LED flashlight with die-struck panel

• US 6,951,410 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2003
• Issued: 10/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Armament Systems and Procedures Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Armament Systems and Procedures Incorporated
• Inventors: Parsons, Kevin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ton, Anabel
• Application Number:
  US10/614,774
• Publication Number:
  US 20040095756A1
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 362/116, 362/800, 362/200
• US Class Current: 362/200
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 15/00 Key-rings
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/00 Electric lighting devices with self-contained electric batteries or cells
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/005 the device being a pocket lamp F21L4/022, F21L4/045, F21L4/085 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/027 the light sources being a LED
• 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 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 23/0414 specially adapted to be used with portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/08 for producing coloured light, e.g. monochromatic; for reducing intensity of light with provision for controlling the colour F21V9/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A flashlight having a light-emitting diode light source with first and second leads extending therefrom, a power source, a power source frame enclosing at least a portion of the power source; a housing containing the light source and power source, a switch located adjacent the power source and operable to close a circuit including the light source and the power source, and wherein one or all of the following may be included 1) a keyring extension extending from a power source frame or the housing with the keyring extension having an opening whereby an article can be attached to the keyring extension and includes a keyring lock wherein upon exerting a force against the keyring lock, the keyring lock is opened to permit the article to be attached to the keyring extension; 2) the housing is comprised of translucent material; and 3) the housing includes at least one side cover which is not integral with the housing and the at least one side cover being selected from anodized aluminum, anodized metal, anodized metal which includes indicia, die struck metal, laser engraved metal, and a side cover having a separate medallion attached thereto.

Claims

1. A flashlight comprising:

a light-emitting diode light source having first and second leads extending therefrom;

a power source;

a power source frame enclosing at least a portion of the power source;

a power source frame housing containing the power source frame, light source and power source;

a switch located adjacent the power source and operable to close a circuit including the light source and the power source;

a keyring extension extending from the power source frame,

said keyring extension having an opening whereby an article can be attached to the keyring extension, and

the keyring extension further includes a keyring lock connected to the power source frame or power source frame housing wherein upon exerting a force against the keyring lock, the keyring lock is opened to permit the article to be attached to the keyring extension.

2. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein the keyring lock pivots about a circular post.

4. The flashlight of claim 1 wherein the keyring lock exerts a force against an end of the keyring extension.

5. The flashlight of claim 1 wherein the keyring extension extends from a side opposite from the light emitting diode.

6. The flashlight of claim 1 wherein the housing includes at least one side cover.

7. The flashlight of claim 6 wherein the at least one side cover is made of a material dissimilar to the material of the housing.

8. The flashlight of claim 7, wherein the at least one side cover is comprised of metal.

9. The flashlight of claim 8 wherein said at least one side cover is selected from one of anodized metal having indicia thereon, die struck metal, laser engraved metal, or a side cover having a separate medallion attached thereto.

10. The flashlight of claim 9, wherein an elastomeric switch element is positioned within the at least one side cover.

3. A flashlight comprising:

a light-emitting diode light source having first and second leads extending therefrom;

a power source;

a power source frame enclosing at least a portion of the power source;

a power source frame housing containing the power source frame, light source and power source;

a switch located adjacent the power source and operable to close a circuit including the light source and the power source;

a keyring extension extending from the power source frame,

said keyring extension having an opening whereby an article can be attached to the keyring extension,

the keyring extension further includes a keyring lock connected to the power source frame or power source frame housing wherein upon exerting a force against the keyring lock, the keyring lock is opened to permit the article to be attached to the keyring extension, and the keyring lock pivots about a circular post positioned on the power source structure and is spring-biased.

11. A flashlight comprising:

a light-emitting diode light source having first and second leads extending therefrom;

a power source;

a power source frame enclosing at least a portion of the power source;

a power source frame housing containing the power source frame, light source and power source;

a switch located adjacent the power source and operable to close a circuit including the light source and the power source;

a keyring extension extending from the power source frame,

said keyring extension having an opening whereby an article can be attached to the keyring extension,

the keyring extension further includes a keyring lock connected to the power source frame or power source frame housing wherein upon exerting a force against the keyring lock, the keyring lock is opened to permit the article to be attached to the keyring extension, and the housing including two side covers, one on each side of the flashlight, one of the side covers having an elastomeric switch element, and at least one of said side covers being made from anodized metal and including indicia thereon.

12. A flashlight comprising:

a light-emitting diode light source having first and second leads extending therefrom;

a power source;

a power source frame enclosing at least a portion of the power source;

a power source frame housing containing the power source frame, light source and power source;

a switch located adjacent the power source and operable to close a circuit including the light source and the power source;

a keyring extension extending from the power source frame,

said keyring extension having an opening whereby an article can be attached to the keyring extension,

the keyring extension further includes a keyring lock connected to the power source frame or power source frame housing wherein upon exerting a force against the keyring lock, the keyring lock is opened to permit the article to be attached to the keyring extension and said housing being translucent.

13. The flashlight of claim 12 wherein the frame and housing are translucent.

14. A flashlight comprising:

a light emitting diode having first and second leads extending therefrom;

a power source having a first side and a second side, the second side being opposite the first side;

a housing enclosing the leads of the light emitting diode and the power source, the housing being made of translucent material; and

,

a switch being operable to close a circuit including the light source and the power source.

15. The flashlight of claim 14, further including a power source frame positioned within the housing.

18. The flashlight of claim 14, wherein the housing includes non-integral side covers.

19. The flashlight of claim 18, wherein the side covers are opaque.

27. The flashlight of claim 14 wherein:

a keyring extension extends from the housing or a power source frame within the housing;

said keyring extension having an opening whereby an article can be attached to the keyring extension;

a keyring lock extending from the housing or power source frame wherein upon exerting a force against the keyring lock, the keyring lock is opened to permit the article to be attached to the keyring extension.

16. A flashlight comprising:

a light emitting diode having first and second leads extending therefrom;

a power source having a first side and a second side, the second side being opposite the first side;

a housing enclosing the leads of the light emitting diode and the power source, the housing being made of translucent material;

a switch operable to close a circuit including the light source and the power source and a power source frame made of translucent material positioned within the housing.

17. A flashlight comprising:

a light emitting diode having first and second leads extending therefrom;

a power source having a first side and a second side, the second side being opposite the first side;

a housing enclosing the leads of the light emitting diode and the power source, the housing being made of translucent material;

a switch being operable to close a circuit including the light source and the power source housing including side covers.

20. The flashlight of claim 17, wherein the side covers are made of a translucent material.

21. A flashlight comprising:

a light emitting diode having first and second leads extending therefrom;

a power source having a first side and a second side, the second side being opposite the first side;

a housing enclosing the leads of the light emitting diode and the power source, the housing being made of translucent material;

a switch being operable to close a circuit including the light source and the power source and the housing being colored.

22. The flashlight of claim 21, wherein the housing is the same color as the light emitting diode.

23. A flashlight comprising:

a light emitting diode having first and second leads extending therefrom;

a power source having a first side and a second side, the second side being opposite the first side;

a housing enclosing the leads of the light emitting diode and the power source, the housing being made of translucent material;

a switch being operable to close a circuit including the light source and the power source, the housing includes non-integral side covers and the side covers being colored.

24. A flashlight comprising:

a light emitting diode having first and second leads extending therefrom;

a power source having a first side and a second side, the second side being opposite the first side;

a housing enclosing the leads of the light emitting diode and the power source, said housing being made of translucent material;

a switch being operable to close a circuit including the light source and the power source, the housing includes non-integral side covers and the side covers being a different color than the housing.

25. A flashlight comprising:

a light emitting diode having first and second leads extending therefrom;

a power source having a first side and a second side, the second side being opposite the first side;

a housing enclosing the leads of the light emitting diode and the power source, wherein the housing is made of translucent material;

a switch being operable to close a circuit including the light source and the power source and the housing being made of polycarbonate.

26. A flashlight comprising:

a light emitting diode having first and second leads extending therefrom;

a power source having a first side and a second side, the second side being opposite the first side;

a housing enclosing the leads of the light emitting diode and the power source;

said housing being made of a translucent material;

a switch being operable to close a circuit including the light source and the power source; and

,

a magnet positioned within the housing.

28. A flashlight comprising:

a light-emitting diode light source having first and second leads extending therefrom;

a power source;

a housing containing the light source and the power source;

the housing including at least one side cover which is not integral with the housing;

the at least one of the side cover being selected from at least one of anodized metal, anodized metal which includes indicia, die struck metal, laser engraved metal, or a side cover having a separate medallion attached thereto; and

a switch being located adjacent the power source and operable to close a circuit including the light source and the power source.

29. The flashlight of claim 28 wherein the at least one side cover is made of a material dissimilar to the material of the housing.

30. The flashlight of claim 28, wherein an elastomeric switch element is positioned within the at least one side cover.

31. The flashlight of claim 28 wherein there are two side covers, one on each side of the flashlight and one of the side covers has said switch element, and one or both of the side covers are selected from anodized metal, anodized metal which includes indicia, die struck metal, laser engraved metal, and a side cover having a separate medallion attached thereto.

32. A flashlight comprising:

a light-emitting diode light source having first and second leads extending therefrom;

a power source;

a housing containing the light source and the power source;

the housing including two side cover which are not integral with the housing;

both side covers being made of die struck metal and

a switch being located adjacent the power source and operable to close a circuit including the light source and the power source.

34. The flashlight of claim 32, further including a power source frame positioned within the housing.

35. The flashlight of claim 32, wherein a magnet is positioned within the housing.

36. The flashlight of claim 32 wherein:

a keyring extension extends from the housing or a power source frame within the housing;

said keyring extension having an opening whereby an article can be attached to the keyring extension;

a keyring lock extending from the housing or the power source frame wherein upon exerting a force against the keyring lock, the keyring lock is opened to permit the article to be attached to the keyring extension.

37. The flashlight of claim 36, wherein the keyring lock pivots about a circular post.

38. The flashlight of claim 37 wherein the keyring lock is spring-biased and pivots about a circular post positioned on the power source frame.

39. The flashlight of claim 36 wherein the keyring lock exerts a force against an end of the keyring extension.

40. The flashlight of claim 36 wherein the keyring extension extends from a side opposite from the light emitting diode.

33. A flashlight comprising:

a light-emitting diode light source having first and second leads extending therefrom;

a power source;

a housing containing the light source and the power source;

the housing including two side cover which are not integral with the housing;

one side cover having a separate medallion and the other side cover having an elastomeric switch element positioned therein and operable to close a circuit including the light source and the power source.

41. The flashlight of claim 33, further including a power source frame positioned within the housing.

42. The flashlight of claim 33, wherein a magnet is positioned within the housing.

43. The flashlight of claim 33 wherein:

a keyring extension extends from the housing or a power source frame within the housing;

said keyring extension having an opening whereby an article can be attached to the keyring extension;

a keyring lock extending from the housing or the power source frame wherein upon exerting a force against the keyring lock, the keyring lock is opened to permit the article to be attached to the keyring extension.

44. The flashlight of claim 43, wherein the keyring lock pivots about a circular post.

45. The flashlight of claim 44 wherein the keyring lock is spring-biased and pivots about a circular post positioned on the power source frame.

46. The flashlight of claim 43 wherein the keyring lock exerts a force against an end of the keyring extension.

47. The flashlight of claim 43 wherein the keyring extension extends from a side opposite from the light emitting diode.

48. A flashlight comprising:

a light emitting diode having first and second leads extending therefrom;

a power source having opposite first and second sides;

a housing including at least one side cover disposed on a first side of the flashlight that encloses and protects the leads of the light emitting diode and the power source, wherein the at least one side cover further comprises a die struck panel; and

a switch operable to close a circuit including the light emitting diode and the power source.

49. The flashlight as in claim 48 wherein the at least one side cover further comprises a pair of side covers disposed adjacent the power source on opposing sides of the housing.

50. The flashlight as in claim 48 wherein the die struck panel further comprises aluminum.

51. The flashlight as in claim 48 wherein the die struck panel further comprises brass.

52. The flashlight as in claim 48 wherein the die struck panel further comprises physical indicia disposed on an outer surface of the side panel.

53. The flashlight as in claim 52 wherein the physical indicia further comprise coining.

54. The flashlight as in claim 52 wherein the physical indicia further comprises a logo.

55. The flashlight as in claim 52 wherein the physical indicia further comprises a name.

56. The flashlight as in claim 52 wherein the physical indicia further comprises laser engraving.

57. A flashlight comprising:

a light emitting diode;

a power source;

a power source frame adapted to receive the power source;

at least one die struck side cover enclosing at least a portion of the light source, the power source, and the power source frame;

a color disposed on the at least one side cover; and

a switch located adjacent the power source and operable to close a circuit including the light source and the power source.

58. The flashlight as in claim 57 wherein the color disposed on the at least one side cover further comprises a plurality of colors.

59. The flashlight as in claim 57 wherein the at least one die struck side cover further comprises a second side cover disposed on an opposing side of the light source, the power source and the power source frame.

60. The flashlight as in claim 57 wherein the die struck panel further comprises aluminum.

61. The flashlight as in claim 57 wherein the die struck panel further comprises brass.

62. The flashlight as in claim 57 wherein the die struck panel further comprises physical indicia disposed on an outer surface of the side panel.

63. The flashlight as in claim 62 wherein the physical indicia further comprise coining.

64. The flashlight as in claim 62 wherein the physical indicia further comprises a logo.

65. The flashlight as in claim 62 wherein the physical indicia further comprises a name.

66. The flashlight as in claim 62 wherein the physical indicia further comprises laser engraving.

67. A flashlight comprising:

a light emitting diode having first and second leads extending therefrom;

a disk-shaped power source having a first and second sides, the second side being opposite the first;

a housing enclosing the leads of the light emitting diode and the power source;

a switch disposed adjacent the power source including an electrically conductive switch plate operative to close a circuit including the power supply and the light emitting diode;

wherein the switch is activated by applying pressure to an elastomeric switch element for operative engagement with said switch plate whereby the circuit is completed.

68. A flashlight comprising:

a light-emitting diode light source having first and second leads extending therefrom;

a power source;

a translucent housing enclosing at least a portion of the power source and at least a portion of the light source;

a switch located adjacent the power source and operable to close a circuit including the light source and the power source;

a keyring extension extending from the housing,

said keyring extension having an opening whereby an article can be attached to the keyring extension, and

the keyring extension further includes a keyring lock connected to the housing wherein upon exerting a force against the keyring lock, the keyring lock is opened to permit the article to be attached to the keyring extension;

wherein said housing further comprises a pair of generally flat side covers disposed on opposing sides of the flashlight in a mutually parallel relationship with each other and with the disk-shaped power supply; and

wherein at least one side cover of the pair of side covers further comprises a die struck side cover.

69. A flashlight comprising:

a light-emitting diode light source having first and second leads extending therefrom;

a power source;

a translucent housing enclosing at least a portion of the power source and at least a portion of the light source; and

a switch located adjacent the power source and operable to close a circuit including the light source and the power source.