JP2009146671A - Flashlight - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a flashlight excelling in appearance and operation. <P>SOLUTION: As the flashlight used by being directed to a place intended to be illuminated by being held in a hand, a structure capable of naturally emitting light in a direction intuitively intended to be illuminated is an ideal form. In a state where fingertips are directed in the emission direction, a vertical grip by which this flashlight can be held by bending the fingers in that state is used, and the ideal form is provided by arranging the center of the grip on the same axis as an optical axis formed by a lamp and a reflecting mirror. An electric circuit part is arranged immediately behind the lamp and the reflecting mirror, and simplification of electric wiring is achieved. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a lighting device, and relates to a flashlight that is lightweight and easily portable and can be used for various purposes.

  Conventional flashlights are widely used, and most of them have a single function that uses a dry battery as a power source to alternately turn on and off the lamp by a switch. In addition, there is a light that is turned on when a push button described in Patent Document 4 is pressed, and is continuously turned on when a cap outside the push button is screwed.

  As another example of the flashlight, there is a flashlight having a structure specialized for a specific application, but it cannot be used as a general flashlight or is difficult to use. On the other hand, in order to be able to be used for a wide variety of applications, some of the structures become complicated and heavy, resulting in difficulty in use. For example, there is one whose main purpose is to make the entire body in the following Patent Document 1 flat and easily accommodated in a pocket of clothes.

Recently, a rechargeable battery has been used as a power source for a flashlight. As described in Patent Document 2 below, a rechargeable battery having the same shape as a dry battery is accommodated in the main body of the flashlight. There are some that can be charged with a charger that can be installed as is.
Moreover, as an example in which the relative position of the lamp and the reflecting mirror can be adjusted, there is one in which adjustment is performed by turning a ring on the outer periphery of the main body that also serves as a lighting switch, as described in Patent Document 3 below.

JP-A-11-7804 JP 2001-76502 A Special table 2002-538589 Special table 2005-517280

  A general flashlight has a series of structures including a reflector and lamp from the front, and then a dry battery. To hold it by hand, most of them hold the part where the dry battery is stored, but when the dry battery is large or many, there are handles that are suspended. With these, when trying to stare at the point of illumination from a normal illuminating state, instinctively try to confirm by irradiating the flashlight from a position close to the eyes. At this time, there is a disadvantage that the hand is warped and the wrist is burdened, which makes it unsuitable for long-time use.

  A general flashlight operates alternately on and off each time the switch is pressed, but when performing a short-time irradiation with a signal or the like, it is necessary to press the switch twice with a quick operation for one irradiation. Therefore, when the number of times of irradiation increases, there is a drawback that it is difficult to operate. In another example, when the button is lit when the button is pressed and continuously lit, the cap on the outer periphery of the button is tightened, but the other hand can be held with the body or handle. It was necessary to operate with one hand, and it was not considered to be able to operate all with one hand.

  Normally, a dry battery is used to light the lamp. However, in order to use a rechargeable battery that can be charged and reused, there is a drawback that the rechargeable battery must have the same shape as the dry battery. In addition, there is a disadvantage that a dedicated charger is required for the charging, and it is necessary to prepare it separately from the flashlight. Further, there is a case where the rechargeable battery cannot be charged unless it is removed from the main body.

  Some common flashlights have a beam angle adjustment function, but they can be adjusted by rotating the ring outside the main unit and a mechanism that lights up when loosened, or only the adjustment mechanism is removed and replaced. It was not considered to do. Therefore, there is a disadvantage that the amount of light performed by changing the reflecting mirror cannot be changed. In addition, some of the light colors use a dedicated filter shaped to cover the front of the device, but there is also a drawback that the light color falls down during use due to the built-in type.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a flashlight that is excellent in appearance and operation.

  For flashlights that are used to illuminate the area that you want to illuminate with your hand, a structure that can be illuminated naturally in the direction you want to illuminate intuitively is the ideal shape. Therefore, this is accomplished by arranging the grip in the vertical direction so that the fingertip can be bent as it is with the fingertip facing in the irradiation direction, and arranging the center of the grip on the same axis as the optical axis composed of the lamp and the reflecting mirror. In addition, an electric circuit unit is arranged immediately after the lamp and the reflecting mirror, thereby simplifying the electrical connection.

  The switch part that turns on the flashlight is located immediately above the grip at the rear of the main unit, and is placed at a position where it can be operated with the thumb of the hand holding the grip. This is achieved with a push lever that keeps pressed and lights continuously.

  The mechanism that holds the push lever pressed is U-shaped and has a plurality of symmetrical projections on the inside, and correspondingly on the rear side wall of the main body, the front and rear direction moves when the projection is pushed When the push lever is pushed down with a plurality of same length grooves and a pair of symmetrical projections on the front side as a fulcrum, an arc groove into which the subsequent symmetrical pair of projections fits is provided. Continuous lighting is achieved by adopting a structure in which the pressed switch does not return by fitting the two protrusions.

  The power source of the flashlight is achieved by mainly using a rechargeable battery, a rechargeable battery unit that can be detachably mounted on the main body, and further incorporating a charging function unit in the rechargeable battery unit.

  Furthermore, this is achieved by providing a dry battery unit having the same shape as the rechargeable battery unit and a structure in which a dry battery can be inserted.

  The corner of the rechargeable battery unit / dry battery unit has a cross-sectional shape with a chamfered portion, and by matching the shape of the unit insertion part of the main body to that, it achieves a structure that can not be installed if mistaken, and in the case of rechargeable batteries and dry batteries Different connections can be achieved by changing the position of the contacts.

  In addition, a function for displaying the charging time of the rechargeable battery is provided in the main body to achieve overdischarge prevention.

  In order to change the amount and color of the light of the flashlight, the cylindrical body with the reflector and front glass is screwed, and the cylindrical body with a larger reflector diameter and color filters are installed. This is achieved by allowing the cylindrical body to be attached. Further, the beam angle can be adjusted by adopting a configuration in which the relative position between the cylindrical reflecting mirror and the lamp fixed to the lamp head portion can be changed by screwing.

  As a support method other than the method of holding the grip by hand, an existing rail method is used, and the mounting portion is provided on the upper surface or the side surface of the main body so as to be fixed thereto.

  The flashlight of the present invention has the advantage that it can irradiate light in the direction in which the hand is directed with a structure in which the hand holding the grip is on the same axis as the optical axis, and has a burden on the wrist from a high position to a low position Since it can be supported without hanging, it has the advantage that it can be used comfortably for a long time.

  A push lever that has the advantage that it is lit only when it is pressed, and is effective for intermittent lighting for a short time, and also has the advantage that it can be turned on continuously if pressed down. To do. In addition, all these operations can be performed with the thumb of the hand holding the grip.

  Since the power supply unit is a rechargeable battery unit and a dry battery unit having the same shape for both the rechargeable battery and the dry battery, it has the advantage that it can be attached to and detached from the main body in exactly the same manner. Further, since the charging function unit is built in the rechargeable battery unit, there is an advantage that the rechargeable battery unit can be charged even when the main body is mounted.

  For example, by providing chamfered parts on the left and right sides of the rechargeable battery unit and dry battery unit, and making the main unit a unit insertion part with a shape that fits it, it has the advantage of preventing erroneous unit mounting, and the rechargeable battery unit and dry battery unit Different electrical contact positions also have the advantage of preventing incorrect electrical connections.

  The remaining amount display function unit that operates when the rechargeable battery unit is mounted has the advantage of notifying the timing of charging, and also has the advantage of preventing damage to the rechargeable battery due to overdischarge.

  The flashlight of the present invention has advantages that the amount of light, the color of light, and the like can be changed by changing the cylindrical body. Further, these cylindrical bodies have an advantage that the beam angle can be adjusted while being screwed.

  The flashlight of the present invention has an advantage that a rail-type mount portion is provided on the upper surface of the flashlight, so that it can be applied to a method such as a case where it cannot be held by hand or fixed at an arbitrary position.

  The present invention provides a flashlight with excellent operability, and the center of the grip is arranged on the optical axis so that it can be irradiated intuitively, and the optical axis becomes a shape that can be gripped naturally by bending a finger. It is desirable to have a vertical grip that is orthogonal. It is desirable to achieve a minimum appearance by forming an inverted U-shaped shape in which a space for gripping with the series of lamps, reflectors, and electric circuit portion and a grip are all provided at the lower portion of the main body.

  It is desirable to provide the switch part at the rear part of the main body at a position where it can be operated with the thumb of the hand holding the grip. It is desirable. This allows the dominant hand to be operated on either the left or right side.

  The mechanism that holds the switch part as a push lever in the pressed state consists of a first protrusion that becomes a fulcrum when pressed down and a second protrusion that fits into the vertical arc groove on the main body side so that it does not return when pressed down It is desirable that the projections are at least two sets and four locations that are symmetrical. Also, the groove on the main body side corresponding to the protrusion is a plurality of first and second grooves of the same length in the front-rear direction in which the protrusion moves when pressed, and the second groove has a first groove when pressed down. It is desirable to use a pair of left and right arc grooves into which the two protrusions fit.

  The power source for turning on the flashlight is a rechargeable battery unit that can be attached to and detached from the main unit, and it is desirable to incorporate a charging function unit. It is desirable to provide the stopper at a position where it can be connected from the outside even when it is built.

  Furthermore, it is desirable that the dry battery unit that can be used with a dry battery be used in the same shape as the rechargeable battery unit and can be exchanged.

  It is desirable that the power supply unit be attached to and detached from the main body from the front side where the weight balance of the flashlight can be centered in the left-right direction of the main body.

  In order to prevent erroneous mounting of units and incorrect connection of electrical connections, it is desirable that chamfered portions are provided on the lower left and right as in the case of the rechargeable battery unit and dry battery unit, and the shape of the unit insertion portion of the main body corresponds to that. It is desirable to handle different electrical connections between the rechargeable battery unit and the dry battery unit by changing the electrical contact position of the unit.

  In addition, it is desirable that the remaining amount display function unit for displaying the remaining amount of the rechargeable battery is provided in the electric circuit unit immediately after the lamp, and the display is located at a position off the left and right center behind the electric circuit unit visible to the operator. It is desirable.

  Remove and replace the cylindrical body with the front glass and reflector, and prepare a cylindrical body with a reflector with a different diameter or a cylindrical body with a color filter or special filter. It is desirable that it can be used. Further, it is desirable that the relative position between the reflecting mirror of the cylindrical body and the lamp fixed to the lamp head portion can be adjusted within a range in which the cylindrical body can be screwed.

  As one of the uses, it is also desirable that a rail-type mount is provided on the upper surface of the main body and fixed. In this case, it is desirable that the grip can be further detached so that the grip can be removed when the grip is unnecessary.

  FIG. 1A is an external view of a flashlight that is an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the flashlight that is an embodiment of the present invention.

  The main body 1 has a power supply unit 7 at the front, and a switch lever 9 at the rear has a push lever 13. There is a lamp head portion 2 so as to overhang the lower portion of the main body 1, and a cylindrical body 6 in front of it. A grip 14 is located behind the lamp head 2 and at the bottom of the main body 1. In addition, a mount 8 for a general-purpose mounting rail is provided on the upper portion of the main body 1.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, the switch 10 for turning on the flashlight is pushed by a push rod 12 and has a structure in which the push rod 12 is opened by a spring 11.

  The push lever 13 has a mechanism for pushing the push rod 12 and is in a position where it can be operated with the thumb of the hand holding the grip 14. The push rod 12 is waterproofed with an O-ring 12 '.

  When the push lever 13 is pushed and the switch 10 is turned on via the push rod 12, the lamp 3 is turned on and is irradiated forward by the reflecting mirror 4. The reflecting mirror 4 is mounted on a cylindrical body 6 having a windshield 5 and is screwed into the lamp head portion 2.

  Since the lamp 3 is fixed to the lamp head portion 2, the relative position between the lamp 3 and the reflecting mirror 4 can be adjusted by turning and tightening the cylindrical body 6.

  There is an electric circuit portion 2 a in the lamp head portion 2 immediately after the lamp 3, and a remaining amount display function portion 15 there. This is displayed in a blinking manner when the remaining amount of the rechargeable battery unit 7a is reduced to an amount that requires charging.

  2 (a), 2 (b), and 2 (c) are switch structural views, and FIG. 3 is a detailed view of a switch portion.

  When the push lever 13 is pushed from the state shown in FIG. 2A, the switch 10 is turned on via the push rod 12 as shown in FIG. Next, when released, the push rod 12 is returned by the spring 11 and the switch 10 is turned off. Since it is a function that lights up only when it is pressed, it can be turned on for a short time such as a signal or intermittently. Further, when the push lever 13 is pushed down and lowered downward, as shown in FIGS. 2C and 3, the first protrusion 13 a and the second protrusion 13 b inside the push lever 13, With the first protrusion 13a as a fulcrum, the second protrusion 13b fits into the arc groove 1c extending downward in the second groove 1b of the first groove 1a and the second groove 1b of the main body. The push lever convex portion 13c on the push lever 13 holds the push rod 12 in a pressed state to enable continuous lighting.

  Here, the depression 13 ′ of the push lever is provided so that the finger does not slip so that these operations can be easily performed only with the thumb of the hand holding the grip 14. Further, the position where the recess 13 'of the push lever is located is in the center in the left-right direction of the rear portion of the main body 1, and it can be used either right-handed or left-handed.

  FIG. 4 shows a configuration diagram of the power supply unit and the main body.

  When the rechargeable battery unit 7a and the dry battery unit 7c, which are the power supply unit 7, are inserted into the unit insertion portion 20 of the main body 1 from the front and fixed with the tightening knob 21, the flash light of the present invention is held by the grip 14, By equalizing the weight balance, it can be used for a long time. For this reason, a structure that is detachable from the front with little deviation in the left and right weight balance is most suitable.

  Furthermore, the dry battery unit 20 having the same shape as the rechargeable battery unit 7a and capable of being mounted with a commercially available dry battery 19 can be used by being mounted on the main body 1 in exactly the same manner.

  Note that a gasket 1 ′ is provided at a portion into which the rechargeable battery unit 7 a or the dry battery unit 7 b of the main body 1 is inserted, and is structured to be securely waterproofed by being attached and tightened with the tightening knob 21.

  Here, the rechargeable battery unit 7 a has a built-in charging function unit 22, and the charging plug 22 a is exposed to the outside even when attached to the main body 1, and the rechargeable battery unit 7 a is attached to the main body 1. In this state, the rechargeable battery unit 7a alone can be charged.

  In addition, as shown in the block diagram of the power supply unit and the unit insertion portion in FIG. 5, the rechargeable battery unit 7a and the dry battery unit 7b are inserted into the rechargeable battery unit 7a and the dry battery unit 7b so that they cannot be inserted upside down as well as front and back. A chamfered portion 7c is provided, and the main body 1 is provided with a chamfered portion 20a having a shape corresponding thereto, thereby preventing erroneous mounting.

  FIG. 6 shows an electric circuit block diagram.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the lamp head unit 2 has a remaining amount display function unit 15 for the rechargeable battery 18. The remaining amount display function unit 15 includes a voltage detection circuit, a cutoff circuit, and a remaining amount display unit. The voltage detection circuit monitors the voltage of the rechargeable battery 18 and discharges via the cutoff circuit when the voltage drops below a certain voltage. The battery is stopped and the rechargeable battery 18 is prevented from being damaged by overdischarge. At this time, in order to prevent inconvenience due to sudden turn-off by the operation of the shut-off circuit, the remaining amount display unit blinks the indicator lamp a predetermined time before the shut-off circuit operates, and displays that the rechargeable battery 18 needs to be charged. is there. These operate when the rechargeable battery unit 7a is mounted and the push lever 13 is pushed and the switch 10 is turned on.

  Note that the remaining amount display function unit 15 operates only when the rechargeable battery unit 7a is mounted. Since the dry battery 19 does not cause a failure due to overdischarge, the remaining amount display function unit 15 is not required when the dry battery unit 7b is mounted. It is.

  Therefore, as shown in the electrical contact state diagram of FIG. 7, the main body 1 is provided with the contact 25, the contact 25a, and the contact 25b. When the rechargeable battery unit 7a is mounted, the contact 26, the contact 25, and the contact 26a. When the dry battery unit 7b is mounted, the contact 26 and the contact 25 are the same, but the contact 26b is connected to the contact 25b. In this way, when the rechargeable battery unit 7a is attached and when the dry battery unit 7b is attached, the circuit is configured differently, the remaining battery capacity display function 15 functions in the rechargeable battery unit 7, and the remaining capacity display in the dry battery unit 7b. The function 15 has a structure that does not function.

  FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the lamp head in the flashlight which is an embodiment of the present invention. The cylindrical body 6 is a structure that is screwed into the lamp head portion 2, and as shown in the cylindrical body cross-sectional view of FIG. 9, for example, as shown in the cylindrical body sectional view of FIG. It can be replaced with a cylindrical body 6b equipped with an infrared transmission filter or a special filter 5b that transmits only light of a limited wavelength, a cylindrical body 6c equipped with a reflector 4a having a large diameter, and the like.

  A reflecting mirror (4 or 4a) is fixed to these cylindrical bodies (6, 6a, 6b and 6c), and the lamp 3 is fixed to the lamp head portion 2, so that the cylindrical body ( 6 · 6a · 6b and 6c) can be turned to change the relative position between the reflecting mirror (4 or 4a) and the fixed lamp 3, and the beam angle of the lamp irradiation light is adjusted to be concentrated or diffused. Can do.

  Further, the O-ring 2 ′ for waterproofing is provided in the lamp head portion 2, and prevents the O-ring from being lost or dropped when the tubular body 6 is replaced, thereby simplifying the structure of the tubular body 6.

  In the flashlight which is an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in the mount configuration diagram of FIG. 10, a mount portion 8 for a general-purpose mounting rail is provided on the upper portion of the main body 1 so that the mounting rail 23 is sandwiched therebetween. The mount portion 8 and the mount (detachable portion) 16 are fixedly attached by a mount portion mounting screw 17 so as to be easily detachable.

  In the flashlight according to one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in the grip portion configuration diagram of FIG. 11, the grip 14 can be replaced with a grip 14a having a different shape or removed from the main body 1 if unnecessary. It is a possible structure. The grip 14 or the grip 14a having a different shape can be selected in advance depending on the use and convenience of use, and can be easily attached with the grip mounting screw 24.

According to the present invention, it is a flashlight that can easily irradiate light in a direction in which the hand is directed, from a shape that is normally held in front of the body, to a shape that is close to the eyes when staring. It is expected to be used as an easy-to-use flashlight.

External view of flashlight Cross section of flashlight Flashlight switch structure (when extinguished) Flashlight switch structure diagram (when lit) Flashlight switch structure diagram (during continuous lighting) Detailed view of the switch part of the flashlight Configuration diagram of the power supply and main unit of the flashlight Configuration diagram of power supply unit and unit insertion part of flashlight Flashlight electrical circuit block diagram Flashlight electrical contact state diagram Cross section of flashlight lamp head Cross section of cylindrical body of flashlight Flashlight mount configuration diagram Flashlight grip configuration diagram

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1: Main body 1 ': Gasket 1a: 1st groove | channel 1b: 2nd groove | channel 1c: Circular-arc groove 2: Lamp head part 2a: Electric circuit part 2': O-ring (lamp head part)
3: Lamp 4: Reflector 4a: Reflector (large diameter)
5: Windshield 5a: Color filter 5b: Special filter 5c: Windshield (large diameter)
6: Tubular body 6a: Tubular body (with color filter)
6b: Tubular body (with special filter)
6c: cylindrical body (large diameter)
7: Power supply unit 7a: Rechargeable battery unit 7b: Dry cell unit 7c: Chamfered part (power supply part)
8: Mount portion 9: Switch portion 10: Switch 11: Spring 12: Push rod 12 ': O-ring (push rod)
13: Push lever 13 ': Push lever concave portion 13a: First projection 13b: Second projection 13c: Push lever convex portion 14: Grip 14a: Another shape grip 15: Remaining amount display function portion 16: Mount (detachable portion) )
17: Mount portion mounting screw 18: Rechargeable battery 19: Dry cell 20: Insertion portion 20a: Chamfered portion (main body)
21: Tightening knob 22: Charging function part 22a: Charging plug 23: Mounting rail (other equipment)
24: Grip mounting screw 25: Contact point (main body side)
25a: Contact point (main body side)
25b: Contact point (main body side)
26: Contact (unit side)
26a: Contact (unit side)
26b: contact (unit side)

Claims (8)

  A flashlight that is lightweight and can be easily carried, having a power supply unit at the front and a switch unit at the rear end, a lamp head at the front lower part of the main body, A flashlight characterized in that grips orthogonal to each other are provided, and the main body, the lamp head portion, and the grip have a large U-shape when viewed from the side.   2. The flashlight according to claim 1, wherein the position of the switch portion is within a range where a thumb of a hand holding the grip can reach, and the switch portion is turned on only when the push lever is pressed, and when pushed down, the push lever is pressed. Has a structure that can be held and continuously lit.   3. The flashlight according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the push lever constituting the switch portion is U-shaped and has a first protrusion and a second protrusion symmetrically inside. On the other hand, the main body rear end side wall corresponds to the first groove corresponding to the first protrusion sliding back and forth, the second protrusion corresponding to sliding back and forth, and the push lever. There is a second groove having an arc groove corresponding to the fact that the first protrusion at the front end of the first groove becomes a fulcrum and the second protrusion rotates downward. A flashlight having a structure in which a second protrusion is fitted into the arc groove of the second groove.   The flashlight according to claim 1, wherein the power supply unit is configured to be detachable from the front from the main body, and a rechargeable battery unit or a dry battery unit including a charging function unit can be selectively used as a power supply. Flashlight. 5. The flashlight according to claim 4, wherein a chamfered portion is formed at one or a plurality of corners of the rechargeable battery unit or the storage battery unit, and a unit insertion portion of the main body matches a cross-sectional shape of the rechargeable battery unit and the dry battery unit. A flashlight characterized by that.   The flashlight according to claim 1, wherein a rechargeable battery remaining amount indicator lamp provided in the rechargeable battery unit is provided behind the lamp head portion.   The flashlight according to claim 1, wherein a cylindrical body supporting a reflecting mirror and a filter is detachably screwed into the lamp head portion so that a relative position between the reflecting mirror and the lamp can be adjusted. Flashlight. 2. The flashlight according to claim 1, wherein a rail-type mount portion is provided on an upper surface or a side surface of the main body.