LED flashlight with switch element in side surface

• US 20050073831A1
• Filed: 08/07/2003
• Published: 04/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Armament Systems and Procedures Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Armament Systems and Procedures Incorporated
• Inventors: Parsons, Kevin L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,147,344 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/100
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 15/00 Key-rings
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/00 Electric lighting devices with self-contained electric batteries or cells
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/005 the device being a pocket lamp F21L4/022, F21L4/045, F21L4/085 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/027 the light sources being a LED
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/01 Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts F21V15/02 takes precedence housings forming signs or letters G09F13/04
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/08 Devices for easy attachment to any desired place, e.g. clip, clamp, magnet
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/0885 for portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0414 specially adapted to be used with portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/08 for producing coloured light, e.g. monochromatic; for reducing intensity of light with provision for controlling the colour F21V9/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A flashlight having a light-emitting diode light source with first and second leads extending therefrom, a power source, a power source frame enclosing at least a portion of the power source; a housing containing the light source and power source, a switch located adjacent the power source and operable to close a circuit including the light source and the power source, and wherein one or all of the following may be included 1) a keyring extension extending from a power source frame or the housing with the keyring extension having an opening whereby an article can be attached to the keyring extension and includes a keyring lock wherein upon exerting a force against the keyring lock, the keyring lock is opened to permit the article to be attached to the keyring extension; 2) the housing is comprised of translucent material; and 3) the housing includes at least one side cover which is not integral with the housing and the at least one side cover being selected from anodized aluminum, anodized metal, anodized metal which includes indicia, die struck metal, laser engraved metal, and a side cover having a separate medallion attached thereto.

Claims

1-47. -47. (canceled)

48. A flashlight comprising a light emitting diode light source having a pair of leads extending therefrom, a disk-shaped power source having opposite side surfaces, a housing enclosing the leads of the light source and the power source such that a selected one of said leads is operatively connected to one of said power source side surfaces, said housing having a longitudinal axis and a pair of transverse axis intersecting at substantially a center of the housing, a switch disposed adjacent the power source and adapted to be actuated to electrically connect said other of said leads to said other of said power source side surfaces, and a switch element operatively associated with said housing at a position spaced from the center of the housing, said switch element being responsive to a force applied thereto to activate said switch and complete a circuit including said leads of said light source and said power source, wherein said housing has a flattened axis of the pair of transverse axis substantially defined by a thickness of the disk-shaped power supply and wherein the light emitting diode is disposed on a first end of the longitudinal axis of the housing, and an integral keyring clip is disposed on a second, opposing end of the longitudinal axis of the housing.

49. The flashlight as defined in claim 48 wherein said light source defines a longitudinal axis, said light source being supported by said housing so that the longitudinal axis of the light source is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing.

50. The flashlight as defined in claim 49 wherein the longitudinal axis of the light source is spaced from the longitudinal axis of the housing.

51. The flashlight as defined in claim 48 wherein said switch element is made of a different material than said housing.

52. The flashlight as defined in claim 48 wherein said integral keyring clip includes a keyring extension having an opening enabling a keyring to be attached to the keyring extension.

53. The flashlight as defined in claim 48 wherein said longitudinal axis is greater in length than said transverse axis so as to define an oblong housing having opposite ends.

54. The flashlight as defined in claim 52, further comprising a keyring lock operatively associated with said housing such that upon exerting a force against the keyring lock, the keyring extension is opened to permit a keyring to be attached to the keyring extension.

55. The flashlight as defined in claim 54 wherein said keyring lock is associated with said housing in a manner to enable pivotal movement of said keyring lock relative to said housing.

56. The flashlight as defined in claim 48 wherein said housing includes first and second frame side covers.

57. The flashlight as defined in claim 56 wherein the first and second side covers comprise aluminum.

58. The flashlight as defined in claim 56 wherein at least one of the side covers has a flat surface adapted to receive markings or engravings.

59. The flashlight as defined in claim 56 wherein said housing includes a frame housing, said first and second frame side covers being made of a material dissimilar from the frame housing.

60. The flashlight as defined in claim 56 wherein the side covers are flat and lie in parallel planes.

61. The flashlight as defined in claim 48 wherein the switch further includes a dome plate, said dome plate being positioned adjacent said switch element.

62. The flashlight as defined in claim 61 further including a power source frame having a counterbore defining a terminus within the power source frame, said dome plate being positioned in the counterbore, and an outer periphery of the dome plate is positioned in the counterbore, and an outer periphery of the dome plate abuts the terminus of the counterbore, and wherein the switch is activated by applying pressure to the dome plate.

63. The flashlight as defined in claim 61 wherein the switch element includes an engaging element for engaging the dome plate.

64. The flashlight as defined in claim 61 wherein the dome plate includes an engaging element for engaging the power source.

65. The flashlight as defined in claim 48 wherein said switch element further comprises a non-elastomeric material.

66. The flashlight as defined in claim 65 wherein the non-elastomeric material further comprises a resilient material.