Waterproof torch

• US 8,833,960 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2011
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zweibruder Optoelectronics GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Zweibrder Optoelectronics Gmbh & Co. Kg
• Inventors: Opolka, Rainer
• Primary Examiner(s): DZIERZYNSKI, EVAN P
• Application Number:
  US13/704,494
• Publication Number:
  US 20130107504A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,184 Days
• Field of Search: 362/158, 362/202
• US Class Current: 362/158
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/00 Electric lighting devices with self-contained electric batteries or cells
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/005 the device being a pocket lamp F21L4/022, F21L4/045, F21L4/085 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0421 the switch being part of, or disposed on the tail cap portion thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/005 Sealing arrangements therefor

Abstract

The present invention relates to a flashlight having a housing, a battery cartridge which is mounted therein and has a pressure switch at the end, and an end cap having a pushbutton which is operatively connected to the pressure switch. In order to create a watertight and simultaneously robust flashlight, it is proposed according to the invention that a sealing element be arranged between the pushbutton and the pressure switch.

Claims

1. A flashlight comprising:

a housing having a rear end;

a removable end cap on the rear end of the housing;

a light source on the housing;

a battery cartridge in the housing carrying a push switch actuatable to connect a battery in the cartridge to the light source;

to a pushbutton shiftable on the end cap and having an actuating part; and

a seal membrane made of elastomeric material and having an annular clamping surface sealed to the housing and a raised part surrounded by the clamping surface and engageable with the actuating part, the membrane extending between the pushbutton and the switch and sealing the battery cartridge off from the rear end of the housing such that water entering around the pushbutton cannot get to the battery cartridge.

2. The flashlight as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pushbutton has a head part protruding out of the end cap, a guide part mounted in the end cap and an actuating part.

3. The flashlight as claimed in claim 1, wherein the raised part of the cap there is formed with a blind depression into which the actuating part engages.

4. The flashlight as claimed in claim 1, wherein the end cap has an internal thread and an external thread, so that the end cap is connected both to the battery cartridge and to the housing via corresponding threaded portions.

5. A flashlight comprising:

a housing having a rear end;

a removable end cap on the rear end of the housing;

a light source on the housing;

a battery cartridge in the housing carrying a push switch actuatable to connect a battery in the cartridge to the light source;

a pushbutton shiftable on the end cap; and

a seal membrane secured to the housing, extending between the pushbutton and the switch, and sealing the battery off from the rear end of the housing such that water entering around the pushbutton cannot get to the battery cartridge, the seal element being clamped by way of the annular clamping surface between two annular stop surfaces of the end cap and the battery cartridge.

6. A flashlight comprising:

a housing centered on an axis having a rear end;

a removable end cap on the rear end of the housing;

a light source on the housing;

a battery cartridge in the housing carrying a push switch actuatable to connect a battery in the cartridge to the light source;

a pushbutton shiftable on the end cap; and

a seal membrane secured to the housing, extending between the pushbutton and the switch, and having a circular outer periphery lying in a plane and clamped between the end cap and the housing to seal the battery off from the rear end of the housing such that water entering around the pushbutton cannot get to the battery cartridge, the membrane having a center part offset axially rearward from the outer periphery and engaged axially between the pushbutton and the switch.

7. A flashlight comprising:

a housing having a rear end;

a removable end cap on the rear end of the housing;

a light source on the housing;

a battery cartridge in the housing carrying a push switch actuatable to connect a battery in the cartridge to the light to source;

a pushbutton shiftable on the end cap; and

a membrane sealed to the housing, extending between, engageable with, and separate from the pushbutton and the switch, and sealing the battery off from the rear end of the housing such that water entering around the pushbutton cannot get to the battery cartridge.

8. The flashlight defined in claim 7, wherein the membrane is flexible and has a circular outer periphery lying in a plane and clamped between the end cap and the housing.

9. The flashlight defined in claim 8, wherein the housing is centered on an axis and the membrane has a center part offset axially rearward from the outer periphery and engaged axially between the pushbutton and the switch.

10. The flashlight defined in claim 9, wherein the pushbutton has an axially forwardly extending projection and the membrane has an axially rearwardly open cup-shaped seat complementarily receiving the projection.

11. The flashlight defined in claim 10, wherein the projection and seat are both of cylindrical shape and centered on the axis.