Flashlight holder assembly

• US 6,206,543 B1
• Filed: 11/12/1999
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Henry, David Vincent
• Original Assignee: Henry, David Vincent
• Inventors: Henry, David Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): TON, ANABEL
• Application Number:
  US09/439,831
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 362/105, 362/106, 362/103, 362/190, 362/191, 362/396, 362/202, 362/187, 362/188, 362/203
• US Class Current: 362/191
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0566 Tubular, rod-shaped articles, e.g. batons
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/02 Fastening articles to the garment
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/084 Head fittings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/0885 for portable lighting devices

Abstract

A flashlight holder assembly for releasably receiving a flashlight of the type having head rotatable with respect to a barrel for operation thereof. The barrel of the flashlight defines a faceted exterior surface. The holder defines a barrel support and a base. The barrel support defines a faceted internal surface and a slot which cooperate to closely receive the barrel such that the barrel is retained in the barrel support in a non-rotatable manner. The base defines a base plate to which the barrel support is secured. In one embodiment, the holder includes a clip which extends from the base plate and is positioned below the base plate and cooperates with the base plate to receive and retain the periphery of an article therein.

Claims

1. A flashlight holder assembly for releasably receiving a flashlight, the flashlight including a faceted barrel and a head, the head being rotatable with respect to the barrel for operation of the flashlight, said flashlight holder assembly comprising:

a barrel support defining a faceted internal surface adapted to closely receive the faceted flashlight barrel, said barrel support preventing rotation of the flashlight barrel such that operation of the flashlight by rotation of the flashlight head does not impart rotation of the flashlight barrel, said barrel support further defining a slot along a length thereof to assist in opening said barrel support for receipt of the flashlight barrel; and

a base defining a base plate having an upper surface and a lower surface, said barrel support being secured to said upper surface of said base plate, said base being adapted to be releasably mounted to a selected object for disposition of the flashlight.

2. The flashlight holder assembly of claim 1 wherein said base further includes a clip extending from said base plate and being positioned below said base plate, said clip being adapted to cooperate with said lower surface of said base to releasably mount said flashlight holder assembly to a selected article.

3. The flashlight holder assembly of claim 2 wherein said clip defines a receptor opening and a nip, said receptor opening and said lower side of said base plate receiving the periphery of the article therebetween, said nip being biased toward said lower surface of said base plate to securely hold the article between said receptor opening and said lower surface of said base plate.

4. The flashlight holder assembly of claim 3 wherein said receptor opening is enlarged such that when said clip rests on a surface said base plate and said barrel support rest at an angle relative to the surface.

5. The flashlight holder assembly of claim 2 further comprising an insert adapted to be received in said clip to provide resistance such that said clip does not move with respect to the article on which said flashlight holder assembly is mounted.

6. The flashlight holder assembly of claim 1 wherein said base plate defines an extension member for providing stability when mounted to a selected article.

7. The flashlight holder assembly of claim 1 wherein said faceted internal surface of said barrel support defines fewer faces than said faceted exterior surface of said barrel such that at least one opening is defined between the flashlight barrel and said barrel support, said at least one opening being used to receive a selected fastener.

8. The flashlight holder assembly of claim 7 wherein said base plate and said barrel support define at least one screw opening for receiving a screw therethrough, said at least one screw opening being positioned to receive said selected fastener within said opening defined between the flashlight barrel and said barrel support.

9. A flashlight holder assembly for releasably receiving a flashlight, the flashlight including a faceted barrel and a head, the head being rotatable with respect to the barrel for operation of the flashlight, said flashlight holder assembly comprising:

a barrel support defining a faceted internal surface adapted to closely receive the faceted flashlight barrel, said barrel support preventing rotation of the flashlight barrel such that operation of the flashlight by rotation of the flashlight head does not impart rotation of the flashlight barrel, said barrel support further defining a slot along a length thereof to assist in opening said barrel support for receipt of the flashlight barrel, said faceted internal surface of said barrel support defining fewer faces than said faceted exterior surface of said barrel, such that at least one opening is defined between the flashlight barrel and said barrel support, said at least one opening being used to receive a selected fastener; and

a base defining a base plate having an upper surface and a lower surface, said barrel support being secured to said upper surface of said base plate, said base being adapted to be releasably mounted to a selected object for disposition of the flashlight, said base further includes a clip extending from said base plate and being positioned below said base plate, said clip being adapted to cooperate with said lower surface of said base to releasably mount said flashlight holder assembly to a selected article, said base plate and said barrel support defining at least one screw opening for receiving a screw therethrough, said at least one screw opening being positioned to receive said selected fastener within said opening defined between the flashlight barrel and said barrel support.

10. The flashlight holder assembly of claim 9 wherein said clip defines a receptor opening and a nip, said receptor opening and said lower side of said base plate receiving the periphery of the article therebetween, said nip being biased toward said lower surface of said base plate to securely hold the article between said receptor opening and said lower surface of said base plate.

11. The flashlight holder assembly of claim 10 wherein said receptor opening is enlarged such that when said clip rests on a surface said base plate and said barrel support rest at an angle relative to the surface.

12. The flashlight holder assembly of claim 9 further comprising an insert adapted to be received in said clip to provide resistance such that said clip does not move with respect to the article on which said flashlight holder assembly is mounted.

13. The flashlight holder assembly of claim 9 wherein said base plate defines an extension member for providing stability when mounted to a selected article.