US3961175A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Portable battery operated electric light
Assignee: Aoki Electric Industrial Co Ltd
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Filing: 1975-01-23
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Granted: 1976-06-01
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Expires: 1995-01-23
Abstract
Abstract The invention discloses a portable battery-operated electric light comprising, in general, a main body consisting of a power source section for storing therein dry cells and a handle section formed integral with the power source section; an arm member having its one end pivoted to one end of the handle section; and a head section pivoted to the other end of the arm member. The head section includes a substantially dome-shaped reflector provided with a center hole through which a light bulb may be displaced into and out of the reflector in the direction of the optical axis thereof; a front light transmitting window formed at the front of the reflector; a rear light transmitting window formed through the housing of the head section at the back of the reflector; and a slide control switch. The slide control switch is so constructed and operatively coupled to a light bulb holder that when it is pushed to the forward position, the light bulb is displaced into the reflector and is turned on to emit the light through the front window; when it is pushed to the rear position, the light bulb is displaced out of the reflector and is turned on so that the light is emitted through the rear window; and when it is moved to the intermediate position between the forward and rear positions, the light bulb is placed within the center hole of the reflector and remains turned off.
Inventors
- 👤 Hitoshi Otagoshi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 04:11
CPC Classifications
F; F21; F21V; F21V23/00; F21V23/04; F21V23/0414; F21L; F21L2/00; F21L4/00; F21L4/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
322 words
In a battery operated flashlight having a main body adapted to be gripped by an operator and to receive batteries therein and having contact means for engaging the terminals of batteries received therein, said main body having first and second ends, a head section including a socket for receiving a lamp, and interconnecting means interconnecting said main body and said head section; the improvement wherein said interconnecting means comprises arm means having one end pivoted to one end of said main body and another end pivoted to said head section whereby said head section may be moved to a position adjacent said other end of said body, said head section comprising: a. a housing, b. a first light transmitting window in said housing, c. a substantially dome shaped reflector having a center hole, said reflector being in position in said housing behind said first window to reflect light out of said first window, d. a second light transmitting window in said housing in a position behind said reflector, e. externally controllable slide control means on said housing and having first and second end positions, f. means connected to said slide control means for mounting said socket internally of said housing and aligned with said center hole of said reflector and behind said reflector, whereby said socket means moves in a direction axially of said reflector upon movement of said slide control means, g. a light shielding cap substantially the same size as said central hole of said reflector, h. means mounting said cap member for axial movement of said reflector with said socket, whereby said cap is positioned in said hole for blocking passage of light in said first end position of said control means and is positioned within said reflector in the second end position of said control means, and i. switch means in said housing connected to said socket, and circuit means connecting said switch means to said contact means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
322 words
In a battery operated flashlight having a main body adapted to be gripped by an operator and to receive batteries therein and having contact means for engaging the terminals of batteries received therein, said main body having first and second ends, a head section including a socket for receiving a lamp, and interconnecting means interconnecting said main body and said head section; the improvement wherein said interconnecting means comprises arm means having one end pivoted to one end of said main body and another end pivoted to said head section whereby said head section may be moved to a position adjacent said other end of said body, said head section comprising: a. a housing, b. a first light transmitting window in said housing, c. a substantially dome shaped reflector having a center hole, said reflector being in position in said housing behind said first window to reflect light out of said first window, d. a second light transmitting window in said housing in a position behind said reflector, e. externally controllable slide control means on said housing and having first and second end positions, f. means connected to said slide control means for mounting said socket internally of said housing and aligned with said center hole of said reflector and behind said reflector, whereby said socket means moves in a direction axially of said reflector upon movement of said slide control means, g. a light shielding cap substantially the same size as said central hole of said reflector, h. means mounting said cap member for axial movement of said reflector with said socket, whereby said cap is positioned in said hole for blocking passage of light in said first end position of said control means and is positioned within said reflector in the second end position of said control means, and i. switch means in said housing connected to said socket, and circuit means connecting said switch means to said contact means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The flashlight of claim 1 further comprising a lamp mounted in said socket, said means mounted in said socket being mounted to position said lamp behind said reflector in said first end position of said control means and within said reflector behind said cap in said second end position of said control means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
The flashlight of claim 2 wherein said control means has a central position between said first and second end positions, and said switch means is mechanically coupled to said control means, said switch means being connected to energize said lamp in said first and second end positions of said control means and to de-energize said lamp in said central position of said control means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
The flashlight of claim 1 wherein said main body has a handle section formed integrally therewith and extending from one side of said main body, the surface of said handle section away from said main body having a groove extending longitudinally of said main body for receiving said arm member when said head section is moved to said position adjacent said other end of said body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
The flashlight of claim 1 wherein said means mounting said cap comprises a cylindrical member affixed to said socket and extending axially toward said first window, said cap being mounted on the end of said cylindrical member toward said first window, said cylindrical member having a side wall with a plurality of axially elongated openings equiangularly spaced apart, and further comprising a lamp mounted in said socket and enclosed in said cylindrical member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
162 words
The flashlight of claim 1 further including a lamp, said means mounting said socket comprising a electrically insulated base plate within said housing and being connected to move with said slide control means, a conductive lamp holding member having a receptacle for receiving said lamp, said lamp holding member being mounted on said base plate and serving as one electrical contact for said lamp, and a flexible conductive contact means mounted on said base plate and positioned to hold said lamp in said receptacle, said contact member serving as a second electrical contact for said lamp, said switch means comprising a stationary insulating base plate affixed within said housing and extending parallel to the axis of said reflector, stationary contact means comprising first and second contact surfaces spaced apart axially with respect to said reflector, and contact means on said conductive flexible contact means positioned to selectively engage said first and second contact surfaces in said first and second end positions respectively.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
131 words
The flashlight of claim 1 wherein said main body further comprises an auxiliary electric lamp storage chamber, a partition wall in said main body separating said storage chamber into first and second chambers, and a flexible lamp holding sheet covering said first and second chambers, said lamp holding sheet having an inverted U-shaped section in said first chamber, said U-shaped section having a lamp holding hole for holding an auxiliary lamp, said lamp holding sheet further having a pair of flexible hook-shaped members in contact with each other and extending into said second chamber, said contact means of said main body extending into said second chamber, said hook-shaped members being positioned to engage said contact means of said main body for removably holding said lamp holding sheet to said main body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A portable battery-operated electric light comprising a. a main body having front and rear longitudinal ends comprising
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A portable battery-operated electric light comprising a. a main body having front and rear longitudinal ends comprising
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
285 words
a power source section for storing detachably dry cells therein, and a handle section for holding said electric light when in use; b. an arm member having one end pivoted to rear end of said handle section; and c. a head section having a lamp and pivoted to the other end of said arm member and placed axially at the front end of main body when the arm is placed along said handle section, said head section comprising i. a substantially dome-shaped reflector provided with a center hole, ii. a front light transmitting window positioned in front of said reflector, iii. a rear light transmitting window positioned behind said reflector, iv. a slide control switch including means for holding said lamp for axial movement of said reflector aligned with said center hole, said switch being selectively slidable to a forward position with said lamp in said reflector, a rear position with said lamp behind said reflector, and an intermediate position between said forward and rear positions, said switch means comprising contact means positioned to energize said lamp in said forward and rear positions and to deenergize said lamp in said intermediate position, and v. cylindrical light shielding cap encasing said lamp, the side wall of said cap having a plurality of axially elongated openings equiangularly spaced apart, said cap having an open bottom and a top end substantially equal in size to said center hole of said reflector so that in said rear position of said switch said light shielding cap is retracted together with said lamp out of said reflector and said lamp is positioned to direct light through said rear light transmitting window, with said top end substantially optically sealing said center hole.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
285 words
a power source section for storing detachably dry cells therein, and a handle section for holding said electric light when in use; b. an arm member having one end pivoted to rear end of said handle section; and c. a head section having a lamp and pivoted to the other end of said arm member and placed axially at the front end of main body when the arm is placed along said handle section, said head section comprising i. a substantially dome-shaped reflector provided with a center hole, ii. a front light transmitting window positioned in front of said reflector, iii. a rear light transmitting window positioned behind said reflector, iv. a slide control switch including means for holding said lamp for axial movement of said reflector aligned with said center hole, said switch being selectively slidable to a forward position with said lamp in said reflector, a rear position with said lamp behind said reflector, and an intermediate position between said forward and rear positions, said switch means comprising contact means positioned to energize said lamp in said forward and rear positions and to deenergize said lamp in said intermediate position, and v. cylindrical light shielding cap encasing said lamp, the side wall of said cap having a plurality of axially elongated openings equiangularly spaced apart, said cap having an open bottom and a top end substantially equal in size to said center hole of said reflector so that in said rear position of said switch said light shielding cap is retracted together with said lamp out of said reflector and said lamp is positioned to direct light through said rear light transmitting window, with said top end substantially optically sealing said center hole.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
170 words
A portable battery-operated electric light as set forth in claim 8 wherein an auxiliary electric lamp storage chamber is defined within said power source section and partitioned by a partition wall of said main body into first and second chambers, a contact plate for connecting batteries being mounted in said main body and having a projection extending into said second chamber, a lamp holding sheet of a flexible plastic material extending over said first and second chambers, said lamp holding sheet having inverted U-shaped section extending in said first chamber, said U-shaped section having a lamp holding hole for holding an auxiliary lamp in said first chamber, said lamp holding sheet having a pair of elastic hook-shaped members in contact with each other extending into said second chamber at other end so that said pair of hook-shaped members firmly receive therebetween said projection of the contact plate, thereby removeably holding said lamp holding sheet in position so as to hold an auxiliary lamp is position in said lamp holding hole.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
74 words
A portable battery-operated electric light as set forth in claim 8 wherein said main body comprises said power source section, and said handle section 17 formed integrally with said power source section at one side thereof, the surface of said hangle section away from said power source section having an arm receiving groove so that said arm member pivoted at one end of said handle member may be received into said arm receiving groove.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
97 words
A portable battery-operated electric light as set forth in claim 8 comprising cylindrical light shielding cap encasing said lamp and having a side wall provided with a plurality of axially elongated openings equiangularly spaced apart and an open bottom end, the top at said cap being substantially equal in size to said center hole of said reflector so that said light shielding cap is retracted together with said lamp out of said reflector in said rear position of said switch, and said top end substantially optically seals said center hole in said rear position of said switch.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
301 words
A portable battery-operated electric light as set forth in claim 8 wherein said slide control switch comprises a. a slidable control knob, b. a metallic slide plate and an electrically insulated movable base plate both of which are connected to said control knob to be slidably movable in unision therewith, c. a stationary base plate extending in the direction of the slidable movement of said movable base plate and attached to said head section, d. a stationary contact plate attached to said stationary base plate and having with a recessed portion at the midpoint thereof, a front projection extending slantingly toward said front window from one end of said recessed portion, and a rear projection extending slantingly away from said front window and from the other end of said recessed portion; e. a movable contact plate attached to said movable base plate for engagement with said front and rear projections of said stationary contact plate, and for disengagement from said stationary contact plate at said recessed portion thereof; f. a lamp holding member positioned at the end of said metallic slide plate away from said knob for holding said lamp and being electrically in contact with one terminal of said lamp; g. a flexible conductive plate positioned to flexibly engage the other terminal of said lamp for urging said lamp into said lamp holder, so as to ensure that said lamp may be securely held in said lamp holder and for electrically contacting said other terminal of said lamp; h. a conductive plate attached to said stationary base plate on a surface thereof different from the surface to which said stationary contact plate is attached, and electrically connected to said stationary contact plate; and i. a sliding contact plate attached to said metallic slide plate for slidably contacting said conductive plate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
111 words
A portable battery-operated electric light as set forth in claim 12 wherein a switch mounting plate having two parallel guide slots extending therethrough is interposed between said control knob and said metallic slide plate, said switching mounting plate being a part of the housing of said head section; said control knob is provide with two guide legs slidably fitted into said two parallel guide slots, respectively; a spring pin is provided extending between said two guide legs of said control knob; and a hook-shaped leaf spring is forcibly interposed between said spring pin and said metallic slide plate so as to mechanically couple sad control knob to said metallic slide plate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A portable battery-operated electric light as set forth in claim 12 wherein said flexible conductive plate is detachably attached to said movable base plate.
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) | 1979-06-01 | 1979-12-01 | 1980-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-06-01 | 1983-12-01 | 1984-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-06-01 | 1987-12-01 | 1988-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |