Portable light

• US 5,465,197 A
• Filed: 06/07/1994
• Issued: 11/07/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tseng-Lu Chien
• Original Assignee: Tseng-Lu Chien
• Inventors: Chien, Tseng-Lu
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US08/255,923
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 362/394, 362/103, 362/800, 362/802, 362/276, 200/61.51, 200/61.52, 200/61.49, 200/61.48, 36/137, 273/58 G
• US Class Current: 362/202
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0036 with fluorescent or phosphorescent parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/802 Position or condition responsive switch

Abstract

A portable light includes a shell which defines an opening. The shell is linked to a lens so as to cover the opening therein. A printed circuit board (PCB) is contained in the shell. The PCB is operatively connected with a light emitting diode (LED) for flashing and a vibration-sensitive switch for controlling the LED. The PCB is operatively connected with a metal strip. A dry battery is disposed between the PCB and the metal strip. The shell can be linked to a buckle for attaching the portable light to a shoe.

Claims

1. A portable light comprising a shell which defines an opening, a lens which is mounted on the shell so as to cover the opening, a printed circuit board having first and second sides and which is positioned in the shell, a light emitting diode which is operatively connected with and mounted on the first side of the printed circuit board, a motion-sensitive switch which is operatively connected with and mounted on the first side of the printed circuit board, and a metal strip which is operatively connected with the printed circuit board, a dry battery, wherein the, dry battery is sandwiched between the second side of the printed circuit board and the metal strip, whereby the metal strip connects one side of the battery with the circuit board and at the same time retains the dry battery against the circuit board so that the opposite electrode of the dry battery directly engages the circuit board.

2. A portable light in accordance with claim 1 wherein the motion-sensitive switch comprises a metal cylinder which is operatively connected with a first contact of the printed circuit board and a spring which is operatively connected with a second contact of the printed circuit board, and the spring is disposed in the metal cylinder, whereby the light emitting diode is electrically connected to the dry battery when the first contact is electrically connected to the second contact, and whereby the spring periodically contacts the metal cylinder thus causing the light emitting diode to be periodically and electrically connected to the dry battery and to flash when the motion-sensitive switch is subjected to motion.

3. A portable light in accordance with claim 2 wherein the spring comprises an enlarged head for increasing motion sensitivity of the motion-sensitive switch.

4. A portable light in accordance with claim 1 comprising a buckle which is attached to the shell for releasably fastening to a shoe lace of a shoe.

5. A portable light in accordance with claim 2 comprising a cap which is mounted on the metal cylinder for protecting the spring.

6. A portable light in accordance with claim 2 further comprising an insulator sleeve which can be) is removably disposed between the spring and the metal cylinder in order to prevent the spring from contacting the metal cylinder so as to restrain the light emitting diode from flashing in order to save electricity when the portable light is not in use.

7. A portable light comprising a shell which defines an opening, a lens which is mounted on the shell so as to cover the opening, a printed circuit board positioned in the shell and having two sides, a light emitting diode which is operatively connected with and mounted on the first side of the printed circuit board, a motion sensitive switch is operatively connected with and mounted on the first side of the printed circuit board, a metal strip which is operatively connected with the printed circuit board, and a dry battery, wherein the dry battery is sandwiched between the second side of the printed circuit board and the metal strip, whereby the metal strip connects one side of the battery with the circuit board and at the same time retains the dry battery against the circuit board so that the opposite electrode of the dry battery directly engages the circuit board, and wherein the motion-sensitive switch comprises a metal cylinder which is operatively connected with a first contact of the printed circuit board and a spring which is operatively connected with a second contact of the printed circuit board, the spring being disposed in the metal cylinder, whereby the light emitting diode is electrically connected to the dry battery when the first contact is electrically connected to the second contact, and wherein the spring periodically contacts the metal cylinder, thus causing the light emitting diode to be periodically and electrically connected to the dry battery and to flash when the motion-sensitive is subjected to motion, and further comprising an insulator sleeve which is removably disposed between the spring and the metal cylinder in order to prevent the spring from contacting the metal cylinder so as to thereby prevent the light emitting diode from flashing in order to save electricity when the portable light is not in use.

8. A portable light in accordance with claim 7 wherein the spring comprises an enlarged head for increasing motion sensitivity of the motion-sensitive switch.

9. A portable light in accordance with claim 7 comprising a buckle which is attached to the shell for releasably fastening the portable light to a shoe lace of a shoe.

10. A portable light in accordance with claim 7 comprising a cap which is mounted on the metal cylinder for protecting the spring.