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US 5,353,205 AGranted
Cockpit blackout search & survival light
OwnerH. John Hudakinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lightweight, compact lighting device, which may be detachably, rotatably attached to an earpiece of a pilot's earphone headset or to a military pilot's helmet, is primarily designed for use by pilots in the event of a blackout in the cockpit of an aircraft. The search and survival light is convenient to switch off and on by simply rotating a switch activator near the front of the device. The lighting device may be constructed separately for attachment to an earphone or it may be manufactured as an integral portion of a headphone earpiece. In another embodiment, a bracket is included for holding a compass and the device includes a fibre optic cable to light to the compass.
Claims14
A lighting device, comprising:
- front and back portions and sides, an electronic circuit with a light source, said light source positioned near the front of the device, connected in series to a power source and a switch means within the device, the switch means having first and second terminals and open and closed positions;
- wherein the light source is a bulb with a lighting portion and a conductive stem portion, said stem having a conductive flange projecting from the stem;
- said flange serving as a first terminal for the switch means;
- and
- wherein further the power source comprises at least one battery;
- a means for attaching associated with a side of the device for rotatably, detachably attaching the lighting device to a headpiece worn by a person;
- a hollow case with suitable dimensions for holding the at least one battery and the switch means;
- a removable back housing, with inner and outer surfaces, interfitted to the back of the case;
- a tubular collar with interior and exterior threading projecting outward at the front of the case;
- a hollow switch assembly having a conductive exterior wall to serve as the second terminal for said switch means, and exterior threads whereby said switch assembly is threaded into the collar;
- said switch assembly further having a non-conductive internal portion;
- said switch assembly adapted to receive the bulb;
- a non-conductive cuff displaced in the switch assembly to surround and insulate the stem and conductive flange of the bulb, whereby the bulb and cuff are adapted for longitudinal movement in the switch assembly;
- a switch activator with interior and exterior threads threadably installed on the outside of the collar;
- a funnel shaped reflector, with wide and narrow portions, a larger and a smaller opening, said reflector positioned in the switch activator with the bulb projecting through the narrow portion and into the wide portion of the reflector, and the narrow end of the reflector abutting against the non-conductive cuff;
- a lens positioned over the wider opening of the funnel;
- a lens focusing cap having internal threads, threadably installed over the switch activator for securing the reflector and lens in position at the front of the device;
- and,
- a spring disposed between the back housing and a battery, of said at least one battery, in alignment with the bulk and said non-conductive cuff to bias the aligned battery, of said at least one battery, the bulb and said cuff toward the front of the device.
16 more elements
A lighting device comprising:
- a case with front and back portions, an electronic circuit with a light source positioned near the front of the device connected in series to a power source comprising at least one battery, and a switch means, the switch means having first and second terminals and open and closed positions;
- a removable back housing, with inner and outer surfaces, interfitted to the back of the case;
- a tubular collar with interior and exterior threading projecting outward at the front of the case;
- a hollow switch assembly having a conductive exterior wall with threads for threading the switch assembly into said collar, said conductive wall serving as the second terminal for said switch means, said switch assembly further having a non-conductive internal portion;
- said switch assembly threaded into the collar and adapted to receive the bulb;
- a non-conductive, cylindrical cuff displaced in the switch assembly to surround and insulate the stem and conductive flange of the bulb, whereby the bulb and cuff are adapted for longitudinal movement in the switch assembly;
- a switch activator with interior and exterior threads threadably installed on the outside of the collar;
- a funnel shaped reflector, with wide and narrow portions, a larger and a smaller opening, said reflector positioned in the switch activator with the bulb projecting through the narrow portion and into the wide portion of the reflector, and the narrow end of the funnel abutting against the non-conductive cuff;
- a lens positioned over the wider opening of the funnel;
- a focusing cap having internal threads, threadably installed over the switch activator for securing the reflector and lens in position at the front of the device;
- and, a spring disposed between the back housing and a battery, of said at least one battery, in alignment with the bulb and said non-conductive cuff to bias said aligned battery, of said at least one battery, the bulb and said cuff toward the front of the device;
- wherein,
- said lighting device is constructed integrally with, and incorporated as a permanent component of, a headpiece worn by a person.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.