Flashlight replacement for vehicle ashtray

A flashlight assembly for use in a vehicle to replace an ashtray. The flashlight includes a front handle portion conformable to the opening of an ashtray and when inserted into the ashtray opening, in place of the ashtray, blends in with the vehicle console or dashboard. The flashlight is slidably or pivotably mounted in the ashtray opening, and is easily removable from the ashtray opening, for use by an operator or others, as needed. A charging contact may be added to the ashtray opening for recharging a rechargeable flashlight, or batteries held within the flashlight, when the flashlight is inserted fully into the ashtray opening contacting the charging contact.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates generally to flashlights, and more particularly to 
an improved flashlight assembly for easy insertion, storage and removable 
from an ashtray opening in a vehicle. 
2. Description of Related Art 
As is well known, the need for a flashlight frequently arises when one is 
traveling in a vehicle. Therefore, many vehicle operators carry a 
flashlight someplace in the vehicle, such as in a glove compartment, or in 
a trunk. Such flashlights take up space and are often hard to reach or 
forgotten and, in many instances when attempted to be used, it is found 
that the batteries are dead. 
One attempt to overcome this problem of having a flashlight readily 
available is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,077,643 to Leach, which discloses 
combination courtesy lights and flashlights which are slidably mounted in 
receptacles having there own power supplies added to the door or roof of 
the vehicle. This patent, however, requires the owner or user of the 
vehicle to go to the trouble and expense of adding the receptacle and 
power supply to the vehicle in a convenient location, that might interfere 
with other items in the doors or roof of the vehicle. 
However, with present day interest in health and the fear of tobacco smoke 
in enclosed places, the acceptance of smoking in vehicles has been 
declining sharply. Therefore, the use of ashtrays mounted in vehicles has 
shown a sharp drop off in usage. Increasingly vehicle owners are gluing 
ashtrays in the closed position, removing the ashtrays from the vehicle, 
or using the ashtrays to hold other items, such as, for example, change. 
Vehicle manufacturers continue to market vehicles with ashtrays therein, 
and these ashtrays and/or openings for holding such ashtrays as well as 
the ashtrays in existing vehicles end up merely taking up space that could 
be used for other purposes, or are used as set forth above. Therefore, in 
addition to the above set forth actions, many vehicle owners have added 
additional items to the ashtrays or replaced the ashtray, in an effort to 
utilize the ashtray and or its holding space. 
A known device for use in a vehicle ashtray is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 
4,953,772 to Phifer, which discloses drink holders which may be pivotably 
or slidably mounted in an ashtray or in an ashtray holding socket of 
vehicle. The ashtray of the vehicle may be removed from the vehicle and 
one of the drink holders of the Phifer patent mechanically inserted 
therein for movement into and out of the ashtray socket, or the ashtray of 
the vehicle may be modified to hold one or more drink holding rings, which 
mechanically pivot away from the ashtray. In one of the embodiments 
disclosed in this patent, the ashtray may still function as a conventional 
ashtray. 
Various other U.S. patents such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,144,963 to Dabringhaus 
et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,847,738 to Nehl, U.S. Pat. No. 4,713,735 to 
Hiltman, U.S. Pat. No. 4,286,742 to Pellegrino, U.S. Pat. No. 3,967,274 to 
Howell, and Des Pat. 295,450 to Iscovelli disclose ashtrays with 
flashlights, means for replacing or modifying vehicle ashtrays, or the 
mechanical mounting of lights in openings, to solve known problems, or to 
modify existing structures, as specifically indicated therein. However, 
none of these patents, disclose a removable flashlight which is formed in 
substantially the same shape as an ashtray, so as to cooperate with and be 
easily inserted into and removed from the existing ashtray opening, or 
socket of a vehicle. There, therefore, exists a need for a simple, 
low-cost and easy to manufacture, install and use flashlight means or 
system, useful in many situations, but which is particularly useful for 
installation in an ashtray opening of a vehicle, and which has the shape 
of the ashtray which is removed from the opening, so as to blend into or 
be integrated with a vehicle dashboard. Such a flashlight provides the 
illusion that the ashtray is still in position, when inserted in the 
ashtray socket, but is readily accessible and easily removed and used when 
needed. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an 
improved flashlight assembly. It is a particular object of the present 
invention to provide an improved flashlight assembly which is easy to 
manufacture, assemble, install and use. It is a still more particular 
object of the present invention to provide a flashlight assembly which is 
readily added to existing ashtrays, or openings or sockets therefor in a 
vehicle. It is yet a more particular object of the present invention to 
provide a flashlight assembly having a shape, including a holding handle, 
to enable the flashlight to be easily mounted in and/or removed from a 
vehicle ashtray opening. It is a further object of the present invention 
to provide a flashlight assembly which contains an internal charging 
mechanism held therein to enable the flashlight to be recharged when 
secured in position in an ashtray socket. It is yet another object of the 
present invention to provide an improved flashlight assembly which is 
capable of being manufactured as original equipment for a vehicle, or in 
the aftermarket, for use in an existing ashtray socket of a vehicle. And, 
it is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an improved 
flashlight assembly which includes integrated slide means for easy 
insertion into, and removal from, the existing ashtray socket of a 
vehicle. 
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a 
flashlight assembly that is shaped as an ashtray with a holding handle at 
one end, a bulb, lens and reflector secured at another end, and an on-off 
switch secured to a side thereof, in such a manner that the flashlight may 
be easily inserted and taken out of a holding means for an ashtray in a 
vehicle, and activated by the user after removal from the ashtray holding 
means of the vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the 
art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes 
contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various 
modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in 
the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been 
defined herein specifically to describe an improved flashlight assembly, 
identified generally at 10, for use in an existing ashtray, or an ashtray 
opening, recess, or socket 12 in a vehicle console or dashboard, partially 
shown at 11. For reasons of explanation only, and not by way of 
limitation, the ashtray openings and flashlight assemblies described and 
shown herein are of the type normally found in small compact cars, pickup 
trucks or sports utility vehicles. It is to be understood, of course, that 
the present invention provides a flashlight means for use in the existing 
ashtray opening of substantially any vehicle. 
Turning now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, one 
embodiment of the flashlight assembly 10 of the present invention is shown 
as comprising a plurality of cooperating components or elements, including 
an elongated body or housing means 14, which may take any desired shape, 
and which could actually be the existing ashtray with the flashlight 
components inserted and held therein by securing means, such as Velcro, or 
the like. The component of the flashlight may be made from any available 
material that is currently used to make flashlights, such as metal or 
plastic. The housing 14, as illustrated in FIG. 1 is preferably formed in 
a substantially rectangular shape, with a reduced neck portion 13, 
connecting the housing to a handle or front means 16. The housing 14 may 
also include a slide, track or other guiding means 15, and is preferably 
dimensioned and sized so as to be of a length, thickness and width that it 
fits easily and smoothly into, and moves snugly in an existing vehicle 
ashtray opening, such as the substantially rectangular opening shown at 
12. The handle 16 of the housing 14, may also act as a gripping means at 
the front or a first end of the flashlight 10. This gripping means or 
handle 16 is preferably dimensioned and sized so as to be easily pulled or 
pushed, and in most instances, comfortably gripped in the hand of a user. 
Furthermore, handle 16 is also painted or covered with a material to match 
or closely resemble the console or dashboard, or the outside of the front 
or pull handle of the removed manufacturers' ashtray that came with the 
vehicle, so as to closely blend in with, or match the console dashboard 
11. 
When the flashlight 10 is to be inserted in a console or dashboard 11, it 
is held in the position shown in FIG. 1, where it may be easily held in 
the hand of an average size adult, by the handle 16 for insertion into the 
opening 12, in the direction of arrow 17, as by sliding a second end 19 of 
the flashlight into a open front 18, with the guiding means or slides 15 
securely held in mating guiding means or tracks 20, formed within the 
opening 12. The flashlight is preferably pushed into opening 12 until the 
rear surface of the handle 16 abuts the front face or surround of the open 
front 18. In this position, the device is not obviously a flashlight, but 
would be readily available for anyone who knew what it was, and may be 
easily removed from opening 12 by pulling on the grip/handle 16, in the 
direction opposite of that shown by arrow 17, until the flashlight was 
completely removed and ready for use. 
As more clearly shown in FIG. 2, the flashlight 10, includes an 
illuminating or lighting portion on the second end 19. This second end is 
preferably substantially flat and rectangular, and includes a bulb 22, a 
lens 24, and a reflector 26, operated by a power means, in a known manner. 
The flashlight 10 also includes an on-off switch 28, of a type well known 
to those skilled in the art, preferably positioned closely adjacent the 
first end and handle 16, on a side 30 of the housing, whereby it may be 
easily actuated by a finger or thumb of a person gripping the handle 16, 
to operate the light. Additionally, the housing 14 of flashlight 10 may 
include a removable cover means 32 on the side 30, for an internal 
compartment (not shown) to hold batteries or another power source for the 
light, in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. 
As is also shown in FIG. 1, if a rechargeable flashlight or batteries held 
therein are needed or desired, the ashtray opening 12 may be provided with 
an electrical contact, or the like 34, attached to a separate charging 
system, or the electrical system of a vehicle in a known manner, and which 
cooperates with an electrical contact slot or opening 36 in the end 19, to 
enable the flashlight or rechargeable batteries held within the internal 
compartment, beneath the removable cover means 30, to be charged when the 
flashlight is fully inserted within the opening 12, so as to make contact 
between contact 34 and contact 36. 
A further embodiment of the flashlight assembly of the present invention is 
shown at 10A in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings. This embodiment is used in 
a vehicle having a pivoting type ashtray and includes an elongated, 
substantially V-shaped body or housing 14A, which may be made from any 
available material that is currently used to make flashlights, such as 
metal or plastic. The housing 14A includes an enlarged flattened end 19A 
and a narrow end 38 at the bottom or lower end of the V. The flashlight 
10A is inserted and held within the existing opening in a console or 
dashboard of a vehicle in substantially the same manner as the existing 
ashtray which has been removed. To accomplish this, the housing 14A may be 
provided with side holding or pivoting means (not shown), similar or 
identical to those of the existing ashtray, to removably secure the 
flashlight within the ashtray opening, in a manner well known to those 
skilled in the art. The housing 14A includes a front or handle portion 16A 
extending from above the enlarged end 19A to below the narrow end 38. This 
front or handle 16A is easily pulled or pushed so as to pivot the 
flashlight 10A into and out of the ashtray opening in the vehicle. 
Furthermore, because of the V-shape of the body or housing 14A, the 
flashlight may be comfortably gripped in the hand of a user between the 
front 16A and a face or side 30A. The front 16A is also painted or covered 
with a material to match or closely resemble the front handle of the 
removed manufacturers' ashtray that came with the vehicle, so as to 
closely blend in with, or match the console or dashboard. 
When the flashlight 10A is to be inserted in the ashtray opening in a 
vehicle, it is preferably held by a user at the enlarged top portion 19A 
thereof, and easily inserted into the ashtray opening until it is locked 
or secured therein, in a known manner. The entire flashlight 10A is then 
pivoted or rocked into the ashtray opening until the rear edge of the 
handle 16A abuts the front face or surround of the ashtray opening. Since 
the exterior of the front face blends with the console, dashboard or other 
region where it is installed, it will not be obvious to anyone that a 
flashlight has been inserted and held in the ashtray opening. The 
flashlight 10A, however, would be readily available for anyone in the 
vehicle who knew what it was, and may be easily removed from the ashtray 
opening by pulling on the front handle 16A, to pivot the flashlight open 
and then removing the flashlight from the ashtray opening, in a manner 
similar to removing the ashtray. 
The flashlight 10A also includes an illuminating or lighting portion on the 
substantially flattened, enlarged end 19A, which includes a bulb 22A, a 
lens 24A, and a reflector 26A. The flashlight 10A also includes an on-off 
switch 28A, preferably positioned closely adjacent the flattened end 19A 
on the face or side 30A, away from the front handle 16A, whereby it may be 
actuated by a finger or thumb of a person gripping the flashlight between 
the front handle 16A and rear face or side 30A toward the narrow end 38 to 
turn the flashlight on and off. Additionally, the flashlight 10A may 
include a removable cover means 32A on the side 30A, for an internal 
compartment to hold batteries or another power source for the light. 
As is shown in FIG. 4, if a rechargeable flashlight is needed or desired, a 
contact slot or opening 36A may be provided in the face or side 30A to 
enable rechargeable batteries held within the internal compartment, 
beneath the cover means 32A, to be charged when the flashlight 10A is 
fully inserted and held in the closed position, contacting a further 
contact (not shown), similar to contact 34, within the ashtray opening. 
As described above, the flashlight assembly of the present invention is 
mounted in an existing ashtray opening in a vehicle, after the existing 
ashtray in the dashboard is removed. And, although the flashlight assembly 
of the present invention may be used to replace the ashtray, it could also 
be manufactured as original equipment by a vehicle manufacturer, 
eliminating the ashtray altogether. The flashlight is inserted and held in 
the ashtray opening of the vehicle so as to be readily available in a 
convenient and accessible position without requiring that the user leave 
the vehicle or reach into an inaccessible area of the vehicle. Because the 
size and coloring of the flashlight have been carefully selected for the 
vehicle it will conveniently cooperate with the existing ashtray opening 
and require no adjustments or changes to the vehicle. Furthermore, its 
coloring will match the dashboard of the vehicle so as to blend with the 
same and be indistinguishable from an ashtray. 
It, thus, can be seen that the flashlight assembly of the present invention 
provides a flashlight that is interchangeable with vehicle ashtrays by 
merely inserting it in the existing ashtray openings, or that can be 
easily installed by a manufacturer at the factory when assembling the 
vehicle, in place of an ashtray. 
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and 
modifications of the just-described preferred embodiments can be 
configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. 
Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended 
claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically 
described herein.