US20110012382A1

US20110012382A1 - Flashlight with Telescopic Retriever

Info

Publication number: US20110012382A1
Application number: US11/843,834
Authority: US
Inventors: Scott Wang
Original assignee: AMPRO NORTH AMERICA CORP
Current assignee: AMPRO NORTH AMERICA CORP
Priority date: 2007-08-23
Filing date: 2007-08-23
Publication date: 2011-01-20

Abstract

The invention is a flashlight with telescopic retrieving means. The flashlight has a hole in the face that houses an extending member with a magnetic tip. The member extends directly from the face of the device in a telescopic fashion and is defined by a flexible spring portion near its end. This combination of elements allows one to shine light into a normally inaccessible area, reach in with the telescopic retriever, and extract a small metallic object.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosed invention relates to flashlights with telescopic retrieving means or the like for retrieving metallic objects from areas that are normally inaccessible.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are many situations where metallic objects (such as screws or nails) have fallen into areas too small for a hand to reach into. For cases such as this, telescopic retrievers, typically with magnets employed at the tips, are used to reach into the inaccessible area and extract the desired item. Many times, the user cannot see the item because the area does not receive enough light. As a result, lights have been coupled to telescopic retrievers so that the user can see the working end of the retriever. The design disclosed here is an improved version of this type of retriever.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention disclosed here is a flashlight with a retriever mechanism. The flashlight has a ring of LED lights that are manufactured as a modular unit. A central opening extends through the modular ring. The retriever telescopically extends and retracts to and from the ring. In one embodiment, when the retriever is fully retracted, the end of the retriever is flush with the forward face of the flashlight, or below the forward surface, so that the flashlight has the appearance of a conventional flashlight. The retriever then extends outwardly through the ring in the conventional way.
In another embodiment the retriever has a spring section at the end that allows the endmost part of the retriever to flex relative to retriever. In most instances, a magnet will be at the very end of the retriever for picking up tools or other things (e.g., loose screws, etc.).
The invention summarized above will become better understood upon review of the following description which is to be taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, like reference numerals and letters refer to like parts throughout the various views, unless indicated otherwise, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a flashlight with a telescopic retrieving means constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, with the end of the flashlight shown in cross-section;

FIG. 2 is a view like FIG. 1, but shows the end of a magnetic retriever partially extended from the flashlight;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the end of the flashlight with the magnetic retriever fully extended;

FIG. 4 is a pictorial view of the flashlight with retriever, but with the retriever fully extended;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the flashlight with retriever;

FIG. 6 is a view like FIG. 4, but shows an alternative embodiment; and

FIG. 7 is an alternative embodiment of the flashlight having a tool extension and an LED light ring adapted for directing light on a tool at the end of the tool extension.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, and first to FIGS. 1 and 2, shown generally at 10 is a flashlight with a telescopic retriever constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. A telescopic retriever 12 and a flashlight portion 14 make up the two significant parts of the device and cooperate to produce a tool 10 capable of extracting objects from an area that would normally not be accessible.
As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the telescopic retriever 12 is housed within the top of the flashlight 14 and, when in use, protrudes through an opening 16 in the face 18 of the flashlight 10. This opening 16 is located directly in the middle of a lens ring 22. The lens ring 22 is a modular unit.
The telescopic retriever 12 is completely stored in the flashlight 14 when not extended, so that the flashlight appears to look like a normal flashlight. Depending on the length of the telescopic retriever 12, as well as the type of tip 24 that is used, the tip may or may not extend beyond the face 18 of the flashlight 14. However, preferably the tip 24 will be flush with or below flush relative to the forward face 18 of the flashlight. The bottom of the telescopic retriever 12 extends into the body of the device 10, but does not reach far enough into the flashlight 14 to interfere with the positioning or functioning of the batteries 20.
As is best seen in FIG. 4, when the telescopic retriever 12 is in use, it extends, or “telescopes” directly outward from the face 18 of the flashlight part 14 of the device 10. The telescopic retriever 12 is conventional and made of several cylinders 24 a, 24 b, 24 c, 24 d that become continuously smaller in diameter toward the tip of the retriever. Similar to a conventional T.V. antenna, the largest cylinder 24 a remains at the bottom and attached to the flashlight portion 14 of the device 10 as each gradually smaller cylinder 24 b, 24 c, 24 d is vertically extracted from the larger cylinder it was previously contained in.
Typically, at the end of the telescoping retriever 12 is a cylindrically shaped magnet 26 although other possible tips may be employed. As is seen in FIG. 5, the magnet 26 is able to attract items such as screws 28 or other metallic objects 28 that can be reached by the telescopic member 12. Once these metallic objects 44 have “stuck” themselves to the magnet 26 they can be extracted.
FIG. 5 is an exploded image that illustrates the manner in which the batteries 20 are vertically stacked in the flashlight portion 14 of the device 10. This image also depicts the position of the telescopic retriever 12 in relation to the lens ring 30 and individual LED lights 32.
The telescopic retriever 12 runs directly through the middle of the lens ring 30 that has individual LED lights 32 distributed about it equally in a circular fashion. The lens ring 30 secures the LED lights 32 in formation so that they do not interfere with the telescopic retriever 12, or any variation of it, while allowing the LED lights 32 to receive power from the batteries 20.
As a part of the lens ring 20, the face 18 is directly above and protects the LED lights 32 housed below. The lens ring 30 and multiple LED lights 32 of the flashlight portion 14 are fashioned so that they will not obstruct the telescopic member 12 from functioning.
As indicated above, the telescopic retriever 12 extends through the hole 16 located directly in the middle of the face 18 of the lens ring 20. All of the individual pieces are held in place by a threaded cap piece 34 that screws onto the threads 36 of the flashlight portion 14 of the device 10. This allows the contained elements to be accessed or secured according to the needs of the user. Lastly, a bottom cap 38 screws into the bottom of the flashlight portion 14 and secures the vertically stacked batteries 20 in place.
As illustrated in FIG. 6, the upper part of the telescopic retriever 12 is shown to be by a flexible spring 38. The flexible spring 38 can be flexed or bent with minimal effort and will quickly return to its original, straight shape. This allows the flexible spring 38 to provide better access to areas that are difficult to reach. When stored however, the flexible spring portion 38 returns to its original, straight shape and is compressed into the smallest of the cylinders 24 d. As illustrated in FIG. 2 the device may be designed with or without the flexible spring 38 portion of the telescopic retriever 12.
Returning to FIG. 4, in practice, the device 10 is most useful for removing metallic objects 28 from places that are too small and dark to be normally accessed. In cases such as this, the device 10 is held in one's hand 40 and the LED lights 32 are turned on. The telescopic retriever 12 is then extended from the flashlight portion 14. The LED lights 32 are focused or directed toward the end of the retriever 12. As the telescopic retriever 12 is inserted into a small space the flashlight portion 14 is then used to shine light into the dark area, making it easier to locate the desired metallic object 28.
Lastly, the disclosed invention 10 is not limited solely to the telescopic retriever 12 variation. Shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, there other options for the device 10 (shown as screwdriver implements with variable extensions) that are possible inserts into the hole 16 in the containing lens ring 22. Any available options will not obstruct the position of the LED lights 32 or any other elements within the device 10. Similarly, the possible options cannot prevent the flashlight portion 14 of the device 10 from functioning properly.
Lastly, the LED ring 18 disclosed here may be used with other tool designs. Referring to FIG. 7, for example, shown at 40 is a conventional screw driver with an extension 42. The LED ring 18 may be used to provide light to the working end of the screwdriver handle.
The foregoing description sets forth the best mode for carrying out the invention as presently known. The scope of the patent right is not to be limited by the foregoing description. It is appreciated that the design described here could be changed without departing from what is considered to be the invention. As consequence, the scope of patent protection is to be defined only by the subjoined patent claim or claims that follow, the interpretation of which is to be made in accordance with established doctrines of patent claim interpretation.

Claims

1. A flashlight with a retriever, the flashlight having a ring of LED lights, with a central opening passing through the ring of LED lights, and wherein the retriever telescopically extends and retracts through the central opening.