Patent Publication Number: US-3877171-A

Title: Flashlight amusement device

Description:
United States Patent [191 Sloop et al.  
 [ 1 Apr. 15, 1975 1 FLASHLIGHT AMUSEMENT DEVICE [75] Inventors: Conrad B. Sloop, Huntington Beach;  
 Wanda L. Clearwaters, Hermosa Beach, both of Calif.  
 [73] Assignee: Mattel, Inc., Hawthorne, Calif.  
 [22] Filed: July 23, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 381,830  
 Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-J. Q. Lever Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Max E. Shirk; Stephen L.  
 King  
 [5 7] ABSTRACT A novel flashlight type amusement device having a refleeting member rotatably mounted in the longitudinal axis of a conventional type flashlight and located within the path of a light beam emanating from such flashlight. The reflecting member has a mirror like surface for reflecting light at predetermined angles upon rotation of the reflecting member in response to a slight movement of the flashlight. In one embodiment of the invention, the reflecting member is coupled to an eccentrically weighted member that rotates with the reflecting member. Thus, with a slight motion of the flashlight, the eccentrically weighted member causes the reflecting member to rotate the light beam at an angle approximately normal to the longitudinal axis of the flashlight. In another embodiment of the invention, a weight is eccentrically mounted to the back side of the reflecting member so as to rotate the reflecting member upon even a slight movement of the flashlight.  
 8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures FLASHLIGHT AMUSEMENT DEVICE FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to flashlights and more particularly to a novel amusement type flashlight for reflecting light in a random fashion.  
 DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART In the past, there have been numerous devices manufactured that could be attached to standard flashlights to either direct light in a definite path or to modify the light emanating from the flashlight. These prior art flashlight were primarily concerned with utilizing the flashlight as a signalling device or as a devicefor limiting the direction and/or intensity of the light emanating from the flashlight.  
  It is well] known that children enjoy playing with the standard type of flashlight. They like to whirl the flashlight around their playroom and follow the spot of light as it jumps&#34; around the room. However, since all of the standard flashlights provide a child with the same identical type of amusement, the novelty of the enjoyment soon ends. In some instances. the parents would like to have the child understand that a flashlight is not a toy but that it is a household tool that should be used for practical purposes. Therefore, in most cases, the child either quickly tires of the use of the flashlight or he is forbidden to play with the flashlight.  
  Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel amusement device to provide enjoyment for young children.  
  It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel amusement device in the form of a flashlight from which light emanates in a random fashion.  
  It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a novel flashlight type device which may be moved about with ease to provide a whirling erratic beam of light.  
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the objects set forth above, the present invention provides a novel flashlight type amusement device featuring a reflecting member rotatably mounted in the longitudinal axis ofa conventional type flashlight and located within the path of light beam emanating from such flashlight. The reflecting member has a mirror like surface for reflecting a light at predetermined angles upon the rotation of the reflecting member. In one embodiment of the invention, a reflecting member is coupled to an eccentrically weighted member that rotates with the reflecting member. Thus. with a slight motion of the flashlight, the eccentrically weighted member causes the reflecting member to rotate the light beam at an approximate normal angle to the longitudinal axis of the flashlight. In another embodiment of the invention, the weight is eccentrically mounted to the back side of the reflecting member so as to rotate the reflecting member upon even a slight motion of the flashlight.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Additional objects. advantages and characteristic features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:  
  FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a flashlight type amusement device, partially sectioned to illustrate the particular parts thereof, in accordance with the present invention;  
  FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the reflecting portion of the amusement device of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention; and I FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of another type of reflecting member that may be incorporated within the amusement device of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention.  
 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to- FIG. 1, there is shown a side elevational view of a flashlight type amusement device 10 in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The amusement device 10 is basically comprised of a conventional hand-held type flashlight l1 and reflecting means 12 attached to the top of the flashlight 11. The flashlight 11 consists of a cylindrical housing 13, a pair of dry cell batteries 14, a light bulb 15, a conventional light bulb retaining and reflector member 16, a lens 17, a lens holder 18, an on/off switch 19, and a conventional electrical circuit, not shown, for operating the flashlight 11. The reflecting means 12 is comprised of a cup-shaped member 20, reflector 21, a reflector mounting member 22 and its associated eccentrically mounted weight 23. The cup-shaped member 20 is constructed of a transparent plastic material and may be of any color so as to add to the enjoyment the child will receive from operating the amusement device 10. The bottom of the cup-shaped member 20 may be affixed to an upwardly extending flange 26 of the lens holder 18 by conventional means, such as, an adhesive to retain the reflecting means 12 to the flashlight 11.  
  The reflector 21, the reflector mounting member 22 and its associated weight 23 are rotatably mounted on the cup-shaped member 20 on the longitudinal axis of the flashlight 11 so that upon movement of the flashlight 11 by a child, the light beam emanating from the light bulb 15, as illustrated by the arrows 24, will be reflected radially from the longitudinal axis X to form a reflected light beam, as illustrated by the arrows 25. Upon rapid movement of the flashlight 11, the reflected light beam 25 will form a donut shaped area of light that is normal to and encircles the longitudinal axis X of the flashlight 11. The member 22 is so shaped that the chile may also enjoy the amusement device 10 by rotating the member 22 with his free hand so as to rotate the r:flector 21.  
  Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown an exploded perspective view of the reflector means 12 of the amusement device 10 of FIG. 1. The reflector mounting member 22 is comprised of a plurality of radially reinforcing ribs 27 and a hollow tube 28. The weight 23 may be mounted to the reflector member 12 by conventional means, for example, by means of an adhesive. In constructing the amusement device 10, the hollow tube 24 of the reflector mounting member 22 may be inserted into an opening 29 of the cup-shaped member 20. A rod-shaped member 21&#39; of the reflector 21 may be then urged into the hollow tube 28 of the reflector mounting member 22 and may be retained therein by means of an interference fit or by means of an adhesive.  
  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the reflector 21 is mounted in the cup-shaped member 20 at an angle of approximately 45 to the longitudinal axis X of the flashlight 11. The reflector 21 may be of any suitable material to provide a good reflecting surface or may be constructed of plastic and have a coating that would provide a mirror-like surface. As can be readily appreciated by examination of FIG. 2, the weight 23 is eccentrically mounted on the reflector mounting member 22 so that upon even a slight motion of the flashlight 11. the reflector mounting member and the reflector 21 will readily rotate around the longitudinal axis X of the flashlight 11 to form the donut-shaped area of light.  
  Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a side elevational view of another type of reflecting means that may be incorporated within the amusement device of FIG. I in accordance with the principles of the present invention. There is shown a reflector 31 having a weight 30 eccentrically mounted thereto. Further shown is a reflector mounting member 33 that includes a hollow tube 34 for providing an interference fit to a rod member 32 to retain the reflector 31. As may be readily appreciated. the reflecting means of FIG. 3 may be rotatably mounted in the opening 29 of the cupshaped member of FIG. 2.  
  Thus, although the present invention has been shown and described with reference to particular embodiments, for example, a reflecting disc mounted at an angle of 45 to the longitudinal axis of the flashlight, nevertheless, various changes and modifications obvious to a person skilled in the art to which the invention pertains, for example, a cup-shaped reflecting disc mounted at some suitable angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the flashlight, are deemed to lie within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.  
 What is claimed is:  
 1. An amusement device comprising:  
 a light source emanating a beam of light; and  
 reflecting means rotatably mounted on the longitudinal axis of said light source and within the path of said beam of light for providing a rotating beam of light, said reflecting means including an eccentrically mounted weight member to ensure rotation of said reflecting means upon movement of said light source.  
  2. An amusement device as recited in claim 1 wherein said reflecting means has a reflecting surface positioned to reflect said beam of light at an angle of approximately 90.  
  3. An amusement device as recited in claim 1 wherein:  
 said light source is comprised of:  
 a housing:  
 a power source located within said housing; a light bulb connected to said light housing; and connecting and switching means coupling said power source to said light bulb for controlling the emanation of light from said light source; and said reflecting means is comprised of:  
 stationary means mounted to said housing of said light source; and  
 a disc shaped member rotatably mounted to said stationary means in the longitudinal axis of said light source.  
  4. An amusement device as recited in claim 3 wherein said disc shaped member has a mirror-like surface and is mounted in longitudinal axis of said light source at an angle of approximately 5. An amusement device comprising:  
 a light source emanating a beam of light; and  
 reflecting means rotatably mounted on the longitudinal axis of said light source and within the path of said beam of light for providing a rotating beam of light, said reflecting means having a front surface and a rear surface, said front surface having a mirror-like finish that is positioned to receive said beam of light, said reflecting means also having a weight eccentrically mounted to said rear surface.  
 6. An amusement device as recited in claim 3 wherein said stationary means is a cup-shaped colored plastic member having an opening located at its distal end and said disc shaped member is rotatably mounted in said opening.  
 7. An amusement device comprising: a lightsource emanating a beam of light; and reflecting means rotatably mounted on the longitudinal axis of said light source and within the path of said beam of light for providing a rotating beam of light, said reflecting means being comprised of: stationary means mounted to said light source, said stationary means having an inner surface and an outer surface and an opening in the longitudinal axis of said light source: I a disc shaped member located within said inner surface of said stationary means; and an eccentric weight member located outside of said outer surface of said stationary means and adapted to be coupled to said disc shaped member. 8. An amusement device comprising: a light source emanating a beam of light; and reflecting means rotatably mounted on the longitudinal axis of said light source and within the path of said beam of light for providing a rotating beam of light. said reflecting means including a disc shaped member that responds to an eccentrically mounted weight on said reflecting means to rotate around the longitudinal axis of said light source upon movement of said light source. =l =l