PT101706B - FLASHLIGHT - Google Patents

Abstract

A flexible core for a hand-held device such as a flashlight includes a pair of conductive wires which electrically connect a source of power to a power using implement. A flexible spine surrounds the pair of conductive wires and includes a plurality of interconnected universally rotatable members. A resilient sleeve engages the outer surface of the rotatable members forming the spine. An adaptor including one conductor made from nickel chromium wire may be used to selectively connect the flashlight to a 12 volt source of electrical power in lieu of two standard C cells housed within the flashlight. <IMAGE>

Description

the present invention relates to a flexible core (16) for a portable device, such as a flashlight (10), which includes a pair of conductive wires (54, 56), to connect a housed power source (78, 80) inside a housing (12) to a power user accessory (92) housed in a housing (14). A flexible column (28) surrounds the pair of conductive wires (54, 56) and includes a plurality of universally rotatable (28A, 288). engage the surface form the column (28). nickel wire and selectively the flashlight to an external power source of the interconnected components and a resilient sleeve (18) rotatable components that

An adapter that includes a chrome-plated conductor can be used to

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY

PATENT SERVICES DIRECTORATE

SUMMARY SHEET (Continued)

Summary (continued) (57) volt, instead of two standard C batteries housed inside the flashlight.

the present invention is usable, for example, in the electrical equipment industry.

DO NOT COMPLETE THE SHADOW ZONES

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DESCRIPTIVE MEMORY

Flashlight

This invention relates to a portable flashlight and, in particular, a flexible core for connecting the energy-generating end of the flashlight to the energy-using end thereof.

The modern flashlight is one of the most useful tools found at home, in the car, or in other places, where it is desirable to have a portable light source. Very often, a flashlight is used in situations where it is desirable that the user's hands are free to hold or maneuver an object to be illuminated.

For example, when a person is doing maintenance on a car, there are many circumstances, in which it is desirable to use both hands to perform the maintenance task, although artificial lighting is still necessary. Other applications include reviewing documents, such as reading maps in a car, trying to discover an object in a relatively dark place, and performing similar tasks. When the user has a normal flashlight, the user has to resort to ϊ various unorthodox means of holding the flashlight in order to free his hands. For example, the user can place the flashlight under his arms, in his mouth, or place the flashlight in a support nearby, which may not necessarily be close enough to the object to be viewed to provide the desired lighting.

So far, there have been a variety of lighting products, which have included flexible cores for the general purpose of handling a light source to a desired position. In some cases, the light source is on a base and a flexible core contains glass fibers to conduct light to the tip of the core. Some of these lighting products are powered by

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-2battery, although most are powered by AC to provide the high intensity light generally needed for such applications, such as inspection work.

In other cases, the lamp can be constructed with a goose neck, formed from a tube of metal tape wrapped, interlocked and flexible. Generally, such a lighting product is used with AC powered lamps, such as desk lamps and includes two wires supported internally by the flexible metal tube.

In some battery powered applications, one of the conductive wires can be omitted and a second conductive circuit is provided by the flexible metal tube itself. There are some other lighting products, some of which are battery powered and others are powered by AC, which use a flexible core constructed from a plastic jacket and coaxial cable. The central core is usually a solid wire. separated by an insulating plastic, being surrounded by a sheet of braided metallic wire, placed around it. The plastic jacket, typically a poly (vinyl chloride), protects from the outside. Other lamps, having a flexible core, use a series of solid copper, load or aluminum wire, which are either individually or together in cable, in order to provide physical support for the flexible core. In some cases, the wire or wires are used as conductors, to provide one or more of the two electrical circuits needed for a light source. In some applications, the wires are bars and in others the wires can be individually or collectively insulated with some plastic sleeves. In addition, there are known AC powered lamps that use a series of interlocking plastic elements to form a flexible core. This core is sold under brands such as LOCKWOOD and CEDERBURG. The flexible core was developed to support the cutting / cooling fluid for workpieces supported on metal cutting machines, such as lathes and mills. The flexible core is generally hollow and leak-proof. 0 core

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-3 is flexible to allow the fluid to be directed into the various workpieces as needed. AC powered lamps using this flexible core generally have two wires that run inside the central hole formed by the flexible plastic elements.

The main problem with cores that use the coiled, interlocked and flexible metal tape tube common in goosenecks, is that the bending radius is very limited for a flexible lamp application. Although the gooseneck tube is reasonably durable, it suffers from a gradual reduction in its ability to withstand a flexing force due to wear on the interlocking surfaces. The interlocking surfaces provide the necessary friction to make the product maintain the shape, in which the user has placed the core.

The main problem associated with the types of metallic wire cores and / or coaxial cable is that they have a very limited life span when flexed. The metal wears out quickly and, if bent back and forth continuously in the same location, the core will tend to break at that point. In some cases, this can occur after just 100 folding cycles.

THE

The core formed by a plurality of interlocked plastic elements offers the advantage of long life, while bending forward and backward. The core is not prone to fatigue, and due to the use of materials with a low friction coefficient, such as acetal plastic, the core elements tend to have relatively little wear. However, the prior art plastic interlocking element cores tend to suffer from some problems. Since each element is free to rotate in relation to the next interlocking element, the entire chain of plastic elements can become bent and twisted and thus come out of alignment. This results in a very unattractive core. In addition, the elements are joined together

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-4by snapping each element together as a ball joint and snapping to the next successive element. Although the aforementioned allows for a relatively large range of free movement and easy assembly / disassembly, such a structure also allows the elements to separate from each other if the interlocking chain is bent to a radius too tight by a relatively strong applied force. Modifications to the housing design will increase the core's ability to withstand forces that will tend to cause the housing to separate. One of the usual situations that involves the need to have a hand-free flashlight involves reading a map or similar document in a car. It is desirable to have a flashlight capable of being powered by a few standard AA, C or D standard batteries, while also having the ability to be powered by a much higher level of DC voltage available from a standard car battery. . For this application the relatively few batteries are preferably two, which will provide an average DC voltage of 2.4 volts. The higher voltage generated by the car battery must be converted to a lower working voltage level usable by the flashlight bulb, without excessive heat being generated. Such voltage conversions can be carried out with a DC converter or pulse width modulation circuit or through the use of passive means, such as a drop resistance.

The circuit approach has several basic drawbacks. The first is the relatively expensive cost associated with components and manufacturing and the second is the problem of having to close the circuit board with control inside the flashlight. A third drawback is safety due to the increasing number of components and the relatively aggressive operating environment.

The drop resistance, on the other hand, is cheap and safe but generates excessive heat when it dissipates the energy produced when the DC voltage drops from 12 volts to approximately 2.4 volts.

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-5This heat generated poses a packaging problem due to temperature limitations of the normal plastic materials used in the manufacture of lantern housing.

Consequently, it is an object of this invention to provide a flexible core for a flashlight or similar device that is capable of maintaining a user-defined shape, allows repetitive flexing and allows the means of conducting energy to pass through the core, so that the energy supplied to one end of the core can be supplied to the other end, which includes an energy user element. It is a further object of the invention to provide an adapter for a flashlight or other similar device, which will allow the device to be powered by standard dry batteries or a 12 volt automobile battery. The foregoing objective and other objectives are achieved in a flexible core for a flashlight or similar device.

In a first aspect the present invention provides a flashlight, comprising:

a base which forms a power supply end for said flashlight;

at least one battery housed in said base;

a working end housing spaced from said base and which supports a reflector, a lens and a lamp; and a flexible core assembly, which connects said base to said working end housing and which comprises a pair of conductive wires, which electrically connect said battery to said lamp, a flexible column surrounding said pair of conductive wires and which includes a plurality of interconnected and universally rotatable components, and a resilient sleeve component, which engages an outer surface of each of the rotatable components that form said column.

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-6In a preferred embodiment the device can alternatively be connected to a 12 volt DC voltage source or to a normal dry battery such as a C battery. One of the conductors connecting the device to the 12 volt DC voltage source is formed nickel and chromium wire. The nickel and chromium wire acts as a drop resistance to reduce the voltage level supplied by the 12 volt DC voltage source to the level that can be used by the flashlight lamp or other energy-using element of the device.

According to a second aspect of the invention a flexible core, for the connection of a first housing, having at least one battery, supported therein, for a second housing, said battery serving as a power source and including said second accommodation means connected to the energy source to use said energy to be operated by it, comprises:

a pair of electrically conductive wires, which connect said battery to said energy-using means;

a flexible column, surrounding said pair of conducting wires, which includes a plurality of interconnected and universally rotatable components; and a resilient sleeve component, which engages an outer surface of each of the rotatable components, which form said column.

The present invention further provides a flexible core assembly for connecting a first housing to a second housing and comprising a pair of conductive wires, which electrically connect said power supply end to said light source, wherein a flexible column surrounds said conductive wire pair and which includes a plurality of interconnected and universally rotatable components, and a resilient sleeve component which engages an outer surface of each of the rotatable components, which form said column.

According to a third aspect of the invention a flashlight

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-7 comprises:

a first housing forming a power supply end for said flashlight;

at least one battery housed in said first housing;

a second housing spaced from said first housing and supporting a reflector, a lens and a lamp;

a flexible mounting assembly, which connects said first housing to said second housing, and which comprises a pair of electrically conductive wires, which electrically connect said battery to said lamp, a flexible column surrounding said pair of conductive wires and which includes a plurality of interconnected and universally rotatable components; and a resilient sleeve component, which engages an outer surface of each of the rotatable components, which form said column; and including one of said first and second housings a longitudinally extending rib surface, and the other of said housings including a longitudinally extending groove surface, said rib surface being positioned substantially opposite the i

said groove surface, for insertion into it, when said flexible mounting assembly is folded to provide a compact configuration.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, a flashlight comprises:

a first housing forming a power supply end for said flashlight;

at least one battery housed in said first housing;

a second housing spaced from said first housing

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-8e supporting a reflector, a lens and a lamp;

a flexible mounting assembly, which connects said first housing to said second housing, and which includes a pair of electrically conductive wires, which electrically connect said battery to said lamp, said mounting assembly being foldable in a U-shaped configuration ; and including one of said first and second housings a first component and the other of said housings including a second component, to engage said first component, so as to retain said mounting set in the U-shaped configuration, forming said configuration U-shaped handle for said flashlight.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, a flashlight comprises:

a first housing forming a power supply end for said flashlight;

a second housing spaced from said first housing and including a light source; and a flexible mounting assembly, which connects said first housing to said second housing and which includes a pair of electrically conductive wires, which electrically connect said power supply end to said light source, characterized in that said mounting assembly be foldable in a U-shaped configuration, and one of said first and second housings includes a first component and the other of said housings includes a second component, to engage said first component, in order to retain said mounting assembly in the configuration U-shaped.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, a flashlight comprises:

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-9uto first housing forming a power supply end for said flashlight;

a second housing spaced from said first housing and supporting a light source; and a flexible mounting assembly, having a first end connected to a first end of said first housing and a second end connected to a first end of said second housing, said mounting set comprising a pair of electrically conductive wires, which connect electrically said end of power supply to said light source; a flexible column; and a flexible sleeve circumferentially surrounding the outer surface of said column; the width of said sleeve being substantially equal to the width of each of said first ends of said first and second housings.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention, a flashlight comprises:

a first housing forming a power supply end for said flashlight;

a second housing spaced from said first housing and including a light source; and a flexible mounting assembly, having a first end connected to a first end of said first housing and a second end connected to a first end of said second housing, said mounting set comprising a pair of electrically conductive wires, which connect electrically said end of power supply to said light source; a flexible column circumferentially surrounding said pair of conducting wires and including a plurality of interconnected and universally rotatable components; and a sleeve component circumferentially surrounding the other surface of said column.

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According to another aspect of the invention, a flashlight comprises:

a first housing forming a power supply end for said flashlight;

a second housing spaced from said first housing and including a light source; and a flexible mounting assembly, having a first end connected to a first end of said first housing and a second end connected to a first end of said second housing, said mounting set comprising a pair of electrically conductive wires, which connect electrically said end of power supply to said light source; a flexible column; and a flexible sleeve circumferentially surrounding the outer surface of said column; the width of said sleeve being substantially equal to the width of each of said first ends of said first and second housings.

According to an eighth aspect of the invention, a flashlight comprises:

a housing base forming a power supply end for said lantern and having a longitudinally extending perforation, including at least one battery housed therein;

a working end housing, spaced from said base housing, and supporting a reflector, a lens and a lamp, including said working end housing means defining a longitudinally extending perforation;

a flexible core assembly, connecting said base housing to said working end housing and comprising a pair of electrically conductive wires, which electrically connect said battery to said lamp, a column

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-11 flexible surrounding said pair of conducting wires and including a plurality of interconnected and universally rotatable components, and a flexible sleeve component that engages an outer surface of each of the rotatable components that form said column;

a first anchoring, connected to a first end of said flexible core and having a portion extending within the perforation of said base housing, including said anchoring first clamping means underlying the resilient sleeve component of said flexible core, and including said base housing perforation of the second clamping means overlying the sleeve of said flexible core and sandwiching said sleeve between said first and second clamping means; and a second anchoring attached to a second end of said flexible core and having a portion extending within the perforation of said working end housing, including said second anchoring third clamping means underlying the sleeve of said flexible core, and including said working end housing perforation four clamping means overlying the sleeve of said flexible core and sandwiching said sleeve between said third and fourth clamping means.

According to a final aspect of the invention, a flashlight comprises:

a base housing forming a power supply end for said flashlight and having a perforation, which extends longitudinally, including at least one battery housed therein;

a working end housing, spaced from said base housing, and supporting a reflector, lens and lamp, said working end housing including means defining a perforation, which extends

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-12longitudinally;

- a flexible core assembly, which connects said base housing to said working end housing and comprising a pair of conductive wires, which electrically connect said battery to said lamp; a flexible column surrounding said pair of conducting wires and including a plurality of interconnected and universally rotatable components, and a flexible sleeve component, which engages an outer surface of each of the rotatable components, which form said column, including said component a first end extending into the perforation of the base housing and a second end extending into the perforation of the working end housing, each of said perforations comprising a plurality of ferrules extending into the base housing. inside to engage the outer surface of said sleeve.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view representing the characteristics of the inventive lantern;

fig. 2 is a side elevation view, partially in section, of the lantern of fig. 1;

fig. 3 is a side elevation view, with partially cut portions, to show additional details of the flashlight;

fig. 4 is an enlarged elevation view, showing details of a portion of the flashlight of the present invention;

fig. 5 is an enlarged elevation view of an additional portion of the flashlight of the invention;

fig. 6 is a perspective view of the flashlight in a

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-13 somewhat folded position showing the way in which the two lantern housings can be brought together;

fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the flashlight;

fig. 8 is a view similar to fig. 7, showing the parts in their assembled states;

fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of an additional portion of the flashlight;

fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a subset of the flashlight;

fig. 11 is a sectional view enlarged by line 11-11 of fig. 12;

fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of one of the lantern housing showing its details;

fig. 13 is a sectional view enlarged by line 13-13 of fig. 12;

fig. 14 is a top view on line 14-14 of fig. 1;

fig. 15 is a schematic diagram of the wiring showing the flashlight powered by a 12 volt car battery; and fig. 16 is an elevation view showing the adapter used to connect the flashlight to the 12 volt car battery.

Referring now to the various figures in the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is described. Referring to the various figures in the drawings, similar numbers indicate similar parts.

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-14 Referring specifically to fig. 1, a flashlight is described

10, having a first housing 12 and a second housing 14.

The housings 12 and 14 are spaced apart and are connected together by means of a flexible core 16. The housing 12 serves as a power supply end of the flashlight and contains batteries 78 and 80 inside (see fig. 2) used as the primary source of electrical energy for the flashlight. Batteries 78 and 80 can be standard C batteries.

The housing 14 acts as the working end of the flashlight 10 and includes a lens 50. As shown in fig. 2, housing 14 also has reflector 90 and lamp 92 mounted within it. A switch 20 is provided to selectively connect lamp 92 to the electrical power source such as batteries 78 and 80. Housing 14 is generally shaped of L and includes an elongated branch with a generally cylindrical shape 25 and a somewhat shorter branch with a rectangular shape, which extends from branch 25. Branch 24 is used to mount the lens 50, reflector 90 and lamp 92 The housing 12 includes a perforation 13 and the branch 25 of the housing 14 includes a similar perforation 15. One end of the flexible core 16 is inserted into the hole 15 and the other end is inserted into the hole 13. Each end of the core 16 has an anchor 22 to be more fully described below, which is inserted into one of the holes 13 , 15, to join flexible core 18 to housings 12 and 14.

Referring first to figs. 2 to 10, the additional features of the flashlight will now be described in detail

10. The flexible core 16 includes a resilient outer sleeve 18 made of a resilient elastomeric material such as a thermoplastic rubber sold by Monsanto Corporation under the trademark SANTOPRENE. Referring in particular to fig. 4 a flexible column 28 is contained within the sleeve 18. The column 28 comprises a plurality of interconnected and universally rotatable components. Each universally rotatable component comprises a male end portion 28A and a female end portion 28B. The male end portion 28A has a

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Folio 16991 outer surface comprising a shaft and a sphere and the female end portion 28B has a corresponding inner surface comprising a sphere stem which is dimensioned so that when the male end portion 28A is inserted into the female end portion 28B, there is friction contact between the corresponding outer and inner surfaces 28A and 28B. These frictional forces act as retaining means to hold a component of the flexible column 28 at any desired location in relation to an interconnected component. These frictional forces can be overcome which allows the interconnected components to be moved relative to each other so that their longitudinal axes can be either aligned or misaligned. The interconnected segments rotate relatively without restrictions between them. The flexible column segments 28 are produced by Lockwood Produts, Inc. and are made of acetal plastic or other suitable material. Electrical conductors 54 and 56 are arranged inside flexible column 28. One end of conductors 54 and 56 is connected to housing 12 and the other end of conductors is connected to working end housing 14. Sleeve 18 provides a protective cover along column 28. The sleeve maintains an attractive appearance of the flashlight even when the individual components of column 28 are offset in relation to each other.

An anchor 22 is attached to each end of the flexible core 16. One of the anchors is inserted into the hole 13 of the housing 12 and the other of the anchors is inserted into the hole 15 of the housing 14. The anchor 22 includes a ball portion 64, a main body portion 66, which includes a plurality of ribs 34 and a somewhat rectangular shaped portion 30. The height of the central rib 34A is somewhat greater when compared to the height of the other ribs 34 of each anchor 22. As will be described more fully then, portion 30 has an open end facing outwardly from body portion 66, to receive pressure relief 32 within itself. Each rib 34 includes a ramp-like front surface 34B for expanding the material of the sleeve 18 outwardly to

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-16 allow each end of the sleeve to be placed around an anchor.

pressure relief 32 includes a pair of longitudinally spaced slots 47. pressure relief 32 mounted within housing 14 receives contacts 36, 38 in slots 47, while pressure relief 32 mounted in housing 12 receives contacts 42, 46 in slots 47. The pressure relief electrically connects the conductors 54, 56 to the contacts in each housing 12, 14. The contact 42 in the housing 12 is in turn connected to the negative ribbon conductor 45, while the contact 42 is connected to positive conductor 44. (See fig. 3). Conductors 44 and 45 are in turn connected to batteries 78 and 80. Housing 12 includes a removable battery cover 40. Contacts 36, 38 are connected to conductors 58, 60 in housing 14.

As shown, switch 20 is in series with conductor 58. As is known to those skilled in the art, switch 20 is normally open and is closed to connect lamp 92 to batteries 78, 80 via various electrical conductors and contacts indicated above. .

Referring specifically to figs. 1 and 6, one of the housings, for example, the housing 12 includes a vertical rib 26. The rib 26 includes an elongated and thin portion 27, connected to a relatively wide elongated portion 29. The other of the housings, for example, the housing 14, includes a groove 68 whose length is generally the same length as the rib 26. The groove 68 is generally U-shaped and includes a pair of spring clips 52. The spring clips 52 are placed within the groove 68 in a portion that overlaps with the relatively narrow portion 27 of the rib 26. If it is desired to reduce the total length of the lantern 10, for example, for storage purposes, or to hold the lantern for portable use, the core 16 is folded so that the core forms a general U shape so that the housing 12 is on the same vertical plane as the housing 14. As shown

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-17 specifically in fig. 6, when the core 16 is folded as described, the rib 26 underlies the U-shaped groove

68. To bring the two housings together, rib 26 is snapped into groove 68. The relatively narrow portion 27 of rib 26 is inserted between the opposite faces of the spring clips 52, which force the opposite faces outward . When the rib is inserted into the grooves, the opposite faces of the spring clip are forced inward to lock the rib within the groove 68 to positively join the two housings together.

As described above, each end of the flexible core 16 includes an anchor 22. One of the anchors is inserted into the hole 13 and the other of the anchors is inserted into the hole 15. During testing, it was found that twisting or turning the flexible core to obtain a desired configuration for the lantern, forces were produced that tended to push the sleeve of each or both of the perforations in the housings or twist each end of the sleeve 18 in relation to the perforations 13 or 15. To avoid the unwanted occurrence of the separation of the sleeve 18 of one or both of the housings and the unwanted twisting of the sleeve 10 in relation to the housings, clamping means have been added, which will be described more fully below, in both perforations 13, 15 and anchors 22.

Referring specifically to figs. 11 to 14, each perforation 13, 15 is provided with a plurality of ferrules, which extend inwardly circumferentially spaced, respectively, 100 and 102. Ferrules 100 and 102 extend radially inward to the surface of sleeve 18. In addition In addition, each perforation includes a pair of grooves 104 spaced 180 degrees circumferentially that underlie the ribs 34A, when each anchor 22 is placed in a respective perforation 13, 15.

Housing 14 includes four circumferentially spaced ferrules 100, while housing 12 includes 12 circumferentially spaced ferrules 102. The length of

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-18 each ferrule 100 is longer than the length of each ferrule 102. As shown in fig. 13, the cross-sectional shape of each ferrule 100 (or 102) is similar to a shark tooth, so that the outer surface of the sleeve engaged by each ferrule 100, 102 is firmly tightened to sandwich the sleeve between the outer surface of the anchoring 22 and the outer surface of each ferrule. This arrangement prevents the sleeve from being twisted in relation to each perforation 13, 15 and prevents the sleeve from being separated from one or the other of the housings 12, 14.

In order to avoid any twisting or longitudinal movement of the sleeve, the ribs 34A act to force the z '·' ·>.

vb resilient material from sleeve 18 to the underlying grooves

104. The combination of ribs 34A and grooves 104 additionally prevents twisting of sleeve 18.

An additional feature of the flashlight relates to the pressure relief 32. The pressure relief 32 includes a hub portion 48 having a relatively enlarged boss 48A formed at one end of the hub. The other end of the cube does not have an enlarged boss similar to the boss 48A and the end of the hub rests on the same vertical plane with respect to the vertical plane of the end face of the body portion 30 of the anchor 22.

Each housing 12, 14 includes a relatively large, inwardly extending boss 69 and a relatively small circumferentially spaced second boss 69A. When each anchor 22 and its associated pressure relief 32 is inserted into one of the perforations 13, 15, the enlarged boss 48A of the pressure relief 32 is aligned with the relatively small boss 69A of the housing and the flat surface 48B of the hub is aligned with the relatively large bossa 69 of the housing. In effect, the pressure relief can only be inserted into the perforation in a position due to the relationships established by the bosses 48A, 69A and 69B and the flat surface 48B of the hub 48. The aforementioned allows the anchoring 22 and the pressure relief 32 to be used with a polished plug. A 67 screw or

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-19 similar medium is inserted through boss 69, hub 48 and boss 69A to fix each anchor 22 in its respective housing.

Referring now to Figs 15 and 16, the flashlight 10 will be shown when connected to an external power source, such as a 12 volt automobile battery. When connected to an external source of electrical power, batteries 78 and 80 will be disconnected.

There are many uses for the flashlight 10 in or near an automobile. Consequently, to conserve the energy of the batteries mounted inside the housing 12, it is desirable to connect the flashlight 10 to the car battery 82. The flashlight 10 is designed to be powered by relatively few standard batteries, such as those of type C. Specifically, in the embodiment preferred, two C batteries are used to provide an average DC voltage of 2.4 volts. Since the voltage of the car battery (typically 12 volts) is much higher than that required to power the flashlight 10, the voltage must be reduced to approximately 2.4 volts without excessive heat generation, which is usable by lantern lamp 92. Voltage conversion can be achieved with a DC voltage converter or pulse width modulation circuit or by using passive means, such as a drop resistance. Each of the above means has problems associated with them, in particular, when it is desired to use such means with a flashlight.

An adapter 70 is provided for connection to a 12 volt battery and the flashlight. Adapter 70 includes a plug 71 for insertion into the 12 volt battery terminal provided inside the passenger compartment of the car. Adapter 70 includes conductors 72 and 74. One of the conductors, for example, conductor 74 is formed of nickel and chromium wire for the reasons to be described more fully below. Conductors 72 and 74 terminate in a second plug 76, which can be inserted into an opening provided in housing 12 of flashlight 10. When inserted into housing 12, plug 76

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-20 activates the disconnect switch 84, so that batteries 78 and 80 are disconnected from the electrical circuits of the flashlight. When the plug 76 is removed from the housing 12, the switch 84 closes to reconnect the batteries to the flashlight circuits. When switch 20 of flashlight 10 is closed, battery 82 supplies electrical power through conductors 72, 74 of adapter 70, conductors 45 and 58 representative of the conductors within the flashlight, to lamp 92 of the flashlight.

The resistance of nickel and chromium wire 74 is relatively high and, consequently, conductor 74 acts as a drop resistance to reduce the voltage level supplied from the 12 volt DC voltage source to the 2.4 volt voltage level. required to power the flashlight lamp. The total length of the conductor is 3.6576 m (12 feet), and its linear resistance coefficient is 2.428 ohm per meter (0.74 ohm per foot). By forming one of the conductors of the adapter 70 with nickel and chromium wire, the applied voltage is reduced to the desired level without significantly increasing the cost of the flashlight or generating a significant level of unwanted heat. In a preferred embodiment, the nickel and chrome wire 74 is manufactured by the company Hoskins Manufacturing, sold under the trademark CROMEL A.

Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described and represented, the invention is not limited to it, but can be carried out differently within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (43)

1 - Flashlight comprising: a base which forms a power supply end for said flashlight; at least one battery housed in said base; a working end housing spaced from said base and which supports a reflector, a lens and a lamp; and a flexible core assembly, connecting said base to said working end housing and comprising a pair of conductive wires, which electrically connect said battery to said lamp, characterized in that said flexible core assembly further comprises a column flexible, which surrounds said pair of conducting wires and a plurality of interconnected and universally rotatable components, and a resilient sleeve component, which engages an outer surface of each of the rotatable components that form said column. Flashlight according to claim 1, characterized in that the sleeve component is wavy. Flashlight according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises an adapter, having a nickel and chromium wire, which selectively connects said conductive wire pair to an external power source and disconnects said wires from said battery housed in said battery base. Flashlight according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an adapter, having a nickel and chromium wire that selectively connects said pair of conductive wires to an external power source and disconnects said wires from said battery housed in said base . 77 512 Folio 16991 -2 / 12- 5 - Flexible core for connecting a first housing, having at least one battery, supported in it, to a second housing, said battery serving as a power source and including said second housing means connected to the power source to use said energy to be operated by the same, comprising said flexible core: a pair of conductive wires, which electrically connect said battery to said energy-using means; a flexible column, surrounding said pair of conducting wires; characterized in that said column includes a plurality of interconnected and universally rotatable components; and a resilient sleeve component, which engages an outer surface of each of the rotatable components, which form said column. Flexible core according to claim 5, characterized in that the sleeve component is corrugated. Flexible core according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises an adapter, having a nickel and chromium wire that selectively connects said conductive wire pair to an external power source and disconnects said wires from said battery housed in said battery base. Flexible core according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises an adapter, having a nickel and chromium wire that selectively connects said conductive wire pair to an external power source and disconnects said wires from said battery housed in said battery base. 9 - Flashlight comprising: a first housing forming a power supply end for said flashlight; ΊΊ 512 Folio 16991 -3 / 12 at least one battery housed in said first housing; a second housing spaced from said first housing and supporting a reflector, a lens and a lamp; a flexible mounting assembly, connecting said first housing to said second housing, and comprising a pair of electrically conductive wires, which electrically connect said battery to said lamp, a flexible column surrounding said pair of conductive wires, characterized by said flexible column further includes a plurality of interconnected and universally rotatable components; and a resilient sleeve component, which engages an outer surface of each of the rotatable components, which form said column, · and by one of said first and second housings including a rib surface, which extends longitudinally, and including the other of said housings a groove surface that extends longitudinally, said rib surface being positioned substantially opposite to said groove surface, for insertion into it, when said flexible mounting assembly is folded to provide a configuration compact. Flashlight according to claim 9, characterized in that the sleeve component is wavy. Flashlight according to claim 10, characterized in that it comprises an adapter, having a nickel and chromium conductor wire, which selectively connects said conductive wire pair to an external power source and disconnects said wires from said battery housed in said base. Flashlight according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises an adapter, having a wire 77 512 Folio 16991 -4 / 12- nickel and chromium, which selectively connects said pair of conductive wires to an external power source and disconnects said wires from said battery housed in said base. 13 - Flashlight comprising: a first housing forming a power supply end for said flashlight; at least one battery housed in said first housing; a second housing spaced from said first housing and supporting a reflector, a lens and a lamp; a flexible mounting assembly, which connects said first housing to said second housing, and which includes a pair of electrically conductive wires, which electrically connect said battery to said lamp, characterized in that said mounting assembly is foldable in a shaped configuration He gave; and for one of said first and second housings to include a first component and the other of said housings to include a second component, to engage said first component, so as to retain said mounting set in the U-shaped configuration, forming said U-shaped configuration a handle for said flashlight. Flashlight according to claim 13, characterized in that the assembly assembly includes a flexible column and a flexible sleeve that circumferentially surround the outer surface of said column. Flashlight according to claim 14, characterized in that the flexible column includes a plurality of interconnected and universally rotatable components. Flashlight according to claim 15, characterized in that the sleeve component is wavy. 77 512 Folio 16991 -5 / 12- 17 - Flashlight comprising: a first housing forming a power supply end for said flashlight; a second housing spaced from said first housing and including a light source; a flexible mounting assembly, connecting said first housing to said second housing, which includes a pair of electrically conductive wires, which electrically connect said power supply end to said light source, characterized in that said mounting assembly is collapsible in a U-shaped configuration, an arcuate portion of said U-shaped mounting assembly spaced from said first and second housings; and for one of said first and second housings to include a first component and the other of said housings to include a second component, to engage said first component, so as to retain the mounting assembly in the U-shaped configuration. Flashlight according to claim 17, characterized in that the light source comprises a reflector, a lens and a lamp. 19. A flashlight according to claim 18, characterized in that at least one battery is housed in said first housing. Flashlight according to claim 19, characterized in that the assembly assembly includes a flexible column and a flexible sleeve that circumferentially surround the outer surface of said column. 21 - Flashlight according to claim 20, characterized in that the flexible column includes a plurality of 77 512 Folio 16991 -6 / 12 interconnected and universally rotatable components. 22. A flashlight according to claim 21, characterized in that it further comprises a nickel and chromium conductor wire for selectively connecting said conductor pair to an external power source. 23. The flashlight according to claim 17, characterized in that the assembly includes a flexible column and a flexible sleeve that circumferentially surround the outer surface of said column. 24. A flashlight according to claim 23, characterized in that the flexible column includes a plurality of interconnected and universally rotatable components. A flashlight according to claim 24, characterized in that it additionally includes an adapter, having a nickel and chromium conductor wire, for selectively connecting said pair of conductor wires to an external power source. 26. A flashlight according to claim 17, characterized in that it additionally includes an adapter, having a nickel and chromium conductor wire, for selectively connecting said conductive wire pair to an external power source. 27 - Flashlight comprising: a first housing forming a power supply end for said flashlight; a second housing spaced from said first housing and including a light source; and a flexible mounting assembly, having a first end connected to a first end of said first housing and a second end connected to a first end of said second housing, including said 77 512 Folio 16991 -7 / 12 assembly set a pair of electrically conductive wires, which electrically connect said power supply end to said light source; a flexible column; characterized in that the flexible column includes a plurality of interconnected and universally rotatable components; by a flexible sleeve circumferentially surrounding the outer surface of said column; and in that said sleeve width is substantially equal to the width of each of said first ends of said first and second housings. 28. A flashlight according to claim 27, characterized in that the first ends of said housing and said flexible sleeve are substantially cylindrical and the diameter of said sleeve is substantially equal to the diameter of each of said ends of said first and second housing. 29. A flashlight according to claim 27, characterized in that it comprises an adapter, having a nickel and chromium conductor wire which selectively connects said conductive wire pair to an external power source. Flashlight according to claim 29, characterized in that one of said first and second housings includes a first component and the other of said housings includes a second component for engaging said first component in order to retain said mounting assembly in a U-shaped configuration. A flashlight according to claim 27, characterized in that one of said first and second housings includes a first component and the other of said housings includes a second component for engaging said first component in order to retain the mounting assembly in a configuration U-shaped. 32 - Flashlight comprising: 77 512 Folio 16991 -8 / 12 a first housing forming a power supply end for said flashlight; a second housing spaced from said first housing and including a light source; and a flexible mounting assembly, having a first end connected to a first end of said first housing and a second end connected to a first end of said second housing, the mounting set including a pair of electrically conductive wires, which electrically connect to said power supply end to said light source; a flexible column circumferentially surrounding said pair of conducting wires, characterized in that said flexible column includes a plurality of interconnected and universally rotatable components; and a sleeve component circumferentially surrounding the other surface of said column. 33. A flashlight according to claim 32, characterized in that the sleeve component is wavy. 34. A flashlight according to claim 33, characterized in that the width of said sleeve component is substantially equal to the width of each of said first ends of said first and second housings. 35. A flashlight according to claim 34, characterized in that each of the interconnected and universally rotatable components comprises a male end portion and a female end portion. 36. A flashlight according to claim 35, characterized in that the male end portion has an outer surface, which comprises a shaft of a sphere, and the female end portion has a corresponding interior surface, which comprises a shaft of a sphere. 77 512 Folio 16991 A flashlight according to claim 32, characterized in that the male end portion has an outer surface, comprising a shaft of a sphere, and the female end portion has a corresponding interior surface, comprising a shaft of a sphere. ball. 38. The flashlight according to claim 37, characterized in that the male end portion has an outer surface comprising a ball shaft and the female end portion has a corresponding interior surface comprising a ball shaft. 39 - Flashlight comprising: a base housing forming a power supply end for said flashlight and having a perforation, which extends longitudinally, including at least one battery housed therein; a working end housing, spaced from said base housing, and supporting a reflector, a lens and a lamp, including said working end housing means defining a longitudinally extending perforation; a flexible core assembly, which connects said base housing to said working end housing and comprising a pair of conductive wires, which electrically connect said battery to said lamp, a flexible column surrounding said conductive wire, characterized in that said flexible column includes a plurality of interconnected and universally rotatable components, and a flexible sleeve component, which engages an outer surface of each of the rotatable components that form said column; and by a first anchorage connecting a first end of said flexible core and having a portion that extends within 77 512 Folio 16991 -10 / 12- perforating said base housing, including said anchoring first clamping means underlying the resilient sleeve component of said flexible core, and including said base housing perforation second clamping means overlying said sleeve flexible core and sandwiching said sleeve between said first and second clamping means; and by a second anchoring connecting a second end of said flexible core and having a portion extending within the perforation of said working end housing, including said second anchoring third clamping means underlying the sleeve of said flexible core, and including said work end housing perforation four clamping means overlying the sleeve of said flexible core and sandwiching said sleeve between said third and fourth clamping means. 40. A flashlight according to claim 39, characterized in that said first and third clamping means comprise a radially extending rib. 41. A flashlight according to claim 39, characterized in that each of said anchors has first closing means and each of the perforations of said working end housing and said base housing include second closing means for engaging said first closing means for maintaining the flexible core in a circumferentially fixed position in relation to the perforations of said base and working end housings. 42. A flashlight according to claim 41, characterized in that the means selected from said first and second closing means comprise a rib extending longitudinally and the others of said closing means comprise a complementary concave surface for receiving said rib. 77 512 Folio 16991 -11 / 12- 43. A lantern according to claim 42, characterized in that the means selected from said third and fourth closing means comprise a rib that extends longitudinally and the others from said third and fourth closing means comprise a complementary concave surface for receiving said rib. . 44 - Flashlight comprising: a base housing forming a power supply end for said flashlight and having a perforation, which extends longitudinally, including at least one battery housed therein; a working end housing, spaced from said base housing, and supporting a reflector, a lens and a lamp, including said working end housing means defining a longitudinally extending perforation; a flexible core assembly, connecting said base housing to said working end housing and comprising a pair of conductive wires, which electrically connect said battery to said lamp; a flexible column surrounding said pair of conducting wires, characterized in that said flexible column also includes a plurality of interconnected and universally rotatable components, and a flexible sleeve component, which engages an outer surface of each of the rotatable components, which form the said column, said sleeve component including a first end, which extends into the perforation of the base housing and a second end, which extends into the perforation of the working end housing, each of said perforations including one plurality of ferrules, which extend inwardly to engage the outer surface of said sleeve.