Flashlight

• US 20060146526A1
• Filed: 04/05/2005
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Wen-Chin Shiau
• Original Assignee: Wen-Chin Shiau
• Inventors: Shiau, Wen-Chin
• Application Number:
  US11/099,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20060146526A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/205
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/027 the light sources being a LED
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/04 characterised by the provision of a light source housing portion adjustably fixed to the remainder of the device
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/08 characterised by means for in situ recharging of the batteries or cells
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/12 by screwing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/74 with fins or blades
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/85 characterised by the material liquid coolants F21V29/56
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0075 for portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A flashlight includes a tubular housing, a module-receiving housing, an end closure, and a light emitting module. The tubular housing has opposite first and second ends. The module-receiving housing is connected to the first end of the tubular housing. The end closure is connected to the second end of the tubular housing, and is provided with a conductive urging member that extends into the tubular housing. The light emitting module is mounted in the module-receiving housing, and includes a heat dissipating member, a reflector, and a light emitting member. The heat dissipating member is in contact with the tubular housing so as to dissipate heat resulting from the light emitting member through the tubular housing.

Claims

1. A flashlight comprising:

a tubular housing having a first end and a second end opposite to said first end, and defining a first inner space that is adapted to receive a battery unit therein;

a module-receiving housing connected to said first end of said tubular housing and defining a second inner space therein;

an end closure connected to said second end of said tubular housing and provided with a conductive urging member that extends into said first inner space in said tubular housing and that is adapted to be electrically connected to a first electrode of the battery unit;

a light emitting module mounted in said second inner space in said module-receiving housing and including a heat dissipating member, a reflector that is mounted on said module-receiving housing, and a light emitting member that is disposed between said heat dissipating member and said reflector, that is controlled by said switch so as to be adapted to be connected electrically to a second electrode of the battery unit, and that is connected electrically to said urging member; and

a switch provided on said tubular housing and operable so as to control electrical connection between said light emitting member and a second electrode of the battery unit;

wherein said heat dissipating member is in contact with said tubular housing so as to dissipate heat, which results from said light emitting member, through said tubular housing.

2. The flashlight as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said tubular housing and said heat dissipating member is made from a conductive material, said heat dissipating member being electrically connected to said light emitting member, said tubular housing being electrically connected to said urging member.

3. The flashlight as claimed in claim 2, wherein said light emitting module further includes a mounting disc, said light emitting member being mounted on said mounting disc, said mounting disc being seated on said heat dissipating member so as to enhance heat dissipation of the heat resulting from said light emitting member.

4. The flashlight as claimed in claim 3, wherein said heat dissipating member is formed with a plurality of positioning holes, said reflector including a cup-shaped housing that is formed with a plurality of positioning posts aligned respectively with said positioning holes, said light emitting module further including a plurality of fasteners that extend through said positioning holes and into said positioning posts, respectively, so as to fasten said heat dissipating member to said reflector.

5. The flashlight as claimed in claim 4, wherein said heat dissipating member is formed with a stud that projects therefrom and that has a free end, and a central hole that extends through said stud, said light emitting module further including an insulator that is connected to said free end of said stud and that is formed with a mounting hole in spatial communication with said central hole, and a conductive body that is mounted in said mounting hole in said insulator, that extends outwardly thereof, and that is adapted to be connected electrically to the second electrode of the battery unit.

6. The flashlight as claimed in claim 5, wherein said cup-shaped housing of said reflector is formed with a lamp hole, said heat dissipating member being formed with a groove distal from said stud and in spatial communication with said central hole, said heat dissipating member having a conductive wire extending from said conductive body through said central hole, said mounting disc having a first face distal from said stud of said heat dissipating member, and an opposite second face, said light emitting member having a conductive plate, a light emitting diode lamp mounted on said first face of said mounting disc, and a ring-shaped heat-isolating pad sleeved on said light emitting diode lamp, said light emitting diode lamp having a cathode connected to said conductive wire, and an anode connected to said conductive plate, said conductive wire and said conductive plate being disposed in said groove in said heat dissipating member.

7. The flashlight of claim 5, wherein said switch includes an operating portion mounted on said tubular housing, and an insulator rod extending from said operating portion in a radial direction toward an axis of said tubular housing,

said tubular housing further including

an insulator base fixedly mounted in said first end of said tubular housing, and formed with a base hole,

a positioning seat mounted in said first end of said tubular housing and abutting against said insulator base, said positioning seat being formed with a central seat hole in spatial communication with said base hole, and a peripheral seat hole surrounding said central seat hole,

an urging component received in said peripheral seat hole for urging said heat dissipating member,

a conductive biasing member disposed in said base hole, and having a first end abutting against said conductive body, and a second end opposite to said first end, and

a conductive component disposed in said base hole, and having a first end connected to said second end of said conductive biasing member, and a second end opposite to said first end,

wherein said insulator rod is operable to move between a first position, where said insulator rod separates said conductive component from the second electrode of the battery unit, and a second position, where said conductive component is brought into contact with the second electrode of the battery unit by the urging force of said conductive biasing member.

8. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein said end closure has a first end portion and an opposite second end portion, said end closure being formed with a retaining space, said end closure including a concave insulator member retained in said retaining space, and a conductive piece having a first segment mounted on a periphery of said second end portion of said end closure and in contact with said second end of said tubular housing, and an opposite second segment extending from said first segment into said retaining space, said conductive urging member being connected to said second segment of said conductive piece.

9. The flashlight of claim 8, wherein said end closure further includes a cement resistor disposed between and interconnecting said first and second segments of said conductive piece.