Patent Application
20060262518
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a flashlight tool apparatus, and more particularly to an articulated flashlight apparatus including a light emitting member and a base member that can contain a multi-function tool which provides a stable base and allows the light emitting member to assume multiple positions.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The prior art includes a wide variety of utility flashlights, including light weight, pocket size devices found in the commercial and camping markets. The most notable of the pocket size devices is the MAGLITE (™) line of flashlights. These devices typically include a light bulb, batteries and a housing to contain them, as do most conventional flashlights.
The prior art also includes a number of multi-functional tools that combine different tool heads into a common handle. The tool heads fold or pivot into the handle, and they can unfold or pivot out of the handle (either separately or collectively). The most notable of these devices is the SWISS ARMY (™) line of products.
It is desirable for a pocket size flashlight to include support structure for placing the flashlight in different positions and allowing hands-free operation of the flashlight. It is also desirable for a pocket size multifunction tool to include a flashlight as one of its components. Finally, it is desirable that these tools and flashlights have a compact and a light weight construction.
The flashlight tool apparatus of the present invention provides a pocket size, multi-function tool with a flashlight component that can be separated into a light emitting part and a two-part base. The stable, two-part base allows an operator to place the flashlight component in a number of positions without holding it there with his or her hands. The construction is simple and compact; it is light weight and easy to manufacture and operate.
In accordance with this invention, a flashlight apparatus includes a two-part base member with an upper part and a lower part pivotably connected at one end, and a light emitting member that is itself pivotably connected to the upper part of the base member or to a slide that mates into a channel in the upper part of the base member. The light emitting member can be separable from the base member by sliding the slide out of the channel. In one embodiment, the upper part of the base member includes a pocket size multi-function tool disposed in end-to-end relation with the light emitting member. The base member allows the flashlight to sit upright and assume different angles toward which the light beam can be pointed. The lower part of the base member itself can be independently used as a digging tool with the upper part acting as a handle.
For a more complete understanding of this invention, one should now refer to the embodiments illustrated in greater detail in the accompanying drawings and described below as examples of the invention. In the drawings:
While the following disclosure describes the invention in connection with one embodiment and a number of modifications, one should understand that the invention is not limited to this embodiment. Furthermore, one should understand that the drawings are not to scale and that graphic symbols, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views, in part, may illustrate the embodiment. In certain instances, the disclosure may not include details which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention.
Turning now to the drawings and referring specifically to
The base member with a upper part 6 and a lower part 7 can pivot to different angles from completely folded to almost straight and can thus be used to point the light beam from the light emitting member 1 into almost any angle. The lower part of the base member 7 has a flat bottom and provides a very stable base upon which to place the flashlight tool on any reasonably flat surface. Because the flashlight tool of the present invention is made for pocket use, especially outdoors, the base can be placed on the ground, on a table, on a car fender or almost anywhere to hold the light.
The upper part 6 of the base member can be shaped like a channel and can optionally contain a set of folding tools where each tool is connected on a pin 15 or other pivot means that runs across one end of the channel. Several different tools can be stacked side-by-side in parallel fashion to provide a versatile tool kit. For example,
The side-by-side tools generally ride on the pin 15 which traverses the channel making up the upper part 6 of the base unit. It is advantageous to optionally provide a stop so that the tools cannot pivot past a 180 degree angle with the base. Details of a possible stop are shown in
The upper part 6 of the base member can optionally contain a clip 14 which can releasably hold a cigarette lighter 9 or any other type of flame source such as a box of matches or waterproof matches. This feature can be particularly useful for camping.
The flashlight tool of the present invention can be totally folded for pocket carrying (or inserted in an optional carrying case).
An optional use of the base member 6, 7 is as a digging tool. In this case, the end of the lower part 7 of the base member can be shaped with the edges of the channel slightly tapered to allow digging.
One of the possible tools that can be supplied is an insert socket 17.
While the above description and the drawings disclose and illustrate one embodiment and a number of modifications of that embodiment, one should understand, of course, that the invention is not limited to this embodiment. those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains may make other modifications and other embodiments employing the principles of the invention, particularly upon considering the foregoing teachings. Therefore, by the appended claims, the applicant intends to cover any modifications and other embodiments that incorporate those features which constitute the essential features of this invention.
