US2014266A - Vanity case - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 10, 1935. w. E. SHERBONDY VANITY CASE Filed March 1, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 W TWJ Sept. 10, 1935. w. E. SHERBONDY VANITY CASE Filed March 1, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mnkw Patented Sept. 10, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VANITY CASE William E. Sherbondy, Shaker Heights, Ohio Application March 1, 1932, Serial No. 596,020

23 Claims. (Cl. 240-6.45)

This invention relates to a vanity case having a mirror, and illuminating means comprising an electric lamp and a battery, enabling the effective use of the mirror in the dark.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide such combination disposed in such manner that the light may readily illuminate the face of the user looking at the mirror without causing a disadvantageous glare interfering with an effective reflection.

Another object is to reduce the size of the entire device as much as possible; and in accomplishing this, I arrange the lamp so that it occupies waste space between two battery cells. The unit comprising the mirror, lamp, battery and connections, may be readily embodied within a suitable folding compact adapted to contain various toilet articles, the whole device being of small size and attractive appearance.

My invention is hereinafter more fully explained in connection with the drawings, which illustrate three approved forms of compact made in accordance therewith, the first form being shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the second form in Figs. 5 to 9, inclusive, and the third form in the remaining figures.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan of one form of my improved vanity case, showing the case openedready for use.

Fig. 2 is a view of the case opened, but with the intermediate leaf carrying the lamp and battery swung over to expose the rear side thereof.

Figs. 3 and 4 are cross sections throughthis type of case, showing the case closed and opened with the lamp energized respectively.

Fig. 5 is an open plan of the second embodiment of my vanity case.

Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the intermediate leaf thereof.

Figs. '7 and 8 are cross sections showing the lamp energized and idle,'respectively.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentaryj plan, partially broken away, of the upper partof the case showing Fig. 5 with the lamp carrier in idleposition.

Fig. 10 is a plan of the third modification of my invention open ready for use.

Fig. 11 is a view looking at the rear side of the intermediate leaf of such compact.

Fig. 12 is a cross section of the device as used.

Fig. 13 is a cross section showing the parts in an abnormal position, with the battery and lamp carrier out of the base.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary cross section through the embodiment of Figs. 10 to 13, slightly modifled in the matter of the inclined mirror and its holding means. I

Fig. 15 is a perspective of the mirror-retaining device of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a perspective of the end portion of 5 the base casing where the mirror construction of Fig. 14 is used.

Fig. 17 is a perspective of the carrier for the battery and lamp, which may be used in the embodiment of Figs. 10 to 16.

I will first describe the construction of Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive. In this embodiment, I0 indicates a suitable base having a back with an edge wall II; and 20 indicates a cover having edge wall 2| adapted to abut the edge wall of the base. These 15 parts are hinged together at 40; and mounted on the common hinge is an intermediate member 30 having an edge wall 32 adapted to nest snugly within the wall l2 of the base member.

The front of the intermediate member 30 is 20 polished to provide the mirror. In the lower portion of this mirror, I make an opening 34 in which is mounted a lamp and lamp carrier; while on the back of the intermediate member I mount the battery for energizing the lamp. As shown, particularly in Fig. 2, the battery comprises two cells 60 and GI, which are spaced apart and held respectively against the flanges 32 of the intermediate member by suitable spring clip 62 secured to such member and bearing against the rounded sides of the battery cells.

The lamp 50 in this embodiment is mounted in a scoop-shaped shield 52 which is pivotally carried in such manner that it may lie parallel with the mirror, as shown in Fig. 3, or be extended at an 35 angle thereto, as in Fig. 4. The shield is shown as pivotally mounted on the inturned ends of a wire bail 54 which is carried by a suitable housing 55, of oblong shape with rounded ends, secured to the rear face of the member 30 and lying between the two battery cells 60 and SI.

When the compact is closed, the lamp and shield are in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3. To energize the lamp, it is only necessary for the operator to take hold of the lower end of the shield by the tongue 58 and swing it up into the oblique position shown in Fig. 4; and this carries the central terminal of the lamp back into contact with a battery terminal 10, thereby energizing the lamp. The angle of the shield and lamp may be varied by screwing the lamp a greater distance or less distance into the socket carried by the shield.

In the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4, the. two cells 60 and SI face in opposite directions and are connected in series by a metal strip'lfl insulatingly carried. As shown, the clip 62 has a lip 63 which is formed with ears 64 to embrace the insulation carrying the strip III. One terminal of the battery, as its exposed end 65, bears against a spring 66 which is connected to the housing 65, and thus leads to the threaded sleeve of the lamp 66. The other battery terminal, as 66, is connected with a lip 13 on a plate II insulatingly carried by the back of the housing 55 and having a tongue 12 adapted to be engaged by the central terminal of the'lamp when the shield and lamp are turned into operative position, as shown in Fig. 4.

It results from the mounting described that the swinging out of the shield from inactive position to active position not only brings the lamp into the desired relation with the mirror to throw the ticulars. First, the shield I62 carrying the lamp I06 is located beyond the upper edge of the mirror,that is, the edge distant mm the hinge of the compact, instead of being lo'cated near the hinge in a recess cut through the' mirror, as

formerly. In the second place, they shield I62,

instead of being scoop-shaped and normally lying in the space within the lid asshown in Fig. 3, is now flat on its top and, when closed, lies substantially flush with the mirror, as shown in Fig. 8. This flat shield is pivotally carried'b'y the intumed ends of a bail I64 01'. Fig.9, which is held by cars on the end of a housing I65 mounted within the space between the two battery-cells. The battery cells are mounted adjacent theside walls 32 of the intermediateleaf, and heldby asuitable clip 62, as formerly. V

The construction'just described has the advantage of leaving the entire spacewithin the lid for vanity articles, the housing and its lamp and shield occupyingsimplyidle space between the battery cells.

In the embodiment of Figs. 10 to 17, the lamp I56 is mounted in fixed position behind the intermediate member 38 and extends into the idle space between the battery cells. The lamp, being almost entirely behind the mirror, throws its rays to the front by means of an inclined. mirror I60, which stands at an acute angle to the plane of the'mirror face '30 and behind an opening I6I in such mirror face. Embracing the lamp bulb, is a concave reflector I63 which concentrates the rays on. the inclined mirror I66 which directs them onto the face of the person looking at the mirror 36.

The mirror I66 may be made by a piece of polished metal-integral with the case member 36, as shown in Fig. 13, or it may be a separate piece of metal or glass, as shown at I68 in Figs. 14 and 15. The latter case, the inclined mirror plate is held in a sheet metal bracket I16 having two parts at right angles to each other, the upper part carrying a flange I'll overhanging the top of the mirror and the lower part tongues Il2 for engaging the lower edge of the mirror. In this instance, the inclined mirror extends above the plane of the main mirror 30, as illustrated in Fig. 14 and the retaining flange I'll acts also as a shield protecting the users eyes from the direct reflection of the lamp.

The battery cells 66 and Ill, in this embodiment, are held as heretofore by suitable clips against the side walls 62 of the intermediate member.

The cross bar I0 connects the two cells in a series, and the terminal 66 of one of the cells is connected by a metallic member I6'I with the central terminal of the lamp. The sleeve of the lamp is electrically connected with the casing itself, so that 5 to switch on the current it Is only necessary to connect the other battery terminal 66 (which is the base of one of the cells) with the casing.

Figs. 10, 11 and 12 illustrate a suitable switch- I96 adapted to connect the batterytermin'al 65 1 with the casing. This switch is a lever pivoted at I 9| to the wall 62 of the intermediate member 30. A spring I93, having a V-shaped free end, bears against one side or the other of a lug I94 on the lever. The lever has an operating tongue 15 I95 which projects outwardly through a slot 31 in the face of the member 66. When the tongue I95 is projecting in the general direction away from the hinge 40 of the compact, the lever I96 is out of contact with the battery terminal 65 and the 20 current is off. Ncw, if the tongue I95 is shoved toward the hinge, coming into the position shown in Fig. 12, the lever engages the end 65 of the battery and turns on the current. The nose of the spring I93 passes over the lug I94 during the described movement of the lever, and thus holds it in energized position.

To prevent the possibility of the compact being closed with the lamp energized, thereby resulting in wasting the battery, I form a cam I96 on the in- 30 ner face of the cover 26 so positioned that the inclined edge thereof, as indicated in Fig. 12, will engage the tongue I95 and force it back sufllciently so that the nose of the spring I93 passes over to the other side of the lug I94, thus opening the 35 circuit to the lamp. 7 I

I find it very convenient, with the embodiment just described, to form the lamp bracket and the battery clips and the means for connecting the two battery cells in series as a single, separate 4 unit, which may be. soldered or otherwise secured to the rear face of the leaf 3!]. Such unit is illusitrated in Fig. 17, and comprises a base bar I80 I having, extended from its sides, tongues I8I to embrace the batteries. At one end, the base 5 strip has a turned-up T head I82, which has tongues I83 insulatingly carrying the strip III which connects the battery cells. At the other end of the base strip is a flange I84 which is formed with an opening I85 in which is mounted 5 a screw-threaded sleeve I86 (Fig. 14) .into which the lamp may be screwed. The connection I81 heretofore described, leading from the cell 6| to the central terminal of the lamp, is shown as a V-shaped piece of metal insulatingly mounted 55 on the plate I80 and having at the end of one arm a lip I88 insulated from the flange I64 and having its other arm bent over to provide a spring member I89 adapted to maintain pressure against the central contact of the lamp.

It is preferable to provide a spring catch to retain the compact normally closed. .Such a catch is illustrated at 206 in Fig. 16, and comprises an L-shaped leaf spring riveted to the end wall of the base casing I 0 and having an 5 operating knob 26I projecting outwardly through such end wall. The spring carries,- at its free end, an outward inclined projection 202 which is adapted to snap into'a recess in the end wall of the cover 20. Where the mirror construction of Figs. 14 and 15 is used,,a recess I15 may be made in the bracket I III to receive the spring 200 and allow its free movement.

It will be seen that, with any of the embodiments of my invention, I have provided a mirror and a lamp which is energized by a battery. readily switched on or oil, and that, in each case, the lamp is shielded so that the user's eyes are protected from the direct glare, but, at the same time, the light is thrownon the user's face-especialiy on the lower portion thereof. The whole device, including the battery, lamp and mirror, as well as the articles usually employed in compacts, is arranged'in a neat and attractive manner and occupies comparatively little space. I claim:

' l. The combination of a base casing, a leaf hinged thereto and 1 having an edge flange adapted to nest within the wall of the base casing, a pair of battery cells on the rear side of the leaf, spaced apart and held against the flanges thereof by intermediately located clips engaging the inner portions of the'cells, and a lamp adapted to occupy space at the ,rear of the leaf between the cells, and means for connecting the two contacts of the lamp with the cells, respectively.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a base casing, a leaf hinged thereto, a mirror on the forward face of the leaf, a pair of battery cells on the rear face of the leaf spaced apart, mechanism-carried by the leaf for holding the cells in place; a lamp located in part, at least, between the cells and adapted to throw its light on the face of a user looking at the mirror, and a shield for said lamp to prevent the rays striking the users eyes.

3. In a vanity case, the combination of a base casing having an edge wall, a leaf hinged to the base casing and adapted to form a cover therefor, said leaf having a mirror on its forward face and having an opening through it, a pair of battery cells spaced apart and adapted to be held at the rear of said leaf, a housing secured to the rear face of said leaf and adapted to extend into the region between the battery cells, a shield pivoted to said housing, and a lamp carried by said shield and adapted to be connected with the battery when the shield is turned at an angle to the mirror.

4. In avanity case, the combination of a twopart casing comprisinga base and a cover hinged together, an intermediate leaf hinged to the case,

a mirror 'on the forward side of the leaf, an opening through the leaf, a pair of battery cells on the rear of the leaf spaced apart, a housing on the rear of the leaf adapted to'extend between the battery cells, a shield pivoted to the housing and adapted to fold down substantially flush with the mirror or be turned up at an angle thereto, and means carried by the shield for holding the electric lamp.

5. The combination of a casing having a leaf with a mirror on its forward face, an opening through the leaf adjacent one end of the mirror, an electric lamp at the rear of the leaf substantially parallel therewith, with its head adjacent the opening, and a reflector opposite the lamp and extending beyond the plane of the mirror face.

6. The combination of a base casing, a leaf hinged thereto and adapted to'form a cover for the base casing, an opening through the leaf, an electric lamp secured tothe rear face of the leaf substantially parallel therewith, with its head adjacent the opening, a reflector opposite the lamp and extending out through the opening in the intermediate leaf, and a ledge across the projecting edge of the mirror forming a shield for the user's eyes.

. thereto and having an opening. through it, said leaf having edge flanges, apair of battery cells on the rear side of the leaf spaced'apart and '5 respectively adjacent the edge flangesgan intermediate member secured to the rear face of the leaf and carrying tongues to engage the battery cells to hold themin place andcarrying a hous-' ing for an electric lamp, and a reflector opposite 10 such lamp and adapted to direct its rays through the opening in the leaf.

8. In a vanity case, the combination of a twopart casing having flanges at its opposite edges, a leaf with an. aperture therein hinged to the 15 base casing and provided with a mirror on its forward face, two battery cells in the region between the leaf and the back of the base casing and positioned respectively adjacent the opposite edges of the case to leave an available space be- 20 tween them, an electric lamp occupying said space, means for directing the rays of the light from the lamp onto the face of the user looking at the mirror, said means beingiin a plane inclined with reference to the back of the casin! 25 and means for connecting the lamp and the two cells in series. 9. The combination of a casing havin! a leaf with a mirror on its forward face, an opening through the leaf adjacent one end of the mirror, 30

'combinationof a casing having a leaf with an opening through it, a clip mounted on the rear side of said leaf. arranged to hold a pair of batteryv 40 cells spaced apart on the rear of the leaf and to support a housing partially between the battery cells, said housing having mounted thereon a pivoted shield and a lamp mounted on said shield.

11. In a device of the character described, the 45 combination of a base casing having a leaf hinged thereto to provide a battery and lamp compartment, said leaf having edge flanges adapted to extend into the base casing, a pair of battery cells spaced apart in'said compartment, there being 5 an opening through the leaf adjacent one end,

a lamp in said compartment extending between the battery cells and having its head adjacent the opening, a reflector in front of the lamp adapted to reflect its rays through the opening, 55 and a flat mirror on the face of the leaf.

.12. In a device of the character described, th combination of a base, portion, a second portion adapted to form a cover for the base portion, an aperture in said cover portion, a mirror mounted w on-said second portion, two batteries between the portions, an electric lamp between the batteries, and an intermediate member mounted on one of said portions, said intermediate member carrying tongues to engage the batteries and hold them 5 in place and carrying the lamp in a predetermined position with relation to said batteries.

13. In a device of the character described, the combination of a base casing, a leaf adapted to form a cover therefor, a pair of battery cells spaced apart and adapted to be housed within the base casing behind'the leaf, there being an opening'in the leaf adjacent one end, a lamp on the rear side of the leaf extending between the opening, a flxed mirror within the base casing extending across the head of the lamp and standing at an oblique angle to the leaf to reflect the rays through the opening.

14. The combination of a base casing and a leaf hinged to the base casing, said leaf having a mirror on its forward face and an opening adjacent one end of the mirror, a pair of battery cells spaced apart behind the leaf, and an intermediate fastening device for clamping said cells in plasma lamp extending into the space between the battery cells and a reflector carried within the case adjacent said opening andv in front of the lamp.

15. The combination of a-base casing, a leaf hinged thereto and adapted to form a cover for the base casing, an opening through the leaf, an electric lamp at the rear of the leaf substantially parallel therewith, with its head adjacent the opening, a reflector opposite the lamp and oblique to the axis of the lamp, and a ledge extending across and engaging the forward edge of the re flector to hold the reflector in place.

16. In a vanity case, the combination of a twopart casing, a leaf attachable to the base casing, an opening adjacent an end of said leaf, two battery cells in the region between the leaf and the back of the base casing and positioned respectively adjacent the opposite edges of the base casing to leave an available space between them, an electric lamp occupying said space and adapted to send light rays through said opening, means for connecting the lamp with the two cells, and

an inclined mirror in the base casing for refleeting the light from the lamp toward the front of the vanity case.

17. In a device of the character described, the combination of a base portion, a second portion adapted to form a cover for the base portion, a mirror mounted on said second portion, an opening adjacent an end of said mirror, two battery cells between the portions, an electric lamp between the cells adapted to send light rays through said opening, and an intermediate member mounted on one of saidportions, said intermediate member having means to engage the battery cells and hold them in place, and ,means for retaining the lamp in a predetermined position with relation to said batteries.

18. In a vanity case, the combination of a casing having space to house a battery, a cover therefor, an intermediate member between the base and cover carrying a mirror on one face, an electric lamp adjacent one edge of the mirror, a switch for connecting the terminals of said lamp with a battery behind the intermediate member and a shield about one side of the lamp.

19. In a vanity case, the combination. of a base casing adapted to house a battery, it cover hinged to said casing, an intermediate leaf car- 75 pivotally carried by the casing, a lamp within said shield, a suitable conductor within the casing for conducting current from a battery therein to the lamp when the shield is extended, said shield serving to carry the lamp away from its feeding conductors when the shield is folded down, and a mirror positioned in front of the 'lamp when the shield is extended, in which position the head of the lamp extends beyond the plane of said mirror.

21. In a vanity case, the combination of a base 5 casing, a cover, an intermediate leaf carrying a mirror, a shield pivotally mounted on the inter mediate leaf and adapted to be extended or turned down substantially parallel with the intermediate leaf, an electric lamp carried by said shield, suitable conductors for conveying current from a battery carried behind the leaf to the lamp when the shield is extended.

22. In a vanity case. the combination of a casing compartment having a mirror on its front face, an opening through said face adjacent the edge of said mirror, a battery and an electric lamp in the compartment, said lamp being positioned so as to be shielded by the mirror, and an inclined mirror within the compartment to direct the rays of the lamp through the opening.

23. In .a vanity case. the combination with a casing comprising a base and cover, of an intermediate member hinged thereto and adapted to be enclosed within the casing, said intermediate member having a mirror on its .forwa'rd face, a battery and electric lamp behind the intermediate member, there being an opening through the intermediate member, and an inclined mirror behind the opening andcdirectly in front of the lamp, and means for concentrating the rays of the lamp on the inclined mirror, which is positioned to reflect such rays onto the face of a person looking at the mirror.

WILLIAM E; SHERBONDY.

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