US3717759A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flashlight
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-04-21
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Granted: 1973-02-20
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Expires: 1991-04-21
Abstract
Abstract Pocket battery-operated flashlight comprises casing and lens mounting unit longitudinally slidable and rotatable in said casing, together with means for latching the unit in an inner lighted position and a second unlit position.
Inventors
- 👤 J Rousseau
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 08:56
CPC Classifications
F; F21; F21L; F21L2/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
384 words
In a battery-operated flashlight comprising an elongated casing having an open end, a lens unit made of a transparent material, and resilient means for biassing said lens unit towaRd said open end, the improvement according to which said lens unit is adapted to be latched in either of two different latched positions within said casing, in the longitudinally innermost of which a bulb within said unit is lit an in the longitudinally outermost of which said bulb is extinguished, said flashlight comprising a flexible tongue attached to the lateral wall of the lens unit and terminating in a finger which projects radially outward, the longitudinally outermost end of said finger being defined by two intersecting radial edges and the longitudinally innermost end of said finger being defined by gently sloping edges, said finger being positioned to project radially into a recess in the inner surface of the casing, said recess having radial edges which define first and second V-shaped assymmetric notches spaced both longitudinally and circumferentially of said casing, the first of said notches being located to engage said finger to retain said lens in said innermost latched position and the second to engage said finger to retain said lens unit in said outermost latched position, the bottom of said recess comprising a radially outermost surface adjacent said second notch and an intermediate surface at a level intermediate that of said outermost surface and the innermost surface of said casing and adjacent said first notch, said intermediate surface being separated from each of the other surfaces by an edge positioned at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said lens member, and stop means positioned to terminate longitudinally inward movement of said lens unit from said outermost position with said finger on said intermediate surface, whereby said finger is urged by said resilient means along said intermediate surface and one of said angularly positioned edges into said first notch when longitudinally inward pressure on said lens member is released, thus rotating said lens member, but when said lens member has been moved longitudinally inward from its innermost latched position, said finger is brought into contact with said radially outermost surface and then urged by said resilient means along the other of said angularly positioned edges toward a path leading to said second V-shaped notch.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
384 words
In a battery-operated flashlight comprising an elongated casing having an open end, a lens unit made of a transparent material, and resilient means for biassing said lens unit towaRd said open end, the improvement according to which said lens unit is adapted to be latched in either of two different latched positions within said casing, in the longitudinally innermost of which a bulb within said unit is lit an in the longitudinally outermost of which said bulb is extinguished, said flashlight comprising a flexible tongue attached to the lateral wall of the lens unit and terminating in a finger which projects radially outward, the longitudinally outermost end of said finger being defined by two intersecting radial edges and the longitudinally innermost end of said finger being defined by gently sloping edges, said finger being positioned to project radially into a recess in the inner surface of the casing, said recess having radial edges which define first and second V-shaped assymmetric notches spaced both longitudinally and circumferentially of said casing, the first of said notches being located to engage said finger to retain said lens in said innermost latched position and the second to engage said finger to retain said lens unit in said outermost latched position, the bottom of said recess comprising a radially outermost surface adjacent said second notch and an intermediate surface at a level intermediate that of said outermost surface and the innermost surface of said casing and adjacent said first notch, said intermediate surface being separated from each of the other surfaces by an edge positioned at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said lens member, and stop means positioned to terminate longitudinally inward movement of said lens unit from said outermost position with said finger on said intermediate surface, whereby said finger is urged by said resilient means along said intermediate surface and one of said angularly positioned edges into said first notch when longitudinally inward pressure on said lens member is released, thus rotating said lens member, but when said lens member has been moved longitudinally inward from its innermost latched position, said finger is brought into contact with said radially outermost surface and then urged by said resilient means along the other of said angularly positioned edges toward a path leading to said second V-shaped notch.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
384 words
In a battery-operated flashlight comprising an elongated casing having an open end, a lens unit made of a transparent material, and resilient means for biassing said lens unit towaRd said open end, the improvement according to which said lens unit is adapted to be latched in either of two different latched positions within said casing, in the longitudinally innermost of which a bulb within said unit is lit an in the longitudinally outermost of which said bulb is extinguished, said flashlight comprising a flexible tongue attached to the lateral wall of the lens unit and terminating in a finger which projects radially outward, the longitudinally outermost end of said finger being defined by two intersecting radial edges and the longitudinally innermost end of said finger being defined by gently sloping edges, said finger being positioned to project radially into a recess in the inner surface of the casing, said recess having radial edges which define first and second Vshaped assymmetric notches spaced both longitudinally and circumferentially of said casing, the first of said notches being located to engage said finger to retain said lens in said innermost latched position and the second to engage said finger to retain said lens unit in said outermost latched position, the bottom of said recess comprising a radially outermost surface adjacent said second notch and an intermediate surface at a level intermediate that of said outermost surface and the innermost surface of said casing and adjacent said first notch, said intermediate surface being separated from each of the other surfaces by an edge positioned at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said lens member, and stop means positioned to terminate longitudinally inward movement of said lens unit from said outermost position with said finger on said intermediate surface, whereby said finger is urged by said resilient means along said intermediate surface and one of said angularly positioned edges into said first notch when longitudinally inward pressure on said lens member is released, thus rotating said lens member, but when said lens member has been moved longitudinally inward from its innermost latched position, said finger is brought into contact with said radially outermost surface and then urged by said resilient means along the other of said angularly positioned edges toward a path leading to said second V-shaped notch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
384 words
In a battery-operated flashlight comprising an elongated casing having an open end, a lens unit made of a transparent material, and resilient means for biassing said lens unit towaRd said open end, the improvement according to which said lens unit is adapted to be latched in either of two different latched positions within said casing, in the longitudinally innermost of which a bulb within said unit is lit an in the longitudinally outermost of which said bulb is extinguished, said flashlight comprising a flexible tongue attached to the lateral wall of the lens unit and terminating in a finger which projects radially outward, the longitudinally outermost end of said finger being defined by two intersecting radial edges and the longitudinally innermost end of said finger being defined by gently sloping edges, said finger being positioned to project radially into a recess in the inner surface of the casing, said recess having radial edges which define first and second Vshaped assymmetric notches spaced both longitudinally and circumferentially of said casing, the first of said notches being located to engage said finger to retain said lens in said innermost latched position and the second to engage said finger to retain said lens unit in said outermost latched position, the bottom of said recess comprising a radially outermost surface adjacent said second notch and an intermediate surface at a level intermediate that of said outermost surface and the innermost surface of said casing and adjacent said first notch, said intermediate surface being separated from each of the other surfaces by an edge positioned at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said lens member, and stop means positioned to terminate longitudinally inward movement of said lens unit from said outermost position with said finger on said intermediate surface, whereby said finger is urged by said resilient means along said intermediate surface and one of said angularly positioned edges into said first notch when longitudinally inward pressure on said lens member is released, thus rotating said lens member, but when said lens member has been moved longitudinally inward from its innermost latched position, said finger is brought into contact with said radially outermost surface and then urged by said resilient means along the other of said angularly positioned edges toward a path leading to said second V-shaped notch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
Flashlight as claimed in claim 1 characterized by the fact that the finger is molded in one piece with the lens unit and connected thereto by said flexible tongue.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
Flashlight as claimed in claim 1 in which the casing at the lens end terminates in a surface which is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the flashlight.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
105 words
Flashlight as claimed in claim 1 in which the resilient means comprises a mounting for a bulb in the form of a yoke embracing the bottom end of the battery and terminating in two hooks at the end of said battery carrying its central terminal, a spring being positioned with one part between the bottom of the yoke and the bottom of the battery and another part between the bottom of the yoke and the closed bottom of the casing, while another spring has one end hooked in the two hooks of the yoke and the other end screwed onto the base of the bulb.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
71 words
Pocket flashlight as claimed in claim 1 for use with batteries having zinc casing which is uninsulated at the end carrying the central terminal, characterized by the fact that the resilient mounting comprises a spring positioned between the flat bottom of the battery and the bottom of the casing and another spring mounted on the conductive end of the casing of the battery and screwed onto the base of the bulb.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-02-20 | 1976-08-21 | 1977-02-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-20 | 1980-08-21 | 1981-02-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-20 | 1984-08-21 | 1985-02-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |