Patent US5077644A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5077644A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Reflector for hand held flashlight
Assignee: Spectrum Brands Inc
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Filing: 1990-05-02
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Granted: 1991-12-31
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Expires: 2010-05-02
Abstract
Abstract A hand held flashlight uses first and second light bulbs and first and second reflectors to generate a spot beam for illuminating distant objects and a flood beam for illuminating objects that are near. The first reflector is a parabolic reflector with the first light bulb being positioned at its focus to generate the spot beam. The second light bulb is positioned within the second reflector to produce the flood beam. A diffusing lens can be inserted in front of the second reflector to provide the appropriate divergence for the flood beam. The spot beam is preferably oriented at an angle relative to the axis of the flashlight for ease of use. The flashlight is designed so that the spot beam faces in a forward direction and the flood beam in a downward direction.
Inventors
- 👤 David R. Schaller
- 👤 El-Sayed Megahed
- 👤 Tor Pettersen
- 👤 Gregory L. Mills
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 01:25
CPC Classifications
F; F21; F21L; F21L4/00; F21L4/02; F21L4/022; F21V; F21V5/00; F21V5/02; F21V7/00; F21V7/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
58 words
A hand held flashlight comprising a reflector which produces an illumination pattern from a light source which is substantially the shape of the reflector, wherein the reflector has four reflecting surfaces defined by an intersection formed by translating two intersecting parabolas along orthogonal intersecting axes, whereby said reflector is a flood beam reflector for said hand held flashlight.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
58 words
A hand held flashlight comprising a reflector which produces an illumination pattern from a light source which is substantially the shape of the reflector, wherein the reflector has four reflecting surfaces defined by an intersection formed by translating two intersecting parabolas along orthogonal intersecting axes, whereby said reflector is a flood beam reflector for said hand held flashlight.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The hand held flashlight as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reflecting surfaces place a focus away from the lighting source.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The handheld flashlight as claimed in claim 1, wherein the illumination pattern is substantially uniform.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The handheld flashlight of claim 1, wherein divergence of the illumination pattern can be varied by changing the location of the light source.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The reflector as claimed in claim 4, wherein the reflecting surfaces place a focus away from the light source.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The reflector as claimed in claim 4, wherein the orthogonal axes are the x and y axes of a Cartesian coordinate system, and the parabolas are defined normal to the x - y plane along a z axis by the equation x 2 =y=z 2 .
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The hand held flashlight as claimed in claim 1, wherein the orthogonal axes are the x and y axes of a Cartesian coordinate system, and the parabolas are defined normal to the x - y plane along a z axis by the equation x 2 =y=z 2 .
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
A reflector for producing an illumination pattern from a light source which is substantially the shape of the reflector, wherein the reflector comprises four reflecting surfaces defined by an intersection formed by translating two intersecting parabolas along orthogonal intersecting axes, wherein divergence of the illumination pattern can be varied by changing the location of the light source.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
A reflector for producing an illumination pattern from a light source which is substantially the shape of the reflector, wherein the reflector comprises four reflecting surfaces defined by an intersection formed by translating two intersecting parabolas along orthogonal intersecting axes, wherein divergence of the illumination pattern can be varied by changing the location of the light source.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The reflector as claimed in claim 8, wherein the illumination pattern is substantially uniform.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
200 words
A hand held flashlight comprising: a body having a hand grip and a principal axis; a switch mounted on the body near the hand grip for operating the flashlight, the switch having contacts for turning the flashlight off and for operating the flashlight in at least first and second modes; a first light bulb having a first filament, the first light bulb being connected to the contacts of the switch for operating the flashlight in at least the first mode; a first reflector having a first focus, the first filament being positioned substantially at the first focus for forming a spot beam; a second light bulb having a second filament, the second light bulb being connected to the contacts of the switch for operating the flashlight in at least the second mode; and a second reflector positioned at an angle relative to the principal axis of the flashlight so as to project light form the second filament away from the principal axis, the second reflector substantially surrounding the second filament for forming a flood beam, and wherein the second reflector comprises four reflecting surfaces that are defined by the intersection formed by translating two intersecting parabolas along orthogonal intersecting axes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
200 words
A hand held flashlight comprising: a body having a hand grip and a principal axis; a switch mounted on the body near the hand grip for operating the flashlight, the switch having contacts for turning the flashlight off and for operating the flashlight in at least first and second modes; a first light bulb having a first filament, the first light bulb being connected to the contacts of the switch for operating the flashlight in at least the first mode; a first reflector having a first focus, the first filament being positioned substantially at the first focus for forming a spot beam; a second light bulb having a second filament, the second light bulb being connected to the contacts of the switch for operating the flashlight in at least the second mode; and a second reflector positioned at an angle relative to the principal axis of the flashlight so as to project light form the second filament away from the principal axis, the second reflector substantially surrounding the second filament for forming a flood beam, and wherein the second reflector comprises four reflecting surfaces that are defined by the intersection formed by translating two intersecting parabolas along orthogonal intersecting axes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
A hand held flashlight as claimed in claim 10, wherein orthogonal axes are the x and y axes of a Cartesian coordinate system, and the parabolas are defined normal tot he x - y plane along a z axis by the equation x 2 =z=y 2 .
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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) | 1994-12-30 | 1995-07-01 | 1995-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-12-30 | 1999-07-01 | 1999-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-12-30 | 2003-07-01 | 2003-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |