US 5,842,777 AGranted

Flashlight

OwnerKevin McDermottinventor

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Abstract

The present invention describes a flashlight powered with an oblong power supply. The flashlight is designed to be compact and watertight. It is protected against the entrance of moisture with a single O-ring seal. The case of the flashlight can be injection molded and can be used without secondary fabrication such as gluing. The flashlight includes a light module which is held to prevent its rotation relative to the case to thereby maintain a desired polarity with the power supply permitting a variety of polarity responsive lamps or circuits to be incorporated into the design. Some configurations create light output color or intensity changes by reversing the batteries. On-Off switching is accomplished using a mechanism independent of the location of the power supply so that power supply movement will not cause inadvertent energizing of the lamp or hazardous sparks.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A flashlight including:

a light module incorporating a lamp, said light module including a first terminal and a second terminal;
a power supply defining an elongated power supply contour, said elongated power supply contour having a centroid, said power supply further including a positive terminal and a negative terminal;
energizing means to apply said power supply to said lamp;
a bezel element;
a light cover;
a case comprising a hollow elongated battery section and a hollow head section, said elongated battery section including a first end and a second end, said hollow elongated battery section closed at said first end and integrally connected to said hollow head section at said second end, said hollow head section accepting said light module through a head opening, said elongated battery section and said hollow head section configured whereby said power supply is accepted by said elongated battery section and said elongated power supply contour is substantially visible through said head opening;
said positive terminal located within said elongated power supply contour and said negative terminal located within said elongated power supply contour;
said case comprising means to align said power supply and said light module to effect a first electrical connection between said first terminal and said positive terminal and to effect a second electrical connection between said second terminal and said negative terminal;
a first spring at said first end or said second end of said elongated battery section which upon being deflected creates a force to enhance said first electrical connection;
and,
a second spring at said first end or said second end of said elongated battery section which upon being deflected creates a force to enhance said second electrical connection.

8 more elements

A flashlight including:

a light module incorporating a lamp, said light module including a first terminal and a second terminal;
a power supply defining an elongated power supply contour, said elongated power supply contour having a centroid, said power supply further including a positive terminal and a negative terminal;
energizing means to apply said power supply to said lamp;
a bezel element;
a light cover;
a case comprising a hollow elongated battery section and a hollow head section, said elongated battery section including a first end and a second end, said hollow elongated battery section closed at said first end and integrally connected to said hollow head section at said second end, said hollow head section accepting said light module through a head opening, said elongated battery section and said hollow head section configured whereby said power supply is accepted by said elongated battery section and said elongated power supply contour is substantially visible through said head opening;
said hollow head section having a head cavity, said head cavity having a centroidal axis;
and,
said centroid of said elongated power supply contour located substantially along said centroidal axis of said head cavity.

6 more elements

A flashlight including:

a light module incorporating a lamp, said light module further including a first terminal and a second terminal;
a power supply defining an elongated power supply contour, said elongated power supply contour having a centroid, said power supply including a positive terminal and a negative terminal;
energizing means to apply said power supply to said lamp;
a bezel element;
a light cover;
a case comprising a hollow elongated battery section and a hollow head section, said elongated battery section including a first end and a second end, said hollow elongated battery section closed at said first end and integrally connected to said hollow head section at said second end, said hollow head section accepting said light module through a head opening, said elongated battery section and said hollow head section configured whereby said power supply is accepted by said elongated battery section and said elongated power supply contour is substantially visible through said head opening;
and,
a switch to control the application of said power supply to said lamp, said switch activated by contact with said case.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.