Abstract:
A flashlight includes a handle, a chamber or body for holding a power source, lens, a lens material, and a plurality of LED lamps. The construction and arrangement of the present invention provides for variability of focus of the light propagating from the lamps.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/353,427, filed on Feb. 1, 2002, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to the field of flashlights, and more specifically to portable, battery-operated flashlights.  
         BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
         [0003]    Illumination devices come in a variety of sizes, shapes and designs. Some are configured to allow the device to be placed on flat horizontal or vertical surfaces. Others are configured to allow the device to be portable.  
           [0004]    Portable flashlights allow a user to project light in a particular direction. Unfortunately, in existing flashlights, it is difficult to illuminate an area with more than one light pattern. In addition, conventional flashlights consume a considerable amount of power.  
         SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present invention satisfies, to a great extent, the foregoing and other needs not currently satisfied by existing flashlights. Accordingly, it is a feature and advantage of the present invention to provide an improved flashlight, which provides adjustment of the light illumination from the flashlight between collimated light rays and dispersed light rays being projected on a target area.  
           [0006]    Another feature and advantage of the present invention efficiently disperses heat from the light source.  
           [0007]    Another feature and advantage of the present invention provides a flashlight that consumes less power.  
           [0008]    Another feature and advantage of the present invention provides a flashlight that provides a longer illumination life.  
           [0009]    Another feature and advantage of the present invention provides a flashlight that is inexpensive.  
           [0010]    Another feature and advantage of the present invention provides a flashlight that is light in weight.  
           [0011]    Additional features and advantages of the invention will become hereinafter apparent upon a reading of the following description of the preferred embodiments. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the flashlight in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternative flashlight.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a side view of the flashlight of FIG. 2.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a side view of the head assembly.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5A is a perspective view showing collimated rays.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5B is a front view of the bezel/lamp alignment producing the rays of FIG. 5A.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6A is a perspective view showing a combination of collimated and dispersed rays.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6B is a front view of the bezel/lamp misalignment producing the rays of FIG. 6A.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7 is another embodiment of the flashlight.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]    Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a flashlight  10  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. As depicted, the flashlight  10  includes an end cap  100 , a chamber or body  200  for holding one or more batteries, and a head assembly  300 . The end cap  100  is preferably shaped in a bowed configuration to facilitate standing the flashlight  10  on a flat surface.  
         [0022]    The head assembly  300  further includes a bezel  400  and a lens  405 . Notably, the flashlight  10  includes highly distinctive and ornamental ridges  110  in the vicinity of the end cap  100 , as well as ridges  310  in the vicinity of the head assembly  300 . In a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the flashlight  20  is interchangeable with a lens assembly  410 . More details of the lens assembly may be had with reference to FIG. 4 below.  
         [0023]    Referring now to FIG. 3, the flashlight  20  includes an end cap  100 , a chamber  200  for holding, in this case, three batteries  210 , and a head assembly  300 . The head assembly  300  is rotatably connected to the battery chamber  200  by threads  320 .  
         [0024]    A closer view of the head assembly  300  is shown in FIG. 4. The head assembly  300  is removably attached to the chamber  200 . The head assembly  300  further includes the bezel  400 , the lens assembly  410  and a Light Emitting Diode (LED) lamp grid  420 . The lens assembly  410  includes a multiple lens portion  430  and lens material portions  440 . Preferably, the lens assembly  410  snap fits into the bezel  400 , and is made of a durable synthetic material that is substantially clear or planar.  
         [0025]    Notably, the bezel  400  is configured for rotation relative to the head assembly  300  (i.e. radially) and does not move away from the head assembly  300  (i.e. axially). This rotational configuration allows the bezel  400  to align or misalign with the lamps  420 . The bezel may be rotated in the direction  450  (FIG. 5B).  
         [0026]    The lens assembly  410  is also rotatable. More specifically, with reference to FIG. 5B, the lens assembly  410  may be rotated, in the direction  450 , to cause the lens portion  430  to align with the lamps  420  in the grid. As a consequence, the propagated light from the lamps  420  is collimated, as indicated by the light rays  470  in FIG. 5A.  
         [0027]    Conversely, with reference to FIG. 6B, the lens assembly  410  may be rotated, in the direction  460 , to cause the lens portion  430  to misalign with the lamps  420  underneath while being aligned with the middle lamp  480 . As a consequence, the propagated light from the lamps  420  is dispersed, as indicated by the light rays  490  in FIG. 6A, while the propagated light from the lamp  480  remains collimated.  
         [0028]    In another embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the distinctive qualities of the flashlight  30  may also be used in conjunction with a reflector  600  and a filament lamp  610  as the illumination source. Construction and operation of the end cap  100 , battery chamber  200 , head assembly  300  and bezel  400  is as previously discussed.  
         [0029]    Notably, the construction and arrangement of the head assembly  300  and lens assembly  410  allows for focusing and de-focusing of the light emanating from the lamp  600  independent from the radial movement of the head assembly  300  and lens assembly  410 . Preferably, the head assembly  300  is rotatable approximately 30 degrees between the “off” and “on” positions.  
         [0030]    When assembled, as shown in FIG. 7, the lamp  610  is positioned within an interior of the reflector  600 . As such, rotating the bezel  400  relative to the head assembly  300  causes the reflector  600  to move within the bezel  400  axially relative to the head assembly  300 . As a result, the reflector  600  moves relative to the lamp  610  to be focused by position the lamp at the reflector&#39;s  600  focal point, or defocused by positioning the lamp  610  away from the reflector&#39;s focal point. The reflector  600  may be of any desired shape, size or characteristic to achieve the desired result.  
         [0031]    The foregoing description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. The description is not intended to limit the invention to the form disclosed herein. Consequently, the invention and modifications commensurate with the above teachings in skill and knowledge of the relevant art are within the scope of the present invention. It is intended that the foregoing description be construed to include all alternative embodiments as permitted by the prior art.