Rechargeable flashlight with integral variable rate battery charger for automotive use

• US 4,327,401 A
• Filed: 03/10/1980
• Issued: 04/27/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Casco Products Corporation (Amphenol Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mcgraw-Edison Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Siiberg, Hemming G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lechert, Jr., Stephen J.
• Application Number:
  US06/128,808
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 362/183, 362/191, 362/205, 320/4, 320/36
• US Class Current: 362/183
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/085 Pocket lamps
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

A rechargeable flashlight fits into and draws recharging power from an automotive type cigar lighter socket. A thermally controlled charging circuit within the flashlight adjusts the charging rate according to the ambient temperature. When the flashlight is withdrawn from the cigar lighter socket, it is illuminated; when it is replaced it is extinguished. Alternatively, the flashlight may be manually illuminated or extinguished outside the charging socket.

Claims

1. In a rechargeable flashlight, a switching device comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a sliding member in said housing, said sliding member being electrically conducting;

(c) said sliding member being movable between a first and second position;

(d) means for electrically connecting said sliding member into an electrical lamp circuit;

(e) a rechargeable battery in said housing, said rechargeable battery having two terminals, one of said terminals being electrically connected into said electrical lamp circuit;

(f) an electrically-conducting actuating member fixed in said housing;

(g) said actuation member being electrically insulated from said sliding member;

(h) means for electrically connecting said actuating member to a battery-charging means;

(i) a spring having two ends, said spring positioned between said actuation member and said rechargeable battery so as to be moved from a first position to a second position by said electrically conducting actuating member when said sliding member is moved from said first position to said second position;

(j) one end of said spring is electrically connected to the other terminal of said rechargeable battery;

(k) the other end of said spring is biased into electrical contact with said sliding member when said sliding member is in said first position; and

(l) said spring being lifted from electrical contact with said sliding member by mechanical and electrical contact with said actuating member when said sliding member is in said second position.

2. The switching device of claim 1 wherein said sliding member is a sliding tube holding said rechargeable battery, said rechargeable battery being electrically insulated from said sliding tube.

3. The switching device of claim 1 wherein said battery-charging means comprises a charging network including a negative-temperature-coefficient and thermistor and a positive-temperature-coefficient thermistor in series, said thermistors contributing sufficient resistance to limit charging current to predetermined values at all temperatures.

4. The switching device of claim 1 wherein said housing forms a plug suitable for fitting into and making electrical connection with an automotive cigar lighter socket.

5. In a rechargeable flashlight, a switching device operative to change said rechargeable flashlight between an illuminating mode and a charging mode in a charging network therein comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) an electrically conductive slide tube in said housing, said slide tube holding said rechargeable battery and said lamp, said rechargeable battery being electrically insulated from said slide tube;

(c) said slide tube having first and second positions in said case;

(d) said lamp having two terminals;

(e) said rechargeable battery having two terminals, one of said terminals of said rechargeable battery being in electrical contact with one terminal of said lamp;

(f) the remaining terminal of said lamp being in electrical contact with said slide tube;

(g) a spring in contact with said second terminal of said battery;

(h) said spring having a lamp contact;

(i) said spring having a charging contact;

(j) an actuator positioned in said case to move said spring from a first position to a second position when said slide tube is moved from said first position to said second position;

(k) said actuating member being electrically conducting;

(l) means for connecting said actuating member into said charging network;

(m) said spring in said first position of said slide tube being biased to contact said slide tube at said lamp contact; and

(n) said actuator in a second position of said slide tube lifting said spring from contact with said slide tube and contacting said spring at said charging contact.

6. In a rechargeable flashlight of the type for insertion into an automotive cigar lighter socket for charging of said rechargeable flashlight therein, a switching device operative to place said flashlight in the charging mode upon insertion into said automotive cigar lighter socket comprising:

(a) a housing, said housing forming a plug suitable for fitting into and making electrical connection with an automotive cigar ligher socket;

(b) a sliding tube in said housing, said sliding tube being electrically conducting;

(c) said sliding tube being movable between a first and second position, said sliding tube being in said second position when said housing is fitted into said automotive cigar lighter socket;

(d) means for electrically connecting said sliding member into an electrical lamp circuit;

(e) a rechargeable battery in said housing, said rechargeable battery having two terminals, one of said terminals being electrically connected into said electrical lamp circuit;

(f) an electrically-conducting actuating member fixed in said housing;

(g) said actuation member being electrically insulated from said sliding member;

(h) means for electrically connecting said actuating member to a battery-charging means;

(i) a spring having two ends, said spring positioned between said actuation member and said rechargeable battery so as to be moved from a first position to a second position by said electrically conducting actuating member when said sliding member is moved from said first position to said second position;

(j) one end of said spring is electrically connected to the other terminal of said rechargeable battery;

(k) the other end of said spring is biased into electrical contact with said sliding member when said sliding member is in said first position; and

(l) said spring being lifted from electrical contact with said sliding member by mechanical and electrical contact with said actuating member when said sliding member is in said second position.