Multiple selectable bulb flashlight

• US 5,876,110 A
• Filed: 07/28/1997
• Issued: 03/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alan K. Uke
• Original Assignee: Alan K. Uke
• Inventors: Uke, Alan K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US08/901,494
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 362/197, 362/202, 362/184, 362/205, 362/287, 362/285, 362/418
• US Class Current: 362/184
• 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: F21L 4/06 with the light source coupled to the remainder of the device solely by cable
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/04 with provision for changing light source, e.g. turret auxiliary devices for cleaning, placing, or removing incandescent lamps H01K3/32, fluorescent lamps H01J9/006
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0414 specially adapted to be used with portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/00 Gas-tight or water-tight arrangements

Abstract

A flashlight has a water tight cylindrical battery casing and a sealed cylindrical closure which screws over the forward open end thereof. The closure includes a lens and a parabolic reflector. A first PC board fixed in the closure serves as a support member for a second PC board that serves as a mounting member for a pair of bulbs. The second PC board is pivotally connected to the first PC board in front thereof in overlapping fashion. The pins of the bulbs are plugged into forward opening pin receptacles in the second PC board. The second PC board can swing back and forth to move the bulbs through an arcuate slot in the reflector into and out of the focal point of the reflector. A manual actuator located on the outside of the casing can be toggled by a diver'"'"'s hand and its motion is carried by a sealed linkage through the casing to pivot the second PC board. This allows the diver to selectively position a spare one of the two bulbs in the focal point of the reflector in case the bulb in use fails or to select a bulb with a higher intensity. This same motion also completes an electrical circuit through the two PC boards between the selected bulb and the battery so that the selected bulb is energized. A lamp head of the aforementioned configuration without batteries may be connected through a conductor cable to a separate battery pack having an ON/OFF switch.

Claims

1. A lamp, comprising:

a water tight housing;

a plurality of light bulbs;

moveable mounting means in said water tight housing for mounting said bulbs;

circuit means in said water tight housing for alternately connecting a selected one of said light bulbs to a source of power for energizing the bulb;

said mounting means being moveable to selectable positions for energizing selective ones of said light bulbs;

a manually moveable actuator mounted outside said water tight housing;

linkage means connected between said actuator and said mounting means for simultaneously moving and energizing selective ones of said light bulbs; and

a water tight seal surrounding a portion of the linkage means that extends through the water tight housing.

2. A lamp according to claim 1, wherein said housing includes a reflector and said actuator moves said bulbs into a focal point of said reflector.

3. A lamp according to claim 2, wherein said reflector is selected from the group consisting of a parabolic reflector, an ellipsoidal reflector and a spherical reflector.

4. A lamp according to claim 2, wherein said mounting means is pivotally mounted in said housing and carries electrical contacts for completing a circuit when said actuator moves said bulbs into the focal point of said reflector.

5. A lamp according to claim 1, wherein said housing includes a support member defining a PC board having contacts on one face for engagement with terminals of a battery and contacts on another face for engagement with terminals on said mounting means connected to said bulbs.

6. A lamp according to claim 5, wherein said mounting means is pivotally mounted on said PC board and carries electrical contacts for completing a circuit when said actuator moves said bulbs.

7. A lamp according to claim 6 wherein said electrical contacts also function as detents for locating the mounting means.

8. A lamp according to claim 7 wherein said detents are positioned on a back surface of said mounting means.

9. A lamp according to claim 5 wherein said mounting means is slideably mounted on said PC board and carries electrical contacts for completing a circuit when said actuator moves said bulbs into a focal point of said reflector.

10. A lamp according to claim 9 wherein said electrical contacts also function as detents for locating the mounting means.

11. A lamp according to claim 10 wherein said detents are positioned on a back surface of said mounting means.

12. A lamp according to claim 1, wherein said housing includes a reflector having a focal point and said bulbs are moveable relative to the focal point of the reflector.

13. A lamp according to claim 12, wherein said reflector is a two part reflector having a first part fixed in said housing and a second part mounted on said mounting means and defining said focal point.

14. A lamp according to claim 13, wherein said reflector is a parabolic reflector.

15. A lamp according to claim 13, wherein said reflector is an ellipsoidal reflector.

16. A lamp according to claim 13, wherein said reflector is a spherical reflector.

17. A lamp according to claim 1, further comprising a lens and means for providing a second water tight seal between said lens and said housing.

18. A lamp according to claim 1 wherein:

said housing is a lamp head containing said light bulbs and said actuator, and the lamp further comprises a battery pack comprising a second housing containing at least one battery; and

a conductor cable connecting said housing containing said light bulbs to said battery pack.

19. A lamp according to claim 18 wherein said conductor cable is flexible and includes a detachable connector for detachably connecting said housing containing said light bulbs to said battery pack.

20. A lamp according to claim 19 wherein said battery pack includes a switch for controlling electric power to said light bulbs.

21. A lamp according to claim 18 wherein said battery pack includes a switch for controlling electric power to said light bulbs.

26. A flashlight according to claim 20 wherein said electrical contacts also function as detents for locating the mounting member.

27. A flashlight according to claim 26 wherein said detents are positioned on a back surface of said mounting member.

22. A battery powered flashlight, comprising:

a casing having walls defining an enclosed water tight chamber for receiving a battery, the casing having an opening at one end;

a support member mounted in said casing;

a closure mountable over said opening, said closure having a reflector and a lens;

a first water tight seal between said casing and said closure;

a plurality of bulbs;

a mounting member movably mounted on said support member for supporting the bulbs adjacent the reflector, said mounting member being moveable to selectable positions for energizing a selected one of said bulbs and locating the selected one of said bulbs at a focal point of said reflector;

a manually moveable actuator mounted outside said casing;

a linkage connected between said actuator and said mounting member for simultaneously moving and energizing selective ones of said plurality of bulbs; and

a second water tight seal sealing a portion of the linkage that extends through the casing.

23. A flashlight according to claim 22, wherein said mounting member is pivotally mounted in said closure and carries electrical contacts for completing a circuit when said actuator moves the selected ones of said bulbs into the focal point of said reflector.

24. A flashlight according to claim 22, wherein said support member is a PC board having contacts on a first face for engagement with terminals of a battery and contacts on a second face for engagement with terminals on said mounting member connected to said bulbs.

25. A flashlight according to claim 24, wherein said mounting member is pivotally mounted on said PC board and carries electrical contacts for completing a circuit when said actuator moves said bulbs into the focal point of said reflector.

28. A flashlight according to claim 24 wherein said mounting member is slideably mounted on said PC board and carries electrical contacts for completing a circuit when said actuator moves said bulbs into the focal point of said reflector.

29. A flashlight according to claim 24 wherein said electrical contacts also function as detents for locating the mounting member.

30. A flashlight according to claim 29 wherein the detents are positioned on a back surface of said mounting member.

31. A flashlight according to claim 29, wherein said bulbs are of different types.

32. A flashlight according to claim 31, wherein said reflector is a two part reflector having a first part fixed in said closure and a second part mounted on said mounting member and defining said focal point.

33. A flashlight according to claim 32, wherein said reflector is parabolic.

34. A flashlight according to claim 33, wherein said reflector is ellipsoidal.

35. A flashlight according to claim 34, wherein said reflector is spherical.

36. A flashlight according to claim 22, wherein said bulbs are of different types.

37. A flashlight according to claim 22, wherein said reflector is a two part reflector having a first part fixed in said closure and a second part mounted on said mounting member and defining said focal point.

38. A flashlight according to claim 22, wherein the casing and the closure have mating threaded cylindrical portions which screw together.

39. A flashlight according to claim 22, wherein the mounting member includes a plurality of pin receptacles for receiving a plurality of corresponding pins of the bulbs.

40. A flashlight according to claim 22, and further comprising spring means for biasing the mounting member against the support member.

41. A lamp head, comprising:

an outer reflector portion;

a mounting member;

a plurality of bulbs mounted on the mounting member in spaced apart relationship;

a plurality of inner reflector portions mounted on the mounting member, each surrounding a corresponding one of the bulbs;

means for moving the mounting member to mate a selected one of the inner reflector portions with the outer reflector portion; and

the mated inner reflector portion and outer reflector portion having a focal point and the bulb in the mated inner reflector portion being located substantially at the focal point.

42. A lamp, comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of light bulbs;

a moveable mounting means in said housing for mounting said light bulbs;

a support member in said housing defining a PC board having contacts on one face for engagement with terminals of a battery and contacts on another face for engagement with terminals on said mounting means connected to said bulbs;

circuit means in said housing for alternately connecting a selected one of said light bulbs to a source of power for energizing the bulb;

said mounting means being moveable to selectable positions for energizing selective ones of said plurality of light bulbs; and

an actuator mounted on said housing and connected to said mounting means for moving and energizing selected ones of said bulbs.

43. A lamp according to claim 42 wherein said mounting means is pivotally mounted on said PC board.

44. A lamp according to claim 42 wherein said mounting means is slideably mounted on said PC board.

45. A battery powered flashlight, comprising:

a casing having walls defining an enclosed chamber for receiving a battery, the casing having an opening at one end;

a support member mounted in said casing;

a closure mountable over said opening, said closure having a reflector and a lens;

a plurality of bulbs;

a mounting member moveably mounted on said support member for supporting the bulbs above the reflector, said mounting member being moveable to selectable positions for energizing selected ones of said bulbs;

the support member being a PC board having contacts on a first face for engagement with terminals of a battery and contacts on a second face for engagement with terminals on said mounting member connected to said bulbs; and

an actuator mounted on said casing and connected to said mounting member for moving and energizing selected ones of said bulbs.

46. A lamp, comprising:

a water tight housing having walls defining an enclosed chamber, the housing having an opening at one end;

a closure mountable over the opening of the water tight housing, the closure having a reflector and a lens;

a seal positioned between the water tight housing and the closure to prevent water from entering the enclosed chamber;

a plurality of bulbs;

a mounting member for supporting the bulbs adjacent the reflector, the mounting member being moveable to selectable positions for moving a selected one of the bulbs into and out of a focal point of the reflector;

the mounting member having a plurality of pin receptacles for receiving a plurality of pins of the bulbs; and

an actuator connected to the mounting member for moving a selected one of the bulbs into and out of the focal point of the reflector.

47. A lamp according to claim 46 and further comprising a switch operable independent of the actuator for connecting and disconnecting the bulbs to a source of electric power.

48. A lamp according to claim 46 wherein the actuator is connected to the mounting member through a linkage having a portion that extends through a hole in the water tight housing and a second seal surrounds the portion of the linkage to prevent water from entering the enclosed chamber through the hole.

49. A lamp according to claim 46 and further comprising a water tight battery pack and a cable for conducting electric power from a battery inside the battery pack to the bulbs inside the water tight housing.

50. A lamp, comprising:

a water tight housing having walls defining an enclosed chamber, the housing having an opening at one end;

a closure mountable over the opening of the water tight housing, the closure having a reflector and a lens;

a seal positioned between the water tight housing and the closure to prevent water from entering the enclosed chamber;

a plurality of bulbs;

a mounting member for supporting the bulbs adjacent the reflector, the mounting member being moveable to selectable positions for moving a selected one of the bulbs into and out of a focal point of the reflector;

an actuator connected to the mounting member for moving a selected one of the bulbs into and out of the focal point of the reflector; and

a switch operable independent of the actuator for connecting and disconnecting the bulbs to a source of electric power.

51. A lamp, comprising:

a water tight housing having walls defining an enclosed chamber, the housing having an opening at one end;

a closure mountable over the opening of the water tight housing, the closure having a reflector and a lens;

a first seal positioned between the water tight housing and the closure to prevent water from entering the enclosed chamber;

a plurality of bulbs;

a mounting member for supporting the bulbs adjacent the reflector, the mounting member being moveable to selectable positions for moving a selected one of the bulbs into and out of a focal point of the reflector;

an actuator mounted outside the water tight housing and connected to the mounting member for moving a selected one of the bulbs into and out of the focal point of the reflector, the actuator being connected to the mounting member through a linkage having a portion that extends through a hole in the water tight housing; and

a second seal surrounding the portion of the linkage that extends through the hole in the water tight housing for preventing water from entering the enclosed chamber through the hole.

52. A lamp, comprising:

a water tight housing having walls defining an enclosed chamber, the housing having an opening at one end;

a closure mountable over the opening of the water tight housing, the closure having a reflector and a lens;

a seal positioned between the water tight housing and the closure to prevent water from entering the enclosed chamber;

a plurality of bulbs;

a mounting member for supporting the bulbs adjacent the reflector, the mounting member being moveable to selectable positions for moving a selected one of the bulbs into and out of a focal point of the reflector;

an actuator connected to the mounting member for moving a selected one of the bulbs into and out of the focal point of the reflector;

a water tight battery pack for enclosing at least one battery; and

a cable for conducting electric power from the battery inside the water tight battery pack to the bulbs inside the water tight housing.