LED flashlight with medallion in panel

• US 6,945,667 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2003
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Armament Systems and Procedures Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Armament Systems and Procedures Incorporated
• Inventors: Parsons, Kevin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ward, John Anthony
• Application Number:
  US10/615,316
• Publication Number:
  US 20040105257A1
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 362/196, 362/200, 362/205, 362/800, 362/202, 362/203, 362/204
• US Class Current: 362/196
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 15/00 Key-rings
• 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 4/027 the light sources being a LED
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/01 Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts F21V15/02 takes precedence housings forming signs or letters G09F13/04
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/08 Devices for easy attachment to any desired place, e.g. clip, clamp, magnet
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/0885 for portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0414 specially adapted to be used with portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/08 for producing coloured light, e.g. monochromatic; for reducing intensity of light with provision for controlling the colour F21V9/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A flashlight having a light-emitting diode light source with first and second leads extending therefrom, a power source, a power source frame enclosing at least a portion of the power source; a housing containing the light source and power source, a switch located adjacent the power source and operable to close a circuit including the light source and the power source, and wherein one or all of the following may be included 1) a keyring extension extending from a power source frame or the housing with the keyring extension having an opening whereby an article can be attached to the keyring extension and includes a keyring lock wherein upon exerting a force against the keyring lock, the keyring lock is opened to permit the article to be attached to the keyring extension; 2) the housing is comprised of translucent material; and 3) the housing includes at least one side cover which is not integral with the housing and the at least one side cover being selected from anodized aluminum, anodized metal, anodized metal which includes indicia, die struck metal, laser engraved metal, and a side cover having a separate medallion attached thereto.

Claims

1. A flashlight comprising:

a light emitting diode light source;

a power source;

a power source frame adapted to receive the power source;

a powers source frame housing enclosing at least a portion of each of the light source, the power source, and the power source frame;

the power source frame housing being elongated and the light source being located at one end thereof;

a switch next to the power source and operable to close a circuit including the light source and the power source;

at least one side cover; and

a decorative opaque medallion disposed in the side cover.

2. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein the at least one side cover further comprises an opening into which the medallion is disposed.

3. The flashlight of claim 2, wherein the opening in the side cover is defined such that the medallion can be placed in a desired position.

4. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein the medallion is secured with an adhesive.

5. The flashlight of claim 4, wherein the medallion is disposed within an opening defined in the at least one side cover such that the side cover protects the medallion.

6. The flashlight of claim 4, wherein the medallion and the at least one side cover each have a top surface, the medallion having a preferred thickness, the medallion being secured to the support structure with an adhesive such that the top surface of the medallion is substantially flush with the top surface of the side cover when the medallion is disposed within the at least one side cover.

7. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein the medallion is die struck.

8. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein the at least one side cover is formed of metal.

9. The flashlight of claim 8, wherein the metal is aluminum.

10. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein the at least one side cover is formed of plastic.

11. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein the at least one side cover is formed of polycarbonate.

12. A flashlight comprising:

a light emitting diode light source having first and second leads extending therefrom;

a power source;

a power source frame adapted to receive the power source;

a powers source frame housing enclosing at least a portion of each of the light source, the power source, and the power source frame;

the power source frame housing being elongated and the light source being located at one end thereof;

a switch next to the power source and operable to close a circuit including the light source and the power source;

a decorative opaque medallion having a top surface; and

at least one side cover, the at least one side cover having a top surface defining an opening into which the medallion can be disposed, such that the top surface of the medallion is substantially flush with the top surface of the side cover, the medallion being secured in the opening with an adhesive.

13. The flashlight of claim 12, wherein the opening in the at least one side cover is defined such that the medallion can be placed in a desired position.

14. The flashlight of claim 12, wherein the medallion is die struck.

15. The flashlight of claim 12, wherein the at least one side cover is formed of metal.

16. The flashlight of claim 15, wherein the metal is aluminum.

17. The flashlight of claim 12, wherein the at least one side cover is formed of plastic.

18. The flashlight of claim 12, wherein the at least one side cover is formed of polycarbonate.

19. A flashlight comprising:

a light emitting diode light source having a first and second leads extending therefrom;

a power source;

a power source frame adapted to receive the power source;

a powers source frame housing enclosing at least a portion of each of the light source, the power source, and the power source frame;

the power source frame housing being elongated and the light source being located at one end thereof;

a switch next to the power source and operable to close a circuit including the light emitting diode and the power source;

a decorative opaque die struck medallion having a top surface and a preferred thickness; and

at least one side cover formed of metal, the at least one side cover having a top surface, defining an opening into which the medallion can be disposed, such that the top surface of the medallion is substantially flush with the top surface of the side cover, the medallion being secured in the opening with an adhesive.

20. The flashlight of claim 19, wherein the opening defined in a side cover is defined such that the medallion can be placed in a desired position.

21. A flashlight comprising:

a light emitting diode light source;

a power source;

a power source frame adapted to receive the power source;

a powers source frame housing enclosing at least a portion of each of the light source, the power source, and the power source frame;

the power source frame housing being elongated and the light source being located at one end thereof;

a switch next to the power source and operable to close a circuit including the light emitting diode and the power source;

at least one side cover; and

a decorative opaque medallion disposed on the side cover.

22. The flashlight of claim 21, wherein the at least one side cover further comprises a recess into which the medallion is disposed.

23. The flashlight of claim 22, wherein a depth of the recess is greater than a thickness of the medallion such that the medallion is disposed below the surface of the side cover.

24. The flashlight of claim 22, wherein a depth of the recess is less than a thickness of the medallion such that the medallion is disposed just above the surface of the side cover.

25. The flashlight of claim 22, wherein a depth of the recess is substantially the same as a thickness of the medallion such that the medallion is disposed substantially flush with the surface of the side cover.

26. The flashlight of claim 21, wherein the medallion is secured with an adhesive.

27. The flashlight of claim 21, wherein the medallion is die struck.

28. The flashlight of claim 21, wherein the side covers are formed of metal.

29. The flashlight of claim 28, wherein the metal is aluminum.

30. The flashlight of claim 21, wherein the at least one side cover is formed of plastic.

31. The flashlight of claim 21, wherein the at least one side cover is formed of polycarbonate.