EP0247094A1 - Dispositif d'eclairage - Google Patents

Dispositif d'eclairage

Info

Publication number
EP0247094A1
EP0247094A1 EP86906738A EP86906738A EP0247094A1 EP 0247094 A1 EP0247094 A1 EP 0247094A1 EP 86906738 A EP86906738 A EP 86906738A EP 86906738 A EP86906738 A EP 86906738A EP 0247094 A1 EP0247094 A1 EP 0247094A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
lighting device
battery
cigarette lighter
plug portion
contacts
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP86906738A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Martin Lee
Simon Hunt
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP0247094A1 publication Critical patent/EP0247094A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21L—LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF, BEING PORTABLE OR SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR TRANSPORTATION
    • F21L4/00—Electric lighting devices with self-contained electric batteries or cells
    • F21L4/08—Electric lighting devices with self-contained electric batteries or cells characterised by means for in situ recharging of the batteries or cells
    • F21L4/085—Pocket lamps
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q3/00—Arrangement of lighting devices for vehicle interiors; Lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle interiors
    • B60Q3/50—Mounting arrangements
    • B60Q3/59—Lighting devices mounted in the vehicle interior and adapted for portability
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q3/00—Arrangement of lighting devices for vehicle interiors; Lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle interiors
    • B60Q3/80—Circuits; Control arrangements
    • B60Q3/88—Means for plugging to the electrical power supply of the vehicle, e.g. by using cigarette lighter sockets

Definitions

  • This invention relates to lighting devices and is particularly concerned with portable, battery operated lights or torches. More specifically it provides a portable light designed for operation by a rechargeable battery and adapted for use in conjunction with a convention automobile cigarette lighter power outlet.
  • a cigarette lighter installation is standard equipment in most automobiles.
  • this installation comprises a socket element usually fitted into the dash panel of the vehicle and a removable plug element which fits into the socket.
  • the plug element carries an electric resistance heater which is supplied with current from the electrical system of the automobile via contacts in the socket element when the plug is fully depressed into the socket.
  • the present invention provides a lighting device which may conveniently be stowed by insertion in the socket element of such an installation in lieu of the cigarette lighter plug element so as to be ready for use at any time and which will be charged automatically when so stowed.
  • a lighting device for use in conjunction with the socket element of an automobile cigarette lighter of the kind having a socket element with electrical contacts and a removable plug element to plug into the socket element, said lighting device comprising: a body which has an elongate plug portion for insertion into the socket element of an automobile cigarette lighter installation and which defines a receptacle for a rechargeable battery; an electric lamp unit mounted in the body; electric contact means on the plug portion of the body to make electrical contact with the supply contacts of the cigarette lighter socket element; and electrical circuit means to supply power to the electric lamp from the battery and to supply power from said contacts to the battery for recharging the battery with power supplied from the automobile through the contacts of the cigarette lighter socket element.
  • the electrical circuit means comprises a voltage reducer to reduce the automobile supply voltage to a recharging voltage slightly above the nominal voltage of the rechargeable battery. More particularly it may reduce a 12 voltage supply voltage to a recharging voltage in the range 1.5 to 6 volts.
  • the lamp unit is positioned to 5 shine forwardly from a front face of the body
  • the plug portion of the body is a rearwardly projecting rear end portion of the body
  • the lamp unit and the battery receptacle are mutually oppositely offset laterally of a front to rear direction through the plug portion of the body.
  • Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a portable 15 light constructed in accordance with the invention
  • Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the light shown in Figure 1;
  • Figure 3 is a side view of the light;
  • Figure 4 is a top view of- the light;
  • Figure 5 is a front end view of the light;
  • Figure 6 is a vertical cross-section on the line 6-6 in Figure 5;
  • Figure 7 illustrates the electrical circuit of the light.
  • the drawings illustrate a portable light having a body 10 comprised of a pair of body shells 11, 12 each forming one half of the body.
  • the two shells 11, 12 may conveniently be injected moulded of a synthetic plastics material.
  • Body 10 may be symmetrical about a central longitudinal plane and the shells shaped to two mirror image formations. It is possible to secure the two shells together so that the body * may be opened up for service but generally it is preferred that the body be sealed on assembly of the light.
  • Body 10 has a hollow front part 13 and a rear part in the form of a rearwardly projecting plug portion 14.
  • the front body portion 10 is in the form of a flattened tubular barrel, having two flat sides 15 joined by cylindrically curved segments 16.
  • the barrel thus has two generally semi-cylindrical lobes extending to laterally opposite sides of a central longitudinal direction through the plug portion 14 of the body.
  • One of these lobes houses a lamp unit denoted generally as 17 and the other provides a receptacle for a rechargeable battery 18.
  • the battery may be a rechargeable nickel-cadmium battery rated at 2.4 volts.
  • the lamp unit 17 comprises a dished reflector 19 which is fitted into an opening in the front face 20 of the body when the two body shells are brought together, an incandescent globe 21, fitted centrally within the reflector and a lens 22 held in position by a screw threaded knurled ring 23 which screws onto the outer rim of the reflector.
  • a metal contact member denoted generally as 25 provides a continuous electrical connection between the rear contact 24 of globe 21 and one side of the battery 18.
  • Contact member 25 is mounted between two lugs 26 on the body and comprises a resilient end leaf 27 to engage the globe contact 24 and a resilient end leaf 28 to engage the positive side of the battery. This provides a continuous positive connection to globe 21. A negative connection is provided by the operation of a switch denoted generally as 31.
  • Switch 31 comprises an arcuate slider 32 provided with a cam plate 33 which acts on a metal strip contact member 34.
  • One end of contact member 34 permanently engages a U-shaped leaf contact member 35 installed in the plug portion of the body which also makes contact at 36 with the negative side of the battery 18.
  • the other end of member 34 is formed as a leaf having a kink 37 and an out-turned leaf end 38.
  • the leaf kink 37 cooperates with two notches 39, 40 in the switch cam plate 33 to define “on” and “off” conditions of the switch.
  • the switch is illustrated in its “off” condition in which the kink 37 engages notch 39 in cam plate 33 and the leaf end 38 is out of engagement with the globe 21.
  • the arms of the U-shaped contact member 35 are formed with outwardly curved portions 43 which project outwardly through slots 44 formed at diametrically opposite sides of the plug portion 14 of the body. These portions serve as resiliently biased wiper contacts to contact the socket element of an automobile cigarette lighter installation and so provide a connection with the earth side of the vehicle electrical system.
  • the nose 45 of the plug portion of the body is fitted with a central contact pin 46 loaded by a spring 47 to engage the active contact of the cigarette lighter socket and so' connect with the non-earthed side of the vehicle power supply. This contact is electrically connected via a wire 48 into the electrical circuit as illustrated in Figure 7.
  • the plug portion 14 of the body may also be provided with a pair of diametrically opposed bosses 50, which can be either fixed or spring-loaded, to ensure a firm fit within the cigarette lighter socket, some sockets being of slightly different sizes than others.
  • An indicator light 49 is mounted in the front face of the light body and connected into the electrical circuit as also illustrated in Figures 7.
  • contact 46 is connected with the positive side of battery 18 via an IN4004 diode 51, a
  • Indicator light 49 is a light emitting diode and is connected between the positive and negative sides of the circuit through a 2kz resistor 54.
  • the illustrated light When “the illustrated light is not in use, it can be stowed by pushing the plug portion 14 of the body into the socket element of an automobile cigarette lighter installation. The plug then serves as a mounting member and its electrical contacts provide a continuous connection for supply of power to the battery for recharging.
  • the illustrated circuit produces a voltage reduction to a recharging voltage of about 2.4 volts from a supply voltage of 12 volts.
  • Zener diode 53 controls the charge current to the battery to within recommended levels for all fluctuation of battery voltage and it also reduces the current supplied to the battery as the battery voltage rises with charging.
  • the IN4004 diode 51 serves as a one-way device providing reverse polarity protection. Thus, if the automobile power source connections are reversed for any reason there will be no damage to the battery 18. Diode 54 also prevents discharge of battery 18 through light 49 or in the event of a short between the plug contacts 35, 46
  • the invention enables provision a very convenient light for automobiles which is extremely compact and can be simply stowed by insertion with a cigarette lighter socket where it will be automatically recharged for use at any time.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Arrangement Of Elements, Cooling, Sealing, Or The Like Of Lighting Devices (AREA)
  • Arrangements Of Lighting Devices For Vehicle Interiors, Mounting And Supporting Thereof, Circuits Therefore (AREA)

Abstract

Un dispositif d'éclairage destiné à être utilisé avec le logement d'un allume cigare d'automobile comprend un corps (10) muni d'une partie enfichable allongée (14) destinée à être insérée dans le logement et définissant un réceptacle destiné à recevoir une batterie rechargeable (18). Une unité à lampe électrique (17) montée dans le corps peut recevoir l'alimentation de la batterie (18), laquelle est rechargeable par l'alimentation obtenue à partir du logement de l'allume cigare via des contacts électriques (35, 46) situés sur la partie enfichable du corps.
EP86906738A 1985-11-26 1986-11-26 Dispositif d'eclairage Withdrawn EP0247094A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU3581/85 1985-11-26
AU358185 1985-11-26

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0247094A1 true EP0247094A1 (fr) 1987-12-02

Family

ID=3694030

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP86906738A Withdrawn EP0247094A1 (fr) 1985-11-26 1986-11-26 Dispositif d'eclairage

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0247094A1 (fr)
JP (1) JPS63502231A (fr)
WO (1) WO1987003354A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5077643A (en) * 1990-08-09 1991-12-31 Leach Philip J Combination courtesy light and detachable flashlight assembly
AU4270893A (en) * 1992-05-13 1993-12-13 John Patrick Martin Donnelly A display device
US5746495A (en) * 1997-02-05 1998-05-05 Klamm; Thomas L. Portable work light with optical fiber adapter
US5832645A (en) * 1997-03-12 1998-11-10 Wells; Brett W. Backlit frame for cigarette lighter
DE202005013633U1 (de) * 2005-08-30 2005-11-03 Zweibrüder Optoelectronics GmbH Taschenlampe mit Batterieladegerät
DE102007004414B4 (de) * 2007-01-30 2009-09-17 Hnc Import-Export & Vertriebs Ag Taschenleuchte
FR3026815B1 (fr) * 2014-10-01 2016-12-30 Valeo Vision Dispositif electrique amovible de vehicule automobile
CN206195372U (zh) * 2016-08-31 2017-05-24 李文杰 一种多功能车载充电器
TWI778360B (zh) * 2020-05-13 2022-09-21 周文三 汽車輪胎修補裝置之點菸器插頭

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4224658A (en) * 1978-08-10 1980-09-23 Wagner Electric Corporation Rechargeable flashlight with integral variable rate battery charger for automotive use
US4327401A (en) * 1978-08-10 1982-04-27 Mcgraw-Edison Company Rechargeable flashlight with integral variable rate battery charger for automotive use
US4244011A (en) * 1979-08-27 1981-01-06 The Gates Rubber Company Rechargeable flashlight
US4357648A (en) * 1980-02-08 1982-11-02 Kel-Lite Industries, Inc. Rechargeable flashlight

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO8703354A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1987003354A1 (fr) 1987-06-04
JPS63502231A (ja) 1988-08-25

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