Flashlight with rotatable lamp head

• US 6,250,771 B1
• Filed: 12/07/1999
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Streamlight, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Streamlight, Inc.
• Inventors: Sharrah, Raymond, Craft, Charles, DiNenna, John
• Primary Examiner(s): HUSAR, STEPHEN F
• Application Number:
  US09/455,988
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 362/184, 362/243, 362/247, 362/350, 362/297, 362/346, 362/304
• US Class Current: 362/184
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/025 the light sources being of different shape or type
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/027 the light sources being a LED
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/045 Pocket lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/08 characterised by means for in situ recharging of the batteries or cells
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/045 in portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/01 Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts F21V15/02 takes precedence housings forming signs or letters G09F13/04
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/084 Head fittings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/30 Pivoted housings or frames
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0414 specially adapted to be used with portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/03 with provision for venting for vehicle head lights F21S45/33; for vehicle rear lights F21S41/192
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0025 Combination of two or more reflectors for a single light source array of reflectors for a cluster of light sources F21V7/0083
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2101/00 Point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/00 Combination of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/20 of different form
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A flashlight with a rotatable lamp head is provided. The lamp head pivots about two cylindrical coaxial electrical connectors. The lamp head also includes reflector having a major parabolic reflective surface and a minor reflective parabolic surface. The reflector is configured so that the minor reflective surface is nested within the major reflective surface. The flashlight also includes a series of fluid-tight seals to insure that the flashlight is waterproof. In addition, a flapper valve is provided to function as a one-way valve allowing the release of gases produced by the use of the batters, and preventing fluid from entering the flashlight. A battery charger is also provided to recharge a battery pack for the flashlight.

Claims

1. A flashlight reflector comprising:

a first reflective surface having a vertex and a surface sloping upwardly and radially outwardly from the vertex;

a second reflective surface nested within a sector of the first reflective surface, having a vertex radially spaced from the vertex of the first reflective surface and a surface projecting upwardly and radially outwardly from the vertex of the second reflective surface, wherein a portion of the second reflective surface projects upwardly and radially toward the vertex of the first reflective surface;

a first socket within the first reflective surface, the first socket having a central axis and a circumference substantially unobstructed by the second reflective surface when viewed from a point on the central axis of the first reflective surface, wherein the first socket is configured for receiving a first lamp element; and

a second socket within the second reflective surface configured for receiving a second lamp element.

2. The flashlight reflector of claim 1 wherein the first reflective surface is generally parabolic.

3. The flashlight reflector of claim 2 wherein the secondary reflective surface is generally parabolic.

4. The flashlight reflector of claim 1 wherein the first socket has a concentric relationship with the first reflective surface.

5. The flashlight reflector of claim 1 wherein the second socket has a concentric relationship with the second reflective surface.

6. A flashlight comprising:

a reflector comprising;

a primary reflective surface having a concave configuration and an outer circumference;

a secondary reflective surface having an inner wall extending upwardly and radially outwardly from the vertex of the secondary reflective surface toward the vertex of the primary reflective surface wherein the secondary reflective surface has a concave configuration and is nested within the primary reflective surface;

a first lamp element disposed within the primary reflective surface; and

a second lamp element disposed within the secondary reflective surface

wherein the inner wall of the secondary reflective surface terminates adjacent to the first lamp element so that the inner wall allows substantially all of the light from the first lamp element to radiate outwardly from the vertex of the primary reflective surface to the outer circumference of the primary reflective surface.

7. The flashlight of claim 6 wherein the primary reflective surface is generally parabolic.

8. The flashlight of claim 7 wherein the secondary reflective surface is generally parabolic and is nested within a sector of the primary reflective surface.

9. The flashlight of claim 6 wherein the primary reflective surface comprises a central aperture for receiving the first lamp element and the primary reflective surface is generally symmetric about the central aperture.

10. The flashlight of claim 9 wherein the secondary reflective surface comprises a central aperture for receiving the second lamp element and the secondary reflective surface is generally symmetric about the central aperture of the secondary reflective surface.

11. A flashlight comprising:

a first lamp element;

a second lamp element; and

a reflector comprising;

a first socket for receiving the first lamp element;

a second socket for receiving the second lamp element;

a primary reflective surface having a first vertex and an outer circumference; and

a secondary reflective surface disposed within the outer circumference of the primary reflective surface and having a second vertex radially spaced from the first vertex and an outer wall extending upwardly and radially outwardly from the second vertex, wherein the secondary reflective surface intersects the primary reflective surface to form a shared reflective surface such that light from both the first and second lamp elements reflects forwardly from the shared reflective surface.

12. The flashlight of claim 11 wherein the primary reflective surface is generally parabolic.

13. The flashlight of claim 12 wherein the secondary reflective surface is generally parabolic and is nested within a sector of the primary reflective surface.

14. The flashlight of claim 13 wherein the secondary reflective surface has an inner wall terminating adjacent to the first lamp element so that the inner wall allows substantially all of the light from the first lamp element to radiate outwardly from the vertex of the primary reflective surface to the outer circumference of the primary reflective surface.