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US 7,802,898 B1Granted
Lightning device
AssigneeBlackhawk Industries Product Group Unlimited LLC
InventorsThomas M. Gregory, Robert A. Kincaid, Craig Adam Lamb, Birten L. Todd, Eric M. Yeates, Clifton L. Cook, Thomas A. Marx, John E. Proc
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A switch assembly that is utilized as a tail cap of a lighting device. The switch assembly comprises a depressible switch that allows the user to activate the lighting device. In an illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, the switch assembly has four channels, providing for at least three different light functions and a locking channel. In these non-limiting embodiments, the different channels are defined by the axial position of the rotatable portion relative to the lighting device body.
Claims33
A lighting device having a multi-channel switch assembly, comprising:
- a head assembly, wherein the head assembly comprises a light source;
- a light body having a first end and a second end, wherein the head assembly is coupled to the first end of the light body;
- a battery housing, wherein an interior cavity of the battery housing defines a battery compartment capable of receiving a battery, and wherein the battery housing is positioned within a cavity formed by the light body;
- a switch assembly coupled to the second end of the light body via a threaded collar, wherein the switch assembly comprises at least some of a rotator that is rotatable to at least two light activating channels relative to the light body;
- an actuator, wherein the actuator includes a first electrical contact coupled to a lower portion of the actuator such that the first electrical contact is maintained in a fixed position relative to the actuator, wherein the first electrical contact comprises a magnetic contact, and wherein the actuator is coupled to the rotator such that when the rotator is rotated to a light activating channel, the actuator and the first electrical contact are also rotated to a corresponding light activating channel;
- a switch cup rotatably coupled to the rotator and the threaded collar, wherein when the switch assembly is coupled to the light body, the switch cup is indexed to the light body, and wherein the switch cup is electrically coupled to the battery such that, when the switch assembly is coupled to the light body, the switch cup is electrically coupled to the light body and the controller;
- at least one second electrical contact associated with each light activating channel of the switch assembly, wherein the at least one second electrical contact comprises a hall effect contact, wherein the at least one second electrical contact is coupled to the battery housing, and wherein each second electrical contact is capable of producing an activation signal when the first electrical contact makes electrical contact with the second electrical contact;
- wherein, when the actuator is moved from a first position within the switch cup to a second position within the switch cup, such that the first electrical contact is moved to a position wherein the first electrical contact makes electrical contact with the second electrical contact associated with an instant light activating channel of the rotator such that the electrical contact of the first electrical contact activates the proximate second electrical contact associated with an instant light activating channel of the rotator;
- and
- a controller, wherein the controller is electrically coupled to each second electrical contact such that the controller is capable of receiving an activation signal from each second electrical contact and determining the output function for the light source that is represented by the activated second electrical contact, wherein the controller is electrically coupled to the light source and the battery such that the controller is capable of energizing the light source in response to the receipt of an activation signal from each second electrical contact and controlling the output patterns and on/off functions of the light source.
7 more elements
A lighting device having a multi-channel switch assembly, comprising:
- a head assembly, wherein the head assembly comprises a light source;
- a light body having a first end and a second end, wherein the head assembly is coupled to the first end of the light body;
- a battery compartment formed within a cavity of the light body, wherein the battery compartment capable of receiving a battery;
- a switch assembly coupled to the light body;
- an actuator, wherein the actuator includes a first electrical contact coupled to a lower portion of the actuator such that the first electrical contact is maintained in a fixed position relative to the actuator;
- a switch cup coupled to the light body, wherein the switch cup is electrically coupled to the battery such that, when the switch assembly is coupled to the light body, the switch cup is electrically coupled to the light body and the controller, and wherein the actuator is movably positioned within the switch cup such that the actuator is movable between a first position within the switch cup and a second position within the switch cup;
- at least one second electrical contact associated with a light activating channel of the switch assembly, wherein the at least one second electrical contact is capable of producing an activation signal when the first electrical contact makes electrical contact with the second electrical contact;
- wherein, when the actuator is moved from a first position within the switch cup to a second position within the switch cup, the first electrical contact is moved to a position wherein the first electrical contact makes electrical contact with the at least one second electrical contact;
- and
- a controller, wherein the controller is electrically coupled to the at least one second electrical contact such that the controller is capable of receiving an activation signal from the at least one second electrical contact and determining the output function for the light source that is represented by the at least one activated second electrical contact, wherein the controller is electrically coupled to the light source and the battery such that the controller is capable of energizing the light source in response to the receipt of an activation signal from the at least one second electrical contact and controlling the on/off functions of the light source.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.