Portable light having a light source on a flexible stalk

• US 9,347,656 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2015
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• 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:
  US14/959,512
• Publication Number:
  US 20160091153A1
• Time in Patent Office: 172 Days
• 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 in the light body; a light head on a flexible bendable stalk supported by the light body, the light head including a light source; a switch for selectively actuating the light source; and an electronic circuit in the light body for controlling operation of the light source responsive to the electrical switch. Optionally, a USB connector may be provided on the light body for connecting to an external source of electrical power, wherein the electronic circuit is further for coupling electrical power received at the USB connector to the source of electrical power.

Claims

1. A portable light comprising:

a generally rectangular light body having first and second opposing broad generally rectangular surfaces, having first and second generally rectangular sides and having first and second generally rectangular ends;

a source of electrical power disposed in said generally rectangular light body;

a flexible bendable stalk extending generally perpendicularly from the first generally rectangular side of said generally rectangular light body and supported thereby;

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

a switch actuator on the first generally rectangular end of said generally rectangular light body for selectively actuating an electrical switch to selectively energize said light source; and

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

2. The portable light of claim 1 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 portable light of claim 1 wherein said flexible bendable stalk further comprises a seal between said generally rectangular light body and said flexible bendable stalk.

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

a USB connector on said light body for connecting to a complementary USB connector of a source of charging power that is external to said portable light, said USB connector connecting to said electronic circuit and to said rechargeable source of electrical power for charging said rechargeable source of electrical power.

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

a rechargeable battery;

or

a rechargeable lithium battery.

6. The portable light of claim 4 further comprising:

a connector cap at the second end of said generally rectangular light body for covering said USB connector;

or

a connector cap at the second end of said generally rectangular light body for covering said USB connector wherein said connector cap is attached to said light body by a tether.

7. The portable light of claim 4 wherein:

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

or

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

or

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

8. The portable light of claim 1 further comprising:

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

or

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

9. The portable light of claim 8 wherein said clip is attached to said generally rectangular light body near the first end thereof and extends along one of the generally rectangular broad surfaces thereof.

10. The portable light of claim 8 wherein said clip includes a U-shaped end that wraps around the first end of said generally rectangular light body and extends adjacent the broad generally rectangular surfaces thereof, the U-shaped end of said clip having an opening for accessing said switch actuator.

11. The portable light of claim 1 wherein the light source of said light head includes:

a light emitting diode light source for emitting substantially white light;

or

a light emitting diode light source for emitting non-white light;

or

a first light emitting diode light source for emitting substantially white light and a second a light emitting diode light source for emitting non-white light.

12. A portable light comprising:

a light body having first and second opposing broad surfaces, having one or more sides and having at least a first end;

a source of electrical power disposed in said light body;

a flexible bendable stalk extending generally perpendicularly from a first side of said light body and supported thereby;

a light head supported at an end of said flexible bendable stalk distal 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 actuator on the first end of said light body for selectively actuating an electrical switch to selectively energize said light source; and

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

13. The portable light of claim 12 wherein said flexible bendable stalk is bendable at least about 180°

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

14. The portable light of claim 12 wherein said flexible bendable stalk further comprises a seal between said light body and said flexible bendable stalk.

15. The portable light of claim 12 wherein said source of electrical power includes a rechargeable source of electrical power, said portable light further comprising:

a USB connector on said light body for connecting to a USB connector of a source of charging power that is external to said portable light, said 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 portable light of claim 15 wherein said rechargeable source of electrical power includes:

a rechargeable battery;

or

a rechargeable lithium battery.

17. The portable light of claim 15 further comprising:

a connector cap at the second end of said light body for covering said USB connector;

or

a connector cap at the second end of said light body for covering said USB connector wherein said connector cap is attached to said light body by a tether.

18. The portable light of claim 15 wherein:

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

or

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

or

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

19. The portable light of claim 12 further comprising:

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

or

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

20. The portable light of claim 19 wherein said clip is attached to said light body near the first end thereof and extends along at least one of the broad surfaces thereof.

21. The portable light of claim 19 wherein said clip includes a U-shaped end that wraps around the first end of said light body and extends adjacent the broad surfaces thereof, the U-shaped end of said clip having an opening for accessing said switch actuator.

22. The portable light of claim 12 wherein the light source of said light head includes:

a light emitting diode light source for emitting substantially white light;

or

a light emitting diode light source for emitting non-white light;

or

a first light emitting diode light source for emitting substantially white light and a second a light emitting diode light source for emitting non-white light.

23. A portable light comprising:

a generally rectangular light body having first and second opposing broad generally rectangular surfaces, having first and second generally rectangular sides and having first and second generally rectangular ends;

a source of electrical power disposed in said generally rectangular light body;

a flexible bendable stalk extending generally perpendicularly from the first generally rectangular side of said generally rectangular light body and supported thereby;

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

a switch actuator on the first generally rectangular end of said generally rectangular light body for selectively actuating an electrical switch to selectively energize said light source;

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

a USB connector on said light body for connecting to a complementary USB connector of a source of charging power that is external to said portable light, said USB connector connecting to said electronic circuit and to said rechargeable source of electrical power for charging said rechargeable source of electrical power; and

a clip for attaching said portable light to a person and/or object, wherein said clip is attached to said generally rectangular light body at the first generally rectangular end thereof and extends along one of the generally rectangular broad surfaces thereof.