Roadside emergency security flashlight

• US 6,206,541 B1
• Filed: 03/14/2000
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Landamia, Antonio
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Laura K.
• Application Number:
  US09/525,128
• Time in Patent Office: 378 Days
• Field of Search: 362/184, 362/187, 362/188, 362/190, 362/197, 362/287
• US Class Current: 362/184
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/88 Means for plugging to the electrical power supply of the vehicle, e.g. by using cigarette lighter sockets
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/00 Electric lighting devices with self-contained electric batteries or cells
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/30 Pivoted housings or frames
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0407 for flashing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0076 Safety or security signalisation, e.g. smoke or burglar alarms, earthquake detectors; Self-defence devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/802 Position or condition responsive switch

Abstract

A flashlight for use in emergency situations includes a front light, a rear light, a translucent body with lights underneath to serve as a light beacon, and pivotable legs for supporting the flashlight in a freestanding position. When the legs are pivoted away from the flashlight body, a normally open switch closes, automatically turning on the lights in the translucent body and operating the flashlight as an emergency light beacon. The material used in the translucent body and/or the lights in the body are preferably colored red to designate an emergency situation. Front and rear light sources on the flashlight, which can be adjustable, provide ambient and task lighting in the same manner as conventional flashlights. The flashlight may include a cigarette lighter adapter and rechargeable batteries as an alternative power source to conventional batteries.

Claims

1. A portable flashlight, comprising:

a body portion made from a translucent material for transmitting light therethrough;

a front light source on a front end of said body portion;

a side light source on a side of said body portion, said side light source arranged to transmit a side light beam through the translucent material of said body portion;

a power supply to generate power for operating said front light source and said side light source;

a support device that can be placed in one of a retracted position and an extended position, said support device being capable of supporting said portable flashlight in an orientation having a vertical component; and

a swiveling head on said front end of said body portion, said swiveling head incorporating said front light source such that a user can selectively direct a light beam from said front light source by moving said swiveling head.

2. The portable flashlight of claim 1, further comprising at least one flashing unit, wherein said flashing unit is connected to said front light source to selectively generate a steady light beam or a flashing light beam with said front light source.

3. The portable flashlight of claim 1, further comprising at least one flashing unit, wherein said flashing unit is connected to said side light source to selectively generate a steady light beam or a flashing light beam with said side light source.

4. The portable flashlight of claim 1, further comprising a switch for controlling either or both of said front and side light sources in response to movement of said support device between said retracted position and said extended position.

5. The portable flashlight of claim 4, wherein said switch is a normally closed switch that is biased open when said support device is in said retracted position such that said switch automatically closes and connects said side light source with said power supply when said support device is moved to said extended position.

6. The portable flashlight of claim 1, further comprising a rear light source on a rear end of said body portion.

7. The portable flashlight of claim 6, further comprising a switch for controlling said rear light source.

8. The portable flashlight of claim 7, wherein said rear light source and said front light source are both controlled by said switch.

9. The portable flashlight of claim 6, further comprising a flashing unit connected to said rear light source such that said rear light source flashes when said flashing unit is activated.

10. The portable flashlight of claim 1, wherein said side light source comprises a plurality of light sources arranged along an interior of said body portion for emitting light through said translucent material, wherein each of said light sources of said plurality of lights is partially surrounded by a separate reflector for directing light through said translucent material.

11. The portable flashlight of claim 1, wherein said side light source comprises a plurality of LEDs arranged along a circumference of an interior of said body portion for emitting light through said translucent material.

12. The portable flashlight of claim 1, wherein said power supply includes an automobile cigarette lighter adapter.

13. The portable flashlight of claim 1, wherein said power supply comprises one or more batteries, said flashlight further comprising a battery level indicator on said body portion, said battery level indicator indicating a charged level of said one or more batteries over a continuum of possible charge levels.

14. The portable flashlight of claim 1, wherein said support device comprises:

a pair of opposing connection members that are pivotable about a pivot on said body portion;

a pair of extendible legs, each leg secured to one of said pair of connection members, wherein each leg is pivotable between said retracted position, where the legs are arranged flush against said body portion of the flashlight, and said extended position, where the legs are pivoted away from said body portion.

15. The portable flashlight of claim 1, further comprising a compartment in said body portion containing a spare light bulb.

16. The portable flashlight as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a rotatable member on said body portion for selectively giving said front light a first narrow focus or a second broader focus.

17. A portable flashlight, comprising:

a body portion made from a translucent material for transmitting light therethrough;

a front light on a front end of said body portion;

a side light on a side of said body portion, said side light arranged to transmit a side light beam through the translucent material of said body portion;

a power supply to generate power for operating said front light and said side light;

a support device that can be placed in one of a retracted position and an extended position, said support device being capable of supporting said portable flashlight in at least an orientation having a vertical component; and

a rotatable member on said body portion for selectively giving said front light a first narrow focus or a second broader focus.