Flex light

• US 3,881,468 A
• Filed: 07/16/1973
• Issued: 05/06/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Xomed Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Carl L. Foltz
• Inventors: Foltz, Carl L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaudet, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Layton, Henry S.
• Application Number:
  US05/379,218
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 128/23 240/2.18,10.66,2S
• US Class Current: 600/249
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00032 internally powered
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0676 at distal tip of an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/804 Surgical or dental spotlight

Abstract

A flexible surgical light for use in illuminating various body cavities during surgery comprising a housing configured to house a voltage source therein and having a first conductor means formed thereon, an extended bulb assembly mounted on one end of the housing and a switch means mounted on the opposite end of the housing, the extended bulb assembly comprises an elongated hollow sleeve having mounting means attached on one end thereof to attach the extended bulb assembly to the housing and a bulb housing having a light source disposed therein attached to the opposite end thereof. A second conductor means is disposed within the hollow sleeve being coupled to a portion of the light source and a third conductor means extending substantially the length of the hollow sleeve coupled to another portion of the light source. The switch means is movable to operatively engage the first conductor means to selectively close the circuit and activate the light source.

Claims

1. A surgical light comprising a housing configured to retaIn a voltage source therein, said housing having a first conductor means disposed therein, an extended bulb assembly and a switch means attached to said housing, said extended bulb assembly comprising an elongated sleeve having a second and third conductor means disposed therein, a bulb housing attached to one end of said elongated sleeve, a light source secured within said bulb housing by attachment means, mounting means attached to the opposite end of said sleeve to mount said extended bulb assembly to said first conductor to hold said third conductor means in operative engagement with said voltage source, said second and third conductor means being electrically insulated from each other, said first conductor means coupled to said second conductor means, said switch means rotatably mounted within said housing and electrically coupled to said voltage source, said switch means being out of contact with said first conductor means when in a first position to deactivate said surgical light;

said switch means comprising a switch base means having a recess formed therein, contact means mounted within said recess and including a clip member configured to expose a plurality of first conductor contacts to movably engage said first conductor means and tongue means integrally attached to said clip member so as to complete the circuit between the voltage source, contact means and first conductor means.

2. The surgical light of claim 1 wherein said housing comprises a substantially cylindrical barrel having retainer means formed thereon.

3. The surgical light of claim 2 wherein said cylindrical barrel and said retainer means are integrally formed.

4. The surgical light of claim 1 wherein said second conductor means comprises a hollow semi-rigid tube engaging said light source and said third conductor means comprises a flexible insulated conductive wire disposed within said second conductive means.

5. The surgical light of claim 4 further comprising coupling means including a hollow cylindrical body mounted on said hollow semi-rigid tube and a conductor retainer ring mounted on said body, a portion of said third conductor means engaging said conductor retainer ring, a conductive retainer ring engaging said voltage source to interconnect said voltage source with said light source.

6. The surgical light of claim 3 wherein said retainer means comprises a pair of retainer lips formed at opposite ends of said cylindrical barrel.