Light beam modifier devices

• US 6,761,467 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2002
• Issued: 07/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SureFire LLC (Surefire Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: SureFire LLC (Surefire Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Kim, Paul Y., Matthews, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cariaso, Alan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tsidulko, Mark
• Application Number:
  US10/113,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20030021109A1
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 362/202, 362/208, 362/282, 362/322, 362/319, 362/396, 285/18, 285/33, 285/112, 285/365, 285/367, 292/247, 242/70
• US Class Current: 362/202
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/005 the device being a pocket lamp F21L4/022, F21L4/045, F21L4/085 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/06 by movement of refractors in vehicle head lamps F21S41/635
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/08 by movement of the screens or filters
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/107 using hinge joints
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/20 by toggle-action levers

Abstract

A light beam modifier device for attachment to a light beam generator apparatus such as a flashlight or a weapon light. The light beam modifier includes an easily operable clamp for facilitating securement and removal of the light beam modifier device to and from the light generator. The device provides a positive locking closure between the flip-open door and the clamp, and further includes a spring hinge for permitting at least one and preferably two flip-open positions of the door out of the path of the light beam.

Claims

1. A device for modifying a light beam emanating from the head of a light beam generator, the device comprising the combination of;

a clamp assembly including a substantially tubular member having a front edge and a rear edge and a longitudinal opening defined by longitudinal ends extending between said front and rear edges, a latch pivotally secured to said tubular member on opposing sides of said longitudinal opening and manually operable to a latched position maintaining the width of said opening for clamping said tubular member about the light beam generator head, said latch manually operable to an unlatched position permitting the width of said opening to be increased for unclamping said tubular member from the light beam generator head;

a door pivotally secured to said clamp assembly and including a light modifier element, said door being pivotable to a closed position placing said light modifier element in the path of a light beam generated by the light beam generator when said tubular member is clamped to the light beam generator head, said door being pivotable for maintaining said door in an open position with said light modifier element out of the path of the light beam; and

a door latch including a manually actuable latching member on said door in cooperative latching relation with said clamp assembly for latching said door in said closed position to said clamp assembly, said door latch including a spring biasing said latching member for latching said door in said closed position, said latching member being manually actuable against the bias of said spring for unlatching said latching member for permitting opening of said door.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein:

said latch of said clamp assembly is manually operable past said unlatched position for further increasing said width of said longitudinal opening.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein:

said latch of said alarm assembly includes a pivot arm having first and second ends, said first end pivotally secured to a first longitudinal pivot pin secured to said tubular member, a finger-actuable member pivotally secured to a second longitudinal pivot pin secured to said tubular member, said first and second longitudinal pivot pins respectively situated on opposing sides of said longitudinal opening, said second end of said pivot arm pivotally secured to a third longitudinal pivot pin carried by said finger-actuable member.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein:

said pivot arm describes an arc, the arc radius of the inner surface of said pivot arm being equal to or slightly greater than the radius of the exterior surface of said tubular member.

5. The device according to claim 1, further including:

an elastomeric seal fitted to the interior surface of said tubular member.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein:

said elastomeric seal extends over said front edge of said tubular member for sealingly contacting said door when said door is in said closed position.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein:

said clamp assembly includes a transverse ledge;

said latching member includes a hook end portion and a finger-actuable end portion, said latching member being pivotally secured between said end portions to said door; and

said spring biases said finger-actuable end portion for urging said hook to engage said ledge for latching said door in said closed position.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein:

said latch of said clamp assembly includes a pivot arm having first and second ends, said first end pivotally secured to said tubular member on one side of said longitudinal opening, a finger-actuable member pivotally secured to said tubular member on the other side of said longitudinal opening, said second end of said pivot arm pivotally secured to said finger-actuable member.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein:

said latch of said clamp assembly across said longitudinal opening is manually operable past said unlatched position for further increasing said width of said longitudinal opening.

10. A device for modifying a light beam emanating from the head of a light beam generator, the device comprising the combination of:

a clamp assembly including a substantially tubular member having a front edge and a rear edge and a longitudinal opening defined by longitudinal ends extending between said front and rear edges, a latch pivotally secured to said tubular member on opposing sides of said longitudinal opening and manually operable to a latched position maintaining the width of said opening for clamping said tubular member about the light beam generator head, said latch manually operable to an unlatched position permitting the width of said opening to be increased for unclamping said tubular member from the light beam generator head; and

a door pivotally secured to said clamp assembly and including a light modifier element, said door being pivotable to a closed position placing said light modifier element in the path of a light beam generated by the light beam generator when said tubular member is clamped to the light beam generator head, said door being pivotable for maintaining said door in a first open position with said light modifier element out of the path of the light beam, and said door is pivotable further for being maintained in a second open position past said first open position.

11. A device for modifying a light beam emanating from the head of a light beam generator, the device comprising the combination of:

a clamp assembly including a substantially tubular member having a front edge and a rear edge and a longitudinal opening defined by longitudinal ends extending between said front and rear edges, a latch on said tubular member across said longitudinal opening and manually operable to a latched position maintaining the width of said opening for clamping said tubular member about the light beam generator head, said latch manually operable to an unlatched position permitting the width of said opening to be increased for unclamping said tubular member from the light beam generator head;

a door including a light modifier element; and

a hinge pivotally securing said door to said clamp assembly, said door being pivotable to a closed position placing said light modifier element in the path of a light beam generated by the light beam generator when said tubular member is clamped to the light beam generator head, said door being pivotable to an open position placing said light modifier element out of the path of the light beam, said hinge including

a transverse pivot pin secured to said clamp assembly forwardly of said front edge, an arm projecting from said door pivotally secured to said pin and including a cam surface, a spring secured to said clamp assembly and biasing said cam surface for maintaining said door in said open position when said door is pivoted to said open position.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein:

said arm includes a second cam surface, said spring biasing said second cam surface for maintaining said door in a further open position when said door is pivoted to said further open position.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein:

said cam surface is substantially cylindrical; and

said second cam surface is substantially flat.

14. The device according to claim 11, further including:

a door latch including a manually actuable latching member on said door in cooperative latching relation with said clamp assembly for latching said door in said closed position to said clamp assembly.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein:

said door latch includes a spring biasing said latching member for latching said door in said closed position, said latching member being manually actuable against the bias of said spring for unlatching said latching member for permitting opening of said door.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein:

said clamp assembly includes a transverse ledge;

said latching member includes a hook end portion and a finger-actuable end portion, said latching member being pivotally secured between said end portions to said door; and

said spring biases said finger-actuable end portion for urging said hook to engage said ledge for latching said door in said closed position.

17. Light beam generator and modifier apparatus, comprising in combination:

a light beam generator having a head, for generating a light beam emanating from said head;

a clamp assembly including a substantially tubular member clamped about said head and having a front edge and a rear edge and a longitudinal opening defined by longitudinal ends extending between said front and rear edges, a latch pivotably secured to said tubular member on opposing sides of said longitudinal opening and manually operable to a latched position maintaining the width of said opening, said latch manually operable to an unlatched position permitting the width of said opening to be increased for unclamping said tubular member from said head;

a door pivotally secured to said clamp assembly and including a light modifier element, said door being pivotable to a closed position placing said light modifier element in the path of the light beam, said door being pivotable for maintaining said door in an open position with said light modifier element out of the path of the light beam; and

a door latch including a latching member on said door in cooperative latching relation with said clamp assembly for latching said door in said closed position to said clamp assembly.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein:

said latch of said damn assembly is manually operable past said unlatched position for further increasing said width of said longitudinal opening.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein:

said latch of said clamp assembly includes a pivot arm having first and second ends, said first end pivotally secured to a first longitudinal pivot pin secured to said tubular member, a finger-actuable member pivotally secured to a second longitudinal pivot pin secured to said tubular member, said first and second longitudinal pivot pins situated on opposing sides of said longitudinal opening, said second end of said pivot arm pivotally secured to a third longitudinal pivot pin carried by said finger-actable member.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein:

said pivot arm describes an arc, the arc radius of the inner surface of said pivot arm being equal to or slightly greater than the radius of the exterior surface of said tubular member.

21. The apparatus according to claim 17, further including:

an elastomeric seal fitted to the interior surface of said tubular member.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein:

said elastomeric seal extends over said front edge of said tubular member and sealingly contacting said door when said door is in said closed position.

23. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein:

said door latch includes a spring biasing said latching member for latching said door in said closed position, said latching member being manually actable against the bias of said spring for unlatching said latching member for permitting opening of said door.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein:

said clamp assembly includes a transverse ledge;

said latching member includes a hook end portion and a finger-actuable end portion, said latching member being pivotally secured between said end portions to said door; and

said spring biases said finger-actuable end portion for urging said hook to engage said ledge for latching said door in said closed position.

25. Light beam generator and modifier apparatus, comprising in combination:

a light beam generator having a head, for generating a light beam emanating from said head;

a clamp assembly including a substantially tubular member clamped about said head and having a front edge and a rear edge and a longitudinal opening defined by longitudinal ends extending between said front and rear edges, a latch pivotably secured to said tubular member on opposing sides of said longitudinal opening and manually operable to a latched position maintaining the width of said opening, said latch manually operable to an unlatched position permitting the width of said opening to be increased for unclamping said tubular member from said head; and

a door pivotally secured to said damn assembly and including a light modifier element, said door being pivotable to a closed position placing said light modifier element in the path of the light beam, said door being pivotable for maintaining said door in a first open position with said light modifier element out of the path of the light beam, and said door is pivotable further for being maintained in a second open position past said first open position.

26. Light beam generator and modifier apparatus, comprising in combination:

a light beam generator having a head, for generating a light beam emanating from said head;

a clamp assembly including a substantially tubular member clamped about said head and having a front edge and a rear edge and a longitudinal opening defined by longitudinal ends extending between said front and rear edges, a latch on said tubular member across said longitudinal opening and manually operable to a latched position maintaining the width of said opening, said latch manually operable to an unlatched position permitting the width of said opening to be increased for unclamping said tubular member from said head;

a door including a light modifier element; and

a hinge pivotally securing said door to said clamp assembly, said door being pivotable to a closed position placing said light modifier element in the path of the light beam, said door being pivotable to an open position placing said light modifier element out of the path of the light beam, said hinge including

a transverse pivot pin secured to said clamp assembly forwardly of said front edge, an arm projecting from said door pivotally secured to said pin and including a cam surface, a spring secured to said clamp assembly and biasing said cam surface for maintaining said door in said open position when said door is pivoted to said open position.

27. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein:

said arm includes a second cam surface, said spring biasing said second cam surface for maintaining said door in a further open position when said door is pivoted to said further open position.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein:

said cam surface is substantially cylindrical; and

said second cam surface is substantially flat.

29. A device for modifying a light beam emanating from the head of a light beam generator, the device comprising the combination of:

a substantially tubular member adapted to be secured about the light beam generator head;

a door pivotally secured to said tubular member and including a light modifier element, said door being pivotable to a closed position placing said light modifier element in the path of a light beam generated by the light beam generator when said tubular member is secured to the light beam generator head, said door being pivotable for maintaining said door in an open position with said light modifier element out of the path of the light beam; and

a door latch including a latching member on said door in cooperative latching relation with said tubular member and a spring biasing said latching member for latching said door in said closed position, said latching member being manually actuable against the bias of said spring for unlatching said latching member for permitting opening of said door.

30. The device according to claim 29, wherein:

said tubular member includes a transverse ledge;

said latching member includes a hook end portion and a finger-actuable end portion, said latching member being pivotally secured between said end portions to said door; and

said spring biases said finger-actuable end portion for urging said hook to engage said ledge for latching said door in said closed position.

31. A device for modifying a light beam emanating from the head of a light beam generator, the device comprising the combination of:

a substantially tubular member adapted to be secured about the light beam generator head;

a door including a light modifier element; and

a hinge pivotally securing said door to said tubular member, said door being pivotable to a closed position placing said light modifier element in the path of a light beam generated by the light beam generator when said tubular member is secured to the light beam generator head, said door being pivotable to a first open position placing said light modifier element out of the path of the light beam, said door being pivotable to a second open position placing said light modifier out of the path of the light beam, said hinge including

a transverse pivot pin secured to said tubular member, an arm projecting from said door pivotally secured to said pin and including a first cam surface and a second cam surface, a spring secured to said tubular member and biasing said first cam surface for maintaining said door in said first open position when said door is pivoted to said first open position, said spring biasing said second cam surface for maintaining said door in a said second open position when said door is pivoted to said second open position.

32. The device according to claim 31, wherein:

said first cam surface is substantially cylindrical; and

said second cam surface is substantially flat.

33. A device for modifying a light beam emanating from the head of a light beam generator, the device comprising the combination of:

a clamp assembly including a substantially tubular member having a front edge and a rear edge and a longitudinal opening defined by longitudinal ends extending between said front and rear edges, a latch on said tubular member across said longitudinal opening and manually operable to a latched position maintaining the width of said opening for clamping said tubular member about the light beam generator head, said latch manually operable to an unlatched position permitting the width of said opening to be increased for unclamping said tubular member from the light beam generator head;

a door including a light modifier element; and

a hinge pivotally securing said door to said clamp assembly, said door being pivotable to a closed position placing said light modifier element in the path of a light beam generated by the light beam generator when said tubular member is clamped to the light beam generator head, said door being pivotable to an open position placing said light modifier element out of the path of the light beam when said tubular member is clamped to the light beam generator, said hinge including

an arm projecting from said door pivotally secured to said clamp assembly forwardly of said front edge, said arm including a cam surface, a spring secured to said clamp assembly and biasing said cam surface for maintaining said door in said open position when said door is pivoted to said open position.

34. The device according to claim 33, wherein:

said arm includes a second cam surface, said spring biasing said second cam surface for maintaining said door in a further open position when said door is pivoted to said further open position.

35. The device according to claim 34, wherein:

said cam surface is substantially cylindrical; and

said second cam surface is substantially flat.

36. The device according to claim 33, further including:

a door latch including a manually actuable latching member on said door in cooperative latching relation with said clamp assembly for latching said door in said closed position to said clamp assembly.

37. The device according to claim 36, wherein:

said door latch includes a spring biasing said latching member for latching said door in said closed position, said latching member being manually actuable against the bias of said spring for unlatching said latching member for permitting opening of said door.

38. The device according to claim 37, wherein:

said clamp assembly includes a transverse ledge;

said latching member includes a hook end portion and a finger-actuable end portion, said latching member being pivotally secured between said end portions to said door; and

said spring biases said finger-actuable end portion for urging said hook to engage said ledge for latching said door in said closed position.

39. A device for modifying a light beam emanating from the head of a light beam generator, the device comprising the combination of:

a substantially tubular member adapted to be secured about the light beam generator head;

a door including a light modifier element; and

a hinge pivotally securing said door to said tubular member, said door being pivotable to a closed position placing said light modifier element in the path of the light beam, said door being pivotable to an open position placing said light modifier element out of the path of the light beam, said hinge including

an arm projecting from said door pivotally secured to said tubular member forwardly thereof, said arm including a cam surface, a spring secured to said tubular member and biasing said cam surface for maintaining said door in a first open position when said door is pivoted to said open position.

40. The device according to claim 39, wherein:

said hinge includes a transverse pivot pin secured to said tubular member, and said arm is pivotably secured to said pivot pin.

41. The apparatus according to claim 39, wherein:

said arm includes a second cam surface, said spring biasing said second cam surface for maintaining said door in a further open position when said door is pivoted to said further open position.

42. The device according to claim 39, further including:

a door latch including a manually actuable latching member on said door in cooperative latching relation with said tubular member for latching said door in said closed position to said tubular member.

43. The device according to claim 42, wherein:

said door latch includes a spring biasing said latching member for latching

said door in said closed position, said latching member being manually actuable against the bias of said spring for unlatching said latching member for permitting opening of said door.

44. The device according to claim 43, wherein:

said tubular member includes a transverse ledge;

said latching member includes a hook end portion and a finger-actuable end portion, said latching member being pivotally secured between said end portions to said door; and

said spring biases said finger-actuable end portion for urging said hook to engage said ledge for latching said door in said closed position.