Back to results
US 5,630,661 AGranted
Metal arc flashlight
OwnerDonald P. Foxinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rechargeable metal arc flashlight having a light generating assembly which utilizes a metal halide arc lamp mounted inside an elliptical reflector for focusing emitted light onto a diffusion screen. The flashlight utilizes a moveable collimating lens disposed in front of the screen to focus light from the screen into a collimated beam or a floodlight which is passed through a UV blocking filter. The flashlight includes a rechargable self-contained power source for igniting and sustaining ignition of the arc lamp.
Claims6
A metal arc flashlight comprising
- a light generating assembly including a metal halide arc lamp mounted inside an elliptical reflector which focuses the light emitted by said lamp down to a spot located at a predetermined minimal distance in front of said lamp and reflector,
- a lens assembly located in front of said arc lamp and reflector and including,
- a diffusion screen located at said predetermined distance in
- front of said lamp where said emitted light is focused,
- a collimating lens disposed in front of said diffusion screen to angulate the light emerging therefrom,
- a UV blocking filter disposed in front of said collimating lens, and
- means for changing the distance between said collimating lens and said focus point of said elliptical reflector,
- a rechargeable battery disposed adjacent to said light generating assembly and having electrical contacts,
- an electronic ballast for converting battery voltage to a voltage required to operate said metal are lamp and for supplying a high-voltage pulse that ionizes a gas inside said lamp to initiate lamp ignition,
- electrical circuitry for electrically connecting said electronic ballast to said lamp and said ballast to said electrical contacts of said battery, said circuitry including an on/off switch for controlling a flow of electricity from said battery to said ballast and external electrical input connections for effecting the recharging of said battery, and
- a container for enclosing said components.
8 more elements
A metal arc flashlight comprising
- a light generating assembly including a metal halide arc lamp mounted inside an elliptical reflector which focuses the light emitted by said lamp down to a spot located at a predetermined minimal distance in front of said lamp and reflector,
- a lens assembly located in front of said are lamp and reflector and including,
- either a fiberoptic diffusion screen or a holographic light shaping diffusion screen located at said predetermined distance in front of said lamp where said emitted light is focused,
- either an aspheric condensing lens or a fresnel lens disposed in front of said diffusion screen to angulate the light emerging therefrom, and
- a UV blocking filter disposed in front of said collimating lens,
- a rechargeable battery disposed adjacent to said light generating assembly and having electrical contacts,
- an electronic ballast for converting battery voltage to a voltage required to operate said metal are lamp and for supplying a high-voltage pulse that ionizes a gas inside said lamp to initiate lamp ignition,
- electrical circuitry for electrically connecting said electronic ballast to said lamp and said ballast to said electrical contacts of said battery, said circuitry including an on/off switch for controlling a flow of electricity from said battery to said ballast and external electrical input connections for effecting the recharging of said battery,
- a container for enclosing said components, and
- a means for changing the distance between said lens and said focus point of said elliptical reflector, including a barrel containing said lens which is slidably engaged with said container to permit said lens to be adjustably positioned with respect to said light generating assembly.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.