Patent Abstract:
The present invention provides a flashlight having a body with a light means at one end, a battery, and a circuit therebetween, so that when said circuit is closed said light means will generate light; recharging terminals for recharging said battery and an adaptor having electrical connectors for connecting to a power supply; structural connection means on said body and or said adaptor to releasably connect said body and said adaptor; and electrical connection means on both said body and said adaptor to releasably electrically connect said terminals and said adaptor. 
     The present invention also provides a flashlight having a body with a light means at one end, a battery, and a circuit therebetween, so that when said circuit is closed said light means will generate light; said light means including a conical reflector, a white light LED emitting a conical light output and a double convex lens portion, said double convex lens portion being located away from said LED so that the outside diameter of said double convex lens portion will a circle of light from said LED which is of substantially the same diameter.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to rechargeable flashlights, their use and operation. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Rechargeable flashlights have been known for a considerable time. Disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,847,540 is a rechargeable flashlight having a plug unit supported in the flashlight housing for rotation between a non-charging position, in which blades of the plug unit are retracted into the housing, and a charging position in which the blades are projecting from the housing for insertion into an AC outlet. The plug unit cooperates with a switch unit in the housing for connecting a rechargeable battery to a bulb circuit and disconnecting the battery from a charging and indicating circuit when the plug unit is in the non-charging position. The switch unit also disconnects the battery from the bulb circuit and connects the battery to the charging circuit and indicating circuit when the plug unit is in the charging position. This document teaches that the plug unit can be rotated into and out of the body of the flashlight while remaining connected thereto. 
   Another flashlight is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,790 which has a rechargeable power pack or cartridge which discloses a plug structure for use with standard electricity sockets or supply outlets, whereas the power cartridge also has a shape which allows the plug structure to be utilised for example with a cigarette lighter outlet of a motor vehicle so that the user has the option of recharging from either electricity supply outlets or from a cigarette lighter outlet of a motor vehicle or a boat. The battery is removed from the flashlight as it is a part of the power pack for recharging purposes. The construction thus can result in the separation of the power pack from the flashlight during the recharging process, which will decrease the ready to use state of the flashlight by comparison to the flashlight disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,847,540. 
   The applicant does not concede that the prior art discussed above forms part of the common general knowledge in the art of the skilled addressee that the priority date of this application. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a flashlight having: a body with a light means at one end, a battery, and a circuit therebetween, so that when said circuit is closed said light means will generate light; recharging terminals for recharging said battery and an adaptor having electrical connectors for connecting the adaptor to a power supply; structural connection means on said body and/or said adaptor to releasably connect said body and said adaptor; and electrical connection means on both said body and said adaptor to releasably electrically connect said terminals and said adaptor; said recharging terminals being able to be received in said adaptor and said electrical connectors being able to be received in said body when said adaptor is not in use for recharging. 
   The adaptor and the body have said structural connection means disconnected in order for said electrical connection means to electrically connect said terminals and said adaptor. 
   The structural connection means can include a female portion on one of said body or said adaptor, with the other having a male portion. The female portion or said male portion when present on said body has said electrical connectors extending therefrom. The female portion or the male portion of said adaptor has said electrical connectors extending therefrom. 
   The female portion or male portion said body can include cavities to receive said electrical connectors. 
   The female portion or male portion of said adaptor can include cavities to receive said terminals. 
   The adaptor can be shaped so that when said structural connection means connect said body and said adaptor, said adaptor is of a shape which substantially matches the shape of said body in the vicinity of said adaptor. 
   The adaptor can be shaped so that when said structural connection means connects said body and said adaptor is the rear part of the body. 
   The adaptor can include a socket to receive said recharging terminals. 
   When said electrical connectors are in a power supply socket with a vertically oriented front face, said adaptor can have an upper face into which said rechargeable terminals are inserted, the upper face being at an angle to the horizontal so that a line normal to the upper face extends away from the adaptor on a divergent path away from the vertical. 
   The body can have a female portion and said adaptor can have a male portion. 
   The male portion can be of a shape and or size to fit between said recharging terminals. 
   The adaptor can include a hinged cover to overlay said electrical connection means on said adaptor. 
   The hinged cover can act to limit movement of said flashlight on said adaptor when they are electrically connected. 
   The adaptor can have a first position relative to the body to enable recharging of the battery in which the recharging terminals are received in the adaptor, and another, second position relative to the body, for when the adaptor is not in use for recharging the battery, in which the electrical connectors are received in the body. 
   The present invention also provides a flashlight having a body with a light means at one end, a battery, and a circuit therebetween, so that when said circuit is closed said light means will generate light; said light means including a frusto-conical reflector having a central axis and a reflective surface projecting towards the axis, the reflective surface being straight when viewed in a cross-section of the reflector taken through the axis, a white light LED emitting a conical light output and a double convex lens portion, said double convex lens portion being located away from said LED so that the outside diameter of said double convex lens portion will be struck by a circle of light from said LED which is of substantially the same diameter. 
   Around said double convex lens portion can be a straight sided lens. The straight sided lens and said double convex lens portion can be integrally formed in a single lens member. 
   A flashlight as claimed in claim  28  wherein said light means produces a beam emitted from said flashlight which has four bands of differing light intensity. 
   Preferably there is a circular centre and at least three annular bands of light there around. 
   The circular centre preferably has the highest light intensity relative to said annular bands. The first band adjacent to said circular centre preferably has the lowest light intensity relative to said annular bands. The second band adjacent said first band preferably has a light intensity less than said circular centre but greater than said first band. The third band adjacent said second band can have a light intensity less than said second band but greater than said first band. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     An embodiment of the present invention, will be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a rechargeable flashlight; 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a rear perspective view of the flashlight of  FIG. 1  with the rear adaptor removed; 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a front perspective view of the rear adaptor of the flashlight of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the flashlight of  FIG. 1  mounted on the adaptor and positioned in an electricity socket;  FIG. 5  illustrates an adaptor similar to  FIG. 3  with a cover in the open position. 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate perspective views of shutter members; 
       FIG. 8  illustrates the shutter member of  FIG. 6  assembled into an adaptor; 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a perspective view of a flashlight body&#39;s end having three pins. 
       FIG. 10  is a side elevation of  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 11  is a plan view of  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 12  is a cross section through the forward end of the flashlight of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 13  is a schematic representation of the light output of the lens assembly of  FIG. 12 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
   Illustrated in  FIG. 1  is a flashlight  10  which has a body  12  with a lens assembly  14  at its forward end. At the top of the body  12  is a three position switch  16  and a red LED  18  positioned behind the switch  16 . 
   At the rear of the body  12  is located an adaptor  20 . Illustrated in  FIG. 3  the adaptor  20  has two electrical connectors  22  and  24  for insertion into a wall socket. The format of the electrical connectors  22  and  24  are to suit the spacing and shape required for European wall sockets and it will be understood that the shape and spacing of these can be varied according to requirements in various countries around the world. 
   The connectors  22  and  24  extend away from a hexagonally shaped male portion  26  which has cut aways  28  and  30  on opposite sides leading to a recess  32  shown on the right side with a similar recess which is not visible on the left. (A left recess is visible in  FIG. 5  and is labelled with the numeral  73 .) The right side  34  of the adaptor  20  as illustrated in  figure 3  will become the upper surface of the adaptor  20  when the adaptor  20  is in use in a wall socket as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
   The side  34  has a rotating cover  36  which covers and protects the sockets  38  and  39  in the adaptor  20 . In  FIG. 5  the cover  36  is rotated to the open position. 
   As can be seen from  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the shape of the adaptor  20  with the cover  36  closed, complements and finishes the rear of the flashlight body  12 . The lines and starting point of the outward surfaces of the front  45  of the adaptor  20 , blend with the lines and finishing point of the outward surfaces of the rear  40  of the flashlight body  12 . 
   The rear  40  of the flashlight body  12  has a cavity  42 , which has a complementary shaped hexagonal recess  43  to receive the hexagonal male portion  26  of the adaptor  20 . The recess  43  receives the male portion  26  therein whilst the cavities  32  (and  73 ) at the sides of the hexagonal male portion  26  receive therein recharging terminals  44  and  46  which are of a generally cylindrical shape, and which project outwardly from the cavity  42 . The hexagonal male portion  26  has shallow recesses  51  so that complementary shaped protrusions  53  on the cavity  42  can sit therein to lock the adaptor  20  and body  12  together, until sufficient force is applied to separate the two components. 
   While the above discussion and  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4  utilise a recess  43  and male portion  26  which are generally hexagonal in shape, this hexagonal shape is only a preferment. As can be seen from  FIG. 5 , a different shaped male portion  26 A is used. 
   As can be seen from  FIG. 4 , the side  34 , when in situ in a wall socket is upwardly facing. It will also be noted from the side elevation of  FIG. 4 , that an imaginary line  48 , which is normal or perpendicular to the side  34 , divergently extends away from the adaptor  20 , at an angle  59  from the vertical  57  represented by the wall  50 , to which the socket  47  is attached. 
   This angle  59  also has the same magnitude as the angle  61  which is the angle between the side  34  and the horizontal  63 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
   The angles  59  and  61  are approximately 8° but can be in the range of 5° to 30°. This angle allows the flashlight body, to rest on the adaptor  20  in an equilibrium condition due to the flashlight body  12  having a contoured forward end whereby the lighting means and lens assembly  14  are oriented at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the rest of the flashlight body  12 . The cover  36  also opens outwardly to an angle of similar magnitude as angle  59 , so as to provide support to the rear end  40  of the flashlight body  12 , by engaging the face  33 , which is located on the top (when the flashlight is in the orientation of  FIG. 1 ) of the body  12 . This helps to keep the flashlight  10  in position on the adaptor  20  and limits the movement which may separate the flashlight  10  from the adaptor  20 . The movement is thus limited to a side to side movement, generally parallel to the wall  50  in which the power socket is located, and not toward or away from the wall  50 . 
   Once the adaptor  20 , is located in a power socket  71  which is then switched on, then the rechargeable batteries in the flashlight  10  will be recharged. 
   During recharging the LED will switch on intermittently. Once full recharging has occurred, the LED will be lighted continuously. 
   Once recharging has occurred, the flashlight can be simply taken off the adaptor  20 , and is useable without the adaptor  20  being reconnected to the rear of the flashlight. 
   However, for aesthetic purposes the adaptor  20  can be reconnected to the rear  40  of the body  12 . 
   The two position switch  16  has an intermediate off position and a first on position which lights the lamp means with a low level current. The second on position will light the lamp means with a relatively high level current. 
   The lamp means is preferably provided by means of 1 or more LEDs. 
   By using LED&#39;s the flashlight will have a relatively long run time before the rechargeable batteries are drained. 
   Alternatively other type of lamp means can be utilised. 
   As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , the flashlight  10  has the two terminals  44  and  46  extending away from the rear thereof. The terminals  44  and  46  are mounted in and extend away from a plug member which is assembled, captured and held by the rear end of the flashlight  10  when it is assembled. However, in another embodiment, an alternative plug member  400  as illustrated in  FIG. 9 to 11  can be utilised for assembly into, capture and holding by the rear end of the flashlight  10 . The plug  400  includes the terminals  44  and  46 , as well as an additional central pin  120 . The pin  120  will prevent a terminal  44  or  46  from being inserted into an aperture  38  or  39  in such a manner that would otherwise have had the other terminal  46  or  44  exposed on the outside of the adaptor  20 . The pin  120  performs this preventative task because unless the terminals  44  and  46  and pin  120  are aligned with apertures  38  and  39  and a third aperture  41  (see  FIG. 5 ) then the terminals  44  and  46  will not individually be able to enter the adaptor  20 . 
   Other means to prevent improper use can be provided such as shutters  100  and  130  in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , which will now be described. 
   Illustrated in  FIG. 6  is a shutter member  100  for use with a flashlight having a plug  400  of  FIGS. 9 to 11 . The shutter  100  has two angled faces  102  and  104  at its ends. The angle on the faces  102  and  104  is approximately 45° to the base of the shutter  100 . Between the angled faces  102  and  104  is a bight  106 . The faces  102  and  104  will be engaged by terminals  44  and  46  on the flashlight  10 , whereas the bight  106  can receive central third pin  120 . Behind the bight  106  is a three sided recess  108  which has a central face  110 . The face  110  and recess  108  receives the end of a compression spring  114  (see  FIG. 8 ) and provides a bearing surface for the end of the spring  114  to push against. 
   The shutter member  100  can be made of injection moulded plastic and located or assembled in the adaptor  20  as illustrated in  FIG. 8  so that the faces  102  and  104  overlie the contacts (no illustrated) which will be engaged by terminals  44  and  46 . The shutter system  100  can be utilised with a flashlight similar to that of  FIG. 2  having only two terminals ( 44  and  46 ) but it is thought to be best used with a flashlight having three pins: namely terminals  44  and  46  and central pin  120  (see  FIGS. 9 ,  10  and  11 ). 
   The terminals  44  and  46  will pass through apertures  38  and  39  in the adaptor  20  while pin  120  will pass through a central aperture  41  (see  FIG. 5  where it is indicated in dashed linework). The terminals  44  and  46  will engage the surfaces  102  and  104  respectively to thereby push the shutter  100  in a rearward direction  112  against the bias of the spring  114  which is illustrated in  FIG. 8 . As the shutter  100  moves in the direction of arrow  112  further pushing of the rear of the flashlight  10  towards the adaptor  20  will mean that the shutter  100  will move completely out of the way of the terminals  44  and  46  allowing the terminals  44  and  46  ultimately push past the shutter  100  so as to engage the contacts located below the shutter  100 . As the terminals  44  and  46  are moving inward, the pin  120  will simultaneously pass through the central aperture  41  and into the bight  106  which will not interfere with the movement of the shutter  100  in the direction of  112 . 
   When the terminals  44  and  46  push past the shutter  100  and engage the contacts below the shutter  100  the recharging process can begin once the adaptor  20  is inserted into a power socket, which can then be switched on. 
   Illustrated in  FIG. 7  is another shutter  130  which has only a central angled face  132  (being at an angle of approximately 45° to the base of the shutter  130 ) and flat faces  134  and  136  on either side thereof. The shutter  130  operates in much the same manner as the shutter  100  except that the shutter  130  will move in the direction of arrow  112  only when the central pin  120  engages the angled face  132 . Thus should the pin  120  fracture or otherwise break the terminals  44  and  46  will not cause the shutter  130  to move in the direction  112 , as they will perpendicularly engage the flat faces  134  and  136 , thereby preventing access to the contacts below the shutter  130 . Contrasted with this the shutter  100  of  FIG. 6  will continue to perform even if the central pin  120  were not present, as the shutter  100  will still move in the rearward direction  112 . Thus the shutter  130  is inherently better in operation than the shutter  100 . 
   The central pin  120  if utilised with a shutter  100  serves the purpose of preventing the terminal  44  or  46  from being placed into one of the apertures  38  or  39  with the other terminal  46  or  44  being left in an exposed condition outside of the adaptor  20 . However, in an embodiment which utilises the shutter  130 , the central pin  120  has the additional purpose of moving the shutter  130  to its open condition allowing the terminals  44  and  46  to gain access to the contacts located underneath the shutter. 
   Illustrated in  FIG. 12  is a cross section through the reflector and lens assembly  14  of flashlight  10  of  FIG. 1 . As can be seen from  FIG. 12  flashlight  10  has a lens assembly  14  which consists of a conical reflector  200  in which is centrally positioned a white LED  202 . The lens assembly  14  also includes a lens  204  which has a double convex central lens portion  206  (which can also be seen in  FIG. 1 ) surrounded by an annular straight sided lens portion  208 . The lens  206  is positioned at a suitable distance from the LED  202  so that when the cone angle  210  of the LED  202  is taken into consideration, the outside diameter of the double convex lens portion  206  is positioned away from the LED  202  so that it will be struck by the cone of light  212  when the cone has a diameter of substantially the same dimension as the diameter of the lens  204 . The annular straight sided portion  208  of the lens  204  will transmit the light from LED  202  which is reflected off the walls  214  of conical reflector  200 . This will produce the effect of a concentrated central beam with a less bright halo concentrically arranged around the centre of the central beam. 
   It has also been noticed that this reflector and lens assembly  14  will produce a series of concentric rings as illustrated in  FIG. 13 , whereby the centre portion  300  is the brightest with at least three annular bands  301 ,  302  and  303  around the centre  300 . The first annular band  301  is a relatively dark ring (darker than the outer two annular bands  302  and  303  and the centre portion  300 ). The second annular band  302  is brighter than the third annular band  303 , but is of less intensity than the centre portion  300 . This effect has been found to produce a useful light output even though only relatively little power is being consumed from the power source. 
   The bands  301 ,  302  and  303  are illustrated as being homogenous, however, in practice the bands  301 ,  302  and  303  may be interspersed with flecks of light or possibly thin lines of light. 
   Due to the power plug requirements of some countries, the adaptor used may need to be of a shape and size which will not permit the adaptor to be attached, when not in use, to the rear of the flashlight. Thus such an adaptor can be stored separately from the flashlight, with an end cap being provided to cover the terminals  44  and  46  at the rear of the flashlight, when recharging is not required. While some of the features of the adaptor  20  would not be required on such an adaptor, such an adaptor can include the shutter systems described above to attempt to prevent misuse. 
   It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention. 
   The foregoing describes embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art can be made thereto, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5