Portable lighting device having externally attached voltage tester

• US 6,184,794 B1
• Filed: 05/30/1996
• Issued: 02/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eveready Battery Company Incorporated (Energizer Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Eveready Battery Company Incorporated (Energizer Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tucholski, Gary R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIEU, JULIE BICHNGOC
• Application Number:
  US08/655,557
• Time in Patent Office: 1,713 Days
• Field of Search: 340/636, 324/425, 324/426, 324/427, 324/435, 320/2, 320/48, 320/30, 296/234, 429/93, 429/90
• US Class Current: 340/636.14
• 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: G01R 31/385 Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables for monitoring G01R31/382
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4285 Testing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/488 Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/505 Cells combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light intensity
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/5083 Testing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery tester for use in combination with a portable lighting device such as a flashlight or lantern having a housing for retaining at least one battery including first and second terminals, each in electrical contact with an opposite pole of the battery, a conductor located on the exterior of the housing and having one end in electrical contact with the first terminal and an opposite end operably connectable to the second terminal. An indicator material overlies and is in responsive contact with the conductor to respond to and indicate a state that is present in the conductor. The indicator material is preferably a thermochromic ink responsive to heat changes in the conductor caused by a current flowing therethrough. The conductor and indicator material are preferably mounted on a flexible substrate imprinted with decorative ink and indicia and protected by a transparent protective layer.

Claims

1. A flashlight battery tester comprising in combination:

a flashlight housing made from a dielectric material and having first and second terminals, each electrically connected to one pole of at least one battery disposed within said housing; and

a battery tester circuit mounted generally flush to an exterior surface of said flashlight housing and having;

a conductive film, a first end of said film electrically connected to said first terminal, and a second end of said film defining a first switch biased above and flexibly engageable with said second terminal to permit a current to pass through said conductive film, and produce a signal indicative of the strength of said at least one battery,

a flexible, dielectric layer having opposing sides,

a conductor layer having a variable resistance portion disposed on one side of said flexible dielectric layer,

a protective layer disposed on an opposite side of said flexible dielectric layer,

an indicator layer disposed between said protective layer and said flexible dielectric layer and aligned substantially opposite said variable resistance portion of said conductor layer,

an adhesive layer disposed on said conductor layer and said flexible dielectric layer for adhering said flashlight battery tester to said flashlight housing, and

a switch for placing said second end of said conductor in electrical contact with said second terminal to activate said battery tester display circuit, wherein said switch includes;

a spring disposed over said second terminal between said conductor layer and said second terminal;

a conductive plunger disposed within said spring and having a first end in electrical contact with said conductor layer and the opposite end of said plunger translatable into contact with said second terminal.

2. A battery tester for use on the exterior of a flashlight to measure the strength of batteries in the flashlight, the flashlight having a non-conductive housing for retaining at least one battery therein, and a light source operably connected through a first switch to said battery, the battery tester comprising in combination:

a conductive layer fixed to the exterior of said housing and having a first end operably coupled through a hole in said non-conductive housing to a first terminal adapted for coupling to one pole of said at least one battery and a second end operably connectable through a second hole in said non-conductive housing to a second terminal adapted for coupling to an opposite pole of said at least one battery, said conductor layer having a region resistive to an electrical current flowing therethrough;

a thermochromic layer overlying said conductor layer for displaying a capacity of the battery in response to a resistance of said electrical current flowing through said conductive layer; and

a second switch defined at said second end of said conductor layer and biased away from said opposite pole of said battery in a manner such that relative movement of said switch toward said opposite pole operably connects said second end of said conductive layer to said opposite pole of said at least one battery, permitting an electrical current to pass through said region, wherein said switch further includes a conductive plunger having one end in electrical contact with said conductor layer and a second end adapted to engage said second terminal, and a spring positioned between said conductive plunger and said second terminal for biasing said switch in an open position.

3. The battery tester as defined by claim 2, further including:

a dielectric layer disposed between said conductor layer and said thermochromic layer;

a protective layer overlying said thermochromic layer and adhered to said dielectric layer; and

an adhesive bonding said dielectric layer and said conductor layer to the exterior of said flashlight.

4. The battery tester as defined by claim 3, further including a sealer disposed between said conductor and said adhesive.

5. A portable lighting device comprising in combination:

an insulative housing, having first and second holes extending through a wall of said housing, and adapted to retain at least one battery therein;

a light source adapted to be selectively connected to a battery retained in said insulative housing; and

a laminated battery tester adhered to an exterior surface of said insulative housing and having a first end disposed over said first hole operably connected to one pole of said battery and a second end disposed over said second hole and configured to engage an opposite pole of said at least one battery, said laminated battery tester providing an indication of the battery strength, wherein said laminated battery tester includes;

a flexible substrate having opposite sides;

an indicator located on one side of said substrate for indicating the strength of said battery;

a conductor located on an opposite side of said substrate and operably connected to said switch for selectively completing a circuit between said poles of said battery; and

a resilient switch incorporated within said laminated battery tester for placing said second end in electrical contact with said opposite pole of said battery, wherein said switch includes;

first and second terminals in a portable lighting device in electrical contact with opposite poles of said battery;

a first end of said conductor layer in electrical contact with said first terminal;

a second end of said conductor layer disposed adjacent and spaced from said second terminal and selectively placed in contact with said second terminal by urging said second end against said second terminal, wherein said second end of said conductor layer is separated from said second terminal by an insulating layer, said insulating layer having an opening therein to permit deflection of said second end of said conductor layer into contact with said second terminal upon application of a force on said flexible dielectric substrate, and a return of said flexible dielectric substrate to its original position once the force is removed; and

a conductive plunger having one end in electrical contact with said conductor layer, and a second end adapted to engage said second terminal; and

a spring positioned between said conductive plunger and said second terminal for biasing said switch in an open position.

6. A portable lighting device, comprising in combination:

a housing, having first and second holes extending through a wall of said housing, and adapted to retain at least one battery therein;

a laminated battery tester adhered to an exterior surface of said housing including a flexible substrate having opposite sides, an indicator located on one side of said flexible substrate for indicating the strength of said battery, a conductor located on an opposite side of said flexible substrate, a first end of which is disposed over said first hole and operably connected to one pole of said battery and a second end disposed over said second hole and configured to selectively engage an opposite pole of said battery; and

a switch for selectively placing said second end of said conductor into contact with said opposite pole of said battery, including first and second terminals in the portable lighting device each in electrical contact with a pole of said battery, said second end of said conductor disposed adjacent and spaced from said second terminal, a spring disposed over said second hole between said conductor and said second terminal, a conductive plunger disposed within said spring and having a first end in electrical contact with said second end of said conductor and an opposite end translatable into contact with said second terminal thereby placing said conductor into contact with said first terminal.

7. A flashlight battery tester, comprising in combination:

a flashlight housing made from a dielectric material and having first and second terminals, each operably connected to one pole of at least one battery disposed within said housing;

a battery tester circuit mounted generally flush with an exterior surface of said flashlight housing and having a conductor layer with a variable resistance portion disposed between first and second ends;

a protective layer disposed on one side of said conductor layer;

an indicator layer disposed between said protective layer and said conductor layer and aligned substantially opposite said variable resistance portion of said conductor layer; and

an adhesive layer disposed on said conductor layer and said protective layer for adhering said battery tester to said flashlight housing, said first end of said conductor layer operably connected to said first terminal; and

a switch having a spring, disposed between said second end of said conductor layer and said second terminal, a plunger disposed within said spring and having a first end in contact with said conductor layer and an opposite end selectively contacting said second terminal for placing said second end of said conductor layer into contact with said second terminal to permit a current to pass through said conductor layer, and produce a signal indicative of the strength of said at least one battery.

8. A portable lighting device, comprising in combination:

a housing adapted to retain at least one battery therein and having first and second terminals contacting said battery;

a laminated battery tester adhered to an exterior surface of said housing and having a first end connected to said first terminal and a second end disposed over said second terminal and configured to selectively engage said second terminal, said laminated battery tester including a flexible substrate having opposite sides;

an indicator located on one side of said flexible substrate for indicating the strength of said battery; and

a conductor located on an opposite side of said flexible substrate with a first end coupled to said first terminal and a second end disposed over said second terminal, said second end of said conductor separated from said second terminal by an insulating layer, said insulating layer having an opening therein to permit deflection of said second end of said conductor into contact with said second terminal upon application of a force on said flexible substrate, and a return of said flexible substrate to its original position once the force is removed; and

a switch disposed between said second end of said conductor and said second terminal for selectively coupling said conductor with said at least one battery, said switch including a conductive plunger having one end in contact with said conductor, and a second end adapted to selectively contact said second terminal; and

a spring positioned between said conductive plunger and said second terminal for biasing said switch in an open position.