Rechargeable clip-on light with male USB connector

• US 9,206,951 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2013
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Streamlight, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Streamlight, Inc.
• Inventors: McLennan, W. Ross, Dalton, Matthew B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen F
• Application Number:
  US14/135,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20150176782A1
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 362/183
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/027 the light sources being a LED
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/04 characterised by the provision of a light source housing portion adjustably fixed to the remainder of the device
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/045 Pocket lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/08 characterised by means for in situ recharging of the batteries or cells
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/085 Pocket lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/0885 for portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/32 Flexible tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/008 the casing being outside the housing of the lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0414 specially adapted to be used with portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A portable light may comprise: a light body; a source of electrical power disposable in the light body; a light head supported by the light body and including a light source; a switch for selectively actuating the light source; a USB connector on the light body for connecting to a source of electrical power; and an electronic circuit in the light body for controlling operation of the light source responsive to the electrical switch and for coupling electrical power received at the USB connector to the source of electrical power.

Claims

1. A rechargeable portable light comprising:

a generally rectangular light body having a generally rectangular cavity therein;

a generally rectangular rechargeable source of electrical power disposable in the cavity of said light body;

a light head supported by said light body, said light head including a light source for producing light, wherein said light head is movable relative to said light body for directing light in different directions;

an electrical switch for selectively actuating said light source;

an electronic circuit board disposed between said rechargeable source of electrical power and a wall of said light body, said electronic circuit being electrically connected to said rechargeable source of electrical power and to said light source and including an electronic circuit for controlling operation of said light source responsive to said electrical switch; and

a male USB connector extending from said light body for connecting to a female USB connector of a source of charging power, said male USB connector connecting to said electronic circuit and to said rechargeable source of electrical power for charging said rechargeable source of electrical power.

2. The rechargeable portable light of claim 1 wherein said light head further comprises:

a flexible bendable stalk extending from said light body and having said light source at an end thereof distal from said light body;

or

a flexible bendable stalk extending from said light body and having said light source at an end thereof distal from said light body, wherein said flexible bendable stalk is bendable at least about 180°

in any direction relative to a straight position of said flexible bendable stalk;

or

a flexible bendable stalk extending substantially perpendicularly from said light body and having said light source at an end thereof distal from said light body;

or

a flexible bendable stalk extending substantially perpendicularly from said light body and having said light source at an end thereof distal from said light body, wherein said flexible bendable stalk is bendable at least about 180°

in any direction relative to a straight position of said flexible bendable stalk.

3. The rechargeable portable light of claim 1 wherein said light head further comprises:

a flexible bendable stalk extending from said light body and having said light source at an end thereof distal from said light body and a seal between said light body and said flexible bendable stalk;

or

a flexible bendable stalk extending substantially perpendicularly from said light body and having said light source at an end thereof distal from said light body and a seal between said light body and said flexible bendable stalk;

or

a flexible bendable stalk extending substantially perpendicularly from a side of said light body and having said light source at an end thereof distal from said light body and a seal between said light body and said flexible bendable stalk.

4. The rechargeable portable light of claim 1 wherein said rechargeable source of electrical power includes:

a rechargeable battery;

or

a rechargeable lithium battery.

5. The rechargeable portable light of claim 1 further comprising:

a connector cap for covering said male USB connector;

or

a connector cap for covering said male USB connector wherein said connector cap is attached to said light body by a tether.

6. The rechargeable portable light of claim 1 further comprising:

a clip attached to said light body for attaching said rechargeable portable light to a person and/or object;

or

a clip attached to said light body for attaching said rechargeable portable light to a person and/or object, said clip having a keyhole shaped opening therein.

7. The rechargeable portable light of claim 1 wherein:

said electronic circuit board is a single circuit board including said switch and electrical contacts of said male USB connector;

or

said generally rectangular light body includes an integrally molded male USB connector tray;

or

said electronic circuit board is a single circuit board including said switch and electrical contacts of said male USB connector and said generally rectangular light body includes an integrally molded male USB connector tray.

8. A rechargeable portable light comprising:

a light body;

a rechargeable source of electrical power disposable in said light body;

a light head supported by said light body, said light head including a light source for producing light, wherein said light head is movable relative to said light body for directing light in different directions;

a switch for selectively actuating said light source;

an electronic circuit disposed in said light body, said electronic circuit being electrically connected to said rechargeable source of electrical power and to said light source for controlling operation of said light source responsive to said electrical switch; and

a male USB connector on said light body for connecting to a female USB connector of a source of charging power, said male USB connector connecting to said electronic circuit and to said rechargeable source of electrical power for charging said rechargeable source of electrical power.

9. The rechargeable portable light of claim 8 wherein said light head further comprises:

a flexible bendable stalk extending from said light body and having said light source at an end thereof distal from said light body;

or

a flexible bendable stalk extending from said light body and having said light source at an end thereof distal from said light body, wherein said flexible bendable stalk is bendable at least about 180°

in any direction relative to a straight position of said flexible bendable stalk;

or

a flexible bendable stalk extending substantially perpendicularly from said light body and having said light source at an end thereof distal from said light body;

or

a flexible bendable stalk extending substantially perpendicularly from said light body and having said light source at an end thereof distal from said light body, wherein said flexible bendable stalk is bendable at least about 180°

in any direction relative to a straight position of said flexible bendable stalk.

10. The rechargeable portable light of claim 8 wherein said light head further comprises:

a flexible bendable stalk extending from said light body and having said light source at an end thereof distal from said light body and a seal between said light body and said flexible bendable stalk;

or

a flexible bendable stalk extending substantially perpendicularly from said light body and having said light source at an end thereof distal from said light body and a seal between said light body and said flexible bendable stalk;

or

a flexible bendable stalk extending substantially perpendicularly from a side of said light body and having said light source at an end thereof distal from said light body and a seal between said light body and said flexible bendable stalk.

11. The rechargeable portable light of claim 8 wherein said rechargeable source of electrical power includes:

a rechargeable battery;

or

a rechargeable lithium battery.

12. The rechargeable portable light of claim 8 further comprising:

a connector cap for covering said male USB connector;

or

a connector cap for covering said male USB connector wherein said connector cap is attached to said light body by a tether.

13. The rechargeable portable light of claim 8 further comprising:

a clip attached to said light body for attaching said rechargeable portable light to a person and/or object;

or

a clip attached to said light body for attaching said rechargeable portable light to a person and/or object, said clip having a keyhole shaped opening therein.

14. The rechargeable portable light of claim 8 wherein:

said electronic circuit includes a single circuit board including said switch and electrical contacts of said male USB connector;

or

said light body includes an integrally molded male USB connector tray;

or

said electronic circuit includes a single circuit board including said switch and electrical contacts of said male USB connector and said light body includes an integrally molded male USB connector tray.

15. A rechargeable portable light comprising:

a light body;

a rechargeable source of electrical power disposable in said light body;

a flexible bendable stalk extending from said light body and supported thereby;

a light head supported at a distal end of said flexible bendable stalk, said light head including a light source for producing light, wherein said light head is movable relative to said light body for directing light in different directions;

a switch for selectively actuating said light source;

an electronic circuit disposed in said light body, said electronic circuit being electrically connected to said rechargeable source of electrical power and to said light source for controlling operation of said light source responsive to said electrical switch; and

a male USB connector on said light body for connecting to a female USB connector of a source of charging power, said male USB connector connecting to said electronic circuit and to said rechargeable source of electrical power for charging said rechargeable source of electrical power.

16. The rechargeable portable light of claim 15 wherein said flexible bendable stalk:

is bendable at least about 180°

in any direction relative to a straight position of said flexible bendable stalk;

or

extends substantially perpendicularly from said light body and is bendable at least about 180°

in any direction relative to a straight position of said flexible bendable stalk.

17. The rechargeable portable light of claim 15 wherein said flexible bendable stalk further comprises a seal between said light body and said flexible bendable stalk.

18. The rechargeable portable light of claim 15 wherein said rechargeable source of electrical power includes:

a rechargeable battery;

or

a rechargeable lithium battery.

19. The rechargeable portable light of claim 15 further comprising:

a connector cap for covering said male USB connector;

or

a connector cap for covering said male USB connector wherein said connector cap is attached to said light body by a tether.

20. The rechargeable portable light of claim 15 further comprising:

a clip attached to said light body for attaching said rechargeable portable light to a person and/or object;

or

a clip attached to said light body for attaching said rechargeable portable light to a person and/or object, said clip having a keyhole shaped opening therein.

21. The rechargeable portable light of claim 15 wherein:

said electronic circuit includes a single circuit board including said switch and electrical contacts of said male USB connector;

or

said light body includes an integrally molded male USB connector tray;

or

said electronic circuit includes a single circuit board including said switch and electrical contacts of said male USB connector and said light body includes an integrally molded male USB connector tray.