Abstract:
A compact flashlight is configured such that it can be coupled to a key ring, as well as various other devices, and includes a locking mechanism that inhibits accidental opening and detachment from the ring or other device. The compact flashlight is further configured to allow the flashlight to be pointed in numerous directions while resting on a surface, and further allows for ease of battery replacement. The compact flashlight additionally includes a plurality of switches that are easy to operate, and includes both a momentary switch and an on-off switch.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/955,041, filed Sep. 30, 2004, which is now U.S. Pat. No. ______. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to flashlights and, more particularly, to a compact flashlight that may be coupled to various objects, such as a key ring, a book, or a hat, and that includes an improved switch configuration and a battery holder that allows for relatively easy battery installation and replacement.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     A flat tire on a dark, lonely road. A blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker on a dark, stormy night. The desire to find a dropped object on the floor of a darkened theater. Many individuals have experienced one or more of these events. During these events, it many times seems inevitable that a flashlight is either unavailable or cannot be found. Moreover, if a flashlight is available or found, its batteries may be depleted. Thus, in recent years many manufacturers have developed and marketed compact flashlights that can be carried in, for example, a persons pocket or purse.  
         [0004]     Many of the compact flashlights that are presently known include a light emitting diode (LED) that is powered from one or more small batteries. The LED and batteries are housed within a relatively small, compact housing that can easily fit in most pockets and/or purses. In addition, many presently known compact flashlights include a ring or other type of extension that allows the flashlight to be coupled to a key ring.  
         [0005]     The presently known compact flashlights are convenient, safe, and relatively easy to use. Nonetheless, most suffer certain drawbacks. For example, while the rings and extensions allow for coupling to a key ring, most do not allow the flashlight to be coupled to other devices. Moreover, many of the rings and extensions do not include locks or other devices to inhibit accidental opening and detachment from the ring or extension. Furthermore, most compact flashlights presently do not include rotatable structures that allow the flashlight to be pointed in various directions, while resting on a surface.  
         [0006]     In addition to the configurational drawback described above, it is noted that many of the present compact flashlights do not provide a convenient way to change the batteries. Indeed, if the batteries can be changed at all, in many instances this requires that the housing be disassembled and reassembled following battery replacement. This operation can be tedious, time confusing, difficult, and can also result in a loss of parts.  
         [0007]     Yet another drawback of many presently known compact flashlights is the switches that are used to turn the LED on and off. In many cases, the switches are either permanent-type on/off switches, or momentary-type on/off switches. The permanent-type on/off switches are typically quite small, and can be difficult to operate. In addition, when the flashlights are assembled, precise positioning of the components within the housing, including the switch, is needed for proper operation. Thus, if the batteries are replaced, when the housing is reassembled the switch may fail, or may not operate properly upon reassembly of the housing.  
         [0008]     Hence, there is a need for a compact flashlight that can be coupled to a key ring, as well as various other devices, and that includes a locking mechanism that inhibits accidental opening and detachment from the ring or extension, and/or is structurally configured to allow the flashlight to be pointed in numerous directions while resting on a surface, and/or allows for ease of battery replacement, and/or includes one or more switches that are easy to operate. The present invention addresses one or more of these needs.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY  
       [0009]     The present invention provides a compact flashlight that can be coupled to a key ring, as well as various other devices, and that includes a locking mechanism that inhibits accidental opening and detachment. The compact flashlight is configured to allow the flashlight to be pointed in numerous directions while resting on a surface. The compact flashlight also provides for easy battery replacement, and includes a plurality of switches that are easy to operate.  
         [0010]     In one embodiment, and by way of example only, a flashlight includes a housing assembly, a light, a battery holder, and a switch. The housing assembly has at least one aperture formed therein. The light is mounted at least partially within the housing assembly and extends at least partially through the housing assembly aperture. The battery holder is rotationally mounted on the housing assembly and is rotatable between at least an open position and a closed position. The first switch is disposed on the housing assembly and is configured to move between an activate position and a deactivate position, to thereby electrically energize and de-energize, respectively, the light when one or more batteries are installed in the battery holder.  
         [0011]     In another exemplary embodiment, a flashlight includes a housing assembly, a light, a battery holder, a switch, and a clip. The housing assembly has at least one aperture formed therein. The light is mounted at least partially within the housing assembly and extends at least partially through the housing assembly aperture. The battery holder is disposed within the housing assembly and is adapted to receive one or more batteries therein. The switch is disposed on the housing assembly and is configured to move between at least an activate position and a deactivate position, to thereby electrically energize and de-energize, respectively, the light from the battery when one or more batteries are installed in the battery holder. The clip is rotationally coupled to the housing assembly and has at least a closed position and an open position. The clip includes a first jaw, a second jaw, and a spring. The first jaw has at least an inner surface and an outer surface. The second jaw is rotationally coupled to the first jaw and has at least an inner surface and an outer surface and is adapted to rotate relative to the first jaw. The spring is coupled between the first and second jaws and is configured to bias the clip toward the closed position, whereby at least a first portion of the first jaw inner surface engages at least a first portion of the second jaw inner surface.  
         [0012]     In yet another exemplary embodiment, a flashlight includes a housing assembly, a light, a battery holder, a first switch, and a second switch. The housing assembly has at least one aperture formed therein. The light is mounted at least partially within the housing assembly and extends at least partially through the housing assembly aperture. The battery holder is disposed within the housing assembly and is adapted to receive one or more batteries therein. The first switch is movably disposed on the housing assembly and is configured to move between at least an activate position and a deactivate position, to thereby electrically energize and de-energize, respectively, the light from the battery when one or more batteries are installed in the battery holder. The second switch is movably disposed on the housing assembly and is configured to move between at least (i) an on position, in which the second switch engages the first switch and moves it to its activate position, and (ii) an off position, in which the second switch is disengaged from the first switch.  
         [0013]     These and other features and advantages of the preferred flashlight will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a compact flashlight according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIGS. 2 and 3  are a top and bottom views, respectively, of the compact flashlight shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0016]      FIGS. 4 and 5  are sides views of the compact flashlight shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0017]      FIGS. 6 and 7  are end views of the compact flashlight shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0018]      FIGS. 8 and 9  are cross section views of the compact flashlight shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 10  is a simplified schematic representation of a light circuit incorporated into the compact flashlight of the compact flashlight shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0020]      FIGS. 11 and 12  are top and bottom views of the compact flashlight shown in  FIG. 1 , with a battery holder in the open position;  
         [0021]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a portion of the structure used to implement the battery holder;  
         [0022]      FIG. 14  is a side view of the compact flashlight illustrating the rotation of the clip;  
         [0023]      FIG. 15  is a side view of the compact flashlight depicting the clip in more detail;  
         [0024]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the compact flashlight showing it being clipped to a keyring;  
         [0025]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the compact flashlight showing it being clipped to a hat; and  
         [0026]      FIG. 18  is a side view of the compact flashlight showing it resting on a surface and directed in a desired direction. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0027]     A perspective view of a particular preferred embodiment of a compact flashlight  100  is shown in  FIG. 1 , and includes a housing assembly  102 , and a clip assembly  104 . The housing assembly  102  houses various components, many of which are described more fully below, and is preferably sized and dimensioned to fit within a conventional pant pocket, purse, or other relatively small carrying device. The clip assembly  104  is rotationally coupled to the housing assembly  102  and is used to couple the flashlight  100  to one or more devices. For example, as shown in  FIG. 16 , the clip  104  may be used to couple the flashlight  100  to a keyring  1602 . The housing assembly  102  and the clip assembly  104 , and the components that make up each assembly, will now each be described in detail, beginning first with the housing assembly  102 .  
         [0028]     Turning now to  FIGS. 2-7 , which depict top, bottom, side, and end views of the flashlight  100 , in combination with  FIG. 1 , it is seen that the housing assembly  102  includes an upper housing section  106 , and a lower housing section  108 . The upper  106  and lower  108  housing sections are coupled together by, for example, a plurality of fasteners  302  (see  FIG. 3 ), though it will be appreciated that these sections could also be coupled together using other means such as, for example, an adhesive, or a snap-fit.  
         [0029]     The upper  106  and lower  108  housing sections are configured such that when each are coupled together, the housing assembly  102  includes an aperture  110  formed in a first end  112  of the housing assembly  102  (see  FIG. 1 ). With reference now to  FIG. 8 , the upper  106  and lower  108  housing sections also preferably each include a mount collar  802   a ,  802   b  on respective inner surfaces  804 ,  806  thereof. A light  808 , which is preferably a light emitting diode (LED), is mounted within the housing assembly  102  and is supported within the housing via the mount collars  802   a ,  802   b . The light  808 , when mounted within the housing assembly  102 , preferably extends only partially through the aperture  110 , and is thus recessed within the housing assembly  102 . This preferred configuration, in which the light  808  is recessed within the housing assembly  102 , helps protect the light  808  from external, potentially damaging hazards. It will be appreciated, of course, that this is merely exemplary a particular preferred configuration, and that the light  808  could extend beyond the perimeter of the housing assembly  102 .  
         [0030]     With continued reference to  FIG. 8 , and as was previously noted, it is seen that, in addition to the light  808 , various other components are housed within, and mounted on, the housing assembly  102 . These components include one or more batteries  810 , a pair of switch contacts  812   a ,  812   b , a first switch  814 , and a second switch  816 . The batteries  810 , which in the depicted embodiment are two lithium coin-type batteries, are used to supply power to the light  808  when either of the switches  814 ,  816  is activated. It will be appreciated that the type of battery used may vary, and that lithium coin-type batteries is merely exemplary of a particular preferred embodiment. No matter the particular type or number of batteries, and as will be described in more detail further below, the batteries  810  are preferably mounted in a rotatable battery compartment that allows ready access to, and removal and/or replacement of, the batteries  810 . As may be seen, when the light  808  and batteries  810  are properly mounted within the housing assembly  102 , the light  808  is electrically coupled in series between the batteries  810  and one of the switch contacts  812   a.    
         [0031]     The switch contacts  812   a ,  812   b  are which are formed of any one of numerous electrically conductive materials such as, for example, nickel-plated phosphorus, bronze, nickel-plated steel, gold-plated steel, and brass, are mounted within the housing assembly  102  and include a fixed switch contact  812   a , and a movable switch contact  812   b . The fixed switch contact  812   a  is preferably, though not necessarily, non-movable, and is configured to be electrically coupled to the batteries  810  when the batteries  810  are properly mounted and disposed within the housing assembly  102 . The movable switch contact  812   b , as the term used herein connotes, is selectively movable. In particular, the movable switch contact  812   b  is selectively movable between a contact position and a non-contact position. In the non-contact position, which is the normal position, the movable switch contact  812   b  is electrically isolated from the fixed switch contact  812   a . Conversely, in the contact position, the movable switch contact  812   b  is electrically coupled to the fixed switch contact  812   a.    
         [0032]     The movable switch contact  812   b  may be configured in any one of numerous ways to implement the above-described functionality. However, in the depicted embodiment this is accomplished by coupling one end of the moveable switch contact  812   b  to the first switch  814  and another end of the movable switch contact  812   b  to the housing assembly  102 . The movable switch contact  812   b  is also configured such that when it and the light  808  are properly disposed within the housing assembly  102 , the light  808  is electrically coupled to the movable switch contact  812   b.    
         [0033]     With the above-described switch contact configuration, and as is shown more clearly in schematic form in  FIG. 10 , the batteries  810 , the light  808 , and the switch contacts  812   a ,  812   b  form a series electrical circuit  1000 . Thus, when the movable switch contact  812   b  is moved to the contact position, it is electrically coupled to the fixed switch contact  812   a , thereby closing the circuit  1000  and allowing the batteries  810  to supply current to the light  808 , which causes the light  808  to illuminate. As will now be described, the movable switch contact  812   b  is moved between the contact and non-contact position by operation of either the first  814  or second  816  switches.  
         [0034]     Returning once again to  FIG. 8 , and with additional reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , it was previously noted that the housing assembly  102  includes two switches, a first switch  814 , and a second switch  816 . The first switch  814 , which is referred to hereinafter as a momentary switch  814 , is coupled to the housing assembly upper section  106  in a cantilever fashion and is movable between a deactivate position and an activate position. The momentary switch  814  is configured to be self-biased toward the deactivate position and, in response to a small force, to move to the activate position. As was just noted, the momentary switch  814  is also coupled to the movable switch contact  812   b . When the momentary switch  814  is in the deactivate position, which is the position shown in  FIG. 8 , the movable switch contact  812   b  is in its non-contact position, and is electrically isolated from the fixed switch contact  812   a . Conversely, when the momentary switch  814  is in its activate position, it moves the movable switch contact  812   b  to its contact position, electrically coupling the fixed  812   a  and movable  812   b  switch contacts together, closing the electrical circuit  1000 , and causing the light  808  to illuminate.  
         [0035]     The second switch  816 , which is referred to hereinafter as the on-off switch  816 , is slidably disposed within the housing assembly upper section  106 . Similar to the momentary switch  814 , the on-off switch  816  is movable between two positions, an on position and an off position; however, unlike the momentary switch  814 , the on-off switch  816  is not biased toward either position. Rather, the on-off switch  816  is configured such that, once it is moved to either the on or off position, it will remain in that position until it is moved to the other position. In particular, and as will now be described, when the on-off switch is moved to the on position, it engages the momentary switch  814  and moves the momentary switch to its activate position, thereby illuminating the light  808 .  
         [0036]     The on-off switch  816  and momentary switch  814  are shown in the off position and the deactivate position, respectively, in  FIG. 8 . If it is desired to keep the light  808  energized for an extended period, or for any period of time for that matter, without having to continuously apply pressure manually to the momentary switch  814 , then the on-off switch is moved to the on position. When this occurs, as is shown most clearly in  FIG. 9 , the on-off switch  816  engages the momentary switch  814 , moving it to the activate position. As was noted above, when the momentary switch  814  is in the activate position, it moves the movable switch contact  812   b  into electrical contact with the fixed switch contact  812   a , which causes the light  808  to illuminate. As was also noted above, the on-off switch will remain in the on position until it is manually moved to the off position.  
         [0037]     It was previously noted that the batteries  810  are preferably mounted in a rotatable battery compartment. Turning now to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , and with reference to  FIG. 1  as necessary, the battery holder will be described in more detail. As shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12  the battery holder  1102  is rotationally mounted on the housing assembly  102  and is movable between an open position, which is shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , and a closed position, which is shown in  FIG. 1 . The battery holder  1102  may be rotationally mounted using any one of numerous types of devices, but in the depicted embodiment is rotationally mounted using a non-illustrated sleeve that surrounds one of the fasteners  302 . No matter the particular manner in which the battery holder  1102  is rotationally mounted, it is seen in  FIGS. 1, 11 , and  12  that when the battery holder  1102  is in the open position, it extends away from the housing assembly  102 , exposing the batteries  810 . Conversely, when the battery holder  1102  is in the closed position, the battery holder  1102  is disposed at least partially within the housing assembly  102 , such that the batteries  810  are enclosed therein. A more detailed description of the battery holder  1102  will now be provided.  
         [0038]     In the depicted embodiment, the battery holder  1102  includes a pivot arm  1104 , and a battery mount structure  1106 . The pivot arm  1104  includes a first end  1108 , a second end  1110 , an outer surface  1112 , and an inner surface  1114 . The pivot arm first end  1108  is rotationally mounted to the housing assembly  102 . The pivot arm second end  1110  has a tab  1116  formed thereon that cooperates with the upper housing section  106  to hold the battery holder  1102  in the closed position. In particular, and as shown in  FIG. 12 , the tab  1116  has a post  1202  formed on its underside that cooperates with a similarly configured post  1118  formed on the upper housing section  106  to hold the battery holder  1102  in the closed position in a snap-fit manner. The pivot arm outer surface  1112  is configured such that when the battery holder  1102  is in the closed position, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the outer surface  1112  is substantially flush with the housing assembly  102 .  
         [0039]     The battery mount structure  1106  extends from the pivot arm  1104  inner surface and, as was alluded to above, is disposed within the housing assembly  102  when the battery holder  1102  is in the closed position. The battery mount structure  1106  is used to hold one or more batteries  810 . To do so, as is shown most clearly in  FIG. 13 , the battery mount structure  1106  includes a plurality of snap-fit posts  1302  that extend substantially perpendicularly therefrom. When the batteries  810  are disposed within the battery holder  1102 , the batteries  810  are held in place on the battery mount structure  1106  via the snap-fit posts  1302 , which are flexible enough to allow the batteries  810  to be easily installed, yet rigid enough to hold the batteries  810  in place once the batteries have been installed.  
         [0040]     Returning once again to  FIG. 1 , as was noted above, the flashlight  100  additionally includes the clip assembly  104 , which is rotationally mounted to the housing assembly  102 . The clip assembly  104 , as was previously noted, may be used to couple the flashlight  100  to one or more devices. Moreover, as will be explained further below, the clip assembly  104  may additionally be used to position the flashlight  100  on a surface and to point the light  808  in a desired direction. However, before describing each of these exemplary end-uses, a more detailed description of the structure of a particular preferred embodiment of the clip assembly  104  will first be provided. In doing so, reference should once again be made to  FIGS. 1, 8 , and  9 , as necessary.  
         [0041]     With continued reference first to  FIG. 1 , it is seen that the clip assembly  104  includes a clip  114  and a connection arm  116 . The clip  114  is rotationally coupled to the connection arm  116 , which is in turn rotationally coupled to the housing assembly  102 . It will be appreciated that the clip  114  and connection arm  116  may be rotationally coupled in any one of numerous ways. However, in the depicted embodiment, and as shown more clearly in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , hinge pins  818  are used. The hinge pins  818  are configured such that the clip  114  and the connection arm  116  may rotate, each with one degree-of-freedom, relative to the connection arm  116  and the housing assembly  102 , respectively, as is shown in  FIG. 14 . It will be appreciated that configuring the clip  114  and connection arm  116  to rotate as depicted and described herein is merely exemplary, and that either or both could be configured to rotate with multiple degrees-of-freedom.  
         [0042]     With continued reference to  FIG. 1 ,in combination with  FIGS. 8 and 9 , it is seen that the clip  114  includes at least two jaws, an upper jaw  118  and a lower jaw  120 , and additionally includes a bias spring  820  (see  FIG. 8 ). The upper  118  and lower  120  jaws are rotationally coupled to one another via, for example, another hinge pin  822 , and are configured to rotate relative to one another. More specifically, in the depicted embodiment, the lower jaw  120  is rotationally coupled to the upper jaw  118 , and is configured to rotate relative to the upper jaw  118 . The upper  118  and lower  120  jaws each include an inner surface  902  and  904 , respectively, and an outer surface  906  and  908 , respectively (see  FIG. 9 ).  
         [0043]     As may be readily appreciated, the clip  114  is movable between a closed position, which is shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , and an open position, which is shown in  FIG. 15 . In the closed position, the upper and lower jaw inner surfaces  902 ,  904 , or at least portions thereof, engage one another. In the depicted embodiment, the upper and lower jaw inner surfaces  902 ,  904  each include a plurality of lands  1502  and grooves  1504 , one or more of which, as shown in  FIG. 15 , mate with one another when the clip  114  is in the closed position. The depicted clip  114  is also configured such that the upper and lower jaw inner surfaces  902 ,  904  each include a substantially semi-circular groove  910 ,  912 . The grooves  910 ,  912  are preferably located on the upper and lower jaw inner surfaces  902 ,  904  so that when the clip  114  is in the closed position, as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the grooves  910 ,  912  form a substantially circular opening  914  through the clip  114 .  
         [0044]     The bias spring  820  is coupled to the upper  118  and lower  120  jaws and is configured to bias the clip  114  toward the closed position. Thus, in order to move the clip  114  to the open position, the bias force supplied by the bias spring  820  must first be overcome by an externally applied force. Preferably, the bias spring  820  is configured such that the bias force it supplies may be readily overcome manually. That is, the force exerted by the thumb and forefinger, for example, of a typical person may overcome the bias force, and move the clip  114  to the open position. As may be appreciated, once the externally applied force is removed, the clip  114  will snap toward the closed position.  
         [0045]     In some instances it may not be desirable for the clip  114  to be readily, or easily, moved from the closed to the open position. Thus, the clip  114  additionally includes a lock  122 . In the depicted embodiment, the lock  122 , which in the depicted embodiment is a metal ring, is rotationally coupled to the clip upper jaw  118 , and is movable between a locked position, shown in  FIGS. 1-9 , and an unlocked position, which is shown in  FIG. 15 . With continued reference to  FIG. 15 , it is seen that a lock groove  1506  is formed in the upper jaw  118 , and is configured to releasably engage the lock  122  when in the locked position. The lock  122  is further configured to engage the lower jaw  120 , when in the locked position, to thereby prevent rotation of the lower jaw  120  relative to the upper jaw, and thus prevent moving the clip  114  to the open position.  
         [0046]     It was previously noted that the clip assembly  104  may be used to couple the flashlight  100  to various devices, and or dispose the flashlight  100  on various surfaces. For example, and as shown in  FIGS. 16-18 , respectively, the clip assembly  104  may be used to couple the flashlight  100  to a keyring  1602 , to clip the flashlight  100  to a hat  1702 , or to dispose the flashlight  100  on a surface  1802  and point the housing assembly  102  in a desired direction to thereby illuminate a desired object or area.  
         [0047]     While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt to a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.