Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6299323
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Patent Number
6,299,323
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Date Filed
Friday, October 13, 200023 years ago
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Date Issued
Tuesday, October 9, 200122 years ago
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Inventors
-
-
Examiners
Agents
- Gifford, Krass, Groh, Sprinkle, Anderson & Citkowski, P.C.
-
CPC
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US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 362 116
- 362 196
- 362 200
- 362 201
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International Classifications
-
Abstract
A miniature LED flashlight is provided having a battery with opposing surfaces of opposite polarity and an LED having two leads extending therefrom, the battery and the LED received within a molded lower panel. A adapted to press fit with the lower panel in simultaneous contact with the frame creates a flashlight that is readily opened to interchange and replace component parts. The upper panel also has an upper surface, a side and an aperture extending through the upper surface. The side of the upper surface has a notch receive a lever for detaching the upper panel. Transverse finger pressure on the aperture urges the LED leads into contact with the opposing surfaces of the battery thereby illuminating the LED. A dual mode switch is also provided to slide within the aperture. The resulting flashlight may exist as a self-contained variety of outer housing structures.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to miniature flashlights and, more particularly, to a reusable flashlight having multiple operational modes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
With the advent of light emitting diodes (LEDs), compact, high flux illuminating devices became available. These illuminating devices have traditionally been constructed with two complementary shell components encasing an LED and a battery with an aperture in one component for a finger-activated button. Owing to the simple nature of these “clamshell” devices, sonic welding or adhesives are used to permanently seal the illuminating device. Upon expending the battery or damage to a device component, such illuminating devices are discarded thereby adding to the consumer waste stream.
There exists growing appreciation for the need to minimize waste streams and, in particular, waste streams such as batteries that over time may leak acids or toxic metals. Further, a device with interchangeable and replaceable components justifies further engineering to provide a more reliable and adaptable illuminating device.
Owing to the disposable mind-set invoked to design prior art illuminating devices, little attention has been paid to creating an illuminating device with multiple operating modes. Thus, there exists a need for a miniature LED flashlight having replaceable component parts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A flashlight according to the present invention includes a battery having opposite polarity surfaces, an LED having two leads extending therefrom and a lower panel adapted to receive the battery and LED such that the LED leads can engage the opposing surfaces of the battery. A frame is attached to the lower panel, and an upper panel having an upper surface, a side and an aperture extending through the upper surface snap fits with the lower panel in simultaneous contact with the frame.
In another embodiment, the flashlight according to the present invention includes a button battery, an LED having two leads extending therefrom with the first LED lead in constant contact with a battery pole and a lower panel adapted to receive both the battery and the LED. A metal frame is attached to the lower panel, with a portion of the frame being configured as a hook. A spring affixed to the frame is urged into contact with the hook portion of the frame. An upper panel having an upper surface, an aperture extending through the upper surface and a side having a notch such that a wall of the notch is defined by the frame includes snap fittings adapted to press fit with the lower panel in simultaneous contact with the frame. Transverse finger pressure applied through the upper panel aperture is sufficient to urge the second lead into contact with the opposing polarity battery pole thereby activating the LED.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a miniature LED flashlight according to the present invention; and
FIG. 2
is an exploded view of the embodiment of the present invention depicted in FIG.
1
.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference now to
FIGS. 1 and 2
, the overall flashlight of the present invention is shown at
10
. A light emitting diode (LED)
14
is bounded diametrically by a frame
16
. The LED being of any color including red, yellow and blue. A GaN LED is particularly preferred owing to the ophthalmic sensitivity to blue and the intensity thereof. The frame
16
being intermediate between a lower panel
18
and an upper panel
20
. The upper panel
20
having an aperture
24
. The aperture
24
adapted to receive the boss portion
26
of a switch generally shown at
28
. The frame
16
is optionally formed to define a hook portion
30
. Pivotal attachment of a spring clip
32
to a portion of the frame
16
urges the spring clip
32
into pivotable contact with the hook portion
30
of the metallic frame
16
. The metallic spring
32
inserting into offset holes
34
within the metallic frame
16
. Rotation of metallic spring
32
about the offset and opposing holes
34
exerts a spring-like tension on the hook portion
30
. It is appreciated that the frame
16
need not terminate in a hook, but rather is crafted into decorative and utilitarian forms illustratively including a flush form, a swivel, a loop, a magnetic fastener and a sculpted ornament. Preferably, the frame
16
is metal. A metallic frame according to the present invention is cast from a metal illustratively including pot metal, aluminum, steel, pewter and brass. It is appreciated that a metallic frame according to the present invention is also readily formed through machining of a blank. Optionally, a frame according to the present invention is also formed of high ductility, high strength polymeric materials illustratively including epoxy, polycarbonate, LEXAN (Du Pont de Nemours and Company), fiber reinforced or metallic granulate reinforced forms thereof, and mixtures thereof. More preferably, a frame according to the present invention is formed from cast pot metal. Optionally, the frame is plated or otherwise coated to impart a protective or decorative appearance thereto.
The lower panel
18
is formed of an injected moldable thermoplastic material. Optionally, the lower or upper panel according to the present invention is formed of a translucent thermoplastic. The lower panel
18
has a recess
38
adapted to receive a button type battery
40
having a first pole face
41
and an opposite polarity face
42
. Typically, the battery used herein is a lithium battery. The sidewalls of the recess
38
have a slot
43
therein, the slot
43
spaced to allow a lead
48
of the LED
14
to come into electrical contact with one pole of the battery
40
. A terminal recess
50
is adapted to receive the LED
14
. A second lead
52
of the LED
14
is supported by a portion of the lower panel
18
so as to afford selective electrical contact between the second lead
52
and the opposing pole
42
of the battery
40
. In a preferred embodiment, selective electrical contact between the second lead and the opposing pole of the battery
40
is provided by a leaf spring
54
. The leaf spring
54
having an anchoring portion
56
adapted to be received within a slot
58
within lower panel
18
. The leaf spring
54
spans battery
40
and extends to a position over the second LED lead
52
. By placing a transverse pressure on the leaf spring
54
, the conductive leaf spring simultaneously contacts the second LED lead
52
and the opposing battery pole
42
thereby completing an electrical circuit and energizing the LED
14
. The leaf spring
54
is urged into simultaneous contact with the second LED lead
52
and the opposite pole
42
of the battery
40
by the switch
28
in contact with the upper surface
60
of the leaf spring
54
. The switch
28
held in relative position to the leaf spring by guide rails
59
formed in the lower side of upper panel
20
. The boss
26
extending from switch
28
extends through aperture
24
of the upper panel
20
. The boss
26
slides within aperture
24
with the application of lateral pressure to the boss. The switch
28
has a pedestal
62
extending beneath the boss
26
adapted to retain the boss
26
within the flashlight
10
. Extending from the pedestal
62
on opposite sides and extending toward the upper panel is a locking post
64
. The locking post
64
is adapted to engage complementary indentations molded within rails
59
of the upper panel
20
. The switch
28
has a rocking undercarriage
70
extending beneath the pedestal. The rocking undercarriage
70
engaging the sidewalls defining the battery recess
38
. As a result, translation of the switch
28
fully forward towards the LED
14
exerts a continual transverse pressure urging the leaf spring
54
into simultaneous contact with the opposite pole
42
of the battery
40
and the second lead
52
of the LED
14
thereby activating the LED
14
in a continual fashion. An intermediate position of the switch
28
relative to aperture
24
activates the LED
14
intermittently only through the addition of a transverse pressure on the boss
26
to selectively urge the leaf spring
54
into simultaneous contact with the second LED lead
52
and the opposing battery pole
42
. It is appreciated that other types of springs including coil springs, button springs and the like, as well as other switch arrangements, are operative herein to afford both intermittent and continuous activated conditions of a LED.
In a preferred embodiment, the flashlight
10
according to the present invention is resealable after disassembly to component parts. The ability to reseal the flashlight
10
after disassembly allows for the replacement of expended batteries or other components. According to the present invention, an upper panel, frame and lower panel are interconnected through complementary snap fittings molded into the upper and lower panels. With reference to
FIG. 2
, at least two snap fittings
72
extend from the upper panel
20
. The upper panel snap fittings
72
engage complementary snap fittings
74
extending from the lower panel
18
. Preferably, at least one alignment pin
76
and alignment hole
77
set are divided between the lower and upper panels to facilitate component alignment before snap fitting the panels together. More preferably, a nub
79
is formed within the interior of the frame
16
in order to facilitate snap fitting of either the upper panel
20
or the lower panel
18
with the frame
16
.
Disassembly of the flashlight
10
is facilitated by a notch
78
located in the upper panel
20
. The notch
78
is parallel to the frame
16
and a wall of the notch is defined by the frame. The notch
78
is adapted to receive a coin edge, key, paperclip or other small article, the article serving as a lever for separating the upper panel
20
from the remainder of the flashlight
10
. Through the use of the notch
78
, the flashlight
10
is readily disassembled without resort to specialized tools such as a jeweler's screwdriver.
While the present invention has been described with reference to a self-contained flashlight unit, the invention as detailed herein is readily integrated into more complex structures such as a luggage tag, clipboard, a watchband, lock, key, helmet, knife, toy, toolbox and gun.
The foregoing description is illustrative of particular embodiments of the invention, but is not meant to be a limitation upon the practice thereof. The following claims, including all equivalents thereof, are intended to define the scope of the invention.
Claims
- 1. A flashlight comprising:a battery having opposing surfaces of opposite polarity; a light emitting diode having a first lead and a second lead extending therefrom, the leads adapted to engage the opposing surfaces of the battery; a lower panel adapted to receive said battery and said LED; a frame attached to said lower panel; an upper panel having an upper surface, a side and an aperture extending through the upper surface; and snap fittings adapted to press fit with said lower panel in simultaneous contact with said frame.
- 2. The flashlight of claim 1 wherein said upper panel has a notch in the side such that a wall of the notch is defined by said frame and the notch is adapted to receive a lever for detaching said upper panel from said lower panel.
- 3. The flashlight of claim 1 further comprising a dual function switch adapted to insert between said upper panel and the second lead so that lateral movement of said switch urges the second lead into a condition selected from the group consisting of: constant contact between the leads and the opposing surfaces of said battery, and intermittent contact between the leads and the opposing surfaces of the battery induced by a further transverse pressure exerted on said switch.
- 4. The flashlight of claim 1 wherein the first lead is in constant contact with a battery pole and said second lead contacts the opposing battery pole through a bridging connector.
- 5. The flashlight of claim 4 wherein the bridging connector is a leaf spring.
- 6. The flashlight of claim 1 wherein said frame is metal.
- 7. The flashlight of claim 6 wherein said frame is pot metal.
- 8. The flashlight of claim 1 wherein said frame is configured to form a hook.
- 9. The flashlight of claim 7 further comprising a spring clip urged into contact with the hook.
- 10. The flashlight of claim 1 wherein the dual function switch has a rocking undercarriage adapted to urge a leaf spring into simultaneous contact with the second lead and the opposing battery pole.
- 11. The flashlight of claim 1 wherein said battery is a lithium disc battery.
- 12. The flashlight of claim 1 wherein said LED is a gallium nitride LED.
- 13. The flashlight of claim 1 wherein at least one of said upper panel and said lower panel is translucent.
- 14. The flashlight of claim 1 wherein said upper panel and said lower panel are formed of thermoplastic material.
- 15. The flashlight of claim 1 wherein said frame is metal plated.
- 16. A flashlight comprising:a button battery having a battery pole and a second surface of opposite polarity; a light emitting diode having a first lead and a second lead extending therefrom, the first lead in constant contact with the battery pole; a lower panel adapted to receive said battery and said LED; a metal frame attached to said lower panel, wherein a portion of said frame is configured as a hook; a spring affixed to said frame being urged into contact with the hook; an upper panel having an upper surface, a side having a notch such that a wall of the notch is defined by said frame, an aperture extending through the upper surface; and snap fittings adapted to press fit with said lower panel in simultaneous contact with said frame.
- 17. The flashlight of claim 16 further comprising a dual function switch adapted to insert between said upper panel and the second lead so that lateral movement of said switch urges a leaf spring into simultaneous contact between the second lead and the second surface of opposite polarity to induce a condition selected from the group consisting of: constant contact with the second surface of opposite polarity, and intermittent contact between the second lead and the second surface of opposite polarity induced by a further transverse pressure exerted on said switch.
- 18. The flashlight of claim 16 wherein said frame is pot metal.
- 19. The flashlight of claim 16 wherein said battery is a lithium disc battery.
- 20. The flashlight of claim 16 wherein said LED is a gallium nitride LED.
- 21. The flashlight of claim 16 wherein said upper panel and said lower panel are formed of thermoplastic material.
- 22. The flashlight of claim 16 wherein said frame is metal plated.
US Referenced Citations (13)