Flashlight

• US 6,893,140 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2002
• Issued: 05/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: W.T. Storey, Inc.
• Original Assignee: W.T. Storey, Inc.
• Inventors: Probst, Brian E., Gorrie, Joseph E., Storey, William T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US10/318,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20040114358A1
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 362/191, 362/190, 362/202, 362/205, 362/297, 362/300, 362/301, 362/302, 362/303, 362/304, 362/305, 362/346, 362/800, 362/287, 362/427
• US Class Current: 362/191
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/027 the light sources being a LED
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/04 the elements being reflectors and refractors for vehicle rear lights F21S43/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/06 Bases for movable standing lamps; Fixing standards to the bases F21V21/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/406 for portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0414 specially adapted to be used with portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/00 Gas-tight or water-tight arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0008 providing for indirect lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0033 with successive reflections from one reflector to the next or following
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A flashlight is disclosed which includes a housing adapted to receive one or more battery cells and having a transparent lens on a forward end thereof. An LED light source connected to the cell is utilized in conjunction with collimating optics positioned adjacent the LED to refract rays of light from the LED forwardly. A first paraboloid reflector having a concave reflective surface is positioned within said housing to receive rays of light from the collimating optics and to reflect the rays rearwardly and a second paraboloid reflector having a concave reflective surface is positioned within said housing to receive rays of light reflected rearwardly from the first paraboloid reflector and to further reflect the rays forwardly through the transparent lens.

Claims

1. A flashlight comprising:

a) a housing having at least one cell and having a transparent lens on a forward end thereof;

b) an LED light source connected to said at least one cell;

c) collimating optics positioned adjacent said LED to refract said rays of light forwardly;

d) a first paraboloid reflector having a concave reflective surface positioned within said housing to receive rays of light from said collimating optics and to reflect said rays rearwardly;

e) a second paraboloid reflector having a concave reflective surface positioned within said housing to receive rays of light reflected rearwardly from said first paraboloid reflector and to further reflect said rays forwardly through said transparent lens.

2. A flashlight according to claim 1 wherein said collimating optics directs said rays of light into a first generally cylindrical pattern of light and said second paraboloid reflector further reflects said rays into a second generally cylindrical pattern of light.

3. A flashlight according to claim 1 wherein said first paraboloid reflector is attached to an inner side of said transparent lens.

4. A flashlight according to claim 1 wherein said at least one cell further comprises at least two cells which are controlled by a first microprocessor control circuit to independently energize said LED light source at different times.

5. A flashlight according to claim 4 wherein said at least one cell further comprises at least two pair of cells.

6. A flashlight according to claim 1 wherein said housing further comprises a stand pivotally mounted thereon.

7. A flashlight according to claim 6 wherein said stand may rotate though 180 degrees of rotation to allow said flashlight when laid upon a surface to selectively direct light a number of different directions.

8. A flashlight according to claim 6 wherein said stand further comprises at least two toothed disks urged together by at least one wave spring washer whereby said stand is restrained from pivotal motion by said toothed disks unless force is applied to said stand sufficient to overcome the force applied by said wave spring washer.

9. A flashlight according to claim 6 wherein said stand includes a spring loaded ring which is urged to remain in a secured location which prevents rotation thereof absent the application of force and upon the application of force said ring moves away from said secured location and is free to rotate relative to said stand.

10. A flashlight according to claim 1 wherein said housing includes a handle for carrying said flashlight.

11. A flashlight according to claim 1 further comprising a strobe light in said housing.

12. A flashlight according to claim 1 further comprising a switch to selectively energize said LED light source.

13. A flashlight according to claim 12 wherein said switch is a four position switch including an LED on position, a spring loaded momentary LED on position, an off position and a strobe on position.

14. A flashlight according to claim 12 wherein said switch is hermetically sealed.

15. A flashlight according to claim 1 further comprising a second microprocessor control circuit to provide generally constant electrical current to the LED light source over a range of temperatures.

16. A flashlight according to claim 15 wherein said range of temperatures comprises a range between −

40 degrees F. to 120 degrees F.

17. A flashlight according to claim 1 wherein said LED light source is mounted on a heat sink to remove heat from said LED light source.

18. A flashlight according to claim 17 further comprising a second heat sink to remove heat from said LED light source.

19. A flashlight according to claim 1 further comprising at least one generally cylindrical coil spring urging and holding said at least one cell in a desired position within said housing.

20. A flashlight comprising:

a) a housing having at least one cell and having a transparent lens on a forward end thereof;

b) an LED light source connected to said at least one cell, said LED light source when energized emitting rays of light in a generally hemispherical light pattern;

c) collimating optics positioned adjacent said LED to direct said rays of light into a first generally cylindrical pattern of light with light rays being generally parallel to one another and directed in a forward direction along an optical axis;

d) a first paraboloid reflector having a concave reflective surface attached to an inner side of said transparent lens, said first paraboloid reflector having a focus point positioned on said optical axis and positioned to receive rays of light from said collimating optics and first generally cylindrical pattern of light and to reflect said rays rearwardly generally through said focus point; and

e) a second paraboloid reflector having a concave reflective surface positioned within said housing and having a focus point positioned on said optical axis to receive rays of light reflected rearwardly from said first paraboloid reflector and to further reflect said rays into a second generally cylindrical pattern of light with light rays being generally parallel to one another and directed in a forward direction along an optical axis and out of the housing through said transparent lens.

21. A flashlight according to claim 20 wherein said focus point of said first paraboloid reflector and said focus point of said second paraboloid reflector are located at the same point along said optical axis.