Compact flashlight

• US 5,893,631 A
• Filed: 11/03/1997
• Issued: 04/13/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SOG Specialty Knives Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Stephen J. Padden
• Inventors: Padden, Stephen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): HUSAR, STEPHEN F
• Application Number:
  US08/963,167
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 362/200, 362/201, 362/203, 362/208, 362/119, 200/60
• US Class Current: 362/201
• 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]

Abstract

A compact flashlight is provided having a base with an interior recess for permitting reciprocable movement of a disk battery. The base includes a bulb having a first lead that extends along the bottom of the interior recess. A second diverging lead extends from the bulb to an area along an upper side of the recess. The battery overlies the first lead so that electrical contact is made with the bottom portion of the battery. A carrier overlies the battery and includes a boss portion extending into an opening of a cover that encloses the base. Forward thumb pressure on the boss portion moves the battery from a bulb-off to a bulb-on position when the battery comes into electrical contact with the second diverging lead. This results in illumination of the bulb. The carrier is provided with resilient members extending outwardly from the back end of the carrier. The resilient members engage a corresponding detent in the housing and maintain the battery in an off position. Release of thumb pressure allows the resilient members to draw the carrier/battery back into an off position. The flashlight may exist as a self-contained unit or it may be incorporated into a variety of outer housing structures. It has particular applicability for use in thin housings that have a card-like shape.

Claims

1. A compact flashlight comprising:

a base defined by an outer periphery with an interior recess;

a bulb proximate said outer periphery having first and second diverging leads extending into said recess;

a battery positioned in said interior recess in electrical contact with said first lead, said battery being movable within said recess to make electrical contact with said second lead causing illumination of said bulb; and

,

a cover overlying said base.

2. The flashlight of claim 1 including a carrier in engagement with said battery whereby movement of said carrier will result in a like movement of said battery.

3. The flashlight of claim 2 wherein said carrier has a manual actuation area and said cover includes a central opening providing access to said actuation area.

4. The flashlight of claim 1 including biasing means engaged with said base for maintaining said battery in an off position out of contact with said second lead.

5. The flashlight of claim 4 wherein said biasing means interconnects said carrier with said base.

6. The flashlight of claim 5 wherein said base includes an auxiliary recess and said biasing means comprises a resilient member engaged with said auxiliary recess.

7. The flashlight of claim 6 wherein said resilient member comprises at least one flex element extending outwardly from said carrier.

8. The flashlight of claim 6 wherein said auxiliary recess includes two opposing detent surfaces and said resilient member comprises two outwardly flared flex elements each of which are engageable with a respective one of said detent surfaces.

9. The flashlight of claim 3 wherein said central opening has a defined planar shape and said carrier includes a pedestal that is movable within said interior recess and has a planar shape that is larger than the planar shape of said central opening.

10. The flashlight of claim 9 wherein said pedestal has an underside from which extends battery engagement means for maintaining said battery within said underside.

11. The flashlight of claim 10 wherein said engagement means comprises a deflectable arm extending from at least one end portion of said underside.

12. The flashlight of claim 9 wherein said carrier includes a boss portion extending upwardly into said central opening from said pedestal having a top surface that provides said actuation area, said boss portion having a planar shape that is smaller than the planar shape of said central opening.

13. The flashlight of claim 12 wherein each of the planar shapes of said central opening and said boss portion include opposing straight sides each of which are about equal distance apart, respectively, and wherein said central opening has a length that is greater than the length of said boss portion.

14. A flashlight comprising:

a base plate having a peripheral edge and an upper surface with an interior recess;

a cover plate overlying said base plate having a central opening;

a bulb located adjacent said edge having diverging first and second leads extending into said interior recess;

a battery movable within said interior recess from a bulb-off position out of contact with one of said leads to a bulb-on position in contact with both of said leads; and

,

a switch means in said interior recess accessible through said central opening for moving said battery from said bulb-off position to said bulb-on position.

15. The flashlight of claim 14 wherein said switch means includes a carrier having an engagement means for releasable attachment with said battery.

16. The flashlight of claim 15 wherein said carrier includes a biasing means for moving said switch means from said bulb-on position to said bulb-off position.

17. The flashlight of claim 16 wherein either one or both of said base plate and cover plate include a detent surface and said biasing means comprises a resilient member engageable with said detent surface.

18. The flashlight of claim 16 wherein said carrier includes a boss portion extending into said central opening having a planar shape that is smaller than said central opening.

19. The flashlight of claim 18 wherein the planar shape of both of said central opening and said boss portion include respective opposing straight sides which are about equidistant apart and the length of said central opening is greater than the length of said boss portion.

20. The flashlight of claim 14 wherein said bulb extends outwardly a predetermined distance from said peripheral edge;

and, an outer housing having an outer edge and a housing opening from which extends an aperture to said outer edge wherein said base plate and cover plate are fitted within said housing opening and said bulb extends into said aperture.

21. A flashlight assembly comprising:

a housing having an outer edge and an interior recess with an aperture extending from said interior recess to said outer edge;

a bulb in communication with said aperture having two diverging leads that extend into said interior recess; and

,

a battery movable within said interior recess in contact with one of said leads when in a bulb-off position and in contact with both leads when in a bulb-on position.

22. The assembly of claim 21 wherein said housing has an upper surface with a switch opening;

and,

a carrier detachably connected to said battery having an actuation area accessible through said switch opening.

23. The assembly of claim 22 wherein said carrier includes a biasing means for moving said carrier and battery from said bulb-on position to said bulb-off position.

24. The assembly of claim 23 wherein said housing includes a detent surface and said biasing means comprises a resilient member engaged with said detent surface.

25. The assembly of claim 24 wherein said housing includes an auxiliary recess that incorporates said detent surface;

said auxiliary recess being axially offset from said interior recess; and

,

said resilient member comprising a pair of outwardly flared arcuate flex elements extending axially from said carrier and being constrained within said auxiliary recess.

26. The assembly of claim 21 wherein said housing includes releasable engagement means for implements including any one or combination of knife, can opener and bottle opener.