Faraday flashlight

• US 7,431,474 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2007
• Issued: 10/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cricket Holdings Far East Limited
• Original Assignee: Cricket Holdings Far East Limited
• Inventors: Mah, Pat Y
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea; Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): CRANSON JR, JAMES W
• Application Number:
  US11/761,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20070268689A1
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 362/157, 362/192
• US Class Current: 362/192
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 13/06 with mechanical drive, e.g. spring
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/00 Gas-tight or water-tight arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/02 with moving magnets and stationary coil systems

Abstract

A light generating flashlight system device utilizes a large centrally located magnet which is mounted to slide past a magnet pickup or current induction wire which may be preferably mounted at a center point of travel in a tubular housing having a tubular chamber through which the magnet travels. A pair of elastomeric dampers are located each at the end of a support system sleeve which is sized to fit within a main housing to stabilize all internal support within a sealed unit. The result is a device which both facilitates the manual movement of the flashlight body so that the magnet slides past the center magnet pickup or current induction wire, and also conserves the residual momentum of the magnet once it has traveled past the magnet pickup or current induction wire by providing a bumper and spring to conserve some of the mechanical energy going in the other direction. Ninety second of manual activation enables about five minutes of illumination. A ready charger is disclosed which uses induction to charge the flashlight system by proximity to the manual charging magnet wire.

Claims

1. A flashlight comprising:

a magnet having a magnetic field;

a main housing having a first end and a second end for supporting a translating movement of said magnet toward said first end and toward said second end of said main housing;

a magnet wire positioned such that said magnet passes by said magnet wire each time said magnet makes said translating movement of said magnet toward said first end and toward said second end of said main housing, energizing said magnet wire from passage of said magnetic field through said magnet wire upon said translating movement of said magnet;

an energy reservoir for storing an electrical charge;

a light emitting diode;

circuitry connected to said energy reservoir, said light emitting diode and to said magnet wire for converting said energization of said magnet wire into an electrical charge stored in said energy reservoir and for providing said electrical charge stored in said energy reservoir to power said light emitting diode;

a first spring having a first end fixed relative to said main housing, and a second end;

a first damper attached to said second end of said first spring to receive force from said magnet;

a second spring having a first end fixed relative to said main housing, and a second end; and

a second damper attached to said second end of said second spring to receive force from said magnet.

2. The flashlight as recited in claim 1 wherein the energy reservoir stores electrical charge chemically.

3. The flashlight as recited in claim 1 wherein the energy reservoir is a capacitor.

4. The flashlight as recited in claim 1 wherein said main housing has an annularly cylindrical form and an opening, and the flashlight further comprises a front cap attached to said main housing.

5. The flashlight as recited in claim 4 wherein said annularly cylindrical main housing has a groove adjacent said opening, and the flashlight further comprises an “

o”

ring disposed to form a seal between said groove and said front cap.

6. The flashlight as recited in claim 5 wherein said annularly cylindrical main housing has an outwardly disposed thread adjacent said opening, and said front cap includes a threaded structure having a central opening about an inwardly directed cylindrical surface terminating at a circular butt end, and having an inwardly disposed thread complementary to said outwardly disposed thread,

wherein the flashlight further comprises a transparent light transmissive material adjacent said central opening.

7. The flashlight as recited in claim 6 wherein said transparent light transmissive material is a lens for directing light from said light emitting diode.

8. The flashlight as recited in claim 1 and further comprising a magnet translation support sleeve disposed within said main housing sized to provide translation containment for said magnet and to support said magnet wire.

9. The flashlight as recited in claim 8 and further comprising a support for supporting said energy reservoir, said support connected to said magnet translation support sleeve.

10. The flashlight as recited in claim 9 and further comprising a reflector housing connected to said support.

11. The flashlight as recited in claim 1 and further comprising a switch interposed between said connection of said energy reservoir and said light emitting diode for controlling the energization of said light emitting diode.

12. The flashlight as recited in claim 11 wherein said switch interposed between said connection of said energy reservoir and said light emitting diode is a reed switch operated by a switching magnet on an outside of said main housing.

13. A flashlight comprising:

a magnet having a magnetic field;

a main housing having an opening;

a lens;

a cap for closing said lens against said main housing;

a support system sleeve having a first end and a second end, for supporting a translating movement of said magnet toward said first end and toward said second end of said support system sleeve, said support system sleeve for quick insertion into and dimensioned sealed carriage into said main housing, said support system sleeve for bearing against said lens upon closure of said lens against said main housing;

a magnet wire positioned such that said magnet passes by said magnet wire each time said magnet makes said translating movement of said magnet toward said first end and toward said second end of said support system sleeve, energizing said magnet wire from passage of said magnetic field through said magnet wire upon said translating movement of said magnet;

an energy reservoir for storing an electrical charge;

a light emitting diode; and

circuitry connected to said energy reservoir, said light emitting diode and to said magnet wire for converting said energization of said magnet wire into an electrical charge stored in said energy reservoir and for providing said electrical charge stored in said energy reservoir to power said light emitting diode.

14. The flashlight as recited in claim 13 wherein the energy reservoir stores electrical charge chemically.

15. The flashlight as recited in claim 13 wherein the energy reservoir stores electrical charge capacitively.

16. The flashlight as recited in claim 13 wherein said support system sleeve supports said magnet wire.

17. The flashlight as recited in claim 13 wherein said cap forms an air tight seal with respect to said main housing.

18. The flashlight as recited in claim 13 wherein said main housing has a groove adjacent said opening, and the flashlight further comprises an “

o”

ring forming a seal between said groove and said cap.

19. The flashlight as recited in claim 13 and further comprising a walled support for supporting said light emitting diode and said circuitry, wherein said walled support is connected to said support system sleeve.

20. The flashlight as recited in claim 13 and further comprising a switch interposed between said connection of said energy reservoir and said light emitting diode for controlling the energization of said light emitting diode.

21. A flashlight comprising:

a magnet having a magnetic field;

a main housing having an opening, an outwardly disposed thread adjacent said opening, and a groove adjacent said opening;

an “

o”

ring supported by said groove adjacent said opening;

a front cap having a threaded structure having a central opening about an inwardly directed cylindrical surface terminating at a circular butt end, and having an inwardly disposed thread complementary to said outwardly disposed thread;

a front transparent light transmissive material adjacent said central opening and interposed between said circular butt end and said “

o”

ring;

a support system sleeve having a first end and a second end, for supporting a translating movement of said magnet toward said first end and toward said second end of said support system sleeve, said support system sleeve for quick insertion into and dimensioned sealed carriage into said main housing, said support system sleeve for bearing against said lens upon closure of said lens against said annularly cylindrical main housing;

a magnet wire positioned such that said magnet passes by said magnet wire each time said magnet makes said translating movement of said magnet toward said first end and toward said second end of said support system sleeve, energizing said magnet wire from passage of said magnetic field through said magnet wire upon said translating movement of said magnet;

an energy reservoir for storing an electrical charge;

a light emitting diode; and

circuitry connected to said energy reservoir said light emitting diode and to said magnet wire for converting said energization of said magnet wire into an electrical charge stored in said energy reservoir and for providing said electrical charge stored in said energy reservoir to power said light emitting diode.

22. The flashlight as recited in claim 21 wherein the energy reservoir stores the electrical charge chemically.

23. The flashlight as recited in claim 21 wherein the energy reservoir stores the electrical charge capacitively.

24. The flashlight as recited in claim 21 wherein said front transparent light transmissive material is a lens for directing light from said light emitting diode.

25. The flashlight as recited in claim 21 and further comprising a walled support for supporting said light emitting diode and said circuitry, wherein said walled support is connected to said support system sleeve.

26. The flashlight as recited in claim 21 and further comprising a switch interposed between said connection of said energy reservoir and said light emitting diode for controlling the energization of said light emitting diode.

27. A flashlight comprising:

a magnet having a magnetic field;

a main housing having an opening, an outwardly disposed thread adjacent said opening, and a groove adjacent said opening;

an “

o”

ring supported by said groove adjacent said opening;

a front cap attached to and for closing said main housing and wherein said front cap further has a threaded structure having a central opening about an inwardly directed cylindrical surface terminating at a circular butt end, and having an inwardly disposed thread complementary to said outwardly disposed thread;

a front transparent light transmissive material adjacent said central opening and interposed between said circular butt end and said “

o”

ring;

a support system sleeve having a first end and a second end, for supporting a translating movement of said magnet toward said first end and toward said second end of said support system sleeve, said support system sleeve for quick insertion into and dimensioned sealed carriage into said main housing;

a magnet wire positioned such that said magnet passes by said magnet wire each time said magnet makes said translating movement of said magnet toward said first end and toward said second end of said support system sleeve, energizing said magnet wire from passage of said magnetic field through said magnet wire upon said translating movement of said magnet;

an energy reservoir for storing an electrical charge;

a light emitting diode;

circuitry connected to said energy reservoir, said light emitting diode and to said magnet wire for converting said energization of said magnet wire into an electrical charge stored in said energy reservoir and for providing said electrical charge stored in said energy reservoir to power said light emitting diode;

a walled support for supporting said light emitting diode and said circuitry and connected to said support system sleeve; and

a reflector housing connected to said walled support, such that said reflector housing, said walled support and said support system sleeve are of known length and axially fixed and supported within said main housing and secured at least indirectly by said front cap.

28. The flashlight as recited in claim 27 wherein the energy reservoir stores the electrical charge chemically.

29. The flashlight as recited in claim 27 wherein the energy reservoir stores the electrical charge capacitively.

30. A flashlight comprising:

a magnet having a magnetic field;

a main housing;

a support system sleeve having a first end and a second end, for supporting a translating movement of said magnet toward said first end and toward said second end of said support system sleeve, said support system sleeve for quick insertion into and dimensioned sealed carriage into said main housing;

a magnet wire positioned such that said magnet passes by said magnet wire each time said magnet makes said translating movement of said magnet toward said first end and toward said second end of said support system sleeve, energizing said magnet wire from passage of said magnetic field through said magnet wire upon said translating movement of said magnet;

an energy reservoir for storing an electrical charge;

a light emitting diode;

circuitry connected to said energy reservoir, said light emitting diode and to said magnet wire for converting said energization of said magnet wire into an electrical charge stored in said energy reservoir and for providing said electrical charge stored in said energy reservoir to power said light emitting diode; and

a pair of dampers including a first damper located inside and at said first end of said support system sleeve and a second damper located inside and at said second end of said support system sleeve, for dampening the impact resulting from a translating movement of said magnet toward said first end and toward said second end of said support system sleeve.

31. The flashlight as recited in claim 30 wherein the energy reservoir stores the electrical charge chemically.

32. The flashlight as recited in claim 30 wherein the energy reservoir stores the electrical charge capacitively.

33. The flashlight as recited in claim 30 wherein each damper further comprises a base member having a first side and a second side and having a first angled side wall having a first end extending from said first side of said base member, and having a second end, and having a second angled side wall having a first end extending from said first side of said base member, and having a second end, and a solid member connected at said second ends of said first and second side walls.

34. The flashlight as recited in claim 33 wherein said first and said second side walls are angled to bend toward each other in pinch flexure upon application of axial compressive force between said base member and said solid member.

35. The flashlight as recited in claim 31 and further comprising a walled support for supporting said circuitry and connected to said support system sleeve.

36. The flashlight as recited in claim 31 and further comprising a switch interposed between said connection of said capacitor and said light emitting diode for controlling the energization of said light emitting diode.