RECHARGEABLE FLASHLIGHT AND SUPPORT STAND THEREFOR

• US 3,825,740 A
• Filed: 05/07/1973
• Issued: 07/23/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aaron G. Friedman, Abraham Friedman
• Original Assignee: Aaron G. Friedman, Abraham Friedman
• Inventors: Friedman, Abraham, Friedman, Aaron G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Joseph F.
• Application Number:
  US05/357,747
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 240/1.6R,10.65,10.66,1.6CH 320/2,3
• US Class Current: 362/183
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/88 Means for plugging to the electrical power supply of the vehicle, e.g. by using cigarette lighter sockets
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/085 Pocket lamps
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/15 Polarity control

Abstract

A portable flashlight having rechargeable batteries and a support stand for attachment to a motor vehicle is provided. The flashlight defines a pair of contact electrodes mounted on the exterior of the flashlight casing which engage the stand and provide support for the flashlight and electrical contact for recharging the flashlight. Charging means is provided to match the voltage of the motor vehicle battery to the voltage of the rechargeable battery and preferably a light emitting diode is used to indicate the flow of current to said rechargeable battery. It is also preferred to provide means to protect the rechargeable battery from reverse charging.

Claims

1. A portable flashlight having at least one rechargeable battery and a support stand for attachment to a motor vehicle comprising:

a. a portable flashlight having a casing, said casing containing at least one rechargeable battery, a lamp socket and lamp means for providing light, reflector means, and switch means for connecting said lamp and said socket to said battery, said casing having a first pair of contact electrodes mounted on the exterior thereof, said electrodes protruding outwardly on opposite sides of said casing, being rigidly attached thereto; and

having a horizontal component;

b. a support stand adapted for mounting on a stable wall means, said stand providing a second pair of contact elEctrodes for engaging said horizontal component of said first pair of contact electrodes in order to suspendingly support said flashlight;

c. means for providing a source of DC voltage to said second pair of contact electrodes;

d. means for charging said at least one rechargeable battery, said charging means matching said rechargeable battery to said DC voltage provided for recharging; and

e. said flashlight being removably received in said support with said horizontal component of said first pair of contact electrodes suspendingly supporting said flashlight.

2. The flashlight and stand of claim 1 wherein said first pair of contact electrodes protrudes substantially horizontally outward on opposite sides of said casing and said second pair of contact electrodes being generally U-shaped.

3. The flashlight and stand of claim 1 wherein said casing is a non-conductor of electricity.

4. The flashlight and stand of claim 3 wherein substantially the entire support stand except for said second pair of contact electrodes is a non-conductor of electricity.

5. The portable flashlight and stand of claim 1 wherein said charging means is contained partially within said stand and partially within said flashlight.

6. The flashlight and stand of claim 1 wherein said charging means is wholly contained within said flashlight casing.

7. The flashlight and stand of claim 1 wherein said charging means is contained within said support stand.

8. The flashlight and stand of claim 1 wherein said casing is a non-conductor of electricity.

9. The portable flashlight and stand of claim 1 wherein said casing has an enlarged portion surrounding said reflector means and wherein said stand is configured to intimately engage the enlarged portion of said flashlight casing surrounding said reflector.

10. The flashlight and stand of claim 1 wherein said stand provides a spring means for urging said flashlight into engagement with said second contact electrodes.

11. The flashlight and stand of claim 1 wherein said first pair of contact electrodes protrudes substantially horizontally outward on opposite sides of said casing.

12. The flashlight and stand of claim 1 wherein said charging means further comprises a diode to protect said rechargeable battery from reverse charging.

13. The flashlight and stand of claim 1 wherein said charging means comprises a resistor.

14. The flashlight and stand of claim 1 wherein said charging means comprises a light bulb.

15. The flashlight and stand of claim 1 wherein said charging means comprises an impedence means connected in parallel to a light emitting diode.

16. The flashlight and stand of claim 1 wherein said charging means comprises a first impedence means, a second impedence connected in parallel to said first impedence means, and a light emitting diode, said light emitting diode to indicate that said rechargeable battery is being recharged.

17. A portable flashlight having at least one rechargeable battery and a support stand for attachment to a motor vehicle comprising:

a. a portable flashlight having a casing, said casing containing at least one rechargeable battery, a lamp socket and lamp means for providing light, reflector means, and switch means for connecting said lamp and said socket to said battery, said casing having a first pair of contact electrodes mounted on the exterior thereof, said electrodes protruding substantially horizontally outwardly on opposite sides of said casing, being rigidly attached thereto; and

having a horizontal component;

said casing being a nonconductor of electricity;

b. a support stand adapted for mounting on a stable wall means, said stand providing a second pair of contact electrodes for engaging said horizontal component of said first pair of contact electrodes in order to suspendingly support said flashlight;

said second pair of contact electrodes being generally U-shaped;

c. means for providing a source of DC voltagE to said second pair of contact electrodes;

d. means for charging said at least one rechargeable battery, said charging means matching said rechargeable battery to said DC voltage provided for recharging; and

e. said flashlight being removably received in said support with said horizontal component of said first pair of contact electrodes suspendingly supporting said flashlight.