Patent ID: 8585236

Claim:
A manually powerable flashlight comprising: a flashlight housing comprising a back end, a front end, a longitudinal axis, and a light-projecting element positioned on the front end; a hinge element disposed at the back end of the housing; and a crank arm comprising a free end and an attached end, the attached end rotatably attached to the hinge element; wherein the hinge element is operable to allow the crank arm to rotate within an arc of about 270° between a resting position and an operating position, the arc disposed in a plane that includes the longitudinal axis of the housing, the resting position being such that the crank arm is aligned parallel to the housing and the operating position being such that the crank arm is orthogonal to the housing, wherein the hinge element is rotatable around the longitudinal axis of the housing, thereby rendering the crank arm rotatable around the longitudinal axis of the housing, and wherein the hinge element is operably connectable to a generator disposed within the housing such that rotation of the hinge element powers the generator, the generator being arranged to power the light-projecting element.