US2631224A - Lighting device for jack-o'-lanterns and other halloween toys - Google Patents

Description

March 10, 1953 H. s. ROOT LIGHTING DEVICE FOR JACKOL ANTERNS AND OTHER HALLOWEEN TOYS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 21, 1948 INVENTOR.

March 1 195 H. s. ROOT 3 LIGHTING DEVICE FOR JACK-O-LANTERNS AND OTHER HALLOWEEN TOYS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 21, 1948 INVENTOR. I fi6uarol J: @205 March 10, 1953 H. s. ROOT 2,631,224

LIGHTING DEVICE FOR JACK-O-LANTERNS AND OTHER HALLOWEEN TOYS Filed Dec. 21, 1948 s Sheets-Sheet s BYZZQWQZ J [3 006 M 9 6J1,

Patented Mar. 10, 1953 LIGHTING DEVICE FOR JACK-O-LANTERNS AND OTHER HALLOWEEN TOYS) Howard S. Root, Spokane, Wash.

Application December 21, 1948, Serial No. 66,408

2 Claims.

My present invention relates to improvements in a lighting device for jack-olanterns and other halloween toys.

It is the principal purpose of my invention to provide a novel construction of lighting device for jack-o-lanterns and other Halloween toys. These toys generally of jack-o-=lantern pumpkin form, but sometimes in imitation of animals or human heads, are commonly used by children at Halloween time. Their attractiveness is greatly enhanced. by illumination from within. Various means for lighting them have been employed. The most common device is an ordinary candle. That, however, is very dangerous. The toys are often made of fibrous material and colored with lacquer. The combination is often highly inflammable. Moreover the candle itself may ignite a childs clothing.

According to my invention, it is the purpose to provide a lighting means for such toys using an ordinary dry cell battery which embodies a battery container having means to attach it to the toy on the interior and having hinged thereto a combination light bulb support and switch mechanism operable by a handle that protrudes from the toy at a distance from the bulb and battery. In the preferred form of the invention, the handle also cooperates with the hollow shell to produce noise.

The objects and advantages of my invention will appear more fully from the following description and the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment, with modifications of certain parts thereof, of the invention. The drawings and description, however, are illustrative only and it will be apparent that many changes in the detailed construction may be made within the scope of my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View through a hollow toy embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side view of a part of the battery and light holding device;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side view taken on the line 3 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the battery and light holding device;

Figure 5a is a bottom view of the battery and light holding device;

Figure 6 is a sectional view similar to Figure 1, showing a modified handle and mounting for the light bulb, this device being operable from the side;

Figure 7 is a plan view of the Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a plan view of a further modified construction of the lightingdevlce;

igure 9 is a sectional view on the line 9-9 of Figure 8; V

Figure 10 is a sectional view similar to Figure 1 of a further modification of the device;

Figure 11 is a sectional View on the line I l-li of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a side view of the lighting device of Figure 10, looking at it from the right hand side of Figure 10; and

Figure 13 is a sectional view onthe line Iii-l3 of Figure 10.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 5a inclusive showing the preferred form of my invention, 1 provide a container in the form of a substantially U- shaped bracket ll], of any suitable material, to provide a seat for a battery H and to provide the mounting means for a light bulb l2 and operating mechanism, described more fully later, by which the light bulb I 2 may be energized from the battery II. The bracket is electrically conductive to provide a conductor for completing the circuit to the light bulb I2.

The container II] has depending fingers l3 and i oppositely disposed at the bottom thereof. These fingers preferably are struck up from the material at the side of the container as shown in Figure 5. The fingers are forced through the base of the hollow toy 9 (jack-o-lantern, black cat etc), and clinched over a metal washer 8 that seats in a shallow ring like recess So that is formed in the bottom of the toy 9. This construction reenforces the connection of the container II] to the bottom of the toy and keeps the fingers from pulling out. The fingers may also be struck out of the bottom of the container as shown in Figure 5a, 1

In order to resist removal of the battery, it is preferred to make the container ID of somewhat resilient material so that it will grip the battery. The upstanding legs Illa and H31) are curved transversely to prevent the battery from sliding out sidewise. The tongues [5 are struck out from the material of the bracket legs Illa and lb to serve further to secure the battery I I against dislodgement. A band 16 is also used to keep the legs Illa and !0b in place.

At the top of one leg Ina, I provide a hinge H for a light bulb support l8. This support is provided with an aperture I9 which is threaded to receive the light bulb 42. By swinging the support 18 up and down, the light bulb i2 is brought into contact with theflat end terminal lighting device of lid of the battery II to complete the energizing circuit for the light bulb I2. The other contact for the battery is between the raised center terminal Hb on the battery and the cross bar I forming the bottom of the bracket ill.

In a device of this character which is to be carried by children, it is essential to simplify the construction for energizing the light bulb, but to make it of suchnature to withstand the rough handling ofchildren at play. I provide an operating means for the light bulb support 18 of such a nature that the child can turn the light on and off at will, yet if the entire toy is carried by the operating handle, no harm is done to the device. As illustrated in the several drawings,

this operating mechanism may be varied consi d-.

erably in detail but in all instances it is'ch'aracterized by a handle 20 extending through an aperture in the hollow toy, either at the top, or

the side of the toy, and freely movable inth'e' aperture to move the bulb support it. In the preferred form (Figures 1 to 5) the handle '2ilgoes through the top opening 23 in the jack-o-lantern and rocks to and fro in this opening. By shaking the jack-d-lantern to and fro, the handle 25 can be made to strike the walls of the jack-olantern and make a drumming noise while it also flashes the light bulb.

The support !8 and'the'container Ill carry cooperating parts acting yieldingly to hold the support 18 in light bulb energizing position when it is moved there by the handle 29. The leg Illa is provided with ears 2! and the support [8 has a hinge pin 22 thereon cooperating with the ears 2| to form the hinge [1. end hooked over a shoulder 24 formed by bending over the upper end of the leg- 33a. The spring 25 is wound on the pin 22 and hooked over the support [3 to oppose movement of the support 48 to an open position from the closed circuit position shown. The handle 23 has its lower end pivoted in a'bent over portion '26 of the leg "lb and has an operating portion 27 for engaging and lifting'the support l8. Even if the child carries the toy by the handle 20 and swings it around or bangs 'it-against something, the strain is direct from the handle to the leg lfib, thus protecting the light bulb l2 and its support l8 from damage. V V

In Figures 8 and '9 the hinge construction at l'! is somewhat different. The support IB' has an aperture [8a therein and the leg Illa has a portion 28 extended through the aperture l8a and curled over. This is a loose hinge construc: tion. Extended prongs '29 on the support I8 cooperate with spring lugs 39 on the leg Illa to oppose movement of the support 18 to bring the bulb 12 against the central terminal of the battery H. In this form of the invention the support !8 is held in closed position by a permanent magnet 3| that is secured on the leg Nb of the battery container. The support l8 must of course, be at least in part, of a material that will be attracted by the magnet 3|. Soft iron or steel whichis also a conductor of electricity may be used. The. loose hinge construction allows the spring lugs'30 to force the support I8 down to take care of slight differences in battery heights. The handle 20 is connected to the free end of the support I8.

In Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings the hollow toy 9' has a side opening 32 in addition to the usual top opening 23. In-this form a lamp support 33 of wireis hinged at IT to the container 10. The wire support 33 is called at 34 to receive he lamp 2 nd s. extend d. by a liding eaten:

A spring 25 has one sion 35 through the opening 32. Pressure on the be replaced, the handle extension 35 can be extension 30 will force the lamp l2 down to contact the battery ll. When the battery II is to be replaced, the handle extension 35 can be pushed in and lifted through the opening 23. The lamp I 2 is normally held out of contact with the battery II by a resilient member 33 of rubber or its equivalent.

In Figures 10, 1 2 and 13, the construction for mounting the lamp support I8 is modified. In this form of the invention two ears 3'! are extended from the leg Illa of the U-shaped battery container. The ears 31 are bent around laterally extending projections 38 that are formed on the support it". A resilient tongue 39 of the leg 10a is curved and extended as shown in Figure 10, toprovide a spring latch engaging an extension 43 of the support [8". The contour of the tongue 39 is such that it permits the support I8" to snap between open position, where the lamp i2 is spaced from the battery I I, and

closed position, where the lamp i2 is broughtinto contact with the battery I I.

The manner of holding theband IS in place is somewhat different in Figure 10 from theshowing in Figure 1. It is obvious, however, thatthis and other minor changes may be made within the scope of my invention. The function ofthe band !8 is merely to hold the legs of the container 56 more securely and it maybe dispensed with where the container is sufiiciently rigid.

As shown by the drawings and the foregoing description, I have provided a safe lighting de-, vice for jack-d-lanternS and other toys. It is my desire to utilize this lighting device in such toys that are adaptable to it or which are; designed for it. The preferred form also a'noi se maker to increase the appeal of these toys to children. When the battery is used up, it can easily be replaced by lifting they support l8 and then lifting the battery. The preferred form is also a light weight, inexpensive, easily manufactured device, capable of forming, by simple and easy engagement with anelectric bulb and dry cell battery, a safe light for such toys.

From the foregoing description it is believed that the nature and advantages of my invention will be clear.

Having thus described myinvention, I claim:

1. An illuminatedfigure toy comprising a hollow body having an opening in the top thereof and having side openings for'lateral passage of light from the interior of the body, a container for a dry cell battery secured in the body and having oppositely disposed portions projecting above the level of a dry cell battery seated in said container, a dry cell battery seated in said container, the battery having a centralterminal at its bottom and engaging the container, the container being electrically conductive, a lamp bulb, an electrically conductive support hinged to one of said portions and'extending over the other portion, said support having a'socket in which the lamp bulb is mounted, the lamp bulb having an end terminal directed toward the 'adjacent end of the battery, spring means on the container urging the support in a direction to press the end terminal of the lamp bulb against the end of the battery to establish electrical contact between the lamp bulb and thebattery, a handle operably connected to the. support and extending to the exterior of the body through one of the openings for moving the support against the pressure of said spring means thereby-to separate the end terminal or the lamp bulb from the battery.

2. An illuminated figure toy comprising a hollow body having an opening in the top thereof and having side openings for lateral passage of light from the interior of the body, a container for a dry cell battery secured in the body and having oppositely disposed portions projecting above the level of a dry cell battery seated in said container, a dry cell battery seated in said container, the battery having a central terminal at its bottom and engaging the container, the container being electrically conductive, a lamp bulb, an electrically conductive support hinged,

to one of said portions and extending over the other portion, said support having a socket in which the lamp bulb is mounted, the lamp bulb having an end terminal directed toward the adjacent end of the battery, spring means on the container prging the support in a. direction to press the end terminal of the lamp bulb against the end of the battery to establish electrical contact between the lamp bulb and the battery}; a handle pivoted on said other projecting portion and extending through the top opening of the hollow body, said handle being swingable 6 about its pivot from side to side or said opening to act as a heater on the hollow body to produce noise, said handle having a portion extending beneath the free end of said support and engaging the said support and lifting the support against the force of said spring means when the handle is moved in one direction into engagement with the side of the top opening of the hollow body.

HOWARD S. ROOT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 741,293 Barnes Oct. 13, 1903 1,263,315 Finkbeiner Apr. 16, 1918 1,438,179 Hollander Dec. 12, 1922 2,006,251 Rollins June 25, 1935 2,201,588 Kuhns May 21, 1940 2,236,071 Roskam et a1 Mar. 25, 1941 2,277,866 Le Sage Mar. 31, 1942 2,428,133 Yogan Sept. 30, 1947

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