EP2501993B1 - Flashlight having a tail cap switch - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a flashlight with a flashlight housing and an end cap which is detachably connected to the flashlight housing, and arranged in the end cap tactile, latching or rotary switch having a switch housing, in which a first and a second contact element engage ,

It is known to integrate a switch in the end cap, which is screwed onto the flashlight housing, wherein the battery (s) or the accumulators are inserted with unscrewed end cap in the flashlight housing. In such flashlights, the one contact element of the switch is connected to a coil spring, which fixes the batteries on the one hand inside the flashlight and on the other hand forms a connection to one pole of the battery, so that the current flows through the coil spring. In order to create a closed circuit in the on state, usually the other contact is guided over the end cap, so that the electric current continues to flow from there via the thread or other contact surfaces via the flashlight housing to the light source.

A similar circuit arrangement is in US RE 38,014 E discloses where instead of a coil spring, a leaf spring is provided which contacts directly the battery terminal of a power supply.

US 2006/0109655 describes a further circuit arrangement according to the prior art.

A disadvantage of the circuit arrangements, as they are realized in conventional flashlights, on the one hand, that the current is passed over a plurality of contact surfaces, wherein over each contact surface, a corresponding contact resistance drops. In addition, a self-induction voltage is induced by the current flow within the coil spring, which counteracts the actual current flow. Both result in a lower voltage dropping above the light source, whereby the luminous intensity of the light source drops markedly.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a flashlight with a switch, in which the number of contacts is reduced and the current flow is optimized, in particular a flow of current through a coil spring is avoided.

This object is achieved by the Taschenlame according to claim 1, wherein according to the invention, the first contact element is a leaf spring which bears against the electrically conductive flashlight housing contact closure, wherein the second contact element is formed outside of the switch housing as a bent leaf spring and is directly connectable to a power supply , As a result, a large number of contact surfaces is avoided. In particular, a contact between a contact element and the contact spring is saved. In addition, the current is no longer guided by the coil spring, so that no power is lost due to the relatively high self-inductance of a coil spring. Advantageously, less power is lost by the circuit arrangement according to the invention, so that it is available to the light source.

Further embodiments of the invention are described below and in the subclaims.

In particular, according to a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the light source is a light-emitting diode (LED) and, as a power supply, at least one battery or accumulator, i. at least one rechargeable battery is provided. Likewise, as known in the art, battery packs may be used from a plurality of batteries connected in series. In particular, the use of an LED as a light source reduces power consumption, so that more energy is available to produce light.

According to a development of the invention, it is provided that the switch is arranged in a guide housing having recesses through which the contacts of the switch protrude radially or frontally outwards, where they act as leaf springs are formed and form electrically conductive contact surfaces. The guide housing is preferably designed as a plastic injection molded part, whereby the production costs can be kept extremely low. The guide housing is preferably designed in two parts and preferably consists of two half-cylinder shell-shaped sub-segments. To introduce a switch into a guide housing, first the sub-segments are separated from each other and the switch is in a recess placed within a subsegment. Subsequently, the sub-segments are reassembled into a guide housing, whereby the switch is mounted and held within the guide housing. So that the contacts of the switch can be led out of the guide housing in order to allow an electrical contact, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, groove-shaped recesses are provided on at least one of the connecting surfaces of the sub-segments, in which the contacts lie when the switch is engaged. Preferred positions of said recesses will be explained later in more detail.

The guide housing preferably has a further recess through which engages in the assembled state, an operating knob with which the switch is actuated. The operating knob is a component of the end cap, in which the actuating button is mounted coaxially. Preferably, a flexible rubber seal is arranged between the actuating button and the switch, whereby the switch and the contacts are stored dust and moisture-proof.

As already indicated, it is provided according to a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention that the guide housing is releasably secured within the end cap, for which the guide housing preferably has an external thread and the end cap preferably has a corresponding internal thread, so that the guide housing can be screwed into the end cap , Alternatively, the guide housing could also be connected by means of a plug-in, latching or bayonet connection with the end cap. This provides a stable and easy-to-install way to safely store the switch within an end cap. Noteworthy here is the small number of components used, since in addition to the end cap, the two-part guide housing and the switch no other components must be used to realize a functional Endkappenschalter. This not only reduces the material costs, but also the assembly costs.

To ensure a safe, trouble-free and energized contact, the contacts, which protrude as leaf springs from the guide housing, must be connected to current-carrying parts of the flashlight. In principle, two different possibilities are provided for this purpose, which differ essentially by the configuration of the first contact element, without the present invention being limited thereto.

In both embodiments, the second contact element engages through a recess of the guide housing and forms on the end face in the assembled state, an electrical contact to a pole of the battery or the accumulator. In this way, on the one hand avoided that the current flows through a coil spring, on the other hand, designed as a bent leaf spring contact can be tightly connected to the pole. For stable mounting of the second contact element whose free end is preferably arranged in an L-shaped recess within the end face of the guide housing. Alternatively, the leaf spring can also be fixed via a small screw or other fastening means.

According to a first preferred embodiment of the first contact element, this engages through a recess of the guide housing and forms an electrical contact with the flashlight housing in the assembled state. For this purpose, the recess is formed on the end face of the guide housing, wherein the first contact is configured as a bent leaf spring and engages through the recess and the protruding part of the contact the cylindrical shell of the guide housing at least partially surrounds, so that a contact closure for the flashlight housing is the purpose preferably has a socket-shaped projection as a contact surface and electrical contact surface. Characterized in that the end cap can be screwed onto the flashlight housing, the pressure with which the first contact element is pressed against the pedestal-shaped projection can be chosen arbitrarily, so that there is an extremely solid and secure contact is created. In addition, in this embodiment, the advantage that the current is not on the end cap but directly on the flashlight housing is performed, which compared to conventional flashlights a contact surface, namely from the end cap on the flashlight housing, is saved.

According to a not claimed embodiment, it is provided that the first contact element engages through a recess of the guide housing and forms an electrical contact with the end cap in the assembled state. For this purpose, the recess is formed on the lateral surface of the guide housing, wherein the first contact engages through this recess and the protruding from the recess end of the contact is on a collar-shaped bearing surface which projects at least partially radially from the outer surface of the guide housing, so that in the assembled state Contact closure to the end cap is in which the guide housing is releasably fixed. The support surface may be formed as an annular extension of the end face of the guide housing. In other words, the first contact element is clamped between a support surface of the guide housing and the end cap, so that when screwing the guide housing into the end cap secure contact is created by a high pressure. Although the current is passed over the end cap in this embodiment, whereby a further contact surface between the end cap and flashlight housing is accepted, however, the first contact in this embodiment is stored safely from dust and dirt, so that a battery change especially in dusty and dirty Low-risk environments involve contaminating the contact surface, which may interfere with electrical contact.

The switch has a simple plastic housing from which protrudes in addition to the contact elements and an actuator. According to a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the actuating element is axially movable and / or has an electrically conductive contact plate on the front side which can be connected to both contact elements at the same time. As a result, an easy way is created to form a pressure switch with as few contacts.

Alternatively, a contact element may be formed within the housing as a bent leaf spring, which is spaced in the relaxed state of the other contact element, wherein both contact elements are connected by the actuating element against the force of the leaf spring. By this measure, a further contact is saved compared to the alternatives with a contact plate. In both alternative embodiments, however, it is advantageously provided that the actuating element is a pressure or rotary knob which is axially movable against the force of a spiral spring. As a result, the actuating element is kept at a distance from the contacts in the relaxed state, so that unintentional switching on or off of the flashlight is prevented.

Fig. 1a - g:

einzelne Komponenten einer Taschenlampe sowie diese im zusammengebauten Zustand,

Fig. 2a - g:

nicht beanspruchte Ausführungsformen einzelner Komponenten,

Fig. 3a, b:

je eine Ausführungsform eines Schalters und

Fig. 4a, b:

das Funktionsprinzip eines Schalters.

Finally, locking elements are provided on the confirmation element according to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, so that a tactile function or optionally a permanent switching function is adjustable. This not only increases the handling of the flashlight, but also the functionality. Concrete embodiments and further advantageous embodiments of the present invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings. Showing:

Fig. 1a - g:

individual components of a flashlight and these in the assembled state,

Fig. 2a - g:

unclaimed embodiments of individual components,

Fig. 3a, b:

one embodiment of a switch and

Fig. 4a, b:

the functional principle of a switch.

The switch 1, as it is preferably used in the circuit arrangement according to the invention or in the flashlight according to the invention, has a housing 2 and an axially displaceable actuating element 3 designed as a latch or push button. Furthermore, a first contact element 4 and a second contact element 4 are provided Contact element 5 is provided, wherein both contact elements 4, 5 may be formed as bent leaf springs (see. Fig. 1 b) , Such a switch 1 is integrated with the protruding from the housing 2 contact elements 4, 5 in an end cap 6 (see. Fig. 1f ), the end of a flashlight housing 7 can be screwed (see. Fig. 1g ). Within the flashlight housing 7 is a battery 8 with the poles 9, 10, wherein the pole 10 is connected to the second contact element 5. In order to store the switch safely within the end cap 6, this is held according to a specific embodiment of a guide housing 13 which is formed in two pieces. Fig. 1c shows a side view of the guide housing 13, while in Fig. 1d a cross section through a guide housing 13 is shown. The switch 1 is placed with bent contacts 4.5 in a recess 14 of a sub-segment of the guide housing 13. In this case, groove-shaped recesses 15, 16 are formed at the edge region of the guide housing, in which the contacts 4, 5 lie ( Fig. 1e . Fig. 2e ). Subsequently, the two half-shell-shaped parts of the guide housing 13 are joined together, so that the switch 1 is securely held therein. The guide housing 13 has an external thread 17 so that it can be screwed with the integrated switch 1 into an end cap 6 ( Fig. 1f . Fig. 2f ). This end cap 6 in turn is connected to a flashlight housing 8 to the finished flashlight ( Fig. 1g . Fig. 2g ).

As already explained above, essentially two possibilities are provided for the contact closure between the first contact element 4 and the flashlight housing 7, which in particular in FIG Fig. 1f, Fig. 1g and Fig. 2f are shown. In the embodiment according to Fig. 1f the recess 16 is arranged for the first contact element 4 on the end face 18 of the guide housing 13. The free end of the contact element 4 surrounds the jacket-shaped part of the guide housing 13 partially (see arrow 19). In the assembled state ( Fig. 1g ), the contact element 4 is pressed on a pedestal-shaped projection 111 within the flashlight housing 7, whereby an electrical contact closure is formed.

In the unclaimed embodiment ( Fig. 2f ) is provided in contrast, that the recess 16 for the first contact 4 shell side of the guide housing 13th is arranged, and then comes to rest on a support surface 23. When inserting the guide housing 13 in the end cap 6, the first contact 4 between the end cap 6 and contact surface 23 is clamped, whereby the electrical contact is created (arrow 24).

In order to protect the interior of the flashlight and the circuit from the ingress of dirt and moisture, a rubber seal 113 is disposed between the guide housing 13 and the operating knob 112.

The circuit arrangement is formed by the battery 8, the switch 1 with the contact elements 4, 5, the flashlight housing 7 and the light source 11. In the event that only one contact is present within the switch, are in the circuit according to Fig. 1g only five contact surfaces 12 _1,2,3,4,5 formed. In one embodiment according to Fig. 2g a contact 12 _{6 is} added.

Depending on a specific embodiment of a switch 1, as it is preferably used in the circuit arrangement according to the invention, show the Fig. 3a , b. The actuator 3 is mounted axially movable, being held by the contact elements 4, 5 by the force of the coil spring 21 at a distance. The actuating element 3 according to Fig. 3a has frontally a contact plate 22 which is pressed upon actuation of the actuating element 3 on the contact elements 4, 5, wherein the circuit is closed. In the other embodiment, the second contact element 5 is formed within the housing 2 as a leaf spring, wherein the contact elements 4 and 5 can be brought into contact by means of the actuating element 3. For the embodiment in which the second contact element 5 is formed within the housing as a leaf spring is in the Fig. 4a and b the actuating operation shown schematically.

Claims (15)

1. A flashlight with a flashlight casing (7) and a push switch, latching switch or rotary switch (1) contained in an end cap (6) detachable connected with the flashlight casing (7) and having a switch housing (2) in which first and second contacts (4, 5) engage, characterized in that the first contact (4) is a leaf spring in electrically conductive contact directly against the electrically conductive flashlight casing (7), wherein the second contact (5) is a bent leaf spring outside the switch housing (2) and is directly connected to a power supply.
2. The flashlight according to claim 1, characterized in that a light-emitting diode (LED) is provided as light source (11) and at least one battery (8), in particular at least one rechargeable battery (8), is the power supply.
3. The flashlight according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the switch (7) has a subhousing (13) having apertures (15, 16) through which the contacts (4, 5) of the switch (1) project outward radially or axially forwardly, where they are leaf springs and form current-conducting electrical connections.
4. The flashlight according to claim 3, characterized in that the subhousing (13) has two parts and is preferably composed of two semicylindrical tube segments.
5. The flashlight according to claim 4, characterized in that on at least one of the connection surfaces of the tube segments is formed with grooves (15, 16) in which the contacts (4, 5) lie with the switch (1) in place.
6. The flashlight according to one of claims 3 through 5, characterized in that the subhousing (13) has a hole through which in the assembled state a control button (112) engages for actuating the switch (1), a flexible rubber seal (113) being between the control button (112) and the switch (1).
7. The flashlight according to one of claims 3 through 6, characterized in that the subhousing (13) is detachably fastened inside the end cap (6), to which end the subhousing (13) preferably has an external thread (17) and the end cap (6) preferably has a complementary internal thread so that the subhousing (13) can be screwed into the end cap (6).
8. The flashlight according to one of claims 3 through 7, characterized in that the second contact (5) engages through the respective aperture (15) of the subhousing (13) and forms on the front face (18) thereof an electrical connection with a pole (10) of the battery (8) in the assembled state.
9. The flashlight according to one of claims 3 through 8, characterized in that to hold it in a stable manner, a free end of the second contact (5) fits in an L-shaped groove (114) on a front face (18) of the subhousing (13).
10. The flashlight according to one of claims 3 through 9, characterized in that the first contact (4) engages through the respective aperture (16) in the subhousing (13), and in the assembled state forms an electrical connection with the flashlight casing (7).
11. The flashlight according to claim 10, characterized in that the aperture (16) is on a front face (18) of the subhousing (13), the first contact (4) being a bent leaf spring and engaging through the respective aperture (16) and having a projecting part at least partially engaging around the cylindrical wall of the subhousing (13) on its front end so that there is an electrical connection with the flashlight casing (7) that to this end preferably has a socket-shaped projection (111).
12. The flashlight according to one of claims 3 through 9, characterized in that the first contact (4) engages through an aperture (16) in the subhousing (13), and in the assembled state forms an electrical connection with the end cap (6).
13. The flashlight according to claim 12, characterized in that the aperture (16) is on the outer surface of the subhousing (13) so that the first contact engages through the aperture (16) and lies on an annular shoulder face (23) that projects at least in some regions radially from the wall surface of the subhousing (13), and in the assembled state there is an electrical connection with the end cap (6) in which the subhousing (13) is detachably fixed.
14. The flashlight according to one of claims 1 through 13, characterized in that the switch (1) has an axially moveable actuating element (3) and/or an electrically conductive contact plate (22) on its front end that can be connected to both contacts (4, 5) at the same time, or that a contact (4, 5) inside the switch housing (2) is a bent leaf spring that in the relaxed state is spaced from the other contact (5, 4), both contacts (4, 5) be engageable together by the actuating element (3) against the pressure of the leaf spring.
15. The flashlight according to claim 14, characterized in that the actuating element (3) is a push button or a rotary knob that is axially moveable against the force of a spiral spring (21) and preferably has snap-in elements so that a touch function or optionally a permanent switch function is adjustable.

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