Flashlight

• US 4,286,311 A
• Filed: 12/11/1978
• Issued: 08/25/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Anthony Maglica
• Original Assignee: Anthony Maglica
• Inventors: Maglica, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): TUDOR, HAROLD JAY
• Application Number:
  US05/968,468
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 362/187, 362/188, 362/158, 202/205, 200/64, 200/153 J, 200/328, 200/241, 200/242
• US Class Current: 362/205
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/005 the device being a pocket lamp F21L4/022, F21L4/045, F21L4/085 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/025 in portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/047 by using spare light sources comprised in or attached to the lighting device and being intended to replace a defect light source by manual mounting
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/048 using a sealing boot, e.g. the casing having separate elastic body surrounding the operating member and hermetically closing the opening for it

Abstract

A rugged, heavy duty flashlight which is hermetically sealed to prevent intrusion of moisture and dirt. A manually operable electric switch is provided having a rotary contact to complete the battery circuit to the bulb. When the switch is actuated the rotary contact is moved axially to engage stationary contacts and is then rotated to wipe against such stationary contacts to clean the contact surfaces. The flashlight is readily adjustable to change from a narrow concentrated light beam to a broad scattered beam.

Claims

1. A flashlight comprising:

a generally cylindrical casing having longitudinal axis, a forward end portion and a rear end portion;

a reflector support member rotatably mounted on said forward end portion of said casing;

a reflector structure secured to said reflector support member;

said reflector structure having a central opening adapted to receive a light bulb therethrough, a reflector surface extending axially forwardly and radially outwardly from said opening and a generally tubular cam structure extending rearwardly of said opening and terminating in a rear cam edge which lies substantially in a plane which is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of said cylindrical casing;

a guide sleeve mounted within said casing;

means defining an axially extending guide slot in a portion of said guide sleeve;

a bulb carrier sleeve slidably disposed in said guide sleeve for axial movement relative thereto, said bulb carrier sleeve having a forward end portion;

a light bulb member removably secured in the forward end portion of said bulb carrier sleeve;

a cam follower roller secured to said bulb carrier sleeve and extending radially outwardly therefrom;

said cam follower roller being slidably disposed in said axially-extending guide slot in said guide sleeve so as to permit axial sliding movement of said cam follower roller and bulb carrier sleeve and light bulb member relative to said guide sleeve;

a switch housing mounted within said casing;

a conductor strip mounted within said switch housing;

an outer coiled compression spring disposed between said switch housing and said light bulb member for urging said light bulb member forwardly in said central opening of said reflector structure;

said cam follower roller on said bulb carrier sleeve in which said light bulb member is mounted functioning, in conjunction with said guide slot in said guide sleeve, to define the forward and rearward limits of axial movement of said light bulb structure;

an exterior guide sleeve disposed within said coiled compression spring;

said exterior guide sleeve having a forward end disposed adjacent to said light bulb member and a rear end portion disposed adjacent to said switch housing;

a contact member secured in said rear end portion of said exterior guide sleeve;

an interior guide sleeve slidably disposed within said exterior guide sleeve;

said interior guide sleeve having a forward end portion and a rear end portion;

a contact element secured in said forward end portion of said interior guide sleeve;

said conductive contact element being adapted to receive a contact portion of said light bulb structure;

an interior compression spring disposed within said interior guide sleeve and extending between said contact member in the rear end portion of said guide sleeve and said contact element in the forward end portion of said interior guide sleeve to establish electrical contact between said conductor strip in said switch housing and said light bulb member;

a pair of spaced conductor strips disposed within said casing;

said spaced conductor strips including a forward conductor strip and a rear conductor strip in substantial alignment with one another;

a generally radially extending, generally tubular guide body disposed in said casing;

said guide body having an interior peripheral wall;

a drive plunger slidably and rotatably disposed in said guide body;

said drive plunger extending generally radially relative to the longitudinal axis of said casing;

said drive plunger being of generally tubular configuration, and having a closed outer end;

a plurality of circumferentially-spaced spline members formed around the exterior of said drive plunger;

said spline members having teeth formed on the lower ends thereof;

said teeth having inclined edges;

an indexing member disposed within said casing and extending generally radially relative to the longitudinal axis of said casing;

said indexing member being in substantial alignment with said drive plunger and being located generally radially inwardly therefrom;

said indexing member including a base portion having a plurality of circumferentially-spaced upstanding teeth thereon adjacent the periphery of said base portion;

said teeth on said indexing member and said teeth on the lower portions of said spline members of said drive plunger having cooperating inclined surfaces such that radially inward movement of said drive plunger relative to said indexing member first move said indexing member radially inward and thereafter will cause said inclined teeth edges to engage one another and create rotational movement of said indexing member relative to said drive plunger;

a generally annular contact member splined to said indexing member so as to be slidable relative thereto in a radial direction relative to said longitudinal axis of said casing, but confined for rotational movement with said indexing member;

said contact member being adapted to engage portions of each of said spaced conductor strips so as to establish electrical connection therebetween;

means defining circumferentially-spaced grooves in said interior wall of said guide body for receiving said teethed spline members on said drive plunger and said teeth on said indexing member;

means defining circumferentially-spaced, inclined ramp portions on said interior peripheral wall of said guide body;

said circumferentially spaced grooves in the interior peripheral wall of said guide body functioning to confine said drive plunger to radial sliding movement relative to said longitudinal axis of said casing, and to confine said indexing member to radial sliding movement until the teeth of said indexing member clear said inclined ramp portions, whereupon further radially inward movement of said drive plunger will cause rotational movement of said indexing member and the annular contact member splined thereto;

heavier compression spring means disposed in said casing and urging said indexing member towards said drive plunger;

lighter compression spring means disposed between said closed upper end of said drive plunger and said indexing member to urge said drive plunger away from said indexing member; and

cooperating abutment means on said guide body and said drive plunger for limiting outward radial movement of said drive plunger relative to said guide body.

2. A flashlight comprising:

a generally cylindrical casing having longitudinal axis, a forward end portion and a rear end portion;

a reflector support member rotatably mounted on said forward end portion of said casing;

a reflector structure secured to said reflector support member;

said reflector structure having a central opening adapted to receive a light bulb therethrough, a reflector surface extending axially forwardly and radially outwardly from said opening and a generally tubular cam structure extending rearwardly of said opening and terminating in a rear cam edge which lies substantially in a plane which is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of said cylindrical casing;

a guide sleeve mounted within said casing;

means defining an axially extending guide slot in a portion of said guide sleeve;

a bulb carrier sleeve slidably disposed in said guide sleeve for axial movement relative thereto, said bulb carrier sleeve having a forward end portion;

a light bulb member removably secured in the forward end portion of said bulb carrier sleeve;

a cam follower roller secured to said bulb carrier sleeve and extending radially outwardly therefrom;

said cam follower roller being slidably disposed in said axially-extending guide slot in said guide sleeve so as to permit axial sliding movement of said cam follower roller and bulb carrier sleeve and light bulb member relative to said guide sleeve;

a switch housing mounted within said casing;

a conductor strip mounted within said switch housing;

an outer coiled compression spring disposed between said switch housing and said light bulb member for urging said light bulb member forwardly in said central opening of said reflector structure;

said cam follower roller on said bulb carrier sleeve in which said light bulb member is mounted functioning, in conjunction with said guide slot in said guide sleeve, to define the forward and rearward limits of axial movement of said light bulb structure;

an exterior guide sleeve disposed within said coiled compression spring;

said exterior guide sleeve having a forward end disposed adjacent to said light bulb member and a rear end portion disposed adjacent to said switch housing;

a contact member secured in said rear end portion of said exterior guide sleeve;

an interior guide sleeve slidably disposed within said exterior guide sleeve;

said interior guide sleeve having a forward end portion and a rear end portion;

a contact element secured in said forward end portion of said interior guide sleeve;

said conductive contact element being adapted to receive a contact portion of said light bulb structure;

an interior compression spring disposed within said interior guide sleeve and extending between said contact member in the rear end portion of said guide sleeve and said contact element in the forward end portion of said interior guide sleeve to establish electrical contact between said conductor strip in said switch housing and said light bulb member.

3. In a flashlight comprising a casing having a longitudinal axis and a forward end, a reflector disposed adjacent the forward end of said casing, said reflector having a central opening therein, a light bulb support structure disposed rearwardly of said reflector, a light bulb releasably retained in said light bulb support structure, said light bulb extending through said central opening, and means for creating relative movement between said reflector and said light bulb to selectively vary the breadth of the light beam issuing from said flashlight, the improvement comprising:

a reflector support structure rotatably mounted on said casing adjacent said forward end thereof;

means connecting said reflector to said reflector support structure for rotation therewith;

means mounting said light bulb support structure within said casing for axial movement relative to said reflector support structure;

spring means, normally urging said light bulb and said light bulb support structure forwardly in said casing;

cooperating camming means connected to said reflector and said light bulb support structure for moving said light bulb support structure axially in response to rotational movement of said reflector;

said cooperating camming means including an inclined camming surface connected to said reflector and a cam follower connected to said light bulb support structure;

whereby, rotation of said reflector support structure will cause rotation of said reflector which is connected thereto, and rotation of said reflector will, by virtue of said cooperating camming means and said spring means, cause axial movement of said light bulb support structure and said light bulb retained thereby to alter the breadth of the light beam issuing from said flashlight;

a pair of spaced conductor strips disposed within said casing, and a switching structure for selectively establishing electrical connection between said spaced conductor strips; and

means establishing electrical connection between one of said conductor strips and said light bulb;

said other of said conductor strips being adapted to electrically contact batteries disposed in said casing;

said switch structure including;

a drive plunger and an indexing member;

said drive plunger and said indexing member having cooperating surfaces, whereby movement of said drive plunger toward said indexing member will tend to cause rotation of said indexing member;

a bridging contact carried by said indexing member;

said bridging contact being adapted to establish an electrical flow path from one of said conductor strips to the other;

means for preventing rotational movement of said indexing member until said drive plunger has moved said indexing member so as to engage said bridging contact with each of said conductor strips;

said means thereafter permitting said cooperating teeth on said drive plunger and said indexing member to cause rotational movement of said indexing member so as to cause said engaged surface portions of said bridging contact and said spaced conductor strips to wipe any products of oxidation or corrosion therefrom.

4. A flashlight according to claim 3, and further comprising a guide body in which said drive plunger is disposed;

said guide body including an internal peripheral wall; and

circumferentially-spaced grooves in said internal peripheral wall for confining movement of said drive plunger to sliding movement and for preventing rotational movement of said drive plunger.

5. A flashlight according to claim 4, and further including inclined ramp surface means in said guide body on the internal peripheral wall thereof;

said indexing member having teeth riding within grooves in said internal peripheral wall of said guide body until said drive plunger has moved said indexing member sufficiently to clear said inclined ramp surface means, whereupon continued movement of said drive plunger against said indexing member will cause said indexing member to rotate, causing rotation of said bridging contact against the surface portions of said pair of conductor strips.