An electric appliance includes a first electric power supply of first batteries arranged in a first pattern, and alternatively a different second electric power supply of second batteries arranged in a second pattern. An electrical ON-OFF switch has an ON-OFF position push-button switch actuator and a rotary switch actuator which releasably blocks that ON-OFF position push-button switch actuator in an OFF position. A tail end is equipped with a bistable OFF and ON switching function and with a momentary ON switching function unified into one electric toggle switch having a stable OFF position, a stable ON position, and a momentary ON position. A flashlight beam is cast with a first lamp and reflector assembly, an alternative second lamp and reflector assembly is substituted for that first lamp and reflector assembly and a second light beam of a different configuration is cast with that alternative second lamp and reflector assembly.
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4. In an electrical ON-OFF switch having an ON-OFF position push-button switch actuator and a rotary switch actuator, the improvement comprising:
a rotary motion-to-translatory motion translator in said rotary switch actuator; and
a releasable ON position blocker extending from said rotary switch actuator to said ON-OFF position push-button switch actuator and blocking said push-button switch actuator in an OFF position with said rotary motion-to-translatory motion translator.
1. In a method of operating an electrical ON-OFF switch having an ON-OFF position push-button switch actuator and a rotary switch actuator, the improvement comprising in combination:
effecting electrical ON and OFF switching with said rotary switch actuator rotating said rotary switch actuator past an OFF switching rotary motion to a further OFF position, and
releasably blocking said ON-OFF position push-button switch actuator in an OFF position with said rotary switch actuator in said further OFF portion position of said rotary switch actuator.
2. A method as in
said electrical ON-OFF switch is equipped with switching contacts having a normally open position; and
said switching contacts are releasably blocked in said open position by rotating said rotary switch actuator past an OFF switching rotary motion and translating rotary motion of said rotary switch actuator into translatory motion of said rotary switch actuator part said OFF switching rotary motion.
3. A method as in
said push-button switch actuator is equipped with a switch actuating plunger moveable between ON and OFF positions; and
said switch actuating plunger is releasably blocked in said OFF position against actuation to said ON position by rotating said rotary switch actuator past said OFF switching rotary motion and translating rotary motion of said rotary switch actuator into translatory motion of said rotary switch actuator past said OFF switching rotary motion.
5. An electrical ON-OFF switch as in
said releasable blocker includes a coupling of blocking elements between said rotary switch actuator and said push-button switch actuator of said electrical ON-OFF switch.
0. 6. An electrical ON-OFF switch as in
more play between said blocking elements in an ON position and in an unblocked OFF position of said electrical ON-OFF switch, than in an OFF position blocked by said ON position blocker.
7. An electrical ON-OFF switch as in
said releasable blocker includes a first blocking element connected to said rotary switch actuator and a second blocking element connected to the push-button switch actuator.
8. An electrical ON-OFF switch as in
said rotary switch actuator has a switch activator integral with said first blocking element.
9. An electrical ON-OFF switch as in
said electrical ON-OF switch has switching contacts having a normally open position and an alternative closed position; and
said releasable ON position blocker is coupled to said switching contacts.
10. An electrical ON-OFF switch as in
said push-button switch actuator has a switch actuating plunger moveable between ON and OFF positions; and
said releasable ON position blocker is coupled to said switch actuating plunger.
11. An electrical ON-OFF switch as in
said releasable blocker includes a first blocking element connected to said rotary switch actuator and a second blocking element connected to said switch actuating plunger.
12. An electrical ON-OFF switch as in
said rotary switch actuator is mounted on a base and is connected to said ON position blocker.
13. An electrical ON-OFF switch as in
said base has a cylindrical configuration; and
said rotary switch actuator is a manual actuation knob on said base threaded on said base by mating threads.
14. An electrical ON-OFF switch as in
said rotary switch actuator extends over at least part of said base and of said push-button switch actuator, and over said rotary motion-to-translatory motion translator and releasable ON position blocker.
15. In combination with an electrical ON-OFF switch as in
a first light-beam-casting lamp and reflector assembly;
a different light-beam-casting second lamp and reflector assembly; and
a common receptacle for the first light-beam-casting lamp and reflector assembly and alternatively for the second lamp and reflector assembly;
said electrical ON-OFF switch being a switch for a lamp in either of the first and second lamp and reflector assemblies.
16. A flashlight as in
said first light-beam-casting lamp and reflector assembly includes means for spreading said first light beam.
17. A flashlight as in
said second lamp and reflector assembly includes means for narrowing said first light beam.
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This is a division of Patent Application Serial No. 08/985,556, filed Dec. 5, 1997 by the subject inventors, issued Apr. 4, 2000, as U.S. Pat. No. 6,046,572, assigned to the herein assignee, and herewith incorporated by reference herein.
The subject invention relates to battery operated appliance, flashlight and switching systems.
Even though battery operated appliances and flashlights and electric switches go back to the nineteenth century, there is room for improvement, as this disclosure will show.
It is a general object of the invention to provide improved battery operated appliances.
It is a germane object of the invention to provide improved power supply systems for battery operated appliances.
It is a related object of the invention to provide improved flashlight systems.
It is also an object of the invention to provide improved electric switches.
Other objects of the invention become apparent in the further course of this disclosure.
The invention resides also in a method of operating an electrical ON-OFF switch having an ON-OFF position push-button switch actuator and a rotary switch actuator, and, more specifically, resides in the improvement comprising, in combination, effecting electrical ON and OFF switching with the rotary switch actuator, rotating that rotary switch actuator past an OFF switching rotary motion to a further OFF position, and releasably blocking the ON-OFF position push-button switch actuator in an OFF position with that rotary switch actuator in that further OFF position of that rotary switch actuator.
From a related aspect thereof, the invention resides in an electrical ON-OFF switch having an ON-OFF position push-button switch actuator and a rotary switch actuator, and, more specifically, resides in the improvement comprising a rotary motion-to-translatory motion translator in said rotary switch actuator, and a releasable specifically, resides in the improvement comprising a rotary motion-to-translatory motion translator in said rotary switch actuator, and a releasable ON position blocker extending from the rotary switch actuator to the ON-OFF position push-button switch actuator and blocking the push-button switch actuator in an OFF position with the rotary motion-to-translatory motion translator and including said rotary motion-to-translatory motion translator.
The invention resides also in a method of providing an electric light source having a housing including a tail end with a bistable OFF and ON switching function and with a momentary ON switching function for said electric light source, and, more specifically, resides in the improvement comprising, in combination, unifying the bistable OFF and ON switching function and the momentary ON switching function into one electric toggle switch having an external switch actuating lever having a stable first position in which the electric light source is OFF, a stable second position in which the electric light source is ON, and a momentary third position biased toward the first position so that the electric light source is momentarily ON only as long as the external switch actuating lever is manually held in the third position against the biasing toward the first position, forming in a side of the tail end a recess having a side wall for laterally protecting the external switch actuating lever against accidental interference, and mounting the electric toggle switch in the tail end inside that recess so that such side wall protects the actuating lever against accidental interference.
From a related aspect thereof, the invention resides in an electric light source having a housing including a tail end, and, more specifically, resides in the improvement, comprising, in combination, a recess in a side of that tail end, and a toggle switch mounted in the tail end inside of that recess and having an external switch actuating lever in that recess having a stable first position in which the electric light source is OFF, a stable second position in which the electric light source is ON, and a momentary third position biased toward first position so that the electric light source is momentarily ON only as long as the external switch actuating lever is manually held in its third position against the bias toward its first position.
The invention resides also in various combinations of these aspects. By way of example, the invention resides also in a method of casting a light beam with a flashlight, comprising, in combination with other aspects of the invention herein disclosed, casting a first light beam with a first lamp and reflector assembly, removing that first lamp and reflector assembly and substituting therefor an alternative second lamp and reflector assembly, and alternatively casting a second light beam of a different configuration with that alternative second lamp and reflector assembly.
The invention similarly resides in a flashlight, comprising, in combination with other aspects of the invention herein disclosed, a first light-beam-casting lamp and reflector assembly, a different light-beam-casting second lamp and reflector assembly, and a common receptacle in the flashlight for the first light-beam-casting lamp and reflector assembly and alternatively for the second lamp and reflector assembly.
The subject invention and its various aspects and objects will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings which also constitute a written description of the invention, wherein like reference numerals designate like or equivalent parts, and in which:
The drawings show methods and apparatus according to embodiments of the invention.
From one aspect thereof, the drawings show a method of providing an electric appliance 10 with first and second electric power supplies 12 and 13, such as seen in
This method according to an embodiment of the invention arranges first batteries 14 of a first type in a first pattern 15 inside a space 16 in the appliance 10, and establishes a first electric power supply 12 with such first batteries 14 arranged in their first pattern 15.
The first batteries 14 may at any time be removed from the space 16 in the appliance 10, and second batteries 20 of a different second type are arranged in a different second pattern 21 inside the space 16 in the appliance 10 and a different second electric power supply 22 is established with such second batteries 20 arranged in their second pattern 21 pursuant to the illustrated embodiment of the invention as seen in
A standard dictionary definition of the term battery in electrical terminology is “(1) a group of two or more cells connected together to furnish electric current, (2) a single voltaic cell.” In the same manner, The New IEEE Standard Dictionary of Electrical and Electronics Terms, published by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (Fifth Edition, 1993), provides the following definition:
The subject disclosure and accompanying claims similarly use the term battery to refer not only in the ancient sense to a combination of two or more primary or secondary cells, but to refer alternatively to a single cell as well, such as any one cell or battery 14 and/or any one cell or battery 20, herein simply called “battery,” whether it consists of one, two or more elements or cells.
Numerous variations are within the scope of the invention. According to one such variation, the second batteries 20 are selected and arranged in their second pattern 21 to provide the second electric power supply 13 with an output voltage substantially equal to an output voltage of the first electric power supply 12, such as between main terminals 24 and 25 as more fully disclosed below.
For optimum design and utility, the second batteries 20 may be arranged so that their second pattern 21 has an overall length substantially equal to an overall length of the first pattern 15, such as seen in
Such design may be further optimized and rendered more versatile by arranging the second batteries 20 in parallel groups of 27, 28 and 29 of which each is substantially equal in length to a length of the first pattern 15. This is illustrated by way of example in
According to the embodiment shown in
The second batteries 20 preferably are selected to be substantially equal in number to the aforesaid first number multiplied by a ratio of an output voltage of each of the first batteries 14 to an output voltage of each of the second batteries 20.
These embodiments will now be illustrated by a couple of practical examples. For instance, each first battery may be a kind of battery that has a length that is two-thirds the length of each second battery 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the fraction therefore is ⅔, with “2” being the numerator and “3” being the denominator of that fraction. Accordingly,
Since three times two-thirds is equal to two, it follows that the second pattern 21 of batteries 20 as arranged according to
By way of example, each of the batteries 14 of the first type may have an output voltage of three volts, and each of the batteries 20 of the second type may have an output voltage of one and one-half volts. Such output voltage of one and one-half volts is the traditional single-cell voltage of carbon/zinc batteries and their modern successors, culminating in the alkaline battery.
An output voltage of three volts is easily realized by combining two such cells in series into one battery. However, modern lithium batteries have three-volt cells. Accordingly, either three-volt batteries of the traditional kind or three-volt lithium batteries may be employed at 14. In this respect, lithium batteries are preferred at 14, since they are readily available in their three-volt version. However, the alternative accommodation of one and one-half volt batteries such as at 20 in
In that case, operation of the appliance 10 can continue without exchange or alteration of the load 31, since the parallel groups 27, 28 and 29 of second batteries 20 preferably are arranged in the second pattern 21 to have an overall voltage substantially equal to an overall voltage of the first batteries 14. In this respect, each pair of second batteries 20 in any group 27, 28 or 29 then has an overall voltage of two times one and one-half volts, being three volts, which is equal to the voltage of each first battery 14 in our current example. Accordingly, a series connection of the batteries 20 in the three groups 27, 28 and 29 provides an output voltage of nine volts for the second power supply 13, which amounts to the same as the nine volt output voltage of the first power supply 12 when composed of the three series-connected first batteries 14.
In this respect, the above mentioned first number of first batteries 14 is equal to three (3) and the output voltage of each such first battery 14 is three volts in our current example. The output voltage of each of the second batteries 20 is one and one-half volts, so that the ratio of the output voltage of each first battery 14 to the output voltage of each second battery is 3 to 1.5, being 2. Multiplying the aforesaid first number of three (3) by that ratio of two (2) we obtain six (6) as the number of series-connected second batteries 20.
Since modern lithium batteries are very powerful and therefore preferred, they can readily be substituted without lengthwise or similar adjustment of the appliance and without change of the load 31, as soon as their supply resumes.
By way of example, the load 31 may be a flashlight bulb, such as a nine-volt lamp in our current example, but the invention is neither limited to lamps nor to flashlights, but has utility with other apparatus or appliances and loads.
By way of further example, two-volt batteries may be employed in the appliance 10. Familiar two-volt batteries include lead-acid batteries, preferably of the maintenance free coiled or cylindrical type. For instance, if the first batteries 14 are two-volt lead-acid batteries, then the overall voltage of their first pattern 15 or power supply 12 at terminals 24 and 25 is six volts. In that case, a like voltage may be realized in the appliance 10 by two series-connected groups 27 and 28 of batteries 20, with each of such groups comprising a pair of one and one-half volt batteries. Overall lengths are again the same, if the length of each lead-acid battery 14 is two-thirds of the length of each one and one-half volt battery 20.
By way of further example, if the length of each one and one-half volt second battery 20 is equal to three-quarters of the length of each first battery 14, then a power supply voltage of six volts can be realized at equal lengths among patterns 15 and 21 with three batteries 14 of a two-volt type, and four batteries 20 of a one and one-half volt type.
Carbon-zinc, manganese, alkaline, and lithium batteries are known as primary batteries. Secondary batteries include the above mentioned lead-acid battery and nickel-cadmium and other rechargeable batteries, all of which may be employed in the practice of the subject invention.
In apparatus terms,
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first and second battery compartments 17 and 16 have substantially equal lengths, but preferably have different widths.
In the illustrated embodiment, the first batteries 14 are electrically connected in series for establishing the first electric power supply 12 in their first pattern 15. Alternatively, the second batteries 20 may be electrically connected in series for establishing the second electric power supply 13 in their pattern 21, especially if the overall or output voltage of the second power supply 13 is to be equal to that of the first power supply 12.
Various switching devices and circuits are known for connecting batteries in series or for that matter in parallel or in any combination of series and parallel connection.
In particular, a first contact plate 35 is shown in
The first contact plate 35 may be moveable relative a remainder of the appliance 10. By way of example, the first contact plate 35 may be located on a retainer 37 that releasably retains such contact plate at a housing 38 of the appliance. By way of example, the retainer 37 may comprise rod 39 which, in turn, may be axially moveable in a corresponding bore 41 at the space 16 in the housing 38 of the appliance 10.
In this manner the contact plate 35 may be swung out of the way and batteries may be inserted into, and may be removed from, the space or battery compartment 16 through the top after temporary removal of the load or lamp assembly 42 therefrom. After completion of such an operation, the contact plate 35 may be swung back into position, such as shown in
Electrically conducting bars 45 and 46 are arranged on the rear side 47 of the contact disc 35 in order to connect batteries 20 in series, for example. A central contact 48 extends from the front side 49 through the disc 35 and electrically conducting bar 45 to and through the rear side 47. The other contact disc 36 may have a similar corresponding central contact 51.
In the embodiment of
For example, considering an electric supply circuit from the point of view of main terminal 24, it is seen that such circuit extends through central contact 48 and conducting bar 45 to a contact 53 that is connected to that bar 45 through disc 35. Batteries 20 of the first group 27 are connected in series between that contact 53 and an opposite corresponding contact 54 on the opposite contact disc 36, seen only in
An electrically conducting bar (not shown) similar to the contact bar 46 extends in second disc 36 between contact 54 and another contact 56 thereon, seen only in
Batteries 20 of the third battery group 29 are connected in series between that further contact 58 and an opposite contact 59 on second contact disc 36. An electrically conducting bar (not shown) similar to bar 45 extends between that contact 59 and central contact 51 on contact disc 36.
Batteries 20 thus are connected in series between opposite main terminals 24 and 25. However, various other arrangements are within the scope of the invention. By way of example and not by way of limitation, batteries could be connected selectively in parallel and in series to provide different watt hours and different voltages for different needs. Alternatively or additionally, voltage regulating devices could be provided, such as in one of the contact discs 35 and 36, for instance, especially if the batteries are of a nickel-cadmium or other type having varying voltage characteristics during discharge or otherwise.
Variations within the scope of the invention include first batteries 14 electrically connected in series, such as shown in
However, at least some of the batteries in at least one of the first and second patterns 15 and 21 may be electrically connected in parallel to establish at least one of the first and second electric power supplies.
Also within the scope of the invention, batteries in one of the first and second patterns may be electrically connected in series to establish one of the first and second electric power supplies, and batteries in the other of the first and second patterns may be electrically connected in parallel to establish the other of the first and second electric power supplies.
By way of example, the three pairs 27, 28 and 29 of series-connected batteries 20 may be connected in parallel with each other, simply by making the discs 35 and 36 of electrically conductive material insulated from the body of the appliance 10.
Further within the scope of the invention, the second batteries may be selected and arranged in the second pattern to provide the second electric power supply with an output voltage different from an output voltage of the first electric power supply.
Moreover, the second batteries may be selected and arranged in the second pattern to provide the second electric power supply with an electrical work output different from an electrical work output of the first electric power supply.
According to an embodiment of the invention, such as seen when comparing
Where the first batteries 14 have a first dimension, and the second batteries 20 have a different second dimension, such first batteries may be accommodated in a first region 17 of the space 16 corresponding to that first dimension, and the second batteries 20 may be accommodated in a second region of that space 16. The region 17 may be a first battery compartment having a first dimension corresponding to the first dimension of the first batteries, and a second battery compartment may have a different second dimension at 16 corresponding to the second dimension of the second batteries. By way of example and not by way of limitation, the first region 17 may be the central region within which the first batteries 14 are accommodated such as seen in
The first and second regions or battery compartments 17 and 33 where the first and second batteries 14 and 20 are accommodated, respectively, may thus be interconnected through the space 16 inside the appliance 10 without danger to the load 31 through accidental overvoltage from erroneously inserted batteries. This sharing of battery accommodation regions or compartments 17 and 33 is an advantageous space confining feature of the illustrated embodiment of the invention.
In apparatus terms, the electrical ON-OFF switch 60, having an ON-OFF position push-button switch actuator 61 and a rotary switch actuator 62, includes a releasable ON position blocker 63 extending from that rotary switch actuator 62 to the actuator 61. As shown by way of example in
In the embodiment shown in
In the embodiment shown in
By way of example, such an operating plunger that does not conduct the switching current is shown at 127 in
In particular, that prior-art technology enables rear-end switching of flashlights and the like without an electrical rear-end switch. In that case, delivery of electric power from a battery to a lamp is concentrated at the lamp assembly area, and there need to be no electrical lead or connection from the tail end where the plunger 127 is located to the lamp assembly area. Accordingly, while
In either case, switch contacts are held normally open [“N.O.”] by the spring 25 such as in
Such switch contacts are also locked in an open position, i.e. the contacts 67 are prevented from closing, by the manually releasable OFF position lock 63, such as in FIG. 10.
It may be said that the electrical ON-OFF switch 60 is equipped with switching contacts, such as 67, having a normally open [“N.O.”] position, such as shown in
In apparatus terms, the electrical ON-OFF switch 60 has switching contacts, such as contacts 67, having a normally open [“N.O.”] position, such as shown in
When locking of the switch actuator 61 or plunger 66 against actuation to the ON position is desired, then the blocker 63 is manually actuated, such as indicated by an arrow rear-end symbol 69 in FIG. 10. The second blocking element 65 is then coupled to the manually actuated first blocking element 64, with minimum, if any, play therebetween the separation between the contacts 67 being greater than the separation 71 between the blocking elements 64 and 65.
Conversely, there is play 71 between these blocking elements 64 and 65 not only in the ON position of the switch 60 such as shown in
In the embodiment illustrated in
The switch actuator 61 may be coupled to the rotary switch actuator 62 via the blocker 63 or first and second blocking elements 64 and 65. Such coupling is tight in the embodiment as illustrated in
In the embodiment of
In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the electrical ON-OFF switch 60 has a base 73 and the rotary switch actuator 62 is mounted on that base and is connected to the ON position blocker. By way of example, the rotary switch actuator 62 may be integral with the first blocking element 64. Such rotary switch actuator preferably extends over at least part of the base 73 and of the push-button actuator 61, and over the releasable ON position blocker 63.
The switch base 73 may have a cylindrical configuration and the rotary switch actuator 62 may be a manual actuation knob on that base. Such actuation knob or rotary switch actuator 62 may be threaded on the cylindrical switch base 73 by mating threads 75. In this manner, the actuation knob or rotary switch actuator 62 may travel back and forth on the cylindrical base 73, as such actuation knob or rotary switch actuator is manually rotated in the sense of rotation of the symbolically indicated arrow 69 and conversely in the opposite sense of rotation. In this or any other manner within the scope of the invention, manual rotary motion of the actuation knob or rotary switch actuator 62 is translated into translatory motion from the closed switch or ON position shown in
It is thus seen that the switch 60 can be blocked against accidental activation by one to two extra turns of the actuation knob or rotary switch activator 62 past the unblocked OFF position shown in
Such actuation knob or rotary switch activator 62 and its blocking element 64, as well as the OFF position blocker 63, may at least partly be of electrically insulating material so as to avoid electric current conduction from the spring-biased plunger 66 to the base 73 via the blocking elements 64 and 65. However, where resistance against wear and tear is important, at least the actuation knob or rotary switch actuator 62 and the first blocking element 64 may be made of metal or of another strong, electrically conductive material.
In that case, an electrically insulating layer may be imposed or located between the mating threads 75, such as indicated at 76 near the bottom of FIG. 10. Various techniques, such as anodization in the case of aluminum parts, are available for that purpose. The second blocking element 65 is shown as being of electrically insulating material to prevent inadvertent ON switching of the load 31 in the blocked position of the switch 60, such as shown in FIG. 10.
The switch actuator 61 may include an elastomeric diaphragm 78 connected to the actuation knob or rotary switch actuator 62 and to the plunger 66, and preferably covering the assembly 62, 63 and 64 on one side.
By way of example, the electric switch 60 may be a tail end switch assembly of a flashlight or other appliance 10. In that case, the cylindrical base 73 and an end of the appliance 10 may have mating threads 79.
The blocking feature such as illustrated in the drawings culminating in
Moreover, if the appliance is for use in deep-sea diving or in other environments where external pressure increases, the blocking feature of the invention prevents undesired actuation of the switch 60 through such increasing pressure.
In these cases, the currently disclosed aspect of the invention prevents useless consumption or discharge of the power source or supply 12 or 13.
Such prevention of accidental energization of the load 31 may also safeguard the user against harm, such as in situations where accidental actuation of the lamp or other energy-emitting load 31 may attract predators or alert enemies.
At the same time, the appliance retains its utility for alternative switching through push-button 61 for momentary light emission or momentary actuation of the load for other purposes, or through rotary switch 62 for longer energizations; all at an instant and without need for extra blocking switches or external caps or other external blocking devices.
This method according to the currently disclosed aspect of the invention unifies such bistable OFF and ON switching function and such momentary ON switching function into one electric toggle switch 82 having an external switch actuating lever 83 having a stable first position 84 in which the electric light source is OFF, a stable second position 85 in which that electric light source is ON, and a momentary third position 86 biased toward the first position 24 so that the electric light source 12 is momentarily ON only as long as the external switch actuating lever 83 is manually held in such third position 86 against its biasing toward the first position 84.
The illustrated embodiment also forms in a side 88 of the tail end 81 a recess 90 having a side wall 91 for laterally protecting the external switch actuating lever 83 against accidental interference.
The currently disclosed embodiment mounts the electric toggle switch 82 in the tail end 81 inside recess 90 so that side wall 91 protects the actuating lever 83 against accidental interference.
As seen in
As seen in
While different arrangements of switch positions 84 to 86 are within the scope of the invention, the first position 84 preferably is located between second and third positions 85 and 86, such as shown in FIG. 11.
In the best mode currently contemplated, the second position 85, being the stable ON position, is made to be closer to the light source 100 than the momentary third position 86.
In the embodiment illustrated in
In apparatus terms, the currently disclosed aspect of the invention resides in an electric light source 100 having a housing 80 including a tail end 81 having a recess 90 in a side 88 of the tail end 81 and including a toggle switch 82 mounted in that tail end inside of recess 90 and having an external switch actuating lever 83 in that recess having a stable first position 84 in which the electric light source is OFF, a stable second position 85 in which the electric light source is ON, and a momentary third position 86 biased toward the first position 84 so that the electric light source is momentarily ON only as long as the external switch actuating lever 83 is manually held in such third position against its biasing toward the first position 84. Recess 90 may have a side wall adjacent the external switch actuating lever 83. Preferably, such external switch actuating lever 83 is located between side walls 91 and 92 of that recess, such as seen in FIG. 12.
Embodiments of this invention have several advantages over the prior art. Unlike the suggestion by Adolph E. Goldfarb in his U.S. Pat. No. 4,504,889, issued Mar. 12, 1985, to fit a flashlight “with a toggle or slide switch in addition to the momentary switch,” the subject invention unifies the momentary switch function with the bistable ON-OFF function for an electric light source into one and the same toggle switch which, as such, may be of conventional design, such as sold for motor controls. Unification of the bistable and momentary switch functions into one 3-position toggle switch improves switchability and performance of the electric light source over prior-art alternatives where the momentary switch was separate from an ON-OFF switch.
Mounting the 3-position toggle switch into the tail end of the electric light source housing adds operational convenience and efficacy for many uses and situations which is lacking in prior-art proposals such as seen in U.S. Pat. No. 3,652,846 by Walter A. Starek, II, issued Mar. 28, 1972, 3,711,699 by Joseph G. Bacevius, issued Jan. 16, 1973, 4,000,403 by Marion D. Rice, issued Dec. 28, 1976, and 4,250,446 by Raymond Ponte, issued Feb. 10, 1981.
Unlike prior-art designs such as seen among the above mentioned patents and also in U.S. Pat. No. 5,299,375 by Thummel et al., issued Apr. 5, 1994, and 5,471,777 by Kenneth E. McDonald, issued Dec. 5, 1995, the subject invention as embodied in
Toggle switch 82 may be electrically connected to the remainder of the flashlight in any desired manner. By way of example,
An embodiment of the currently disclosed aspect of the invention provides a further switching function or further switch 96 in addition to the toggle switch 82. Such further switching function or switch may be in parallel to such electric toggle switch 82. Such further switching function may be remotely operated. In other words, the further switch may be of a remotely operated kind.
By way of example,
In this manner, the user of the flashlight or light source 100 is provided with the convenient alternative of a proximately controlled switch 82 and a remotely controlled switch 96.
A further aspect of the invention uses known flashlight head exchanging technology for providing different flashlight beams in combination with other aspects of the invention. In this respect,
Desired configurations of light beams 58 and 68 may be realized by appropriate dimensioning and relative location of lamp and reflector in each assembly 42 and 142, or by other conventional means. In this manner, a spread light beam 58 may, for example, be cast with the first lamp and reflector assembly 42, and a narrow light beam 68 may alternatively be cast with the alternative second lamp and reflector assembly 142. By way of example,
By way of example, casting of a first light beam, such as beam 58, with a first lamp and reflector assembly 31 may be energized by electric power from one of the first and second electric power supplies 12 and 13, and alternative casting of a second light beam, such as beam 68, with an alternative second lamp and reflector assembly 142 may be energized by electric power from one of such first and second electric power supplies.
In this manner, different light beams may, for instance, may be energized from different electric power supplies, if desired, and different lamp and reflector assemblies may be provided and used for different electric power supplies. Different light-beam-casting lamp and reflector assemblies, such as 31 and 142, may be combined with the above mentioned toggle switch system 88 for greater versatility. Another combination within the scope of the invention in a flashlight may comprise in combination a first light-beam-casting lamp and reflector assembly 31, a different light-beam-casting second lamp and reflector assembly 142, a common receptacle 101 for the first light-beam-casting lamp and reflector assembly and alternatively for the second lamp and reflector assembly, an electrical ON-OFF switch 60 for a lamp in either of such first and second lamp and reflector assemblies, an ON-OFF position push-button switch actuator 61 and a rotary switch actuator 62 in that electrical ON-OFF switch, and a releasable ON position blocker 63 extending from the rotary switch actuator to the ON-OF position push-button switch actuator. Such electrical ON-OFF switch then is a switch for the lamp in either of the first and second lamp and reflector assemblies.
Kim, Paul Youngcho, Matthews, John Wallace
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