# US 10,480,776 B1 · Flashlight and camera assembly for use under water

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- Number: US 10,480,776 B1
- Document ID: US10480776B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 16/146,417
- Filed: 2018-09-28
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2018-09-28
- Applicants: Charles Fultz
- Inventors: Charles Fultz
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480776B1

## CPC

- F21V 33/0052: {Audio or video equipment, e.g. televisions, telephones, cameras or computers; Remote control devices therefor}
- F21L 4/022: {Pocket lamps}
- F21V 31/005: {Sealing arrangements therefor}
- H04N 23/51: Housings
- H04N 23/555: {for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes}
- H04N 23/56: provided with illuminating means
- H04N 23/57: Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices
- F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21L: LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF, BEING PORTABLE OR SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR TRANSPORTATION
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

The flashlight and camera assembly for preventing unwanted light from negatively affecting a content capturing device. An outer housing assembly houses a first light emitting device, a second light emitting device and a content capturing device. A circumference is defined by a forward-end surface. The first light emitting device is housed by a first inner housing assembly. The second light emitting device is housed by a second inner housing assembly. The content capturing device housed by a third inner housing assembly. Unwanted light is prevented from negatively affecting the content capturing device by a separate arrangement within the circumference of a first transparent covering in front of the first inner housing assembly, second transparent covering in front of the second inner housing assembly and third transparent covering in front of the third inner housing assembly.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A flashlight and camera assembly for use under water comprising:
an outer housing assembly having a front end and an opposing rear end, the outer housing assembly configured for housing a battery power source, a first light emitting device, a second light emitting device, a content capturing device and electrical circuitry for controlling said battery power source and said devices, wherein unwanted light is prevented from negatively affecting the content capturing device;
a forward-end surface at the front end of the outer housing assembly;
a circumference defined by the forward-end surface;
the first light emitting device housed by a first inner housing assembly and positioned within the circumference and configured such that light is emitted from the first light emitting device in front of the outer housing assembly;
a first transparent covering positioned in front of the first inner housing assembly;
the second light emitting device housed by a second inner housing assembly and positioned within the circumference and configured such that light is emitted from the second light emitting device in front of the outer housing assembly;
a second transparent covering positioned in front of the second inner housing assembly;
the content capturing device housed by a third inner housing assembly and positioned within the circumference and configured such that content is captured by the content capturing device;
a third transparent covering positioned in front of the third inner housing assembly; and,
wherein unwanted light is prevented from negatively affecting the content capturing device by a separate arrangement within the circumference of the first transparent covering in front of the first inner housing assembly, second transparent covering in front of the second inner housing assembly and third transparent covering in front of the third inner housing assembly.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The flashlight and camera assembly for use under water from claim 1, wherein the assembly further includes:
a first recess within the circumference and in front of the first transparent covering;
a second recess within the circumference and in front of the second transparent covering; and,
a third recess within the circumference and in front of the third transparent covering.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The flashlight and camera assembly for use under water from claim 1, wherein the flashlight and camera assembly further includes a plurality of controls on an outward facing surface of the outer housing configured controlling the first light emitting device, second light emitting device and content capturing device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The flashlight and camera assembly for use under water from claim 1, wherein the first light emitting device is configured for emitting light having a first beam pattern.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The flashlight and camera assembly for use under water from claim 4, wherein the second light emitting device is configured for emitting light having a second beam pattern, wherein the first beam pattern defines a first beam angle that is greater than a second beam angle defined by the second beam pattern.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The flashlight and camera assembly for use under water from claim 5, wherein an angle of view of a field of view of the content capturing device is substantially the same as a first beam pattern of the first light emitting device, and a content capture origin of the content capturing device and a pattern origin of a first beam pattern of the first light emitting device are within the circumference, such that a lighted area caused by the first beam pattern is substantially aligned with the field of view of the content capturing device.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The flashlight and camera assembly for use under water from claim 1, wherein a handgrip is defined by a rearward portion of the outward facing surface of the outer housing assembly.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The flashlight and camera assembly for use under water from claim 1, wherein a cavity within the rearward portion is configured for receiving the battery source, and wherein the battery power source is removable.

### Claim 9 (depends on 3)

The flashlight and camera assembly for use under water from claim 3, wherein the controls for controlling first light emitting device, second light emitting device and content capturing device are configured such that a user may operate the controls using one hand of a user.

### Claim 10

A flashlight and camera assembly for use under water comprising:
an outer housing assembly having a front end and an opposing rear end, the outer housing assembly configured for housing a battery power source, a first light emitting device, a second light emitting device, a content capturing device and electrical circuitry for controlling said battery power source and said devices, wherein unwanted light is prevented from negatively affecting the content capturing device;
a forward-end surface at the front end of the outer housing assembly;
a circumference defined by the forward-end surface;
the first light emitting device housed by a first inner housing assembly and positioned within the circumference and configured such that light is emitted from the first light emitting device in front of the outer housing assembly;
a first transparent covering positioned in front of the first inner housing assembly;
the second light emitting device housed by a second inner housing assembly and positioned within the circumference and configured such that light is emitted from the second light emitting device in front of the outer housing assembly;
a second transparent covering positioned in front of the second inner housing assembly;
the content capturing device housed by a third inner housing assembly and positioned within the circumference and configured such that content is captured by the content capturing device;
a third transparent covering positioned in front of the third inner housing assembly:
unwanted light is prevented from negatively affecting the content capturing device by a separate arrangement within the circumference of the first transparent covering in front of the first inner housing assembly, second transparent covering in front of the second inner housing assembly and third transparent covering in front of the third inner housing assembly;
wherein no protruding objects extend though the first transparent covering, the second transparent covering and the third transparent covering; and,
wherein an angle of view of a field of view of the content capturing device is substantially the same as a first beam pattern of the first light emitting device, and a content capture origin of the content capturing device and pattern origin of a first beam pattern of the first light emitting device are within the circumference, such that a lighted area caused by the first beam pattern is substantially aligned with the field of view.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The flashlight and camera assembly for use under water from claim 10, wherein the assembly further includes:
a first recess within the circumference and in front of the first transparent covering;
a second recess within the circumference and in front of the second transparent covering; and,
a third recess within the circumference and in front of the third transparent covering.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The flashlight and camera assembly for use under water from claim 11, wherein the flashlight and camera assembly further includes a plurality of controls on an outward facing surface of the outer housing configured controlling the first light emitting device, second light emitting device and content capturing device.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The flashlight and camera assembly for use under water from claim 12, wherein the second light emitting device is configured for emitting light having a second beam pattern, wherein the first beam pattern defines a first beam angle that is greater than a second beam angle defined by the second beam pattern.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The flashlight and camera assembly for use under water from claim 13, wherein a handgrip is defined by a rearward portion of the outward facing surface of the outer housing assembly.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The flashlight and camera assembly for use under water from claim 14, wherein a cavity within the rearward portion is configured for receiving the battery source, and wherein the battery power source is removable.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The flashlight and camera assembly for use under water from claim 15, wherein the controls for controlling first light emitting device, second light emitting device and content capturing device are configured such that a user may operate the controls using one hand of a user.

### Claim 17

A flashlight and camera assembly comprising:
an outer housing assembly having a front end and an opposing rear end, the outer housing assembly configured for housing a battery power source, a first light emitting device, a content capturing device and electrical circuitry for controlling said battery power source and said devices, wherein unwanted light is prevented from negatively affecting the content capturing device;
a forward-end surface at the front end of the outer housing assembly;
a circumference defined by the forward-end surface;
the first light emitting device housed by a first inner housing assembly and positioned within the circumference and configured such that light is emitted from the first light emitting device in front of the outer housing assembly;
a first transparent covering positioned in front of the first inner housing assembly;
the content capturing device housed by a second inner housing assembly and positioned within the circumference and configured such that content is captured by the content capturing device;
a second transparent covering positioned in front of the second inner housing assembly; and,
wherein unwanted light is prevented from negatively affecting the content capturing device by a separate arrangement within the circumference of the first transparent covering in front of the first inner housing assembly and the second transparent covering in front of the second inner housing assembly,
wherein an angle of view of a field of view of the content capturing device is substantially the same as a first beam pattern of the first light emitting device, and a content capture origin of the content capturing device and a pattern origin of a first beam pattern of the first light emitting device are within the circumference, such that a lighted area caused by the first beam pattern is substantially aligned with the field of view.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The flashlight and camera assembly from claim 17, wherein the assembly further includes:
a first recess within the circumference and in front of the first transparent covering; and,
a second recess within the circumference and in front of the second transparent covering.