Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application the priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) based on U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/932,694 filed Jun. 1, 2007. The aforementioned provisional application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to an end cap switch for a flashlight. Weapon-mounted tactical flashlights are generally known, e.g., to provide illumination of an intended target in low light conditions. The present disclosure allows a conventional flashlight to be mounted on a weapon and provides an actuation switch that can be conveniently positioned for operation by a marksman. 
     SUMMARY 
     A switch apparatus for a flashlight includes a housing adapted to attach to a flashlight and defining an interior cavity and a processor coupled to a first switch and a second switch. The first switch is user actuable and is coupled to an input of the processor. The second switch is housed within the interior cavity and is coupled to an output of the processor. The second switch is an electronically-controlled switch operable to selectively actuate the flashlight in response to actuation of the first switch. In a further aspect, a flashlight apparatus includes the switch apparatus and a flashlight. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention may take form in various components and arrangements of components, and in various steps and arrangements of steps. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a pictorial view of end cap switch attached to the end of a flashlight. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the device appearing in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a pictorial view of the end cap circuit subassembly. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the end cap circuit subassembly appearing in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a functional block diagram of the electrical components. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawing  FIGS. 1-5 , wherein like reference numerals refer to like components throughout the several views, there appears an exemplary flashlight apparatus  110 , which includes a flashlight  112 , a weapon mount assembly  114 , and an end cap switch assembly  116 . As best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 5 , the flashlight  112  may be a conventional flashlight having an illumination element  118  (e.g., incandescent, halogen, LED, etc.) and a body  120  housing one or more batteries  121  as a source of electrical power. The apparatus will be described herein by way of reference to the depicted embodiment  110  wherein the flashlight  112  is of a type having a generally elongate and tubular body  120  having a removable end cap. The body  120  may be formed of a conductive material which forms a part of the illumination circuit, or may include a conductive portion or component therefor. However, it will be recognized that the present development can be adapted for all manner of flashlight sizes, shapes, and designs. 
     The weapon mount assembly  114  includes a mounting base  122  which is removably attachable to a firearm and one or more bands or clamping elements  124  for removably securing the flashlight to the base  122 . In the depicted preferred embodiment the mounting base  122  is of a type adapted to be selectively positioned on a Picatinny rail interface (e.g., as specified in MIL-STD-1913). However, it will be recognized that the mounting base  122  may be adapted for use with all manner firearms, including without limitation rifles, handguns, machine guns, mortars, etc., and that the mounting system may be modified to accommodate other rail interface systems or weapon accessory mounting systems. 
     The end cap assembly  116  is best seen in  FIG. 2  and includes an external housing  126  and is adapted to replace a pre-existing, removable end cap (not shown) of the flashlight  112 . Commonly, such end caps are removable to allow access to the battery compartment for battery replacement and include a terminal or contact for the battery or batteries and constitute, along with a metallic or conductive housing, a portion of the conductive pathway between the flashlight power source  121  and the illumination element  118 . 
     The end cap assembly  116  is adapted for removable attachment to the flashlight body  120  in the same manner as the pre-existing end cap that it replaces, and may be a threaded connection wherein internal helical threads (not shown) in the end cap housing  126  engage complimentary external helical threads  128  on the flashlight body  120 . In this manner, the present development can be adapted for use with commercially available flashlights including, without limitation, flashlights available from SureFire, LLC, of Fountain Valley, Calif., and Mag Instrument, Inc., of Ontario, Calif., among others. 
     An insulator sleeve  130  is received within the forward facing (in the operable position) end of the housing  126  and includes internal threads  132 . A contact ring  134  formed of brass or other conductive material includes a narrow male threaded portion  136  and a flange portion  138 . The enlarged diameter flange portion  138  includes external threads  140 . The threads  140  engage internal threads  142  within the rearward end of the end cap housing  126 . The male threads  136  engage the threads  132  of the insulator  130  to capture an inward flange (not shown) in the end cap housing  126 . 
     An axially-extending spring  144  passes through the contact ring  134  and insulator sleeve  130  and the distal end of the spring  144  contacts the negative terminal of the battery or batteries  121 , not shown in  FIGS. 1-4 . The insulator ring  130  keeps the spring centered and prevents the spring  144  from shorting out against the side of the side of the flashlight body  120 . The proximal end of the spring  144  is coupled to a first, main circuit board  148  of a circuit board subassembly  146 . 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5 , the circuit board subassembly  146  includes the first circuit board  148  which includes a processor  150 , such as microcontroller, microprocessor, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or the like and an electronically controlled switch  152  for actuating the flashlight  112  as detailed below. A battery  154  provides power to operate the processor  150  and is preferably a long-life lithium battery. The battery  154  is electrically coupled to a momentary contact switch  156  on a second circuit board  158 . 
     The battery  154  is carried within a battery spacer/insulator  160  between the circuit boards  148  and  158 . A remote connector receptacle  161  provides terminals for electrically coupling a remotely located switch. Conductive screws  162  and nuts  164  (e.g., which may formed of brass) carry current between the first and second circuit boards  148  and  158 . A positive contact spring  166  and a ground contact spring  168  on the first circuit board  148  contact the positive and negative terminals of the processor power supply  154  and are electrically coupled to the processor  150 . 
     The momentary switch  156  may be a normally open switch which closes when depressed by the user to provide a signal to the processor  150 . Control logic in the processor  150  allows the switch  156  to selectively operate the flashlight momentarily or in continuously-on operation. 
     In operation, if the user desires to use the switch  156  as a momentary on switch, the user simply depresses the switch  156  when it is desired to actuate the flashlight  112  and releases the switch  156  when it is desired to deactuate the flashlight. The processor  150  monitors the state of the switch  156 . When the processor  150  receives the signal from the momentary switch  156 , the processor  150  triggers the electronically controlled switch  152 . The switch  152  is preferably semiconductor switch and more preferably a FET or MOSFET switch. For example, in the case of a FET or MOSFET switch, when the momentary switch  156  is in the closed state, a voltage is applied to an output line  170  of the processor  150  which is connected to the control input or gate of the electronically controlled switch  152  and current in the main flashlight circuit is allowed to flow, thereby actuating the flashlight  112 . 
     When the switch  156  is released, a return spring  172  returns the switch  156  to the open position. When the processor detects that the switch  156  is open, the processor  150  again triggers the electronically controlled switch  152  to deactuate the flashlight  112 . Again, in the case of a FET or MOSFET switch, the voltage at the processor output line  170  is removed and current in the main flashlight circuit is switched off. 
     Control logic in the processor  150  also allows the flashlight to be turned continuously on in response to a “double tap” of the switch  156  (or some other sequence). In operation, if the user desires to turn the flashlight on continuously the user simply depresses the switch  156  twice in succession (or, if desired, according to another preprogrammed sequence). When the processor  150  receives the “double tap” signal from the momentary switch  156 , the processor  150  triggers the electronically controlled switch to actuate the flashlight  112 , which remains on when the switch is released. When the user desires to deactivate the flashlight when it is in continuous on mode, the user again actuates the switch  156 . 
     Additionally or alternatively, a remote connector cable  174  may be employed to provide an electrical connection between the remote connector receptacle  161  on the switch circuit board  158  and a remotely located switch, such as a switch provided on a hand grip or other weapon-mounted accessory or module. Such remotely located switch may then be used in the same manner as the switch  156 . 
     A rear housing cover plate  180  is secured to the housing  126  via threaded fasteners  182 . A sealing ring or gasket may be provided to create a sealing interference therebetween. The switch  156  and the remote connector  161  extend through openings in the housing cover plate  180 . Sealing rings or gaskets  184  may be provided to create a seal against moisture or other contamination. 
     The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of the preceding detailed description. Therefore, it is not desired to limit the invention to the specific examples disclosed or the exact construction and operation shown and described. Rather, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Technology Category: 2