Peripherally sealed card-like flashlight device having light generating module and holder therefor seated in cavity of main body structure

• US 6,435,695 B1
• Filed: 01/22/2001
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lumatec Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Lumatec Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Altman, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): DELGIZZI, RONALD ERNEST
• Application Number:
  US09/767,252
• Publication Number:
  US 20020097575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 362/200, 362/201, 362/189, 362/208, 362/186, 362/253
• US Class Current: 362/189
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/005 the device being a pocket lamp F21L4/022, F21L4/045, F21L4/085 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0414 specially adapted to be used with portable lighting devices

Abstract

A flashlight device includes a body structure, light generating module, holder, card and outer cover. The body structure has a cavity between upper and lower sides thereof, open at least at the upper side, and closer to a front end than to a rear end thereof. The body structure also has a channel between the upper and lower sides, extending between the cavity and front end, and open to the cavity, upper side and front end. The holder has an annular portion and spaced apart leg portions connected thereto and extending therefrom such that the annular and leg portions insert and fit within the cavity and channel of the body structure and seat therein the light actuating and generating components of the module. The card covers the upper side of the body structure and the module and holder. The cover encases the body structure, module, holder and card.

Claims

1. A flashlight device, comprising:

(a) a main body structure having upper and lower sides, front and rear ends, a cavity defined between said upper and lower sides and located closer to said front end than to said rear end, and a channel defined between said upper and lower sides and extending between and interconnecting said cavity and said front end, said cavity being open at least at said upper side, said channel being open to said cavity and at least at said upper side and said front end;

(b) a light generating module having means for generating light and means for actuating said light generating means;

(c) a holder having an annular portion and a pair of leg portions connected to said annular portion and extending therefrom in a spaced apart relationship such that said annular portion and leg portions respectively insert and fit within said cavity and said channel of said main body structure and seat said actuating means and light generating means thereon such that said light generating means directs a beam of light from said channel at said front end of said body structure;

(d) a card covering at least said upper side of said main body structure and said light generating module and holder; and

(e) an outer protective cover encasing said main body structure, light generating module, holder and card.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said actuating means of said light generating module includes a battery having first and second electrical contact portions of positive and negative polarities and being configured to insert and fit within said annular portion of said holder.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said actuating means of said light generating module also includes a dome-shaped switch member having outer and inner sides and being disposed over said first electrical contact portion of said battery and adapted to be deformed between an outer unflexed configuration and an inner flexed configuration.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said actuating means of said light generating module further includes an annular pad of electrically insulative material disposed between and engaged with said switch member and said first electrical contact portion of said battery and having a central hole such that said first electrical contact portion of said battery can be electrically contacted by said inner side of said switch member upon deforming of said switch member from said outer unflexed configuration to said inner flexed configuration.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein said light generating means of said light generating module is a lamp having a bulb element and a pair of conductive lead elements extending therefrom such that one of said lead elements is electrically connected to said outer side of said switch member and the other of said lead elements is electrically connected to said second electrical contact portion of said battery.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said annular portion of said holder seats said battery in said cavity of said body structure and said leg portions of said holder seat said bulb element of said lamp in said channel of said body structure.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said holder also has an arch portion extending above, between and interconnecting said leg portions such that the bulb element of said lamp is disposed below said arch portion.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said main body structure includes lower and upper layers of rigid plastic material, said upper layer being formed upon said lower layer in the configuration of a longitudinal backbone portion and a plurality of rib portions extending in a transverse relation and opposite directions from said longitudinal backbone.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein said card is a business card supported on said upper layer of said main body structure so as to overlie and substantially cover said upper side thereof and said light generating module and holder disposed in said cavity and channel of said body structure.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein said main body structure is a layer of foam material having a generally flat configuration.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein said card is a folded insert card covering said upper and lower sides of said main body structure and said light generating module and holder disposed in said cavity and channel of said body structure.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein said insert card having a fold line and a hole therein aligned with said light generating module and said channel of said body structure.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein said card is a business card covering said upper side of said main body structure and said light generating module and holder disposed in said cavity and channel of said body structure.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein said card is a folded insert card covering said upper and lower sides of said main body structure and said light generating module and holder disposed in said cavity and channel of said body structure.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein said insert card having a fold line and a hole therein aligned with said light generating module and said channel of said body structure.

16. The device of claim 1 wherein said outer protective cover is substantially transparent and has a generally flat sleeve-like configuration which surrounds, hermetically seals and encases said main body structure, light generating module, holder and card therein.

17. The device of claim 1 wherein said main body structure, said outer protective cover and said card together are provided in one of a rectangular, circular or square shape.

18. The device of claim 1 wherein said main body structure has a recess centrally located on said lower side thereof and a magnet seated in said recess and disposed within said outer protective cover.

19. A flashlight device, comprising:

(a) a main body structure having upper and lower sides, front and rear ends, a cavity defined between said upper and lower sides and located closer to said front end than to said rear end, and a channel defined between said upper and lower sides and extending between and interconnecting said cavity and said front end, said cavity being open at least at said upper side, said channel being open to said cavity and being open at least at said upper side and said front end;

(b) a light generating module including a battery having first and second electrical contact portions of positive and negative polarities, a dome-shaped switch member having outer and inner sides and being disposed over said first electrical contact portion of said battery and adapted to be deformed between an outer unflexed configuration and an inner flexed configuration, an annular pad of electrically insulative material disposed between and engaged with said switch member and said first electrical contact portion of said battery and having a central hole such that the first electrical contact portion of said battery can be electrically contacted by said inner side of said switch member upon deforming of said switch member from said outer unflexed configuration to said inner flexed configuration, and a lamp having a bulb element and a pair of conductive lead elements extending therefrom such that one of said lead elements is electrically connected to said outer side of said switch member and the other of said lead elements is electrically connected to said second electrical contact portion of said battery;

(c) a holder having an annular portion and a pair of leg portions connected to said annular portion and extending therefrom in a generally spaced apart relationship to one another such that said annular portion is adapted to insert and fit within said cavity of said main body structure and said leg portions are adapted to insert and fit within said channel of said main body portion, said annular portion seating said battery of said light generating module in said cavity of said body structure and said leg portions seating said bulb element of said lamp of said light generating element in said channel of said body structure such that said light generating element directs a beam of light from said channel at said front end of said body structure;

(d) a card covering at least one of said opposite sides of said main body structure and said light generating module and holder disposed in said cavity and channel of said main body structure; and

(e) an outer transparent protective cover in a generally flat sleeve-like configuration surrounding and hermetically sealing and encasing said main body structure, light generating module, holder and card therein.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein said holder also has an arch portion extending above, between and interconnecting said leg portions such that the bulb element of said lamp is disposed below said arch portion.

21. The device of claim 19 wherein said main body structure includes lower and upper layers of rigid plastic material, said upper layer being formed upon said lower layer in the configuration of a longitudinal backbone portion and a plurality of rib portions extending in a transverse relation and opposite directions from said longitudinal backbone.

22. The device of claim 21 wherein said card is a business card supported on said upper layer of said main body structure so as to overlie and substantially cover said upper side thereof and said light generating module and holder disposed in said cavity and channel of said body structure.

23. The device of claim 19 wherein Said main body structure is a layer of foam material having a generally flat configuration.

24. The device of claim 23 wherein said card is a folded insert card covering said upper and lower sides of said main body structure and said light generating module and holder disposed in said cavity and channel of said body structure.

25. The device of claim 24 wherein said insert card having a fold line and a hole therein aligned with said light generating module and said channel of said body structure.

26. The device of claim 19 wherein said card is a business card covering said upper side of said main body structure and said light generating module and holder disposed in said cavity and channel of said body structure.

27. The device of claim 19 wherein said card is a folded insert card covering said upper and lower sides of said main body structure and said light generating module and holder disposed in said cavity and channel of said body structure.

28. The device of claim 19 wherein said outer protective cover is substantially transparent and has a generally flat sleeve-like configuration which surrounds, hermetically seals and encases said main body structure, light generating module, holder and card therein.

29. The device of claim 19 wherein said main body structure, said outer protective cover and said card together are provided in one of a rectangular, circular or square shape.

30. The device of claim 19 wherein said main body structure has a recess centrally located on said lower side thereof and a magnet seated in said recess and disposed within said outer protective cover.