Apparatus and method for aligning a substantial point source of light with a reflector feature
First Claim
1. A device for projecting a beam of light comprising:
- a portable source of power;
a substantial point source of light electrically connected to said source of power;
a reflector having a first open end for emitting a beam of light, a second end and an axis extending therebetween;
a holder positioning said substantial point source of light within said reflector, wherein said holder is movable about at least a first axis, wherein said first axis is not coincident with said axis of said reflector; and
an actuating member operatively connected to said holder to move said holder and align said substantial point source of light with said axis of said reflector, wherein said actuating member is externally accessible by a user for moving said holder.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A combination for use in aligning a substantial point source of light with respect to an axis of a reflector is provided. The combination includes a reflector, a lamp bulb having a substantial point source of light, and a movable lamp bulb holder. The movable holder may be moved using an actuating member. The reflector has a first open end for emitting a light beam, a second end and an axis extending between the first and second reflector ends. The lamp bulb is secured to the movable holder and is disposed about the second end of the reflector. The actuating member is operatively coupled to the movable holder at an actuation interface for moving the substantial point source of light relative to the axis of the reflector and aligning the substantial point source of light with the reflector axis and the focal point of the reflector. Flashlights employing the combination are provided.
-
Citations
149 Claims
-
1. A device for projecting a beam of light comprising:
-
a portable source of power; a substantial point source of light electrically connected to said source of power; a reflector having a first open end for emitting a beam of light, a second end and an axis extending therebetween; a holder positioning said substantial point source of light within said reflector, wherein said holder is movable about at least a first axis, wherein said first axis is not coincident with said axis of said reflector; and an actuating member operatively connected to said holder to move said holder and align said substantial point source of light with said axis of said reflector, wherein said actuating member is externally accessible by a user for moving said holder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A flashlight comprising:
-
a barrel for retaining one or more batteries, said barrel having first and second ends; a reflector mounted to said first end of said barrel including a first open end adapted to emit a light beam, a second end and a reflector axis extending therebetween; an illumination source; a movable holder including a receiver and an actuation interface, wherein said receiver holds said illumination source in a position between said first open end and said second end of said reflector, wherein said actuation interface is used to move said movable holder for adjusting the position of said illumination source relative to said reflector axis, wherein said actuation interface is externally operable by a user for moving said movable holder, wherein said movable holder moves about an actuation axis, wherein said actuation axis is not coincident with said reflector axis; and an electrical circuit coupling said illumination source to said one or more batteries. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
-
-
40. A combination for use in aligning a substantial point source of light of a lamp bulb with an axis of a flashlight reflector, the combination comprising:
-
a body member for receiving a portable source of electrical energy; a lamp bulb including a substantial point source of light operably connected to said portable source of electrical energy; a substantially axisymmetrical reflector having a first open end adapted to emit a light beam, a second end adapted to receive said lamp bulb extending toward said first open end, and an axis extending from said second end to said first open end; a movable lamp bulb holder adapted to hold said lamp bulb and an actuation interface to move the movable lamp bulb holder, wherein said actuation interface is a hexagonal socket.
-
-
41. A combination for use in aligning a substantial point source of light with an axis of a reflector, the combination comprising:
-
a reflector including a first open end adapted to emit a light beam, a second end and an axis extending therebetween; a lamp bulb including a filament having a substantial point source of light; a movable lamp bulb holder including a receiver to hold said lamp bulb in a position with said filament extending through said second end of said reflector; and an actuating member operatively coupled to said movable lamp bulb holder for moving said filament of said lamp bulb in a direction substantially perpendicular relative to said axis of said reflector, wherein said actuating member is externally operable by a user. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
-
-
56. A combination for use in aligning a substantial point source of light with an axis of a reflector, the combination comprising:
-
a reflector including a first open end adapted to emit a light beam, a second end and an axis extending therebetween; a lamp bulb including a filament having a substantial point source of light; a movable lamp bulb holder including a receiver to hold said lamp bulb in a position with said filament extending through said second end of said reflector; an actuating member operatively coupled to said movable lamp bulb holder for moving said filament of said lamp bulb relative to said axis of said reflector; and a support housing for holding said reflector having a window, wherein said actuating member extends through said window to couple to said movable lamp holder.
-
-
57. A flashlight comprising:
-
a barrel for retaining one or more batteries, said barrel having first and second ends; a head assembly adjacent to said first end of said barrel including a reflector and lens mounted in a mutually fixed relationship, said reflector including a first open end adapted to emit a light beam, a second end and an axis extending therebetween; a lamp bulb including a filament; a movable lamp bulb holder disposed at said first end of the barrel, said movable lamp bulb holder including a receiver to hold said lamp bulb in a position with said filament extending through said second end of said reflector; an actuating member operatively coupled to said movable lamp bulb holder for adjusting the position of said filament of said lamp bulb in a direction substantially perpendicular relative to said axis of the reflector, wherein maneuvering said actuating member moves said lamp bulb holder while said lamp bulb is electrically connected to said one or more batteries; and an electrical circuit coupling said filament of said lamp bulb to said one or more batteries. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89)
-
-
90. A combination for use in aligning a substantial point source of light of a filament of a lamp bulb with an axis of a flashlight reflector, the combination comprising:
-
a body member for receiving and housing a portable source of electrical energy; a lamp bulb including a filament operably connected to said portable source of electrical energy, said filament including a substantial point source of light; a substantially axisymmetrical reflector having a first open end adapted to emit a light beam, a second end adapted to receive said lamp bulb extending toward said first open end, and an axis extending from said second end to said first open end; a movable lamp bulb holder adapted to hold said lamp bulb; and an actuating member externally accessible by a user and operatively coupled to said movable lamp bulb holder for adjusting the position of said lamp bulb filament relative to said reflector axis and aligning said substantial point source of light with said reflector axis while said lamp bulb is electrically connected to said portable source of electrical energy, wherein said actuating member is a lever removably coupled to said movable lamp bulb holder. - View Dependent Claims (91, 92)
-
-
93. A combination for use in aligning a substantial point source of light of a filament of a lamp bulb with an axis of a flashlight reflector, the combination comprising:
-
a body member for receiving and housing a portable source of electrical energy; a lamp bulb including a filament operably connected to said portable source of electrical energy, said filament including a substantial point source of light; a substantially axisymmetrical reflector having a first open end adapted to emit a light beam, a second end adapted to receive said lamp bulb extending toward said first open end, and an axis extending from said second end to said first open end; a movable lamp bulb holder adapted to hold said lamp bulb; and an actuating member operatively coupled to said movable lamp bulb holder for moving said lamp bulb filament in a direction substantially perpendicular to said reflector axis wherein said actuating, member is a barrel cam comprising a hollow cylinder having a profiled end surface, said profiled end surface mechanically coupled to said movable lamp bulb holder. - View Dependent Claims (94)
-
-
95. A combination for use in aligning a substantial point source of light of a filament of a lamp bulb with an axis of a flashlight reflector, the combination comprising:
-
a body member for receiving and housing a portable source of electrical energy; a lamp bulb including a filament operably connected to said portable source of electrical energy, said filament including a substantial point source of light; a substantially axisymmetrical reflector having a first open end adapted to emit a light beam, a second end adapted to receive said lamp bulb extending toward said first open end, and an axis extending from said second end to said first open end; a movable lamp bulb holder adapted to hold said lamp bulb; and an actuating member operatively coupled to said movable lamp bulb holder for adjusting the position of said lamp bulb filament relative to said reflector axis and aligning said substantial point source of light with said reflector axis; and a lock mechanism releasably coupled to said actuating member to maintain the position of said substantial point source of light with said reflector axis after said filament has been moved relative to said reflector axis by restricting actuator member movement wherein said lock mechanism includes a movable rack and a locking tab, said rack coupled to said actuating member and including ribs and slots interposed between said ribs, said locking tab disposed in one of said slots and bearing against said rib to restrict movement of said rack and said actuating member.
-
-
96. A combination for use in aligning a substantial point source of light of a filament of a lamp bulb with an axis of a flashlight reflector, the combination comprising:
-
a body member for receiving and housing a portable source of electrical energy; a lamp bulb including a filament operably connected to said portable source of electrical energy, said filament including a substantial point source of light; a substantially axisymmetrical reflector having a first open end adapted to emit a light beam, a second end adapted to receive said lamp bulb extending toward said first open end, and an axis extending from said second end to said first open end; a movable lamp bulb holder adapted to hold said lamp bulb; and an actuating member operatively coupled to said movable lamp bulb holder for adjusting the position of said lamp bulb filament relative to said reflector axis and aligning said substantial point source of light with said reflector axis; and a lock mechanism releasably coupled to said actuating member to maintain the position of said substantial point source of light with said reflector axis after said filament has been moved relative to said reflector axis by restricting actuator member movement; wherein said reflector includes an abutment adjacent to the second end and substantially perpendicular to the reflector axis, said reflector is controllably translatable in the direction along said axis to vary the relative axial position of said abutment with said lock mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (97)
-
-
98. A flashlight comprising:
-
a housing for receiving and storing at least one dry cell battery; a lamp bulb including electrodes operably connected to said battery through an electrical circuit and a filament extending between said electrodes for generating light; a substantial point source of light on said filament; a switch interposed in said electrical circuit adapted to open said electrical circuit and to close said electrical circuit to cause said filament to generate light; a head assembly including a lens; a substantially axisymmetrical reflector for forming a beam of light generated by said filament, said reflector having a first open end adapted to emit a light beam through said lens, a second end adapted to receive said lamp bulb extending toward said first open end, an axis extending from said second end to said first open end and a focal point located on said axis; adjustable focusing means for varying the position of said substantial point source of light with respect to said focal point; a movable lamp bulb holder to hold said lamp bulb and maintain the operable connection with said battery; and an actuating member operatively coupled to said movable lamp bulb holder for moving said lamp bulb filament to position said substantial point source of light coaxial with said reflector axis, wherein said actuating member is externally accessible by a user, wherein said actuating member is slidably coupled to said movable lamp bulb holder. - View Dependent Claims (99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109)
-
-
110. A flashlight comprising:
-
a housing for receiving and storing at least one dry cell battery; a lamp bulb including electrodes operably connected to said battery through an electrical circuit and a filament extending between said electrodes for generating light; a substantial point source of light on said filament; a switch interposed in said electrical circuit adapted to open said electrical circuit and to close said electrical circuit to cause said filament to generate light; a head assembly including a lens; a substantially axisymmetrical reflector for forming a beam of light generated by said filament, said reflector having a first open end adapted to emit a light beam through said lens, a second end adapted to receive said lamp bulb extending toward said first open end, an axis extending from said second end to said first open end and a focal point located on said axis; adjustable focusing means for varying the position of said substantial point source of light with respect to said focal point; a movable lamp bulb holder to hold said lamp bulb and maintain the operable connection with said battery; and an actuating member operatively coupled to said movable lamp bulb holder for moving said lamp bulb filament in a direction substantially perpendicular to said reflector axis, wherein said actuating member is slidably coupled to said movable lamp bulb holder, wherein said actuating member is a barrel cam comprising a hollow cylinder having a profiled end surface, said profiled end surface mechanically coupled to said movable lamp bulb holder.
-
-
111. A flashlight comprising:
-
a housing for receiving and storing at least one dry cell battery; a lamp bulb including electrodes operably connected to said battery through an electrical circuit and a filament extending between said electrodes for generating light; a substantial point source of light on said filament; a switch interposed in said electrical circuit adapted to open said electrical circuit and to close said electrical circuit to cause said filament to generate light; a head assembly including a lens; a substantially axisymmetrical reflector for forming a beam of light generated by said filament, said reflector having a first open end adapted to emit a light beam through said lens, a second end adapted to receive said lamp bulb extending toward said first open end, an axis extending from said second end to said first open end and a focal point located on said axis; adjustable focusing means for varying the position of said substantial point source of light with respect to said focal point; a movable lamp bulb holder to hold said lamp bulb and maintain the operable connection with said battery; and an actuating member operatively coupled to said movable lamp bulb holder for moving said lamp bulb filament to position said substantial point source of light coaxial with said reflector axis; and a lock mechanism releasably coupled to said actuating member to maintain the position of said substantial point source of light with said reflector axis after said filament has been moved relative to said reflector axis by restricting actuator member movement, wherein said lock mechanism includes a movable rack and a locking tab, said rack fixedly coupled to said actuating member and including ribs and slots interposed between said ribs, said locking tab disposed in one of said slots and bearing against said rib to restrict movement of said rack and said actuating member.
-
-
112. A flashlight comprising:
-
a housing for receiving and storing at least one dry cell battery; a lamp bulb including electrodes operably connected to said battery through an electrical circuit and a filament extending between said electrodes for generating light; a substantial point source of light on said filament; a switch interposed in said electrical circuit adapted to open said electrical circuit and to close said electrical circuit to cause said filament to generate light; a head assembly including a lens; a substantially axisymmetrical reflector for forming a beam of light generated by said filament, said reflector having a first open end adapted to emit a light beam through said lens, a second end adapted to receive said lamp bulb extending toward said first open end, an axis extending from said second end to said first open end and a focal point located on said axis; adjustable focusing means for varying the position of said substantial point source of light with respect to said focal point; a movable lamp bulb holder to hold said lamp bulb and maintain the operable connection with said battery, wherein said movable lamp holder includes an actuation interface, wherein said actuation interface is a hexagonal socket; and an actuating member operatively coupled to said movable lamp bulb holder for moving said lamp bulb filament to position said substantial point source of light coaxial with said reflector axis, wherein said actuating member couples with said actuation interface.
-
-
113. A flashlight comprising:
-
a housing for receiving at least one battery including first and second ends; a lamp bulb including a filament; a head assembly mounted to the first end of the housing, said head assembly including a reflector and a head fixedly mounted in a fixed relationship with said reflector, said reflector having a first open end adapted to emit a beam of light, a second end adapted to receive said lamp bulb extending toward said first open end, and an axis extending from said second end to said first open end; a movable lamp bulb holder to hold said lamp bulb; actuating means for moving said lamp bulb and lamp bulb filament in a direction substantially perpendicular relative to said reflector axis while said lamp bulb is electrically connected to said at least one battery; a tail cap removably mounted to the second end of said housing including a tail cap spring, said tail cap spring urging said at least one battery towards the first end of said housing; an electrical circuit coupling the lamp bulb filament to said at least one battery; and a switch including a spring biased conductor interposed in the electrical circuit between said at least one battery and said lamp bulb filament. - View Dependent Claims (114, 115, 116, 117)
-
-
118. A flashlight comprising:
-
a housing for receiving at least one battery including first and second ends; a lamp bulb including a filament; a head assembly mounted to the first end of the housing, said head assembly including a reflector and a head fixedly mounted in a fixed relationship with said reflector, said reflector having a first open end adapted to emit a beam of light, a second end adapted to receive said lamp bulb extending toward said first open end, and an axis extending from said second end to said first open end; a movable lamp bulb holder to hold said lamp bulb; actuating means for moving said lamp bulb and lamp bulb filament relative to said reflector axis while said lamp bulb is electrically coupled to said at least one battery; a tail cap removably mounted to the second end of said housing including a tail cap spring, said tail cap spring urging said at least one battery towards the first end of said housing; an electrical circuit coupling the lamp bulb filament to said at least one battery; a switch including a spring biased conductor interposed in the electrical circuit between said at least one battery and said lamp bulb filament; and a lock mechanism releasably coupled to said actuating means to maintain the position of said filament with said reflector axis after said filament has been moved relative to said reflector axis by restricting actuator means movement, wherein said lock mechanism includes a movable rack and a locking tab, said rack fixedly coupled to said actuating means and including ribs and slots interposed between said ribs, said locking tab disposed in one of said slots and bearing against said rib to restrict movement of said rack and said actuating means.
-
-
119. A flashlight comprising:
-
a housing for receiving at least one battery including first and second ends; a lamp bulb including a filament; a head assembly mounted to the first end of the housing, said head assembly including a reflector and a head fixedly mounted in a fixed relationship with said reflector, said reflector having a first open end adapted to emit a beam of light, a second end adapted to receive said lamp bulb extending toward said first open end, and an axis extending from said second end to said first open end; a movable lamp bulb holder to hold said lamp bulb; actuating means for moving said lamp bulb and lamp bulb filament relative to said reflector axis while said lamp bulb is electrically coupled to said at least one battery; a tail cap removably mounted to the second end of said housing including a tail cap spring, said tail cap spring urging said at least one battery towards the first end of said housing; an electrical circuit coupling the lamp bulb filament to said at least one battery; a switch including a spring biased conductor interposed in the electrical circuit between said at least one battery and said lamp bulb filament; and a lock mechanism releasably coupled to said actuating means to maintain the position of said filament with said reflector axis after said filament has been moved relative to said reflector axis by restricting actuator means movement, wherein said reflector includes an abutment adjacent to the second end of said reflector and substantially perpendicular to the reflector axis, said reflector controllably translatable in the direction along said axis to vary the relative axial position of said abutment with said lock mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (120)
-
-
121. A flashlight comprising:
-
a barrel for retaining a battery, the barrel having a first and second ends and comprising an electrically conductive material; a lamp bulb including a filament for generating light; a reflector disposed on the first end of the barrel for forming a beam of light having a first open end adapted to emit a beam of light generated by said filament, a second end adapted to receive said lamp bulb extending toward said first open end, an axis extending from said second end to said first open end and a focal point located on said axis; an electrical circuit coupling the lamp bulb to said battery, said electrical circuit including switch means interposed therein; a movable means for holding and moving said lamp bulb and maintaining the operable electrical connection with said battery; and an actuating means, externally operable for actuation by a user, for moving said lamp bulb filament in a direction substantially perpendicular relative with said reflector axis while said lamp bulb is electrically connected to said battery. - View Dependent Claims (122, 123, 124)
-
-
125. A flashlight comprising:
-
a housing for receiving at least one battery; a lamp bulb including electrodes operably connected to said battery through an electrical circuit and a filament extending between said electrodes for generating light; a head assembly including a lens and a substantially axisymmetrical reflector for forming a beam of light generated by said filament, said reflector having a first open end adapted to emit said beam of light through said lens, a second end adapted to receive said lamp bulb extending toward said first open end, an axis extending from said second end to said first open end and a focal point located on said axis; a movable lamp bulb holder to hold said lamp bulb; and actuating means externally accessible for actuation by a user and operatively coupled to said movable lamp holder for moving said lamp bulb filament in a direction substantially perpendicular relative to said reflector axis while said lamp bulb is operably connected to said battery. - View Dependent Claims (126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131)
-
-
132. A hand-held, portable lighting device, comprising:
-
a housing for receiving and maintaining a portable source of energy; a bulb having a substantial point source of light generated by said portable source of energy; an electrical circuit which connects said source of energy and said bulb; a reflector for forming a beam of light having a first open end adapted to emit said light beam, a second end, an inner reflective surface therebetween and a focal point positioned between said first and second end, and within the area defined by said reflective surface; a movable bulb holder for holding said bulb, wherein said movable bulb holder includes a substantially spherical housing, wherein said spherical housing moves within a spherical envelope; and an actuating member operatively coupled to said bulb holder for moving said bulb and thereby aligning said point source of light substantially co-axially with said focal point, wherein said actuating member is externally operable by a user. - View Dependent Claims (133)
-
-
134. A combination for use in aligning a substantial point source of light of a lamp bulb with an axis of a flashlight reflector, the combination comprising:
-
a body member for receiving a portable source of electrical energy; a lamp bulb including a substantial point source of light operably connected to said portable source of electrical energy; a substantially axisymmetrical reflector having a first open end adapted to emit a light beam, a second end adapted to receive said lamp bulb extending toward said first open end, and an axis extending from said second end to said first open end; a movable lamp bulb holder adapted to hold said lamp bulb and including an actuation interface to move the movable lame bulb holder and align said substantial point source of light with said reflector axis, wherein said movable lamp bulb holder may be moved while said lamp bulb is operably connected to said portable source of electrical energy, wherein said movable bulb holder includes a substantially spherical housing, wherein said spherical housing moves within a spherical envelope. - View Dependent Claims (135, 137, 138, 139)
-
-
136. A combination of further including an actuating member coupled to said actuation interface for moving said movable lamp bulb holder.
-
140. A flashlight comprising:
-
a housing, the housing includes a reflector, a light source, a movable holder, and an actuating member; wherein the reflector including a first open end configured to emit a light beam, a second end and an axis extending therebetween; wherein the light source including a filament having a substantial point source of light; wherein the movable holder including a receiver to hold said light source in a position with said filament between said first open end and said second end of the reflector; and wherein the actuating member operatively coupled to said movable holder to move said filament of said light source in at least one direction substantially perpendicular to said axis of said reflector, wherein said actuating member is externally operable by a user. - View Dependent Claims (141, 142, 143, 144)
-
-
145. A flashlight comprising:
-
a reflector including a first open end adapted to emit a light beam, a second end and an axis extending therebetween; a light source; and a movable holder including a receiver and an actuation interface, wherein said receiver holds said light source in a position between said first open end and said second end of said reflector, wherein said actuation interface is used to move said light source in at least one direction substantially perpendicular to said axis of said reflector while said light source is electrically coupled to a source of, energy wherein said actuating interface is externally operable by a user.
-
-
146. A flashlight comprising:
-
a reflector including a first open end adapted to emit a light beam, a second end and an axis extending therebetween; a light source; and a movable holder including a receiver and an actuation interface, wherein said receiver holds said light source in a position between said first open end and said second end of said reflector, wherein said movable holder is movable about at least a first axis while said light source is electrically coupled to a source of energy, wherein said first axis is not coincident with said axis of said reflector, wherein said actuation interface is used to move said light source, wherein said actuating interface is externally operable by a user. - View Dependent Claims (147, 148, 149)
-
Specification