Abstract:
Provided is a lightweight dual purpose flashlight including a clip member coupled to a casing of the flashlight to allow the flashlight to be attached to and detached from a tape measure. The flashlight can be secured to a belt clip of a suitable tape measure without the need for special tools, where the belt clip can be of varying thicknesses

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/479,196 filed Apr. 26, 2011, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to flashlights, and more particularly to flashlights for tape measures. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Tape measures, such as self-retracting tape measures, are used in carpentry and other trades. When being used in areas of low ambient light, it is often difficult to read the tape measure. A flashlight may be used to illuminate the tape measure and the surrounding area, but often a tradesman does not have a free hand available to shine the flashlight on the tape measure. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,462,160 provides an illuminated retractable tape measure having a casing which contains a coiled tape measure. A small lamp or lamps is incorporated in the casing for illuminating the ruling on the tape measure. An actuator in the casing closes a switch when the actuator is moved to a locked position to light the lamp to facilitate reading measurements on the tape measure. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention provides a lightweight dual purpose flashlight including a clip member coupled to a casing of the flashlight to allow the flashlight to be attached to and detached from a tape measure. The flashlight can be secured to a belt clip of a suitable tape measure without the need for special tools, where the belt clip can be of varying thicknesses. 
         [0006]    According to one aspect of the invention, a flashlight includes a casing, and a clip member coupled to the casing, the clip member being a continuous loop defining an opening, wherein the clip member is configured to removably couple the flashlight to a tape measure. 
         [0007]    In an embodiment, the clip member is made of metal. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, the clip member is made of aluminum. 
         [0009]    In yet another embodiment, the loop is deformable to increase/decrease a width of the opening. 
         [0010]    In still another embodiment, the width of the opening is in a first direction generally perpendicular to a main axis of the flashlight. 
         [0011]    In a further embodiment the flashlight has an on/off switch at an end of the flashlight. 
         [0012]    In another embodiment, a length of the opening in a second direction generally parallel to a main axis of the flashlight is substantially equal to a length of a belt clip of the tape measure in the second direction. 
         [0013]    In yet another embodiment, the opening has a width approximately equal to a thickness of a belt clip of the tape measure and a length approximately equal to a length of the belt clip. 
         [0014]    In still another embodiment, the opening has a width approximately equal to a thickness of a belt clip of the tape measure and a length greater than a length of the belt clip to allow the flashlight to be angled relative to the tape measure. 
         [0015]    In a further embodiment, the clip member is coupled to the casing by an adhesive or by welding. 
         [0016]    In another embodiment, the clip member is integrally formed with the casing. 
         [0017]    In yet another embodiment, the clip member is removably coupled to the casing. 
         [0018]    In still another embodiment the clip member is coupled to a central portion of the casing. 
         [0019]    In a further embodiment, the clip member is coupled to a front portion of the casing. 
         [0020]    In another embodiment, the clip member is coupled to a back portion of the casing. 
         [0021]    In yet another embodiment, the flashlight is in combination with the tape measure, wherein the tape measure includes a belt clip, and wherein the flashlight is removably coupled to the belt clip. 
         [0022]    According to another aspect of the invention, a method for attaching a flashlight to a tape measure having a belt clip, the belt clip having a first movable end and a second end coupled to the tape measure and the flashlight including a clip member that is a continuous loop having an opening is provided. The method includes advancing the first end of the belt clip through the opening in continuous loop, and advancing the flashlight toward the second end of the belt clip. 
         [0023]    In an embodiment, if the opening in continuous loop has a width in a first direction generally perpendicular to a main axis of the flashlight that is greater than a thickness of the belt clip such that the flashlight is loose when advanced toward the second end of the belt clip, the method includes removing the flashlight from the belt clip, deforming the continuous loop to decrease the width of the opening, advancing the first end of the belt clip through the opening in continuous loop, and advancing the flashlight toward the second end of the belt clip. 
         [0024]    In another embodiment, if the opening in continuous loop has a width in a first direction generally perpendicular to a main axis of the flashlight that is less than a thickness of the belt clip such that the belt clip is too large to be advanced through the opening, the method includes deforming the continuous loop to increase the width of the opening, advancing the first end of the belt clip through the opening in continuous loop, and advancing the flashlight toward the second end of the belt clip. 
         [0025]    The foregoing and other features of the invention are hereinafter described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary flashlight coupled to a tape measure in accordance with the invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the exemplary flashlight having an exemplary clip member; 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the exemplary flashlight of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the flashlight having another exemplary clip member; 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the flashlight having yet another exemplary clip member; 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the flashlight having still another exemplary clip member; 
           [0032]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the flashlight having a further exemplary clip member; 
           [0033]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the flashlight having another exemplary clip member; 
           [0034]      FIG. 9  is a side view of the exemplary flashlight of  FIG. 8  having a clip member inwardly deformed; and 
           [0035]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the exemplary flashlight of  FIG. 8  having a clip member outwardly deformed. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0036]    Turning now to the drawings and initially to  FIG. 1 , a flashlight  10  is shown coupled to a tape measure  12  as will be described in detail below. The tape measure  12  may be any suitable tape measure, such as a self-retracting tape measure. The tape measure  12  includes a belt clip  14  having a first end secured to a side of the tape measure and a second free end allowing the tape measure to be clipped onto variously sized user&#39;s belts, tool belts, pants, etc. The flashlight  10  is coupled to the tape measure  12  such that when used, for example in low light conditions, the flashlight  10  illuminates indicia  18  on the coiled tape  16  of the tape measure. 
         [0037]    Turning now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the flashlight  10  may be a lightweight dual purpose flashlight capable of being using while attached to and detached from the tape measure. The flashlight includes an on/off switch  20 , such as a push button switch, at an end of the flashlight and a lanyard loop  24  adjacent the end of the flashlight to receive a lanyard. It will be appreciated, and also understood, that the on/off switch may be in any suitable position on the flashlight and/or the flashlight may have a swiveling head to turn the flashlight on/off. It will also be appreciated that the lanyard loop may be in any suitable position on the flashlight. 
         [0038]    The flashlight  10  includes a clip member  30  coupled to a casing  32  of the flashlight. Using the clip member  30 , the flashlight may be secured to the tape measure  12  for illuminating the indicia  18 . The clip member  30  may be made of any suitable material, such as metal, rubber, plastic, etc, and the clip member may be removably or permanently coupled to the casing by any suitable means, such as be an adhesive or by welding. Alternatively, the clip member  30  may be integrally formed with the casing  32 . 
         [0039]    As best shown in  FIG. 3 , the clip member  30  may be a continuous loop defining an opening  34 . The opening  34  has a width W in a first direction generally perpendicular to a main axis A of the flashlight  10  and a length L in a second direction generally parallel to the main axis A. The width W of the opening  34  can be approximately equal to a thickness of the belt clip  14  so the clip can contact the belt clip and remain in position once coupled to the tape measure  12 . The length L of the opening  34  can be larger than a length of the belt clip  14  to allow the main axis A of the flashlight to be angled relative to an axis of the tape measure  12  that is generally parallel to the main axis A. The continuous loop may be deformed to increase or decrease the width W of the opening  34  to adjust the loop for belt clips  14  of various thicknesses. It will be appreciated that the length and width of the opening  34  may be any suitable length and width and the clip member  30  may be positioned on the flashlight in any suitable position. 
         [0040]    Turning now to  FIGS. 4-6 , another exemplary embodiment of the flashlight is shown at  110 . The flashlight  110  is substantially the same as the above-referenced flashlight  10 , and consequently the same reference numerals but indexed by  100  are used to denote structures corresponding to similar structures in the flashlights. In addition, the foregoing description of the flashlight  10  is equally applicable to the flashlight  110  except as noted below. 
         [0041]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4-6 , the clip member  130  may be a continuous loop defining an opening  134 . The width W of the opening  134  is approximately equal to a thickness of the belt clip  14  and the length L 1  of the opening  134  is approximately equal to the length of the belt clip  14  to prevent the flashlight from moving in the second direction when installed. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the clip member  130  may be coupled to the casing  132  at a central portion of the casing. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the clip member  130  may be coupled to the casing  132  at a front portion of the casing. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the clip member  130  may be coupled to a back portion of the casing. 
         [0042]    Turning now to  FIG. 7 , another exemplary embodiment of the flashlight is shown at  210 . The flashlight  210  is substantially the same as the above-referenced flashlight  10 , and consequently the same reference numerals but indexed by  200  are used to denote structures corresponding to similar structures in the flashlights. In addition, the foregoing description of the flashlight  10  is equally applicable to the flashlight  210  except as noted below. 
         [0043]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , the clip member  230  may be a continuous loop defining an opening  234 . The width W of the opening  234  is approximately equal to a thickness of the belt clip  14  and the length L 2  of the opening  134  is approximately equal to a length of the casing  232  to allow the axis A of the flashlight to be angled relative to an axis of the tape measure  12 , to allow the flashlight to accommodate various size belt clips, and to allow the position of the flashlight to be varied relative to the tape measure. 
         [0044]    Turning now to  FIGS. 8-10 , another exemplary embodiment of the flashlight is shown at  310 . The flashlight  310  is substantially the same as the above-referenced flashlight  10 , and consequently the same reference numerals but indexed by  300  are used to denote structures corresponding to similar structures in the flashlights. In addition, the foregoing description of the flashlight  10  is equally applicable to the flashlight  310  except as noted below. 
         [0045]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , the clip member  330  may be a continuous loop defining an opening  334 . The width W 2  of the opening  334  is greater than the width W and the length L 3  of the opening  334  is greater than the length of the clip  14 . If the thickness of the belt clip is less than the width W 2  of the opening  334 , the loop can be deformed inwardly toward the casing  332  to reduce the width W 2 , as illustrated in  FIG. 9 . If the thickness of the belt clip is greater than the width W 2  of the opening  334 , the loop can be deformed outwardly away from the casing  332  to increase the width W 2 , as illustrated in  FIG. 10 . In this way, the clip member  330  can be adjusted to allow the flashlight to be used with tape measures having varying clip thicknesses. 
         [0046]    To attach the flashlight  10  ( 110 ,  210  or  310 ) to the belt clip  14  of the tape measure  12 , the first end of the belt clip is advanced through the opening  34  in the continuous loop. Then the flashlight  10  is advanced toward the second end of the belt clip until the continuous loop contacts the second end of the belt clip. If the continuous loop has a width approximately equal to the thickness of the belt clip, the flashlight will remain in its position. 
         [0047]    If it is discovered, either before or after advancing the flashlight toward the second end that the continuous loop has a width greater than the thickness of the belt clip such that the flashlight will not remain in position, the flashlight can be removed from the belt clip. Then the continuous loop can be deformed inwardly toward the casing as shown in  FIG. 9  to decrease the width of the opening  34 , such that at least a portion of the opening has a thickness W as in  FIG. 3 . The first end of the belt clip can then be advanced through the opening  34  in the continuous loop and the flashlight advanced toward the second end of the belt clip. 
         [0048]    If the thickness of the belt clip  14  is greater than the width of the opening  34  such that the belt clip cannot be advanced through the opening  34 , the continuous loop can be deformed outwardly away from the casing as shown in  FIG. 10  to increase the width of the opening  34 , such that at least a portion of the opening has a thickness greater than the thickness W 2 . The first end of the belt clip can then be advanced through the opening  34  in the continuous loop and the flashlight advanced toward the second end of the belt clip. 
         [0049]    Using the clip members described in  FIGS. 2-10 , the flashlights can be attached to tape measures having belt clips of various thicknesses and of various lengths. 
         [0050]    Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to a certain embodiment or embodiments, it is obvious that equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above described elements (components, assemblies, devices, compositions, etc.), the terms (including a reference to a “means”) used to describe such elements are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any element which performs the specified function of the described element (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the herein illustrated exemplary embodiment or embodiments of the invention. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been described above with respect to only one or more of several illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other embodiments, as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.