Flashlight holder

• US 6,749,166 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2002
• Issued: 06/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David Valentine, Mike Valentine
• Original Assignee: David Valentine, Mike Valentine
• Inventors: Valentine, David, Valentine, Mike
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Application Number:
  US10/293,587
• Publication Number:
  US 20040089778A1
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 248/309.1, 248/309.4, 248/206.5, 248/160, 248/104, 362/191, 241/15.H, 241/18.G, 244/82
• US Class Current: 248/309.1
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/14 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06 ; adjustable mountings employing universal joints for lighting devices F21V21/26 - F21V21/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/40 by means of coilable or bendable legs or spiral shaped legs
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3987 Loop, adjustable

Abstract

A flashlight holder having a base (1), (12) connected to a flexible tube (2) which is connected to a seat (4) which has a flexible strap (7) system including a sliding unit (5) which controls tension on flexible strap (7) system, for the purpose of quickly, easily, and unobtrusively securing a flashlight (8) without damaging it.

Claims

1. A flashlight holder having:

(a) a base for mounting;

(b) a seat to engage a flashlight;

(c) a flexible tube attaching said base and said seat together;

(d) a flexible strap for securing said flashlight, connected at one end of said seat by an anchoring retainer, which stretches across said flashlight perpendicularly to the opposite end of said seat and is held by the anchoring retainer;

(e) a sliding unit which controls tension on said flexible strap; and

(f) a grip unit secured to one end of said flexible strap, which aids in holding said flexible strap while said sliding unit is moved along said flexible strap to varying positions to either increase or decrease tension on said flashlight,

wherein said anchoring retainer comprises two elements, each defined by a straight portion having an opening and a curved portion, wherein the flexible strap is securely trapped on said curved portion.

2. The flashlight holder of claim 1 wherein said base for mounting has a magnet for use on metallic surfaces to secure the flashlight holder to.

3. The flashlight holder of claim 1 wherein said base for mounting is in the form of a clamp having two hinged jaws resiliently biased to one another, in which said flashlight holder can be clamped to a given surface.

4. The flashlight holder of claim 1 wherein said flexible tube is flexible enough to move into desired position, while being rigid enough to retain its shape once moved.

5. The flashlight holder of claim 4 wherein said flexible tube is flexible enough to move away from said base horizontally so that said base is positioned to have its large profile facing vertically to serve as a base from which the balance of said flexible tube can be moved into a relatively vertical position wherein said flashlight holder can rest on a relatively flat surface on its own while holding said flashlight in virtually an infinity of possible positions to direct light.

6. The flashlight holder of claim 5 wherein said flexible tube is made up of a plurality of individual movable and detachable units, making said flashlight holder customizable in terms of length.

7. The flashlight holder of claim 6 wherein said flexible tube has ribs for easy gripping.

8. The flashlight holder of claim 7 wherein said flexible tube is an oversized flexible tube for use with an oversized flashlights.

9. The flashlight holder of claim 8 wherein said seat, said flexible strap, said grip unit, said anchoring retainer, and said retainer are all used in plurality to provide stability for an oversized flashlight, and said seats are connected to a plate that is connected to said oversized flexible tube.

10. The flashlight holder of claim 1 wherein said seat is concave to engage a curved shape of said flashlight, to securely hold the flashlight in place.

11. The flashlight holder of claim 1 wherein said flexible strap is a stretchable, non metallic material, and therefore is corrosion resistant and non damaging to said flashlight.

12. The flashlight holder of claim 1 wherein said sliding unit has a housing with a hole for said flexible strap to go through, which has a button that can be depressed, to release tension on said flexible strap running through the housing of said sliding unit and allow said sliding unit to move along said flexible strap, whereby tension on said flashlight can be increased by moving said sliding unit toward said flashlight or decreased by moving said sliding unit away from said flashlight.

13. The flashlight holder of claim 1 wherein said grip unit comprises a hollow unit on one end in which one end of said flexible strap is pushed into it, but is stopped on another end for the purpose of being gripped, so that said flexible strap can be pulled in a desired direction.

14. The flashlight holder of claim 1 wherein said flexible tube, said base, said seat, said retainer, and said flexible strap are all integrated into said flashlight holder by means of fasteners, washers, and locknuts.

15. The flashlight holder of claim 14 wherein said base, said retainer, said fasteners, said washers, and said locknuts are stainless steel and therefore corrosion resistant.

16. The flashlight holder of claim 15 wherein said fastener, said washer, and said locknut are all oversized for use with an oversized flashlight.

17. The flashlight holder of claim 1 wherein said seat, said grip unit, said sliding unit, and said flexible tube are formed of plastic, and therefore corrosion resistant and non damaging to said flashlight.

18. A flashlight holder comprising:

a first seat for engaging a flashlight;

a first clip positioned on a first side of the seat;

a second clip positioned on a second side of the seat;

a strap secured to the first clip;

means for adjustably securing the strap to the second clip; and

means for positioning the first seat with respect to a surface.

19. The flashlight holder of claim 18, wherein the means for positioning the first seat with respect to a surface comprise means for securing the flashlight holder to a surface.

20. The flashlight holder of claim 19, wherein the means for securing the flashlight holder to a surface comprise a clamp.

21. The flashlight holder of claim 19, wherein the means for securing the flashlight holder to a surface comprise a magnet.

22. The flashlight holder of claim 18, wherein the means for positioning the first seat with respect to a surface comprise a flexible tube comprised of a plurality of tube segments.

23. The flashlight holder of claim 22, wherein at least one of the plurality of tube segments is detachable.

24. The flashlight holder of claim 22, wherein the first seat can be rotated with respect to the flexible tube.

25. The flashlight holder of claim 18, further comprising a second seat for engaging a flashlight coupled to the means for positioning the first seat.

26. The flashlight holder of claim 18, further comprising means for supporting the flashlight holder on a surface.

27. The flashlight holder of claim 18, wherein the means for adjustably securing the strap to the second clip comprise a bead adjustably securable to the strap.

28. A flashlight holder comprising:

a support bar;

a first seat mechanism for engaging a flashlight and secured to the support bar, the first seat mechanism comprising;

a first seat;

a first clip positioned on a first side of the first seat;

a second clip positioned on a second side of the first seat; and

a first strap secured to the first clip and adjustably securable to the second clip for securing a flashlight to the first seat; and

a second seat mechanism for engaging a flashlight and secured to the support bar, the second seat mechanism comprising;

a second seat;

a third clip positioned on a first side of the second seat;

a fourth clip positioned on a second side of the second seat; and

a second strap secured to the third clip and adjustably securable to the fourth clip for securing a flashlight to the second seat.

29. The flashlight holder of claim 28, further comprising a flexible tube coupled to the support bar, wherein the support bar can be rotated with respect to the flexible tube.

30. The flashlight holder of claim 29, wherein the flexible tube comprises a plurality of segments.

31. The flashlight holder of claim 30, wherein at least one of the plurality of segments is detachable.

33. The flashlight holder of claim 28, further comprising a magnet coupled to the support bar.

34. The flashlight holder of claim 28, further comprising a bead adjustably securable to the first strap.

32. The flashlight holder of 28, further comprising a clamp coupled to the support bar.