Patent Grant
8240874
Not applicable.
The present invention relates generally to portable illumination devices, and more particularly, but not entirely, to flashlights with enhanced functionality and reliability.
Flashlights and other portable illumination devices are very useful devices that include an illumination source as part of an electrical circuit incorporating one or more batteries (to supply current to the illumination source) and a switch to complete or interrupt the circuit. Typically, manually operated mechanical switches which have been designed for the mechanical sturdiness have been used as flashlight switches, such as the switch disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,286,311 (granted Aug. 25, 1981 to Maglica), which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference. The function of a switch in previously available flashlights has been limited to completing or interrupting the electrical circuit to the illumination source.
The switch used in the '311 patent is a push-button switch featuring a rotary contact, which is rotated axially when the button is depressed, “wiping” across stationary contacts that complete the circuit with the lamp and the batteries, in order to clean those surfaces. This is done to overcome the problems of oxidation and buildup of dirt on the electrical contacts, occurrences which increase electrical resistance in the circuit and thus undesirably limit the current flow to the illumination source.
As a result, the previously available switches require that the switch be activated with enough force to clean the contacts and rotate, or otherwise move cleaning components. The previously available flashlights using such switches thus require an amount of force large enough to provide the “wiping” effect. A MAGLITE® flashlight, believed to be a market embodiment of the device represented in the '311 patent, requires a mass of over 1270 grams to latch the '311 type-switch closed when the weight was applied to the pushbutton on the flashlight until the switch was triggered. Moreover, the '311 type-switch had a stroke distance of over 5 mm to the latching position. This large force and long stroke distance may be difficult for a person with small hands to use while grasping the flashlight, or a person with reduced hand strength, as from an arthritic hand condition.
It is commonly accepted in the industry as true that the large amount of force and distance required to operate the switch, and the audible “click” that accompanies its function, may also serve as a way to prevent the switch from being accidentally operated, as inside a backpack, or toolbox.
Additionally, a switch structure like that shown in the '311 patent provides simply a way for the circuit of the flashlight to open and close, it does not provide a structure by which additional electrically based functions can be easily added to the flashlight.
It is noteworthy that none of the known prior art provides a portable illumination device with a switch that requires very little force to operate, or a short stroke distance to operate, or a switch which combines the features of needing little force to operate or needing a short stroke distance to operate, with the ability to integrate additional electronic functions within the switch structure.
The available art is thus characterized by several disadvantages that are addressed by the present invention. The present invention minimizes, and in some aspects eliminates, the above-mentioned shortcomings and other problems, by utilizing the methods and structural features described herein.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a portable illumination device that is easy to use.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable illumination device that requires a small amount of pressure to operate a switch mechanism which turns the device on and off.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a portable illumination device with a switch which requires little movement of a user's finger, and requires less movement than the previously available devices, to operate the device between an operational state and an inactive state.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a portable illumination source that is capable of multiple functions, which are controlled by a single switch.
It is a further object of the present invention, in accordance with one aspect thereof, to provide a flashlight which can include multiple functions actuated by a single switch.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable illumination device with increased reliability.
It is an additional object of the invention, in accordance with one aspect thereof, to provide a metal flashlight which has an electrically resistive coating provided on the flashlight for improved appearance or protection with the flashlight also including structures to improve electrical conductivity through the flashlight.
The above-recited objects, and other objects not specifically recited, are realized in a specific illustrative embodiment of a flashlight and flashlight electrical connectors as described herein. The flashlight described herein includes a subminiature pushbutton switch that requires a small amount of pressure and a short stroke distance to operate between an open mode (electrically non-conductive) and a closed mode (electrically conductive).
The switch is preferably attached to a member on which an electrical connective structure is disposed. This preferred structure can be carried out by attaching the switch to a printed circuit board. Electrically conductive springs are also preferably attached to the member, so as to make electrically conductive contact with the electrically connective structure.
The member and the switch are preferably protected by a housing, such that the compressive force of the springs (preferably a first spring and second spring) is absorbed and resisted by the housing. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, one spring makes electrically conductive contact with an illumination source, such as an incandescent lamp, or the electrically conductive structures leading to the lamp. The second spring makes electrically conductive contact with a battery, or a electrically conductive structure leading to a battery. A conductive strip is preferably provided to complete the electrical circuit.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the invention without undue experimentation. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the subsequent detailed description presented in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles in accordance with the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein, which would normally occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention claimed.
Referring now to
As shown in the embodiment of
While other types of switches may be used, the preferred switch is a double push-double pole switch which increases the reliability of the switch structure, by providing dual connections for each position in which the switch may be operably actuated. This increases the reliability of the switch over that found in the prior art, by providing dual paths along which current can travel to complete the circuit of the portable illumination device. Should oxidation, or dirt cause one pathway to become less conductive, contact may still be made across the second pathway provided by the preferred switch.
In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the switch 20 requires a small amount of force to actuate. This force is defined herein in units of gram force (gf). A gram force is equivalent to the force exerted by gravity on a mass of one gram at the earth's surface. The force used to actuate the switch 20 as used in this detailed description, and the claims consists of the force used to actuate the switch 20 in the absence of the flexible outer cap (shown in
As discussed above, the force required to actuate the switch 20 preferably used in the embodiments of the present invention is greatly reduced when compared to the force required to operate the switches presently used in portable illumination devices. This allows a device made in accordance with the principles of the present invention to be used by users who have reduced hand strength, as from an arthritic condition, and provides a significant advantage over the prior art.
Another feature of the preferred switch 20 is the reduction of the stroke distance that the switch requires to operate. A preferred pushbutton type of switch has two positions, a momentary position and a latching position. When the plunger 22 of the switch is fully depressed from the open position to the momentary position, this is referred to as the full stroke, and when the plunger is depressed from the latching position to the momentary position, this is referred to as the locking stroke. In a preferred embodiment, the full stroke of the switch 20 requires the plunger 22 to move less than about 4.0 mm. In the more preferred embodiments, the full stroke is between about 0.5 mm to about 3.75 mm, and in the most preferred it is from about 1.0 mm to about 2.75 mm. The locking stroke distance of the preferred embodiment is less than about 2.0 mm. As discussed above, these stroke distances represent a decrease over those currently used in the prior art devices, and allow a user with reduced hand strength, or a small hand size to operate a portable illumination device made in accordance with the present invention. One preferred switch 20 which may advantageously be used in the embodiments of the present invention is available from E-Switch of Brooklyn Park, Minn. serial no. TL 2201 (DPDT) EE.
The switch 20, is attached to a member 24. In this embodiment, the member 24 is planar, but it may be constructed with any alternative shape that may be used to carry out its function. The member 24 preferably has associated with it structures which carry out the function of a means for making an electrical connection, such structures being represented by electrically conductive paths 40, as will be explained more fully below. The preferred structure for the member 24 is a printed circuit board, as can be readily fabricated by those skilled in the art, with the electrically conductive paths 40, preferably carried out as circuit traces formed on the printed circuit board, and carrying out the function of the means for making an electrical connection.
The embodiment of the present invention may desirably include a functional circuit, or a plurality of functional circuits, represented in
Possible additional electrical functions that may be added to a portable illumination device made in accordance with the present invention include a strobe light function, a signal flashing function, an electronic game, an automatic shutoff function, audio functions, interactive Morse code, a global positioning transponder, a laser pointer, a motion detector, a sound to light transmitter/receiver, an infrared light, a digital compass function, or any other additional electrical function. It will be appreciated that the present invention encompasses within its scope the inclusion of additional structures necessary to add such functions.
It will be further appreciated that in an embodiment utilizing a double push-double pole switch, multiple functions can be controlled using the same switch. It may be preferable to design the circuitry of the additional functions such that multiple pushes on the switch control different features. For example, a single push may activate the flashlight beam, while two pushes activates an additional function such as a strobe feature and three pushes activates another additional function, such as a motion sensor. This technique could be used to control a large number of functions, the momentary and the latching positions of a pushbutton switch could be utilized in such control. Use of a switch with additional push features would allow for the control of even a larger number of functions. Alternatively, toggle switches, other types of switches, or multiple switches may be used to control the additional functions.
A strobe light feature incorporated into the embodiments of the invention preferably provides the feature of setting the illumination source to flash at a predetermined rate, or rates. Alternatively, the strobe light feature could have an adjustable rate. This feature would allow a portable illumination device with this feature to be used as an illumination source, and as a strobe light for checking moving or rotating, equipment at remote locations.
A signal flashing feature is preferably included to have the portable illumination device flash a signal pattern, such as an SOS signal in Morse code, or another such signal, to be used as a safety or communications device. An electronic game is optionally incorporated into the device as an amusement feature, for entertaining a user, such as a child on a camping trip.
An automatic shutoff feature preferably comprises a timer that automatically shuts off the flashlight after a predetermined period. This feature would eliminate the need for an audible “click” and a large amount of force to warn the user that the device has been actuated. This function could prevent the battery from being drained, should the device be accidentally actuated, as in a backpack or toolbox, even if the user is not aware that the device has been actuated. This ability to perform the same end result without requiring additional user action represents a desirable improvement over the prior art.
An interactive Morse code feature, or a sound to light transmitter/receiver, is preferably included to allow the portable illumination device to function as a communication device. Additional structures such as speakers, lenses, or photoelectric eyes can be included to realize these functions and portable illumination devices with such structures are also included within the scope of this invention.
A global positioning (GPS) transponder, or a digital compass, is also optionally included as an additional electrical function. Such features would allow the flashlight to be used for surveying, orienteering, camping, backpacking or hiking while reducing the amount of equipment that needs to be carried. Additional structures and means such as light emitting diodes, or liquid crystal displays can be installed in the surface of a portable illumination device with such features to allow the use of such features, and inclusion of such devices are encompassed within the scope of the present invention.
A motion detector is preferably included in the embodiments of the present invention which allow a portable illumination device to be used as a motion sensitive illumination device, or as a makeshift burglar alarm in a remote location, such as while camping. An infrared light or a laser pointer could also be included and controlled as an additional feature, allowing the portable illumination device to be used as a pointer, marker, or heater. The installation of additional structures necessary to accomplish these functions is also included within the scope of the present invention.
Audio features, such as beeping to indicate that a function has been activated can also preferably be incorporated into embodiments of the present invention. Inclusion of an audio transducer, namely a speaker, to provide for audio features is also included within the scope of the present invention.
As shown in
In the pictured embodiment, there are two springs 16 and 18, which are attached at opposite ends of the member 24, and make electrically conductive contact with the electrically conductive paths 40. The springs 16 and 18 may be attached by any suitable technique, including soldering, or any other technique known to those skilled in the art.
As shown in
The second conductive spring 18, of the embodiment depicted in
The embodiment shown in
It has also been a common practice to treat the surface of metal flashlight bodies to provide a hardened protective surface and a finished appearance, including a color. This has been done in several ways, for example by anodizing an aluminum flashlight body, or by coating the metallic body with enamel or paint. Each of these methods of surface treatment has the effect of reducing the conductivity of the surface of the flashlight body. Anodizing aluminum, for example, is used to provide an insulative coating in aluminum conductors.
To overcome the problems of reducing the conductivity of the metal by surface treatment, several methods have been used. A portion of the anodized, or other coating may be removed by grinding, or may be covered by a mask prior to treatment, which is then removed to leave an untreated portion. These techniques produce a surface capable of conducting electricity, but in many cases the conducting ability of bare metal is reduced over time, as the metal, especially aluminum, is oxidized by the air forming a resistive coating on the metal. Another method which has been used is to coat sections of the metal with a conductive film, either over the protective coating, or over spots of metal left untreated by the other methods. While improving the conductivity, this alternate method also has drawbacks, as use wears the conductive film off electrical resistance increases, and the previously noted problems then occur.
The present invention provides a solution to this problem, with one possible embodiment which solves the described problem being represented in
It will be appreciated that portable illumination devices, including flashlights, made in accordance with the above description will accomplish some or all of the above-recited objectives of the present invention. The use of a unique switch structure results in a device with a switch that is easy to operate, may require less actuating force, can have a reduced actuating distance with increased reliability. Additional electrical functions may be included in the circuit of the device, and be controlled by the same switch structure. Additionally, the use of an internal conductive strip, allows for improved conductivity over metal flashlights with surface treatments, while still keeping the improved appearance and protection of a treated metal surface.
Reference will now be made to
It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and the appended claims are intended to cover such modifications and arrangements. Thus, while the preferred embodiment(s) of the present invention has been shown in the drawings and fully described above with particularity and detail in connection with what is presently deemed to be the most practical and preferred embodiment(s) of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications, including, but not limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use may be made without departing from the principles and concepts set forth herein.
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/520,051, filed Sep. 11, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,566,149 which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/460,047, filed Jun. 12, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,125,140 B2, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/583,349, filed May 31, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,585,391 B1, the entire contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 11520051 | Sep 2006 | US |
| Child | 12510090 | US | |
| Parent | 10460047 | Jun 2003 | US |
| Child | 11520051 | US | |
| Parent | 09583349 | May 2000 | US |
| Child | 10460047 | US |
