831,445

3 Claims. (Cl. 340-366) (Granted under Title 3'5, U.S. Code (1952), sec. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a luminous sphere and more particularly to a transparent sphere mounted on a base and electrical means for intermittently illuminating the sphere mounted within a cavity in the base.

An object of the invention is toV provide a transparent sphere mounted on a base and illuminated intermittently when therassembly is lifted from a resting place.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an automatic switch that will complete an electric circuit in the assembly for intermittently illuminating the sphere when the assembly is lifted from a resting place.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide an article of amusement.

Another object is to provide an article possessing varied utility.

A still further object is to provide a novel assembly comprising a base having a tablet atlixed thereon and electrical means mounted on the base for intermittently illuminating the tablet when the assembly is lifted from a resting place.

The specific nature of the invention as well as other objects and advantages thereof, will clearly appear from a description of a preferred embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the luminous sphere of the invention;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the base;

Figure 3 is a section view taken along lines 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section view taken along lines 4 4 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the electrical components of the illuminating means and showing the circuit therefor.

Referring to the drawings:

1 denotes a truncated pyramidical base having a transparent sphere 2 mounted to the upper surface of the base 1 by suitable means such as cement 3, or any other eX- pedient manner.

Base 1 is provided with a cavity 4 and an upstanding bore 5. An undercut portion 6 is formed in the cavity 4 for a purpose which will be later apparent.

A tablet 7 is mounted on the forward inclined face of the base 1 and provides a space for engraving and like indicia when the assembly is to be used as a trophy or the like.

A closure plate 8 fabricated from insulating material is provided for closing cavity 4 and is held in place by screws 9.

A transparent tube 10 is inserted in bore 5 and serves as a liner, the top thereof terminating substantially at the upper face of base 1.

Means for intermittently illuminating sphere 2 are housed in cavity 4 and comprise an electric bulb 11 detachably secured in a socket 12. A bashing switch 13 .ICC

of standard construction is connected to socket 12 and is provided with terminals 1'4 and 15 at its lower end, and a bracket 16 is mounted on switch 13 for supporting bulb 11 in tube 10 and is fastened to the undercut portion 6 by a screw 17.

, An automatic switch means is mounted on cover plate 8 for completing an electric circuit to light bulb 11 when the device islifted from a resting place and consists of a leaf spring 18 of conducting material secured at one end as at 19 to base 8. A plate 20 of conducting material is secured to the upper side of plate 8. A plug 21 of insulating material is slidably mounted in a bore 22 in plate 20 and plate 8 and is prevented from falling out through bore 22 by an integral head 23. A contact point 24 is fixed to thev forward underside of leaf spring ,18 for making electrical contact with plate 20 and is normally urged into contact therewith by leaf spring 18.

Means for breaking the electric circuit, when it is desired not to have the device operative, is provided and consists of a bar 25 pivoted as at 26 to the underside of plate 8 and is rotated to prevent plug 21 from dropping downward in bore 22 and permitting leaf spring 18 to make contact with plate 20.

An electrical energy source for the device is provided and comprises mercury batteries 26 and 27. Electrical circuit leads are provided and consist of a iirst lead 28 connecting the terminals at one end of bat teries 26 and 27, a second lead 29 connecting the terminals of the other end of batteries 26 and 27, a third lead 3,0 connecting the. terminal of one end of battery 27 to terminal 15 of element 13, a fourth lead 31 connecting a terminal 32 on plate 20, and a fth lead 33 connecting the terminal at one end of battery 27 to terminal 19 or leaf spring 18.

In operation, the device normally rests on a table, desk or like resting place. In this position plug 21 is pushed up in bore 22 whereby leaf spring is urged upward and out of contact with plate 20, thus breaking the electrical circuit. When the device is picked up, leaf spring 18 pushes plug 21 down in bore 22 whereby contact point 24 comes into contact with plate 20. The circuit is now closed and the bulb 11 will light intermittently due to ashing switch 13 and will continue to ash until the device is rested on the table again.

Should it be desired to maintain the device in an inoperative condition, bar 25 may be rotated over plug 21 which may be easily pushed up with the nger, thus plug 21 is locked in an upward position in bore 22 and pushes spring 18 upward to break the electrical circuit.

The device has many uses. It can be used as a trophy, and is provided with plate 7 for engraving, etc. It can be used as a paper weight, amusement device or a means of attracting attention to unauthorized personnel tampering with papers and the like on a desk, inasmuch as the flashing light will come on when lifted by the unwary.

It is therefore apparent that a novel device has been designed that has varied utility and is very simple in construction and inexpensive to maintain.

While a preferred form of the invention has been shown and described, various modification and substitution of equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art after a study of the foregoing disclosure. Hence, the disclosure should be taken in an illustrative rather than a limiting sense, and it is the desire and intention to reserve all modifications within the scope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A luminous device including a base having a cavity open at its lower end therein, there being a vertical bore extending from said cavity through the uper face of said base, a transparent sphere fixed to the upper face of said base and disposed coaxially above said bore, a cover plate for closing said cavity, a transparent tube closed Vand disposed in said transparentV tube, a ashingrelement having iirst andV second terminals Yatta :hedjfto, bulb, iirstY and secondV mercury 4batteries in Vsaid cavity, .Y Yal leaf spring contact switch` secured at oneiof its ,ends tothe upper face ofV said cover plate, a contact platejhaving L a hole secured .to the upper face of said cover plate and disposed under the free end of said contactswitch, circuit means for electrically connecting` said flashing element, bulb, batteries contact switch and contactv piate comprising .rst and second leads connecting the opposite ment and said contact plate, a fifth lead connecting said contact switch and a terminal on saidsecond battery,` a

means for automatically opening `and closingv saidr circuit comprising Van electricallyinsulated plugghavingan enlarged head at its upperendthereofrslidable in said khole in said contact plate, said hejad being disposed under to opensaid circuit and to ,close said circuit'when said base is removed from said solid surface whereby said bulb will ash intermittently as long as said' base is out lof contact with said solid surface and means carried by the bottom of said cover plate to lock said contact switch in open position.

2. In a device of the character described in claim 1 wherein said means to lock said contact switch in said open position comprises a lever pivoted at one of its ends to said cover plate whereby said lever may be rotated under said plug to hold said plug in its upward position in said hole in said contact plate and urge said contact lever upwardly and away from. said contact plate.

3. A luminousdevice comprising a base having a cavity therein, a transparent element fixed to the upper face of said. base, an electrical means forilluminating said transparent element housed insaid cavity, a contact plate fixed to the upper face of saidV cover, an electrical' circuit connecting said means for illuminating said transparent element and said contact plate, and a means for automatically opening and closing said circuit carried by said cover, said last named means comprising, a iirst resilient contact member attached to the upper face ofV said cover, said contact member being electrically connected to said electrical means for illuminating said transparent element, a second member slidably mounted in said cover and. being normally biasedby said resilientmemberY to` extend beyond the bottom of Vsaid base, when said base is raised from a solid surface wherebysaid resilient membeni ill contact said contact plate for closing` saidk electrical l''iircuit `and push said resilient member out of contact with said contact plate when said. base is rested on a solid .surface to openrsaid circuit. y

References YCited inthe le of patent Y LSITEDv STATES PATENTS

Images