Flashlight with magnetic tail

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10156326-B2
Application number	US-201615380361-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 15, 2016
Priority date	Dec 15, 2016
Publication date	Dec 18, 2018
Grant date	Dec 18, 2018

Abstract

A flashlight with magnetic tail has a battery housing having a tail portion, a light source connected to a forward portion of the battery housing, a pushbutton assembly mounted in the tail portion and a magnet ring fixed to the tail portion and extending around the pushbutton assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A flashlight ( 10 ) with magnetic tail comprising:
a battery housing ( 12 ) having a tail portion ( 12 a );
a light source connected to a forward portion of the battery housing ( 12 );
an outer ring ( 14 ) extending axially outwardly from the tail portion ( 12 a );
an inner ring ( 16 ) spaced radially inwardly of the outer ring and extending axially outwardly of the tail portion, the inner and outer rings defining an annular channel ( 26 ) therebetween;
a permanent magnet ring ( 18 ) fixed to the tail portion ( 12 a ), and positioned radially inwardly of the inner ring ( 16 ), the magnet ring ( 18 ) having an outer surface that is substantially coplanar with outer surfaces of the inner and outer rings ( 16 , 14 ), the permanent magnetic ring ( 18 ) defining at least a portion of a bottom surface of the flashlight ( 10 ); and
a pushbutton assembly ( 20 , 22 , 24 ) mounted in the tail portion and positioned radially inwardly of the magnet ring ( 18 ), the pushbutton assembly having an outer surface that is substantially coplanar with the outer surfaces of the inner, outer and magnet rings ( 16 , 14 , 18 ),
wherein the light source comprises a light source housing ( 30 ) mounted for sliding axial motion to a forward portion of the battery housing ( 12 ), the light ( 32 ) in the light source housing ( 30 ) for casting a light beam that varies in spread angle as a function of a relative position between the battery housing ( 12 ) and the light source housing ( 30 ) as the light source housing ( 30 ) slides axially with respect to the battery housing ( 12 ).

2. The flashlight ( 10 ) with magnetic tail of claim 1 , wherein the permanent magnet ring ( 18 ) has a radially inner bevel ( 18 a ) at its outer surface, adjacent the pushbutton assembly.

3. The flashlight ( 10 ) with magnetic tail of claim 1 , wherein the tail portion ( 12 a ) has a step ( 28 ) radially inwardly of the inner ring ( 16 ) on which the magnet ring ( 18 ) rests.

4. The flashlight ( 10 ) with magnetic tail of claim 1 , wherein the tail portion ( 12 a ) has a step ( 28 ) radially inwardly of the inner ring ( 16 ) on which the magnet ring ( 18 ) rests, the magnet ring ( 18 ) having a radially inner bevel ( 18 a ) at its outer surface, adjacent the pushbutton assembly and being fixed to at least one of a radially inner surface of the inner ring ( 16 ) and the step ( 28 ).

5. The flashlight ( 10 ) with magnetic tail of claim 1 , wherein the pushbutton assembly comprises a rubber cover ( 20 ), a pushbutton ( 22 ) under the cover and a switch housing ( 24 ) to which the pushbutton is engaged.

6. The flashlight ( 10 ) with magnetic tail of claim 1 , wherein the tail portion ( 12 a ) has a step ( 28 ) radially inwardly of the inner ring ( 16 ) on which the magnet ring ( 18 ) rests, the magnet ring ( 18 ) having a radially inner bevel ( 18 a ) at its outer surface, adjacent the pushbutton assembly and being fixed to at least one of a radially inner surface of the inner ring ( 16 ) and the step ( 28 ), the pushbutton assembly comprising a rubber cover ( 20 ), a pushbutton ( 22 ) under the cover and a switch housing ( 24 ) to which the pushbutton is engaged.

7. The flashlight ( 10 ) with magnetic tail of claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a light source housing ( 30 ) mounted for sliding axial motion to a forward portion of the battery housing ( 12 ), a light ( 32 ) in the light source housing ( 30 ) for casting a light beam that varies in spread angle as a function of a relative position between the battery housing ( 12 ) and the light source housing ( 30 ) as the light source housing ( 30 ) slides axially with respect to the battery housing ( 12 ), the magnet ring ( 18 ) having a radially inner bevel ( 18 a ) at its outer surface, adjacent the pushbutton assembly and being fixed to at least one of a radially inner surface of the inner ring ( 16 ) and the step ( 28 ).

8. The flashlight ( 10 ) with magnetic tail of claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a light source housing ( 30 ) mounted for sliding axial motion to a forward portion of the battery housing ( 12 ), a light ( 32 ) in the light source housing ( 30 ) for casting a light beam that varies in spread angle as a function of a relative position between the battery housing ( 12 ) and the light source housing ( 30 ) as the light source housing ( 30 ) slides axially with respect to the battery housing ( 12 ), the tail portion ( 12 a ) having a step ( 28 ) radially inwardly of the inner ring ( 16 ) on which the magnet ring ( 18 ) rests, the pushbutton assembly comprising a rubber cover ( 20 ), a pushbutton ( 22 ) under the cover and a switch housing ( 24 ) to which the pushbutton is engaged.

9. The flashlight ( 10 ) with magnetic tail of claim 1 , including a light source housing ( 30 ) mounted for sliding axial motion to a forward portion of the battery housing ( 12 ), a light ( 32 ) in the light source housing ( 30 ) for casting a light beam that varies in spread angle as a function of a relative position between the battery housing ( 12 ) and the light source housing ( 30 ) as the light source housing ( 30 ) slides axially with respect to the battery housing ( 12 ), the tail portion ( 12 a ) having a step ( 28 ) radially inwardly of the inner ring ( 16 ) on which the magnet ring ( 18 ) rests, the magnet ring ( 18 ) having a radially inner bevel ( 18 a ) at its outer surface, adjacent the pushbutton assembly and being fixed to at least one of a radially inner surface of the inner ring ( 16 ) and the step ( 28 ), the pushbutton assembly comprising a rubber cover ( 20 ), a pushbutton ( 22 ) under the cover and a switch housing ( 24 ) to which the pushbutton is engaged.

Assignees

• Mishan E & Sons Inc

Inventors

• Mishan Edward I

Classifications

• F21V23/0421

  the switch being part of, or disposed on the tail cap portion thereof · CPC title

• F21L4/045 Primary

  Pocket lamps · CPC title

• F21V21/0965

  for portable lighting devices · CPC title

• F21V14/025

  in portable lighting devices · CPC title

• F21V15/012

  Housings with variable shape or dimensions, e.g. by means of elastically deformable materials or by movement of parts forming telescopic extensions of the housing body · CPC title