Convenience flashlight

• US 5,386,351 A
• Filed: 02/15/1994
• Issued: 01/31/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Blue Tiger Corporation
• Original Assignee: Blue Tiger Corporation
• Inventors: Tabor, Marilyn
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US08/196,418
• Time in Patent Office: 350 Days
• Field of Search: 362/200, 362/201, 362/100, 362/800, 362/103, 362/188, 362/189, 362/191, 362/, 36/137, 36/136
• US Class Current: 362/201
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/10 Key holders; Key boards key cases A45C11/32
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 2/00 Systems of electric lighting devices systems employing both electric and non-electric light sources or exchangeable light sources F21L27/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A flashlight consists of a bulb with leads, a battery of flat, disc shape and three molded plastic parts. Assembly is accomplished without tools by slip fitting two of said parts together to form a case, the third part serving as a push button.

Claims

1. A flashlight comprising, in combination,

a battery having a pair of flat, mutually parallel terminals of opposite polarity,

a light bulb having a pair of spaced elongate leads extending generally parallel to the terminals, end portions of the leads being located adjacent and respectively opposing the terminals, said leads being resilient in a direction normal to the terminals and being spaced further apart than the terminals when in an unstressed condition,

a case body having a socket for the bulb and a seat for one terminal of the battery,

a case cover slip fitted to the case body and having an aperture spaced from and opposing the other terminal of the battery, and

a push button having first, second and third portions mutually connected for simultaneous movement in said direction, said first portion extending outwardly of the case cover through the aperture, said second portion formed to abut the case cover to limit movement of the button away from the case body, and said third portion resiliently engaging said other terminal, said third portion being adapted to force said one terminal in said direction against said seat and into electrical contact with one lead when said second portion abuts the case cover, said button being formed to engage said other lead and to force it into electrical contact with said other terminal when said first portion is depressed toward the case body.

2. The combination of claim 1, in which the button consists of a unitary body of resilient polymeric composition.

3. The combination of claim 2, in which said third portion comprises a plurality of legs each having resilient engagement with said other terminal.

4. The combination of claim 1, in which the case body has a plurality of ribs confining the leads in mutually spaced, insulated and parallel relationship over a substantial portion of their extent.

5. The combination of claim 3, in which the case body consists of a unitary body of polymeric composition having a plurality of integral ribs located to confine the leads in mutually spaced, insulated and parallel relationship and to permit relative movement thereof in said direction.

6. The combination of claim 3, in which the battery is of flat, disc shape.