Rechargeable flashlight with integral variable rate battery charger for automotive use

Claim 2

A rechargeable flashlight comprising: (a) a case; (b) a lamp in said case; (c) a rechargeable battery in said case; (d) means in said case for electrically connecting said rechargeable battery to said lamp whereby said lamp is illuminated; (e) charging means in said case; (f) said charging means comprising a charging network including a negative-temperature-coefficient thermistor and a positive-temperature-coefficient thermistor in series, said thermistors being selected to limit the charging current in said charging network to below a predetermined maximum value which varies with ambient temperature between relatively low values at low and high temperatures and a relatively high value at medium temperatures; (g) means for electrically connecting said charging means to a source of electrical potential; and (h) means for electrically connecting said rechargeable battery into said charging network.

Claim 3

The rechargeable flashlight of claim 1 wherein said predetermined values are the maximum charge rate of said rechargeable battery.

Claim 4

The rechargeable flashlight of claim 1 further comprising means for extinguishing said lamp whenever said rechargeable battery is connected to said charging means.

Claim 5

The rechargeable flashlight of claim 3 wherein said means for illuminating said lamp and said means for electrically connecting said rechargeable battery in said charging network comprise: (a) an electrically conductive slide tube in said case, said slide tube holding said rechargeable battery and said lamp, said rechargeable battery being electrically insulated from said slide tube; (b) said slide tube having first and second positions in said case; (c) said lamp having two terminals: (d) said rechargeable battery having two terminals; (e) one of said terminals of said rechargeable battery being in electrical contact with one terminal of said lamp; (f) the remaining terminal of said lamp being in electrical contact with said slide tube; (g) a spring in contact with said second terminal of said battery; (h) said spring having a lamp contact; (i) said spring having a charging contact; (j) an actuator positioned in said case to move said spring from a first position to a second position when said slide tube is moved from said first position to said second position; (k) said actuating member being electrically conducting; (l) means for connecting said actuating member into said charging network; (m) said spring in said first position of said slide tube being biased to contact said slide tube at said lamp contact; and (n) said actuator in a second position of said slide tube lifting said spring from contact with said slide tube and contacting said spring at said charging contact.

Claim 6

The rechargeable flashlight of claim 1 wherein said case is suitable for fitting into and drawing electrical power from a cigar lighter socket.

Claim 7

A rechargeable flashlight for recharging from a cigar lighter socket comprising: (a) a case suitable for fitting into and drawing electrical power from a cigar lighter socket; (b) a rechargeable battery in said case; (c) a lamp in said case; (d) means in said case for electrically connecting said rechargeable battery to said lamp when said case is withdrawn from said cigar lighter socket whereby said lamp is illuminated; (e) means for extinguishing said lamp when said lamp is inserted into said cigar lighter socket; (f) charging means in said case; (g) said charging means comprising a charging network including a negative-temperature-coefficient thermistor and a positive-temperature-coefficient thermistor in series; (h) said thermistors contributing sufficient resistance to limit charging current to predetermined values at all temperatures; (i) means in said case for electrically connecting said charging means to said case whereby electrical power for said charging circuit is drawn from said cigar lighter socket; and (j) means in said case for connecting said rechargeable battery to said charging network when said case is inserted into said socket.

Claim 8

A rechargeable flashlight for recharging from a cigar lighter socket comprising: (a) a case suitable for fitting into and drawing electrical power from a cigar lighter socket; (b) a rechargeable battery in said case; (c) a lamp in said case; (d) means in said case for electrically connecting said rechargeable battery to said lamp when said case is withdrawn from said cigar lighter socket whereby said lamp is illuminated; (e) means for extinguishing said lamp when said lamp is inserted into said cigar lighter socket; (f) charging means in said case; (g) said charging means comprising a charging network including a negative-temperature-coefficient thermistor and a positive-temperature-coefficient thermistor in series; (h) said thermistors contributing sufficient resistance to limit charging current to predetermined values at all temperatures; (i) means in said case for electrically connecting said charging means to said case whereby electrical power for said charging circuit is drawn from said cigar lighter socket; and (j) means in said case for connecting said rechargeable battery to said charging network when said case is inserted into said socket.