Patent Publication Number: US-2004052073-A1

Title: Flashlight assembly

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention relates to a flashlight assembly which has a pivotable handle and a body with a bulb. The handle is lifted to activate the bulb. A magnetic plate is connected to an end of the body so as to be fixed on a metal surface.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] A conventional flashlight generally includes a hollow tubular body with batteries received therein and a head is connected to an end of the body. A light bulb is received in the head and is connected to a positive end of the batteries. A cap is connected to the other end of the body and contacts the negative end of the batteries so that when operating a switch, the light bulb lights up. The flashlight is so convenient for the user to carry and provides light to a distance where light is needed. Nevertheless, the user has to hold the flashlight by one hand so as to aim the light beam at the desired position or spot. This limits the user to use both of his or her hands. Besides, the user has to push the switch to light up the bulb and this requires an additional action for his or her fingers.  
       [0003] The present invention intends to provide a flashlight assembly that is easily to light up by simply lifting the handle.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a flashlight assembly which comprises a body having a battery received therein and an end cap assembly is connected to a first end of the body. Two slots are defined through a second end of the body and two terminal plates are connected to an inside of the second end of the body. A gap is defined between the two terminal plates. A handle has an engaging portion which is pivotably connected to the second end of the body and two insertions of the engaging portion extend through the two slots. One of the two insertions is located below the two terminal plates. A light bulb assembly is pivotably connected to the engaging portion of the handle. The two terminal plates contact with each other by one of the insertions when lifting the handle.  
       [0005] The primary object of the present invention is to provide a flashlight that is operated simply by lifting the handle and the flashlight has a magnetic member which is convenient to fix the flashlight on a metal surface.  
       [0006] The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0007]FIG. 1 is a perspective view to show the flashlight assembly of the present invention;  
     [0008]FIG. 2 is an exploded view to show the flashlight assembly of the present invention;  
     [0009]FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view to show the flashlight assembly of the present invention;  
     [0010]FIG. 4 shows two insertions are inserted in the two slots in the second end of the body of the flashlight assembly of the present invention;  
     [0011]FIG. 5 shows the light bulb assembly is pivoted relative to the body;  
     [0012]FIG. 6 shows another view of the pivotal movement of the light bulb assembly, and  
     [0013]FIG. 7 shows the flashlight is secured on a metal surface of the magnetic member. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0014] Referring to FIGS.  1  to  4 , the flashlight assembly of the present invention comprises a body  40  having a battery  60  received therein from an open bottom of the body  40  and a bottom plate  70  is engaged with the open bottom of the body  40 . An end cap assembly  50  is connected to a first end of the body  40  and includes a retaining plate  51 , an end cap  53  and a magnetic member  52  which is positioned between the retaining plate  51  and the end cap  53 . The end cap  53  has an end plate  531  and two slits  532  are defined in an inside of the end cap  53 . The retaining plate  51  has two flanges  511  which are inserted in the two slits  532  and the magnetic member  52  is retained between the two flanges  511  and the end plate  531 . Several charging holes  533  are defined through the end cap  53  so as to be connected to a charging kit (not shown) via the charging holes  533  when charging the flashlight.  
     [0015] Two slots  47  are defined through a wall  41  in a second end of the body  40  and two engaging pieces  48  are connected to an inside of the wall  41  of the body  40 . Two terminal plates  49  are inserted through two respective slots  481  in the engaging pieces  48  and each terminal plate  49  has a wire connection end  491 . Wires (not shown) may extend through a hole  43  defined through the wall  41  and are connected to the two wire connection ends  491 . A gap is defined between the two terminal plates  49 .  
     [0016] A handle  30  has an engaging portion  31  which has two lugs  32  and a connection plate  33  is connected between the two lugs  32 . The two lugs  32  are pivotably connected to two lugs  45  extending from the second end of the body  40 . Two insertions  34 ,  35  extend from the engaging portion  31  and through the two slots  47 . One of the two insertions  34 ,  35  is located below the two terminal plates  49 .  
     [0017] A light bulb assembly is pivotably connected to the engaging portion  31  of the handle  30  and includes a reflection member  20  with a bulb  21  connected thereto and a frame  10  which is detachably connected to the reflection member  20 . The frame  10  has a glass  13  engaged with a hole  12  in the frame  10 . The reflection member  20  has a wire hole  22  for the wires inserted therein to be connected with the bulb  21 . A resilient tab  23  is connected to an outside of the reflection member  20  and has a stepped portion  231 . A protrusion  11  extends from an inside of the frame  10  and is engaged with the stepped portion  231  of the resilient tab  23 . When pushing the resilient tab  23 , the stepped portion  231  is disengaged from the protrusion  11  so that the frame  10  can be detached from the reflection member  20 . An extension portion  24  of the reflection member  20  is pivotably received in a recess in the connection plate  33  between the two lugs  45 .  
     [0018] The frame  10  has two sidewalls and each of the two sidewalls has a tube  14  with a hole  141  defined therethrough. The two sidewalls located on two outside of the two lugs  45  of the body  40  and a screw  16  extends through the two holes  141  in the two sidewalls of the frame  10 , the two lugs  45 , the two lugs  32  and the neck portion  24 .  
     [0019] When the user lifts the handle  30 , the insertion  34  pushes the two terminal plates  49  to contact with each other so as to form the circuit and the bulb  21  lights up. The bulb  21  is off when releasing the handle  30 . By this arrangement, the user needs no extra action to light up the bulb  21 .  
     [0020] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the light bulb assembly can be pivoted about the screw  16  till the edge  15  of the frame  10  is stopped by the two lugs  45 . Therefore, the flashlight assembly can be positioned on a metal surface as shown in FIG. 7 by the magnetic member  52  and the reflection member  20  is pivoted to desired angle such that the user needs not to hold the flashlight assembly. The magnetic member  52  is useful to position the flashlight assembly on a charging base (not shown).  
     [0021] While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.