This invention relates generally to lighting sources and more particularly to a light source with flashlight and glow stick function that is structured to be used in a water-intensive environment.
Portable lighting is typically designed with the task in mind. Accordingly, flashlights are designed to focus a beam of light for peering into dark corners or cast light longer distances whereas lanterns are designed to cast light short distances but in all directions. One such general lighting source is the chemical-based glow stick. The glow stick embeds two or more chemicals within a hollow plastic tube that, when combined, fluoresce for a brief period of time. To use the glow stick, the tube is bent so that a capsule containing one of the chemicals is broken. The tube is shaken to mix the two chemicals and start the fluorescence process. Light from this process is radiated out the sidewalls of the tube in all directions.
One alternate solution would be to replace the chemical-based glow stick with an electronic one, using batteries, lamps, and associated circuitry. A problem may occur, however, when such electronic devices are used in a water-intensive environment. That is, water may enter the battery compartment and cause short-circuits, or alternately rust electronics controlling the device.
Accordingly, there is a need for a multifunction lighting device that is hardened against water intrusion and capable for use in high pressure situations without rupturing.
In various representative aspects, the present invention describes a multipurpose lighting device having a water-tight chamber for maintaining the illumination electronics therein.
A lighting device comprises an elongated assembly forming a water-tight chamber adjacent a first end of the lighting device, where the first end includes a transparent face along a long axis of the elongated assembly. A lighting module, having a first light source and a second light source positioned on opposite ends of the lighting module, is positioned within the water-tight chamber so that the first light source is adjacent to and is configured to project light out the transparent face in a first direction along the long axis of the elongated assembly. The second light source is configured to illuminate along an elongated portion of the elongated assembly, where the elongated portion extends from the water-tight chamber in a second direction along the long axis of the elongated assembly opposite from the first direction, and out translucent circumferential sides of the elongated portion. A button on the module allows one to selectively alternate between the first and second light sources. A water-tight interface is coupled within the open end of the module housing and interposed between the module housing and the elongated portion of the lighting device, where the interface includes a transparent wall along the long axis of the elongated assembly and adjacent the second light source.
In another aspect of the invention, the lighting device comprises a first part defined along a long axis of the lighting device. The first part includes a unitary module housing having circumferential side walls surrounding the long axis and a transparent face intersected by the long axis at a terminal end of the device, where the side walls and transparent face define a cavity within the module housing. A second part of the lighting device includes a substantially translucent body joined coaxially with the first part to form a water-tight seal therebetween and define the cavity substantially within the first part. An integrated module, installed substantially coaxially within the cavity, comprises a power storage part, a first light source configured to direct light in a first direction along an axis of and out the first part, and a second light source configured to direct light in a second direction along an axis into the interior of and out the second part, wherein the first direction and second direction are coaxial and in opposite directions. The second light source and second part are configured so that the substantially translucent body of the second part is illuminated by the second light source along a length and about a circumference of the second part.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention that proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.
A button 18 is defined on a surface of the flashlight housing 12 and interfaces with a button on a lighting module 20 (
As illustrated in
The lighting module includes two opposable light sources, shown by flashlight LED 34 and glow stick LED 36. Both light sources 34, 36 are actuated by a button 38 formed on the lighting module that, itself, is aligned with and actuated by the button 18 formed on the flashlight body 12.
Turning to
As shown in
Turning lastly to the glow stick operation, and as shown best in
In a preferred embodiment, LED 36 gives off a colored light (e.g. red or blue) that matches the colored translucent plastic forming the flashlight housing 12 of the device 10. Glow stick housing 14 includes an O-ring 60 on an outside wall that bears against the inside wall of flashlight housing 12 when the two housings are screw-fitted together. The O-ring 60 helps to prevent water from seeping into the hollow interior 28 of the flashlight housing 12 and thereby adversely affecting the lighting module.
The multipurpose lighting device is useful in that it uses, in its preferred implementation, a single power source and actuator (e.g. button 18) to alternately operate a flashlight and an electronic (as opposed to chemical) glow stick. The lighting device 10 further includes an optional whistle feature 40. In special emergencies, therefore, a single device can thus flash colored light in all directions as the glow stick portion is capable of doing, as well as allow a manual sound alarm (e.g. whistle).
Unitary module housing 112 has generally circumferential side walls 204 surrounding the long axis 202 and a transparent face 206 intersected by the long axis (
A button 118 is defined on a surface of the unitary module housing 112 and interfaces with a button 138 on a lighting module 120 (
The lighting module 120 includes a first light source, shown by flashlight LED 134, and a second light source, shown by glow stick LED 136, positioned on opposite ends of lighting module 120. Both light sources 134, 136 are actuated by a button 138 formed on the lighting module that, itself, is aligned with and actuated by the button 118 formed on the unitary module housing 112. Housing button 118 is configured to resiliently deform under downward pressure to force a hard contact against the aligned module button 138. A circuit board 220 interfaces with button 138 and is configured to implement various lighting functions as detailed below.
Unitary module housing 112 is shown with circumferential side walls 204, a closed end capped by transparent face 206, and an opposed open end adjacent LED 136 forming the bounds of the water-tight chamber 128. A transparent wall 210 is formed interiorly of the interface 200 to thereby form a bound of chamber 128 when the interface 200 is coupled with the unitary module housing 112. Proximal circumferential inner walls 212 extend toward and contact a surface of module 120 to both fix the module within chamber 128 and surround the second lighting source 136.
The water-tight interface 200 is coupled within the open end of the module housing and is interposed between the module housing 112 and the elongated portion 114 of the lighting device 100. Interface 200 includes a threaded portion 232 formed on an exterior circumference of a first end and a threaded portion 230 formed on an interior circumference of a second end of the interface 200. The first end is mated with complementary threaded portions 130 formed adjacent the open end of the module housing 112, and the second end is mated with complementary threaded portions 132 formed on the elongated portion 114 of the elongated assembly.
In a preferred embodiment, a diameter of the exterior circumference threaded portion 232 is equal to a diameter of the treaded portion 230 on the interior circumference of the second end. In this way, the interface 200 may be removed from the assembly of lighting device 100 so that the elongated portion 114 directly couples to the unitary module housing 112. That is, threads 132 defined exteriorly of the elongated portion 112 mate with complementary threads 130 formed interiorly within the unitary module housing 112.
The lighting device 100 may further include a supplemental light source positioned on the lighting module 120 offset to the long axis 202 of the elongated assembly. In a preferred embodiment, the supplemental light source includes at least two LEDS, such as supplemental light sources 216a, 216b, spaced from one another about the long axis 202 of the elongated assembly. As shown, supplemental light sources 216a, 216b are located on a surface of the module facing the transparent face 206 and adjacent first light source 134, are positioned on lighting module 120 equally offset to the long axis 202 of the elongated assembly, and are configured to be activated together with the second light source 136. Supplemental lights 216a, 216b may be colored LEDs that are matched with LED 136 so that a glow of matching colors is effused through elongated portion 114 and through at least a front part of housing 112.
Turning to
A power source 156—such as batteries 156a, 156b, and 156c—is installed within the lighting module 120 to power the LEDs 134, 136, 216a, 216b and electronics necessary to selectively actuate the lights according to the flowchart of
The water-tight cavity 128 may further be configured to include ridges, such as ridge 222, formed on inside lower surfaces of the cavity. The rounded lower end 146 of module 120 rests on these ridges 222 so that the module is generally spaced from contact with the lower portion of cavity 128. This air gap 228 acts to further insulate the module and the heat generated therefrom so that the housing 112 is protected from temperature differentials when used in extreme conditions.
As shown in
Turning lastly to the glow stick operation, and as shown best in
In a preferred embodiment, LED 136 gives off a colored light (e.g. red or blue) that matches the colored translucent plastic forming the unitary housing 112 of the device 100. Glow stick housing 114 includes an O-ring 160 on an outside wall that bears against the inside wall of water-tight interface 200 when the two elements are screw-fitted together. The O-ring 160 helps to prevent water from seeping into the hollow interior 158 of the elongated portion 114 of lighting device 100, or into the cavity 128 if portion 114 is directly coupled to housing 112, and thereby adversely affecting the lighting module 120.
In an alternate aspect of the invention, lighting device 100 comprises a first part defined along a long axis 202 of the lighting device. The first part includes a unitary module housing 112 having circumferential side walls 204 surrounding the long axis 202 and a transparent face 206 intersected by the long axis at a terminal end of the device, where the side walls and transparent face define a cavity 128 within the module housing. A second part of the lighting device includes a substantially translucent body 114 joined coaxially with the first part 112 to form a water-tight seal therebetween and define the cavity substantially within the first part. An integrated module 120, installed substantially coaxially within the cavity 128, comprises a power storage part 156, a first light source 134 configured to direct light in a first direction along an axis 202 of and out the first part 112, and a second light source 136 configured to direct light in a second direction along an axis 202 into the interior 158 of and out the second part 114, wherein the first direction and second direction are coaxial and in opposite directions. The second light source 136 and second part 114 are configured so that the substantially translucent body of the second part is illuminated by the second light source along a length and about a circumference of the second part.
The lighting device 100 further includes a whistle 140 coupled coaxially to one end of the second part 114 and configured, together with the second part, to be illuminated by the second light source 136. A reflecting part 152 is fixed within the cavity 128 at one end of the first part 112 and surrounding the first light source 134 so that the reflecting part 152 focuses light from the first light source 134 and directs it out the first direction through the transparent face 206 of the module housing 112.
The lighting device further includes an interface 200 joined between the first part 112 and the second part 114 of the lighting device and including a transparent wall 210 along the long axis 202 of the elongated assembly and adjacent the second light source 136. A threaded portion 232 is formed on an exterior circumference of a first end of the interface 200 and a threaded portion 230 is formed on an interior circumference of a second end of the interface 200. The first end 232 is mated with a complementary threaded portion 130 formed adjacent an open end of the module housing 112, and the second end 230 mated with a complementary threaded portion 132 formed on an exterior circumference of the second part 114. A metal reinforcement ring 214 is affixed to an inside diameter of the first part adjacent the open end of the module housing 112 and includes the complementary threaded portion 130 to which the interface is joined. In a preferred embodiment, a diameter of the exterior circumference of the first end of the interface 200 is equal to a diameter of the interior circumference of the second end. Further, the second part 114 including an o-ring 160 adjacent the complementary threaded portion 132 formed on the exterior circumference of the second part
The multipurpose lighting device is useful in that it uses, in its preferred implementation, a single power source 156 and actuator (e.g. button 118) to alternately operate a flashlight and an electronic (as opposed to chemical) glow stick. The lighting device 100 further includes an optional whistle feature 140. This configuration has the advantage of concentrating all electrical components—including multiple light sources shining in multiple directions, a power source 156, control circuitry 220, and actuator button 138—into a single module 120, and maintaining that module 120 in a single water-tight cavity 128. In special emergencies, therefore, a single device can thus flash colored light in all directions as the glow stick portion is capable of doing, as well as allow a manual sound alarm (e.g. whistle).
Having described and illustrated the principles of the invention in a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be apparent that the invention can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles. We claim all modifications and variation coming within the spirit and scope of the invention.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/244,663, filed Oct. 2, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,845,820, issued Dec. 7, 2010, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.
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Child | 12716211 | US |