Abstract:
A handheld flashlight has a housing with a handle for accepting a user&#39;s hand to grip and hold the housing, a first light source positioned in the housing for projecting a beam of light into a distance in front of the user, a second light source positioned in the housing for projecting a beam of light toward a surface proximate the user&#39;s feet and a tail light positioned in the housing to provide additional visibility of the user to people who approach the user from behind. A switch energizes and deenergizes the lights. A spring biased reel is rotatably mounted in said housing and a leash is wound on the reel and extends from the housing such that a portion of the leash can be extended from the housing and the reel will automatically retract the extended leash portion.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of the co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/351,769 filed Feb. 10, 2006, which application is incorporated by reference in its entirety and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/652,450 filed on Feb. 11, 2005, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety, and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/702,185 filed on Jul. 25, 2005, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a handheld light emitting device; more particularly, to a handheld flashlight combined with a retractable leash. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A typical handheld flashlight includes a substantially cylindrical handle that is gripped by a user&#39;s hand. The flashlight has a single light emitting source at one end that receives power from a dry cell battery or a series of dry cell batteries that are positioned within the handle. 
         [0004]    While a standard flashlight has many useful purposes, it is difficult to grip the handle on a flashlight for long periods of time because the user&#39;s grip fatigues due to the unnatural position of the user&#39;s hand about the flashlight handle. Also, many of the handles have a narrow diameter and are difficult to grip. Further, the weight of the dry cell batteries positioned within the handle cause the user&#39;s grip to fatigue over time. 
         [0005]    Another issue that arises when using a standard flashlight in unfamiliar terrain is that the user typically prefers to have a beam shining in a forward direction for a distance to allow the user to see and avoid potential hazards. While wanting to see what is in front of the user, the user also prefers to have a beam illuminating the terrain near the user&#39;s feet so that the user does not slip, fall or trip over an unseen obstacle. While using a single beam flashlight, the user must alternate between illuminating the terrain in the distance and illuminating the ground near the user&#39;s feet. Over time this repetitive motion can become tiresome to the flashlight user. 
         [0006]    While walking a pet, typically a dog, a person may use a leash especially where there is a “leash law”. Some leashes include a retracting device including a spring biased spool upon which the leash is wound. A lever or button can be provided to control features such as automatic rewinding of the leash and holding the leash at a selected extended length. 
         [0007]    When walking a dog at night, the person typically holds a flashlight in one hand and the leash in the other hand. Therefore, the person does not have a hand available for holding other objects such as a pet waste collection bag and tool, or an umbrella for use during inclement weather. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention includes a light emitting apparatus having a housing with a substantially elliptical perimeter and an elongated aperture for accepting the digits of a user&#39;s hand. A first light emitting source is positioned in the housing for projecting a beam of light into a distance in front of the user. A second light emitting source is positioned in the housing for projecting a beam of light toward a surface proximate the user&#39;s feet. 
         [0009]    The housing includes a handle between the aperture and the substantially elliptical perimeter for gripping the light emitting apparatus and wherein the elliptical perimeter distributes a weight of the light emitting apparatus substantially evenly across the user&#39;s grip to prevent the user&#39;s grip from becoming fatigued. 
         [0010]    The housing encloses a spring biased reel upon which is wound a leash having one end fixed to the spool and an opposite end extending through an aperture in the housing and terminating in a hook for attaching to a pet collar. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The above as well as other advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the handheld flashlight with retractable leash according to the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an elevation view of the interior of the left half of the housing shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is an elevation view of the interior of the right half of the housing shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 3  with components installed. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0016]    The U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/351,769 is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0017]    The following detailed description and appended drawings describe and illustrate various exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description and drawings serve to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any manner. In respect of the methods disclosed, the steps presented are exemplary in nature, and thus, the order of the steps is not necessary or critical. 
         [0018]    A handheld flashlight of the present invention is generally illustrated at  10  in  FIG. 1 . The handheld flashlight  10  has a housing  11  that is constructed of a left half  12  and a right half  13 . The housing halves  12 ,  13  are held together by a plurality of fasteners  14 . The housing  11  has a generally elliptical shape in side elevation with substantially flat side surfaces connected by a peripheral wall  15 . However, the side surfaces may have other configurations besides being substantially flat. While an elliptical shape is preferred, other configured flashlights are within the scope of the present invention including a polygonal perimeter or circular perimeter. The elliptical perimeter substantially evenly distributes the weight of the flashlight along a length which allows a user of the flashlight to grip and use the flashlight for an extended period of time without causing the user&#39;s grip to become fatigued. 
         [0019]    The left and right halves  12 ,  13  are preferably constructed from a light weight plastic or polymeric material that is substantially impact resistant and able to withstand an impact when accidentally dropped. However other materials of construction are within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0020]    The left and right halves  12 ,  13  have an internal aperture  16  formed therethrough that is of generally oval shape. The internal aperture  16  is shaped to accept the fingers or digits of a human hand. A top edge of the aperture  16  includes a plurality of inwardly extending portions  17  that define a gripping surface. The user positions his/her fingers into the aperture  16  while positioning a palm at the peripheral wall  15  above the portions  17 . Thus, the portion of the housing  11  between the upper edge of the aperture  16  and the adjacent peripheral wall  15  defines an integral handle  18  for gripping the flashlight  10 . 
         [0021]    The left and right housing halves  12 ,  13  each include a front foot  11 A and a back foot  11 B extending outwardly from a bottom portion of the peripheral wall  15 . The front and back feet  11 A,  11 B allow the flashlight  10  to be positioned in a selected position on a flat surface without rolling or tipping to either side. The feet  11 A,  11 B allow the user to not only use the flashlight  10  for an athletic activity such as walking, hiking or running, but also allow the flashlight  10  to be used for other activities where a stationary flashlight is required. 
         [0022]    Various components of the handheld flashlight  10  are mounted in the peripheral wall  15 . A pushbutton switch  19  is positioned within an aperture formed in the wall  15  at the handle  18 . The switch  19  is proximate the user&#39;s thumb when the hand is gripping the handle  18 . The switch  19  is preferably a multi-positional switch for controlling a plurality of lights as discussed below. 
         [0023]    Moving in a counterclockwise direction about the housing  11  shown in  FIG. 1 , an end of a lever  20  extends through an aperture formed in the peripheral wall  15 . The lever  20  also is proximate the user&#39;s thumb for controlling a leash as discussed below. 
         [0024]    A first light emitting source  21  is mounted in an aperture formed in the peripheral wall  15 . The light source  21  is turned on and off by the switch  19 . The first light emitting source  21  is preferably a light emitting diode (LED) device having a beam that is dispersed through a lens. However, the lens is not necessary to practice the present invention. Preferably, the first light emitting source  21  is a flood light aimed forward for a distance to allow the user to see and avoid potential hazards. The LED device  21  may include one or more LEDs or light bulbs. The flood light  21  projects a broad beam of light that illuminates the ground or terrain for a substantial distance. 
         [0025]    Below the light  21  is a leash  22  extending from an aperture formed in the peripheral wall  15  and terminating in a hook  22 A for attachment to a collar worn by an animal. The leash  22  extends from and retracts into the housing  11  utilizing a spring biased reel or spool as described below. Pushing the lever  20  in a forward direction toward the light  21  locks the leash  22  in place. Pulling the lever  20  in a rearward direction frees the leash  22  for extension and retraction. 
         [0026]    The switch  19  also controls a second light emitting source  23  mounted below the leash aperture. The second light emitting source  23  is positioned to project two beams of light at a substantially 45° angle to each other between a horizontal direction of the light  21  and a vertical direction. However, other configurations of the two beams are within the scope of the present invention. The second light emitting source  23  preferably projects a narrow, high intensity beam proximate the user&#39;s feet. A cluster of more than one LED or light bulb which act together to form the narrow, intense beam can be used. Thus, the user does not have to maneuver the flashlight  10  to shine the beam of the light  21  between the user&#39;s feet and out in the distance. 
         [0027]    The switch  19  further controls a third light emitting source  24  mounted in the peripheral wall  15  opposite the light  21 . The light  24  is a tail light that allows individuals approaching the user from behind to ascertain the user&#39;s position. The light  24  is useful in making the user visible whether the user is being approached by a pedestrian or a person in a vehicle. The tail light  24  is preferably a pair of red LEDs covered by a clear lens. However, a white LED can be used with a red transparent lens. The tail light  24  preferably blinks to attract attention to the light. While an LED is typical, other illuminating devices are within the scope of the present invention. Further, a transparent lens having a color other than a red lens is also within the scope of the present invention as is no lens. 
         [0028]    A multi-positionable pushbutton switch is preferred for the switch  19 . A first actuation turns on the first light  21 . A second actuation of the switch  19  turns on the second light  23  while the first light  21  remains on. A third actuation of the switch  19  turns on the third light  24  while the first light  21  and the second light  23  remain on. A fourth actuation of the switch  19  turns off all of the lights. Other types of switches can be used to obtain the same functionality or to control the lights in different combinations of “on” and “off” within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0029]      FIG. 1  also shows a battery cavity cover  25  positioned to close a recess or cavity (not shown) formed in the housing left half  12  for retaining a plurality of suitable batteries (not shown) that provide electrical power to the lights through the switch  19 . The cover  25  is releasably retained by a pair of fasteners  26 . The flashlight  10  is typically powered with three AA batteries to minimize the weight of the flashlight. However, the flashlight  10  may use one or more batteries that may be a different size than an AA battery. 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  the housing left half  12  and the housing right half  13  each include one half of the peripheral wall  15 . Formed in each half of the peripheral wall  15  are the following aperture portions: pushbutton aperture  27 ; lever aperture  28 ; first light aperture  29 ; leash aperture  30 ; second light aperture  31 ; and third light aperture  32 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , an interior wall  33  of the battery cavity extends inwardly from the inner surface of the housing left half  12 . Also formed in the side wall of the housing left half  12  are a plurality of apertures  34  for receiving the fasteners  14 . The housing right half  13  has a corresponding plurality of posts  35  extending from an interior surface of the side wall for threadably receiving the fasteners  14  in bores thereby attaching the two halves of the housing  11  together. However, other fastening devices such as glue, adhesive and a snap fit are also within the scope of the present invention for retaining the halves  12 ,  13  together. 
         [0031]    There is formed on the interior surface of each of the housing halves  12 ,  13  a lever pivot post  36  positioned between the hand aperture  16  and the first light aperture  29 . The posts  36  each have a bore formed therein for receiving an associated pin  37  ( FIG. 4 ) extending from the lever  20  to form a pivot point at a midpoint of the lever. As shown in  FIG. 4 , an upper end of the lever  20  has a hollow knob  38  mounted thereon. There is a compression spring (not shown) positioned inside the knob  38  in contact with the lever  20  to bias the knob upwardly. The knob  38  has a pair of pins  39  extending from opposite sides. Each of the pins  39  slides along a bottom surface an associated rib  40  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ) formed on the interior surface of a respective one of the housing halves  12 ,  13 . At the end of each rib  40  closest to the lever aperture  28  is formed a downwardly opening depression  40 A for accepting a corresponding one of the pins  39 . Thus, when the knob  38  is closest to the switch aperture  27 , the user can slide the knob toward the lever aperture  28  until the spring moves the pins  39  into the depressions  40 A to hold the lever  20  when the user removes his/her thumb from the knob. 
         [0032]    The lower end of the lever  20  engages a pawl  41  as shown in  FIG. 4 . There is formed on the interior surface of each of the housing halves  12 ,  13  a pawl pivot post  42  positioned adjacent to the leash aperture  30 . The posts  42  each have a bore formed therein for receiving an associated pin  43  ( FIG. 4 ) extending from the pawl  41  to form a pivot point at one end of the pawl. Thus, pivoting of the lever  20  will produce a pivoting of the pawl  41 . 
         [0033]    The first light  21  includes a reflector  44  mounted in the aperture  29  and having a cone shaped reflective surface. Mounted at an interior end of the reflector  44  is an LED assembly  45  ( FIG. 4 ) that is exposed through a central aperture in the reflector. 
         [0034]    Mounted in the leash aperture  30  is a leash guide  46  to guide the leash  22  out of and into the housing  11 . The guide  46  has an arcuate opening through which the leash  22  passes. 
         [0035]    The second light aperture  31  receives a second light mount  47  upon which the two LEDs are mounted. Extending through the mount  47  is a pair of apertures  47 A ( FIG. 4 ) each receiving one of the LEDs. 
         [0036]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , a reel assembly  48  for receiving the leash  22  is rotatably mounted on a tubular axle  49  extending from the inner surface of the housing right half  13 . The reel assembly  48  includes an internal spirally coiled spring (not shown) as is conventional in automatically retracting electrical cord reels (e.g., see U.S. Pat. No. 3,450,369). As shown in  FIG. 3 , the axle  49  extends through a central aperture of a flat ring shaped sound absorbing pad  50  attached to the inner surface of the housing right half  13 . The pad  50  can be formed of any suitable material such as ethylene vinyl acetate (also known as EVA) which is adhesively attached to the housing. A second pad  50  is attached to the inner surface of the housing left half  12  as shown in  FIG. 2 . A tubular axle retainer  51  extends from the inner surface of the housing left half  12  and through a central aperture of the sound absorbing pad  50 . The retainer  51  has an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of the axle  49  and an internal wall  51 A that is received in a slot  49 A formed in the wall of the axle  49  for a positive engagement. 
         [0037]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the reel  48  has a plurality of ratchet teeth  52  formed on a side surface for cooperation with the pawl  41 . The pawl  41  has to parallel arms and the arm closer to the inner surface of the housing right half  13  engages a similar plurality of teeth formed on the opposite side surface of the reel  48 . When the knob  38  is closest to the switch aperture  27 , the pawl  41  is rotated out of engagement with the teeth  52  and the reel  48  is free to rotate on the axle  49 . In this position, the leash  22  can be pulled out of the housing  11  and will be automatically retracted if the pulling force is released. When the user slides the knob  38  toward the lever aperture  28 , the pawl  41  engages the teeth  52  to prevent rotation of the reel  48  in the retracting direction. 
         [0038]    The tail light  24  includes a lens  53  covering a tail light module  54  mounted in the third light aperture  32 . The module  54  includes one or more sources of light and can include conventional circuitry (not shown) for flashing the light sources to better attract attention. 
         [0039]    The flashlight apparatus  10  of the present invention has an ergonomically designed handle and gripping surface at the hand aperture  16  to minimize fatigue to the user&#39;s grip over time. The flashlight  10  of the present invention also eliminates the need to point a single beam intermittently between proximate the user&#39;s feet and into the distance. The user can position his/her hand in a natural position while walking or moving while having the first and second light emitting sources  21 ,  23  project the beams in the desired directions. The flashlight also includes an automatically retracting leash  22  that is manually controlled at the knob  38  to prevent retraction. 
         [0040]    In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the present invention has been described in what is considered to represent its preferred embodiment. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.