Flashlight holder clamp assembly

• US 5,270,911 A
• Filed: 02/08/1993
• Issued: 12/14/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MAG Instrument Incorporated
• Original Assignee: MAG Instrument Incorporated
• Inventors: Maglica, Anthony, Lewis, Armis L., McAlister, Fred R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cole, Richard R.
• Application Number:
  US08/014,622
• Time in Patent Office: 309 Days
• Field of Search: 362/72, 362/190, 362/191, 362/396, 362/421, 248/181, 248/288.3, 248/288.5
• US Class Current: 362/396
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/03 Supporting means therefor, e.g. mounting brackets
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/14 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06 ; adjustable mountings employing universal joints for lighting devices F21V21/26 - F21V21/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2078 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/022 by friction
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/145 for portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/30 Pivoted housings or frames

Abstract

A flashlight holder clamp assembly having a mounting bracket which contains one or, optionally, two elastomeric substantially spherical gripping members having a centrally disposed cylindrical channel therein for receiving a portion of the barrel of a small flashlight and for receiving a cylindrical support member. The gripping members also define a plurality of uniformly spaced longitudinal slots which communicate along their inner ends with the central channel so as to allow the gripping member to be uniformly constricted by the mounting bracket upon clamping the flashlight holder clamp assembly to a cylindrical member, such as a bicycle handlebar. The end of the flashlight holder clamp assembly which contains the spherical gripping member has two or four apertures formed therein to accommodate the portions of the flashlight barrel projecting outwardly from the spherical gripping member and allowing the flashlight to be directed in any one of four general directions, either perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the bicycle handlebars or in a direction along the longitudinal direction of the bicycle handlebars. The lower portion of the flashlight holder clamp assembly defines a pair of cooperating gripping surfaces which clamp onto the tubular member as the mounting bracket is tightened about the spherical gripping member by a suitable tightening member.

Claims

1. A mount comprising

a clamp including a first clamp element having a first inner surface defining a portion of a sphere, first peripheral notches to either side of said first inner surface and a first hole extending through said first clamp element at said first inner surface, a second clamp element having a second inner surface defining a portion of a sphere, second peripheral notches to either side of said second inner surface and a second hole extending through said second clamp element at said second inner surface, and a mounting bracket displaced from said first and said second surfaces;

a compressible member having a centrally located cavity therein and a substantially spherical outer surface;

a retainer coupling said first and said second clamp elements with said first and said second inner surfaces being mutually opposed, said compressible member being therebetween, each of said first and each of said second peripheral notches being mutually opposed, respectively, and said first and second holes being diametrically opposed.

2. The mount of claim 1 wherein said centrally located cavity is substantially cylindrical extending through said compressible member from a first end at the outer surface to a second end at the outer surface of said compressible member.

3. The mount of claim 2 wherein said compressible member further comprises slots spaced one from another extending radially inwardly from said outer surface to said cavity and through more than half and less than completely through the length of said compressible member in the direction of said cavity, said slots alternately extending from said first end at said outer surface and from said second end at said outer surface.

4. The mount of claim 1 wherein said mounting bracket is constructed and arranged to clamp onto a cylindrical member.