Rechargeable flashlight and battery charger

• US RE42,945 E1
• Filed: 08/10/2010
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Streamlight, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Streamlight, Inc.
• Inventors: Sharrah, Raymond L., DiNenna, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): TSO, EDWARD H
• Application Number:
  US12/853,701
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 320/111, 320/112, 320/113, 320/114, 320/115, 362/190, 362/194, 362/196, 362/197, 362/202, 362/203
• US Class Current: 320/114
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/08 characterised by means for in situ recharging of the batteries or cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries

Abstract

A rechargeable flashlight and charging assembly are provided in which the charger has a receptacle for vertically receiving a flashlight therein. The charger further has a second receptacle for holding an auxiliary battery, and a latch for securely holding the auxiliary battery in the second receptacle. The flashlight is formed to removably contain a battery assembly. A pivotal cover member of the flashlight provides access to the battery compartment and has a pair of conductors situated therein for connection to charging contacts within the charging receptacle.

Claims

1. A charging assembly for a rechargeable flashlight system, comprising:

a body having a flashlight receptacle portion and an auxiliary battery receptacle portion;

the flashlight receptacle portion having a vertically and inwardly directed wall forming a receptacle for receiving a flashlight;

a charging contact located in the receptacle of the flashlight receptacle portion;

the battery receptacle portion having a well formed therein for receiving a rechargeable battery, and a latch for holding the battery in the battery receptacle portion.

2. The charging assembly of claim 1, wherein the flashlight receptacle portion is contoured to receive a lip portion of a terminal end portion of a flashlight, and wherein the flashlight receptacle portion has an open side for laterally receiving the lip portion of the flashlight.

3. The charging assembly of claim 2 comprising a stop member located at the open side of the flashlight receptacle portion for releasably holding the flashlight in the flashlight receptacle portion when the flashlight is received in the receptacle.

4. A battery assembly for a rechargeable flashlight, comprising:

cylindrical rechargeable cells arranged in parallel and electrically connected at a rear end in series to provide respective positive and negative contacts at a forward end of the assembly;

a shell for holding the cells and having an opening in a forward end for exposing the contacts for connection with electrical contacts positioned within a flashlight;

a rear end member connected with the shell and having a pair of charging contacts located on the rear exterior thereof;

a circuit board disposed within the rear end member for supporting the pair of charging contacts;

and

a pair of conductors within the shell for electrically connecting the charging contacts with the respective positive and negative contacts of the cells.

5. The battery assembly of claim 4 wherein the charging contacts on the rear end member comprise springs extending rearwardly from the shell.

12. The battery assembly of claim 5 wherein the pair of conductors within the shell are electrically connected to the springs extending rearwardly from the shell via the circuit board.

13. The battery assembly of claim 4 wherein the pair of conductors within the shell are electrically connected to the pair of charging contacts via the circuit board.

14. The battery assembly of claim 4 wherein the rear end member has a notch for engagement with a latching member of a battery charger when the battery assembly inserted into the battery charger.

15. The battery assembly of claim 4 wherein the cylindrical rechargeable cells are arranged as respective series pairs physically positioned adjacent to each other.

16. The battery assembly of claim 15 wherein each respective series pair is wrapped in an insulating jacket.

17. The battery assembly of claim 16 wherein the insulating jackets of the respective series pairs are paperboard and are secured to each other by adhesive.

18. The battery assembly of claim 4 wherein:

the pair of charging contacts are positioned to make contact with charging contacts of a battery charger when the battery assembly is inserted into the battery charger;

or

the pair of charging contacts are positioned to make contact with conductors of a flashlight when the battery assembly is in the flashlight and the conductors of the flashlight make contact with charging contacts of a battery charger when the flashlight is inserted into the battery charger;

or

the pair of charging contacts are positioned to make contact with charging contacts of a battery charger when the battery assembly is inserted into the battery charger and to make contact with conductors of a flashlight when the battery assembly is in the flashlight and the conductors of the flashlight make contact with charging contacts of a battery charger when the flashlight is inserted into the battery charger.

6. A flashlight, comprising:

a head assembly having a light bulb and a pair of rearwardly extending springs for conducting electricity to the light bulb;

a body extending rearwardly from the head assembly and having a central cavity for receiving a battery;

a rear cover member attached to the rear end of the body by a hinge, the rear cover member having a pair of conductors for conducting electricity through the rear cover member from a charger.

7. The flashlight of claim 6 wherein the rear cover member comprises a latch member for releasably holding the rear cover member in a closed position at the rear end of the flashlight.

8. The flashlight of claim 7 wherein the latch member comprises a clip attached by a hinge to a free end of the rear cover member for engagement with a clip receiving portion formed on the body of the flashlight.

9. The flashlight of claim 7 comprising a sealing member located between the rear cover member and the rear end of the flashlight for providing a fluid seal between the rear cover and the central cavity of the flashlight.

10. The flashlight of claim 9 wherein the rear cover member comprises a vent assembly therein for providing a one-way vent between the central cavity and the exterior of the flashlight.

11. The flashlight of claim 6 wherein the body comprises a rear portion having an outwardly extending lip for engaging with an inwardly extending wall of a charging receptacle.

19. A battery assembly for a rechargeable flashlight, comprising:

a case including an upper portion and a lower portion to house a plurality of rechargeable cells;

a plurality of rechargeable cells positioned adjacent each other in the case and electrically connected to together in electrical series to provide respective positive and negative contacts at a forward end of the case for connecting with electrical contacts within a flashlight;

the upper portion of the case having openings in a forward end thereof exposing a positive contact of one rechargeable cell and a negative contact of another rechargeable cell to provide the respective positive and negative contacts at the forward end of the case for connecting with electrical contacts within a flashlight;

a conductor connected to respective adjacent ends of two adjacent ones of the plurality of rechargeable cells wherein the plurality of rechargeable cells are all connected together in electrical series within the case;

the lower portion of the case having a pair of charging contacts located at the rear exterior thereof;

a circuit board disposed in the lower portion of the case for supporting the pair of charging contacts; and

a pair of conductors within the case for electrically connecting the charging contacts with the respective positive and negative contacts of the rechargeable cells via the circuit board.

20. The battery assembly of claim 19 wherein the charging contacts on the lower portion of the case comprise springs extending rearwardly from the case.

21. The battery assembly of claim 20 wherein the pair of conductors within the case are electrically connected to the springs extending rearwardly from the case via the circuit board.

22. The battery assembly of claim 19 wherein the pair of conductors within the case are electrically connected to the pair of charging contacts via the circuit board.

23. The battery assembly of claim 19 wherein the lower portion of the case has a notch for engagement with a latching member of a battery charger when the battery assembly inserted into the battery charger.

24. The battery assembly of claim 19 wherein the cylindrical rechargeable cells are arranged as respective series pairs physically positioned adjacent to each other.

25. The battery assembly of claim 24 wherein each respective series pair is wrapped in an insulating jacket.

26. The battery assembly of claim 25 wherein the insulating jackets of the respective series pairs are paperboard and are secured to each other by adhesive.

27. The battery assembly of claim 19 wherein:

the pair of charging contacts are positioned to make contact with charging contacts of a battery charger when the battery assembly is inserted into the battery charger;

or

the pair of charging contacts are positioned to make contact with conductors of a flashlight when the battery assembly is in the flashlight that make contact with charging contacts of a battery charger when the flashlight is inserted into the battery charger;

or

the pair of charging contacts are positioned to make contact with charging contacts of a battery charger when the battery assembly is inserted into the battery charger and to make contact with conductors of a flashlight when the battery assembly is in the flashlight that make contact with charging contacts of a battery charger when the flashlight is inserted into the battery charger.