Flashlight housing with a key ring extension

• US 6,802,620 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2002
• Issued: 10/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dr Robert Galli
• Original Assignee: Dr Robert Galli
• Inventors: Galli, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US10/307,782
• Publication Number:
  US 20030076674A1
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 362/116, 362/109, 362/800, 362/308, 362/310, 362/200, 362/196, 362/311, 362/335, 24/31, 24/36, 24/31.2, 246/005, 246/006, 246/007
• US Class Current: 362/116
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/005 the device being a pocket lamp F21L4/022, F21L4/045, F21L4/085 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0004 Personal or domestic articles
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/006 applied to portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/048 the lens being a simple lens adapted to cooperate with a point-like source for emitting mainly in one direction and having an axis coincident with the main light transmission direction, e.g. convergent or divergent lenses, plano-concave or plano-convex lenses
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/10 comprising photoluminescent material
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/13 Article holder attachable to apparel or body

Abstract

The present invention includes an illumination assembly consisting of a light source such as a light emitting diode (LED) that produces a near field image and a means of imaging and focusing the near field image. The means for imaging and focusing the near field image is a convex optical lens having a radius of curvature equal to twice the overall thickness of the lens. The optical lens is installed in fixed spaced relation to the LED such that the lens is imaging the reflector cup of the LED rather than the light on the surface clear LED housing. The lighting assembly is enclosed in a flashlight housing having a means for operating the lighting circuit, a means for retaining a power source and a key ring extension with a slidable latching mechanism.

Claims

1. A flashlight assembly comprising:

light-producing element having first and second contact leads extending therefrom;

a power source having a first contact and a second contact;

a housing having a first end and a second end, said housing enclosing the leads of the light-producing element and the power source;

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

a key ring extension extending from the second end of the housing having an opening whereby an object can be attached to the key ring extension; and

a key ring lock slideably connected to the housing wherein, upon exerting a linear force against the key ring lock, the key ring lock slides away from the key ring extension out of the opening to permit a key ring to be attached to the key ring extension.

2. The flashlight assembly of claim 1, wherein the key ring lock is spring biased and exerts a force against one end of the key ring extension.

3. The flashlight assembly of claim 1, wherein the key ring extension extends rearwardly from a first side of the housing and the key ring lock extends rearwardly from a second side of the housing opposite said first side.

4. The flashlight assembly of claim 1 wherein, said light producing element is a light emitting diode.

5. The flashlight assembly of claim 4, further comprising:

a lens installed into said first end of said housing, said lens having a focal length for imaging and focusing a near field image of said light producing element, said lens having a thickness and a radius of curvature, said thickness equaling twice the radius of curvature.

6. The illumination assembly of claim 5 wherein, said optical lens is a sphere.

7. The illumination assembly of claim 5 wherein, said optical lens is a drum lens.

8. The illumination assembly of claim 5, wherein said optical lens is in fixed spaced relation to said light emitting diode.

9. The Illumination assembly of claim 8, wherein said fixed z spaced relation is less than the focal length of said optical lens.

10. A housing for a flashlight comprising:

a base having an outer side wall, said outer side wall defining an interior cavity, said outer side wall having a front opening capable of receiving a light producing assembly and a rear cavity capable of receiving a battery;

a cover having a top wall adapted to overlie arid substantially close said rear cavity, said cover including mating formations, said mating formations interfittingly engaging said rear cavity of said base to retain said base and said cover in assembled relation;

an elastomeric switch element disposed in said sidewall of said base;

a key ring extension extending from the base having an opening whereby an object can be attached to the key ring extension; and

a key ring lock slideably connected to the housing wherein, upon exerting a linear force against the key ring jock, the key ring lock slides away from the key ring extension out of the opening to permit a key ring to be attached to the key ring extension.

11. The housing for a flashlight of claim 10, wherein the key ring look is spring biased and exerts a force against one end of the key ring extension.

12. The housing for a flashlight of claim 10, wherein the key ring extension extends rearwardly from a first side of the housing and the key ring lock extends rearwardly from a second side of the housing opposite said first side.

13. A flashlight assembly comprising:

a flashlight having an outer housing; and

a key ring extension extending rearwardly from said outer housing, said key ring extension including a hook and a latch,

said hook having a first end connected to said outer housing and a second, tree end opposite said first end,

said latch being slideably mounted to said housing, wherein said latch is spring biased in a first direction against said free end of said hook wherein, upon exerting a linear force against said latch, the latch slides away from the free end of the hook to permit a key ring to be attached to the hook.