US3796869A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-illuminated case
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-10-24
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Granted: 1974-03-12
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Expires: 1992-10-24
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to a flashlight (1) that may be seen in the dark, (2) which carries a universal mounting on one external wall, and (3) an internal switch adjacent the opposite wall which is elastic and which on pressing will close the switch. By mounting the flashlight above, for example, a keyhole, the flashlight can be seen, and when the outer wall is pressed, the keyhole is illuminated. Moreover, the light bulb within three or four seconds restores the phosphorescent band to luminosity, (reactivation chamber) because part of it is located in a regenerative phosphorescent chamber so that it performs not only the normal lighting function, but regenerates the phosphorescent material on the chamber walls as well. The phosphorescent material, a zinc sulphide or zinc-cadmium sulphide (harmless) has a persistence of glow of two to twelve hours.
Inventors
- 👤 W Stone
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 19:42
CPC Classifications
F; F21; F21L; F21L4/00; F21V; F21V13/00; F21V13/02; F21V13/08; F21V9/00; F21V9/30; F21V9/32; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S362/00; Y10S362/812
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
51 words
A self-illuminated case formed of walls, comprising a substantial portion of one wall being translucent, a regenerative chamber adjacent said wall and within the case, a source of light in said chamber, means for intermittently energizing the source of light, and a reactivatable, translucent, phosphorescent film positioned adjacent the translucent wall.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
51 words
A self-illuminated case formed of walls, comprising a substantial portion of one wall being translucent, a regenerative chamber adjacent said wall and within the case, a source of light in said chamber, means for intermittently energizing the source of light, and a reactivatable, translucent, phosphorescent film positioned adjacent the translucent wall.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The self-illuminated case of claim 1 wherein the film is positioned between the translucent wall and the source of light.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The case of claim 1 wherein the phosphorescent film is a translucent sleeve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The case of claim 1 wherein the phosphorescent film is a translucent sleeve having outside surface characteristics capable of receiving printed indicia.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The case of claim 1 wherein the case has two ends connected by outer walls generated by a constant cross section and the phosphorescent film is a flexible flat translucent plate folded into a split sleeve and nestable in the outer walls.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
93 words
An electric flashlight comprising a case, an outwardly directed light reflector mounted on said case, a phosphorescent regenerative chamber behind the reflector an outer wall of the chamber being a substantial part of the case walls and being translucent, a hole in the reflectOr, a light bulb so mounted in said hole as to emit light externally of the case and internally into the phosphorescent regenerative chamber, means including an electric circuit and switch in said case for energizing said light bulb, and regenerative phosphorescent material adjacent the transparent walls of the chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
93 words
An electric flashlight comprising a case, an outwardly directed light reflector mounted on said case, a phosphorescent regenerative chamber behind the reflector an outer wall of the chamber being a substantial part of the case walls and being translucent, a hole in the reflectOr, a light bulb so mounted in said hole as to emit light externally of the case and internally into the phosphorescent regenerative chamber, means including an electric circuit and switch in said case for energizing said light bulb, and regenerative phosphorescent material adjacent the transparent walls of the chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electric flashlight of claim 6 wherein the light bulb and stem are glass with wire leads and the stem extends into the phosphorescent reactivation chamber
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electric flashlight of claim 6 wherein the phosphorescent material is on the inside wall of the regenerative chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electric flashlight of claim 6 wherein the phosphorescent material is on the outside wall of the regenerative chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electric flashlight of claim 6 wherein the phosphorescent material is on a translucent sleeve adjacent to the translucent walls of the regenerative chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electric flashlight of claim 6 wherein readable indicia is placed adjacent the transparent or translucent walls of the regenerative chamber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The electric flashlight of claim 6 wherein the side walls of the case are elastic and the switch has an arm engageable with an inside wall and actuatable by pressing the case wall inwardly.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
An electric flashlight comprising a case having two opposite side walls, one of elastic material, a complete flashlight including energizing bulb, circuit, switch and energizing means within said case, said switch being mounted internally of the flexible wall, and universal mounting means mounted on the exterior of the opposite wall.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
An electric flashlight comprising a case having two opposite side walls, one of elastic material, a complete flashlight including energizing bulb, circuit, switch and energizing means within said case, said switch being mounted internally of the flexible wall, and universal mounting means mounted on the exterior of the opposite wall.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electric flashlight of claim 13 wherein the universal mounting means is a removable strip-covered, pressure-sensitive adhesive.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-03-11 | 1977-09-10 | 1978-03-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-11 | 1981-09-10 | 1982-03-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-11 | 1985-09-10 | 1986-03-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |