Patent US3703634A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3703634A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Key heater flashlight
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-04-15
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Granted: 1972-11-21
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Expires: 1991-04-15
Abstract
Abstract A key heater flashlight having a conventional flashlight circuit and a rechargeable power source. The flashlight also has a key slot around which a heating coil is deposed and into which the shank of a key can be inserted. Insertion of the key automatically turns on the key heater circuit; the heated key can be used to open a frozen lock such as an automobile lock. An indicating light and the heating coil current turn off automatically when the key is heated to a predetermined temperature. The unit is also provided with two batteries either of which can be selected for use in either the flashlight circuit or the heater circuit. This prevents the entire unit from suddenly becoming inoperative when the battery in use becomes discharged, particularly after a heavy current drain such as that which might be drawn by the heating coil.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter A Bucky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 08:47
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05B; E05B17/00; E05B17/0016; F; F21; F21V; F21V33/00; F21V33/0088
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
A key heater flashlight comprising battery means, bulb means, switch means for connecting said battery means and said bulb means in series to energize said bulb means, means for allowing the insertion therein of the shank of a key to be heated, heating means disposed in heat transmitting relationship with said insertion means for heating an inserted key shank when current flows through the heating means, and means for connecting said heating means across said battery means to control the flow of current through said heating means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
A key heater flashlight comprising battery means, bulb means, switch means for connecting said battery means and said bulb means in series to energize said bulb means, means for allowing the insertion therein of the shank of a key to be heated, heating means disposed in heat transmitting relationship with said insertion means for heating an inserted key shank when current flows through the heating means, and means for connecting said heating means across said battery means to control the flow of current through said heating means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
87 words
A key heater flashlight comprising battery means, bulb means, switch means for connecting said battery means and said bulb means in series to energize said bulb means, means for allowing the insertion therein of the shank of a key to be heated, heating means disposed in heat transmitting relationship with said insertion means for heating an inserted key shank when current flows through the heating means, and means for connecting said heating means across said battery means to control the flow of current through said heating means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
87 words
A key heater flashlight comprising battery means, bulb means, switch means for connecting said battery means and said bulb means in series to energize said bulb means, means for allowing the insertion therein of the shank of a key to be heated, heating means disposed in heat transmitting relationship with said insertion means for heating an inserted key shank when current flows through the heating means, and means for connecting said heating means across said battery means to control the flow of current through said heating means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
A key heater flashlight in accordance with claim 1 wherein said connecting means is a normally-open switch disposed such that it is closed by the bottom of the shank of an inserted key, said normally-open switch, when closed, being operative to cause current to flow from said battery means through said heating means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A key heater flashlight in accordance with claim 2 further including temperature-responsive means for causing the current flowing through said heating means to terminate responsive to the temperature of the shank of an inserted key reaching a predetermined value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A key heater flashlight in accordance with claim 3 further including lamp means for indicating when the shank of an inserted key has been heated to said predetermined temperature.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
A key heater flashlight in accordance with claim 4 wherein said heating means is a heating coil, said lamp means and said heating coil are connected in parallel, said temperature-responsive means is a normally-closed bimetallic switch, and said bimetallic switch, said battery means, said connecting means, and the parallel connection of said heating Means and said lamp means are connected in series.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A key heater flashlight in accordance with claim 5 wherein said battery means is a pair of batteries and switch means for selecting one of said batteries for use.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A key heater flashlight in accordance with claim 6 further including means for recharging said two batteries.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
A key heater flashlight in accordance with claim 7 wherein said means for allowing the insertion therein of the shank of a key is a heat-conducting material having a slot therein with one end communicating with the atmosphere, said heating means being wrapped around said heat-conducting material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
A key heater flashlight in accordance with claim 8 wherein said connecting means is a pressure-sensitive switch disposed at the other end of said slot and closes responsive to the bearing thereagainst of the bottom of a key shank inserted into said slot.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
A key heater flashlight in accordance with claim 1 further including temperature-responsive means for causing the current flowing through said heating means to terminate responsive to the temperature of the shank of an inserted key reaching a predetermined value.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
A key heater flashlight in accordance with claim 10 further including lamp means for indicating when the shank of an inserted key has been heated to said predetermined temperature.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
62 words
A key heater flashlight in accordance with claim 11 wherein said heating means is a heating coil, said lamp means and said heating coil are connected in parallel, said temperature-responsive means is a normally-closed bimetallic switch, and said bimetallic switch, said battery means, said connecting means, and the parallel connection of said heating means and said lamp means are connected in series.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
A key heater flashlight in accordance with claim 1 further including lamp means for indicating when the shank of an inserted key has been heated to a predetermined temperature.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
51 words
A key heater flashlight in accordance with claim 13 wherein said heating means is a heating coil, said lamp means and said heating coil are connected in parallel, and said battery means, said connecting means, and the parallel connection of said heating means and said lamp means are connected in series.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
A key heater flashlight in accordance with claim 13 wherein said battery means is a pair of batteries and switch means for selecting one of said batteries for use.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
A key heater flashlight in accordance with claim 15 further including means for recharging said two batteries.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
50 words
A key heater flashlight in accordance with claim 15 wherein said means for allowing the insertion therein of the shank of a key is a heat-conducting material having a slot therein with one end communicating with the atmosphere, said heating means being a heating coil wrapped around said heat-conducting material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
A key heater flashlight in accordance with claim 17 wherein said connecting means is a pressure-sensitive switch disposed at the other end of said slot and closes responsive to the bearing thereagainst of the bottom of a key shank inserted into said slot.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
A key heater flashlight in accordance with claim 1 wherein said battery means is a pair of batteries and switch means for selecting one of said batteries for use.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
A key heater flashlight in accordance with claim 19 further including means for recharging said two batteries.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
50 words
A key heater flashlight in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for allowing the insertion therein of the shank of a key is a heat-conducting material having a slot therein with one end communicating with the atmosphere, said heating means being a heating coil wrapped around said heat-conducting material.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-11-21 | 1976-05-22 | 1976-11-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-11-21 | 1980-05-22 | 1980-11-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-11-21 | 1984-05-22 | 1984-11-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |