GB2075651A

GB2075651A - A multi-beam electric torch

Info

Publication number: GB2075651A
Application number: GB8014012A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-04-29
Filing date: 1980-04-29
Publication date: 1981-11-18
Also published as: GB2075651B

Abstract

An electric torch is provided with separate bulbs 7, 10, 12 and 13 for providing a forward beam illuminating the way ahead, a ground beam to illuminate the ground, preferably just ahead of the user, and or a rearward beam or beams to warn vehicles approaching from the rear and/or to guide people following the torch user. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Electric torches The present invention relates to electric torches.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, I provide an electric torch adapted to provide simultaneously two beams of light, one to illuminate the way ahead and one to illuminate the ground below the torch. Preferably, this adaptation is carried out by providing at the forward end of the torch two lightbeam sources such as reflector and bulb assemblies with their beam axes appropriately directed to produce the two beams. The beam axes may be substantially perpendicular so that when the "forward" beam is horizontal, the "ground" beam is vertical or alternatively they may be inclined at an angle to one another so that when the forward beam is horizontal, the ground beam is directed at the ground slightly ahead of the user.This overcomes one of the disadvantages of conventional torches is that to see where one is treading, the torch must be pointed downwardly and this, of course removes the illumination from the way ahead.

According to a second aspect of the invention I provide a torch adapted to provide simultaneously two beams of light, one to illuminate the way ahead and one to be directed rearwardly to warn vehicles approaching from the rear of the user and/or to help pedestrians following the torch user. The rear beam may be coloured e.g. red or white and may be flashing or continuous.

Alternatively two rear beams may be provided, one continuous, to assist following pedestrians and the other flashing to warn vehicles approaching from behind. Both aspects of the invention may be incorporated in a torch constructed for example in the conventional generally cylindrical configuration with the main cylindrical body of the torch housing the electrical cells to energise the bulbs for the ahead and ground beams which are mounted in an enlarged cylindrical head at the forward end of the torch. At the rear end of the torch, one lamp is provided, suitably coloured red or plain white so that persons following the user can see where he or she is going, while another, flashing bulb is provided at its rear end to warn vehicles approaching from behind.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 is a very schematic longitudinal section through one embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 2 shows the directions of the beams emitted from the torch shown in Fig. 1.

The torch shown in Fig. 1 comprises a main cylindrical body portion 1 having a battery compartment containing five cells such as 2 for energising the various lamps of the torch.

At the forward end of the cylindrical body portion 1 is a cylindrical portion 3 of larger diameter serving to house two light sources 4 and 5 for providing, respectively, the forward and ground beams. As indicated the forward beam source comprises a reflector 6, bulb 7 and cover 8 while the ground beam source 5 correspondingly comprises a reflector 9, bulb 10 and cover 11. As indicated in Fig. 2, the reflector and bulb assemblies are arranged so that the forward and ground beams are substantially perpendicular to one another.

At the rear end 1 b of the torch are a tail lamp 1 2 to enable people following the user to see where he is and a flashing lamp 1 3 to warn vehicles. Both of these lamps may either use red coloured bulbs or red coloured filters over the bulbs. It may be preferabie for the lamps 1 2 and 1 3 to be provided with suitable reflector assemblies so that their light is not concentrated into a beam like the forward and ground beams but rather is spread over a larger angle to increase the range of directions from which the two rear lamps are visible is as large as possible.

A multi-position switch 14 mounted on the body portion 1 enables the user to select the various permutations of the lamps to be operated simultaneously. The reflectors 6 and 9 are arranged so that the forward beam is more concentrated than the ground beam (see fig.

2); this is so that the forward beam has a relatively long range for illuminating objects far away while the ground beam can be used to illuminate a relatively wide area of the ground because of its relative proximity.

The switch may have for exampie four positions: 1) Forward beam only 2) Forward and ground beams only 3) Forward and ground beams and tail light 4) Forward and ground beams, tail light and flashing rear light.

1. An electric torch adapted so as, in normal use, to provide two beams of light, namely a forward-beam to illuminate the way ahead and a ground-beam to illuminate the ground below the torch.

2. A torch according to claim 1 and having at its forward end two light-beam sources to produce the forward- and ground-beams.

3. A torch according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the forward- and ground-beams are substantially perpendicular to one another.

4. A torch according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the ground beam is forwardly inclined so as to be directed at the ground slightly ahead of the torch when the forward beam is horizontal .

5. An electric torch adapted so as, in normal use, to provide two beams of light,

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Electric torches The present invention relates to electric torches. According to a first aspect of the present invention, I provide an electric torch adapted to provide simultaneously two beams of light, one to illuminate the way ahead and one to illuminate the ground below the torch. Preferably, this adaptation is carried out by providing at the forward end of the torch two lightbeam sources such as reflector and bulb assemblies with their beam axes appropriately directed to produce the two beams. The beam axes may be substantially perpendicular so that when the "forward" beam is horizontal, the "ground" beam is vertical or alternatively they may be inclined at an angle to one another so that when the forward beam is horizontal, the ground beam is directed at the ground slightly ahead of the user.This overcomes one of the disadvantages of conventional torches is that to see where one is treading, the torch must be pointed downwardly and this, of course removes the illumination from the way ahead. According to a second aspect of the invention I provide a torch adapted to provide simultaneously two beams of light, one to illuminate the way ahead and one to be directed rearwardly to warn vehicles approaching from the rear of the user and/or to help pedestrians following the torch user. The rear beam may be coloured e.g. red or white and may be flashing or continuous. Alternatively two rear beams may be provided, one continuous, to assist following pedestrians and the other flashing to warn vehicles approaching from behind. Both aspects of the invention may be incorporated in a torch constructed for example in the conventional generally cylindrical configuration with the main cylindrical body of the torch housing the electrical cells to energise the bulbs for the ahead and ground beams which are mounted in an enlarged cylindrical head at the forward end of the torch. At the rear end of the torch, one lamp is provided, suitably coloured red or plain white so that persons following the user can see where he or she is going, while another, flashing bulb is provided at its rear end to warn vehicles approaching from behind. The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 is a very schematic longitudinal section through one embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 2 shows the directions of the beams emitted from the torch shown in Fig. 1. The torch shown in Fig. 1 comprises a main cylindrical body portion 1 having a battery compartment containing five cells such as 2 for energising the various lamps of the torch. At the forward end of the cylindrical body portion 1 is a cylindrical portion 3 of larger diameter serving to house two light sources 4 and 5 for providing, respectively, the forward and ground beams. As indicated the forward beam source comprises a reflector 6, bulb 7 and cover 8 while the ground beam source 5 correspondingly comprises a reflector 9, bulb 10 and cover 11. As indicated in Fig. 2, the reflector and bulb assemblies are arranged so that the forward and ground beams are substantially perpendicular to one another. At the rear end 1 b of the torch are a tail lamp 1 2 to enable people following the user to see where he is and a flashing lamp 1 3 to warn vehicles. Both of these lamps may either use red coloured bulbs or red coloured filters over the bulbs. It may be preferabie for the lamps 1 2 and 1 3 to be provided with suitable reflector assemblies so that their light is not concentrated into a beam like the forward and ground beams but rather is spread over a larger angle to increase the range of directions from which the two rear lamps are visible is as large as possible. A multi-position switch 14 mounted on the body portion 1 enables the user to select the various permutations of the lamps to be operated simultaneously. The reflectors 6 and 9 are arranged so that the forward beam is more concentrated than the ground beam (see fig. 2); this is so that the forward beam has a relatively long range for illuminating objects far away while the ground beam can be used to illuminate a relatively wide area of the ground because of its relative proximity. The switch may have for exampie four positions: 1) Forward beam only 2) Forward and ground beams only 3) Forward and ground beams and tail light 4) Forward and ground beams, tail light and flashing rear light. CLAIMS

5. An electric torch adapted so as, in normal use, to provide two beams of light, namely a forward-beam to illuminate the way ahead and a rearward-beam which is rearwardly directed to vehicles approaching from the rear of the user and/or to help pedestrians following the torch user.

6. A torch according to claim 5 and including a flashing light source to produce the rearward-beam.

7. A torch according to claim 5 or 6 and including a continuous light source to produce the rearward-beam.

8. A torch having the features both of any one of claims 1 to 4 and of any one of claims 5 to 7.

9. A torch according to claim 8 and comprising a cylindrical body for housing electrical cells to energise the light sources providing the beams, an enlarged cylindrical head at the forward end of the body and in which are light sources for the forward- and groundbeams and a light source at the rear of the body for providing the rearward beam.

10. A torch according to any one of the preceding claims and provided with an operating switch on an upper surface thereof.

11. An electric torch constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.