Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to improvements in a flashlight switch. More particularly the switch allows flashlight to turn on with side pressure or rotation of an end cap of the flashlight.
2. Description of Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98:
Tail cap switches are limited to very specific grip positions in the hand to gain access to the switch. Also, tail cap switches interfere with placement of a glass breaking device and are not designed to support strike loads Involved in breaking tempered glass. Flashlight switches generally take a number of different types of configurations. In general these three types of configurations are a slide switch, rotational twist and push switches. The push switches can exist on the back or the side of the flashlight. Several products and patents have been. Exemplary examples of patents covering these products are disclosed herein.
A flashlight with a slide switch include U.S. Pat. No. 7,393,120 issued Jul. 1, 2008 to Kang et al., discloses a flashlight with a combination side mounted slide and push switch. While the patent discloses a flashlight switch mechanism the operator is required to hold the flashlight with a finger over the flashlight to operate the switch.
Flashlights with rotational twist to turn on the light include U.S. Pat. No. 4,581,686 issued Apr. 8, 1986 to Normal C. Nelson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,129 issued Feb. 27, 1990 to Raymond L. Sharrah, U.S. Pat. No. 5,021,934 issued Jun. 4, 1991 to Hsisn-Der Hou and U.S. Pat. No. 5,122,938 issued Jun. 16, 1992 to Michael J. Pastusek disclose flashlights where turning the front or back of the flash light will conduct power from the batteries to the light source. While these provide switching mechanisms for illuminating the light they do not allow for the light to be illuminated with side motion on the ends of the flashlight.
Flashlights with push switches on the side of the flashlight include U.S. Pat. No. 3,924,166 issued Dec. 2, 1975 to Robert E. Brindley and U.S. Pat. No. 6,814,466 issued Nov. 9, 2004 to Kevin L. Parsons. While these patents disclose switches that operate by pushing on the sides of the body of the flashlight, they do not provide for pushing or tipping horizontally on the end of the flashlight in any direction.
Flashlights with push switches on the back of the flashlight includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,932 issued Jul. 1, 1997 to John Wallace Matthews, U.S. Pat. No. 6,296,371 issued Oct. 2, 2001 to Wen-Chin Shiau, U.S. Pat. No. 6,491,409 issued Dec. 10, 2002 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,886,960 on May 3, 2005 both to Raymond L. Sharrah. Pushing the back of the flashlight requires the operator to press on only the back of the flashlight. While this allows for a method to operate the flashlight it does not allow an operator to turn on the flashlight from a variety of positions.
What is needed is a flashlight where the flashlight can be temporally activated by side motion or tipping of one end of the flashlight body. Side motion can be easily placed onto the flashlight with a finger or a hand squeeze.
It is an object of the side action flashlight that allows operation of the flashlight by pressing horizontally on the head or tail of the flashlight. The side activation allows an operator to press on any side of the flashlight ends. The pressing creates an angular rotation of the end cap where it makes contact with the body. This function can be incorporated into either the illumination side or the tail side of the flashlight.
It is an object of the side action flashlight for the bezel of the light output side of the flashlight to have a scalloped or crowned edge. The scalloped edge allows a person to see that the flashlight is on when resting on the top edge of the flashlight. The scalloped top edge also provides a low output of light without requiring an electrical dimming function.
It is an object of the side action flashlight to have an off, temporal on function and an off function. These functions are selected by positioning the end of the flashlight at various positions. An optional detent can be designed into the components to provide a positive feedback mechanism to the user to determine the position of the end cap. The electrical connection components are configured in wave, scalloped or crowed configuration to provide the functions described.
It is another object of the side action flashlight for the flashlight to be waterproof. The design of various switches that require movement or twisting for activation of the light the configuration of the switch provides an opening for water intrusion into the flashlight. The electrical insulating O-ring within the flashlight provides both an electrical isolation of the contacts and a waterproof seal to the inside of the flashlight.
It is still another object of the side action flashlight to include a glass breaker on the end of the flashlight. While the glass breaker does not provide functional operation to the flashlight switch it provides additional function to the flashlight. The proposed switch mechanism is structurally secure enough that repeated use of the glass breaker will not deteriorate the electrical functionality of the switch.
Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components.
The preferred embodiment and additional embodiments are described in detail with reference to the related drawings. Further embodiments, features and advantages will become apparent from the ensuing description or may be learned by practicing the invention. In the figures, which are not drawn to scale, like reference characters refer to like features throughout the description. The following description of embodiments, even if phrased in terms of what “the Invention does,” is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made for the purposes of describing the general principle Invention. The coverage of this patent will be described in the claims.
In the preferred embodiment the end cap provides the switch function, but it is also contemplated that the illumination end of the flashlight can have the switch function disclosed and claimed in this application. One embodiment of a tall cap flashlight allows a variety of grip positions and access to a tail cap switch, while also allows incorporation of a glass breaking device 19 that is capable of supporting strike loads sufficient to break tempered glass, should it be required in an emergency.
In these figures, a portion of the inner switch body 11 is shown secured to the flashlight body 10. The O-ring 13 is shown exaggerated in these views to provide a better understanding of its location. The outer switch body 22 with a glass breaker 19 is secured to the inner switch body 11. The accompanying figures provide greater detail on the structure of the switch components.
In one embodiment, though various materials may be used, fashioned by molding, casting or machining on a lathe to create the major components to the switch, machine turning on a lathe from aluminum is the preferred technique. However, molding in plastic with appropriate incorporated conduits may produce mass production solutions. As depicted in the figure after fashioning switch bodies 11 and 22 from chosen material, by chosen method, O-ring 13 would be installed to inner switch body 11 in appropriate groove. Switch bodies 11 and 22 are then fastened to one and other by a single centrally located threaded fastener 14 which acts as conduit from battery source to outer switch body. Power from a battery 23 in the flashlight body 10 is conducted to the fastener 14. The bottom of the inner switch body 14 threads 24 or is pressed into the flashlight body 10.
A ball bearing 17 is pushed by a spring 18 to provide the switch position. The ball bearing travels in a cam shaped recess 20. In the cam shaped recess 20 a series of detents 21 identify the position of the switch as no contact, temporal contact and continuous contact to complete an electric circuit. When the outer switch body 22 is further turned on the inner switch body 11, a continuous contact is made between the outer switch body 12 and the inner switch body 22. The detents 21 gives the user a better sense of switch position when transitioning between modes.
In the embodiment shown a glass breaker 19 is inserted into the end of the outer switch body 22. The top of the outer switch body 22 is formed with a dual angle step 25.
One embodiment of a switch, as for a flashlight of the tail cap variety, is affixed threaded to the back of various flashlights by internal or external threaded configurations. The threaded portion 24 of inner switch body 11 is shouldered 30 and when fastened to back of flashlight, creates continuity between Inner switch body and flashlight body at shouldered point of contact. Outer switch body 12 is attached threaded by central fastener 14 which also acts as conduit from battery 23 to carry voltage to outer switch body 12. The switch can be incorporated with or without a glass breaker 19 in either case access to switch and switch function are Identical. The switch can function with various LED or Incandescent hand held flashlights of the tail Cap variety and is designed to remain in off position until external forces are applied perpendicular to outer switch body or by twisting outer switch body in either direction.
The lobes or scallops 31 and 32 essentially create positive and negative portions of the switch bodies, while in direct contact along a flat plane, are insulted on that plane and, while centered, maintain uncommon polarities. These flat insulated planes are designed to carry high strike loads perpendicular to insulated planes. The switch bodies being cylindrical have an axis, and while centered maintain uncommon polarities (off position). To complete a circuit, forces of as little as 0.6 kg applied perpendicular to axis of cylindrical switch bodies will displace them from common axis, (though in some applications lower forces may be preferable and in other applications greater actuating forces may be more preferable) the movement along the flat Insulated plane will allow contact at un-insulted Internal peripheries (on position). When displacing force is removed from switch body, the switch bodies will return to common axis and disconnect circuit. To complete the circuit, force may be applied at any point radial perpendicular to outer switch body.
In one embodiment, when Installed to the back of a flashlight, pressure to the outer switch body by the thumb or while griped In one hand and forcing the side of the outer switch body In the palm of the hand with the fingers of the same hand will close circuit creating (on) position until side pressure is released, at which point switch will return to off position automatically.
Thus, specific embodiments of an emergency switch for a tail cap flashlight have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of Provisional 61/141,582 filed Dec. 30, 2008 the entire contents of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20100165613 A1 | Jul 2010 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61141582 | Dec 2008 | US |