GB2247069A

GB2247069A - Flashlight

Info

Publication number: GB2247069A
Application number: GB9117500A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lai King Ma; Kang Woon Au
Original assignee: Sonca Products Ltd
Current assignee: Sonca Products Ltd
Priority date: 1990-08-15
Filing date: 1991-08-13
Publication date: 1992-02-19
Anticipated expiration: 2011-08-13
Also published as: HK1005042A1; GB2247069B; GB9117500D0; GB9017853D0; HK123995A

Abstract

A flashlight incorporates a reflector having a main portion 14a which is symmetrical about and coaxial with the bulb 16 and bulb holder 15, and a second portion 14b which extends hood-like forwardly from the forward end of the first portion. The second portion is centred on axis 30 which is inclined with respect to and intersects the axis 28 of the first portion. The two portions are formed integrally with each other. <IMAGE>

Description

FLASHLIGHT This invention relates to flashlights and is more particularly concerned with the reflectors of flashlights.

According to this invention there is provided flashlight having a holder adapted to receive a lightemitting bulb, a reflector arranged to extend about the axis of the bulb and holder, said reflector comprising a first portion which is fully annular and symmetrical about said axis, and a second portion which extends hood-like forwardly from the forward end of the first portion and which is adapted to reflect light from the bulb forwardly across the beam of reflected light issuing from said first portion.

According to a preferred feature of the invention said first and second portions of the reflector are formed in one piece with each other.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a flashlight according to the invention in sectional elevation, and Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in the direction of the arrow 2 of Figure 1 of the front portions of the flashlight.

Referring to the drawings, the flashlight comprises a moulded plastics barrel 10 housing two dry cells 11, and a front casing portion 12 screwed on to the forward end of the barrel and carrying a bezel 13, a reflector 14, a holder 15 for a bulb 16, and a switch 17. A compression spring 18 in the base of the barrel presses the dry cells 11 forward so that the positive terminal of the forward cell is urged against a contact spring 20 mounted in the holder 15 and having its forward end pressing against the central contact of the bulb 16.A conductor 21 having one end 21a wrapped about a turn of the compression spring 18 extends along the barrel into engagement with a metal element 22 connected through the switch 17 to a second metal element 23, one end of which extends into the bulb holder and into contact with the metal case of the bulb 16 to complete the energisation circuit of the bulb.

The reflector 14 is moulded from plastics material and its reflecting surfaces are metallised.

the bulb case has a peripheral flange which is pressed against an annular flange 25 in a central hollow boss 26 of the reflector by a spring 27 seated against an abutment surface formed in the bulb holder.

The reflector 14 has two reflecting portions formed integrally with each other. The first portion 14a is annular and surrounds the bulb and is substantially parabolic in form so as to produce a parallel beam of light. The second or forward portion 14b is hood-like in that it overhangs the forward end of the first portion 14a to a maximum extent at a location axially aligned with the switch 17, decreasing to zero at the diametrically opposite location. The generating curve of the second portion 14b of the reflector is parabolic but is centred on an axis 30 which extends at an angle of about 120 to the central axis 28 of the bulb 16, holder 15 and the first portion 14a of the reflector so as to reflect light from the bulb across the central axis 28. The reflector thus produces a substantially parallel beam of light and, when the flashlight is held horizontally with the switch at the top, a downwardly directed beam to illuminate the ground. Although the second portion of the reflector is parabolic, other forms of curve may be employed and the curve need not be the same along its circumferential length about the axis 28.

Claims

1. A flashlight having a holder adapted to receive a light-emitting bulb, a reflector extending about the axis of the bulb and holder, said reflector comprising a first portion which is fully annular and symmetrical about said axis and a second portion which extends hood-like forwardly from the forward end of the first portion and which is adapted to reflect light from the bulb forwardly across the beam of reflected light issuing from said first portion.

2. A flashlight as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said first and second portions of the reflector are formed in one piece with each other.

3. A flashlight as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the first and second portions of the reflector are of parabolic section, the central axis of said second portion extending at an acute angle to and intersecting the central axis of the first portion.

4. A flashlight substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.