Novelty sparkplug flashlight

• US 7,503,670 B1
• Filed: 07/20/2006
• Issued: 03/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tobi D. Mengle
• Original Assignee: Tobi D. Mengle
• Inventors: Mengle, Tobi D.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea; Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAN, JASON
• Application Number:
  US11/489,972
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 362/157, 362202-207, 362/806
• US Class Current: 362/202
• 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 23/0414 specially adapted to be used with portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/806 Ornamental or decorative

Abstract

A novelty flashlight in the form of a sparkplug, with a set of LEDs (or other appropriate light emitting devices) included in the conventional “spark” emitting end of the plug. A battery source and micro-controller are included within the sparkplug housing and used to turn the LEDs “on” and “off”. In particular, the LEDs may be controlled to strobe at a rate that simulates the actual sparking of an automotive sparkplug. Alternatively, the pulsing of the LEDs may be fast enough such that the LEDs appear to be always “on”. An activation button is included on the outer housing the sparkplug for a user to control the operation of the flashlight.

Claims

1. A flashlight assembly comprising:

an automotive sparkplug body comprising a threaded member and a housing member disposed contiguous with the threaded member;

at least one miniature light emitting device disposed within the housing member to emit light from the sparkplug body;

an activation button formed within the surface of the sparkplug body to control the operation of the at least one miniature light emitting device;

a battery power source disposed within the housing member and coupled to the at least one miniature light emitting device; and

a micro-controller disposed within the housing member and coupled between the at least one light emitting device and the activation button, with the battery power source providing power thereto, the micro-controller configured to operate the at least one miniature light emitting device to provide a controlled pulsing output.

2. The flashlight assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the at least one miniature light emitting device comprises a plurality of light emitting devices.

3. The flashlight assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein the plurality of light emitting devices are configured to emit light of different colors.

4. The flashlight assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the micro-controller is configured to further provide a pulse rate of a frequency great enough always “

on”

.

5. The flashlight assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein the micro-controller is configured to selectively activate separate ones of the plurality of light emitting devices.

6. The flashlight assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the at least one light emitting device comprises a light emitting diode (LED).

7. The flashlight assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the at least one light emitting device comprises a laser.

8. The flashlight assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the at least one light emitting device comprises a miniature light bulb.