Flexible flashlight

• US 4,495,550 A
• Filed: 04/24/1984
• Issued: 01/22/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joseph Visciano
• Original Assignee: Joseph Visciano
• Inventors: Visciano, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Lechert, Jr., Stephen J.
• Application Number:
  US06/603,364
• Time in Patent Office: 273 Days
• Field of Search: 362/189, 362/197, 362/202, 362/285, 362/398, 362/418, 362/186
• US Class Current: 362/189
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/06 with the light source coupled to the remainder of the device solely by cable
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/0965 for portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/32 Flexible tubes

Abstract

A flexible flashlight which may provide light at any angle even in an environment in which the area in which to position a flashlight is extremely limited. A bellows is provided one end of which is threaded onto the body tube of a flashlight, the other end of which contains a bulb along with a lens and bezel. The bellows is made of a semi-rigid material so that once its curvature is formed it will remain fixed indefinitely until reformed by the user. The flexible flashlight may be placed on any flat surface or may be attached to any ferro-magnetic surface. In either case once the flashlight has been positioned both hands are free to perform work. An internal coiled helical cord is provided inside the bellows section to assure good electrical connection and to minimize the possibility of damaging the electrical pathway due to frequent flexion of the bellows.

Claims

1. A flexible flashlight, comprising in combination:

(a) a body tube which contains at least one battery cell;

(b) a threaded end cap which threads on to a mating threaded body tube to end cap section;

wherein when said battery cell is installed into the invention said threaded end cap is installed thereby fixing said battery in place;

(c) a switch, whereby said flexible flashlight is turned on and off;

(d) a threaded body tube socket located at the opposite end of said body tube from said end cap;

whereby a bellows type extension may be installed;

(e) a bellows which is attached to said threaded body tube socket by a mating threaded bellows to body tube socket;

(f) a threaded bellows to bezel adapter located at the end of said bellows furthest from said threaded bellows to body tube socket;

wherein said threaded bellows to bezel adapter contains a bulb mounted coaxially at the center of saidthreaded bellows to bezel adapter whereby when said bellows in flexed said bulb radiates light in the direction extending away from the open end of said threaded bellows to bezel adapter;

(g) a bezel ring with an inside thread which mates with the outside thread on said threaded bellows to bezel adapter whereby said bezel ring has an aperture into which is fitted an optically transmitting lens;

(h) means for fixing the position of said bellows in a rigid position once it has been flexed;

(i) means for preventing said body tube from rolling off a surface once said body tube has been placed in position; and

,

(j) means for attaching said body tube to any surface which contains ferro-magnetic material;

(k) means for connecting said battery to said bulb in such manner as to prevent said connecting means from breaking under frequency flexion.

2. A flexible flashlight, as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for fixing the position of said bellows in a rigid position once it has been flexed further comprises a bellows constructed of a semi-rigid material.

3. A flexible flashlight, as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for preventing said body tube from rolling off a surface once said body tube has been placed in position comprises a bracket one side of which is concave and of the same radius of curvature as the mating outside curvature of said body tube;

and the other side of which is a flat surface.

4. A flexible flashlight, as recited in claim 1, wherein means for attaching said body tube to any surface which contains ferro-magnetic material comprises at least one permanent magnet which protrudes through said flat surface of said bracket.

5. A flexible flashlight, as recited in claim 1, wherein means for connecting said battery to said bulb in such manner as to prevent said connecting means from breaking under frequent flexion comprises a helically coiled connection cable located inside said bellows.

6. A flexible flashlight comprising in combination any conventional flashlight housing for housing batteries, a bulb for producing a light beam, and bellows means attached to said conventional flashlight housing whereby the light beam produced by said bulb may be aimed by said bellow means in any direction with respect to said conventional flashlight housing.

7. A flexible flashlight as recited in claim 6, wherein said bellows means is constructed in such a manner that when flexed and deformed is substantial maintains it shape until it is flexed and deformed again.

8. A flexible flashlight as recited in claim 7, wherein said bellows means is attached at one end to said housing, and said bulb is mounted at the opposite end of said bellow means.