Miniature LED flashlight

• US 6,511,214 B1
• Filed: 05/08/2001
• Issued: 01/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Armament Systems and Procedures Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Armament Systems and Procedures Incorporated
• Inventors: Reeves, W. Clay, Parsons, Kevin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): WARD, JOHN A
• Application Number:
  US09/851,685
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 362/116, 362/200, 362/800, 362/205, 362/191, 362/398
• US Class Current: 362/398
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 15/005 Fobs
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 2/00 Systems of electric lighting devices systems employing both electric and non-electric light sources or exchangeable light sources F21L27/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/027 the light sources being a LED
• 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 21/0885 for portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/0965 for portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0414 specially adapted to be used with portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/08 for producing coloured light, e.g. monochromatic; for reducing intensity of light with provision for controlling the colour F21V9/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A flashlight having a power source and an LED positioned in a housing. A switch is provided on the housing to activate the light source, and a magnet is affixed to the flashlight to allow the flashlight to be mounted to metal surfaces.

Claims

1. A flashlight comprising:

a light emitting diode having first and second leads extending therefrom;

a power source having a first side and a second side, the second side being opposite the first side;

a housing enclosing the leads of the light emitting diode and the power source;

a switch operable to close a circuit including the light source and the power source; and

a magnet attached to the flashlight.

2. The flashlight of claim 1, further including a power source frame positioned within the housing.

3. The flashlight of claim 2, wherein the power source is positioned within a cavity in the power source frame.

4. The flashlight of claim 2, wherein the magnet is positioned within a magnet receptacle located on the power source frame.

5. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein the magnet has a holding force sufficient to attach the flashlight to a metal surface.

6. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein the magnet has a holding force of three pounds.

7. The flashlight of claim 4, wherein the magnet receptacle contains a throughhole extending into a power source cavity.

8. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein the magnet is generally circular with oppositely disposed first and second sides.

9. The flashlight of claim 8, wherein the magnet has a diameter of a half-inch.

10. The flashlight of claim 8, wherein the magnet has a thickness of 0.06 inches.

11. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein the magnet includes Neodymium.

12. The flashlight of claim 11, wherein the magnet includes Neodymium alloyed with iron and boron.

13. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein the magnet is a NEP3042NP NP 30 magnet.

14. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein the housing is comprised of translucent material.

15. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein the magnet is affixed to an outer surface of the housing.

16. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein the magnet is positioned within a side of the housing.