LED flashlight with switch element in side surface

• US 7,147,344 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2003
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• 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:
  US10/636,715
• Publication Number:
  US 20050073831A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,223 Days
• Field of Search: 362/116, 362/196, 362/205, 362/800, 362/206, 362/198, 362/109
• US Class Current: 362/205
• 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 power source;

an LED having a first lead that is disposed out of physical contact with the power source, the LED being located at a distal portion of the flashlight;

an electrically conductive member that is distinct and separate from but capable of contacting the first lead of the LED, the electrically conductive member being disposed in a first position in which an open circuit exists between the power source and the first lead of the LED, and being movable to a second position;

a movable element that is operatively connected to the electrically conductive member to cause it to move from the first position to the second position, at least a portion of the electrically conductive member being disposed in both physical and electrical contact with the power source when the electrically conductive member is disposed in the second position; and

wherein movement of the movable element to a closed position closes the circuit between the first lead of the LED and the power source to thereby cause light to be emitted from the LED while maintaining the first lead of the LED out of physical contact with the power source and without moving the power source relative to the LED.

2. The flashlight of claim 1, further comprising a body that encloses a substantial portion of a peripheral surface of a support structure in which the power source is mounted.

3. The flashlight of claim 2, wherein the body completely encircles the peripheral surface of the support structure.

4. The flashlight of claim 2, wherein the body encloses at least a portion of the power source.

5. The flashlight of claim 2, wherein the body encloses at least a portion of the LED.

6. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the LED extends through and beyond an aperture formed in the body.

7. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein the first lead of the LED is in physical contact with the electrically conductive member when the electrically conductive member is in the first position.

8. The flashlight of claim 7, wherein the first lead of the LED is in physical contact with the electrically conductive member when the electrically conductive member is both the first position and the second position.

9. The flashlight of claim 8, wherein the electrically conductive member is disposed out of physical contact with the power source when the electrically conductive member is in the initial position.

10. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive member is convex in shape.

11. The flashlight of claim 10, wherein the electrically conductive member is a dome plate.

12. The flashlight of claim 2, wherein the body further includes a generally flat panel that is formed from a translucent material so that a user of the flashlight can view at least a portion of the power source or the LED therethrough.

13. The flashlight of claim 12, wherein the flat panel is integral with at least a portion of the body.

14. The flashlight of claim 13, wherein the flat panel is integrally formed as a portion of the body.

15. The flashlight of claim 12, further comprising a keyring support member.

16. The flashlight of claim 15, wherein the keyring support member is integral with the body.

17. The flashlight of claim 16, wherein the keyring support member is integrally formed as a portion of the body.

18. The flashlight of claim 16, wherein the keyring support member comprises first and second members that extend away from the body.

19. The flashlight of claim 18, wherein the first and second members extend away from the body in an initially parallel manner.

20. The flashlight of claim 18, wherein a distal end of one of the first and second members loops back toward a distal end of the other of the first and second members.

21. The flashlight of claim 18 wherein end portions of the first and second members releasably interlock with each other.

22. The flashlight of claim 18, wherein one of the first and second members comprises a spring biased keyring lock.

23. The flashlight of claim 22, wherein the keyring lock is pivotable about an axis.

24. The flashlight of claim 23, wherein the keyring lock is pivotable about a circular post.

25. The flashlight of claim The flashlight of claim 16, wherein the keyring support member is located at an end of the body opposite to the LED.

26. The flashlight of claim 2, further comprising a keyring support member.

27. The flashlight of claim 26 wherein the keyring support member is integral with the body.

28. The flashlight of claim 27, wherein the keyring support member is integrally formed as a portion of the body.

29. The flashlight of claim 27, wherein the keyring support member comprises first and second members that extend away from the body.

30. The flashlight of claim 29, wherein the first and second members extend away from the body in an initially parallel manner.

31. The flashlight of claim 29, wherein a distal end of one of the first and second members loops back toward a distal end of the other of the first and second members.

32. The flashlight of claim 29 wherein end portions of the first and second members releasably interlock with each other.

33. The flashlight of claim 29, wherein one of the first and second members comprises a spring biased keyring lock.

34. The flashlight of claim 33, wherein the keyring lock is pivotable about an axis.

35. The flashlight of claim 34, wherein the keyring lock is pivotable about a circular post.

36. The flashlight of claim 27, wherein the keyring support member is located at an end of the body opposite to the LED.

37. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein two or more colors are disposed on an outer surface of the flashlight.

38. The flashlight of claim 2, wherein the body is formed from two different materials.

39. The flashlight of claim 38, wherein a first portion of the body is formed from a metal, and a second portion of the body is formed from a plastic.

40. The flashlight of claim 39, wherein the plastic is translucent.

41. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein the movable member comprises an elastomeric element.

42. The flashlight of claim 41, wherein the electrically conductive member comprises a dome plate.