US20030151914A1 - Safety flashlight - Google Patents
Safety flashlight Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20030151914A1 US20030151914A1 US10/341,728 US34172803A US2003151914A1 US 20030151914 A1 US20030151914 A1 US 20030151914A1 US 34172803 A US34172803 A US 34172803A US 2003151914 A1 US2003151914 A1 US 2003151914A1
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- battery
- compartment
- flashlight
- contact
- bulb
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21V19/00—Fastening of light sources or lamp holders
- F21V19/04—Fastening of light sources or lamp holders with provision for changing light source, e.g. turret
- F21V19/047—Fastening of light sources or lamp holders with provision for changing light source, e.g. turret by using spare light sources comprised in or attached to the lighting device and being intended to replace a defect light source by manual mounting
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21L—LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF, BEING PORTABLE OR SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR TRANSPORTATION
- F21L4/00—Electric lighting devices with self-contained electric batteries or cells
- F21L4/08—Electric lighting devices with self-contained electric batteries or cells characterised by means for in situ recharging of the batteries or cells
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21V15/00—Protecting lighting devices from damage
- F21V15/01—Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M50/00—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
- H01M50/20—Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders
- H01M50/204—Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
- H01M50/207—Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells characterised by their shape
- H01M50/213—Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells characterised by their shape adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M6/00—Primary cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M6/50—Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance, e.g. for maintaining operating temperature
- H01M6/5066—Type recognition
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H02J7/00—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
- H02J7/0042—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries characterised by the mechanical construction
- H02J7/0044—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries characterised by the mechanical construction specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M2200/00—Safety devices for primary or secondary batteries
Definitions
- This invention relates generally to flashlights and more particularly to a flashlight of novel construction especially useful by firefighters and other safety personnel working in hazardous environments.
- the light must still be portable and lightweight and easily attachable to the protective clothing or firefighting equipment worn by the firefighter so that the light does not impose any excessive weight on the firefighter and the firefighter has both hands free for other purposes. Because the firefighter often wishes to hold a light in his hand, the light must have a comfortable grip which does not cause the hand or arm of the firefighter to tire.
- the hazardous environment in which a firefighter's light is to be used demands that the light have an adequate power source for lighting the bulb over an extended period of time so that the firefighter is not deprived of a source of light while in a smoke filled, burning building.
- the flashlight should be operable with either rechargeable batteries, which can be quickly recharged, or non-rechargeable batteries, both of which should be quickly and easily replaceable within the battery housing.
- the non-rechargeable batteries when in the battery housing, should be completely isolated from the recharging circuit so that the non rechargeable batteries are not destroyed if the flashlight is inadvertently placed onto a charger unit with the non-rechargeable batteries therein. Otherwise, the non-rechargeable batteries may explode, not only causing damage to the flashlight but also possibly injuring the firefighter himself.
- the primary object of this invention is to provide a novel flashlight particularly adapted for use in severe hazardous conditions, such as use by a firefighter, and capable of satisfying the requirements noted above.
- Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel firefighter's light which is portable, lightweight, small in size, durable and operable with a rechargeable battery pack or non-rechargeable batteries, both of which are quickly and easily replaced within the battery compartment.
- Still another object of the invention is to provide the above novel flashlight in which the non-rechargeable batteries, when in the battery compartment, are isolated from the recharging circuit and can not be destroyed if the flashlight is inadvertently placed into a charging unit.
- the rechargeable battery pack and the non-rechargeable batteries fit securely and snuggly in the battery housing, but are quickly and easily replaceable when necessary.
- the rechargeable battery pack has contacts on one side thereof which engage against the charging contacts extending through a recessed portion of the rear wall of the battery housing for recharging the battery pack when necessary.
- Another object of the invention resides in the provision of the above novel flashlight in which the bulb containing head compartment is at right angles to the battery compartment and in which the electrical components connecting the batteries to the bulb are all quickly and easily assembled through push fits without requiring any separate wires and soldering connections. This greatly reduces the assembly time and therefor reduces cost.
- a further object of the invention resides in the provision of the above flashlight in which all the various components of the flashlight are secured snugly in place to ensure proper and continued operation of the flashlight under the, abusive handling in severe and dangerous conditions experienced by a firefighter.
- FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the novel firefighter's flashlight of the invention shown at about three-quarters its actual size;
- FIG. 2 is a side view of the flashlight of FIG. 1 taken along line 2 - 2 of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the flashlight taken along line 3 - 3 of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the flashlight taken along line 4 - 4 of FIG. 3;
- FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 5 - 5 of FIG. 4;
- FIG. 6 is an enlarged front perspective view from the open of the head portion of the flashlight
- FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 7 - 7 of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the flashlight taken along line 8 - 8 of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 9 is an exploded front perspective view of the flashlight illustrating the various components thereof;
- FIG. 10 illustrates a right battery spring at about twice its actual size
- FIG. 11 is an upper end view of the right batter spring taken along line 11 - 11 of FIG. 10;
- FIG. 12 illustrates the left battery spring at about twice its actual size
- FIG. 13 is an upper end view of the left battery spring taken along line 13 - 13 of FIG. 12;
- FIG. 14 illustrates the positive contact coil spring at about four times its actual size
- FIG. 15 is a view of the positive contact spring taken along line 14 - 14 of FIG. 12;
- FIG. 16 is a negative contact coil spring illustrated at about twice its actual size
- FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the rechargeable battery pack illustrating the charging contacts on the rear wall of the battery pack;
- FIG. 18 is a top perspective view of the charger assembly used with the flashlight of FIG. 1 for charging the rechargeable battery pack contained therein;
- FIG. 19 is a top plan view of the charger assembly taken along line 19 - 19 of FIG. 18;
- the novel flashlight 20 of the invention includes a one-piece, rigid, plastic casing 22 having an elongated generally rectangular lower tubular body portion 24 , with an enlarged base 25 , defining an internal battery receiving compartment 26 , the bottom open end of which is normally dosed by a bottom cap assembly 28 which fits within base 25 .
- Casing 22 also includes an upper head portion 30 connected at a right angle to the body portion 24 having an outer generally cylindrical wall 31 defining an open ended bulb mounting compartment 32 , which is normally closed by a head cap assembly 34 .
- Battery compartment 26 is separated from bulb compartment 32 by a transverse wall or platform 36 integrally molded to the walls forming body portion 24 .
- a bulb 40 is mounted within compartment 32 , a power source in the form of rechargeable NiCad battery pack 42 or four non-rechargeable C cell alkaline batteries 44 a , 44 b , 44 c , and 44 d mounted within battery compartment 46 , provide power to bulb 40 through circuitry including left positive battery spring 46 , right negative battery spring 48 , and a push button operating switch assembly 50 mounted on the side of wall 31 .
- a power source in the form of rechargeable NiCad battery pack 42 or four non-rechargeable C cell alkaline batteries 44 a , 44 b , 44 c , and 44 d mounted within battery compartment 46 , provide power to bulb 40 through circuitry including left positive battery spring 46 , right negative battery spring 48 , and a push button operating switch assembly 50 mounted on the side of wall 31 .
- the flashlight 20 may be advantageously powered by the rechargeable battery pack 42 (FIGS. 9 and 17) or by the non-rechargeable alkaline cells 44 a, b, c, and d (FIG. 9).
- the rechargeable battery pack 42 FIGS. 9 and 17
- the non-rechargeable alkaline cells 44 a, b, c, and d FIG. 9
- the bottom cap assembly 28 includes a bottom cap 52 having a bottom wall 54 formed as part of a lower, generally rectangular flange 56 and a smaller generally rectangular upper flange 58 having a recess therearound which receives an O-ring 60 .
- a hard resilient foam-insulating pad 62 is secured on top of wall 54 and an electrically conductive metal fabric material 64 is secured on top of pad 62 .
- 3 and 4 flanges 46 and 58 fit into correspondingly shaped bores at the open end of base 25 and the cap is held in place by a pair of shoulder screws 66 which pass through openings in side lugs 68 on the cap and thread into threaded openings provided in side lugs 70 in body portion 24 .
- the battery pack 42 is of generally rectangular configuration, and includes four NiCad batteries wrapped within an insulating sleeve and mounted within an insulating spacer 43 at its lower end.
- Pack 42 has positive and negative output terminals 72 and 74 , respectively, at its upper end 76 for engaging positive and negative spring terminals 46 and 48 , respectively, when the pack is mounted within compartment 26 .
- the length of the pack from its upper end 76 to the bottom end 78 of spacer 43 which engages against the conductive surface 64 of resilient pad 62 is approximately equal to the length of compartment 26 from surface 64 to the bottom face 37 of platform 36 so that the pack is retained within compartment 26 so as to ensure continued operation and minimize any damage thereto during use.
- a plurality of recharging spring contacts 80 , 82 , and 84 are fixed at the bottom of the rear wall 85 of pack 42 , the spring contacts engaging against the recharging spring contact buttons 86 , 88 , and 90 , respectively, mounted within recesses 92 , 94 , and 96 , respectively, provided at the rear wall 91 of the body portion 24 and base 25 .
- the recesses extend outwardly from the inside face 98 of wall 91 and are separated by small vertical ribs 100 and 102 , the inside faces of which are in line with face 98 of wall 91 . As shown in FIGS.
- buttons 86 , 88 , 90 are located within recesses 92 , 94 , and 96 below the plane of face 98 and the inside surfaces of ribs 100 and 102 .
- the outer contact faces of buttons 86 , 88 , and 90 are positioned within recesses 104 , 106 , and 108 defined by the aligned external faces of rear wall 91 and external ribs 110 and 112 .
- Battery spacer 43 includes a flange 117 which has a predetermined tapered configuration on one side 118 which conforms to the same configuration on the inside face 119 of left side wall 120 of body portion 24 . This ensures that the pack can be inserted into the compartment 26 in only one way and in proper orientation so that the spring contact fingers 80 , 82 , and 84 properly engage against buttons 92 , 94 , and 96 .
- Flange 117 also is sized so that it engages snugly against the walls of compartment 26 to hold the pack in place against lateral movement within the compartment.
- the pack 42 retained in place against any significant longitudinal movement between the top of pad 32 and the bottom face 37 of wall 36 , it is also restrained against lateral movement by the snug fit between flange 117 and the inside faces compartment 26 .
- the NiCad battery pi 42 is designed to supply two hours of burn time. It can be recharged in about one hour by placement in a charging unit 121 illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19.
- non-rechargeable C-cell alkaline batteries 44 a , 44 b , 44 c , and 44 d may be used.
- the calls are placed into the compartment 26 in two rows as shown in FIG. 9 with the positive and negative electrodes of batteries 44 a and 44 c engaging against battery spring contacts 46 and 48 , respectively, and the cap assembly 28 is again tightened in place.
- the negative electrode of cell 44 b and the positive electrode of cell 44 d engage tightly against the conductive metal fabric 64 to complete the electrical circuit from one row of batteries to the other.
- the batteries fit within the walls of body portion 24 defining compartment 26 so that the inside face 98 of rear wall 91 and the inside faces of ribs 100 and 102 prevent the cells 44 from engaging against the recessed contacts 86 , 88 , and 90 which are part of the recharging circuit.
- This construction and arrangement provides a very simple way of preventing damage to the cells 44 if the flashlight were inadvertently placed into the charging unit 121 with those cells in compartment 26 .
- the cells 44 are thus totally isolated from charging contacts 86 , 88 , and 90 and can not be damaged by any recharging current.
- the simplicity of this construction and the significant benefit which it provides is a major feature of this invention.
- the flashlight 20 When the flashlight 20 is powered by the four-C call alkaline batteries 44 , it provides up to five hours of burn time.
- a tubular socket 120 extends forwardly from the rear wall 122 of head portion 30 and has a bore 126 .
- a smaller diameter socket 128 and ribs 130 extend forwardly a short distance from rear wall 122 centered within bore 126 .
- a small positive contact coil spring 132 fits within bore 128 and includes an elongated bent end 134 which extends through a slot 136 and then laterally into engagement with an output terminal 138 of on/off switch 140 which is operated by a push button 142 and are part of the switch assembly 50 .
- the left battery coil spring 46 (FIGS.
- a negative contact spring 162 fits within bore 126 and has its inner end 164 extending laterally from the coils and bent inwardly toward wall 122 .
- the bent end 164 extends outwardly through a slot 166 in socket 120 so that the inner end of spring 162 can rest against ribs 130 axially spaced from rear wall 122 .
- the bent end 164 fits into a contact black 168 mounted within an electrically insulating channel 170 extending down to spring housing 172 identical to housing 150 .
- the negative right battery spring 48 (FIGS. 10 and 11) is mounted within housing 172 and its tapered coiled end extends through opening 174 in platform 36 and down into battery compartment 26 . As shown in FIGS.
- the inner terminal wire end 49 of the spring 48 is of a multi-bend configuration and, when in place as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 7 , end 49 nests within channel 170 and makes contact with the end 164 of spring 162 within contact block 168 .
- Halogen bulb 40 includes a rear contact 180 , a plug having an outer metal wall 182 formed with a metal flange 184 , and a filament connected at one end to contact 180 and at its other and to a soldered contact on the outer wall 182 .
- Wall 182 fits within the outer end of spring 162 which engages against flange 184 and the bulb is retained in place within bore 126 by the head assembly 34 .
- Assembly 34 includes a reflector 190 having a central hub 192 which fits over bulb 40 and engages against flange 184 , a lens ring 194 which fits snug within an escutcheon 196 , lens ring 194 being threaded at 198 to thread on to the threaded open end 200 of head portion 30 .
- hub 192 forces flange 184 and plug 182 inwardly, compressing spring 162 and engaging contact 180 with spring 132 thus completing the electrical circuit between the bulb, switch 140 , and battery terminals 46 and 48 .
- An O-ring 197 seals between lens ring 194 and dreaded head portion 200 .
- the manner in which the electrical circuit is formed is unique and enables the components of the flashlight to be quickly and easily assembled without the need of any separate wiring or soldering connections.
- the terminal contact ends of battery spring 46 and positive marina 132 are push fits into the contact fingers 138 and 139 of switch 140 .
- the terminal contact ends of battery spring 48 and negative spring 162 are push fits into contact block 168 .
- the multi-bend configurations of the ends 47 and 49 of springs 46 and 48 are nested within electrically insulating channels 160 and 170 to avoid any shorts within the circuit.
- the switch assembly 50 is mounted on the side of the outer wall 31 of head portion 30 and is readily accessible for operation when the flashlight is being held in the right hand of a firefighter.
- Assembly 50 includes push button 152 and O-ring 202 mounted on the outer end of button 142 , with the push button being slidably retained within the opening 204 on the side of wall 31 by bent over tabs 206 on the inside edge of button 142 .
- Button 142 operates against the force of spring 208 to actuate switch 140 which is held in place in compartment 32 by switch lock 210 and lock ring 212 .
- a belt clip 214 and a slip key ring 216 Attached to head portion 30 are a belt clip 214 and a slip key ring 216 so that the flashlight may be readily connected to a fireman's belt or strap or other protective gear, so as to free both hands of the fireman for other uses.
- a pressure relief check valve 220 is mounted in the rear wall of head portion 30 to relieve any buildup of pressure in compartment 32 .
- a locking assembly 224 including a locking strip 226 , lock screw 228 , gasket 230 , and retaining ring 232 may be provided on the top of head portion 30 to lock escutcheon 196 against rotation on head portion 30 .
- sockets 234 and 236 are fixed to rear wall 122 for holding spare bulbs for the flashlight.
- a label 238 may be fixed to the inside face of the front wall of the flashlight to indicate the proper orientation of the four C-cell batteries within compartment 26 .
- a label 240 may be provided on the front wall of the flashlight and a label 242 may be provided on the bottom cap 52 to indicate appropriate information to the firefighter.
- the flashlight 20 containing a battery pack 42 when the flashlight 20 containing a battery pack 42 is to be recharged, the flashlight is conveniently placed in the charger 121 illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19.
- the charger is usually bolted in place on a flat surface such as a table or a wall and includes circuitry suitable for charging the flashlight.
- the charger includes a plurality of spring loaded finger contacts 250 , 252 , and 254 for engagement by contacts 86 , 88 , and 90 , respectively, when the base portion 25 of flashlight 20 is pushed down into the well 260 of charger unit 121 . As shown in FIG.
- the rear wall 262 of base 25 is straight while the front wall 264 is slightly curved, thus conforming to the same configuration of the rear wall 256 and front wall 257 defining well 260 of charger unit 121 (FIG. 1)
- a push button switch 268 is mounted on the bottom wall of well 260 and is actuated to a closed position by bottom cap 52 as the flashlight is inserted into well 260 , thus automatically turning the charging unit 121 on to start the recharging cycle.
- a spring loaded retaining member 270 including two spaced apart, double tapered retaining clips 272 which release outwardly from well 260 and permit the base 25 of the flashlight to be pushed down into the well when the flashlight is to be recharged.
- clips 270 spring back inwardly and lock against tapered surfaces 278 on base 25 on both sides of lugs 70 . In this way during the recharging process the flashlight is locked in place within the charging unit.
- flashlight may be removed from well 260 with one hand merely by pulling the light out of the well, forcing the tapered clips 272 to spring outwardly and thus release the flashlight. This is a very useful convenience, since the firefighter need only use one hand to remove the flashlight while his other hand is available for other uses.
Abstract
A flashlight particularly useful by safety personnel such as a firefighter and capable of operation with rechargeable battery means or non-rechargeable battery means. The flashlight includes a one-piece plastic casing having a tubular body portion defining a battery compartment and a right angled head portion in which a light bulb is mounted. The battery compartment is closed by an end cap on which electrical conductive means is mounted to form a part of the battery circuit when non-rechargeable batteries are placed in the compartment. A plurality of charging contacts are mounted on the rear wall of the body portion of the flashlight for enabling rechargeable batteries to be recharged while in the compartment. The charging contacts are recessed within the rear wall of the battery compartment so that they can not be engaged by non-rechargeable batteries within the compartment. This prevents the non-rechargeable batteries from being damaged if the flashlight were inadvertently placed into a charging unit with non-rechargeable batteries in the compartment. The circuitry connecting the batteries to the light bulb includes uniquely structured elements which are quickly and easily connected together to facilitate assembly of the flashlight.
Description
- This invention relates generally to flashlights and more particularly to a flashlight of novel construction especially useful by firefighters and other safety personnel working in hazardous environments.
- There are many known flashlights of various designs, sizes, and configurations, but few of those are specially designed for use in hazardous environments. None of those adequately satisfies the requirements for flashlights operating as firefighting equipment. For example, a light used by firefighters must be durable and impact resistant, and must survive drops of up to about thirty feet. It must be temperature resistant and waterproof. It must produce a high intensity light output to cut through smoke, fog, and dust. The light needs to be constructed in a way that it meets UL safety requirement in the United States and Canada and Cenelec requirements in foreign markets. In spite of these severe operating requirements, the light must still be portable and lightweight and easily attachable to the protective clothing or firefighting equipment worn by the firefighter so that the light does not impose any excessive weight on the firefighter and the firefighter has both hands free for other purposes. Because the firefighter often wishes to hold a light in his hand, the light must have a comfortable grip which does not cause the hand or arm of the firefighter to tire.
- The hazardous environment in which a firefighter's light is to be used demands that the light have an adequate power source for lighting the bulb over an extended period of time so that the firefighter is not deprived of a source of light while in a smoke filled, burning building. To enhance the usefulness of the flashlight, it should be operable with either rechargeable batteries, which can be quickly recharged, or non-rechargeable batteries, both of which should be quickly and easily replaceable within the battery housing. In addition, the non-rechargeable batteries, when in the battery housing, should be completely isolated from the recharging circuit so that the non rechargeable batteries are not destroyed if the flashlight is inadvertently placed onto a charger unit with the non-rechargeable batteries therein. Otherwise, the non-rechargeable batteries may explode, not only causing damage to the flashlight but also possibly injuring the firefighter himself.
- While the specialized flashlight must satisfy all these requirements for operation under very severe and hazardous conditions, to be accepted commercially the light must still be manufactured and assembled in a way which minimizes cost.
- The firefighters flashlight of the invention described hereinbelow was developed with those requirements in mind.
- Accordingly, the primary object of this invention is to provide a novel flashlight particularly adapted for use in severe hazardous conditions, such as use by a firefighter, and capable of satisfying the requirements noted above.
- Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel firefighter's light which is portable, lightweight, small in size, durable and operable with a rechargeable battery pack or non-rechargeable batteries, both of which are quickly and easily replaced within the battery compartment.
- Still another object of the invention is to provide the above novel flashlight in which the non-rechargeable batteries, when in the battery compartment, are isolated from the recharging circuit and can not be destroyed if the flashlight is inadvertently placed into a charging unit. The rechargeable battery pack and the non-rechargeable batteries fit securely and snuggly in the battery housing, but are quickly and easily replaceable when necessary. The rechargeable battery pack has contacts on one side thereof which engage against the charging contacts extending through a recessed portion of the rear wall of the battery housing for recharging the battery pack when necessary. When non-rechargeable batteries are placed within the battery housing, they do not engage the recharging contacts but rather make electrical connection through a conductive pad mounted on the bottom cap of the battery housing. In this way, the non-rechargeable batteries are isolated from the recharging contacts.
- Another object of the invention resides in the provision of the above novel flashlight in which the bulb containing head compartment is at right angles to the battery compartment and in which the electrical components connecting the batteries to the bulb are all quickly and easily assembled through push fits without requiring any separate wires and soldering connections. This greatly reduces the assembly time and therefor reduces cost.
- A further object of the invention resides in the provision of the above flashlight in which all the various components of the flashlight are secured snugly in place to ensure proper and continued operation of the flashlight under the, abusive handling in severe and dangerous conditions experienced by a firefighter.
- Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from reading the detailed description of the invention which follows, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings.
- FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the novel firefighter's flashlight of the invention shown at about three-quarters its actual size;
- FIG. 2 is a side view of the flashlight of FIG. 1 taken along line2-2 of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the flashlight taken along line3-3 of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the flashlight taken along line4-4 of FIG. 3;
- FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line5-5 of FIG. 4;
- FIG. 6 is an enlarged front perspective view from the open of the head portion of the flashlight;
- FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line7-7 of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the flashlight taken along line8-8 of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 9 is an exploded front perspective view of the flashlight illustrating the various components thereof;
- FIG. 10 illustrates a right battery spring at about twice its actual size;
- FIG. 11 is an upper end view of the right batter spring taken along line11-11 of FIG. 10;
- FIG. 12 illustrates the left battery spring at about twice its actual size;
- FIG. 13 is an upper end view of the left battery spring taken along line13-13 of FIG. 12;
- FIG. 14 illustrates the positive contact coil spring at about four times its actual size;
- FIG. 15 is a view of the positive contact spring taken along line14-14 of FIG. 12;
- FIG. 16 is a negative contact coil spring illustrated at about twice its actual size;
- FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the rechargeable battery pack illustrating the charging contacts on the rear wall of the battery pack;
- FIG. 18 is a top perspective view of the charger assembly used with the flashlight of FIG. 1 for charging the rechargeable battery pack contained therein;
- FIG. 19 is a top plan view of the charger assembly taken along line19-19 of FIG. 18;
- Referring now to the drawings the
novel flashlight 20 of the invention includes a one-piece, rigid,plastic casing 22 having an elongated generally rectangular lowertubular body portion 24, with an enlargedbase 25, defining an internalbattery receiving compartment 26, the bottom open end of which is normally dosed by abottom cap assembly 28 which fits withinbase 25.Casing 22 also includes anupper head portion 30 connected at a right angle to thebody portion 24 having an outer generallycylindrical wall 31 defining an open endedbulb mounting compartment 32, which is normally closed by ahead cap assembly 34.Battery compartment 26 is separated frombulb compartment 32 by a transverse wall orplatform 36 integrally molded to the walls formingbody portion 24. - A
bulb 40 is mounted withincompartment 32, a power source in the form of rechargeableNiCad battery pack 42 or four non-rechargeable C cellalkaline batteries battery compartment 46, provide power to bulb 40 through circuitry including leftpositive battery spring 46, rightnegative battery spring 48, and a push buttonoperating switch assembly 50 mounted on the side ofwall 31. The way in whichbulb 40 is mounted withincompartment 32 and the circuitry by which it receives power frombattery terminals - As mentioned already, the
flashlight 20 may be advantageously powered by the rechargeable battery pack 42 (FIGS. 9 and 17) or by the non-rechargeablealkaline cells 44 a, b, c, and d (FIG. 9). The way in which those powered sources are selectively mounted within thebattery compartment 26 will now be described. - As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and9, the
bottom cap assembly 28 includes abottom cap 52 having abottom wall 54 formed as part of a lower, generallyrectangular flange 56 and a smaller generally rectangularupper flange 58 having a recess therearound which receives an O-ring 60. A hard resilient foam-insulatingpad 62 is secured on top ofwall 54 and an electrically conductivemetal fabric material 64 is secured on top ofpad 62. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4flanges base 25 and the cap is held in place by a pair ofshoulder screws 66 which pass through openings inside lugs 68 on the cap and thread into threaded openings provided inside lugs 70 inbody portion 24. - As shown in FIGS. 9 and 17, the
battery pack 42 is of generally rectangular configuration, and includes four NiCad batteries wrapped within an insulating sleeve and mounted within aninsulating spacer 43 at its lower end.Pack 42 has positive andnegative output terminals upper end 76 for engaging positive andnegative spring terminals compartment 26. The length of the pack from itsupper end 76 to thebottom end 78 ofspacer 43 which engages against theconductive surface 64 ofresilient pad 62 is approximately equal to the length ofcompartment 26 fromsurface 64 to thebottom face 37 ofplatform 36 so that the pack is retained withincompartment 26 so as to ensure continued operation and minimize any damage thereto during use. A plurality of rechargingspring contacts rear wall 85 ofpack 42, the spring contacts engaging against the rechargingspring contact buttons recesses rear wall 91 of thebody portion 24 andbase 25. The recesses extend outwardly from theinside face 98 ofwall 91 and are separated by smallvertical ribs face 98 ofwall 91. As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 the inside contact surfaces ofbuttons recesses face 98 and the inside surfaces ofribs buttons recesses 104, 106, and 108 defined by the aligned external faces ofrear wall 91 andexternal ribs -
Battery spacer 43 includes aflange 117 which has a predetermined tapered configuration on oneside 118 which conforms to the same configuration on theinside face 119 ofleft side wall 120 ofbody portion 24. This ensures that the pack can be inserted into thecompartment 26 in only one way and in proper orientation so that thespring contact fingers buttons Flange 117 also is sized so that it engages snugly against the walls ofcompartment 26 to hold the pack in place against lateral movement within the compartment. Thus, not only is thepack 42 retained in place against any significant longitudinal movement between the top ofpad 32 and thebottom face 37 ofwall 36, it is also restrained against lateral movement by the snug fit betweenflange 117 and the inside facescompartment 26. - The
NiCad battery pi 42 is designed to supply two hours of burn time. It can be recharged in about one hour by placement in acharging unit 121 illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19. - When desired, instead of using
battery pack 42 in the flashlight, four non-rechargeable C-cellalkaline batteries compartment 26 in two rows as shown in FIG. 9 with the positive and negative electrodes ofbatteries battery spring contacts cap assembly 28 is again tightened in place. The negative electrode ofcell 44 b and the positive electrode ofcell 44 d engage tightly against theconductive metal fabric 64 to complete the electrical circuit from one row of batteries to the other. The batteries fit within the walls ofbody portion 24 definingcompartment 26 so that theinside face 98 ofrear wall 91 and the inside faces ofribs contacts unit 121 with those cells incompartment 26. The cells 44 are thus totally isolated from chargingcontacts - When the
flashlight 20 is powered by the four-C call alkaline batteries 44, it provides up to five hours of burn time. - The manner in which
bulb 40 is mounted withincompartment 32 and the circuitry by which power id delivered from battery springs 46 and 48 tobulb 40 will now be described. Atubular socket 120 extends forwardly from therear wall 122 ofhead portion 30 and has abore 126. Asmaller diameter socket 128 andribs 130 extend forwardly a short distance fromrear wall 122 centered withinbore 126. A small positive contact coil spring 132 (FIGS. 14 and 15) fits withinbore 128 and includes an elongatedbent end 134 which extends through a slot 136 and then laterally into engagement with anoutput terminal 138 of on/offswitch 140 which is operated by apush button 142 and are part of theswitch assembly 50. The left battery coil spring 46 (FIGS. 12 and 13) has its large coil end mounted within acompartment 150 formed byribs 152 andshelf 154 on top ofplatform 36. The smaller coils extend downwardly throughopening 156 inplatform 36 intobattery compartment 26. Extending from the large coil end ofspring 46 is aterminal wire end 47 of multi-bend configuration which nests within an insulatingchannel 160 defined by ribs projecting from thewall 122.Wire end 47 extends through aslot 161 insocket 120 so that its terminal end engagesinput terminal 139 ofswitch 140. - A negative contact spring162 (FIG. 16) fits within
bore 126 and has itsinner end 164 extending laterally from the coils and bent inwardly towardwall 122. Thebent end 164 extends outwardly through aslot 166 insocket 120 so that the inner end ofspring 162 can rest againstribs 130 axially spaced fromrear wall 122. Thebent end 164 fits into a contact black 168 mounted within an electrically insulating channel 170 extending down to spring housing 172 identical tohousing 150. The negative right battery spring 48 (FIGS. 10 and 11) is mounted within housing 172 and its tapered coiled end extends throughopening 174 inplatform 36 and down intobattery compartment 26. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the innerterminal wire end 49 of thespring 48 is of a multi-bend configuration and, when in place as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 7, end 49 nests within channel 170 and makes contact with theend 164 ofspring 162 withincontact block 168. -
Halogen bulb 40 includes arear contact 180, a plug having anouter metal wall 182 formed with ametal flange 184, and a filament connected at one end to contact 180 and at its other and to a soldered contact on theouter wall 182.Wall 182 fits within the outer end ofspring 162 which engages againstflange 184 and the bulb is retained in place withinbore 126 by thehead assembly 34.Assembly 34 includes areflector 190 having acentral hub 192 which fits overbulb 40 and engages againstflange 184, alens ring 194 which fits snug within anescutcheon 196,lens ring 194 being threaded at 198 to thread on to the threadedopen end 200 ofhead portion 30. Whencap assembly 34 is threaded ontohead portion 30,hub 192 forces flange 184 and plug 182 inwardly, compressingspring 162 andengaging contact 180 withspring 132 thus completing the electrical circuit between the bulb,switch 140, andbattery terminals ring 197 seals betweenlens ring 194 anddreaded head portion 200. - The manner in which the electrical circuit is formed is unique and enables the components of the flashlight to be quickly and easily assembled without the need of any separate wiring or soldering connections. The terminal contact ends of
battery spring 46 andpositive marina 132 are push fits into thecontact fingers switch 140. Similarly, the terminal contact ends ofbattery spring 48 andnegative spring 162 are push fits intocontact block 168. Also, the multi-bend configurations of theends springs channels 160 and 170 to avoid any shorts within the circuit. - It should be noted that the
switch assembly 50 is mounted on the side of theouter wall 31 ofhead portion 30 and is readily accessible for operation when the flashlight is being held in the right hand of a firefighter.Assembly 50 includespush button 152 and O-ring 202 mounted on the outer end ofbutton 142, with the push button being slidably retained within theopening 204 on the side ofwall 31 by bent overtabs 206 on the inside edge ofbutton 142.Button 142 operates against the force ofspring 208 to actuateswitch 140 which is held in place incompartment 32 byswitch lock 210 andlock ring 212. - Attached to
head portion 30 are abelt clip 214 and a slipkey ring 216 so that the flashlight may be readily connected to a fireman's belt or strap or other protective gear, so as to free both hands of the fireman for other uses. - A pressure
relief check valve 220 is mounted in the rear wall ofhead portion 30 to relieve any buildup of pressure incompartment 32. - A locking
assembly 224 including alocking strip 226,lock screw 228,gasket 230, and retainingring 232 may be provided on the top ofhead portion 30 to lockescutcheon 196 against rotation onhead portion 30. - Also fixed to
rear wall 122 aresockets - A
label 238 may be fixed to the inside face of the front wall of the flashlight to indicate the proper orientation of the four C-cell batteries withincompartment 26. Alabel 240 may be provided on the front wall of the flashlight and alabel 242 may be provided on thebottom cap 52 to indicate appropriate information to the firefighter. - As mentioned previously, when the
flashlight 20 containing abattery pack 42 is to be recharged, the flashlight is conveniently placed in thecharger 121 illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19. The charger is usually bolted in place on a flat surface such as a table or a wall and includes circuitry suitable for charging the flashlight. The charger includes a plurality of spring loadedfinger contacts contacts base portion 25 offlashlight 20 is pushed down into the well 260 ofcharger unit 121. As shown in FIG. 8, therear wall 262 ofbase 25 is straight while thefront wall 264 is slightly curved, thus conforming to the same configuration of therear wall 256 andfront wall 257 defining well 260 of charger unit 121 (FIG. 1) This ensures that the flashlight to be recharged can go into the well 260 only in proper orientation so thatcontacts contact fingers push button switch 268 is mounted on the bottom wall of well 260 and is actuated to a closed position bybottom cap 52 as the flashlight is inserted into well 260, thus automatically turning thecharging unit 121 on to start the recharging cycle. Mounted on each side ofwell 260 is a spring loaded retainingmember 270 including two spaced apart, double tapered retaining clips 272 which release outwardly from well 260 and permit thebase 25 of the flashlight to be pushed down into the well when the flashlight is to be recharged. Whenbase 25 is fully seated in well 260,clips 270 spring back inwardly and lock against taperedsurfaces 278 onbase 25 on both sides oflugs 70. In this way during the recharging process the flashlight is locked in place within the charging unit. When the charging cycle is completed, flashlight may be removed from well 260 with one hand merely by pulling the light out of the well, forcing the taperedclips 272 to spring outwardly and thus release the flashlight. This is a very useful convenience, since the firefighter need only use one hand to remove the flashlight while his other hand is available for other uses. - The foregoing relates to preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention, it being understood that other variants and embodiments thereof are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention, the latter being defined by the appended claims.
Claims (16)
1. A flashlight capable of operation with rechargeable battery means or non-rechargeable battery means comprising a casing having a tubular body portion defining a battery compartment and a head portion, a light bulb mounted within said head portion, battery contact means mounted at one end of said compartment, electrical circuit means connecting said battery contact means to said bulb, the other end of said compartment being open, an end cap for closing said open end, electrical conductive means mounted on said end cap and forming a part of the battery circuit when non-rechargeable battery means is placed in said compartment, charging contact means mounted on wall means of said body portion for enabling said rechargeable battery means to be recharged while in said compartment, said charging contact means being positioned on said wall means so that they can not be contacted by non-rechargeable battery means within said compartment.
2. The flashlight of claim 1 , said wall mounted charging contact means being mounted adjacent the open end of said compartment.
3. The flashlight of claim 2 , comprising a rechargeable battery pack having an inner end engaging said battery contact means and an outer end engaging said end cap but being electrically insulated therefrom, recharging contact means mounted adjacent said outer end for engaging said wall mounted contact means.
4. The flashlight of claim 3 , comprising cooperating means on said tubular body portion and said battery pack ensuring that said battery pack can enter said compartment only in a proper orientation so that said recharging contact means engages said wall mounted contact means.
5. The flashlight of claim 3 , said end cap means comprising a non-conductive pad, said electrical conductive means being a conductive cover on said pad, said battery pack being electrically insulated from said conductive cover.
6. The flashlight of claim 1 , said end cap means comprising a non-conductive pad, said electrically conductive means being a conductive cover on said pad.
7. The flashlight of claim 1 , wherein said compartment is of a length adapted to accommodate rechargeable battery means or non-rechargeable battery means of substantially the same length.
8. The flashlight of claim 1 , said charging contact means being recessed within said wall means.
9. The flashlight of claim 1 , wherein said casing is of one-piece molded plastic and said head portion is at a substantially right angle to said body portion, said head portion having a rear wall and a generally cylindrical outer wall extended forwardly from said rear wall and defining a bulb mounting compartment, a partition separating said battery compartment from said bulb compartment, a first tubular socket extending forwardly from said rear wall, a second shorter tubular socket connected to said rear wall and located within said first socket, switch means mounted within said bulb compartment and having input and output terminals, a first contact spring mounted within said first socket and having its inner wire end connected to a contact block, a second contact spring mounted within said second socket and having its inner end connected to the output terminal of said switch means, said bulb having a rear contact engaging against the outer end of said second contact spring and a flange contact engaging against the outer end of said first contact spring to complete an electrical circuit through said bulb, said battery contact means including positive and negative contact springs with the outer ends of said battery contact springs positioned within said battery compartment and the inner ends thereof positioned within said bulb compartment, the inner end of said positive battery spring having a bent wire configuration so that the bent end extends through said bulb compartment into direct connection with the input terminal of said switch means, the inner end of said negative battery contact spring having a bent wire configuration so that its inner end extends to said contact block in direct connection with the inner end of said first contact spring, and a cap assembly secured to the outer wall of said head portion and retaining said bulb within said first socket.
10. The flashlight of claim 9 , wherein the inner bent ends of said positive battery spring and said negative battery spring are nested in insulating channels formed in said bulb compartment.
11. The flashlight of claim 9 , wherein the connection between the bent end of the positive battery spring and the input terminal of said switch means is a push fit, and the connection between the bent inner end of the negative battery contact spring and the contact block is a push fit.
12. The flashlight of claim 1 , combined with a charging unit comprising a well for receiving the bottom end of said flashlight, said well having contact means mounted on one wall for engaging said charging contact means on said flashlight, said flashlight and said well having cooperating alignment structure which ensure that said flashlight can enter said well only in an orientation in which said charging contact means on said flashlight will engage said charging contacts within said well.
13. The combination of claim 12 , comprising automatically releasable retaining means mounted within said well for automatically locking said flashlight when it is pushed into said well and automatically releasing said flashlight when it is pulled out of said well.
14. A flashlight comprising a casing having a tubular body portion defining a battery compartment and a head portion at a substantially right angle to said body portion, battery contact means mounted at one end of said battery compartment, said head portion having a rear wall and a generally cylindrical outer wall extending forwardly from said rear wall and defining a bulb mounting compartment, a partition separating said battery compartment from said bulb compartment, a first tubular socket extending forwardly from said rear wall, a second shorter tubular socket connected to said rear wall and located within said first socket, switch means mounted within said bulb compartment having input and output terminals, a first contact spring mounted within said first socket and having its inner wire end connected to a contact block, a second contact spring mounted within said second socket and having its inner end connected to the output terminal of said switch means, a bulb having a rear contact engaging against the outer end of said second contact spring and a flange contact engaging against the outer end of said first contact spring to complete an electric circuit through said bulb, said battery contact means including positive and negative contact springs with the outer ends of said battery contact springs positioned within said battery compartment and the inner ends thereof positioned within said bulb compartment, the inner end of said positive battery spring having a bent-wire configuration so that the bent end extends through said bulb compartment into direct connection with the input terminal of said switch means, the inner end of said negative battery contact spring having a bent-wire configuration so that its inner end extends to said contact block in direct connection with the inner end of said first contact spring, and a cap assembly secured to the outer wall of said head portion and retaining said bulb within said first socket.
15. The flashlight of claim 14 , wherein the inner bent wire ends of said positive battery spring and said negative battery spring are nested in insulating channels formed in said bulb compartment.
16. The flashlight of claim 14 , wherein the connection between the bent end of the positive battery spring and the input terminal of said switch means is a push fit, and the connection between the bent inner end of the negative battery contact spring and the contact block is a push fit.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US10/341,728 US20030151914A1 (en) | 1999-07-02 | 2003-01-14 | Safety flashlight |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US09/346,864 US6161938A (en) | 1999-07-02 | 1999-07-02 | Safety flashlight |
US09/715,974 US6505952B1 (en) | 1999-07-02 | 2000-11-17 | Safety flashlight |
US10/341,728 US20030151914A1 (en) | 1999-07-02 | 2003-01-14 | Safety flashlight |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US09/715,974 Continuation US6505952B1 (en) | 1999-07-02 | 2000-11-17 | Safety flashlight |
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US20030151914A1 true US20030151914A1 (en) | 2003-08-14 |
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ID=23361350
Family Applications (3)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US09/346,864 Expired - Lifetime US6161938A (en) | 1999-07-02 | 1999-07-02 | Safety flashlight |
US09/715,974 Expired - Lifetime US6505952B1 (en) | 1999-07-02 | 2000-11-17 | Safety flashlight |
US10/341,728 Abandoned US20030151914A1 (en) | 1999-07-02 | 2003-01-14 | Safety flashlight |
Family Applications Before (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US09/346,864 Expired - Lifetime US6161938A (en) | 1999-07-02 | 1999-07-02 | Safety flashlight |
US09/715,974 Expired - Lifetime US6505952B1 (en) | 1999-07-02 | 2000-11-17 | Safety flashlight |
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US (3) | US6161938A (en) |
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WO2012151379A1 (en) * | 2011-05-05 | 2012-11-08 | Streamlight, Inc. | Portable light with safety lock |
US8384340B2 (en) | 2007-06-26 | 2013-02-26 | The Coleman Company, Inc. | Electrical appliance that utilizes multiple power sources |
US8777446B2 (en) | 2010-02-09 | 2014-07-15 | Streamlight, Inc. | Portable light having a rotatable head |
US9285105B2 (en) | 2012-05-08 | 2016-03-15 | Streamlight, Inc. | Head light having a rotatable face cap with plural lenses |
US20190074701A1 (en) * | 2014-12-02 | 2019-03-07 | Michael Waters | Flashlight with Longitudinal Cooling Fins |
US10363614B2 (en) | 2015-04-02 | 2019-07-30 | Stanley Black & Decker Inc. | Laser level, battery pack and system |
USD907825S1 (en) * | 2019-01-15 | 2021-01-12 | Streamlight, Inc. | Portable light having a movable head |
US10948139B2 (en) | 2019-01-15 | 2021-03-16 | Streamlight, Inc. | Portable light having a movable head and assembly method |
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USD752263S1 (en) | 2010-02-09 | 2016-03-22 | Streamlight, Inc. | Portable light |
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US8690377B2 (en) | 2011-05-05 | 2014-04-08 | Streamlight, Inc. | Portable light with safety lock |
US8807781B2 (en) | 2011-05-05 | 2014-08-19 | Streamlight, Inc. | Portable light with safety lock |
WO2012151379A1 (en) * | 2011-05-05 | 2012-11-08 | Streamlight, Inc. | Portable light with safety lock |
US9285105B2 (en) | 2012-05-08 | 2016-03-15 | Streamlight, Inc. | Head light having a rotatable face cap with plural lenses |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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US6161938A (en) | 2000-12-19 |
US6505952B1 (en) | 2003-01-14 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
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STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |