Illumination – Self powered lamp – Cylindrical flashlight casing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-27
2001-07-10
Sember, Thomas M. (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Self powered lamp
Cylindrical flashlight casing
C362S034000, C362S159000, C362S188000, C362S206000, C362S208000, C429S057000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257734
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the general field of portable lighting devices and, more specifically, to a flashlight having substantially permanent luminescence not requiring an external energy source to stimulate the luminescence. It also optionally includes a housing sized to receive one or more batteries. One of the embodiments includes a square cross-section battery tube insert to fit into the housing to receive batteries smaller than the inside diameter of the housing to leave an annular floatation air space within the housing to make the flashlight buoyant.
2. Description of Prior Art
Ever since the invention of portable electrical storage batteries, it is been practical to carry around portable lighting devices which use incandescent bulbs as the light source. The most relevant reference that has been located is Pemberton, U.S. Pat. No. 4,546,416, which describes a flashlight in combination with phosphorescent material. However, the phosphorescent material must be rejuvenated by exposure to light at frequent intervals, a shortcoming overcome by the present invention because of its substantially permanent luminescence. Other prior art includes Pietruczynik, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,752,761, Sato, U.S. Pat. No. 5,757,111, McDermick, U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,777, McDermick, U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,879, Maglica, U.S. Pat. No. 5,260,858, Price, III, U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,526, Sharrah, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,853,241, et al., Maglica U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,672, Maglica, U.S. Pat. No. 5,528,472 and numerous other references. So far as is known no reference combines a flashlight with a substantially permanent luminescent housing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Bearing in mind the foregoing, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a flashlight that can always be located in the dark regardless of how long it has been there because of substantially permanent luminescence.
Another object of the invention is to combine those features with a flashlight that floats lens end up in water.
A further object of the invention is to combine the principal aspect of the invention with a lens which can be focused from a wide angle to a pinpoint of light, usually only when a single primary light source is used, such as a single incandescent bulb.
An additional object of the invention is to combine the principal aspect of the invention with a lens that is shatter proof.
Another object of the invention is to combine the principal aspect of the invention with the capability of using one or more low energy consumption, ultra bright light emitting diode(s) (LED) as an alternative to an incandescent bulb.
Another object of the invention is the to provide a flashlight having the foregoing characteristics with a slip proof grip.
Other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the following descriptions and the accompanying drawings.
In accordance with a primary aspect of the invention, there is provided a flashlight including a power source, a primary light source, a power circuit connecting the power source to the primary light source, and a housing containing the power source and the light source and including a quantity of tritium within a translucent vial, which in turn is disposed within a virtually unbreakable protective transparent structure termed a capsule. The tritium within the capsule emits light independently of the power source to help a person locate the apparatus in the absence of substantial external light.
The light source is preferably at least one low energy consumption, ultra bright light emitting diode (LED), and may alternatively be an incandescent bulb. The LED is preferably a high intensity LED that achieves long duration from its battery power source by reason of its low energy consumption characteristics. The power source is one of several options: at least one larger diameter battery and at least one smaller diameter battery. The flashlight is offered in large and small battery diameter sizes, but the large diameter housing optionally includes a square cross-section battery tube that fits snugly within the housing inside diameter to define a floatation air space between the battery tube and the housing inside diameter. This makes the flashlight buoyant so it will float lens up. The apparatus preferably additionally includes a housing end wall. The housing is preferably formed of translucent material.
The apparatus preferably additionally includes a lens ring removably fitted to the housing. The apparatus preferably still additionally includes a tab of catalyst material secured within the housing for accelerating the neutralization of hazardous gaseous battery emissions.
The housing has an outer surface which preferably includes a series of rib projections for improved gripping in a user hand. The housing preferably has a external threads at one end thereof and the lens ring preferably has internal threads and are sized to fit and engagingly screw over the housing external threads. The apparatus preferably additionally includes an O-ring receiving groove in a portion of the housing outer surface and an O-ring fitted snugly into the O-ring receiving groove to create a watertight seal between the housing and the lens ring. The battery tube preferably has a square cross-section resulting in battery tube corners for abutting the housing inside diameter.
The capsule preferably includes two mating capsule halves at least one of which includes a recess in an interior face, the interior faces being fixedly attached to each other using one or more peg(s) and bore(s) to define one virtually unbreakable capsule. The capsule half having the recess provides a hollow within the capsule for snugly containing the vial of tritium.
The apparatus preferably additionally includes two loops of housing material extending from opposing sides of the housing and defining a region within the loops which each receive and fixedly retain one of the capsules. The power circuit preferably includes the power source, the light source, and a conductive metal strip embedded longitudinally in the housing.
A better understanding of the invention may be achieved by reference to the drawings in which:
REFERENCES:
patent: 2694772 (1954-11-01), Gelardin
patent: 3409770 (1968-11-01), Clapham, Jr.
patent: 3943937 (1976-03-01), King et al.
patent: 4127134 (1978-11-01), Ushakoff
patent: 4242724 (1980-12-01), Stone
patent: 4546416 (1985-10-01), Pemberton
patent: 4819141 (1989-04-01), Maglica et al.
Negron Ismael
Sember Thomas M.
Vanderwall Robert J.
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