Disposable planar flashlight

• US 5,934,789 A
• Filed: 08/19/1997
• Issued: 08/10/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Allen Pearson, Iain Sinclair
• Original Assignee: Allen Pearson, Iain Sinclair
• Inventors: Pearson, Allen, Sinclair, Iain
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US08/914,188
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 362/189, 362/200, 362/201, 362/205, 362/184, 362/394, 362/276
• US Class Current: 362/189
• 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

Abstract

An improved planar disposable flashlight is presented having a one-piece housing for mounting the elements of the flashlight in a fixed structural relationship while providing support and protection to the flashlight. The one piece housing includes a pair of resilient C-shaped clamps which releasably grasp a pair of light bulb shafts and position the light bulbs in a predetermined position, and a protective bumper is provided which separates the light bulbs and protects them from impact. The housing also comprises channels which communicate the electrical leads from the light bulbs to the switch and the connections to the battery'"'"'s terminals, securing the leads from crimping or snagging. A recessed area is provided for securing a pressure sensitive switch therein, bordered by columns which protect the switch from inadvertent activation. Platforms project from the columns and provide a mounting location for clips which connect to the battery'"'"'s terminals, and wings project from the platforms in a preferred embodiment to resist dog-earing of the corners. In another preferred embodiment, the platforms include pegs which mate with apertures on the clips to secure the clips to the housing and also to properly position the clips in relation to the battery'"'"'s terminals.

Claims

1. An improved planar flashlight comprising:

a planar power source;

at least one light bulb; and

a housing mounted to said planar power source and comprising a substantially planar body having first and second spaced apart columns and a recessed switch area therebetween, said switch area sized to receive a pressure sensitive switch substantially therein with said first and second columns extending above said pressure sensitive switch, and first and second platforms, each depending from one of said first and second columns and adapted to receive an electrical contact substantially thereon; and

first bulb securing means integrally connected with said planar body.

2. An improved planar flashlight as recited in claim 1 further comprising means for securing said electrical contacts to said first and second platforms.

3. An improved planar flashlight as recited in claim 2 wherein said means for securing said electrical contacts to said first and second platforms comprises an integral peg protruding from each of said first and second platforms and sized to engage a hole in said electrical contact.

4. An improved planar flashlights as recited in claim 1 further comprising second bulb securing means integrally connected with said planar body and spaced from said first bulb securing means.

5. An improved planar flashlight as recited in claim 1 wherein said first and second platforms have a thickness such that a height of a combination of the electrical contact and the platform is less than a height of the column adjacent thereto.

6. An improved planar flashlight as recited in claim 1 wherein said first bulb securing means comprises a resilient C-shaped clamp adapted to removably retain said bulb therein.

7. An improved planar flashlight as recited in claim 1 further comprising a first channel connecting said recessed switch area with a bulb disposed in said first bulb securing means, said first channel sized to communicate an electrical lead therein.

8. The improved planar flashlight as recited in claim 1 further comprising a passage in one of said first and second columns, said passage connecting said recessed switch area and one of said first and second platforms, said passage sized to communicate an electrical lead from an electrical contact on said platform to said pressure sensitive switch.

9. The improved planar flashlight as recited in claim 1 further comprising bumper means adjacent said first bulb securing means and projecting from said housing for deflecting contact from an impacting body prior to impact with a bulb in said bulb securing means.

10. The improved planar flashlight as recited in claim 1 further comprising first and second extensions connected to said platforms and projecting substantially to first and second corners of said flashlight.

11. A planar flashlight assembly comprising:

a light bulb;

a planar power source;

first and second electrical contacts, said first electrical contact operably connected to said light bulb;

a pressure sensitive electrical switch operably connected to said second electrical contact; and

a one piece planar housing adapted to releasably secure in an operable relationship the light bulb, the first and second electrical contacts, and the pressure sensitive switch, said one piece planar housing comprising;

a resilient clamp adapted to secure the light bulb therein;

a first recessed region sized to receive the pressure sensitive switch therein, and

channels connecting said recessed region with said light bulb and said electrical contacts with said light bulb.

12. A disposable planar flashlight comprising:

a planar power source including first and second electrical contacts on a first surface thereof;

a light bulb;

a pressure sensitive switch;

first and second electrically conducting clamps, said first clamp connected to said light bulb and said second clamp connected to said pressure sensitive switch; and

a one piece planar housing comprising peg means for securing said first and second clamps to said one piece planar housing such that said first and second clamps are properly positioned to contact said first and second electrical contacts on said planar power source, said one piece planar unit further comprising means for securing said pressure sensitive switch thereto, and means for releasably securing said light bulb thereto.