Flashlight

• US 20040012955A1
• Filed: 07/17/2002
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Wen-Chang Hsieh
• Original Assignee: Wen-Chang Hsieh
• Inventors: Hsieh, Wen-Chang
• Application Number:
  US10/197,914
• Publication Number:
  US 20040012955A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/202
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/027 the light sources being a LED
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0421 the switch being part of, or disposed on the tail cap portion thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/005 Sealing arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A flashlight has a barrel formed with a conductive inner surface to retain batteries therein, a head attached to one end of the barrel and having a light emitting module retained inside the head, wherein two electrodes of the light emitting module are respectively and electrically contacted with one electrode of the batteries and the conductive inner surface of the barrel. A tail cap is provided to enclose the other end of the barrel, wherein the screwing rotation between the tail cap and the barrel determines whether an electrical loop is closed or open so as to control the activation of the flashlight.

Claims

1. A flashlight comprising:

a barrel inside which a conductive inner surface is formed and batteries are retained;

a head integrally affixed to an outer periphery of a first end of the barrel, wherein a face cap is screwed to a forward end of the head and a reflector is retained inside the face cap;

a light emitting module attached at the first end of the barrel and inside the head, wherein the light emitting module has two electrodes respectively and electrically contacted with an anode of the batteries and the conductive inner surface of the barrel; and

a tail cap made up of conductive material, wherein a base is integrally formed with and extends upward from the tail cap, a cavity is defined in the base to retain a spring and a conductor that is to contact with a cathode of the batteries, and an electrical isolating ring to screw to a second end of the barrel surrounding the base.

2. The flashlight as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light emitting module comprises:

a circuit board on which is mounted at least one light emitting element, wherein a first electrode of the at least one light emitting element is electrically connected to a center electrode formed on a bottom surface of the circuit board through circuit layouts of the circuit board, and a second electrode of the at least one light emitting element is electrically connected to a ring shaped electrode that is formed on the bottom surface and around a rim of the circuit board,

wherein the center electrode is to electrically contact with the anode of the batteries, and the ring shaped electrode is to contact with the conductive inner surface of the barrel.

3. The flashlight as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one light emitting element is a lamp bulb.

4. The flashlight as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one light emitting element is an LED.

5. The flashlight as claimed in claim 1, wherein a waterproof ring is placed around the isolating ring to provide a water-tight seal between the tail cap and the barrel.

6. The flashlight as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conductor is formed as a hat shape and has a pit defined therein to retain the spring, wherein a brim is integrally formed along a rim of the pit.

7. The flashlight as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tail cap is formed with a substantially corrugated outer surface.