Searchlight grip

• US 7,334,915 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2005
• Issued: 02/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SureFire LLC (Surefire Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: SureFire LLC (Surefire Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Kim, Paul Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sawhney; Hargobind S.
• Application Number:
  US11/034,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20060158884A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: 362/205, 362/199
• US Class Current: 362/205
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 14/02 capable of hand-held use, e.g. inspection lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/30 Pivoted housings or frames
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/406 for portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0414 specially adapted to be used with portable lighting devices

Abstract

A multi-position switched grip for a searchlight includes a two-ended hand-grip. Each end has a thumb-operable pushbutton switch. A person holds the grip between palm and fingers with thumb on one or the other switch. One end has a hinge to which are connected an electrical power receptacle and a lamp mount. The hinge has a release which is normally biased to lock the hinge in one or the other of two orientations relative to the grip body. Pressing the release inward unlocks the hinge and allows the stein to rotate between the two orientations. The switches are configured and electrically connected such that pressing either switch once and releasing it alternates the searchlight between the ON and OFF conditions.

Claims

1. A searchlight grip, comprising:

an elongated grip body having a first end and a second end, said second end adapted for attaching a lamp to said grip body;

a first ON/OFF switch and a second ON/OFF switch carried by said grip body;

a first actuator for said first switch, said first actuator positioned on said grip body in the vicinity of said first end;

a second actuator for said second switch, said second actuator positioned on said grip body in the vicinity of said second end; and

an electrical circuit including said first switch, said second switch, said lamp attached to said grip body, and a power source.

2. A searchlight grip as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said first actuator and said second actuator includes a push-button.

3. A searchlight grip as set forth in claim 1, wherein said electrical circuit is operatively connected in substantially the same manner to each of said first switch and said second switch.

4. A searchlight grip as set forth in claim 1, including a stem rotatably connected to said second end and a lamp mount formed on said stem for attaching said lamp to said grip body.

5. A searchlight grip as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said electrical circuit includes a first power input, a second power input, a first power output, and a second power output;

said electrical circuit is operable in an ON state wherein said first power input is electrically connected to one of said first power output and said second power output, and said second power input is connected to the other of said first power output and said second power output;

said electrical circuit is operable in an OFF state, wherein at least one of said first power input and said second power input is electrically disconnected from both of said first power output and said second power output; and

a single operation of one of said first actuator and said second actuator causes said electrical circuit to alternate from one to the other of said ON state and said OFF state.

6. A searchlight grip as set forth in claim 5, wherein each of said first actuator and said second actuator includes a push-button.

7. A searchlight grip as set forth in claim 5, including a stem rotatably connected to said second end and a lamp mount formed on said stem for attaching said lamp thereto.

8. The searchlight grip as set forth in claim 1, wherein said electrical circuit is configured to effect said connecting and disconnecting upon actuation of either one of said first actuator and said second actuator.

9. The searchlight grip as set forth in claim 1, wherein said electrical circuit is configured to effect said connecting upon actuation of both of said first actuator and said second actuator.

10. A searchlight, comprising:

a grip body;

operatively coupled to said grip;

a hinge pin movably disposed through said grip body and through said lamp portion, said hinge pin biased in a first position wherein said hinge pin rotationally fixes said lamp portion to said grip body; and

a depressible member carried by said grip body for urging said hinge pin against the bias to a second position wherein said lamp portion is rotatable relative to said grip body a first ON/OFF switch and a second ON/OFF switch carried by said grip body;

a first end formed on said grip body and including a first for said first switch;

a second end formed on said grip body and including a second actuator for said second switch;

a lamp portion including a lamp coupled to said second end of said grip body;

a circuit coupling said first switch, said second switch and said lamp portion for connecting said lamp to a power source connected in said circuit upon selective actuation of said first actuator and said second actuator.

11. A searchlight as set forth in claim 10, wherein:

one of said lamp portion and said grip body has a tongue, the other of said lamp portion and said grip body has a yoke, and said tongue is disposed in said yoke.

12. A searchlight as set forth in claim 11, wherein:

said hinge pin is disposed through said tongue and said yoke, and

said hinge pin cooperates with said tongue and said yoke to define an axis of rotation of said tongue relative to said yoke.

13. A searchlight as set forth in claim 12, wherein:

said hinge pin is rotationally fixed relative to said yoke, and

said hinge pin is movable, parallel said axis of rotation, relative to said yoke, between said first position and said second position.

14. The searchlight as set forth in claim 12, wherein said hinge pin includes a stop and said tongue includes a first channel and a second channel angularly spaced from said first channel, each of said first channel and said second channel configured for alternatively receiving said stop for rotationally fixing said lamp portion to said grip body.

15. The searchlight as set forth in claim 14, wherein each of said first channel and said second channel radially extends with respect to said axis.

16. The searchlight as set forth in claim 15, wherein said stop radially extends with respect to said axis.

17. A searchlight comprising:

an elongated grip body;

a first ON/OFF switch and a second ON/OFF switch carried by said grip body;

a first end formed on said grip body and including a first actuator for said first switch;

a second end formed on said grip body and including a second actuator for said second switch;

a searchlight head including a lamp coupled to said second end of said grip body; and

a circuit coupling said first switch, said second switch and said searchlight head for connecting said lamp to a power source connected in said circuit upon selective actuation of said first actuator and said second actuator.

18. A searchlight as set forth in claim 17, wherein each of said first switch actuator and said second switch actuator is push-button operable.

19. A searchlight as set forth in claim 17, including a selectively actuable mechanism pivotally coupling said head to said second end in at least two alternative angular positions of said head with respect to said grip body.

20. A searchlight as set forth in claim 19, wherein each of said first switch actuator and said second switch actuator is push-button operable.

21. A searchlight as set forth in claim 17, wherein said selectively actuable mechanism is push-button operable.