Miniature flashlight

• US 4,899,265 A
• Filed: 07/19/1988
• Issued: 02/06/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MAG Instrument Incorporated
• Original Assignee: MAG Instrument Incorporated
• Inventors: Maglica, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NEILS, PEGGY A
• Application Number:
  US07/222,378
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 362/187, 362/201, 362/202, 362/203, 362/205, 362/207, 362/208, 362/197
• US Class Current: 362/187
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 2/00 Systems of electric lighting devices systems employing both electric and non-electric light sources or exchangeable light sources F21L27/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/005 the device being a pocket lamp F21L4/022, F21L4/045, F21L4/085 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 6/00 Lighting devices intended to be free-standing F21S9/00, F21S10/00, F21S13/12 take precedence lighting devices specially adapted to be transported from place to place, e.g. lighting devices carried on wheeled supports F21L; details of supports for lighting devices F21V21/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/02 the power supply being a battery or accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/025 in portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/045 in portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/01 Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts F21V15/02 takes precedence housings forming signs or letters G09F13/04
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/047 by using spare light sources comprised in or attached to the lighting device and being intended to replace a defect light source by manual mounting
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0414 specially adapted to be used with portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/00 Gas-tight or water-tight arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/005 Sealing arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/03 with provision for venting for vehicle head lights F21S45/33; for vehicle rear lights F21S41/192
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/58 with contact-driving member rotated step-wise in one direction
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/048 using a sealing boot, e.g. the casing having separate elastic body surrounding the operating member and hermetically closing the opening for it

Abstract

A miniature flashlight as disclosed to comprise a barrel, a tail cap, a head assembly, and means for holding a miniature lamp bulb and for providing interruptible electrical coupling to dry cell batteries retained within the barrel. The means for holding lamp bulb comprises an insulated receptacle disposed external to the end of the barrel to which the head assembly is engaged, a second insulated receptacle disposed within the barrel and matingly engaging with the first insulated receptacle so as to enable the first and second insulated receptacles to translate axially through a distance limited by a flange formed on the first insulated receptacle and an annular lip formed inwardly at the end of the barrel, and a pair of conductor members mounted in the second insulated receptacle such that one of the conductors serves to couple the center electrode of a dry cell battery to a first pin of the lamp bulb and the other conductor member serves to electrically couple the second pin of the lamp bulb to the lip formed on the barrel. A spring is disposed between the tail cap and the batteries within the barrel to urge the batteries into contact with the center conductor on the second insulated receptacle, thereby urging the second and the first insulated receptacles in the same direction until the second insulated receptacle contacts the lip on the end of the barrel whereat the second conductor member is in contact with the lip. The electrical circuit is thus closed by use of the barrel, the tail cap, and the spring to couple the second pin of the lamp to the case terminal of the battery. By threadably engaging the head assembly onto the barrel in a direction causing the head assembly to translate along the barrel towards the tail cap, the reflector moves with respect to the lamp bulb to cause a variation in dispersion of the reflected light beam emanating from the lamp bulb.

Claims

1. A flashlight comprising:

a barrel for retaining at least one dry cell battery;

a lamp bulb having a filament;

bulb holding means positioned adjacent one end of the barrel and adapted to locate the bulb filament axially beyond the one end of the barrel;

a substantially parabolic reflector;

a substantially planar lens;

means for retaining the reflector and the lens being engageable with the barrel at the end of the bulb holding means is positioned and adapted to be controllably translatable along the barrel such that the relative positional relationship between the reflector and the lamp bulb may be varied, thereby varying a reflection dispersion of a light beam emanating through the lens from said lamp bulb;

means for electrically coupling a center electrode of one of the batteries to a first electrode of the lamp bulb; and

means for electrically coupling a case electrode of one of the batteries to a second electrode of the lamp bulb;

wherein relative motion of the head means for retaining the reflector and the lens in an axial direction away from the barrel closes an electrical contact of one of the coupling means and further relative motion in said same axial direction separates said means for retaining the reflector and the lens from the barrel to expose the lamp bulb and thereby permits the dispersion of substantially spherical illumination.

2. A flashlight comprising:

a barrel for retaining in series a plurality of dry cell batteries;

a lamp bulb having a filament;

bulb holding means movably retained adjacent one end of the barrel and adapted to locate the bulb filament axially beyond the one end of the barrel;

a reflector;

a lens;

means for retaining the reflector and the lens being threadably mounted on the barrel at the end the bulb holding means is positioned, said means for retaining being adapted to be controllably translatable along the barrel upon rotation thereof with respect to the barrel;

means for electrically coupling a center electrode of one of the batteries to a first electrode of the lamp bulb; and

means for electrically coupling a case electrode of one of the batteries to a second electrode of the lamp bulb;

wherein rotation of the means for retaining the reflector and the lens in an axial direction away from the barrel closes one of the means for electrically coupling and separates said means for retaining the reflector and the lens from the barrel to expose the lamp bulb and thereby permits the dispersion of substantially spherical illumination.

3. A flashlight comprising:

a barrel for retaining in series a plurality of dry cell batteries;

a bi-pin lamp bulb having a filament;

bulb holding means positioned adjacent one end of the barrel and adapted to locate the bulb filament axially beyond the one end of the barrel;

a substantially parabolic reflector;

a substantially planar lens;

means for retaining the reflector and the lens being engageable with the barrel at the end the bulb holding means is positioned and adapted to be controllably translatable along the barrel such that the relative positional relationship between the reflector and the bi-pin lamp bulb may be varied, thereby varying a reflection dispersion of a light beam emanating through the lens from said bi-pin lamp bulb;

means for electrically coupling a center electrode of one of the batteries to a first electrode of the bi-pin lamp bulb; and

means for electrically coupling a case electrode of one of the batteries to a second electrode of the bi-pin lamp bulb;

wherein relative motion of the head means for retaining the reflector and the lens in an axial direction away from the barrel separates said means for retaining the reflector and the lens from the barrel to expose the bi-pin lamb bulb and thereby permits the dispersion of substantially spherical illumination; and

wherein the head means for retaining the reflector and the lens is adapted to receive a tail cap and the barrel for use of the flashlight as a table lamp.

4. A flashlight comprising:

a barrel for retaining in series a plurality of dry cell batteries;

a lamp bulb having a filament;

bulb holding means positioned adjacent one end of the barrel and adapted to locate the bulb filament axially beyond the one end of the barrel;

a reflector;

a substantially planar lens;

means for retaining the reflector and the lens being engageable with the barrel at the end the bulb holding means is positioned and adapted to be controllably translatable along the barrel such that the relative positional relationship between the reflector and the lamp bulb may be varied, thereby varying a reflection dispersion of a light beam emanating through the lens from said lamp bulb;

means for electrically coupling a center electrode of one of the batteries to a first electrode of the lamp bulb; and

means for electrically coupling a case electrode of one of the batteries to a second electrode of the lamp bulb;

wherein relative motion of the head means for retaining the reflector and the lens in an axial direction away from the barrel closes an electrical contact of one of the coupling means and further relative motion in said same axial direction separates said means for retaining the reflector and the lens from the barrel to expose the lamp bulb and thereby permits the dispersion of substantially spherical illumination.

5. A flashlight comprising:

a barrel for retaining at least one dry cell battery;

a lamp bulb having a filament;

a substantially parabolic reflector;

a substantially planar lens;

head means threadably mounted on the barrel and for retaining the reflector and the lens and adapted to be controllably translatable along the barrel upon rotation thereof with respect to the barrel such that the relative positional relationship between the reflector and the lamp bulb may be varied, thereby varying a reflection dispersion of a light beam emanating through the lens form said lamp bulb;

coupling means movably retained by one end of the barrel and for electrically and physically coupling the lamp bulb to at least one dry cell battery;

wherein rotation of the head means for retaining the reflector and the lens in an axial direction away from the barrel causes movement of at least a portion of the coupling means which movement in turn causes movement of at least one dry cell battery to close an electrical circuit and turn the lamp bulb on.

6. A flashlight comprising:

a barrel for retaining a plurality of dry cell batteries;

a lamp bulb having a filament;

bulb holding means positioned adjacent one end of the barrel and adapted to locate the bulb filament axially beyond the one end of the barrel;

a substantially parabolic reflector;

a substantially planar lens;

means for retaining the reflector and the lens being engageable with the barrel at the end the bulb holding means is positioned and adapted to be controllably translatable along the barrel;

means for electrically coupling a center electrode of one of the batteries to a first electrode of the lamp bulb; and

means for electrically coupling a case electrode of one of the batteries to a second electrode of the lamp bulb;

wherein relative motion of the head means for retaining the reflector and the lens in an axial direction away from the barrel closes an electrical contact of one of the coupling means and further relative motion in said same axial direction separates said means for retaining the reflector and the lens from the barrel to expose the lamp bulb and thereby permits dispersion of substantially spherical illumination.

7. A miniature flashlight comprising:

a lamp bulb;

a cylindrical aluminum barrel including a battery source of power disposed in a series arrangement within said barrel and having threads formed on an external surface of a first end of the barrel and threads formed on an internal surface of a second end of the barrel;

a head assembly including an aluminum head and an aluminum face cap which retain a substantially parabolic reflector and a substantially planar lens, the head assembly being rotatably disposed external to the first end of the barrel by threads formed on an interior surface of the head engaging with the threads formed on the external surface of the barrel;

a switch positioned radially within the circumference of the barrel and axially between the lamp bulb and the battery source of power, said switch being adapted to close in response to rotation of the head assembly in a direction away from the barrel to energize said lamp bulb and to open in response to rotation of the head assembly in a direction toward the barrel to de-energize said lamp bulb;

an aluminum tail cap adapted to retain a spare lamp bulb and having external threads which match and engage the threads at the second end of the barrel;

a metal spring disposed within the barrel so as to make electrical contact with the tail cap and a case electrode of the battery source of power and to urge the battery source of power in a direction toward said switch;

wherein rotational movement of the head assembly with respect to said barrel varies the relative positional relationship between the reflector and the lamp bulb when said lamp bulb is energized thereby providing an adjustable focus of light emission from the flashlight lens and also causes movement to the battery source of power along the longitudinal axis of the barrel when the lamp bulb is not energized.

8. A miniature flashlight comprising:

a lamp bulb;

a cylindrical aluminum barrel including a battery source of power disposed in a series arrangement within said barrel and having threads formed on an external surface of a first end of the barrel and threads formed on an internal surface of a second end of the barrel;

a head assembly including an aluminum head portion, a substantially parabolic reflector and a substantially planar lens, the head assembly being rotatably disposed external to the first end of the barrel by threads formed on an interior surface of the head engaging with the threads formed on the external surface of the barrel;

a switch positioned radially within the circumference of the barrel and axially between the lamp bulb and the battery source of power, said switch being adapted to close in response to rotation of the head assembly in a direction away from the barrel to energize said lamp bulb and to open in response to rotation of the head assembly in a direction toward the barrel to de-energize said lamp bulb;

an aluminum tail cap adapted to retain a spare lamp bulb and having external threads which match and engage the threads at the second end of the barrel;

a metal spring disposed within the barrel so as to make electrical contact with the tail cap and a case electrode of the battery source of power and to urge the battery source of power in a direction toward said switch;

wherein rotational movement of the head assembly with respect to said barrel varies the relative positional relationship between the reflector and the lamp bulb when said lamp bulb is energized thereby providing an adjustable focus of light emission from the flashlight lens and also causes movement of the battery source of power along the longitudinal axis of the barrel when the lamp is not energized.

9. A miniature flashlight comprising:

a lamp bulb;

a cylindrical metal barrel including a battery source of power disposed in a series arrangement within said barrel and having threads formed on an external surface of a first end of the barrel and threads formed on an internal surface of a second end of the barrel;

a head assembly including a metal head portion, a substantially parabolic reflector and a substantially planar lens, the head assembly being rotatably disposed external to the first end of the barrel by threads formed on an interior surface of the head engaging with the threads formed on the external surface of the barrel;

a switch positioned radially within the circumference of the barrel and axially between the lamp bulb and the battery source of power, said switch being adapted to close in response to rotation of the head assembly in a direction away from the barrel to energize said lamp bulb and to open in response to rotation of the head assembly in a direction toward the barrel to de-energize said lamp bulb;

a metal tail cap adapted to retain a spare lamp bulb and having external threads which match and engage the threads at the second end of the barrel;

a metal spring disposed within the barrel so as to make electrical contact with the tail cap and a case electrode of battery source of power and to urge the battery source of power in a direction toward said switch;

wherein rotational movement of the head assembly with respect to said barrel varies the relative positional relationship between the reflector and the lamp bulb when said lamp bulb is energized thereby providing an adjustable focus of light emission from the flashlight lens and also causes movement of the battery source of power along the longitudinal axis of the barrel when the lamp bulb is not energized.

10. A miniature flashlight comprising:

a lamp bulb;

a cylindrical barrel including a battery source of power disposed in a series arrangement within said barrel and having threads formed on an external surface of a first end of the barrel and threads formed on an internal surface of a second end of the barrel;

a head assembly including a head portion, a substantially parabolic reflector and a substantially planar lens, the head assembly being rotatably disposed external to the first end of the barrel;

a switch positioned radially within the circumference of the barrel and axially between the lamp bulb and the battery source of power, said switch being adapted to close in response to rotation of the head assembly in a direction away from the barrel to energize said lamp bulb and to open in response to rotation of the head assembly in a direction toward the barrel to de-energize said lamp bulb;

a tail cap adapted to retain a spare lamp bulb and having external threads which match and engage the threads at the second end of the barrel;

a metal spring disposed within the barrel so as to make electrical contact with the tail cap and a case electrode of battery source of power and to urge the battery source of power in a direction toward said switch;

wherein rotational movement of the head assembly with respect to said barrel varies the relative positional relationship between the reflector and the lamp bulb when said lamp bulb is energized thereby providing an adjustable focus of light emission from the flashlight lens and also causes movement of the battery source of power along the longitudinal axis of the barrel when the lamp bulb is not energized.

11. A miniature flashlight comprising

a lamp bulb;

a cylindrical barrel including a battery source of power disposed in a series arrangement within said barrel and having threads formed on an external surface of a first end of the barrel and threads formed on an internal surface of a second end of the barrel;

a head assembly including a head portion, a substantially parabolic reflector and a substantially planar lens, the head assembly being rotatably disposed external to the first end of the barrel;

a switch positioned radially within the circumference of the barrel and axially between the lamp bulb and the battery source of power, said switch being adapted to close in response to rotation of the head assembly in a direction away from the barrel to energize said lamp bulb and to open in response to rotation of the head assembly in a direction toward the barrel to de-energize said lamp bulb;

a removable tail cap adapted to permit removal of the battery source of power from the second end of the barrel;

a metal spring disposed within the barrel so as to make electrical contact with the tail cap and a case electrode of battery source of power and to urge the battery source of power in a direction toward said switch;

wherein rotational movement of the head assembly with respect to said barrel varies the relative positional relationship between the reflector and the lamp bulb when said lamp bulb is energized thereby providing an adjustable focus of light emission from the flashlight lens and also causes movement of the battery source of power along the longitudinal axis of the barrel when the lamp bulb is not energized.

12. A miniature flashlight comprising:

a lamp bulb;

a cylindrical barrel including a battery source of power disposed in a series arrangement within said barrel and having threads formed on an external surface of a first end of the barrel and threads formed on an internal surface of a second end of the barrel;

a head assembly including a head portion, a substantially parabolic reflector and a substantially planar lens, the head assembly being rotatably disposed external to the first end of the barrel;

a switch positioned radially within the circumference of the barrel and axially between the lamp bulb and the battery source of power, said switch being adapted to close in response to rotation of the head assembly in a direction away from the barrel to energize said lamp bulb and to open in response to rotation of the head assembly in a direction toward the barrel to de-energize said lamp bulb;

a spring positioned to urge the battery source of power in a direction toward said switch;

wherein rotational movement of the head assembly with respect to said barrel varies the relative positional relationship between the reflector and the lamp bulb when said lamp bulb is energized thereby providing an adjustable focus of light emission from the flashlight lens and also causes movement of the battery source of power along the longitudinal axis of the barrel when the lamp bulb is not energized.

13. A miniature flashlight comprising:

a lamp bulb;

a cylindrical aluminum barrel including a battery source of power disposed in a series arrangement within said barrel and having threads formed on an external surface of a first end of the barrel and threads formed on an internal surface of a second end of the barrel;

a head assembly including a head portion, a substantially parabolic reflector and a substantially planar lens, the head assembly being rotatably disposed external to the first end of the barrel;

a switch positioned radially within the circumference of the barrel and axially between the lamp bulb and the battery source of power, said switch being adapted to close in response to rotation of the head assembly in a direction away from the barrel to energize said lamp bulb and to open in response to rotation of the head assembly in a direction toward the barrel to de-energize said lamp bulb;

a spring positioned to urge the battery source of power in a direction toward said switch;

wherein rotational movement of the head assembly with respect to said barrel opens and closes the switch by causing axial displacement of said battery source of power.