Renewable energy flashlight
DCFirst Claim
1. A renewable energy flashlight comprising:
- an elongated housing forming an opening at one end;
a barrel assembly located within the housing including;
a hollow elongated barrel disposed within the housing,a wire coil wrapped around the barrel and disposed between the barrel and the housing,a charging magnet disposed within the barrel and sized to freely oscillate within the barrel when the barrel is shaken,two springs attached within the barrel and at either end of the barrel to cause the magnet to recoil when the magnet strikes the springs,wherein the charging magnet oscillates within the barrel when the barrel is shaken, whereby the charging magnet passes back and forth through the wire coil and causes current to flow within the coil; and
an electronics assembly located within the housing, said electronics assembly including;
a capacitor for storing charge,a rectifier connected to the capacitor;
means for conducting current flowing in the wire coil to the rectifier, whereby the rectifier rectifies the current, said rectifier providing rectified current to the capacitor, whereby the capacitor is charged,a light emitting diode (LED) located near the housing opening, andswitch means for selectively connecting the charged capacitor to the LED, whereby the LED selectively lights up.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A renewable energy flashlight comprises a housing and a barrel located within the housing. The barrel has a wire coil wrapped around it, between the barrel and the housing. A magnet disposed within the barrel oscillates within the barrel when the barrel is shaken, generating an alternating current in the coil. Two springs at either end of the barrel cause the magnet to recoil when the magnet strikes the springs. An electronics assembly located within the housing includes a capacitor for storing charge, a rectifier connected to the capacitor, and means for conducting current flowing in the coil to the rectifier, to provide rectified current to the capacitor and charge the capacitor. A light emitting diode (LED) is connected to the capacitor by means of a switch, so the LED lights up when the switch is switched on.
276 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A renewable energy flashlight comprising:
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an elongated housing forming an opening at one end; a barrel assembly located within the housing including; a hollow elongated barrel disposed within the housing, a wire coil wrapped around the barrel and disposed between the barrel and the housing, a charging magnet disposed within the barrel and sized to freely oscillate within the barrel when the barrel is shaken, two springs attached within the barrel and at either end of the barrel to cause the magnet to recoil when the magnet strikes the springs, wherein the charging magnet oscillates within the barrel when the barrel is shaken, whereby the charging magnet passes back and forth through the wire coil and causes current to flow within the coil; and an electronics assembly located within the housing, said electronics assembly including; a capacitor for storing charge, a rectifier connected to the capacitor; means for conducting current flowing in the wire coil to the rectifier, whereby the rectifier rectifies the current, said rectifier providing rectified current to the capacitor, whereby the capacitor is charged, a light emitting diode (LED) located near the housing opening, and switch means for selectively connecting the charged capacitor to the LED, whereby the LED selectively lights up. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification