Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a flashlight firestarter and, more particularly, to a flashlight having an electrically heated firestarting element as the ignition source 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Both flashlights and firestarting tools have been used in many different environments and can be particularly useful during camping and outdoors activities where people are often isolated from civilization. Flashlights can be useful when navigating through dark wilderness, searching for items in backpacks or tents, fixing disabled vehicles, and to signal search and rescue personal. Firestarters can be useful when fire is needed to provide warmth, cook meals, and also to signal rescue personal. Both flashlights and firestarters can be life saving devices when confronted with a survival situation caused by natural disasters like, hurricanes, tornados, and floods—that often cause electrical outages and can displace people from their homes. Flashlights are even used in oxygen free environments like manned space flights and both flashlights and firestarters have also found their way into war zones. There are a presently many different types of flashlights and many different types of firestarters being sold in the market place today. The most common types of flashlights use LED or incandescent bulbs of various wavelengths and Brightness&#39;s that are illuminated using electrons supplied by batteries or other on-board mechanisms. Incandescent light bulbs use excessive amounts of electrical energy and significantly reduce battery life in portable devices. LED&#39;s use less electrical power but can often be difficult to replace. Generally flashlights in use today use electrical switches that are either, push-button, sliding, or, single throw rotating threaded caps to complete the electrical circuits that direct electrical power to the illumination source. These types of switches have disadvantages in devices where safety, physical size, low contact wear, multiple switching, high temperature, or high electrical current draw are considerations. Push button, sliding, and rotational switches can be turned on accidentally in the field during storage or transport in backpacks or other stowage containers. If high electrical current is to be directed, push button switches become too physically large and expensive to be practical in small portable devices. In addition, switch contact wear can reduce the useful life of the portable devices. If multiple switching is desired more than one pushbutton type switch may be required and threaded caps are generally single on/off type switches. High temperatures and or high electrical current will also damage the switches commonly used in flashlights. Many types of firestarters are also sold in the market place today and generally use a variety of ignition sources. These ignition sources include; matches, lighters that use some type of combustible liquid or gas, and stand alone pyrophoric elements such as ferrocerium rods that are struck with sharp objects to produce a plurality of sparks. Housing matches within a device is not an improvement in the art because even water proof matches do not work well in windy conditions and provide minimal ignition-time potential. Lighters use pyrophoric elements to ignite the on board fuel source and pyrophoric elements, both in lighters and stand-alone, wear out over time, are susceptible to rapid oxidation in wet environments, are brittle and easily broken, require some means to scrape the pyrophoric element to obtain sparks, can be difficult to use, and contain rare earth elements, such as cerium, that are becoming too expensive to be practical. Ever since flashlights and firestarters have been used there has been a need for one invention that would provide sufficient light for purposes of illumination and a non-consumable ignition source to be used to ignite combustible materials in one portable, safe, durable device. The present invention addresses the aforementioned problems by using a structural and electrical design that is aimed at minimizing the negative effects thus increasing the likelihood that the individual will carry the flashlight firestarter and realize it&#39;s benefits. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In accordance with the present invention, there is provided . . . a flashlight firestarter that includes an illumination source, an electrically heated ignition source for igniting combustible materials, and a firestarting element protective cap that includes a magnetic insert, all housed in a hollow multi-section cylindrical body. The firestarting element protective cap can be magnetically attached to the base of the invention for storage during operation of the firestarting element. Battery supplied electrons are directed through a component cylinder that works in conjunction with other elements of the invention to form a high current, cylindrical, multi-contact, low friction, auto-isolation switching mechanism. The flashlight firestarter also includes safety and reference channels that are used as both visual and tactile references during operation and are also used to house an onboard safety clip that prevents operation of the flashlight firestarter during storage or transport. 
         [0004]    It would be advantageous to provide a . . . flashlight and firestarter in one device 
         [0005]    It would also be advantageous to provide a flashlight firestarter that included an electrically heated firestarting element as the ignition source 
         [0006]    It would further be advantageous to provide a flashlight firestarter that included an electrically heated firestarting element ignition source that had a large surface area 
         [0007]    It would also be advantageous to provide a flashlight firestarter that included a firestarting element ignition source that is non-consumable 
         [0008]    It would further be advantageous to provide a . . . flashlight firestarter the included a firestarting element ignition source that is self-cleaning 
         [0009]    It would also be advantageous to provide a . . . flashlight firestarter that included a .firestarting element ignition source that is water proof 
         [0010]    It would further be advantageous to provide a flashlight firestarter that included a protective cap for the firestarting element ignition source 
         [0011]    It would also be advantageous to provide a flashlight firestarter that included a protective cap for the firestarting element ignition source with a magnetic insert that could be used as a tool 
         [0012]    It would further be advantageous to provide a flashlight firestarter that included a battery cap with a magnetic insert that could be used as a tool to magnetize ferrous metals 
         [0013]    It would also be advantageous to provide a flashlight firestarter that included protective cap for the firestarting element ignition source that could be attached magnetically to the battery cap during operation 
         [0014]    It would further be advantageous to provide a flashlight firestarter that included a switching mechanism that was able to direct high current electron flow 
         [0015]    It would also be advantageous to provide a flashlight firestarter that included a switching mechanism that mechanical prevented the operation of the flashlight and firestarter at the same time to conserve energy 
         [0016]    It would further be advantageous to provide a flashlight firestarter that included an integrated multi-contact switching mechanism able to direct high current electron flow 
         [0017]    It would also be advantageous to provide a flashlight firestarter that included a switching mechanism that was low friction to reduce wear 
         [0018]    It would further be advantageous to provide a flashlight firestarter that included a switching mechanism that was rotatable 
         [0019]    It would also be advantageous to provide a flashlight firestarter that included a switching mechanism that was silent 
         [0020]    It would further be advantageous to provide a flashlight firestarter with operational reference channels 
         [0021]    It would also be advantageous to proved a flashlight firestarter that included a safety clip 
         [0022]    It would further be advantageous to provide a flashlight firestarter that included a safety clip storage channel 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, when considered in conjunction with the subsequent, detailed description, in which: 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  is a side cutaway view of the flashlight firestarter in the off configuration; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a side cutaway view of the flashlight firestarter in the flashlight-on configuration; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a side cutaway view of the flashlight firestarter in the flashlight-off, firestarter-on configuration; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the flashlight firestarter. 
       
    
    
       [0028]    For purposes of clarity and brevity, like elements and components will bear the same designations and numbering throughout the Figures. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0029]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 4  and working from top to bottom each element of the flashlight firestarter is briefly described. A full description of the function and operation of the flashlight firestarter will follow. The firestarter flashlight  8  of the invention includes, a firestarting element protective cap  24  that includes a magnetic insert  28  that is detachably mounted for easy replacement and securely held in position using a magnet retainer  26  that is threadably coupled to the inside of the firestarting element protective cap  24 . The firestarting element protective cap  24  has a through hole at the thin-walled tip that is of a smaller diameter than the magnetic insert  28 . The magnetic insert  28  is held against the smaller diameter through hole by the magnet retainer  26 . The firestarting element protective cap  24  is constructed from metal or heat resistant material and is knurled for grip. The firestarting element  62  is an electrically heated ignition source made from nichrome wire that has been tightly coiled multiple times (approximately ⅛″ in diameter) to increase the surface area available to ignite combustible materials and to facilitate the flow of electrons. The firestarting element  62  is also non-consumable, maintenance free, self cleaning, and water proof. The firestarting element  62  is securely embedded into the ceramic insert  44 . The ceramic insert  44  acts both as an electrically insulated barrier between the positive and negative leads of the firestarting element  62  and a thermal barrier between the firestarting element  62  and the top housing insert  16  and the other elements of the firestarter flashlight  8 . The ceramic insert  44  can be premolded over the firestarting element  62  and then adhesively fastened to the top housing insert  16  using a high temperature ceramic or alumina epoxy such as the Sauereisen 10 Insultemp or can be machined out of a ceramic or alumina cylinder that includes two holes separately drilled coaxially through the insert to accommodate the positive and negative leads of the firestarting element  62  while keeping them electrically and thermally insulated. The top housing insert  16  is constructed from an electrically conductive metal, has a threaded top housing insert nipple  98  that is an appendage of the top housing insert  16 , that is designed to receive the firestarting element protective cap  24 . The top housing insert  16  also houses the LED  46  (light emitting diode), ceramic insert  44 , firestarting element  62  and ground screw  68 . The LED  46  (light emitting diode) is press fit into the top housing insert  16  to provide a water tight seal and is removably held into position using the LED set screw  54 . This allows easy replacement of the LED  46  if needed. LED  46  provides light for the flashlight portion of the flashlight firstarter. Many types of standard LED&#39;s could be used that emit either visible or infrared light. The top housing insert nipple  98  is extended to a point that will not cause a shadow in the approximately 15 degree cone of light projected from the LED  46 . The ground screw  68  is threadably connected to the top housing insert  16  and is electrically connected to the negative LED wire  66  and the negative firestarting element wire  70  providing an electrical ground connection for both elements. The top housing insert  16  also has a top housing insert o-ring seal  52  that is circumferentially held in position by a channel that encircles the entire perimeter of the top housing insert  16 . The top housing insert o-ring seal  52  provides a water tight seal between the top housing insert  16  and the top housing  12  when assembled. The top housing insert  16  fits securely and is press fit into the top housing  12  and secured using top housing set screw  58  and second top housing set screw  60 . Both the top housing set screw  58  and second top housing set screw  60  are made from electrically conductive metals to allow electron flow between the top housing insert  16  and the top housing  12 . The top housing  12  is also made from electrically conductive metal, is knurled for grip, and is threaded to allow the component switching cylinder  14  to be inserted and threadably coupled to the top housing  12 . The component switching cylinder  14  is both threadably coupled to the top housing  12  and held into position using the set screw for component switching cylinder  56 . The set screw for component switching cylinder  56  insures that the top housing  12  and component switching cylinder  14  remain securely coupled during operation and operate as one unit. The component switching cylinder  14  is electrically nonconductive and houses the firestarting element positive screw terminal  32 , LED positive terminal  40 , ball spring mechanism  30 , contact spring  50 , and has an oversized screw driver slot to allow easy insertion during assembly. The component switching cylinder  14 , when populated with the components listed above, and working in conjunction with the other elements of the firestarter flashlight  8 , comprises a rotatable, low friction, silent, long lasting, low maintenance, multi-switch mechanism capable of handling the high current demands of this device. The component switching cylinder  14  must be electrically nonconductive to electrically isolate the firestarting element positive screw terminal  32 , LED positive terminal  40 , ball spring mechanism  30 , contact spring  50 , and top housing  12  from each other. The firestarting element positive screw terminal  32  is an electrically conductive screw that is threadably coupled to the electrically nonconductive component switching cylinder  14  and electrically connected to positive firestarting element wire  72 . The LED positive terminal  40  is also an electrically conductive screw and is threadably coupled to the electrically nonconductive component switching cylinder  14  and electrically connected to the positive LED wire  64 . The ball spring mechanism  30  itself is manufactured by Halder Norm &amp; Technik and is part number 22080.0004. The ball spring mechanism  30  is made from electrically conductive material and has an electrically conductive housing, electrically conductive spring, and an electrically conductive ball bearing. The ball spring mechanism  30  is tightly inserted into the component switching cylinder  14  by press fitting. The contact spring  50  is slidably inserted into the component switching cylinder  14  and forms a flexible electrical connection between the base of the LED positive terminal  40  and the ball spring mechanism  30 . The main positive terminal  22  is made from an electrically conductive metal, is rotatable about it&#39;s longitudinal axis within the electrically nonconductive main positive terminal housing  20 , and has a main positive terminal channel  82  to accept set screw main positive terminal  80 . During assembly an electrical continuity meter is used to determine when set screw main positive terminal  80  is threadably inserted until it just makes physical contact with the main positive terminal channel  82 . This allows free rotation of the main positive terminal  22  about it&#39;s longitudinal axis without longitudinal movement during operation. The main positive terminal  22 , main positive terminal housing  20 , and set screw main positive terminal  80  assembly are threadably coupled to the battery housing  10 . Because the main positive terminal housing  20  is made from electrically nonconductive material there is no electron flow between the main positive terminal housing  20  and the battery housing  10 . The main positive terminal  22 , however, does extend beyond both the main positive terminal housing  20  to extend within the battery housing  10 , to allow electrical contact between the main positive terminal  22  and the long lasting AA Energizer Ultimate Lithium Battery  76  and Second AA Energizer Ultimate Lithium Battery  78  and also extends up into the component cylinder to allow contact with the ball bearing contact  74  during operation. The battery housing  10  has a rubber battery housing o-ring seal  38  that provides a water tight seal between the top housing  12  and battery housing  10  and also provides smooth thread operation between the top housing  12  and battery housing  10 . The battery housing o-ring seal  38  is circumferentially held in position within a custom fit o-ring channel battery housing  94  that is machined into the battery housing  10 . The battery housing  10  also has a flashlight-on reference and safety clip channel  88 , firestarter-on reference channel and safety clip channel  90  and a safety clip storage channel  92  machined into the battery housing  10 . These reference channels provide both visual and tactile reference points during operation. Safety clip  86  is a half round clip made from spring steel, can be worn on finger to condition wild tinder, can be securely circumferentially held within safety clip storage channel  92  during nonuse, and can have a lanyard hole. Battery spring  48  is made from electrically conductive metal and is manufactured by Lee Spring part number LB 024A01 AA and is securely inserted into battery cap  18 . Battery cap  18  has a battery cap o-ring seal  36  that is circumferentially held in position with the o-ring channel battery cap  96  that circumferentially encircles the battery cap  18  providing a water tight seal. The battery cap  18  also houses a second magnetic insert  84  that is detachably mounted for easy replacement within the battery cap  18  and securely held into position using a second magnet retainer  34  that is threadably coupled to the battery cap  18 . The battery cap  18  thin-walled base has a through hole that is of a smaller diameter than the magnetic insert  28  and the magnetic insert  28  is held against the smaller diameter though hole using the second magnetic retainer. 
         [0030]    In operation and referring to  FIG. 1 , before operation 2 AA Energizer Ultimate Lithium Batteries must be placed within the battery housing  10  by removing battery cap  18  and inserting battery&#39;s as shown in FIG. ! and reattaching battery cap  18 . We will begin with the operation of the flashlight portion of the flashlight firestarter. As mentioned in the description above the flashlight firestarter is equipped with a safety clip  86 . The purpose of the safety clip  86  is to prevent the flashlight firestarter from turning on during storage in backpacks, ones pocket, or other stowing containers even when coming in contact with other items or materials. The safety clip  86  is also designed to be used as a tool to condition wild tinder when using the firestarter portion of the flashlight firestarter. This is accomplished by wearing the safety clip  86  on ones finger like a ring and scraping fine shavings off of tree bark or other wild tinder&#39;s. To operate the flashlight portion of the flashlight firestarter the user must first remove safety clip  86  from the flashlight-on reference and safety clip channel  88  by forcibly sliding the safety clip  86  laterally to remove. Once the safety clip  86  is removed the user forcibly reinserts the safety clip  86  laterally into the safety clip storage channel  92 . Removal of the safety clip  86  allows the top housing  12  to move freely upon clockwise rotation along the battery housing  10 . The user must then rotate the entire top housing  12  clockwise to cause the top housing  12  to move toward the battery housing  10 . As the top housing  12  is rotated clockwise the ball bearing contact  74  portion of the ball spring mechanism  30  begins to move closer to the side top portion of the main positive terminal  22  that extends up into the component switching cylinder  14  and out of the main positive terminal housing  20 . Now referring to  FIG. 2 , after rotating the top housing  12  clockwise several times, the bottom edge of the top housing  12  meets the top of the flashlight-on reference and safety clip channel  88  and the ball bearing contact  74  of the ball spring mechanism  30  makes first electrical contact with the side top portion of the main positive terminal  22 . The ball bearing contact  74  of the ball spring mechanism  30  continues to make electrical contact with the side top portion of the main positive terminal  22  during rotation of the top housing  12  for the entire width of the flashlight-on reference and safety clip channel  88 . The flashlight-on reference and safety clip channel  88  gives the user a both visual and tactile reference as to when the light will turn on. This helps the user know which direction to turn the top housing  12  relative to the position remaining after last use. The ball bearing contact  74  of the ball spring mechanism  30  rotates freely and silently throughout contact with the top side portion of the main positive terminal  22  and the contact is buffered by the ball spring mechanism spring  100  providing a very smoothly operating, low friction electrical contact between the ball bearing contact  74  and the main positive terminal  22  that will reduce wear and give longer electrical contact life than has been show in prior art. Again referring to  FIG. 2 , with electrical contact made between the ball bearing contact  74  and the main positive terminal  22  electrons can now flow from AA Energizer Ultimate Lithium Battery  76  and second AA Energizer Ultimate Lithium Battery  78  through the main positive terminal  22 , that is in constant contact with the positive terminal of AA Energizer Ultimate Lithium Battery  76 , and through the ball bearing contact  74 , ball spring mechanism  30 , the contact spring  50 , the LED positive terminal  40 , the positive LED wire  64 , the LED  46 , the negative LED wire  66 , the ground screw  68 , top housing insert  16 , and continue through the top housing set screw  58 , second top housing set screw  60 , through the top housing  12 , through battery housing  10  that is threadably coupled to top housing  12 , through battery spring  48  and finally to the negative terminal of the second AA Energizer Ultimate Lithium Battery  78 , thus completing the electrical circuit and turning the flashlight on. 
         [0031]    In operation of the firestarter portion of the flashlight firestarter and referring to  FIG. 3 , the user would first remove the firestarting element protective cap  24  by unscrewing and separating it from the top housing insert nipple  98 . Once the firestarting element protective cap  24  is removed the user can then magnetically attach the firestarting element protective cap  24  to the bottom of the battery cap  18 , which also has a magnetic insert  28  as described above. This insures that the user will always know where to find the firestarting element protective cap  24  and prevents loss of the firestarting element protective cap  24 . The powerful neodymium magnetic inserts placed at the tips of both the firestarting element protective cap  24  and battery cap  18  can also be used to pick up metal parts that were dropped in tight or dangerous spaces that would not permit the user to retrieve the dropped parts using ones hands. The flashlight portion of the flashlight firestarter could also be illuminated when retrieving metal parts making it easier for the user to find and magnetically pickup the dropped parts in low light situations using the powerful neodymium magnetic insert  28  in the firestarting element protective cap  24 . With the firestarting element protective cap  24  removed and attached to the battery cap  18  the user is now ready to ignited combustible materials using the firestarter portion of the flashlight firestarter. The user would now continue to rotate the top housing  12  until the bottom edge of the top housing  12  meets the top of the firestarter-on reference channel and safety clip channel  90 . As the bottom edge of the top housing  12  approaches the top of the firestarter-on reference channel and safety clip channel  90  during clockwise rotation the ball bearing contact  74  of the ball spring mechanism  30  rotates around and down the top side portion of the main positive terminal  22  that extends up into the component switching cylinder  14  and out of the electrically nonconductive main positive terminal housing  20 . Once the top housing  12  has been rotated to the point where the bottom edge of the top housing  12  is in positron at the top edge of the firestarter-on reference channel and safety clip channel  90  the ball bearing contact  74  has now traveled beyond the exposed electrically conductive top side portion of the main positive terminal  22 , and is now positioned over and against the electrically nonconductive main positive terminal housing  20 . The ball bearing contact  74  has also retracted within the ball spring mechanism  30  via the ball spring mechanism spring  100  to allow the ball bearing contact  74  to ride over the electrically nonconductive main positive terminal housing  20  and will continue to silently and rotate around and down the electrically nonconductive main positive terminal housing  20  during any additional clockwise rotation of the top housing  12 . Because the ball bearing contact  74  is now making direct contact with the electrically nonconductive main positive terminal housing  20  the supply of electrons to the LED  46  is cut off and the light portion of the flashlight firestarter is now automatically turned off to allow all available electrons to flow to the firestarter portion of the flashlight firestarter. Simultaneously the firestarting element positive screw terminal  32  has traveled toward the main positive terminal  22  and is now making direct electrical contact with the top of the electrically conductive main positive terminal  22 . The main positive terminal  22  is able to rotate freely during electrical contact with the firestarting element positive screw terminal  32  due to the set screw main positive terminal  80  being mounted within the main positive channel. This feature is designed to eliminate frictional wear between the main positive terminal  22  and firestarting element positive screw terminal  32  thus increasing the life of the device. With contact made between the firestarting element positive screw terminal  32  and the main positive terminal  22  electrons begin to flow from the AA Energizer Ultimate Lithium Battery  76  and second AA Energizer Ultimate Lithium Battery  78  through the main positive terminal  22 , that is in constant contact with the positive terminal of AA Energizer Ultimate Lithium Battery  76 , and through the firestarting element positive screw terminal  32 , through the positive firestarting element wire  72 , the firestarting element  62 , the negative firestarting element wire  70 , the ground screw  68 , the top housing insert  16 , the top housing set screw  58 , the second top housing set screw  60 , the top housing  12 , the battery housing  10 , the battery spring  48 , and to the negative terminal of the second AA Energizer Ultimate Lithium Battery  78  thus completing the circuit and turning on the firestarting element  62 . The firestarting element  62  is a 22-36 gauge nichrome wire approximately 2 inches long and has (2 to 3) ⅛″ coils to increase surface area and to increase the flow of electrical current through the fire starting element. The firestarting element  62  reaches temperatures of over 2000 degrees Fahrenheit and is hot enough to ignite many combustible materials. During actual use the firestarting element  62  can become dirty from tree sap or other byproducts of combustion. To clean the firestarting element  62  the user can simply turn the firestarter portion of the firestarter flashlight  8  on for 1 second without touching any combustible material to vaporize any materials on the firestarting element  62  thus cleaning the firestarting element  62 . Once the user is finished using the firstarter portion of the flashlight firstarter the firestarting element protective cap  24  can be forcibly removed from the magnetic battery cap  18  and threadably coupled to the top housing insert nipple  98  for storage or transport of the flashlight firestarter. To turn of either the firestarter or flashlight portions of the flashlight firestarter the user must simply rotate the top housing  12  counter clockwise until the bottom edge of the top housing  12  is positioned as to not line up with either the flashlight on reference channel and safety clip  86  channel or the firestarter on reference and safety clip  86  channel and insert the safety clip  86  where desired for the given operation. 
         [0032]    In summary once the safety clip  86  is removed from the flashlight-on reference and safety clip channel  88  and reinserted into the safety clip storage channel  92  and the top housing  12  is rotated clockwise, the flashlight turns on at the flashlight-on reference and safety clip channel  88  and as the top housing  12  is further rotated clockwise, the flashlight portion of the flashlight firestarter continues to stay on through the width of the flashlight-on reference and safety clip channel  88  and then goes off once the top housing  12  has been rotated clockwise past the flashlight-on reference and safety clip channel  88 . As the top housing  12  is rotated clockwise further to the firestarter-on reference channel and safety clip channel  90  the firestarting portion of the flashlight firestarter goes on. The safety clip  86  could also be inserted into any of the channels listed in this description to allow the user to effectively disable the individual functions. One of the purposes of this mechanism is to make it impossible for the user to use both the flashlight and firestarter at the same to direct all available electrons to the firestarting portion of the flashlight firestarter when igniting combustible materials. 
         [0033]    Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention. 
         [0034]    Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently appended claims.

Technology Category: 2