US2978696A - Illuminated hat - Google Patents

Description

prii 4, 196 J. R. KELLER Erm. 29789595 ILLUMINATED HAT Filed Sept. 8, 1958 i am:

Uni Sms Pafifiilt ELUMINATED HAT John R. Keller and Russell R. Kelly, Cincinnati, Ohio,

assignors to Clever Things Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Sept. 8, 1958, Ser. N'. 759,609

4 Claims. (Cl. 340-366) This invention relates to childrens toys and is particu-l larly directed to a novel hat having an intermittently` ashing dome.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a toy hat having a translucent dome which glows4 intermittently. The flashing occurs automatically; that is, it does not depend upon any manually operated buttons, or the like. In fact, the entire dashing mechanism is mounted within the hat and is concealedfrom view so that an extremely unusual effect is achieved.

Another object of the present invention is to provide av easily fabricated parts, i.e., two small batteries, three wires, and two plastic members.

More particularly, the present invention is predicated upon the concept of providing a hat construction including a cap member, the upper portion of which is provided with means to support one or more batteries, a selfdashing bulb and electrical conductors for interconnecting the battery and bulb. The hat is further provided with a removable translucent dome which is frictionally. held over the top portion ofthe cap member and con.

ceals the batteries, conductors and light bulb. but which is completely illuminated by the flashing light bulb.

One of the advantages 'of the present construction is that it is extremely economical to produce. In the pre- Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 isa cross-sectional view taken along line 37-3 of Figure 2. Y

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 3.

As is shown in Figure 1, a hat 10 constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention comprises a dish shaped cap member 11 adapted to tit over thehead of a child. Y The upper portion of the cap member 11 is provided with an upstanding cylindrical base section 12 which is covered by a translucent dome 13, the lowerl portion of the dome frictionally engaging the side wall 14 of base 12. Dome 13 encloses a self-flashing bulb 415'whichis'interconnected through wires 16, 17, and

18 to a pair of drycells 20 and 21. When the device is assembled and the circuit is completed, only the cap portion and dome are `visible and the dome emits a flashing light which gives the hat a highly unusual appearance.

More particularly, cap portion 11 is preferably a unitary plastic molding formed of polyethylene, or other suitable plastic and includes a curved downwardly openingwall adapted to embrace a childs head. If desired, the lower rim 22 of the cap portion can be provided with two opposed openings for receiving the ends of a resilient chin strap (not shown). The upper portion of cap member11 carries base 12 which is preferably molded integrally with the cap portion and comprises a circular upstanding wll 14 adapted to receive and frictionally engagey a wall vof dome 13. n n

Base 12 further comprises two parallel recesses 24 and i 25 for receiving dry cells 20 and 21. These recesses are ferred embodiment, the cap portion and dome are unitary plastic moldings which are held together by simple frictional engagement. The electrical components ofthe device comprise two small dry cells which nest within suitable` recesses formed in the top portion of the cap member. A self-liashingv bulb and three copper wires complete the assembly. VThe copper wires perform four` functions.l In the lirst place, they provide an electrical interconnection between the batteries and bulb. In the second place they form-a mechanical mounting for .the bulb. In the third place, they cooperate withfthe bulb to perform a switching function, permitting the lbulb tobe disconnected, since the wires are adapted to support the bulb either in a closed or open `circuit condition; and finally, the wires help to frictionally lock the batteries within the recesses.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description of the drawings preferably of the same width as the diameter of the dry cells and are provided with resilient integral lugs 27 for engaging the dry cells to help retain them in their position. Each end of theA recesses 24 and 25 is also provided with a small bore 40-41 for receiving and frictionally engaging the end of a Wire. Additionally web 28 extending between the-two cells is provided with two spaced bores for receiving and frictionally supporting the ends of two wires.

vWires 16, 17, and 18 perform several functions, one of which is to electrically interconnect batteries 20 and 21 in series with one another and with self-flashing bulb 15. The exact details of construction of bulb 15 constitute no part of the present invention. It will suffice here to state that bulb 15 comprises a glass envelope 30 and a base 31 joined in a conventional manner. Glass envelope 30 encloses a filament 32 which is supported between the two rigid wires 33 and 34. Wire 33 is connected to an insulated terminal 35 provided at the bottom of the bulb base in the usual manner. Lead 34, however, is insulated from the second terminal constituted by the base sleeve. This -lead is` adapted to be connected to that terminal through a bimetallic strip 36. As is diagrammatically indicated in Figure 2, the free I end 4of 'this bimetallic strip normally engages the upper end oflead'34 adjacent to filament 32. Consequently, when'the lamp bulb is initially energized, a circuit is completed through the bimetallic strip to the filament. However, when the filament heats up, the bimetallic strip bends and the filament circuit is broken so that the lamp is extinguished. This in turn causes the bimetallic strip to cool off and return to its original position in contact with wire 34, whereupon the lamp filament is again energized. In this manner, the lamp bulb 15 continues to glow intermittently so long as it is connected to the dry cells 20 and 21 through wires 16, 17, and 1'8.

Wire 18 is generally U-shaped, the ends 37 and 38 of.

this wire being inserted within bores 40 and 41 so that the wire isA frictionally held in place within the bores.,

Patented Apr- Wire 1'8 interconnects the negative terminal of cell 20 with the positive terminal of cell 21.

As is best shown in Figure 3, the center portion of wire 1,8 is hel-d in place vby two resilient lugs 39-39. These lugs are molded as an integral part of theY base section. The ends Iof the lugs are spaced apartslightly while the base portions of the lugs have suicient clearance between them to accomodate wire 18. Thus, wire 18 can be placed downwardly between the ends of the lugs which are suiciently resilient to be displaced, permitting the wire to pass into the clearance space between the lug bases. After the Wire has entered this space,

the resilient ends ofthe lugs return to their original position and function to hold wire 18 in place.

`Wire 17 comprises a foot portion 42 disposed at the opposite endl of recess 2S in frictional engagement with a suitable opening provided in that recess. This wire engages the negative terminal of dry cell 21. Wire 17 also includes a contact arm portion 43 disposed to lie along the upper surface of web 28 and including a downwardly extending end portion 44 inserted in an opening formed in the web.

Wire 16 comprises a lirst upstanding leg 4S inserted in an opening formed in the end of recess 24 and a second -upstanding leg 46 inserted in an opening in web 28. The intermediate portion of this wire is coiled to form a socket section 47 adapted to threadably receive base section 31 of lamp bulb 15. j

Socket section 47 is disposed directly over contact arm portion 43 of wire 17 so that when bulb 15 is threaded downwardly, the insulated terminal on the lower section of the base is in electrical contact with arm portion 43. Since `wire 16 is slightly resilient when the bulb is tightened, the wire is bent slightly upwardly and functions to firmly hold the bulb in contact with wire 17. No switch is required in the ligh bulb circuit since to turn the bulb nal of said dry cell, said conductor being spaced from said wire and disposed for contact with saidbulb when said bulb is threaded into said coiled wire, and a translucent plastic dome mounted over said base in frictional engagement therewith, said dome enclosing said light bulb, battery, wire and conductor, whereby when said light bulb is threaded inwardly in said coil into engagement with said conductor said light bulb is effective to cause said dome to glow intermittently, and whereby said light bulb can be completely disconnected by threading it outwardly in said coiled wire to disengage the light bulb from said conductor.

in each of said recesses, openings formed adjacent to the ofi it is merely threaded a turn within socket portion 47 so that the contact in the tip yof the bulb is spaced from wire 17 and the circuit to the bulb lament is thus broken. The frictional engagement between the bulb and socket is effective to hold the bulb in this position. To light the bulb, it is merely threaded inwardly to bring its insulated contact back into engagement with the contact segment 43 of wire 17.

The hat assembly is completed by means of a translucent dorne 13. This dome is preferably molded from a slightly resilient material, such as polyethylene, or the like, and is translucent so that light from bulb 15 appears to light the dome. In the preferred embodiment, dome 13 has a curved upper end 48 and straight side walls 50V defining a skirt which ts over the vertical wall 14 of base section 12 and frictionally engages that wall so that the dome is firmly held in place.

It is believed that the operation of the present hat is clearly apparent from the foregoing description. It is further believed apparent that those skilled in the art will readily comprehend various modifications to which the present invention is susceptible. For example,;it is contemplated that the skirt of dome 13 can frictionally engage a rib formed on the outer surface of the base section 12 rather than the entire outer wall of the base section.-

Moreover, the cap portion could be of different contiguration so that it would look like a helmet for example.-

base having recess formed therein, a dry cell disposed in said recess, a self-llashing light bulb, a wire coiled for threadably engaging and supporting said bulb and interconnecting said bulb and one terminal of said dry cell, a conductor in electrical connection with the other termiends of said recesses, a rst generally U-shaped wire having ends inserted in an opening formed in each of said recesses in electrical connection with each of said dry cells, a second wire having a lirst end inserted in an open,

ing in one of said recesses in electrical connection with the dry cell disposed therein, said second wire also including a conductor portion disposed intermediate said dry cells, and a third wire having a first upstanding leg inserted in an opening in one of said recesses in electrical' connection with the dry cell disposed therein and having .a coiled socket forming portion disposed above the conductor portion of said second wire, a self-liashing light bulb threadably engaging said socket portion, and having an insulated terminal in engagement with the conductor portion of the second wire.

3. A toy hat comprising a cap portion, a translucent dome adapted to be mounted upon said cap portion, said cap portion having a base section, including an upstanding peripheral wall formed adjacent to the top thereof, said base section being provided with two spaced recesses separated by la web, said web having two recesses formed l therein, two dry cells, one of said dry cells being disposed.

in each recess, openings formed adjacent to the ends of said recesses, a first generally U-shaped wire having ends inserted in an opening formed in each of said recesses, the ends of said rst wire being in electrical connection with each of said dry cells, a second wire having a rst end inserted in an opening in one of said recesses in electrical connection with the dry cell disposed therein, said second wire including a conductor portion disposed over said web intermediate said dry cells and a second end disposed in lan opening in said web, and a third wire having a rst upstanding leg inserted in an opening in one of said recesses in electrical connection with the dry cell disposed therein, said third wire including a coiled socket forming portion disposed above the conductor portion of said second wire, and a second upstanding leg disposed in an opening in said web, a self-dashing light bulb thread-i ably engaging said socket portion and having an insulated terminal 1n engagement with the conductor portion of the second threaded wire.

4. A toy hat comprising a cap portion, a translucentA in each recess, openings formed adjacent to the ends of` 'said recesses, a lirst generally U-shaped wire having ends inserted in an opening formed in each of said recesses in electrical connection with each of said dry cells, a'seco-nd wire having a first end inserted in an opening in one of said recesses in electrical connection with the dry cell disposed therein, said second wire including a conductor` portion disposed over said web intermediate said dry cells and a second end disposed in'an opening in said web, and a. third wire having a rst upstanding leg inserted in an opening in one of said recesses in electrical connection with the dry cell disposed therein, said third wire including a coiled socket forming portion disposed above the conductor portion of said second wire, and a second upstanding leg disposed in an opening in said web, a selfashing light bulb threadably engaging said socket portion and having an insulated terminal in engagement with the conductor portion of the second threaded wire, said translucent dome having a skirt portion frictionally embracing the upstanding peripheral wall of said cap portion.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Theilacker Feb. 11, 1936 Avery l. Jan. 2, 1951 Prups .Tune l2, 1953 Lenning Feb. 5, 1957 Hesse Apr. 9, 1957 Campanell Dec. 10, 1957

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