Flashlight with waterproof switch

• US 6,474,834 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2001
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Plum Industrial Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Plum Industrial Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Lai, Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Negron, Ismael
• Application Number:
  US09/781,243
• Publication Number:
  US 20020109987A1
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 362/206, 200/302.2
• US Class Current: 362/206
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/00 Electric lighting devices with self-contained electric batteries or cells
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0414 specially adapted to be used with portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/00 Gas-tight or water-tight arrangements

Abstract

A push-type flashlight comprises a barrel, a lamp shield assembly, a lamp seat assembly, and a switch device. The lamp shield assembly comprises a waterproof sleeve for threadedly and tightly engaging with a reflective member and thus retaining the reflective member in the lamp shield. The switch device comprises a pusher cap that is threadedly and tightly engaged with an insulating sleeve in the switch member. O-rings are respectively mounted to an upper end and a lower end of an outer periphery of the barrel to thereby provide the required pressure-tight and waterproof effects.

Claims

1. A push-type flashlight comprising:

a barrel, a lamp seat assembly, a lamp shield assembly, and a switch means;

the barrel being made from electrically conductive metal for receiving a battery unit, a shoulder being formed on a front end of an inner periphery of the barrel, the front end of the inner periphery of the barrel further including an inner threading, the front end of an outer periphery of the barrel including an outer threading, and the outer periphery of the barrel including an outer threading in a rear end thereof;

the lamp seat assembly comprising a lamp seat, an insulating plate, and an electrically conductive member, the lamp seat being made from electrically conductive metal and receiving a lamp therein, a flange being formed on an end of an outer periphery of the lamp seat, the lamp seat including an outer diameter slightly smaller than an inner diameter of the barrel, the lamp seat including an outer threading on the outer periphery thereof for threadedly engagement with the inner threading of the barrel, the insulating plate being circular and having a side abutting against the shoulder of the barrel, the insulating plate including a longitudinal through-hole, an electrically conductive member being mounted in the longitudinal through-hole and having a first end electrically connected to a positive pole of the lamp and a second end electrically connected to a positive pole of the battery unit;

the lamp shield assembly comprising a lamp shield having an inner periphery, a waterproof sleeve securely mounted to the inner periphery of the lamp shield, a lens, and a reflective member, the lamp shield being a tubular member made from metal and including a ledge on an inner periphery thereof and an inner threading;

the switch means including a switch, an insulating sleeve, a pusher cap, and an end cover, the switch being made from electrically conductive metal and including a side to which an end of a spring is attached, another other end of the spring being attached to a negative pole of the battery unit, the switch further including an electrically conductive flange on an end of an outer periphery thereof and a flange on another end of the outer periphery thereof, the insulating sleeve being made from electrically insulating material and including an outer threading, the pusher cap being made from waterproof material and including an operative portion that extends into an opening defined in an outer end face of the end cover, the end cover being a hollow member made from electrically conductive metal, the end cover including an inner threading for threadedly engaging with the outer threading of the rear end of the barrel, the insulating sleeve further including an inner flange on an inner periphery there of for stopping the flange of the switch, thereby limiting inward movement of the switch upon pushing the operative portion of the pusher cap;

wherein the lamp shield comprises a ledge for retaining the waterproof sleeve, the waterproof sleeve including a ledge for retaining the protective lens, when the reflective member is forced to engage with the lamp shield, the reflective member pushes the protective lens to press against the waterproof sleeve, whereby two sides of the waterproof sleeve are in tight and intimate contact with the ledge of the lamp shield and the protective lens, respectively.

2. The push-type flashlight as claimed in claim 1, wherein the end cover further includes an inner flange on another other end of the periphery thereof, the pusher cap includes a flange that presses against the inner flange of the end cover, wherein the pusher cap is retained in place when the insulating sleeve and the end cover are threadedly engaged together, such that two sides of the flange of the pusher cap are in tight and intimate contact with the insulating sleeve and the inner flange of the end cover, respectively.

3. The push-type flashlight as claimed in claim 1, wherein the end cover further includes an annular groove defined in an inner periphery thereof for receiving an O-ring.

4. The push-type flashlight as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lamp seat is in threading engagement with the inner periphery of the barrel.

5. The push-type flashlight as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reflective member is in threading engagement with the lamp shield.