Rechargeable flashlight

• US 4,903,178 A
• Filed: 02/02/1989
• Issued: 02/20/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Barry Englot
• Original Assignee: Barry Englot
• Inventors: Englot, Barry, Olm, Orville
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cole, Richard R.
• Application Number:
  US07/305,061
• Time in Patent Office: 383 Days
• Field of Search: 362/183, 362/194, 362/196, 362/199, 362/200, 362/203, 362/204
• 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 4/04 characterised by the provision of a light source housing portion adjustably fixed to the remainder of the device
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/08 characterised by means for in situ recharging of the batteries or cells

Abstract

A flashlight includes a flashlight body which is formed in two portions second of which is pivotally mounted on the first portion. A forward end of the flashlight body is generally rectangular in cross-section with a rearward end being approximately one half of the cross-section of the forward end with the second body portion being of a similar cross-sectional shape to the smaller end. In this way the second body portion can be pivoted from a position in which it constitutes an extension of the first portion as a handle therefore or can be moved to a folded position lying alongside and underneath the smaller end so that in the folded condition a continuous rectangular shape is formed. In this condition the flashlight body can be inserted into a sleeve of rectangular cross-section for storage with a charging device at the base of the sleeve having terminals for cooperation with the terminals of the second body portion for charging a battery. The only switch is provided by the connection of the terminals of the first body portion and the terminals of the second body portion when in the extended position. A magnet is provided to hold the folded flashlight in the sleeve. The device is compact in the folded and stored condition and forms a simple rugged construction of elongate form in the opened condition.

Claims

1. A rechargeable removable flashlight comprising a flashlight body having a first body portion including a casing, a bulb and a reflector assembly mounted in the casing and arranged to generate a directional beam of light projecting outwardly from the casing, a pair of electrical terminals projecting from the casing at a position spaced from the bulb and reflector assembly and means connecting the terminals to the bulb so that a voltage connected across the terminals provides a current through the bulb for generating the beam of light;

a second body portion including a casing, a rechargeable battery mounted in the casing a pair of electrical terminals projecting from the casing and means connecting the terminals to the battery, and means mounting the second body portion on the first body for movement from a first position in which electrical terminals of the second body portion are exposed for engaging terminals of a charging device and a second position in which the terminals of the second body portion contact the terminals of the first body portion for communicating current from the battery to the bulb.

2. The invention according to claim 1 including switch means for controlling communication of current from the battery to the bulb consisting solely of the terminals of the first and second body portions so that the bulb is activated and deactivated by said movement of the second body portion.

3. The invention according to claim 1 including a charging device defining a receptacle for receiving the flashlight body in a charging and storing position thereof, the first and second body portions in the first position being arranged such that portions of each cooperate to define a shape of an end face of the flashlight body which can be received within the receptacle.

4. The invention according to claim 3 wherein the second body portion is movable from said first position to the second position in which it extends beyond the first body portion to define with the first body portion an elongate handle.

5. The invention according to claim 1 wherein the second body portion is pivotally mounted on the body portion for pivotal movement through an angle substantially equal to 180°

.

6. The invention according to claim 5 wherein the first body portion includes a longitudinal axis extending in a direction substantially along the beam of light and wherein the pivot axis is arranged at right angles to the longitudinal axis.

7. The invention according to claim 6 wherein the first body portion includes a first part thereof adjacent the bulb and reflector assembly having a cross section in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis and includes a second part adjacent an end thereof remote from the bulb and reflector assembly which has a cross section in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis which is substantially one half of that of the first part and wherein the second body portion has a cross section in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis which is substantially equal to half of the cross section of the first part so that when in the first position the second body portion lies alongside the second part of the first body portion such that the flashlight body is substantially of constant cross section and in the second position the second body portion extends outwardly from the second part of the first body portion substantially as a continuing extension thereof.

8. The invention according to claim 7 wherein the cross section of the first part is substantially rectangular.

9. The invention according to claim 7 including a housing for receiving and retaining the flashlight in a stored condition for recharging including a sleeve member having a constant cross section substantially equal to that of the first part of the first portion.

10. The invention according to claim 1 including a housing for receiving and retaining the flashlight in a stored condition for recharging wherein the flashlight body includes a magnet on a face thereof substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof for cooperating with a portion of the housing to hold the flashlight body in place within the housing.

11. A rechargable removable flashlight comprising a flashlight body and a housing for receiving and retaining the flashlight body in a stored condition for recharging, the housing comprising a sleeve member of substantially constant cross section having a closed end and an open end into which the flashlight body can be inserted, the flashlight body having a first body portion including a casing, a bulb and reflector assembly for generating a beam of light projecting from the casing along a longitudinal axis of the casing, a rechargable battery in the flashlight body for providing current to the bulb, a second body portion and means mounting the second body portion on the first body portion for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the first body portion for a first position in which the second body portion projects from the first body portion along the axis away from the bulb and reflector assembly to define a handle part and a second position in which the second body portion cooperates with the first body portion to define an end face of the body remote from the bulb and reflector assembly which corresponds in shape to the cross section of the sleeve member.

12. The invention according to claim 11 wherein the battery is mounted in the second body portion and wherein switch means for controlling communication of current from the battery to the bulb consists solely of a first pair of terminals on the first body portion which contact a pair of terminals on the second body portion so that the bulb is activated and deactivated by said movement of the second body portion.

13. The invention according to claim 11 wherein the second body portion is pivotally mounted on the body portion for pivotal movement through an angle substantially equal to 180°

.

14. The invention according to claim 11 wherein the first body portion includes a first part thereof adjacent the bulb and reflector assembly having a cross section in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis and includes a second part adjacent an end thereof remote from the bulb and reflector assembly which has a cross section in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis which is substantially one half of that of the first portion and wherein the second body portion has a cross section in a plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis which is substantially equal to half of the cross section of the first part so that when in the first position the second body portion lies alongside the second part of the first body portion such that the flashlight body is substantially of constant cross section and in the second position the second body portion extends outwardly from the second part of the first body portion substantially as a continuous extension thereof.

15. The invention according to claim 14 wherein the cross section of the first part is substantially rectangular.

16. The invention according to claim 11 wherein the flashlight body includes a magnet on a face thereof substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof for cooperating with a portion of the housing to hold the flashlight body in place within the housing.