Sleeve retention for flexible core of a flashlight

• US 5,517,392 A
• Filed: 08/05/1994
• Issued: 05/14/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Holbrook, Paul R., Rousso, John G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cariaso, Alan B.
• Application Number:
  US08/286,852
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 439/162, 439/333, 439/350, 439/352, 439/928, 362/194, 362/195, 362/196, 362/197, 362/198, 362/199, 362/226, 362/285, 362/421
• US Class Current: 362/198
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/38 by folding , e.g. pivoting or scissors tong mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/40 by means of coilable or bendable legs or spiral shaped legs
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/04 for supporting on, or holding steady relative to, a person, e.g. by chains , e.g. rifle butt or pistol grip supports, supports attached to the chest or head apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs or for projecting or viewing them G03B
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/022 by friction
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/06 with the light source coupled to the remainder of the device solely by cable
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/145 for portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/32 Flexible tubes

Abstract

A flashlight includes a flexible core comprising a pair of conductive wires which electrically connect a source of power to a power using implement. A flexible spine surrounds the pair of conductive wires and includes a plurality of interconnected universally rotatable members. A resilient sleeve engages the outer surface of the rotatable members forming the spine. The flashlight includes a working end housing and a base housing. A first anchor connects one end of the flexible core to the base end housing and a second anchor connects the other end of the flexible core to the working end housing. The outer surface of the resilient sleeve is restrained against relative twisting or longitudinal movement with respect to each housing.

Claims

1. A flashlight comprising:

a base housing forming a power end for said flashlight and having a longitudinally extending bore including at least one battery housed therein;

a working end housing spaced from said base housing and supporting a reflector, a lens, and a light bulb, said working end housing including means defining a longitudinally extending bore;

a flexible core assembly connecting said base housing to said working end housing and comprising a pair of conductive wires electrically connecting said battery to said light bulb, a flexible spine surrounding said pair of conductive wires and including a plurality of interconnected and universally rotatable members, and a resilient sleeve member engaging an outer surface of each of the rotatable members forming said spine;

a first anchor connected to a first end of said flexible core and having a portion extending within the bore of said base housing, said anchor including first gripping means underlying the resilient sleeve member of said flexible core, and said base housing bore including second gripping means overlying the sleeve of said flexible core and sandwiching said sleeve between said first and second gripping means; and

a second anchor connected to a second end of said flexible core and having a portion extending within the bore of said working end housing, said second anchor including third gripping means underlying the sleeve of said flexible core and said working end housing bore including fourth gripping means overlying the sleeve of said flexible core and sandwiching said sleeve between said third and fourth gripping means.

2. A flashlight in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first and third gripping means comprise a radially extending rib.

3. A flashlight in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said anchors has first locking means and each of the bores of said working end housing and said base housing includes second locking means for engaging said first locking means to maintain the flexible core in a fixed circumferential position relative to the bores of said base and working end housings.

4. A flashlight in accordance with claim 3 wherein a selected one of said first and second locking means comprises a longitudinally extending rib and the other of said locking means comprises a complementary concave surface for receiving said rib.

5. A flashlight in accordance with claim 4 wherein a selected one of said third and fourth locking means comprises a longitudinally extending rib and the other of said third and fourth locking means comprises a complementary concave surface for receiving said rib.

6. A flashlight comprising:

a base housing forming a power end for said flashlight and having a longitudinally extending bore including at least one battery housed therein;

a working end housing spaced from said base housing and supporting a reflector, a lens, and a light bulb, said working end housing including means defining a longitudinally extending bore;

a flexible core assembly connecting said base housing to said working end housing and comprising a pair of conductive wires electrically connecting said battery to said light bulb, a flexible spine surrounding said pair of conductive wires and including a plurality of interconnected and universally rotatable members, and a resilient sleeve member engaging an outer surface of each of the rotatable members forming said spine, said sleeve member including a first end extending into the bore of the base housing and a second end extending into the bore of the working end housing, each of said bores includes a plurality of inwardly extending ridges for engaging the outer surface of said sleeve.

7. A flashlight in accordance with claim 6 wherein the ridges have a shark tooth-like shape in vertical cross-section.

8. A flashlight comprising:

a base housing forming a power end for said flashlight and having a longitudinally extending bore;

a working end housing spaced from said base housing and including means defining a longitudinally extending bore;

a flexible core assembly connecting said base housing to said working end housing and comprising a pair of conductive wires electrically connecting said base housing to said working end housing, a flexible spine surrounding said pair of conductive wires electrically connecting said base housing to said working end housing, a flexible spine surrounding said pair of conductive wires and including a plurality of interconnected and universally rotatable members, and a resilient sleeve member surrounding an outer surface of each of the rotatable members forming said spine;

a first anchor connected to a first end of said flexible core and having a portion extending within the bore of said base housing, said anchor including first gripping means underlying the resilient sleeve member of said flexible core, and said base housing including second gripping means overlying the sleeve of said flexible core and sandwiching said sleeve between said first and second gripping means; and

a second anchor connected to a second end of said flexible core and having a portion extending within the bore of said working end housing, said second anchor including third gripping means underlying the sleeve of said flexible core and said working end housing bore including fourth gripping means overlying the sleeve of said flexible core and sandwiching said sleeve between said third and fourth gripping means.

9. A flashlight in accordance with claim 8 wherein said first and third gripping means comprise a radially extending rib.

10. A flashlight in accordance with claim 9 wherein each of said anchors has first locking means and each of the bores of said working end housing and said base housing include second locking means for engaging said first locking means to maintain the flexible core in a fixed circumferential position relative to the bores of said base and working end housings.

11. A flashlight in accordance with claim 10 wherein a selected one of said first and second locking means comprises a longitudinally extending rib and the other of said locking means comprises a complementary concave surface for receiving said rib.

12. A flashlight in accordance with claim 11 wherein a selected one of said third and fourth locking means comprises a longitudinally extending rib and the other of said third and fourth locking means comprises a complementary concave surface for receiving said rib.