Portable light beacon
OwnerJohn E. Braininventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A portable light beacon for use on life rafts and the like that has a long life due to a flashing light allowing the battery to recharge and a water sensing switch that once wet remains on. The light beacon comprises a portable battery power source in a water proof container, a flashing light with watertight electrical connections between the flashing light and the power source, and a fluid sensing switch comprising a fluid absorbent composition positioned between two terminals with circuitry to activate the flashing light when an electrical conductive fluid has been absorbed by the fluid absorbent composition to provide an electrical path between the two terminals.
Claims32
A portable light beacon comprising:
- a portable battery power source in a water proof container;
- light means connected by an electrical path to said battery power source,
- a fluid sensing switch located in said electrical path between the light means and the power source said fluid sensing switch including a fluid absorbent medium positioned between a pair of terminals which are in said electrical path;
- and
- an electronic circuitry in said electrical path, constituting means for sensing a relatively weak electrical current between said terminals occurring when electro-conductive fluid has been absorbed by said medium, and for activating said light means in response to said current.
A portable light beacon, comprising:
- a battery in a water proof container;
- light means;
- electrical connection means between said light means and said battery, said electrical connection means, battery and light means forming an electrical circuit;
- a fluid sensing switch in said electrical circuit, said fluid sensing switch including:
- a) a pair of terminals coupled to said electrical connection means;
- and
- b) a fluid retaining medium between said terminals, said fluid sensing switch constituting means for:
- i) establishing an electrical path between said terminals when said fluid sensing switch is immersed in an electro-conductive fluid, thereby allowing a relatively weak electrical current to flow between the terminals;
- ii) maintaining the flow of electrical current between said terminals when said fluid sensing switch is removed from the electro-conductive fluid, by retaining between said terminals a quantity of electro-conductive fluid to maintain said electrical path;
- and
- an electronic circuit means in said electrical circuit, for activating said light means in response to said electrical current.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.