Miniature flashlight having replaceable battery pack
First Claim
1. A flashlight comprising a generally flat housing having substantially greater longitudinal length than thickness so as to define laterally opposite side and edge surfaces, a light source at least partially enclosed at one end of said housing, said housing having a recess opening outwardly of said housing, a modular power source adapted to be slidingly inserted into said recess, and a switch operatively associated with said housing and operative to selectively close a circuit including said light source and said power source when disposed in said recess, said housing including a battery frame defining said recess, said modular power source comprising a battery pack including a battery holder enclosing at least one battery and being mutually cooperable with said battery frame to position said battery pack in predetermined relation to said switch when said battery pack is inserted into said recess and said battery frame including a switch plate having a first surface defining a side boundary of said recess, said switch plate having a second opposite surface defining a guide slot, a switch slide plate being disposed within said guide slot and movable to a first position enabling momentary closing of said circuit to energize said light source, said switch slide plate being movable to a second position enabling continuous closing of said circuit, said switch including a push button exposed externally of said housing and cooperative with said slide plate to enable an operator to move said slide plate between said first and second positions.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A miniature flashlight includes a high intensity light source supported on a non-conductive battery frame that defines a recess opening outwardly of the battery frame and adapted to receive a replaceable modular self-contained power source, such as a modular battery pack. The battery frame includes a switch side plate which supports a switch slide plate for movement between an “off” position, a first position enabling momentarily closing of a circuit including the light source and battery pack, and a second circuit closing position to continuously energize the light source in response to actuation of an externally exposed switch push button. Side covers are retained on opposite sides of the battery frame and have outer exposed surfaces for receiving indicia thereon. A keyring extension is formed at one end of the battery frame and has a keyring lock that permits keys or other items to be attached to the keyring extension and also facilitates convenient attachment and detachment of the flashlight from clothing items and the like.
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Citations
57 Claims
- 1. A flashlight comprising a generally flat housing having substantially greater longitudinal length than thickness so as to define laterally opposite side and edge surfaces, a light source at least partially enclosed at one end of said housing, said housing having a recess opening outwardly of said housing, a modular power source adapted to be slidingly inserted into said recess, and a switch operatively associated with said housing and operative to selectively close a circuit including said light source and said power source when disposed in said recess, said housing including a battery frame defining said recess, said modular power source comprising a battery pack including a battery holder enclosing at least one battery and being mutually cooperable with said battery frame to position said battery pack in predetermined relation to said switch when said battery pack is inserted into said recess and said battery frame including a switch plate having a first surface defining a side boundary of said recess, said switch plate having a second opposite surface defining a guide slot, a switch slide plate being disposed within said guide slot and movable to a first position enabling momentary closing of said circuit to energize said light source, said switch slide plate being movable to a second position enabling continuous closing of said circuit, said switch including a push button exposed externally of said housing and cooperative with said slide plate to enable an operator to move said slide plate between said first and second positions.
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4. A flashlight comprising a generally flat housing having substantially greater longitudinal length than thickness so as to define laterally opposite side and edge surfaces, a light source at least partially enclosed at one end of said housing, said housing having a recess opening outwardly of said housing, a modular power source adapted to be slidingly inserted into said recess, and a switch operatively associated with said housing and operative to selectively close a circuit including said light source and said power source when disposed in said recess, said housing including a battery frame defining said recess, said modular power source comprising a battery pack including a battery holder enclosing at least one battery and being mutually cooperable with said battery frame to position said battery pack in predetermined relation to said switch when said battery pack is inserted into said recess and a selected one of said battery holder and housing recess having a detent notch or opening to said recess thereon or therein cooperative with a post formed on the other of said battery holder and housing so as to releasably retain said battery holder within said recess.
- 5. A flashlight comprising a generally flat housing having substantially greater longitudinal length than thickness so as to define laterally opposite side and edge surfaces, a light source at least partially enclosed at one end of said housing, said housing having a recess opening outwardly of said housing, a modular power source adapted to be slidingly inserted into said recess, and switch operatively associated with said housing and operative to selectively close a circuit including said light source and said power source when disposed in said recess, said housing including a battery frame defining said recess, said modular power source comprising a battery pack including a battery holder enclosing at least one battery and being mutually cooperable with said battery frame to position said battery pack in predetermined relation to said switch when said battery pack is inserted into said recess and said housing including a pair of side covers retained against opposite sides of said battery frame by corresponding frame members, said frame members engaging only the periphery of the corresponding side covers so as to expose outwardly facing surfaces of said side covers.
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8. A flashlight comprising, in combination;
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a light source, a modular power source, a housing at least partially enclosing said light source, having opposite side surfaces, having an outer peripheral edge surface, having a recess in said housing extending to said peripheral edge surface and opening in said peripheral edge surface and communicating with said recess for slidingly receiving said power source therethrough for positioning said power source in said recess in predetermined relation to said light source and a switch operatively associated with said housing and adapted to close a circuit including said light source and said modular power source so as to energize said light source, said switch being selectively operable in a first mode to momentarily close said circuit, and being selectively operable in a second mode to continuously close said circuit. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A flashlight comprising, in combination;
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a light source, a modular power source, a housing at least partially enclosing said light source, having a recess therein, having a peripheral edge surface and having a first opening in said peripheral edge surface communicating with said recess for slidingly receiving said modular power source through said first opening and into said recess for being positioned in predetermined relation to said light source, and a switch operatively associated with said housing and adapted to close a circuit including said light source and said modular power source so as to energize said light source, said switch being selectively operable in a first mode to momentarily close said circuit, and being selectively operable in a second mode to continuously close said circuit, said housing having a second opening located generally opposite said first opening and communicating with said recess so as to enable insertion of a pusher member into said second opening to at least partially eject said modular power source from said recess when disposed therein and said modular power source having a post extending therefrom positioned to enter said second opening when said modular power source is fully inserted into said recess, whereby a post on a similarly shaped modular power source can be inserted into said opening from externally of said housing to at least partially eject a modular power source when fully disposed within said recess.
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20. A flashlight comprising, in combination;
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a light source, a modular power source, a housing at least partially enclosing said light source and having a recess opening externally of said housing for slidingly receiving said power source in predetermined relation to said light source, and a switch operatively associated with said housing and adapted to close a circuit including said light source and said modular power source so as to energize said light source, said switch being selectively operable in a first mode to momentarily close said circuit, and being selectively operable in a second mode to continuously close said circuit and said housing including a battery frame having a switch plate having a first surface defining a side boundary of said recess, said switch plate having a second opposite surface defining a guide slot, a switch slide plate disposed within said guide slot and movable to a first position enabling momentary closing of said circuit to energize said light source, said switch slide plate being movable to a second position enabling continuous closing of said circuit, said switch including a push button exposed externally of said housing and cooperative with said slide plate to enable an operator to move said slide plate between said first and second positions. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A flashlight comprising, in combination;
- a light source, a modular power source, a housing at least partially enclosing said light source and having opposite side surfaces and an outer peripheral edge surface and having a recess extending into said housing from said peripheral edge surface and opening externally of said housing on said peripheral edge surface for slidingly receiving said power source in predetermined relation to said light source, a switch operatively associated with said housing and adapted to close a circuit including said light source and said modular power source so as to energize said light source, said switch being selectively operable in a first mode to momentarily close said circuit, and being selectively operable in a second mode to continuously close said circuit, and said light source comprising a LED having a pair of leads extending internally of said housing, one of said leads being interconnected to a negative terminal of said battery pack when disposed in said recess, said switch being operative to interconnect the other of said leads in circuit with the positive terminal of said modular power source without effecting physical contact of said other lead with a positive terminal.
- 24. A flashlight comprising a generally flat housing having a substantially greater longitudinal length than thickness so as to define laterally opposite generally flat side surfaces and an outer peripheral edge surface which is generally normal to said side surfaces and which extends about a periphery of said housing, a light source at least partially enclosed at one end of said housing, said housing having a recess which includes an opening that opens outwardly of and onto said housing peripheral edge surface, a modular, generally flat, power source adapted to be slidingly inserted through said opening in said peripheral edge surface and into said recess, and a switch operatively associated with said housing and operative to selectively close a circuit including said light source and said power source when disposed in said recess.
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37. A flashlight comprising, in combination;
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a light source, a modular power source, a housing at least partially enclosing said light source, having a peripheral edge surface, having a recess therein and having an opening in said peripheral edge surface communicating with said recess for slidingly receiving said power source through said opening and into said recess for positioning said power supply in predetermined relation to said light source, and a switch operatively associated with said housing and adapted to close a circuit including said light source and said modular power source so as to energize said light source, said switch being selectively operable in a first mode to momentarily close said circuit, and being selectively operable in a second mode to continuously close said circuit and said switch including a push button carried by said housing, said push button being movable from an off position to a first position to effect operation of said switch in said first mode, and being movable to a second position to effect operation of said switch in said second mode. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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- 43. A flashlight comprising a generally flat housing having substantially greater longitudinal length than thickness so as to define laterally opposite side and edge surfaces, a light source at least partially enclosed at one end of said housing, said housing having a first opening in said edge surface, a recess in said housing communicating with said first opening, a modular power source adapted to be slidingly inserted through said first opening and into said recess, a switch operatively associated with said housing and operative to selectively close a circuit including said light source and said power source when disposed in said recess and said housing having a second opening in said edge surface, located generally opposite said first opening and communicating with said recess so as to enable insertion of a pusher member into said second opening to at least partially eject said power source from said recess.
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46. A flashlight comprising a generally flat housing having substantially greater longitudinal length than thickness so as to define laterally opposite side and edge surfaces, a light source at least partially enclosed at one end of said housing, said housing having a recess opening outwardly of said housing, a modular power source adapted to be slidingly inserted into said recess, a switch operatively associated with said housing and operative to selectively close a circuit including said light source and said power source when disposed in said recess, said modular power source comprises a modular battery pack including a battery holder enclosing at least one battery and said battery holder having a nail nick or notch formed therein to facilitate insertion of a thumb or finger nail for removing the battery holder from the recess.
- 47. A battery pack for use with a flashlight that includes a housing having opposite side surfaces and an outer peripheral edge surface and having a recess of predetermined, generally flat configuration opening outwardly of the housing peripheral edge surface for receiving a battery pack, said battery pack comprising a generally flat battery holder having generally parallel opposite external walls defining a generally flat cavity therebetween adapted to enclose at least one coin type battery having side surfaces of opposite polarity, said battery holder being configured generally flat to enable insertion into the recess through said peripheral edge surface, said external walls each having an opening therein enabling access to the opposite polarity sides of the battery.
- 52. A battery pack for use with a flashlight that includes a housing having a recess of predetermined configuration opening outwardly of the housing for receiving a battery pack, said battery pack comprising a battery holder having generally parallel opposite external walls defining a cavity therebetween adapted to enclose at least one coin type battery having side surfaces of opposite polarity, said battery holder being configured to enable insertion into the flashlight recess, said external walls each having an opening therein enabling access to the opposite polarity sides of the battery and the flashlight housing having an external opening communicating with the recess therein, said battery holder having a post extending therefrom positioned to enter the opening when the battery pack is fully inserted into the flashlight recess, whereby a post on a similarly shaped battery holder can be inserted into the opening from externally of the housing to at least partially eject a battery pack when disposed within said recess.
- 54. A flashlight comprising a generally flat housing having laterally opposite side surfaces and an outer peripheral edge surface, a light source at least partially enclosed at one end of said housing, said housing having a recess opening outwardly of said housing peripheral edge surface, a modular, generally flat, power source adapted to be slidingly inserted into said recess opening onto said peripheral edge surface, and a switch operatively associated with said housing and operative to selectively close a circuit including said light source and said power source when disposed in said recess, said housing including a battery frame defining said recess, said modular power source comprising a battery pack including a battery holder enclosing at least one battery and being mutually co-operable with said battery frame to position said battery pack in predetermined relation to said switch when said battery pack is inserted into said recess so that said at least one battery has the proper polarity with respect to lead connections to said light source.
- 56. A battery pack for use with a flashlight that includes a housing having a recess of predetermined configuration opening outwardly of the housing for receiving a battery pack, said battery pack comprising a battery holder having generally parallel opposite external walls defining a cavity therebetween adapted to enclose at least one coin type battery having side surfaces of opposite polarity, said battery holder being configured to enable insertion into the flashlight recess, said external walls each having an opening therein enabling access to the opposite polarity sides of the battery and the flashlight housing having an external opening communicating with the recess therein, said battery holder having a post extending therefrom positioned to enter the opening when the battery pack is fully inserted into the flashlight recess, whereby a post on a similarly shaped battery holder can be inserted into the opening from externally of said battery holder and said battery holder having a nail nick or notch formed therein to facilitate insertion of a thumb or finger nail for removing the battery holder from the recess when the battery holder is partially ejected from the recess by the insertion of said post into the recess.
Specification