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US 6,445,132 B1Granted
Multi-mode light-emitting device for underwater applications
OwnerTimothy D. F. Fordinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multi-mode light-emitting device having a light source which changes illumination from steady state to flashing dependent on the polarity of the power source connected to its inputs. A multi-mode switch mechanism which changes from manually activated to water dependent on the polarity of the power source attached to the inputs and a rotating switch mechanism are also part of the invention.
Claims22
A multi-mode light emitting device, comprising:
- a light module comprising a light source, a first terminal, a second terminal, and a polarity responsive controller interposed between the light source and the first and second terminals;
- a DC power source having a positive terminal and a negative terminal;
- and
- a switch means selectively defining either interconnections between (a) the first and positive terminals and (b) the second and negative terminals, or interconnections between (a) the first and negative terminals and (b) the second and positive terminals;
- wherein the polarity responsive controller comprises:
- a steady state power supply circuit activated by the interconnections between (a) the first and positive terminals and (b) the second and negative terminals, and supplying, when activated, steady state power from the DC power source to the light source which then produces a steady state light;
- and
- an intermittent power supply circuit activated by the interconnections between (a) the first and negative terminals and (b) the second and positive terminals, and supplying, when activated, intermittent power from the DC power source to the light source which then produces a flashing light.
5 more elements
A rotatable switch mechanism, comprising:
- a hollow casing made of electrically non-conductive material, said hollow casing having a closed bottom and an opening opposite to said closed bottom to define a compartment for a battery pack having first and second terminals;
- an electrically conducting contact plate mounted on the closed bottom of the hollow casing for contact with the first terminal of the battery pack;
- a hollow cap made of electrically non-conductive material, said hollow cap being threadedly mounted on the open end of the hollow casing and having a tubular wall portion with a distal annular edge, said tubular wall portion of the hollow cap extending inside the hollow casing from the open end to the closed bottom;
- an electric load mounted inside the hollow cap, and including a contact for contact with the second terminal of the battery pack;
- an electric conductor running from the electric load along the tubular wall portion to reach and cover a portion of the distal annular edge;
- whereby rotation of the hollow cap about the hollow casing in a first direction will bring the electric conductor covering the distal annular edge into contact with the contact plate and the first terminal of the battery pack to thereby energize the electric load, and whereby rotation of the hollow cap about the hollow casing in a second direction opposite to the first direction will spread apart the electric conductor and the contact plate to de-energize the electric load.
3 more elements
A light-emitting device, comprising:
- a hollow casing made of electrically non-conductive material, said hollow casing having a closed bottom and an opening opposite to said closed bottom to define a compartment for a battery pack having first and second terminals;
- an electrically conducting contact plate mounted on the closed bottom of the hollow casing for contact with the first terminal of the battery pack;
- a hollow translucent lens cap made of electrically non-conductive material, said hollow lens cap being threadedly mounted on the open end of the hollow casing and having a tubular wall portion with a distal annular edge, said tubular wall portion of the hollow lens cap extending inside the hollow casing from the open end to the closed bottom;
- a light source mounted within the lens cap and comprising a first contact for contact with the second terminal of the battery pack and a second contact including an electric conductor running from the light source along the tubular wall portion to reach and cover a portion of the distal annular edge;
- whereby rotation of the hollow lens cap about the hollow casing in a first direction will bring the electric conductor covering the distal annular edge into contact with the contact plate and the first terminal of the battery pack to thereby energize the light source, and whereby rotation of the hollow cap about the hollow casing in a second direction opposite to the first direction will spread apart the electric conductor and the contact plate to de-energize the light source.
2 more elements
A multi-mode switch mechanism, comprising:
- a load module;
- a DC power source for said load module;
- a polarity reversing means changeable between a first mode in which connections of a first polarity are established with the DC power source and a second mode in which connections of a second polarity opposite to said first polarity are established with the DC power source;
- a user activated switch having an on position and an off position;
- a water activated switch;
- wherein said polarity reversing means, user activated switch and water activated switch define between the DC power source and the load module a switching arrangement in which:
- when the polarity reversing means is in the first mode, current from the DC power source is supplied to the load module through the user activated switch in the on position;
- and
- when the polarity reversing means is in the second mode, current from the DC power source is supplied to the load module through the water activated switch coming into contact with water.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.