GB2077412A - A rechargeable portable lighting device - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable lighting device has a body (1) to which a handle (18) is pivotally attached so as to be movable from one position, in which it covers and protects a recharging plug (15, 16) protruding from the body and allows bulb (6) to be illuminated, to other positions in which the plug is exposed for recharging and the normal power supply to the bulb (6) is disconnected. A switch mechanism for controlling the power supply to the bulb is mounted on the upper journal bearing of the handle on the body (1) and comprises a knob (30) connected to a sliding plate carrying contact portions (37) which interconnect contact surfaces on a base plate (38). Pivotal movement of the handle (18) to expose the recharging plug moves the sliding plate to a position in which it cannot engage the contact surfaces. In a modification the switch is of the push type. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A rechargeable portable lighting device The present invention relates to a rechargeable type portable lighting device or lamp, and more particu marly to a portable lamp of the type in which a rechargeable battery and the other necessary parts are accommodated in the body thereof from which a recharging plug protrudes.

A portable rechargeable lamp of the aforementioned type is known but it suffers from the defect that the prongs of the protruding charging plug obstruct handling of the lamp and the plug itself can be damaged.

In another known lamp, the charging plug is accommodated in the body thereof, when not in use during recharging, and it can be drawn out by means of an interconnecting wire when required for the charging operation. However, with this lamp, the pulling and storage of the wire has been found to be troublesome and also it can become disconnected.

Lamps are also known in which the charging plug is hinged to the body thereof so that it may be swung to protrude therefrom for charging purposes and also in which the charging plug is detachably attached to the body thereof so that its prongs are made to protrude only during the charging operation. However, with the former the construction of the power supply portion including its charging plug becomes complex, whereas with the latter, the charging plug can be mislaid.

Moreover, since the charging current to the rechargeable battery used in a rechargeable type portable lamp is far lower than the discharging current to be supplied from the battery to the lamp bulb, the bulb necessarily has to be extinguished when the charging operation is to be performed, otherwise the charging operation cannot be carried out. As a result, there have also been developed lamps in which the lighting mode ofthe bulb and the charging mode of the battery are interchanged by means of a manual type switch and a lamp in which the interchange is automatically controlled by means of an electric circuit. However, the former can still suffer from the operating mistakes of the operator, whereas the latter involves the use of a complex circuit.

It is an object of the invention therefore to provide a rechargeable portable lamp which overcomes or substantially reduces the aforementioned difficulties by protecting its charging plug and preventing the lighting operation when in the charging operation by means of a simple construction.

According to the present invention, there is provided a portable rechargeable lighting device comprising: a body with means for accommodating a bulb and a rechargeable battery, a charging plug protruding from said body, switch means for lighting or extinguishing said bulb, and a handle hingedly attached to said body and pivotable between a lighting position and a charging position whereby it covers said charging plug when it is in said lighting position.

Preferably the lighting device further comprises a switch mechanism which is made operative in response to the motions of the handle so that no electric power is supplied to a built-in bulb when at least in the charging operation even when another possible switch for lighting the bulb is rendered conductive. Further, the lighting device may include a rotation stopper which is hingedly attached to the handle and pivotable in the space surrounded by said handle.The rotation stopper can be used to prevent the handle from pivotting relative to the body of the lighting device, when the handle is positioned for the lighting operation at the protruding face of the charging plug, and allows the handle to freely pivot, when it is tilted to release the abutment engagement with the aforementioned protruding face, so that the handle can be swung to the aforementioned other position for the charging operation. Preferably, the rotation stopper covers the charging plug when the handle is prevented from pivotting while in its lighting operation so it acts as a plug cover.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a top plan view showing one embodiment of a portable rechargeable lamp of the invention in its lighting condition; Figure 2 is a centre transverse section showing the lamp of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side elevation showing the lamp of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a centre vertical section showing the lamp of Figure 1; Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the handle and its surrounding parts of the lamp of Figure 1; Figures 6and 7are enlarged vertical sections showing the switch mechanism of the lamp of Figure 1;; Figures 8 and 9 are views showing the relationship between the switch base plate and switch sliding plate of the lamp of Figure 1 and are top plan views showing the lighting condition and the charging condition, respectively; Figure 10 is an electric circuit diagram; Figure 11 is a bottom view showing the lamp of Figure 1 in its charging condition; Figure 12 is a rear view showing the lamp of Figure 11; Figures 13 and 14 are enlarged vertical sections showing the push switch mechanism of another embodiment when in its lower and upper positions, respectively; Figure 15 is a view showing the relationship between the switch base plate and the switch sliding plate of the lamp shown in Figures 13 and 14.

Figures 16 and 17 are views iliustrating the operation of the push switch of Figures 13 and 14, Figures 16(A) and (B) being a side elevation and a section taken along line I - I' at the lower position of the push switch, respectively, and Figures 17(A) and (B) being a side elevation and a section taken along line II - II at the upper position of the push switch, respectively; Figure 18 is a vertical section showing the switch mechanism portion of a further embodiment; and Figures 19 and 20 are end views of the switch base plate portion of the embodiment of Figure 18 showing the condition in which the handle is at its lighting position, and the condition in which the handle is at its charging position, respectively.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4 and more particularly to Figure 2, there is shown a portable lamp or lighting device generally indicated at 100, comprising a cylindrical body casing 1 having a front opening, a lens frame 2 which mounts a lens 3 therein and which covers the aforementioned front opening of the body casing 1. A generally flattened cylindrical body 4 is constructed of the body casing 1 and the lens frame 2 in which body 4 are accommodated a reflecting mirror 5, a bulb 6, a secondary battery 7 and charging means such as a transformer 8 and other necessary parts. On the back la of the body casing 1, moreover, there is mounted a plugmounted protrusion 16, from which protrudes a pair of prongs 15 for supplying electric power to the aforementioned charging means.As is shown more clearly in Figure 4, the back 1a in the vicinity of the aforementioned protrusion 16 is formed with a recess 17 which is defined by vertical engaging walls 17'. As shown in FigureS, the upper side of the circumference of the aforementioned body casing 1 is formed with an upper journal 11, from which extends a sleeve 9 formed at its upper end with a pair of fitting flanges 9' and a through hole 10. The lower side of the circumference of the body casing 1 is formed with a lower journal 14, from which protrudes journal sleeve 13 formed at its lower end with an externally extending flange 12.

A generally C-shaped elastic handle 18 made of synthetic resin has its upper end 18a and its lower end 18b journally supported on the sleeve 9 of the upper journal 11 of the body casing 1 and on the protruding journal sleeve 13 of the lower journal 14, respectively, so that it can freely swing from the left-hand side to the right-hand side of said body casing 1 past the back la. The handle 18 is shaped so that it rises from the upper end 1 8a to form a horizontal grip portion 18c and it then merges into the lower end 186 through a first inclined portion 18d, a second inclined portion 18e and a lower horizontal portion 18f. An upper circular hole 19 is formed in the upper end 1 8a to fit on to the sleeve 9 of the upper journal 11.The upper circular hole 19 has its inner circumference formed with a pair of engaging inner flanges 19' and its lower end formed at its circumferential edge with large and small edges 20a and 20b which extend in the inner circumferential direction so that they can be brought into fitting engagement with the sleeve 9 from the circumferential edge portions of the sleeve 9 other than the aforementioned fitting flanges 9' when said handle 18 is positioned in front of the cylindrical body 4. When the handle 18 is swung from the left-hand or right-hand side past the back la, said large and small edges 20a and 20b are clamped between the upper side surface of the body casing 1 around the sleeve 9 and the paired fitting flanges 9' so that they prevent the handle 18 from coming out.

A lower circular hole 21 is formed in the lower end 1 8t of the handle 18 to rotatably receive the protruding journal sleeve 13 of the aforementioned lower journal 14. The lower circular hole 21 is formed with a fitting notch 22, which merges thereinto from the end of said lower end 18b, and is formed at its lower end with a pair of spacer attaching hooks 22'.

A spacer 23 is insertable into the aforementioned fitting notch 22 and is fixedly fitted in the aforementioned spacer attaching hooks 22'. Thus, the handle 18 is pivotally supported on the lighting device body 4 partly by pivotally fitting the upper end 1 8a of the handle 18 on the upper side of the body casing 1 around the sleeve 9, partly by fitting the protruding journal sleeve 13 in the lower circumferential hole 21 from the fitting notch 22 of said handle 18, and partly by subsequently fitting said spacer 23 into position.

The lower end 18b of the handle 18 around the circumferential edge of the lower circular hole 21 is formed with a plurality of ridges 43, whereas the side of the flange 12 of the protruding journal sleeve 13, which faces said ridges 43, is formed with a protrusion 44 to provide a nodal motion mechanism which effects nodal rotations of the handle 18 with respect to the lamp body4.

The lower horizontal portion 18fis also formed with a hole 70 which can be used when the lamp 100 is to be hung up on a nail driven into a wall.

A slide switch mechanism 24 is mounted on the upper journal 11 of the body casing 1 to enable the bulb 6 to be turned on and off. In this switch mechanism 24, a disc-shaped switch supporting plate 25 is mounted in the upper circular hole 19 of the handle 18. The switch supporting plate 25 is formed both with a pair of legs 26, which in turn are formed with depending snap lands 26' to be retained in the body casing 1 around the circumferential edge of the sleeve 9 through the upper circular hole 19, and with a pair of notched fitting portions 27 which are fitted in abutment against the paired engaging inner flanges 19' when the switch supporting plate 25 is mounted in said upper circular hole 19. The supporting plate 25 thus constructed moves together with the handle 18.Moreover, said supporting plate 25 is formed with a rectangular hole 28, which extends parallel to the axial direction of the grip portion 18c of the handle 18 and is formed with a pair of supporting members 29 depending from both the sides thereof.

A switch knob 30 is mounted on the switch supporting plate 25 so that it fits in the rectangular hole 28 to slide in one direction with respect thereto, i.e., in parallel with the axial direction of the grip portion 18c. The switch knob 30 is formed with a pair of depending legs 31, which are positioned to face the supporting members 29 and are formed with retaining hooks 31' to be retained on the lower ends of the supporting members 29 to slide along the surfaces of said lower ends. Moreover, a sliding plate supporting leg 32 is formed to depend from between said legs 31 of the switch knob 30. Thus, the switch knob 30 and sliding member supporting leg 32 constitute an actuating member 80.The supporting member 29 is also formed with first and second grooves 33a and 33b to provide a lighting or extinguishing position, and the depending leg 31 is formed with a nodal motion protrusion 34 which can be selectively fitted in said first and second grooves 33a and 33b.

An oval-shaped metal switch sliding plate 35, which belongs to the slide switch mechanism 24, also acts as a spring. By retaining the stepped leading end portion 32' of the aforementioned sliding plate supporting leg 32 of the actuating member 80 in the retaining central hole 36, the switch sliding plate 35 is fixed so that its axial direction is aligned with the sliding direction of the switch knob 30, but it can also slide on a laterdescribed switch base plate 38 while forcing its paired contact portions 37 into contact with said switch base plate 38.

As shown in Figures 6 to 9, and more particularly in Figure 8, the switch base plate 38 has its surface formed with large and small arcuate contact surfaces 39 and 40, which are arranged to face each other so that they are at substantially the same spacing Y as the spacing X between the paired contact portions 37 of the switch sliding plate 35 while maintaining substantially same spacing even if the switch sliding plate 35 is rotated by the switching movements of the handle 18. Between the two ends of the large arcuate contact surfaces 39 and the two ends of the small arcuate contact surfaces 40, there are formed a pair of gaps 41 which are freed from contact with the contact portions 37.The switch base plate 38 is fixedly clamped between the attaching ribs 42 of said body casing 1 so that the line Z joining the paired gaps 41 is directed in parallel with the back la of the body casing 1.

When the portable lamp thus constructed is used, the handle 18 is positioned at the back of the lamp body 4. If, in this position, the switch knob 30 is slid into either the lighting ON position or the extinguishing OFF position, the paired contact portions 37 of the switch sliding plate 35 are brought, as shown in Figure 8, into and out of contact with the large and small arcuate contact surfaces 39 and 40 to light or extinguish the bulb 6.

When the portable lamp is recharged, the handle 18 is pivotted to the right or left of the lamp body4to allow the prongs 15 to be accessed and connected to the mains socket. In this particular position, the switching sliding plate 35 is rotated relative to the switch base plate 38 so that the paired contact portions 37 of the switch sliding plate 35 come to the aforementioned paired gaps 41, as shown in Figure 9. As a result, even if the switch sliding plate 35 is moved to the ON lighting position by moving the switch knob 30, it is slid into contact with neither of the arcuate contact surfaces 39 or 40, thereby maintaining the bulb 6 in its extinguished state.

Thus, in this position, the prongs 15 may be inserted into the ordinary household electrical power points (not shown) for recharging.

Reverting now to Figure 5, a plug cover attaching member 50 is positioned to protrude from the second inclined portion 18e of the handle 18 by means of pins 51 provided on each side of the first inclined portion 18d. A knock spring 52 with a nodal motion surface 53 faces the plug cover attaching member 50.

A plug cover 55 of a generally C-shaped crosssectional shape comprises a base member 56 and a pair of cover members 57 depending from both the sides of the base member 56. These cover members 57 have their base ends 58 hinged at pin holes 59 to said pins 51 so that the plug cover 55 is pivotably positioned in the space enclosed by the handle 18.

The base member 56 is of such a length that its free end 61 fits into the recess 17 when the handle 18 is in a position where it is at right-angles to the back la of the body casing 1. Those portions of the cover members 57 facing the knock spring 52 are formed with knock ribs 60 which are forced into contact with the knock spring 52 to hold the plug cover 55 to either cover or expose the prongs 15. The free ends 62 of the cover members 57 are formed into fan-shaped edges which can engage with the engaging walls 17'. The plug cover 55 thus constructed acts as a rotation stopper, as will be described hereinafter.

When the portable lamp is used, the slide switch knob 30 is moved while the handle 18 is held at right-angles to the lamp body 4, whereby the free ends 61, 62 of the plug cover 55 fit into the recess 17 in the body casing 1. At this time, the plug cover 55 acts both to cover the prongs 15 to protect them and also to prevent the handle 18 from pivotting relative to the lamp body 4.

When the portable lamp is to be recharged, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, the plug cover 55 is tilted upward thereby to make the prongs 15 accessible. The prongs 15 can then be inserted into the ordinary household electrical socket outlets (not shown) with the handle 18 swung to the right or left ofthe lamp body 4.

Since the prongs are fixed to protrude directly from the back of the lamp body, it can be simply constructed and easily assembled.

Moreover, since the lamp has a handle both ends of which are hinged to the upper and lower sides of the lamp body, it can be readily pivotted to either the right or left sides thereof and since the plug cover is hinged to the handle so that it can pivot within the space enclosed by said handle to cover the prongs 15 when its free ends abut againt the back, in use, the lamp with its handle and plug cover avoid the prior art defect where the prongs can obstruct the lighting operation and be damaged by foreign matter. Furthermore, there is little rick of the plug cover for the prongs being lost because it is hingedly attached to the handle and used in fixing the handle during use of the lamp.

Since the slide switch mechanism for lighting and extinguishing the bulb 6 is attached to the hinged portion of the handle and is so constructed that it extinguishes the bulb irrespective of the lighting position of the slide switch knob when said handle is swung to the other side of the lamp body 4, the bulb cannot be illuminated when the lamp is being recharged merely by pivotting the handle to one side of the back of the lamp body. Thus, the rechargeable battery can be completely charged up irrespective of the sliding position of said slide switch knob.

Another advantage of the lamp of the invention is that the space for accommodating its handle when the lamp is stored away is reduced merely by swinging the handle to the side of the lamp body.

In the illustrated portable lamp 100, since the bulb can be lit or extinguished by moving the slide switch knob when the handle is not positioned at its charging position relative to the lamp body, it can be conveniently lit and extinguished when the handle is in a position at 45 degrees with respect to the back of the lamp body. Moreover, the portable lamp is convenient for use because not only the horizontal portion but also the inclined portions of the handle can be stably placed upon a floor.

The described lamp can be modified to include a push switch mechanism such as is shown in Figures 13 to 17. An actuating member 180 shown in Figures 13 and 14 is the so-called "push-on-push-off switch", which is moved up and down by pushing a switch button 130 so that it can alternately take the lower position shown in Figure 13 or the upper position shown in Figure 14. To the leading end of the sliding plate supporting leg 132 of the actuating member 180, there is attached a switch sliding plate 135, which contacts with a switch base plate 138 at the tower position of the actuating member 180 and leaves the switch base plate 138 at the upper position of the actuating member 180.Figure 15 shows the positional relationship between the switch sliding plate 135 and the contact surfaces 139 and 140 of the switch base plate 138, the solid lines showing the situation when the handle is at its lighting position, whereas the broken lines show the situation when the handle is at its charging position.

As is apparent from Figure 15, when the handle is in its lighting position, the bulb can be turned on and off in response to the fact that the switch sliding plate 135 is brought into and out of contactwith the switch base plate 138. When the handle is swung to a position atright-anglesto its charging position, the bulb is disconnected and therefore not lit. The structure, in which the actuating member 180 alternately takes the lower and upper positions, is well known and shown in Figures 16 and 17. Specifically, a rotary member 131, which is always subjected to an upwardly directed biassing force by the action of springs 133 and 134 (see Figure 13), is stopped by the stop flange 129a of a fixing member 129 so that it is held at the lower position.If the push button 130 is depressed against the aforementioned upwardly directed biassing force, the rotary member 131 receives the component of force in the leftward direction, as viewed in the drawings, partly because its upward leg 131a is inclined at the upper end 131b thereof and partly because the push button 130 has its downward leg 130a protruding into a rounded lower end 1 30b. As a result, the rotary member 131 rotates to the left at a position below the slide flange 129b of the fixing member 129. If the push button 130 is released, the rotary member 131 is raised by the aforementioned upwardly directed biassing force, whereupon the inclined surface of the upper end of the upward leg thereof slides on the inclined surface of the lower end of the slide flange 1 29b so that the rotary member 131 further rotates to the left.

Then, the upward leg 131 a fits in the groove 129c of the fixing member 129 to raise the push button 130 so that the stop flange 130c of the downward leg 130a of the push button 130 is brought into abutting engagement with the fixing member 129 until it is stopped. This is the upper position. If the push button 130 is then depressed,.the push button 130 is likewise moved again to the lower position, as will be readily appreciated.

When the push switch mechanism is employed as the switch means, it becomes more difficu It to discriminate whether the switch is under its "ON" or "OFF" condition than in the case of the slide switch mechanism. Therefore, the charging operation is liable to take place while the switch is conductive.

However, this can be avoided in the portable lamp of the present invention.

In another embodiment shown in Figures 18 to 20, the actuating member is disposed at a position different from the position of the switch mechanism.

A switch mechanism 150 is attached to the hinged portion of the handle, but actuating member 153 is disposed at the side portion of the body. The switch mechanism 150, which is rotatable with respect to the handle, has its switch base plate 151 formed with a contact surface 152 as shown in Figures 19 and 20.

Consequently, in the position shown in Figure 19 where the handle is at its lighting position, contact member 155 is brought into and out of contact with the contact surface 152 by manipulating the slide switch knob 154 of actuating member 153 so that the bulb can be turned on and off. However, when in the position shown in Figure 20, in which the handle is at its charging position, the contact members 155 and 156 cannot contact with the portions 157 and 158 of the switch base plate 151 other than the contact surface 152 so thatthe bulb neverfailsto be disenabled to be lit.

As another alternative embodiment, the lamp can be modified so tht the charging plug protrudes from the upper side of the body, the generally C-shaped handle being hinged to the right and left sides of said body by both of its end portions. In use, the handle would be moved upwardly and the lamp may be hung as a lantern.

Claims (15)

1. A portable rechargeable lighting device comprising: a body with means for accomodating a bulb and a rechargeable battery, a charging plug protruding from said body, switch means for lighting or extinguishing said bulb, and a handle hingedly attached to said body and pivotable between a lighting position and a charging position whereby it covers said charging plug when it is in said lighting position.

2. A lighting device according to claim 1, wherein said switch means includes a switch mechanism enabling said bulb to be lit when said handle is at its lighting position, and disconnecting said bulb when the handle is in its charging position.

3. A lighting device according to claim 2, wherein said switch mechanism is mounted on the hinged portion of said handle.

4. A lighting device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said switch mechanism includes a switch base plate fixed to said lighting device body, and a switch sliding plate slidable on said switch base plate, said switch base plate having a contact surface which can be slid into contact with said switch sliding plate, when said handle is at its lighting position, but cannot be slid into contact with said switch sliding plate when said handle is at its charging position.

5. A lighting device according to claim 1, wherein said switch means includes an actuating member for lighting and extinguishing said bulb from the outside.

6. A lighting device according to any ofthe claims 2 to 4, wherein said switch means includes an actuating member for lighting and extinguishing said bulb from the outside when said handle is at its lighting position.

7. A lighting device according to claim 6, wherein said actuating member is disposed above said switch mechanism.

8. A lighting device according to claim 7, wherein said actuating member is attached to the handle so as to rotate therewith but to slide only in one direction relative thereto, the actuating member supporting said switch sliding plate whereby it is slidable relative to said switch base plate.

9. A lighting device according to claim 7, wherein said actuating member is attached to the handleto rotate therewith and to move up and down relative thereto, the actuating member also supporting said switch sliding plate so that it is movable into and out of contact with said switch base plate.

10. A lighting device according to claim 6, wherein said actuating member is disposed at a position on said body or handle other than at the position above said switch mechanism.

11. A lighting device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said charging plug is disposed to protrude from the back of said lighting device body, the handle being generally "C" shaped and having its free end portions hingedly attached to the upper and lower sides of said lighting device body thereby to provide said charging position when said handle is swung to the right or left.

12. A lighting device according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a rotation stopper hinged to said handle so that it can swing in the space defined between said handle and said lighting device body, said stopper being arranged so that its free ends abut against the face where the charging plug is disposed to stop rotation of said handle.

13. A lighting device according to claim 12, wherein said rotation stopper is a plug cover which is made operative to cover said charging plug under the condition in which said handle is prevented from rotating.

14. A lighting device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said handle is formed with a hole by means of which the device may be hung up and used as a lantern.

15. A portable rechargeable lighting device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.