Patent Publication Number: US-8529087-B2

Title: Multipurpose lighting device with electronic glow stick

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/938,261, filed on Nov. 2, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,186,846, issued May 29, 2012, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/244,663, filed Oct. 2, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,845,663, issued Dec. 7, 2010, the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to lighting sources and more particularly to a light source with flashlight and glow stick function. 
     Portable lighting is typically designed with the task in mind. Accordingly, flashlights are designed to focus a beam of light for peering into dark corners or cast light longer distances whereas lanterns are designed to cast light short distances but in all directions. One such general lighting source is the chemical-based glow stick. The glow stick embeds two or more chemicals within a hollow plastic tube that, when combined, fluoresce for a brief period of time. To use the glow stick, the tube is bent so that a capsule containing one of the chemicals is broken. The tube is shaken to mix the two chemicals and start the fluorescence process. Light from this process is radiated out the sidewalls of the tube in all directions. 
     There is a desire to provide multifunctional to lighting devices so that a single device can serve multiple purposes. Accordingly, the need arises for a multipurpose lighting device that combines a flashlight with a glow stick-like lantern for dual purpose lighting. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In various representative aspects, the present invention describes a multipurpose lighting device. 
     A multipurpose lighting device, constructed according to the invention, comprises a module including a first light source and a second light source; a button coupled to the module for selectively alternating between the first and second light sources; and an elongate glow stick housing coupled to the second light source so that the second light source illuminates along the length of the glow stick housing. The multipurpose lighting device may further include a whistle coupled to one end of the glow stick housing. 
     A flashlight housing encloses the module and including a housing button located on the outside of the housing that aligns with the button coupled to the module. Actuating the housing button also serves to actuate the module button so that the multipurpose lighting device is operated. The second light source may be oppositely disposed on the module from the first light source. Furthermore, the second light source may emit a colored light. Also, successive actuations of the button may operate the device to operate the first light source only, the second light source only, or the second light source in a repeating flash mode. 
     The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention that proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a lighting device implemented according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the lighting device of  FIG. 1  shown in exploded view so that all components are illustrated. 
         FIG. 3  is a front-section view taken along line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 1  illustrating the lighting module installed within the body of the multipurpose lighting device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a side-section view taken along line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 1  illustrating the lighting module installed within the body of the multipurpose lighting device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a flow-chart illustrating the function of the lighting module upon multiple button presses. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a multipurpose lighting device  10  according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. Device  10  is comprised of a device body having a flashlight housing  12 , a glow stick housing  14 , and an end cap  16  adjacent one end of the glow stick housing  14 . 
     A button  18  is defined on a surface of the flashlight housing  12  and interfaces with a button on a lighting module  20  ( FIG. 2 ) as will be described further below. The flashlight housing includes multiple ribs  22  running about the circumference of the housing  12 . A flange  24  is fixed at an end of the flashlight housing  12  and couples with a detachable wrist strap  26 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the flashlight housing  12  defines a hollow interior  28  into which the lighting module  20  is installed. Female threads  30  formed on the inside walls of the hollow interior  28  mate with male threads  32  formed on the end of the glow stick housing  14 , thereby enclosing the interior  28  and fixing the lighting module  20  within the lighting device  10 . 
     The lighting module includes two opposable light sources, shown by flashlight LED  34  and glow stick LED  36 . Both light sources  34 ,  36  are actuated by a button  38  formed on the lighting module that, itself, is aligned with an actuated by the button  18  formed on the flashlight body  12 . 
       FIG. 2  shows the end cap  16  removed from the end of the glow-stick housing  14 . A whistle  40  is formed on the end and includes a mouthpiece opening  42  and whistle opening  44  separated by a shaped baffle (not shown) that completes the whistle. As will be appreciated, the multipurpose lighting device  10  includes a flashlight function, a lantern or glow stick function, and a whistle function. The device thus provides a useful multipurpose tool for emergencies or just general use. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the lighting module  20  is shown installed within the flashlight housing  12  of the device  10 . Module  20  includes a rounded lower end  46  terminating in elongate ridges  48   a ,  48   b  running the length of the module. Complementary molded portions  50   a ,  50   b  formed on inside walls of the cavity  28  are slidingly engaged with the ridges  48   a ,  48   b  when the lighting module  20  is installed. The cavity  28  of the flashlight housing is thus shaped by the molded portions  50   a ,  50   b  and by the dimensions of the cavity to locate the lighting module at a specific point so that (a) the lighting module button  38  is aligned with the button  18  formed on the outside of the flashlight module  12 , and (b) the flashlight LED  34  inserts properly within a conical reflector  52  so that the light may be focused and projected outward through a forward-facing lens or transparent front  54 . A power source, such as batteries  56   a ,  56   b , and  56   c , is installed within the lighting module to power the LEDs  34 ,  36  and electronics necessary to selectively actuate the lights according to the flowchart of  FIG. 5 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , button  18  includes an elastomeric top portion that resiliently deforms under downward pressure to force a hard contact against the aligned button  38  of the lighting module  20 . Multiple clicks on the button  38  operate control electronics within the module to function as shown in  FIG. 5 , namely:
         Button Press  1 →flashlight LED  34  turned on   Button Press  2 →flashlight LED turned off; glow stick LED  36  turned on   Button Press  3 →glow stick LED  36  flashed intermittently as emergency light   Button Press  4 →glow stick LED  36  turned off   Button Press  5 →flashlight LED  34  turned on   . . .       

     Turning lastly to the glow stick operation, and as shown best in  FIG. 4 , glow stick LED  36  illuminates within the elongate chamber  58  formed within the glow stick housing  14 . Light emitted from the LED  36  is internally reflected within the elongate glow stick chamber  58  and scatters out the sidewalls of the housing  14  to form an even glow along its length. The chamber  58  and/or glow stick housing  14  are preferably tapered to facilitate this even glow. The whole operates to better diffuse the illumination along the entire length of the glow stick housing. In this way, the housing may or may not include the hollow interior  58 , and may or may not include a solid core (not shown) of a diffusive and/or light scattering material. 
     In a preferred embodiment, LED  36  gives off a colored light (e.g. red or blue) that matches the colored translucent plastic forming the flashlight housing  12  of the device  10 . Glow stick housing  14  includes an O-ring  60  on an outside wall that bears against the inside wall of flashlight housing  12  when the two housings are screw-fitted together. The O-ring  60  helps to prevent water from seeping into the hollow interior  28  of the flashlight housing  12  and thereby adversely affecting the lighting module. 
     The multipurpose lighting device is useful in that it uses, in its preferred implementation, single power source and actuator (e.g. button  18 ) to alternately operate a flashlight and an electronic (as opposed to chemical) glow stick. The lighting device  10  further includes an optional whistle feature  40 . In special emergencies, therefore, a single device can thus flash colored light in all directions as the glow stick portion is capable of doing, as well as allow a manual sound alarm (e.g. whistle). 
     Having described and illustrated the principles of the invention in a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be apparent that the invention can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles. We claim all modifications and variation coming within the spirit and scope of the invention.