Abstract:
A combination flashlight and container device comprising a first casing including a battery operated, manual flashlight with a threaded end, and a second casing detachably connected to the first casing at the threaded end, the second casing having a sealable and totally enclosed compartment.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates generally to flashlights, and more particularly to an apparatus for storing additional articles in and with the flashlight.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    Battery powered flashlights have become more powerful and have new uses in recent years, particularly with police, security emergency, medical professionals, and fire professionals. One type of flashlight that has met commercial success is the Mag-Lite® brand flashlight produced by Mag Instruments, Inc.  
           [0005]    At times, operators of a flashlight may have a need to store or conceal other articles, such as matches, keys, or personal defense sprays, such as pepper sprays and the like. Furthermore, some flashlights, particularly high powered flashlights do not includes the ability to float when submerged into liquid.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The present invention is an apparatus and method for attaching an auxiliary container to a flashlight. The present invention further includes an auxiliary container shaped to have, in one form of the invention, the same exterior diameter as the flashlight body. In one form of the invention, the end cap of the flashlight is removed, and the auxiliary container is attached to where the end cap had attached.  
           [0007]    The auxiliary container may include a water proof end cap for storing articles therein.  
           [0008]    In another form of the invention, the auxiliary container may contain and hold a personal defense spray, such as pepper spray or MACE, for flashlight operator use. The container in this embodiment would include a finger port for access to the trigger of the personal defense spray, along with a port for spray dispersal.  
           [0009]    Yet another form of the invention includes the auxiliary container formed of a material, such as closed cell foam, or an air tight container, providing the ability for the flashlight to float when submerged or dropped into liquid.  
           [0010]    A combination flashlight and container device comprising a first casing including a battery operated, manual flashlight with a threaded end, and a second casing detachably connected to the first casing at the threaded end, the second casing having a sealable and totally enclosed compartment.  
           [0011]    A container for connection to a flashlight with an end, the container comprising a casing having a sealable, totally enclosed compartment, the casing detachably connectable to the end of the flashlight.  
           [0012]    One advantage of the present invention is that an auxiliary container may be attached to a flashlight via the flashlight connection mechanism to its battery cover end cap.  
           [0013]    Another advantage of the present invention is that the auxiliary container may have the same outside diameter and circumference as the flashlight body, thereby making an ergonomic and visually appealing device.  
           [0014]    Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the auxiliary container may contain a replaceable personal defense spray canister for emergency use. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 is an exploded partial sectional view of one form of the present invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 is an exploded partial sectional view of another form of the present invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 is an exploded partial sectional view of one form of the present invention;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 5 a  is a perspective view of the container shown in FIG. 4;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 b  is an axial vial of the container tube shown in FIG. 4;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 6 a  is an exploded perspective view of another form of the invention;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 6 b  is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 a,  showing the other side;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 7 a  is a side sectional view of the end cap shown in FIG. 6;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 7 b  is a perspective view of an end cap;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 7 c  is a perspective view of the other side of the end cap, shown in FIG. 7 b;    
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 7 d  is another sectional view of the end cap shown in FIG. 7 a;    
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 7 e  is an axial view of the end cap shown in FIG. 7 a.   
     
    
       [0029]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0030]    The assembly of the present invention  10  is shown in FIG. 1. The assembly includes a flashlight  12  including a flashlight casing into which a particular battery powered unit, such as batteries are inserted. Typical flashlight casings are cylindrical in nature, and include either external or internal threaded ends  16  into which an end cap  18  is threadedly attached. One type of flashlight  16  usable in the present invention is that of a Mag-lite® flashlight produced by Mag Instruments, Inc. Alternatively, other flashlights may be utilized in the present invention. Flashlight  12  includes a switch  20  to activate the flashlight lamp (not shown). Further shown in FIG. 1, and in the alternate embodiments of the invention, is an o-ring seal  22  which forms a waterproof seal with either end cap  18  or the container portion of the present invention.  
         [0031]    The present invention utilizes an auxiliary container which is attached to flashlight end  16  by means of external threads  32 . Alternate attachment mechanisms may be equivalently used to attach the auxiliary container  30  to flashlight casing  14 .  
         [0032]    In one form of the invention, auxiliary container  30  has a casing  14  formed from aluminum, metal or possibly plastic having an external dimension in either diameter, circumference, or cross-section substantially equal to that of flashlight casing  14 . Casing  34  forms a sealable and totally enclosed compartment. Container casing surface  34  may be colored or painted, anodized, or camouflaged to meet the needs of the operator or purchaser. Container casing  34  at the other end includes, in this embodiment, internal threads  36  along with an o-ring  38  into which an end cap  18  may connect. In one form of the invention, end cap  18  is the same end cap which had previously been associated with a complete flashlight  12  for attachment of auxiliary container  30 . As shown in FIG. 1, end cap  18  includes external threads  19 .  
         [0033]    Attachment of this form of auxiliary container  30  is easily conducted. Typically flashlight  12  will include an end cap  18  which may be threadably removed. Container casing  34  may then be rotatably threaded into flashlight casing  14  thereby completing the conventional flashlight battery circuit and acting structurally and functionally as end cap  18 . The previously-removed end cap  18  from flashlight  12  is then utilized in sealing the distal end of container casing  34 . Interaction of o-ring  38  along with end cap  18  forms a watertight volume into which articles may be stored such as keys, matches, or other items that may be wished to be securely held or concealed the totally sealed and enclosed compartment.  
         [0034]    In another form of the invention as shown in FIG. 2, auxiliary container  30  is shown enclosing a personal defense spray cartridge  40  which includes a spray nozzle  42  and an activator  44  for activating the personal defense spray. A structure for stabily and definitely locating a personal defense spray cartridge  40  within auxiliary container  30  is shown. A base  46  is shown attached to the inside of casing  34  and forming an interference fit with personal defense spray cartridge  40 . Alternatively another item or structure such as a formation  48  on the interior of casing  34  may be utilized to stabily locate personal defense spray  40  within auxiliary container  30 . The requirements for the base  46  or sidewall formation  48  is that personal defense spray  40  is correctly located, both axially and radially, within auxiliary container  30  so that upon actuation, for example by a finger inserted through port  50  in casing  34 , the defense spray nozzle  40  will be located adjacent an exit port  52  to permit effective release of the defense spray.  
         [0035]    Another form of the invention as shown in FIGS.  4 - 7 E show a container casing  34  having a formed or milled-out hollow interior surface  56  that is formed to adapt and slidably lock about the personal defense spray cartridge  40 . Shown in FIGS. 4 and 5A, casing  34  includes two external threaded areas,  32  to attach flashlight  12  and a second external threaded area  54 . In this embodiment, an end cap  60  is shown in FIGS.  7 A- 7 E. FIGS.  7 A- 7 D show internal threads  62  into which external threaded area  54  of casing  34  rotatably interfit. End cap  60  includes an internally milled or formed profile  64  that is formed to interfit and interlock with a personal defensive spray canister  40  to prevent the canister&#39;s rotation and axial movement within auxiliary container  30 . Such interlocking may be formed by an interference fit, snap fit, tongue-and-groove, or dovetail style attachment. The threadable connection between casing  34  and end cap  60  provide for a substantially seamless and continuous outside surface of auxiliary container  30  simulating the appearance of the flashlight casing  14  when fully assembled. As shown in FIGS.  7 A- 7 E, end cap  60  further includes a port  50  for entry of a finger to activate the personal defensive spray canister  40  and an exit port  42  for the contents of the defensive spray. The profile of exit port  52  may be formed to increase the dispersion of the personal defensive spray.  
         [0036]    An operation and attachment of this embodiment of the invention to flashlight  12 , end cap  18  is removed from flashlight casing  14  and the container casing  34  of FIG. 4 is attached with external threads  32 . A personal defensive spray canister  40  may be inserted into end cap  60  interfitting with the internal profile  64  to stabilize and interlock the personal defensive spray  40  within end cap  60  so that the spray nozzle  42  and exit port  52  are aligned. The casing  34  as shown in FIG. 6A is then connected to end cap  60  via external threads  54  interfitting with internal threads  62 . A virtually seamless flashlight casing is thereby formed with the personal defensive spray canister  40  concealed therein, and available for use.  
         [0037]    Another form of the invention is shown in FIG. 3 in which the auxiliary container  30  includes a floatation means, and in one form is filled with a closed cell foam or other material that floats when immersed in liquids. Alternatively the auxiliary container may simply be hollow or filled with gas for floatation. Such auxiliary container or float may be then attached via threads  32  to flashlight casing  14 . Alternatively other floatable materials may be utilized within auxiliary container  30  such as cork, wood, etc.  
         [0038]    The invention further includes the utilization of a method of attaching the auxiliary container to the flashlight by attaching it into the same connection to where the flashlight cap typically is located. Such utilization of the auxiliary container and attachment may make a smooth surface and extension to flashlight  12 . Alternate other shapes of container casing  34  may also be utilized that do not substantially match flashlight casing  14 .  
         [0039]    While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.