Flashlight

• US 6,905,223 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2001
• Issued: 06/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MAG Instrument Incorporated
• Original Assignee: MAG Instrument Incorporated
• Inventors: Halasz, Christopher Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ton, Anabel
• Application Number:
  US09/927,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20020034073A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,404 Days
• Field of Search: 362/395, 362/394, 362/190, 362/191, 362/197, 362/198, 362/199, 362/427, 362/188, 362/187, 362/203
• US Class Current: 362/197
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/00 Electric lighting devices with self-contained electric batteries or cells
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/005 the device being a pocket lamp F21L4/022, F21L4/045, F21L4/085 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/04 characterised by the provision of a light source housing portion adjustably fixed to the remainder of the device
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/045 in portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/02 with provision for adjustment, e.g. for focusing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/084 Head fittings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/145 for portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/30 Pivoted housings or frames
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0414 specially adapted to be used with portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0075 for portable lighting devices

Abstract

A portable, battery-operated flashlight having improved pivoting, switching and focusing features is disclosed. In one aspect of the invention, the flashlight takes the form of an attachment to a head gear for hands free use. In another aspect of the invention, the flashlight takes the form of a head lamp held in place on an user'"'"'s head by an elastic band. The pivot connection between the body and the base, as well as the serrations on an exterior surface of the body, allows a user to adjust any angular direction of the light as desired. In another aspect of the invention, the flashlight takes the form of a long-handled flashlight having improved switching and focusing capabilities, such that axial movement of the switching assembly turns the flashlight “on” or “off”, as well as causing a position of the lamp to vary in order to focus or defocus the light.

Claims

1. A flashlight comprising:

(a) a body for retaining a least one battery;

(b) a head assembly that includes a lamp, said head assembly removably attached to said body, and capable of selectively electrically connecting said lamp to each battery; and

(c) a base in pivot connection with said body, said base having a pivot stop to facilitate desired angular adjustment of said light, wherein said pivot connection is located substantially between at least one battery and the head assembly.

2. The flashlight according to claim 1, wherein said pivot connection allows for a low positioning of said light with respect to a user'"'"'s desired line of vision such that an axis of said pivot connection is located a distance from an axis of a center of said at least one battery.

3. The flashlight according to claim 1, wherein said pivot connection allows for 180 degree angular adjustment of said light.

4. The flashlight according to claim 1, wherein said pivot stop allows for 180 degree angular adjustment of said light.

5. The flashlight according to claim 1, wherein said base portion is affixable to a head gear.

6. A head light comprising:

(a) a body for retaining at least one battery and including a lamp, a head assembly and a switching assembly;

(b) said lamp removably attached to said body and selectively connected to said at least one battery to cause said lamp to emanate light;

(c) said switching assembly adapted to cause electrical coupling of said lamp when said head assembly is rotated;

(d) a base portion in pivot connection with said body, said pivot connection allowing angular adjustment of said body; and

(e) a head fitting means affixable to said base portion.

7. The head light according to claim 6, wherein said head assembly includes a bezel and a reflector and rotation of said bezel causes axial movement of said switching mechanism and said reflector.

8. The head light according to claim 7, wherein axial movement of said switching assembly toward said at least one battery causes electrical coupling of said lamp.

9. The head light of claim 7, wherein said switching assembly includes a first spring located immediate to said at least one battery and a second spring located immediate to said lamp, said springs permitting selective axial movement of said reflector relative to said lamp and said switching assembly.

10. The head light of claim 6, wherein an axis of said pivot connection is located a distance from an axis of center of said at least one battery to facilitate angular adjustment of said body with respect to a user'"'"'s desired line of vision.

11. A flashlight comprising:

(a) a body for retaining at least one battery;

(b) a head assembly for retaining a reflector and a lamp;

(c) said lamp selectively connected to said at least one battery to cause said lamp to emanate light; and

(d) said reflector movable relative to said lamp whereby axial movement of said head assembly causes axial movement of said reflector together with said lamp and further axial movement of said head assembly toward said at least one battery causes axial movement of said reflector relative to said lamp.

12. The flashlight according to claim 11 wherein said head assembly is moveable relative to a switching assembly and axial movement of said head assembly causes axial movement of said switching assembly together with said reflector.

13. The flashlight according to claim 12 wherein said head assembly includes a bezel and rotation of said bezel causes axial movement of said switching assembly.

14. The flashlight according to claim 11 wherein said head assembly includes a bezel and rotation of said bezel causes said reflector to move relative to said lamp.

15. A flashlight comprising:

(a) a body for retaining at least one battery;

(b) a head assembly for retaining a reflector and a lamp;

(c) said lamp selectively electrically coupled to said at least one battery to cause the lamp to emanate light;

(d) a switching assembly movable relative to said head assembly;

(e) whereby axial movement of said head assembly causes said switching assembly to move axially and electrically couples said lamp with said at least one battery without said reflector moving relative to said switching assembly; and

(f) whereby further axial movement of said head assembly causes said reflector to move relative to said switching assembly.

16. The flashlight according to claim 15 wherein said head assembly includes a bezel and rotation of said bezel causes said switching assembly to move axially.

17. The flashlight according to claim 15 wherein said head assembly includes a bezel and rotation of said bezel causes said reflector to move relative to said switching assembly.

18. The flashlight according to claim 15 wherein axial movement of said head assembly is downward toward said at least one battery.

19. The flashlight according to claim 15 wherein further axial movement of said head assembly is downward toward said at least one battery.

20. A flashlight comprising:

(a) a body for retaining at least one battery;

(b) a head assembly for retaining a reflector and a lamp;

(c) said lamp selectively connected to said at least one battery to cause said lamp to emanate light;

(d) said reflector movable relative to said lamp whereby axial movement of said head assembly causes axial movement of said reflector together with said lamp and further axial movement of said head assembly causes axial movement of said reflector relative to said lamp; and

(e) wherein said head assembly includes a bezel and rotation of said bezel causes said reflector to move relative to said lamp.