Illumination – Self powered lamp – Having plural lamp bulbs or lamp sockets
Utility Patent
1999-08-05
2001-01-02
O'Shea, Sandra (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Self powered lamp
Having plural lamp bulbs or lamp sockets
C362S800000, C362S208000
Utility Patent
active
06168288
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a flashlight having at least one light emitting diode (LED) as its light source, and, more particularly, to a structure for mounting LEDs in a flashlight.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A flashlight is, in general, a housing containing one or more batteries, a light source, and means for connecting and disconnecting the light source and the batteries to turn the flashlight on and off. Heretofore, the light source for a flashlight has been a small filament bulb. Generally a reflector is mounted behind the bulb to direct the light from the bulb outwardly from the flashlight. A problem with the use of a filament bulb is that it can bum out so that the bulb has a limited lifetime. Also, the filament bulb uses enough current that the batteries will also have a limited lifetime. LEDs have been a well known source of light. They are much smaller than a filament light bulb and have a longer lifetime. In addition, LEDs require less current so that the batteries used to operate LEDs have a longer lifetime. However, LEDs cannot be merely substituted for a filament light bulb in a flashlight because of the manner in which the filament bulb is generally mounted in the flashlight.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A flashlight includes a tubular housing having a closed end and an open end. At least one battery is in the housing. A substantially flat plate of an insulating material is mounted across the housing adjacent the open end thereof. The plate has a pair of opposed surfaces and a pair of spaced conductors are on the surface of the plate which faces away from the open end of the housing. At least one light emitting diode having a pair of terminals is mounted on the surface of the plate which faces the open end of the housing with the terminals being electrically connected to separate ones of the conductors on the plate. A cap is mounted on the open end of the housing and across the light emitting diode. Means is provided to selectively electrically connect and disconnect the light emitting diode and the battery.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4800469 (1989-01-01), Leon
patent: 4963798 (1990-10-01), McDermott
patent: 5865524 (1999-02-01), Campman
patent: 6019482 (2000-02-01), Everett
Cohen Donald S.
O'Shea Sandra
Sawhney Hargobind S.
Tektite Industries West LLC
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