Lamp or flashlight having a multi-feature rotating switching assembly
First Claim
1. A flashlight comprising:
- a barrel size to accommodate at least one battery, having a distal and proximal end, and having a tongue extending from a portion of said proximal end of said barrel, said tongue having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface having a first groove;
a head assembly adapted to rotatably engage said proximal end of said barrel so that said head assembly is rotatable relative to said barrel without axial movement of said head assembly relative to said barrel; and
a switching assembly secured to said head assembly and disposed adjacent said proximal end of said barrel and comprising an insulator having a distal face and a proximal face, and an electrical conductor, at least a portion of said conductor being disposed within said insulator, and said insulator having at least one aperture disposed in said proximal face for receiving a light bulb so that said bulb contacts said conductor;
said insulator having a recess in said distal face for receiving said tongue and permitting rotation of said tongue relative to each insulator when said barrel is rotated relative to said switching assembly, said recess has an inner face and an outer face;
said tongue and said conductor being disposed so that rotation of said switching assembly relative to said barrel enables positioning of said tongue of said barrel in a first position in which said tongue is in contact with said conductor and a second position in which said tongue is removed from contact with said conductor; and
said conductor having a first portion that is exposed to said recess so that rotation of said barrel relative to said switching assembly enables rotation of said tongue between said first position in which said tongue is in contact with said first portion of said conductor and said second position in which said tongue is removed from contact with said first portion of said conductor within said recess of said insulator;
wherein, said conductor extends within said recess so that said conductor biases said tongue toward said outer face of said recess and said conductor nestingly engages said first groove when said tongue is placed in contact with said conductor.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A lamp or flashlight having a multi-feature switching assembly is disclosed. The flashlight comprises a barrel, a head assembly, and a rotating switching assembly. The head assembly and switching assembly are rotated relative to the barrel and a tongue extending from the barrel to bring a conductor of the switching assembly into contact with, or remove the conductor from contact with, the tongue to close or open an electrical circuit for turning the light bulb on or off, respectively. The conductor may be adapted to nestingly engage the tongue in a locked on position, and a resilient member may be added to nestingly engage the tongue in a locked off position. Unlocked on and off positions of the switching assembly permit the light to be quickly flashed on and off. The head assembly includes a head and a head portion, and the head portion may be rotated relative to the head to adjust the focus of the light independently of the on/off function. Also independently of the on/off function, the head portion may be removed so that the light bulb provides a substantially spherical, unfocused source of light.
65 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A flashlight comprising:
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a barrel size to accommodate at least one battery, having a distal and proximal end, and having a tongue extending from a portion of said proximal end of said barrel, said tongue having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface having a first groove; a head assembly adapted to rotatably engage said proximal end of said barrel so that said head assembly is rotatable relative to said barrel without axial movement of said head assembly relative to said barrel; and a switching assembly secured to said head assembly and disposed adjacent said proximal end of said barrel and comprising an insulator having a distal face and a proximal face, and an electrical conductor, at least a portion of said conductor being disposed within said insulator, and said insulator having at least one aperture disposed in said proximal face for receiving a light bulb so that said bulb contacts said conductor; said insulator having a recess in said distal face for receiving said tongue and permitting rotation of said tongue relative to each insulator when said barrel is rotated relative to said switching assembly, said recess has an inner face and an outer face; said tongue and said conductor being disposed so that rotation of said switching assembly relative to said barrel enables positioning of said tongue of said barrel in a first position in which said tongue is in contact with said conductor and a second position in which said tongue is removed from contact with said conductor; and said conductor having a first portion that is exposed to said recess so that rotation of said barrel relative to said switching assembly enables rotation of said tongue between said first position in which said tongue is in contact with said first portion of said conductor and said second position in which said tongue is removed from contact with said first portion of said conductor within said recess of said insulator; wherein, said conductor extends within said recess so that said conductor biases said tongue toward said outer face of said recess and said conductor nestingly engages said first groove when said tongue is placed in contact with said conductor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A lamp comprising:
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a barrel having a proximal end; a switching assembly disposed adjacent to and rotatably engaging said proximal end of said barrel, said switching assembly comprising an insulator, a conductor, a resilient member, means for receiving a light bulb within said insulator, and means for placing a first electrode of said light bulb into electrical contact with a first electrode of a power supply;
a first portion of said conductor extending out from said insulator and a second portion of said conductor being disposed within said insulator for contacting a second electrode of said light bulb, a first portion of said resilient member extending out from said insulator in a spaced relationship to said first portion of said conductor, and a second portion of said resilient member being disposed within said insulator; andmeans for placing said barrel into electrical contact with a second electrode of said power supply; wherein said switching assembly may be rotated relative to said barrel between a first position in which said first portion of said conductor contacts and nestingly engages a first portion of said proximal end of said barrel to place said lamp in a locked on position and a second portion in which said first portion of said resilient member contacts and nestingly engages a second portion of said proximal end of said barrel to place said lamp in a locked off position. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification