Abstract:
A combined flashlight and lantern which provides multiple configurations combining features of a flashlight and a lantern, further comprising a flashlight housing similar to a conventional flashlight. The apparatus further includes a lantern assembly extendible from a lower end of the housing such that the apparatus can be placed on a horizontal surface and the lantern end withdrawn from the housing to provide a lantern function. The lantern assembly further includes a multi-position switch for cycling through various lighting functions. When the lantern assembly is retracted, a flashlight switch allows the apparatus to function as a high-power spot beam flashlight. A user can actuate both the flashlight switch and lantern switch to operate both functions simultaneously.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     There are no current co-pending applications related to the current application. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a flashlight convertible to a lantern, and in particular, to a flashlight convertible to a lantern and having a range of operating modes. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The common flashlight can be found in almost every tool box, car trunk, or kitchen drawer. Flashlights are perfect for producing a high intensity beam to provide temporary lighting, supplemental lighting or emergency lighting in a portable manner. However, these beams are typically spot style beams which produce high intensity lighting levels in a small area. 
     As such, flashlights are unsuitable for use in producing a broader flood style of illumination that is often desired at campsites or in dark rooms where just general overall illumination is needed. This type of illumination is usually provided by a lantern which produces a broad lighting path over a 360° area. When both functions are desired, the user is often forced to carry both a flashlight and lantern to produce the desired lighting patterns. Unfortunately this adds to increased costs and more importantly increased weight which is often a critical factor while hiking or camping. 
     Various attempts have been made to provide multi-function portable lighting devices. Examples of these attempts can be seen by reference to several U.S. patents, for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,412,548; U.S. Pat. No. 5,440,465; U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,948; U.S. Pat. No. 5,893,629; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,004,008. However, none of these designs are similar to the present invention. 
     While these apparatuses fulfill their respective, particular objectives, each of these references suffer from one (1) or more disadvantages. Many such apparatuses do not provide multiple lighting functions that can function independently and simultaneously. Also, many such apparatuses are unnecessarily bulky or complex and as a result are difficult and unintuitive to operate. Furthermore, many such apparatuses do not provide a sufficiently wide range of settings that can be utilized to accommodate a wide enough range of uses, such as spot illumination, room illumination, emergency indication, soft light usage, and the like. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which an apparatus can provide benefits of flashlights and also produce a range of flood style lighting patterns in a simple manner and without the disadvantages as described above. The development of the present invention substantially departs from the conventional solutions and in doing so fulfills this need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing references, the inventor recognized the aforementioned inherent problems and observed that there is a need for a simple, small portable lighting device that provides a wide range of illuminating functions. Thus, the object of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned disadvantages and provide for this need. 
     To achieve the above objectives, it is an object of the present invention to comprise a combined flashlight and lantern that provides a handheld light source combining the functions of a flashlight and a lantern to selectively provide unidirectional or omni-directional illumination. The apparatus includes a flashlight and an extendable lantern slidably positioned within the flashlight. 
     Another object of the present invention is to comprise the flashlight of common features including an internal lamp, a transparent lens portion that protects and reflects illumination from the lamp, a knurled exterior for ease of gripping, a replaceable battery, and an ON/OFF switch. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to house and removably secure the lantern within a barrel of the flashlight using a threading attachment. The lantern can further be unscrewed in order to enable the lantern to slide into or out from the barrel to protrude from an end of the flashlight opposite the internal lamp. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to comprise the top portion of the lantern with a knurled grasping surface to facilitate manipulation of the lantern. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a digit-operated pushbutton within an exterior top of the lantern which provides the user with a selectable means to control a pair of lantern lamps located within the interior of the lantern. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to comprise a plurality of electrical conductive contact indentations within an interior of the barrel of the flashlight. The contact indentations are aligned with a plurality of spring-loaded ball bearings affixed to an exterior of the lantern. The ball bearings engage the contact indentations in order to provide a plurality of discrete secured positions for the lantern at differing amounts of extension from the barrel while enabling electrical current from the battery to power the pair of lantern lamps. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to comprise internal circuitry that causes the lantern to cycle through a plurality of settings when the pushbutton is actuated, thereby providing a plurality of lantern-style omni-directional illuminating settings if the lantern is extended. In a preferred embodiment, the first lamp is an amber light and the second light is a white light, with the settings including a first lamp low-light setting, a second lamp setting, a full-powered first lamp setting, a flashing second lamp setting, and a deactivated setting. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a method of utilizing the device that provides a unique means of acquiring the apparatus, replacing or adding batteries as desired, depressing the flashlight switch to illuminate the flashlight lamp, placing the apparatus upright on a level surface with the lens portion against said level surface, pulling the lantern upwards such that the ball bearings slide engage respective contact indentations, utilizing the lantern switch to control the lantern lamps, pushing the lantern into the barrel, and engaging the threaded attachment to secure the lantern to the barrel. 
     Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a combined flashlight and lantern  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the combined flashlight and lantern  10  depicting an exploded flashlight  20 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is yet another perspective view of the combined flashlight and lantern  10  depicting an open lantern  40 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a section view of the combined flashlight and lantern  10  taken along line A-A (see  FIG. 3 ), according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5   a  is a cut-away view of an upper portion of the flashlight  20 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5   b  is a perspective view of the lantern  40 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 6  is an electrical block diagram of the combined flashlight and lantern  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
           10  combined flashlight and lantern 
           20  flashlight 
           21  lens portion 
           22  lens ring 
           23  head 
           24  barrel 
           25  flashlight switch 
           26  flashlight lamp 
           27  contact indentation 
           28  indentation routing layer 
           29  barrel interior portion 
           30  battery 
           35  wiring 
           36   a  first threaded attachment 
           36   b  second threaded attachment 
           40  lantern 
           41  tail cap 
           42  lantern structure 
           43  interior lantern structure 
           44  lantern switch 
           45  first lantern lamp 
           46  second lantern lamp 
           47  frame 
           48  ball bearing 
           49  spring 
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In accordance with the invention, the best mode is presented in terms of a preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 6 . However, the disclosure is not limited to a single described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the disclosure and that any such work around will also fall under its scope. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present disclosure, and only one particular configuration may be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes a combined flashlight and lantern (herein described as the “apparatus”)  10 , which provides a handheld light source to a desired area as needed. The apparatus  10  combines the functions of a flashlight  20  and a lantern  40 . The flashlight  20  creates a unidirectional illumination and the lantern  40  creates an omni-directional illumination. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of the apparatus  10  and  FIG. 2 , another perspective view of the apparatus  10  depicting an open flashlight  20 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. As abovementioned the apparatus  10  comprises a flashlight  20  and an extendable lantern  40  slidably positioned within the flashlight  20 . The flashlight  20  comprises a generally cylindrical body fabricated from a stainless steel or similar material and the lantern  40  comprises a generally cylindrical body fabricated from a durable transparent plastic or similar material. The apparatus  10  measures approximately nine (9) inches in length when the lantern  40  is collapsed and twelve (12) inches when said lantern  40  is extended. 
     A distal portion of the apparatus  10  comprises the flashlight  20  which further comprises a lens portion  21  and a head  23 . The lens portion  21  includes common features such as a transparent glass or plastic upper surface and a reflective inner surface which protects and reflects an illumination produced from an internal flashlight lamp  26 , respectively. The lens portion  23  is attached to the hollow cup-shaped head  23  via a first threaded attachment  36   a  which is integrally molded to an exterior surface of the lens portion  21  and an interior upper surface of the head  23 . A knurled lens ring  22  is located radially along an exterior upper surface of the head  23  to provide a gripping surface for a user to grasp during removal of the lens portion  21 . The lens portion  21  is removed from the head  23  to provide access to a plurality of batteries  30  which are housed within a tubular barrel  24 . The barrel  24  is an extension of the head  23  and encompasses internal electrical components and the lantern  40 . The barrel  24  is depicted herein as including a knurled exterior surface which preferably extends radially about said barrel  24  to provide an improved gripping surface. 
     The flashlight lamp  26  within the lens portions  21  is activated or deactivated with a flashlight switch  25  (also see  FIG. 6 ). The flashlight switch  25  is preferably a common dual position pushbutton located on an upper surface of the barrel  24 , yet other devices and positions may be utilized without limiting the scope of the apparatus  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , yet another perspective view of the apparatus  10  depicting an open lantern  40 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The lantern  40  is partially removed from a proximal end of the barrel  40  via a second threading attachment  36   b  which is located on an interior upper surface of said barrel  40  and an exterior upper surface of said lantern  40 . The lantern  40  comprises a tubular transparent lantern structure  42 . The lantern structure  42  measures approximately four (4) to five (5) inches in length. A top portion of the lantern structure  42  includes an integrally molded tail cap  41  which provides a knurled grasping surface to enable the user to engage or disengage said lantern  40  from the barrel  24 . A top surface of the tail cap  41  comprises a lantern switch  44  which provides a digit-operated pushbutton device to manipulate a pair of lantern lamps  45 ,  46  located within the interior lantern structure  43 . The lantern  40  also comprises an internal sliding system which electrically interconnects the lantern switch  44  and the lantern lamps  45 ,  46  to the batteries  30  (see  FIGS. 4 through 5   b ). 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a section view of the apparatus  10  taken along line A-A (see  FIG. 3 ),  FIG. 5   a , a cut-away view of an upper portion of the flashlight  20 , and  FIG. 5   b , a perspective view of the lantern  40 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The lantern  40  is depicted in  FIG. 5   b  as being removed from the barrel  24  for illustration purposes only it is known that the user should not remove said lantern  40  from said barrel  24 . Side surfaces of a barrel interior portion  29  comprise a plurality of contact indentations  27  which are attached to an indentation routing layer  28 . The indentation routing layer  28  is integral to the inner surface of the barrel  24 , used to route wiring  35 , and is preferably fabricated from a nonconductive material such as plastic or rubber. Although it is known that in lieu of utilizing the indentation routing layer  28  and wiring  35  a printed circuit board and traces may be utilized without limiting the scope of the apparatus  10 . The contact indentations  27  are comprised of circular concave-shaped bodies which are preferably fabricated from stainless steel, brass, or a similar conductive material. The contact indentations  27  are interconnected to electrical wiring  35  which is routed from the batteries  30  through the indentation routing layer  28  to each contact indentation  27  to provide electrical current. The contacts indentations  27  are arranged by three (3) equally spaced rows orientated vertically, each having four (4) equally spaced contacts orientated in a radial pattern upon the barrel interior portion  29 . Each row of contact indentations  27  provides either a positively charged current or a negatively charged current. 
     The contact indentations  27  align with a respective ball bearing  48  located upon the lantern  40 . The ball bearings  48  are partially exposed to an exterior of the lantern  40  which also exposes them to the indentation routing layer  28  and enables said ball bearings  48  to engage into the contact indentations  27  which provides current to said lantern  40 . The ball bearings  48  are arranged by three (3) equally spaced rows orientated vertically, each having four (4) equally spaced contacts orientated in a radial pattern upon the interior lantern structure  43 . Each ball bearing  48  is secured within a frame  47  which is integrally molded into the lantern structure  42 . The ball bearings  48  are spring-loaded within each respective frame  47  via a spring  49  which enables said lantern  40  to be slid into position with each ball bearing  48  engaged within a respective contact indentation  27 . As the lantern  40  is pulled upwardly each ball bearing  48  is depressed within each frame  47  until a contact indentation  27  is aligned with said ball bearing  48 , thereby enabling said ball bearing  48  to release into said respective contact indentation  27 . Each row of the frames  27  are interconnected via interconnecting each spring  49  with wiring  35 . This enables current from the batteries  30  to be routed through the contact indentations  27 , into each ball bearing  48 , and spring  49 . This current is then utilized to illuminate a first lantern lamp  45  or a second lantern lamp  46  which are manipulated with the lantern switch  44 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , an electrical block diagram of the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. Current from the batteries  30  is sent to the flashlight switch  25  which manipulates the flashlight lamp  26  is a common manner. Once the lantern  40  is pulled upwardly into position with the contact indentations  27  aligned with the respective ball bearings  48  current from the batteries  30  is also sent to the lantern switch  44 . It is known that the flashlight lamp  26  and lantern lamps  45 ,  46  may be utilized simultaneously as desired by the user. The lantern switch  44  preferably includes internal circuitry which enables said switch to cycle through various lantern lamp  45 ,  46  settings. The first lantern lamp  45  is located at an upper portion of the lantern  40  and the second lantern lamp  46  is located below said first lantern lamp  45  within said lantern  40  as to enable said lantern lamps  45 ,  46  to be visible when said lantern  40  is open. The lantern lamps  45 ,  46  are preferably either different style lamps or manipulated via the circuitry. These settings will include: click the lantern switch  44  once to illuminate a low lit first lantern lamp  45 , click the lantern switch  44  twice to illuminate the second lantern lamp  46 , click the lantern switch  44  thrice to illuminate an amber colored first lantern lamp  45 , click the lantern switch  44  four (4) times to enable the second lantern lamp  45  to flash, and click the five (5) times to deactivate the lantern lamps  45 ,  46 . Although it is known that other settings may be utilized without limiting the scope of the apparatus  10 . 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the apparatus  10 , it would be installed as indicated in  FIG. 3 . 
     The method of installing and utilizing the flashlight  20  may be achieved by performing the following steps: acquiring the apparatus  10 ; removing the lens portion  21  from the head  23  via the threaded attachment  36  to replace or add batteries  30  as desired; replacing the lens portion  21  to the head  23 ; grasping the apparatus  10  by the barrel  24  and aiming the flashlight  20  to a desired area; depressing the flashlight switch  25  to send current from the batteries  30  to illuminate the flashlight lamp  26 ; utilizing as desired, and depressing the flashlight switch  25  to deactivate the flashlight lamp  26 . 
     The method of installing and utilizing the lantern  40  may be achieved by performing the following steps: acquiring the apparatus  10 ; placing the apparatus  10  upright on a level surface with the lens portion  21  against said level surface; partially removing the lantern  40  from the barrel  24  via disengaging the threaded attachment  36  upon the tail cap  41  from the barrel  24 ; pulling the lantern  40  upwards and enabling the ball bearings  48  to slide against the indentation routing layer  28  until said ball bearings  48  engage the respective contact indentations  27 ; enabling current to be routed through the indentation routing layer  28  via wiring  35  to the contact indentations  27 , into the ball bearings  48  and spring  49  and to the lantern switch  44 ; utilizing the lantern switch  44  to illuminate the lantern lamps  45 ,  46  as desired; utilizing the flashlight  20  as desired as abovementioned; deactivating the lantern lamps  45 ,  46  with the lantern switch  44  as desired; pushing the lantern  40  into the barrel  24  as desired and disengaging the ball bearings  48  from the contact indentations  27 ; and, engaging the threaded attachment  36  to secure the lantern  40  to the barrel  24 . 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Various modifications and variations can be appreciated by one skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. The embodiments have been chosen and described in order to best explain the principles and practical application in accordance with the invention to enable those skilled in the art to best utilize the various embodiments with expected modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the invention.