CN1124339A - Flashlight switch - Google Patents

Abstract

A kind of switch used in flashlight consists of a casing dismountably connecting to one end of the tube body of the flashlight and a lock pin stretching from the inner wall of casing. Said casing receives concentricly the neck of end cover for sealing one end of the tube body. Said neck of end cover consists of a pair of slots separated by spring. For receiving said lock pin stretching inward from the casing and said end cover, at least one first and one second positions are limited. A hole on the end cover neck concentricly with the transverse line of the end cover receives a contact assembly which possesses of first position to contact the opposite poles of the power source and a second position to selectively contact the second end of power supply according to the end cover turning between the first and second positions.

Description

Flashlight switch

The present invention relates to a kind of electric switch, more particularly, relate to a kind of electric switch that in flashlight, uses.

Usually, flashlight and portable lamp all have a protectiveness housing, and one or more batteries wherein are housed, and these batteries pass through conductor or series connection or parallel connection and are connected with light source.Described conductor is interrupted by following three kinds of well-known switching mechanisms usually: key switch, slide switch, the rotation hair style switch that light source is contacted by swivel head with conductor.

The existing shortcoming of button and slipping switch is that they are difficult to mode attractive in appearance switch and flashlight are combined.Another problem of key switch is that spring mechanism lost efficacy sometimes because of switch contacts between open/close state for a long time.In addition, key switch can not be removed the dirt of place, contact accumulation, causes loose contact easily, last disabler.Which direction rotation lamp holder the shortcoming person of being to use of rotation hair style switch does not often know to connect flashlight.In order to realize the feature capability of focusing, must rotate lamp adapter assembly at all places, so in same action, be difficult to realize switch.For example, in this case, it would be desirable that switch turn-offs when most when lamp holder or lens revolve forward, in order to start light source, lamp holder is rotatablely moved backward, simultaneously, the focal length of light source also is adjusted.The problem that this method produces is lamp holder must be rotated to foremost position, could turn-off light source.When each use, focal position must be adjusted again.The user is difficult to recall to original focal length, very troublesome.

Purpose of the present invention is exactly that a kind of flashlight with a kind of on-off switch will be provided, and described switch combines with the outside or the Art Design of flashlight attractive in appearancely.Another object of the present invention provides a kind of on-off switch that uses in flashlight, it has first and second positions of an anodal locking, and between the mutually tangential surface of contact chip, provides a dirt removal action.

A form of the present invention is a flashlight, and it comprises a stack shell or shell, is used to comprise power supply.An optical assembly comprises a light source, is fixed in stack shell, and one of described light source is terminated at a utmost point of power supply, another utmost point of second termination power.Stack shell is by a switch module closure, and described switch module comprises a switch, can be selectively second end of light source is connected with power supply and disconnects.

Second switch that form is a flashlight of the present invention, it comprises a shell, removably is connected to an end of flashlight body and has a lock pin that extends from its inwall.Described shell accepts to seal the neck of end cap of an end of stack shell with one heart.The neck of described end cap comprises a pair of groove that is separated by cantilever spring.Be used to accept the described lock pin that extends inwards from shell and think that described end cap limits at least one first and second place.Accept a contact assembly in the hole that the end cap neck and the longitudinal axis of end cap are concentric, contact assembly has a primary importance, the relative utmost point of contact power supply, and second place, according to the rotation of described end cap between described first and second positions, selectively with second end in contact of light source.Contact assembly is limited at the neck of described end cap, and end cap is limited in the described stack shell by the limiting part in the hole in described neck.Limiting part can allow end cap around its longitudinal axis artificial rotate with move described contact assembly selectively with second end in contact of described light source.

The switch that the advantage of each form of the present invention is to provide the master-plan with flashlight to combine together with aesthetic appearance.Be arranged on the contact that the interior switch of end cap can allow to monitor switch, whether connect to determine power supply.In addition, the action of the ON/OFF of switch is tangentially moved the contact chip of switch, and an action of removing dirt automatically can be provided.Described switch also has some need not special tool(s) and easy-to-install parts.If necessary, switch can be dismantled, and effectively repairing, or totally changes with low cost.

These and other objects of the present invention explanation in conjunction with the drawings will be more clear and definite.

Fig. 1 is the stereogram of flashlight of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is the cutaway view along the II in the flashlight among the figure-II line;

Fig. 3 is the cutaway view of the end cap that uses among the present invention;

Fig. 4 is the vertical view of the end cap shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is the upward view of the end cap shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is the end-view of the end cap shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is the cutaway view with shell of screw thread;

Fig. 8 is the shell end view shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is the end view of the shell shown in Fig. 7-8;

Figure 10 is the cutaway view of employed qualification cap among the present invention and sleeve;

Figure 11 is the qualification cap shown in Figure 10 and the end-view of sleeve;

Figure 12 is the qualification cap shown in Figure 10 and the end view of sleeve;

Figure 13 is the qualification cap shown in Figure 10 and the vertical view of sleeve;

Figure 14 is the decomposition view of the parts of formation switch module.

Referring to Fig. 1 and 2, first embodiment of flashlight 20 comprises an elongated stack shell 22, and stack shell 22 has one first end 24 and one second end 26.In most preferred embodiment, stack shell 22 comprises the battery compartment of an elongated, forms inwall 28 and the length direction from first end 24 along stack shell 22 and extends to second end 26.The size of the diameter of inwall 28 preferably can be held one or more dry cells 30, and dry cell can be " D ", " AA " or " AAA " size battery.By convention, if the battery 30 that uses more than one, these batteries must for same size and serial connection together, promptly the anodal 30a of a battery is connected to the negative pole 30b of next battery.

Referring to Fig. 2, first end 24 of stack shell 22 comprises an optical assembly 32.Assembly 32 comprises a lens case 34, and it receives stack shell by screw thread along first termination of stack shell 22.Lens case 34 is admitted a protecgulum 36, places lens 38 in the protecgulum 36.Be a reflector 40 between lens case and lens protecgulum and lens, place a light source 44 at its pip, for example, a bulb.By along screw thread rotation lens case 34, optical assembly 32 can vertically be adjusted, and changes the position of light source 44 with respect to reflector 40, therefore changes focal length and/or from the definition of reflector 40 beam reflected.

In first end of reflector 40 back stack shells 22, be that a lamp limits module 46, be used to limit light source, light source 44 has pin 46a and 46b inserts among socket 50a and the 50b.One end of first conducting strip 52 places socket 50a, so that contact is contained in a utmost point of the battery 30 in the stack shell 22, an end that is preferably anodal 30a second conducting strip 56 places 50b and contacts with lamp pin 46b its other end near the inside end 54 of module 46.Contact chip 56 preferably from module 46 along wall 28 and the length of stack shell 22 extend, interrupt near second end 26 at end 58.

Second end 26 of switch 60 sealing stack shells 22.Assembly 60 comprises an end cap 62, and end cap 62 has a cylindrical part 64 (Fig. 3-6) and limits first end 66 that extends from second end 70 of end cap 62 and flange or projection 68.Flange 68 is crossed over the diameter of end cap 62 and is passed the axis A of flashlight 20.Flange 68 preferably has an opening 72.Flange 68 has a grasp-point so that switch is changed between first " opening " position and second off-position.

Cylindrical first end 64 of end cap 62 comprises a concentric holes 74, extends to the main body of end cap 62 and limits an inwall 76 from first end 66.The part of wall 76 is removed to form a rectangle, the opening 78 of radial and axial extension, the axially parallel of the major axis of opening and flashlight 20.What cross opening 78 is second rectangular aperture or slit 80, defines lug 82a and 82b in the end 66 of the opposite side of opening 78.What extend in hole 74 between the main body of slit 80 and end cap 62 from wall 76 is convex ridge 84, with the intensity that strengthens column part 64 and as the seat of the sintered aluminium of traditional hydrogen sorbent materials (not shown) such as platinum plating.

In a most preferred embodiment, relative rectangular aperture 78 in wall 76 and slit 80 are the groove 86a of two elongateds, 86b, and the opposite side of bracketed part 88 that is in wall 76 is as a spring.Cantilever spring 88 has a negative sense with respect to the outer surface of column part 64 and discharges.This effect of cantilever spring 88 will be more obvious by following detailed explanation.

Admit with one heart end cap 62 column part 64 be a shell 100 with screw thread, have first external screw-thread end 102, the engagement internal thread 104 in second end 26 of stack shell 22; Referring to Fig. 2,7-9 and 14.The overall diameter that the interior diameter of inwall 106 is slightly larger than column part or neck 64 can be used as a bearing plane and allows end cap 62 to rotate therein.But axially have a secure placement in slit 86a from inwall 106 with the projection or the lock pin 108 that radially extend, the size of 86b, its height is a little more than the distance of the outer surface 90 of inwall 106 and cantilever spring 88.By the structural relation of slit 86a and 86b, cantilever spring 88 and convex ridge or lock pin 108 define first and second parts of switch module 60.

What the electrical equipment connection was provided between the antipode of the battery 30 in concentric holes 74 and in stack shell 22 and the end 58 of contact chip 56 is to contact chip 110 and a spring conductor 112 after one.Referring to Fig. 2 and 14.The back is a L shaped conducting strip to contact chip 110, is made of for example copper or similar conductor material, has a transverse end 111, supports across hole 74 and by convex ridge 83 along diametric(al).By a series of right-angle bending, contact chip 110 74 extends from the hole, and longitudinally by the rectangular aperture 78 that on wall, forms overlapping inner wall section 28, and contact an end 58 (Fig. 2) of contact chip 56 selectively.Spring conductor 112 is positioned at end 113 and is pressed in first end 111 of contact chip 110, and extends along the longitudinal axis A of flashlight 20, contacts with the comparative electrode of one or more batteries 30.

End cap 62, contact chip 110 and spring 112 are in the shell 100 with screw thread and by a limiting part 114 and limit (referring to Fig. 2, reaching 10-14), and it comprises a cylindrical sleeve part 116 and round flange 118 concentric and vertical extent.The tooth bar of rectangle or key part 120 are extended along the outer length of sleeve 116 substantially.The size of sleeve 116 and tooth bar 120 are accommodated in the concentric holes 74 of end cap 62 in mode specific or that key cooperates.That is, sleeve part 116 can be admitted by hole 74 by the mode that the rectangular aperture 78 that forms on the wall 76 is admitted by tooth bar 120. Lock pin 122a, 122b are formed at the opposite side of tooth bar 120, slip over the lug 82a at first end, 66 places that are limited to neck 64,82b, and prevent retreating of sleeve 116.The concentric holes 124 of extending along sleeve 116 allows spring 112 therefrom to pass, and the bottom 113 of sleeve 116 pressuring springs 112 is in first end of contact chip 110 simultaneously.Utilize lock pin 122a, 122b is locked in the hole 74, and round flange 118 can prevent that neck 64 from retreating from the shell 100 with screw thread, because the diameter of flange 118 is greater than the outer dia of neck 64 and abut in first end 102 of shell 100.The part of flange 118 is at 126a, and the 126b place is removed to prevent close lug 82a after assembling, and 82b makes switch module 60 to be decomposed and carries out necessary maintenance.At tooth bar 120 and lug 82a, the instrument that can insert between the 82b is to separate lock pin 122a, and 122b also allows limiting part 114 to retreat.

In order to make flashlight can bear certain impact, all parts that constitute flashlight 20 constitute as XENOY 5230 (G.E.Plastisc Co of Pittsfield, Massachusetts company is on sale) preferably by polymeric material.Conductive component preferably is made of copper as contact chip 52,56 and 110, and spring 112 is the chromium plating spring steel.Light source 44 comprises two pin lamps, can bear the voltage and current that battery provides.

The inside of flashlight 20 can be by adding the purpose that upper O-shape ring is realized waterproof and water vapour to each opening.For example O shape circle 130 is placed in neck 64, near the main body of end cap 72, and inwall that can sealing thread housing 100.The 2nd O type circle 132 is placed on the inner surface or the inwall of the cannelure 134 sealing stack shells 22 of screw shell 100.In a similar fashion, O type circle 136 can be used for forming sealing in the middle of an assembly 50 and stack shell 22.Utilize present position O type circle 130,132 and 136 as mentioned above, flashlight 20 has at least 3 feet dark waterproof abilities, or 1.1 and atmospheric pressure under continue at least 30 minutes waterproof ability.

Referring to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the outside of stack shell 22 can be made into has reticulate pattern again, is easy to user's grasping to form non skid matting.In most preferred embodiment, can form a series of concentric equally spaced groove 140 in the outside of stack shell, can realize this function.In addition, the outside of stack shell 22 includes a registration mark 142, and by the structure qualification that a malleation discharges, this registration mark is aimed at the position that is in " connection " with indicator cock with a similar sign 144 along end cap 62 extensions that forms in the end of flange 68.Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 also show lift one's head the outside of assembly lens case 34 parts by textured to form a non skid matting and to help rotary components group 32 to realize focusing.In most preferred embodiment, on shell, form a series of equally spaced longitudinally groove 35 so that this function to be provided.

In the middle of operation, longitudinal axis rotary end cover 62 switch modules 60 by thorny torch are removed, with the switch module 60 of outwarding winding from stack shell 22.The battery of right quantity makes screw thread 104 engagements make switch module 60 blind ends 26 by holding 26 to be loaded into by reverse rotation end cap 62.After end cap 62 was fastening, switch module 60 also was threaded into stack shell 22.The screw thread of stack shell 22 inside of screw thread 104 and correspondence is preferably designed as switch module 60 and terminates in a predetermined point.This can be by realizing at screw thread backing pin of the junction of assembly 60 and stack shell 22 design.

In flashlight, place the battery of some, and behind the end by switch module 60 sealing flashlights, can be by being switched on or switched off flashlight by rotating end cap 62 between convex ridge 108 and first and second positions that combining of lock pin or groove 86a and 86b limits.The rotation of end cap 62 can cause the end 58 of back contact chip 110 swing contact contact chips 56.By rotating end cap 62, make back contact chip 110 and contact chip 56 engagements, can make electric current pass through spring 112, back contact chip 110, contact chip 56, contact chip 52 at anodal and negative pole contact chip 30a, flows between the 30b.The circular motion of the end joggle(d) joint contact 56 of back contact chip 110 produces one " removing action ", can remove dirt, and the cleaning contact provides the good electrical contact ability between the contact.By reverse rotation end cap 62 convex ridge 108 is placed relative lock pin groove 86a, 86b makes back contact chip 110 disengage sheet 56, cuts off flowing between battery electrode, can turn-off flashlight.The user is by seeing that whether sign 142,144 is aimed at, and can determine whether switch is in the position of connection.When preferably sign engaged one another, flashlight was in the state of connection.Place the state of " breaking " by rotating end cap 62, sign 144 sign 142 motions are relatively no longer aimed at the two.

The best method of packing into or taking out battery is the switch module 60 of outwarding winding from the rear end 26 of stack shell 22.By the switch module 60 of outwarding winding from stack shell 22, switch module 60 promptly is removed, and is included in the ability of losing the job in the shell 100.If switch module 60 goes wrong, get final product whole replacing switch module 60, and unlikely whole flashlight is discarded.In addition, can remove qualification sleeve 114 from the neck 64 of end cap 62 and come service switch assembly 60.Remove qualification sleeve 114, can be near back contact chip 110 and spring 112.According to this structure, above any one parts break down and can change, or whole replacing switch module.

Lamp assembly 32 at flashlight 20 other ends 24 allows the user to adjust from reflector 40 beam reflected.By along longitudinal axis A relay lens shell 34, screw thread makes lens subassembly 34 press to stack shell 22, and reflector 40 is moved relative to light source 44, thereby, make from the light of lens 38 reflections and produce extensive or narrow form.This structural advantages is can make the user keep required light beam after connecting flashlight.

Above-described just illustrated embodiments.Those skilled in the art can invent and make improvements.Therefore the embodiment shown in the drawings that addresses of institute is for the purpose illustrated but not to the qualification of invention scope, scope of the present invention is limited by appended claims above.

Claims (20)

1. flashlight comprises:

A stack shell that is used to place power supply therein;

An optical assembly that comprises light source is connected with described stack shell, and an end of described light source contacts with a utmost point of described power supply, and second end of described light source is near the relative utmost point of described power supply;

Seal the switch module of described stack shell, be used for selectively described light source being connected with the described antipode of described power supply and disconnecting.

2. flashlight according to claim 1, wherein said switch module comprises:

An end cap that places described stack shell and seal stack shell, described end cap can rotate between the primary importance that described light source is connected with power sourced electric and the second place with described light source and the disconnection of described power sourced electric around an axle.

3. flashlight according to claim 2, wherein said switch module also comprises:

Its first end removably places the shell of described stack shell, admits described end cap;

Be positioned over the contact assembly in the described end cap, be used to contact the described opposite end of described battery;

Place the limiting part in the described end cap, be used in described shell, limiting described end cap.

4. flashlight according to claim 3 also comprises the contact chip that extends described outer cover length from described optical assembly, described contact chip selectively with place described end cap in contact assembly contact.

5. flashlight according to claim 3 comprises that also places the hydrogen absorption piece in the described end cap.

6. flashlight according to claim 3, wherein said switch module also comprises:

The cam that extends from the inner surface of described parts;

Be limited to the cam follower that is used to follow described cam of the outer surface of described end cap with one heart;

Lock pin on described cam follower, a position that is used for meshing described cam and described end cap is limited to described first and second positions.

7. flashlight according to claim 6 also comprises the projection of extending from second end of described end cap, is used for the artificially described end cap is rotated between described first and second positions.

8. flashlight according to claim 6 also comprises:

Be placed on first seal between described end cap and the described shell;

Be placed on second seal between described shell and the described stack shell.

9. flashlight according to claim 3, wherein said limiting part also comprises:

Cochlear part in described end cap;

Be limited to the flange of described cochlear part one end, near described end cap and described shell;

The lock pin that forms on described cochlear part is used to mesh described end cap, and locking is near the flange of described end cap and described shell.

10. one kind is used for selectively switch that light source and the cell electrical that is placed on a stack shell are connected, comprising:

Removably the shell that engages with described stack shell has one from its inner lock pin that extends;

The end cap with a neck in described shell, described neck have a groove, are used to admit described lock pin, make to limit at least one first and second position;

Be placed on the contact assembly in the described neck, have one with the first of described cell electrical connection with form the second portion of a contact point;

At the limiting part of described neck, be used for the fixing described contact assembly of portion within it, pivotally described neck partly is limited to described enclosure;

But rotate between the described position that is used for selectively moving described contact chip and the electric connection of light source described end cap artificially.

11. switch according to claim 10, wherein said shell have a longitudinal axis that overlaps with the described stack shell longitudinal axis, described end cap can rotate around the described longitudinal axis.

12. switch according to claim 11, wherein said end cap also comprises:

A cantilever that partly limits at described neck extends and parallel with it along the described longitudinal axis, is used for the described lock pin location in first and second positions of the opposite side of described cantilever.

13. switch according to claim 10, wherein said limiting part is extended and the lock pin that is engaged at least one lug that limits in the described neck is fixed on described neck from described limiting part by at least one.

14. switch according to claim 13, wherein said limiting part comprises a round flange, its diameter equals an end of the shell in the described stack shell substantially, is used to prevent that described end cap from retreating and allowing described end cap pivoting action in described shell from described shell.

15. switch according to claim 10, wherein said contact assembly comprises:

Have first end and place interior second end of described neck to the inner extension of described stack shell, and first contact chip of locating at the edge of described switch;

Place the power spring in the described neck with one heart, first end in contact of its first end and described contact chip, a utmost point of the described battery of its second end in contact.

16. switch according to claim 10 also comprises:

That partly limit at described neck and with the parallel cochlear groove of inwall of this neck part;

From the tooth bar that places described cochlear groove that described limiting part extends, be used in described neck part, pressing to described neck part for described limiting part orientation and with described contact assembly.

17. switch according to claim 10, wherein said end cap comprise a handle that is used for rotating described switch between described position.

18. a switch that is used for being switched on or switched off selectively a DC circuit comprises:

Shell with cylinder shape inner wall;

Lock pin from described inwall extension;

Be placed on described enclosure and obtain having the end cap of a neck;

A cantilever spring that is placed in the groove that described neck forms, the opposite side that is used at described cantilever spring is that described lock pin limits first and second positions.

A contact assembly that is arranged on described neck, its first end that is terminated at circuit, its second end is connected to the opposite end of circuit selectively;

Be provided with and be fixed on the limiting part in the described neck, be used to prevent that described neck from retreating from described shell, the described end cap of fair simultaneously meter rotates between described first and second positions.

19. flashlight according to claim 1, wherein said switch module can unload from described stack shell, is used to insert described power supply.

20. switch according to claim 15 also comprises:

One second length that contact chip extends described shell in described enclosure, its first end contacts with light source is electric, and its second end places near second end of described first contact chip;

When described end cap rotated between described position, described first contact chip contacted described second contact chip with wobbling action selectively.

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