PORTABLE LIGHT HAVING A ROTATABLE HEAD

• US 20120033415A1
• Filed: 02/08/2011
• Published: 02/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Streamlight, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Streamlight, Inc.
• Inventors: Sharrah, Raymond L., Dalton, Matthew B., Keeley, Donald J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,777,446 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/199
• 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: F21V 21/08 Devices for easy attachment to any desired place, e.g. clip, clamp, magnet
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/0885 for portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/0965 for portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/83 the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/89 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0075 for portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A portable light may comprise a light body and a light head rotatable relative to the light body. The light head may comprise a light source that may be pivotable relative to a base of the light head. The light source may be electrically connected to the light body by rotatable coaxial connections between the light head and the light body and by rotatable coaxial electrical connections between the base of the light head and the light source. The light may optionally further comprise a hanger movable relative to the light body, or may comprise one or more magnets on the light body, or may comprise a clip on the light body, or a combination thereof.

Claims

1. A portable light comprising:

a light body having first and second ends and defining an axis between the first and second ends,

said light body having a track in a direction generally between the first and second ends thereof;

a light head having a pivot base mounted at the first end of said light body and rotatable about the light body axis,

said light head having a light source pivotably mounted to the pivot base thereof and pivotable relative to the pivot base; and

a hanger having an end riding in the track of said light body and movable therein.

2. The portable light of claim 1 wherein said light body and the pivot base of said light head have respective circular flanges of like diameter positioned adjacent each other, further comprising a retainer ring having a groove on an inner surface thereof, wherein said retainer ring is positioned over the respective circular flanges of said light body and said pivot base to provide a rotatable joint.

3. The portable light of claim 2 further comprising:

a pair of coaxial circular electrical contacts coaxial with the circular flange of one of said light body and said pivot base; and

a pair of electrical contacts in the other of said light body and said pivot base, each of said pair of electrical contacts positioned for contacting a respective one of said pair of coaxial circular electrical contacts,

whereby at least two electrical conduction paths are provided between said light body and said light head.

4. The portable light of claim 2 wherein said retainer ring is a split retainer ring having a recess on each side of the split therein, or having a projection on each side of the split therein, or having a combination of a recess on one side of the split therein and a projection on the other side of the split therein, said light further comprising:

a member attachable to said light body, said member having spaced apart projections, or spaced apart recesses, or spaced apart projection and a recess, in locations complementary to the recesses or the projections or the recess and projection of said split retainer ring, wherein the recesses and/or projections of said member and said split retainer ring engage to keep said split retainer ring closed.

5. The portable light of claim 1 further comprising:

a pair of coaxial electrically conductive members separated by a coaxial insulating member, wherein said pair of coaxial electrically conductive members separated by a coaxial insulating member provide the pivotable mount and at least two electrical conduction paths between said light body and said light head.

6. The portable light of claim 1 wherein:

said light head is rotatable at least 360°

about the light body axis, or

said light source is pivotable about 180°

about the base;

or

said light head is rotatable at least 360°

about the light body axis and said light source is pivotable about 180°

about the base of the light head.

7. The portable light of claim 1 wherein:

said hanger is movable and/or rotatable in the track to a range of positions relative to said light body;

or

said hanger is movable and/or rotatable in the track to a storage position adjacent said light body;

or

said hanger is movable and/or rotatable in the track to a range of positions relative to said light body and to a storage position adjacent said light body.

8. The portable light of claim 1 wherein said light source includes a reflector, and:

wherein said reflector has a parabolic shape or a squared trapezoidal shape;

or

wherein said reflector is shaped to provide a flood light beam or is shaped to provide a spot light beam;

or

wherein said reflector has a parabolic shape or a squared trapezoidal shape and said reflector is shaped to provide a flood light beam or is shaped to provide a spot light beam.

9. The portable light of claim 1 further comprising:

a clip mounted to a side of said light body;

or

at least one magnet mounted to a side of said light body for holding said light body proximate a metal object;

or

at least one magnet mounted to a side of said light body for holding said light body proximate a metal object and a clip mounted to the side of said light body;

at least one magnet mounted to a side of said light body proximate said light head for holding said light body proximate a metal object;

or

at least one magnet mounted to a side of said light body remote from said light head for holding said light body proximate a metal object;

or

a plurality of magnets mounted to a side of said light body for holding said light body proximate a metal object.

10. The portable light of claim 1 wherein said light body has a cavity for receiving a battery, further comprising:

a battery in the cavity of said light body;

or

a rechargeable battery in the cavity of said light body.

11. The portable light of claim 1 wherein said light body has a storage recess for receiving said hanger and wherein said hanger is storable in the storage recess.

12. The portable light of claim 1 wherein said hanger has a hook shape, an eye shape, a tee shape, a loop shape, a nail-head shape, or a combination thereof.

13. A portable light comprising:

a light body having first and second ends and defining an axis between the first and second ends,

at least one magnet mounted to said light body, wherein said at least one magnet has magnetic strength sufficient to magnetically support said portable light;

a light head including a pivot base rotatably mounted at the first end of said light body and rotatable about the light body axis,

wherein the rotatable mounting of said light head and said light body includes an electrical slip ring providing electrical connections through the rotatable mounting of said light head and said light body;

said light head including a light source rotatably mounted to the pivot base thereof and rotatable relative to the pivot base,

wherein the rotatable mounting of said light source and said pivot base includes coaxial electrically conductive members providing electrical connections through the rotatable mounting of said light source and said pivot base.

14. The portable light of claim 13 wherein:

said light body has a track and further comprises a hanger having an end riding in the track of said light body and movable therein, wherein said hanger is movable to positions over a range of angles relative to said light body;

or

said light body further comprises a pivotable clip pivotably mounted to said light body, wherein said pivotable clip has a clipping end biased to bear against said light body.

15. The portable light of claim 14 wherein said light body comprises a light body housing and a hanger housing attached to said light body housing, wherein said hanger housing provides the track for said hanger or provides a mount for said pivotable clip or provides both.

16. The portable light of claim 13 wherein said light body and the pivot base of said light head have respective circular flanges of like diameter positioned adjacent each other, further comprising a retainer ring having a groove on an inner surface thereof, wherein said retainer ring is positioned over the respective circular flanges of said light body and said pivot base to provide a rotatable joint.

17. The portable light of claim 16 wherein the electrical slip ring comprises:

a pair of coaxial circular electrical contacts coaxial with the circular flange of one of said light body and said pivot base; and

a pair of electrical contacts in the other of said light body and said pivot base, each of said pair of electrical contacts positioned for contacting a respective one of said pair of coaxial circular electrical contacts,

whereby at least two electrical conduction paths are provided between said light body and said light head.

18. The portable light of claim 13 wherein the coaxial electrically conductive members comprise:

a pair of coaxial electrically conductive members separated by a coaxial insulating member, wherein said pair of coaxial electrically conductive members separated by a coaxial insulating member provide the pivotable mount and at least two electrical conduction paths between said light body and said light source.

19. The portable light of claim 13 wherein said at least one magnet comprises:

one magnet mounted to a side of said light body for holding said light body proximate a metal object;

or

one magnet mounted to a side of said light body for holding said light body proximate a metal object and a clip mounted to the side of said light body;

or

one magnet mounted to a side of said light body proximate said light head for holding said light body proximate a metal object;

or

one magnet mounted to a side of said light body remote from said light head for holding said light body proximate a metal object;

or

a plurality of magnets mounted to a side of said light body for holding said light body proximate a metal object.

20. A portable light comprising:

a light body having first and second ends and defining a light body axis, said light body having a cavity for receiving a source of electrical power;

a light head including a pivot base rotatably mounted to said light body and a light source pivotably mounted to said pivot base, wherein said light source produces light when electrical power is applied thereto;

wherein said light head is rotatable at least 360°

about the light body axis and said light source is pivotable about 180°

about the pivot base of the light head; and

first and second electrical conduction paths for applying electrical power to said light source when a source of electrical power is in the cavity of said light body, comprising;

a pair of coaxial circular electrical contacts coaxial with one of said light body and said pivot base; and

a pair of electrical contacts in the other of said light body and said pivot base, each of said pair of electrical contacts positioned for contacting a respective one of

said pair of coaxial circular electrical contacts; and

further comprising;

a pair of coaxial electrically conductive members separated by a coaxial insulating member, wherein said pair of coaxial electrically conductive members separated by a coaxial insulating member provide the pivotable mount, and

wherein said pair of coaxial electrically conductive members separated by a coaxial insulating member are electrically coupled to the one of said pair of coaxial circular electrical contacts or to said pair of electrical contacts of said light head or said pivot base to provide the first and second electrical conduction paths between said light body and said light source.

21. The portable light of claim 20 wherein said light body has a track and further comprises:

a hanger having an end riding in the track of said light body and movable therein, wherein said hanger is movable to positions over a range of angles relative to said light body.

22. The portable light of claim 21 wherein said light body has a storage recess for receiving said hanger and wherein said hanger is storable in the storage recess.

23. The portable light of claim 21 wherein said light body comprises a light body housing and a hanger housing attached to said light body housing, wherein said hanger housing provides the track for said hanger.

24. The portable light of claim 20 wherein said light body and the pivot base of said light head have respective circular flanges of like diameter positioned adjacent each other, further comprising a retainer ring having a groove on an inner surface thereof, wherein said retainer ring is positioned over the respective circular flanges of said light body and said pivot base to provide a rotatable joint.

25. The portable light of claim 20 further comprising:

a clip mounted to a side of said light body;

or

at least one magnet mounted to a side of said light body for holding said light body proximate a metal object;

or

at least one magnet mounted to a side of said light body for holding said light body proximate a metal object and a clip mounted to the side of said light body;

at least one magnet mounted to a side of said light body proximate said light head for holding said light body proximate a metal object;

or

at least one magnet mounted to a side of said light body remote from said light head for holding said light body proximate a metal object;

or

a plurality of magnets mounted to a side of said light body for holding said light body proximate a metal object.

26. The portable light of claim 21 wherein said light source includes a reflector, and:

wherein said reflector has a parabolic shape or a squared trapezoidal shape;

or

wherein said reflector is shaped to provide a flood light beam or is shaped to provide a spot light beam;

or

wherein said reflector has a parabolic shape or a squared trapezoidal shape and is shaped to provide a flood light beam or is shaped to provide a spot light beam.