Patent Publication Number: US-10330295-B1

Title: Swivel lamp

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     Example embodiments relate to a swivel lamp and a flashlight comprising the swivel lamp. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Various types of flashlights are well known in the art. Many of the flashlights incorporate relatively complex electrical and mechanical connections that complicate the manufacture and assembly of such flashlights. The complex configurations tend to reduce the reliability of such flashlights while increasing the cost of the flashlights to the consumers. 
     SUMMARY 
     Example embodiments relate to a swivel lamp and a flashlight that uses the swivel lamp. 
     In accordance with at least one example embodiment, a swivel lamp may include a primary housing, a lamp housing enclosing at least one light emitting member at a first end of the lamp housing and at least one light emitting member at a second end of the lamp housing, and a switch configured to control power to the light emitting members. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will be better understood and when consideration is given to the drawings and the detailed description which follows. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIGS. 1A-1F  are various views of a swivel lamp; 
         FIGS. 2A-2B  are exploded views of the example swivel lamp; 
         FIG. 3  is a view of a primary housing in accordance with example embodiments; 
         FIG. 4  is a view of an insert in accordance with example embodiments; 
         FIGS. 5A-5B  are views of a brake in accordance with example embodiments; 
         FIG. 6  is a view of a threaded member in accordance with example embodiments; 
         FIGS. 7A-7B  are views of a hinge cover in accordance with example embodiments; 
         FIGS. 8A-8B  are views of a lamp housing in accordance with example embodiments; 
         FIG. 9  is a view of a system in accordance with example embodiments; and 
         FIGS. 10A and 10B  are views of a system in accordance with example embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments of the invention are shown. The invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the sizes of components may be exaggerated for clarity. 
     It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it can be directly on, connected to, or coupled to the other element or layer or intervening elements or layers that may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there are no intervening elements or layers present. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. 
     It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers, and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers, and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, and/or section from another elements, component, region, layer, and/or section. Thus, a first element component region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer, or section without departing from the teachings of example embodiments. 
     Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature&#39;s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the structure in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the structure in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The structure may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. 
     Embodiments described herein will refer to plan views and/or cross-sectional views by way of ideal schematic views. Accordingly, the views may be modified depending on manufacturing technologies and/or tolerances. Therefore, example embodiments are not limited to those shown in the views, but include modifications in configurations formed on the basis of manufacturing process. Therefore, regions exemplified in the figures have schematic properties and shapes of regions shown in the figures exemplify specific shapes or regions of elements, and do not limit example embodiments. 
     The subject matter of example embodiments, as disclosed herein, is described with specificity to meet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. Rather, the inventors have contemplated that the claimed subject matter might also be embodied in other ways, to include different features or combinations of features similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other technologies. Generally, example embodiments relate to swivel lamp and a flashlight utilizing the swivel lamp. 
       FIGS. 1A-1F  are various views of a swivel lamp  2000  in accordance with example embodiments. More specifically,  FIG. 1A  illustrates a first perspective view of the swivel lamp  2000 ,  FIG. 1B  illustrates a second perspective view of the swivel lamp  2000 ,  FIG. 1C  illustrates a first side view of the swivel lamp  2000 ,  FIG. 1D  illustrates a top view of the swivel lamp  2000 ,  FIG. 1E  illustrates a front view of the swivel lamp  2000 , and  FIG. 1F  illustrates a section view of the swivel lamp  2000 .  FIGS. 2A-2B  illustrate two exploded views of the swivel lamp  2000 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1A-2B  it is observed the swivel lamp  2000  in accordance with example embodiments may be comprised of a primary housing  100  and a lamp housing  200 . The lamp housing  200 , as will be shown, may enclose light emitting members, for example light emitting diodes (LEDs), which may generate light. The lamp housing  200  may also be configured to emit light in two different directions. For example, in at least one embodiment the lamp housing  200  may emit light from a front side  240  of the lamp housing  200  and emit light from a rear side  210  of the lamp housing  200 . Also, in at least one example embodiment, the lamp housing  200  may be pivotally connected to the primary housing  100  and therefore the swivel lamp  2000  may assume more than one configuration. That is, the lamp housing  200  may be tilted with respect to the primary housing  100 . 
     In example embodiments swivel lamp  2000  may include a hinge cover  300  which may be part of a clutch system that controls an amount of force necessary to tilt the lamp housing  200  with respect to the primary housing  100 . In at least one embodiment, the hinge cover  300  may also at least partially secure the lamp housing  200  to the primary housing  100 . The hinge cover  300 , in turn, may be secured to the primary housing  100  by a brake member  400  and a threaded member  500  which may each be part of the clutch system. In at least one example embodiment the threaded member  500  may interface with an internally threaded insert  600  which may be inserted into a cylindrical protrusion  110  of the primary housing  100 . 
     In example embodiments the lamp housing  200  may resemble a tubular member which houses various elements. For example, the rear side  210  of the housing  200  may include a rear lens  220  and a diverging reflector  230  and the front side  240  of the housing  200  may house a parabolic reflector  250  and a front lens  260 . In example embodiments the lamp housing  200  may enclose additional elements, for example, a light emitting diode printed circuit board assembly (LED PCBA)  270  which may include one or more light emitting diodes. The lamp housing  200  may also include additional elements such as a switch PCBA  280  which may include a switch  285  to turn on or off the light emitting diodes of the LED PCBA  270 . In one particular nonlimiting example embodiment at least one diode may be arranged in the rear side  210  of the housing  200  so that light may be generated and displayed through the rear lens  220 . In this embodiment at least one diode may also be arranged in the front side  240  of the housing  200  so that light may be generated and displayed through the front lens  260 . In this particular example embodiment, the at least one diode arranged in the rear side  210  of the housing  200  along with the diverging reflector  230  and rear lens  220  may generate a light having a different color or a wider angle than the light generated by the at least one diode in the front side  240  of the housing  200 . 
     The lamp housing  200  may include an opening  290  (see  FIG. 2B ) which may allow the switch PCBA  280  to be inserted into the lamp housing  200 . The opening  290  may be covered by a switch cover  700  which may be fit over the opening  290  and close the opening  290 . The switch cover  700  may be secured to the lamp housing  200  by an adhesive or fastener such as screw. In another embodiment edges of the switch cover  700  may be configured to snap onto edges of the lamp housing  200  surrounding the opening  290 . The switch cover  700  may include an opening  710  which may expose the switch  285  of the switch PCBA  280  so that an operator may press the switch  285  to activate the LEDs of the LED PCBA  270  (as well as activate any LEDs that may be in the front  210  or rear  240  of the lamp housing  200 ). Though not required, a button depressor  800  may be provided to cover and protect the switch  285 . The button depressor  800  may resemble an elastic member, for example, rubber, and may act to not only allow an operator to operate the switch  285  but may act as a water proof seal to seal the opening  710 . 
     In example embodiments the primary housing  100  may have internal threads  120  as shown in  FIG. 1F . The internal threads  120  may be configured to engage external threads of a cylindrical member which may enclose batteries. In example embodiments the primary housing  100  may also enclose a contact insulator  900  which may support a battery positive contact stud  910  as shown in  FIG. 1F . Also, in example embodiments, the primary housing  100  may also include a battery negative contact spring  920 . Due to the presence of the positive contact stud  910  and the battery negative contact spring  920  electrical contact between batteries of the cylindrical member and the positive contact stud  910  and negative contact spring  920  may be maintained even when the primary housing  1000  is rotated 360 degrees with respect to the cylinder. Thus, not only can the housing  200  be tilted up and down with respect to the cylinder, but it can be rotated with respect to the cylinder and still remain operational. 
       FIG. 3  is a close up view of the primary housing  100  in accordance with example embodiments. In example embodiments the primary housing  100  may have a cylindrical member  110  protruding from a body of the primary housing  100 . In example embodiments the cylindrical member  110  may have an inner diameter of about the same size as an outer diameter of the threaded insert  600 . As such, the threaded insert  600  may be inserted into the cylindrical member  110  of the housing  100 . In example embodiments the threaded insert  600  may be press fit into the cylindrical member  110 . As such, friction between the cylindrical member  110  of the housing  100  and the threaded insert  600  may prevent the threaded insert  600  from being pulled out of the cylindrical member  110  or prevented from rotating within the cylindrical member  110 . Furthermore, in another embodiment, an adhesive may be added between the threaded insert  600  and the inner walls of the cylindrical member  110  in order to better secure the threaded insert  600  in the cylindrical member  110 . It is understood, however, that in other embodiments the threaded insert  600  may be omitted and the cylindrical member  110  may be modified to include internal threads and, as such, may serve the same purpose as the threaded insert  600 . 
     In example embodiments the cylindrical member  110  may be configured to interface with the brake  400 . For example, the brake  400  may include a substantially hollow body  405  having an annular cross-section. The annular cross-section may have an inner diameter that is about the same size as, or slightly larger than, the outer diameter of the cylindrical member  100 . As such, the body of the brake  400  may fit over the cylindrical member  110 . Furthermore, the cylindrical member  110  may include a plurality of protrusions  130  protruding therefrom and the body  405  may include slots  410  which may be configured to receive the plurality of protrusions. For example, the body  405  of the brake may have four slots  410  formed therein and the width and spacing of the slots  410  may be substantially the same as the width and spacing of the protrusions  130  formed on the cylindrical member  110 . However, in example embodiments the length of the slots  410  and the protrusions  130  may not be the same. For example, in example embodiments the slots  410  may be, but are not required to be, shorter than the lengths of the protrusions  130 . 
     In example embodiments threaded member  500  and the brake  400  may pivotally attach the hinge cover  300  to the primary housing  100 . Furthermore, the hinge cover  300  may be configured to attach to the lamp housing  200 . In at least one example embodiment, the hinge cover  300  and the lamp housing  200  may rotate as a unit with respect to the primary housing  100 . For example, in example embodiments the hinge cover  300  may include a wedge shaped protrusion  310  and the lamp housing  200  may include a receiving space  212  configured to receive the wedge shaped protrusion  310 . In this sense the hinge cover  300  may plug into the lamp housing  200  via the wedge shaped protrusion  310  and the receiving space  212 . In addition to the wedge shaped protrusion  310 , the hinge cover  300  may include walls  312  contoured to interface with an outside surface of the lamp housing  200 . As such, the interface between the hinge cover  300  and the lamp housing  200  may be substantially water proof when properly connected together. Of course, in example embodiments, additional members, such as gaskets, may be provided to ensure the connections are waterproof is so desired. 
     In example embodiments the hinge cover  300  may include a passage  320  having a diameter large enough to allow the body  405  of the brake  400  to pass through but small enough to prevent a head  420  of the brake  400  to pass through. In example embodiments, the hinge cover  300  may include a recessed area  330  into which the head  420  of the brake  400  may be inserted. Though not shown in the figures, an O-ring may be arranged in the recessed area  330  to provide a seal between the brake  400  and the hinge cover  300 . In addition, the O-ring may be made of a relatively high friction member, for example, rubber, which may increase friction between the brake  400  and the hinge cover  300 . The friction may resist rotation of the hinge  300  with respect to the brake  400 . In example embodiments, the passage  320  may resemble a cylindrical passage having a diameter about the same size as or larger than the outer diameter of the body  405  of the brake  400 . Thus, the hinge cover  300  may rotate about the brake  400 . 
     In example embodiments the threaded member  500  may have a threaded body  510  with threads configured to engage the threads of the insert  600 . The threaded member  500  may also include a grip  520  configured to be gripped by the human hand. As such, the threaded member  500  may be easily manipulated by an operator. In at least one example embodiment, the threaded member  500  may secure the brake member  400  in place. For example, in example embodiments, the threaded insert  600  may be inserted in the cylindrical member  110  of the primary housing  100 . The hinge cover  300  may be arranged so that the passage  320  is substantially aligned with the threaded insert  600 . The body  405  of the brake  400  may then be inserted through the passage  320  and manipulated so the protrusions  130  of the cylindrical member  110  are inserted into the slots  405  of the brake and so that the head  420  of the brake  400  is in the recess  330  of the hinge cover  300 . The threaded body  510  of the threaded member  500  may be inserted through an aperture  425  of the brake  400  and into the threaded insert  600 . Turning the threaded member  500  advances the threaded member  500  towards the primary housing  100 . Continued turning presses the threaded member  500  into the brake  400  forcing the brake  400  against the hinge cover  300 . This action increases friction force between the hinge cover  300  and the brake  400  thus providing resistance against any turning moment applied to the hinge cover  300  or the lamp housing  200  to which it is connected. The amount of resistance, of course, can be adjusted by tightening or loosening the threaded member  500 . Tightening the threaded member  500  would make it more difficult for an operator to rotate the hinge cover  300  with respect to the primary housing  100  and loosening the threaded member  500  would make it easier for an operator to move the hinge cover  300  with respect to the primary housing  100 . 
       FIG. 9  is a view of a system  3000  in accordance with example embodiments. In example embodiments the system  3000  is comprised of the swivel lamp  2000  and a tube  1000 . In  FIG. 9  the tube  1000  includes threads engaged with the threads  120  of the primary housing  1000 . As shown in  FIG. 9  the tube  1000  encloses a pair of batteries (however, it is understood the tube  1000  may include only a single battery or more than two batteries). As shown in  FIG. 9  the positive terminal of the batteries contacts the battery positive contact stud  910  and a conductive member (not shown) from the negative terminal of the bottom displayed battery is connected to the battery negative contact spring  920 . Wires (not shown) from each of the battery positive contact stud  910  and the battery negative contact spring  920  pass through the primary housing  100  and into the lamp housing  200  where they connect to the switch PCBA  280 . In the event the switch  285  of the switch PCBA  280  is in an on position power flows from the PCBA  280  to the LED PCBA  270  to power the LEDs of the LED PCBA  270 . In the event the switch  285  of the switch PCBA  280  is in an off position power from the batteries to the LED PCBA  270  is interrupted thereby preventing the LEDs of the LED PCBA  270  from generating light. 
       FIGS. 10A and 10B  illustrate the system  3000  with an additional modification. In  FIGS. 10A and 10B  the system further includes a clip  1500  connected to the tube  1000  via a wrap-around collar  1550 . The clip  1500  may allow an operator to connect the system  3000  to a pocket, a belt, or a piece of equipment. Also, for purposes of clarity,  FIGS. 10A and 10B  illustrate the swivel lamp being oriented in two different directions. In  FIG. 10A , for example, the lamp housing  200  is illustrated as being tipped upward with respect to the primary housing  1000 . In  FIG. 10B  the lamp housing  200  is illustrated as being tipped downward with respect to the primary housing  1000 . 
     It is understood that the electrical system of example embodiments may be configured in any number of ways. For example, the electrical system may be configured so that if the button  285  of the swivel lamp  2000  is pressed once by an operator an LED arranged to shine light out of the front side  240  of the lamp housing  200  is activated. If the button  285  is pressed again by the operator the LED arranged to shine light out of the front side  240  of the housing  200  may be deactivated and an LED arranged to shine light out or the rear side  210  of the lamp housing  200  may be activated to shine light out of the rear side  210  of the housing  200 . The electrical system may be further configured so that if the button  285  is pressed again, the LED arranged to shine light out of the rear side  210  of the housing  200  may be deactivated. In the alternative, pressing the button  285  a third time may send power to LEDS arranged to shine light out of the front  210  and rear  240  sides of the lamp housing  200  and pressing the button a fourth time may deactivate all LEDS in the lamp housing. 
     The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosed subject matter to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to that which falls within the scope of the claims.