LED flashlight having a dissimilar frame and panel

• US 6,959,997 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2003
• Issued: 11/01/2005
• 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:
  US10/634,604
• Publication Number:
  US 20040095750A1
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 362/116, 362/196, 362/201, 362/205, 362/800, 362/188, 362/200, 362/109, 362/191
• US Class Current: 362/116
• 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 having a first and second leads extending therefrom;

a power source having a first side and a second side, the second side being opposite the first side;

a body adapted to receive the light emitting diode and the power source;

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

the body having a frame made of a first material and at least one side cover made of a second different material; and

a clip, having means for opening such that an object may be attached to the flashlight or the flashlight may be attached to an object, disposed on an end of the body opposite the light emitting diode.

2. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises plastic and the at least one side cover is made of metal.

3. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises plastic and the at least one side cover is made of a different plastic.

4. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises elastromeric plastic and the at least one side cover is made of hardened plastic.

5. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises translucent plastic and the at least one side cover is made of opaque plastic.

6. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises opaque plastic and the at least one side cover is made of translucent plastic.

7. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises hardened plastic and the at least one side cover is made of elastomeric plastic.

8. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises metal and the at least one side cover is made of plastic.

9. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises metal and the at least one side cover is made of a different metal.

10. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises aluminum and the at least one side cover is made of steel.

11. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises steel and the at least one side cover is made of aluminum.

12. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises a single metal and the at least one side cover is made of an alloy of various metals.

13. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises aluminum and the at least one side cover is made of titanium and graphite.

14. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises fiber reinforced plastic and the at least one side cover is made of polycarbonate.

15. The flashlight of claim 2, wherein the metal further comprises aluminum.

16. The flashlight of claim 2, further comprising plastic that is translucent.

17. The flashlight of claim 2, wherein the metal panel further comprises an engraved surface decorating the flashlight.

18. The flashlight of claim 2, further comprising a metal panel that is die-struck so as to decorate the flashlight.

19. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein the at least one side panel is pad printed.

20. The flashlight of claim 2, wherein the frame is formed in desirable shapes.

21. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein the frame is made of metal and the at least one side cover is made of plastic.

23. The flashlight of claim 21, wherein the metal is aluminum.

24. The flashlight of claim 21, wherein the metal is anodized.

25. The flashlight of claim 21, wherein the plastic is polycarbonate.

26. The flashlight of claim 21, wherein the metal is pad printed in color.

27. The flashlight of claim 21, wherein the metal is screen printed with a decorative pattern.

28. The flashlight of claim 1, having a first side panel made of a first material and a second side panel made of a second material.

29. The flashlight of claim 28, wherein said first side and second side panel and said frame are made from different materials.

30. The flashlight of claim 29, wherein said first side panel is made of plastic, said second side panel is made of a different plastic and said frame is made of metal.

31. The flashlight of claim 30, wherein said first side panel is made of resilient plastic, said second side panel is made of hardened plastic and said frame is made of aluminum.

32. The flashlight of claim 30, wherein said first panel is made of translucent plastic, said second panel is made of opaque plastic and said frame is made of aluminum.

33. The flashlight of claim 30, wherein said first panel is made of translucent plastic, said second panel is made of opaque plastic and said frame is made of steel.

34. The flashlight of claim 30, wherein said first panel is made of transparent plastic, said second panel is made of translucent plastic and said frame is made of aluminum.

35. The flashlight of claim 28, wherein said first panel is made of metal, said second panel is made of plastic and said frame is made of a different metal.

36. The flashlight of claim 28, wherein said first panel is made of aluminum, said second panel is made of plastic and said frame is made of steel.

37. The flashlight of claim 28, wherein said first panel is made of steel, said second panel is made of plastic and said frame is made of aluminum.

38. The flashlight of claim 28, wherein said first panel is made of a metal alloy, said second panel is made of plastic and said frame is made of a aluminum.

39. The flashlight of claim 28, wherein said first panel is made of anodized aluminum, said second panel is made of plastic and said frame is made of a steel.

22. The flashlight of clam 21, wherein the plastic is translucent.

40. A flashlight comprising:

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

a power source having a first side and a second side, the second side being opposite the first side;

a body enclosing the leads of the light emitting diode and the power source;

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

a clip disposed on an end of the body opposite the light emitting diode; and

the body having a frame made of a plastic and side covers made of metal.

41. The flashlight of claim 40, wherein the plastic is translucent.

42. The flashlight of claim 40, wherein the plastic is hardened plastic.

43. The flashlight of claim 40, wherein the plastic is rigid plastic.

44. The flashlight of claim 40, wherein the metal is aluminum.

45. The flashlight of claim 44, wherein the aluminum is anodized.

46. The flashlight of claim 40, wherein the plastic is polycarbonate.

47. The flashlight of claim 45, wherein the anodized aluminum is pad printed in color.

48. The flashlight of claim 45, wherein the anodized aluminum is screen printed with a decorative pattern.

49. A flashlight comprising:

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

a power source having a first side and a second side, the second side being opposite the first side;

a body enclosing the leads of the light emitting diode and the power source;

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

a clip disposed on an end of the body opposite the light emitting diode; and

the body having a frame made of a rigid plastic and side covers made of elastomeric plastic.

50. The flashlight of claim 49, having a first side cover made of a first elastomeric plastic and a second side cover made of a second elastomeric plastic.

51. The flashlight of claim 49, wherein said first side and second side covers are made from different materials.

52. The flashlight of claim 49, wherein said first side cover is made of translucent plastic and said second side cover is made of opaque plastic.

53. The flashlight of claim 49, wherein said first side cover is made of transparent plastic and said second side cover is made of opaque plastic.

54. The flashlight of claim 49, wherein said first side cover is made of transparent plastic and said second side cover is made of translucent plastic.

55. A flashlight comprising:

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

a power source having a first side and a second side, the second side being opposite the first side;

a body enclosing the leads of the light emitting diode and the power source;

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

a clip disposed on an end of the body opposite the light emitting diode; and

the body having a frame made of metal and side covers made of plastic.

56. The flashlight of claim 55, wherein said first side cover is made of a first plastic and said second side cover is made of a different plastic.

57. The flashlight of claim 55, wherein said first side cover is made of resilient plastic, said second side cover is made of hardened plastic and said frame is made of aluminum.

58. The flashlight of claim 55, wherein said first side cover is made of translucent plastic, said second side cover is made of opaque plastic and said frame is made of aluminum.

59. The flashlight of claim 55, wherein said first side cover is made of translucent plastic, said second side cover is made of transparent plastic and said frame is made of aluminum.

60. The flashlight of claim 55, wherein said first side cover is made of translucent plastic, said second side cover is made of opaque plastic and said frame is made of steel.

61. The flashlight of claim 55, wherein said first side cover is made of translucent plastic, said second side cover is made of transparent plastic and said frame is made of steel.

62. The flashlight of claim 55, wherein said first side cover is made of transparent plastic, said second side cover is made of translucent plastic and said frame is made of aluminum.

63. The flashlight of claim 55, wherein said first side cover is made of transparent plastic, said second side cover is made of translucent plastic and said frame is made of anodized aluminum.

64. The flashlight of claim 55, wherein said first side cover is made of transparent plastic, said second side cover is made of opaque plastic and said frame is made of anodized aluminum.