Preparedness flashlight

• US 7,780,309 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2007
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Energizer Brands, LLC (Energizer Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Eveready Battery Company Incorporated (Energizer Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: McMillan, Peter, Spartano, David A., Squires, Michael S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Payne; Sharon E
• Application Number:
  US11/843,921
• Publication Number:
  US 20080304258A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,097 Days
• Field of Search: 362/202, 362/208, 362/640, 362/458, 429 96-100, 429/9, 361/728
• US Class Current: 362/202
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/027 the light sources being a LED
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/247 specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/291 characterised by their shape
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/503 characterised by the shape of the interconnectors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery powered electrical appliance (100) operates using batteries (406, 408) of more than one size and provides preparedness information (120) which may be used to assist in preparing for an emergency or otherwise obtaining desired supplies. The electrical appliance (100) may be employed to provide a first task illumination function, at least a first visible signaling function, and an audible signaling function.

Claims

1. A battery powered device comprising:

a battery tray movable in a movement direction to an access position that provides access to the battery tray and to a device operating position;

a first battery contact support movably attached to the battery tray for movement in the movement direction and including opposed first and second sides;

a first side first battery contact that is located on the first side of the battery contact support and that makes electrical contact with a first terminal of a first battery received by the battery tray;

a second side first battery contact located on the second side of the battery contact support and that makes electrical contact with a first terminal of a second battery received by the battery tray;

a first support battery contact that makes electrical contact with a second terminal of the first battery;

a second support battery contact that makes electrical contact with a second terminal of the second battery.

2. The battery powered device of claim 1 wherein the first and second batteries are generally cylindrical and the device comprises

a first side second battery contact located on the first side of the battery contact support, wherein the first side first battery contact located on the first side of the battery contact support makes electrical contact with the first terminal of the first battery on the first battery having of a first battery size and the first side second battery contact located on the first side of the battery contact support makes electrical contact with the first terminal of the first battery on the first battery having a second, different battery size;

a second side second battery contact located on the second side of the battery contact support, wherein the second side first battery contact located on the second side of the battery contact support makes electrical contact with the first terminal of the second battery on the second battery having the first battery size and the second side second battery contact located on the second side of the contact support makes electrical contact with the first terminal of the second battery on the second battery having the second, different battery size.

3. The battery powered device of claim 2 wherein

the first side first battery contact located on the first side of the battery contact support is electrically connected to the second side first battery contact located on the second side of the contact support;

the first side second battery contact located on the first side of the battery contact support is electrically connected to the second side second battery contact located on the second side of the battery contact support.

4. The battery powered device of claim 3 wherein the first side first battery contact located on the first side of the battery contact support is not electrically connected to the first side second battery contact located on the first side of the battery contact support.

5. The battery powered device of claim 4 wherein the first support battery contact that makes electrical contact with the second terminal of the first battery makes electrical contact with the second terminal of the first battery on the first battery having the first battery size, the device comprises a third support battery contact that makes electrical contact with the second terminal of the first battery on the first battery having the second battery size, and wherein the first support battery contact and the third support battery contact.

6. The battery powered device of claim 2 wherein the battery powered device includes a housing, the battery contact support prevents a radial displacement on the first battery having the first size and an interior of the housing prevents a radial displacement on the first battery having the second size.

7. The battery powered device of claim 1 wherein the first terminal of the first battery is located at a first end of the first battery, the battery contact support includes a recess that receives the first end of the first battery, and the recess prevents a radial displacement of the first end.

8. The battery powered device of claim 1 wherein the first battery includes first and second ends and the device further comprises a second battery contact support that supports the battery contact that makes electrical contact with the second terminal of the first battery, wherein the first battery contact support prevents a radial displacement of a first end of the battery and the second battery contact support prevents a radial displacement of the second end of the first battery.

9. The battery powered device of claim 1 wherein the device includes a housing having a longitudinal axis and the battery tray is slidably attached to the housing for movement in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

10. The battery powered device of claim 9 wherein the first battery contact support is slidably attached to the battery tray for movement in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

11. The battery powered device of claim 9 wherein the housing is generally cylindrical and the device comprises a second battery contact support that supports the first battery contact that makes electrical contact with the second terminal of the first battery, wherein the second battery contact support is slidably attached to the housing for movement in the movement direction.

12. The battery powered device of claim 11 wherein the first support battery contact that makes electrical contact with the second terminal of the second battery is carried by the battery tray for movement therewith.

13. The battery powered device in claim 1 comprising a light source.

14. The battery powered device of claim 13 comprising

a housing;

a resilient cord including a first end that is selectively attachable to and detachable from the housing;

an audible signaling device attached to the resilient cord.

15. The battery powered device of claim 13 wherein the light source concurrently emits a light beam in a longitudinal direction and a signaling light in a radial direction.

16. The battery powered device of claim 13 comprising an emergency preparedness checklist.

17. The battery powered device of claim 13 comprising a housing, a cylindrical sleeve, and emergency preparedness information, wherein the sleeve is located over the housing and carries the emergency preparedness information.

18. The battery powered device of claim 13 comprising

the light source located at a head of the device;

a reflector that extends circumferentially about the head and reflects light from a light source external to the device.

19. A method of using a battery powered device including a battery tray and a battery contact support, wherein the battery tray receives a first battery of at least first and second battery sizes and a second battery of at least first and second battery sizes for powering the device, the method comprising:

placing a first battery in the battery tray, wherein the first battery is placed on a first side of the battery contact support;

moving the battery contact support toward the first battery;

placing a second battery in the battery tray, wherein the second battery is placed on a second side of the battery contact support;

using a first side first battery contact located on the first side of the contact support to make an electrical contact with a first terminal of the first battery;

using a second side second battery contact located on a the second side of the battery contact support to make an electrical contact with a first terminal of the second battery;

using a third battery contact to make an electrical contact with a second terminal of the first battery;

using a fourth battery contact to make an electrical contact with the second terminal of the second battery; and

operating the device.

20. The method of claim 19 including sliding the battery tray to a closed position.

21. The method of claim 20 including closing a cover that is attached to the battery tray for movement therewith.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein moving includes sliding the battery contact support toward the third battery contact.

23. The method of claim 19 including using the battery contact support to prevent a radial displacement of the first and second batteries.

24. The method of claim 19 including the battery contact support to perform a battery polarity protection function.

25. The method of claim 19 wherein operating the device includes

using a light beam emitted by the device in a first direction to perform a first task illumination function;

concurrently using light emitted by the device in a second direction to perform a third party visual signaling function.

26. The method of claim 19 wherein device includes a light source and an emergency sound source and operating the device includes

using the light source to perform a task illumination function;

using the emergency sound source to perform a third party audible signaling function.