EP0746718B1 - Flashlight - Google Patents

Flashlight Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0746718B1
EP0746718B1 EP94916094A EP94916094A EP0746718B1 EP 0746718 B1 EP0746718 B1 EP 0746718B1 EP 94916094 A EP94916094 A EP 94916094A EP 94916094 A EP94916094 A EP 94916094A EP 0746718 B1 EP0746718 B1 EP 0746718B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
light
handle
lantern
portable light
mode
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP94916094A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0746718A4 (en
EP0746718A1 (en
Inventor
David Dalton
John Brown
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.)
Energizer Australia Pty Ltd
Original Assignee
Eveready Australia Pty Ltd
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 Eveready Australia Pty Ltd filed Critical Eveready Australia Pty Ltd
Publication of EP0746718A1 publication Critical patent/EP0746718A1/en
Publication of EP0746718A4 publication Critical patent/EP0746718A4/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0746718B1 publication Critical patent/EP0746718B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • F21L4/005—Electric lighting devices with self-contained electric batteries or cells the device being a pocket lamp
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V21/00—Supporting, suspending, or attaching arrangements for lighting devices; Hand grips
    • F21V21/40—Hand grips
    • F21V21/406—Hand grips for portable lighting devices

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to portable lights more particularly those lights which are convertible between a flash light mode and lantern mode. More particularly the invention relates to handle assemblies for such flash lights.
  • Prior art portable lights are generally either lanterns or flash lights.
  • the development of flashlights which are convertible between lantern mode and flash light mode has led to particular difficulties relating to the ability to grip and properly utilise the portable light particularly when large battery or storage cells are used.
  • the object of the present invention is to substantially overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a single handle assembly which can serve as a handle in either mode of use i.e. either as a flash light or as a lantern.
  • a portable light being convertible between a flash light and a lantern, wherein said portable light comprises a handle assembly including a handle means whose ends engage the body of the light such that a part or all of said handle means can be moved from a first arrangement in which said handle allows the light to be gripped as a flashlight to a second arrangement wherein said light can be gripped as a lantern.
  • said flash light is convertible into lantern mode.
  • both ends are movable or are either detachable and replaceable or are slidable from their respective securing location.
  • the hand gripped portion of said handle means is symmetrical so that the same grip is held whether said portable light is a lantern or a flash light. It is also preferable that when one end of said handle remains secured and said other end is movable, said other end is secured to a movable part of said light to prevent same from moving into the lantern mode.
  • a portable light 1 comprises a body 2, lens assembly 3 at one end, lantern portions 4, and handle assembly 5.
  • the portable light 1 When the portable light 1 is as illustrated in Fig. 1 the portable light is in flash light mode and the lantern portion 4 is concealed.
  • the light globe 6 is placed at the focal point of the parabolic reflector (not illustrated) in the flash light lens assembly 3.
  • the body 2 When moved to a lantern mode the body 2 is relatively moved away from the lens assembly 3 to expose the globe 6 to the lantern portion 4 thus preventing a substantial amount of light from being passed through the lens assembly 3 and directing the light in a radial fashion away from the light globe 6.
  • the end 7 of handle assembly 5 is secured in place on the rear 10 of the body 2 into a recess which allows the end 7 of the handle assembly 5 to rotate relative to the body 2, when end 8 is unsecured.
  • the end 7 is secured at an angle to both the rear 10 and side 12 of the body 2, as best depicted in Fig. 2.
  • the end 7 is depicted as being in the same plane as side 12, however, in practice it sits at approximately the same angle as depicted in Figs. 2 and 4, when the handle assembly 5 is in flashlight mode.
  • the other end 8 is removably secured to the opposite portion on body 2 as compared with the location of end 7. Any releasable securing means can be utilised however a bayonet type fitting is most preferred.
  • the bayonet fitting (not illustrated) engages a recess 9 (preferably sealed) in the body of the light 2.
  • the lens assembly 3 and lantern portion 4 must be slid back into the body 2 because the length of the handle assembly 5 is selected so as to maintain the portable light 1 in flash light mode when the end 8 of handle assembly 5 is inserted into the sealed recess 9.
  • the handle assembly 5 In this manner to convert the portable light 1 into lantern mode, the handle assembly 5 must also be put into the corresponding lantern mode i.e. both ends 7 and 8 must be located on the top or rear surface 10 of the body 2. The engagement of recess 9 by end 8 prevents the conversion to lantern mode.
  • the handle assembly 5 can also be used as a control to focus the beam of light, as an amount of sliding movement of the lens assembly 3 is still possible.
  • the lens assembly 3 can move away from the body 2 to change the point of emission of light from the light globe 6 relative to the focal point of the parabola. In this way focussing can be affected.
  • the switching means is located at the rear or top portion 10 of the body 2.
  • the handle assembly 5 When the handle assembly 5 is in lantern mode, the user, by virtue of the relative strength and stiffness of the handle can utilise the light as a flashlight, that is the lens assembly 3 being fully retracted. This gives the user the freedom to chose the best grip arrangement for any desired lighting requirement.
  • the handle assembly 5, as depicted in Fig. 3 illustrates that the grip portion 15 has a series of grooves 16 extending transversely across the handle assembly 5. It will also be noted that the grip portion 15 has convex sides 17, which when gripped by a user provides a positive grip. When the portable light is used as a flashlight, but with the handle in the lantern configuration, the convex sides 17 of the grip portion 15 allows the user to counter act the rotational force produced by gravity.
  • the handle assembly 5 is constructed from a single moulding, except for the bayonet fitting which is attached later.
  • the grip portion 15, is generally thicker than the portions 13 which lie between the grip portion 15 and the ends 7 and 8. In being thicker, the grip portion 15 would be less flexible than the portions 13, but the addition of grooves 16 restores some of this flexibility.
  • the bayonet fitting is secured into a recess in the end 8.
  • the bayonet fitting because of its different functional requirements, is manufactured from a less flexible plastics material than the portions 13 and 15.
  • the switching mechanism is located to one side of the handle means 5.
  • the handle means 5 is constructed such that the ends 7 and 8 maintain their relative positions on a handle carriage, on which carriage the handle assembly 5 slides from the rear or upper portion 10 of body 2 onto the side portions of the body 2. In this manner the handle assembly does not disconnect but rather moves as a whole from the lantern orientation to the flash light orientation. In the respective arrangements the handle carriage can be locked in place.
  • both ends 7 and 8 are releasably securable to the body.
  • Such securings as press studs, bayonet fittings or the like can be utilised.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)
  • Thermotherapy And Cooling Therapy Devices (AREA)
  • Fastening Of Light Sources Or Lamp Holders (AREA)
EP94916094A 1993-05-25 1994-05-25 Flashlight Expired - Lifetime EP0746718B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AUPL900993 1993-05-25
AUPL900993 1993-05-25
AUPL9009/93 1993-05-25
PCT/AU1994/000271 WO1994028347A1 (en) 1993-05-25 1994-05-25 Flashlight

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0746718A1 EP0746718A1 (en) 1996-12-11
EP0746718A4 EP0746718A4 (en) 1998-05-27
EP0746718B1 true EP0746718B1 (en) 2001-11-14

Family

ID=3776925

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP94916094A Expired - Lifetime EP0746718B1 (en) 1993-05-25 1994-05-25 Flashlight

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0746718B1 (xx)
AT (1) ATE208873T1 (xx)
DE (1) DE69429110T2 (xx)
HK (1) HK1007077A1 (xx)
WO (1) WO1994028347A1 (xx)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2010040102A3 (en) * 2008-10-02 2010-07-01 Life+Gear, Inc. Flashlight and illuminated rear section with two-sided lighting module

Families Citing this family (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AUPP422498A0 (en) 1998-06-19 1998-07-09 Eveready Battery Company Inc. A lighting device
CN2572207Y (zh) 2002-09-23 2003-09-10 飞龙发展有限公司 可实现远距离及360度范围照明的手提式电筒
US20040250386A1 (en) * 2003-05-30 2004-12-16 Edward Goldberg Carabiner device for containers
WO2005040676A1 (en) * 2003-10-27 2005-05-06 Eveready Battery Company, Inc. Convertible flashlight and area light with an aperture shutter
US8113682B2 (en) 2008-10-02 2012-02-14 Life+Gear, Inc. Multipurpose waterproof lighting device with electronic glow stick
US7845820B2 (en) 2008-10-02 2010-12-07 Life+Gear, Inc. Multipurpose lighting device with electronic glow stick
US8083368B2 (en) * 2009-05-05 2011-12-27 Fermi Chi Hung Lau Spot light
WO2014033675A2 (en) * 2012-08-31 2014-03-06 Indian Oil Corporation Limited Multi-utility illumination device
US11162669B1 (en) * 2019-09-20 2021-11-02 Joseph Donnan Lantern
US11041612B1 (en) * 2019-09-20 2021-06-22 Railhead Corporation Lantern
CN111928131B (zh) * 2020-08-21 2024-02-27 乐美加发光制品（大连）有限公司 一种可伸缩的两用灯

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4004132A (en) * 1973-02-20 1977-01-18 Marvin Glass & Associates Convertible flashlight-lantern
FR2305684A1 (fr) * 1975-03-28 1976-10-22 Petzl Paul Lampe electrique frontale a pile ou a accumulateur transformable en lampe a main
GB8506081D0 (en) * 1985-03-08 1985-04-11 Ever Ready Co Multipurpose lamp
IT208257Z2 (it) * 1986-10-23 1988-04-29 Diesse S P A Stile C S R L Lanterna portatile a pile, emittente una luce diffusa e una luce di profondita'.!
GB2209387B (en) * 1987-09-02 1991-06-26 Shiu Shing A torch

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2010040102A3 (en) * 2008-10-02 2010-07-01 Life+Gear, Inc. Flashlight and illuminated rear section with two-sided lighting module
CN102203498B (zh) * 2008-10-02 2014-12-24 生命力+设备有限公司 带有两侧发光模块的手电筒和照明式后部

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1994028347A1 (en) 1994-12-08
ATE208873T1 (de) 2001-11-15
HK1007077A1 (en) 1999-04-01
EP0746718A4 (en) 1998-05-27
DE69429110D1 (de) 2001-12-20
DE69429110T2 (de) 2002-06-20
EP0746718A1 (en) 1996-12-11

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