WO1999009348A1 - Rechargeable flashlight - Google Patents
Rechargeable flashlight Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1999009348A1 WO1999009348A1 PCT/US1998/010326 US9810326W WO9909348A1 WO 1999009348 A1 WO1999009348 A1 WO 1999009348A1 US 9810326 W US9810326 W US 9810326W WO 9909348 A1 WO9909348 A1 WO 9909348A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- charging
- plug unit
- circuit
- battery
- blades
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21V23/00—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21L—LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF, BEING PORTABLE OR SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR TRANSPORTATION
- F21L4/00—Electric lighting devices with self-contained electric batteries or cells
- F21L4/08—Electric lighting devices with self-contained electric batteries or cells characterised by means for in situ recharging of the batteries or cells
- F21L4/085—Pocket lamps
Definitions
- This invention is concerned with apparatus in which a rechargeable battery is arranged to supply power to a load and to be charged from an AC outlet. More particularly, the invention is concerned with a rechargeable flashlight with a multi-position AC plug unit that controls load circuit and charging circuit connections and that controls conditions of a visual indicator.
- Rechargeable flashlights are known in which a multi- position AC plug unit controls load and charging circuit connections. Rechargeable flashlights are also known in which a visual indicator informs a user that a flashlight is charging. The present invention improves upon prior rechargeable flashlights having the foregoing features.
- an AC plug unit is supported in a housing for movement between a non-charging position, in which blades of the plug unit are retracted into the housing, and a charging position, in which the blades are projected from the housing for insertion in an AC outlet.
- the plug unit cooperates with a switch unit in the housing to control connections between a rechargeable battery and a load circuit and between the rechargeable battery and a charging and indicating circuit.
- a visual indicator has different energizing conditions depending upon the positions of the plug unit and whether AC power is supplied. More particularly, the visual indicator is energized repetitively when the plug unit is in the charging position but AC power is not supplied, is energized continuously when the battery is being charged, and is de- energized when the plug unit is in the non-charging position.
- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a rechargeable flashlight of the invention, with the plug unit in the non- charging position;
- Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the rechargeable flashlight, with the plug unit turned from the non-charging position toward the charging position;
- Fig. 3 is a similar fragmentary perspective view of the rechargeable flashlight, with the plug unit in the charging position;
- Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the plug unit;
- Fig. 5 is a side elevation view of the plug unit in the charging position
- Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the plug unit in the non- charging position
- Fig. 7 is a plan view of a switch unit cooperating with blades of the plug unit when the plug unit is in the non- charging position;
- Fig. 8 is a plan view of the switch unit when the plug unit is in the charging position
- Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the relationship of the plug unit and the switch unit when the plug unit is in the non-charging position
- Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing the relationship of the plug unit and the switch unit when the plug unit is in the charging position;
- Fig. 11 is a plan view of the switch unit shown installed in a switch unit box
- Fig. 12 is a fragmentary side elevation view showing the internal configuration of a wall of the switch unit box
- Fig. 13 is a fragmentary side elevation view showing the position of a locking plate of the plug unit, with relation to a corresponding wall of the plug unit box and a locking abutment when the plug unit is in the non-charging position;
- Fig. 14 is a similar fragmentary side elevation view showing the position of the locking plate, with relation to the wall of the plug unit box and the locking abutment when the plug unit is in the charging position;
- Fig. 15 is a diagram of circuitry employed in the rechargeable flashlight.
- the invention will be described in its preferred application to a rechargeable flashlight, shown generally in Fig. 1, but the invention may be used in other types of apparatus including a rechargeable battery for supplying power to a load.
- the rechargeable flashlight 10 has a housing 12 with a head 14 at the front end, containing a conventional reflector and bulb unit (not shown) , and with a plug unit 16 at the rear end.
- the plug unit is supported on the housing for pivotal movement between a non-charging position (Fig. 1) and a charging position (Fig. 3) .
- the housing contains a rechargeable battery and a switch unit for connecting the battery to a load circuit including the bulb, or to a charging and indicating circuit, alternatively, as described later.
- a push button switch 18 is toggled by successive pressing to turn the bulb on and off when the plug unit is in the non-charging position.
- circuitry contained within the housing 12 comprises a load circuit 20 including the bulb 22 and the on/off switch 18, and a charging and indicating circuit 24.
- a switch unit 26 cooperates with the plug unit for controlling connection of the rechargeable battery X2 to the load circuit or the charging and indicating circuit, alternatively.
- the charging and indicating circuit includes diodes Dl- D4 in a full-wave bridge rectifier that is supplied with AC from input terminals L and N, via capacitor Cl and resistors Rl and R2, and that supplies DC to the remainder of the charging and indicating circuit, which includes a zener diode Zl, diodes D5 and D6, capacitors C2-C4, resistors R3- R8, transistors Ql and Q2, and a LED D7.
- terminals L and N are connected to blades of the plug unit 16 only when the plug unit is in the charging position.
- the switch unit 26 When the plug unit 16 is in the charging position, the switch unit 26 is in the full-line position shown in Fig. 15, so that common terminal B of the switch unit is connected to terminal A of the switch unit, whereby the terminal B+ of the battery X2 is connected to output terminal +V of the charging and indicating circuit 24 and is disconnected from the load circuit 20.
- the terminal B- of the battery is permanently connected to the output terminal 0V of the charging and indicating circuit 24 and to terminal 28 of the bulb.
- the other terminal, 30, of the bulb is connected to the terminal 32 of the on/off switch 18.
- Terminal 33 of the on/off switch 18 is connected to terminal C of the switch unit 26.
- the full-wave bridge rectifier D1-D4 charges the battery through the diode D6 , voltage regulation being provided by the zener diode Zl and the diode D5.
- the capacitor C2 is also charged.
- the switch unit 26 When the plug unit 16 is in the non-charging position, the switch unit 26 is in the dash-line position shown in Fig. 15, disconnecting the battery terminal B+ from the output terminal +V of the charging and indicating circuit 24 and connecting the battery terminal B+ to the load circuit 20 via terminals B and C.
- the charging and indicating circuit 24 includes a multivibrator constituted by the transistors Ql and Q2, the capacitors C3 and C4, and the resistors R4-R7. An output of the multivibrator is connected to the LED D7 through the resistor R8, and an input to the multivibrator is connected to the capacitor C2 through the resistor R3.
- the multivibrator oscillates freely, power thereto being supplied from the battery, and the LED D7 is energized repetitively, i.e., it blinks. If now the blades of the plug unit are inserted in a live AC outlet, the condenser C2 is charged and supplies a bias to the multivibrator circuit which stops the circuit from oscillating and causes the LED D7 to be energized continuously.
- the multivibrator When the plug unit 16 is in the non-charging position, the multivibrator is disconnected from the battery and the LED D7 is de- energized.
- a visual indicator i.e. the LED
- the user can readily determine the condition of the circuitry, namely, whether the circuitry is prepared for bulb illumination or charging, or the battery is being charged.
- the manner in which the plug unit 16 cooperates with the switch unit 26 is shown in Figs. 7-11.
- the switch unit 26 is mounted in a box 34 which is supported in the rear portion of the housing 12 along the bottom wall of the housing.
- the plug unit 16 is pivotally supported above the switch unit 26 (in a manner to be described) .
- the switch unit 26 has a U- shaped common contact member 36, a normally open contact member 38 and a normally closed contact member 40.
- the common contact member and the normally open contact member provide a pair of normally open contacts, while the common contact member and the normally closed contact member provide a pair of normally closed contacts.
- the normally open contact member 38 is disengaged from the common contact member 36, and the normally closed contact member 40 is engaged with the common contact member 36, so that the normally open contacts are open and the normally closed contacts are closed. See Fig. 8.
- one blade, 42, of the plug unit is inserted between the common contact member 36 and the normally open contact member 38, engaging both of these contact members and providing a conductive path between the common contact member 36 and the normally open contact member 38. See Fig. 7.
- the other blade, 44, of the plug unit is inserted between the common contact member 36 and the normally closed contact member 40, moving the common contact member away from its normal engagement with the normally closed contact member 40 and opening the connection between the common contact member and the normally closed contact member. See Fig. 7.
- the normally closed contacts provide a connection between the battery and the charging and indicating circuit
- the normally open contacts (now closed by a blade of the switch unit) provide a connection between the battery and the load circuit.
- contacts 46 on opposite sides of the plug unit 16 are positioned for respective engagement with contact members shown in dash lines and constituting the input terminals L and N of the charging and indicating circuit described previously in connection with Fig. 15.
- contacts 46 are electrically connected to respective blades 42 and 44. In the non-charging position of the plug unit shown in Fig. 9, contacts 46 are located away from contact members L and N, so that the blades 42 and 44 are disconnected from the input terminals of the charging and indicating circuit.
- the blades 42 and 44 move through slots 48 and 50 in the rear wall of the housing 12 when the plug unit 16 is turned between its non-charging and charging positions.
- the user presses inwardly on the front portion of the top wall of the plug unit, thereby turning the plug unit as shown in Fig. 2, whereupon the user grasps the blades 42 and 44 to continue turning the plug unit to the charging position shown in Fig. 3.
- the body 52 of the plug unit is preferably cube-shaped, with the blades protruding from one side (bottom) of the body.
- Arcuate protrusions 54 and 56 are formed externally on the opposite sides of the body on which the contacts 46 are located. Locking plates 58 are received between the arcuate protrusions.
- the protrusions 54 and 56 have opposed parallel edges that engage and guide opposite parallel edges of the locking plates 58 for reciprocation of the locking plates between non-locking and locking positions shown in Figs. 9 and 10, respectively, and also shown in Figs. 6 and 5, respectively. Depressions in the sidewalls may be provided to aid in the guidance.
- the locking plates also have opposite arcuate edges which complement the arcuate edges of the protrusions 54 and 56, so that when the locking plates are in the position shown in Figs. 6 and 9, they form with the protrusions 54 and 56 a cylindrical pivotal bearing.
- the box 34 shown in Fig. 11 has a pair of internal parallel sidewall surfaces 57, one of which is shown in Fig. 12.
- Each sidewall surface has an arcuate depression 60 for receiving a corresponding cylindrical pivot 54, 56, 58 of the plug unit, whereby the plug unit is supported pivotally.
- the plug unit body 52 is hollow and contains the shaft 62 of a push button 64 which is received in an opening 66 in an end wall of the plug unit body 52.
- the push button 64 is biased outwardly of the plug unit body by a coil spring 68 seated in a recess in the end of shaft 62 and a similar recess in the opposite end wall of the body 52.
- the shaft 62 of the push button has a square cross- section passage 70 therethrough, opposite ends of which receive square cross-section shafts 72 of the locking plates 58.
- the shafts 72 (which are integral with the locking plates) extend through rectangular slots 74 in the sidewalls of the plug unit body, the slots permitting the locking plates to reciprocate between locking and unlocking positions.
- Each locking plate has a notch 76 adapted to receive a corresponding locking abutment 78 formed on a sidewall surface 57 of the box 34. See Figs. 12-14.
- the push button 64 is projected outwardly of the body of the plug unit by the spring 68, as shown in Figs. 5 and 10, the locking plates 58 move rearwardly so that the locking abutments 78 are received in the notches 76, locking the plug unit 16 in the charging position.
- the push button 64 Before the plug unit can be turned from the charging position to the non-charging position, the push button 64 must be depressed to move the locking plates 58 forwardly, whereby the locking abutments 78 are withdrawn from the notches 76. Then, while the push button is held depressed, the plug unit is turned so that the arcuate edges of the locking plates are retained within the arcuate depressions 60 of the sidewall surfaces 57 of the box 34 (see Figs. 6, 9, and 13) .
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
BR9811900-1A BR9811900A (en) | 1997-08-13 | 1998-05-20 | Rechargeable flashlight |
EP98923575A EP1003995A1 (en) | 1997-08-13 | 1998-05-20 | Rechargeable flashlight |
CA002300058A CA2300058A1 (en) | 1997-08-13 | 1998-05-20 | Rechargeable flashlight |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US08/910,106 | 1997-08-13 | ||
US08/910,106 US5847540A (en) | 1997-08-13 | 1997-08-13 | Rechargeable flashlight with multi-position AC plug unit that controls load circuit and charging circuit connections and visual indicator |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO1999009348A1 true WO1999009348A1 (en) | 1999-02-25 |
Family
ID=25428319
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US1998/010326 WO1999009348A1 (en) | 1997-08-13 | 1998-05-20 | Rechargeable flashlight |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US5847540A (en) |
EP (1) | EP1003995A1 (en) |
BR (1) | BR9811900A (en) |
CA (1) | CA2300058A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1999009348A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (16)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
KR20010000803U (en) * | 1999-06-18 | 2001-01-15 | 석찬복 | A rechargeable battery |
EP1139540A4 (en) * | 1999-09-10 | 2005-07-06 | Smk Kk | Ac charger |
US6364504B1 (en) | 1999-12-03 | 2002-04-02 | The Brinkmann Corporation | Hand-held spot light having a battery by-pass circuit |
AUPS085002A0 (en) * | 2002-03-01 | 2002-03-28 | Eveready Battery Company Inc. | A rechargeable flashlight |
US6835903B1 (en) * | 2004-04-28 | 2004-12-28 | Ahoku Electronic Company | Automatic locking and releasing structure for push-pull plug |
CN2773465Y (en) * | 2005-01-28 | 2006-04-19 | 明辉光源科技(深圳)有限公司 | Hand charging electric torch with superpower light source |
CN2816566Y (en) * | 2005-04-04 | 2006-09-13 | 袁仕杰 | Hand-held-charging type photoelectronic lighting lamp |
CN2784719Y (en) * | 2005-04-21 | 2006-05-31 | 明辉光源科技(深圳)有限公司 | Multipurpose chargeable photoelectric lighting lamp |
US20070014105A1 (en) * | 2005-06-02 | 2007-01-18 | Teledex, Inc. | Indoor/outdoor smart mechanically and electrically rechargeable led lamp with cell phone charger |
GB2434702B (en) * | 2006-01-31 | 2010-05-26 | Care Knight Ltd | Electric power supply arrangement |
ES2326154B1 (en) * | 2007-05-31 | 2010-07-05 | Juan Tomas Arias Miguel | AUTOMATIC IGNITION FLASHLIGHT. |
US8120268B2 (en) * | 2008-01-25 | 2012-02-21 | Eveready Battery Company, Inc. | Lighting device and method of control based on chemistry composition of power source |
US20090192726A1 (en) * | 2008-01-25 | 2009-07-30 | Eveready Battery Company, Inc. | Electrochemical Composition Detection Device and Method Thereof |
KR101590756B1 (en) * | 2010-09-24 | 2016-02-02 | 오스람 실바니아 인코포레이티드 | Lamp connectors |
US9082112B2 (en) | 2010-12-15 | 2015-07-14 | Symbotic, LLC | Autonomous transport vehicle charging system |
US11565598B2 (en) * | 2013-03-15 | 2023-01-31 | Symbotic Llc | Rover charging system with one or more charging stations configured to control an output of the charging station independent of a charging station status |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2081531A (en) * | 1980-07-26 | 1982-02-17 | Lucas Industries Ltd | Hand lamp |
EP0207691A2 (en) * | 1985-06-24 | 1987-01-07 | Pittway Corporation | Three position switch |
US4794315A (en) * | 1988-01-11 | 1988-12-27 | Pittway Corporation | Rechargeable battery-powered device |
DE4128368A1 (en) * | 1991-08-27 | 1993-03-04 | Mellert Fa Hermann | Rechargeable battery powered pocket torch - has movable cover displayed to allow plug element to engage supply with block preventing engagement if cover is open |
Family Cites Families (16)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE1048189B (en) * | 1956-08-06 | 1958-12-31 | Otto Huebner | Electric shaver |
US3458794A (en) * | 1967-06-07 | 1969-07-29 | Westinghouse Electric Corp | Rechargeable device with rotatable plug |
US3825740A (en) * | 1972-09-22 | 1974-07-23 | A Friedman | Rechargeable flashlight and support stand therefor |
US3890555A (en) * | 1973-09-06 | 1975-06-17 | Kel Lite Industries | Battery recharging circuit with indicator lights |
US4177500A (en) * | 1978-09-29 | 1979-12-04 | Thomas H. Nicholl | Power failure light and circuit therefor |
US4398139A (en) * | 1978-11-30 | 1983-08-09 | Prinsze Onno M | Rechargeable flashlight combined with a constant current battery charging circuit |
US4244011A (en) * | 1979-08-27 | 1981-01-06 | The Gates Rubber Company | Rechargeable flashlight |
US4412168A (en) * | 1981-07-10 | 1983-10-25 | Black & Decker, Inc. | Battery charging and indicating circuit |
US4467263A (en) * | 1983-01-31 | 1984-08-21 | Pittway Corporation | Rechargeable battery-powered flashlight system |
US4563629A (en) * | 1983-09-13 | 1986-01-07 | Black & Decker Inc. | Battery recharging circuit with indicator means |
US5006779A (en) * | 1984-07-26 | 1991-04-09 | Pittway Corporation | Electrical unit with multi-position switch |
DE3622991A1 (en) * | 1986-07-09 | 1988-01-21 | Braun Ag | DISCHARGE INDICATOR FOR A BATTERY |
US4829290A (en) * | 1988-01-04 | 1989-05-09 | Motorola, Inc. | Low voltage alert circuit |
US5013972A (en) * | 1988-06-29 | 1991-05-07 | Samuel Kaner | Dual-powered flickering symbolic or religious light (electronic yahrzeit) |
US4914555A (en) * | 1989-07-20 | 1990-04-03 | Gammache Richard J | Rechargeable flashlight |
JPH04102783U (en) * | 1991-02-15 | 1992-09-04 | 日東工器株式会社 | DC battery driven hand tool |
-
1997
- 1997-08-13 US US08/910,106 patent/US5847540A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1998
- 1998-05-20 BR BR9811900-1A patent/BR9811900A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1998-05-20 WO PCT/US1998/010326 patent/WO1999009348A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1998-05-20 CA CA002300058A patent/CA2300058A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1998-05-20 EP EP98923575A patent/EP1003995A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2081531A (en) * | 1980-07-26 | 1982-02-17 | Lucas Industries Ltd | Hand lamp |
EP0207691A2 (en) * | 1985-06-24 | 1987-01-07 | Pittway Corporation | Three position switch |
US4794315A (en) * | 1988-01-11 | 1988-12-27 | Pittway Corporation | Rechargeable battery-powered device |
DE4128368A1 (en) * | 1991-08-27 | 1993-03-04 | Mellert Fa Hermann | Rechargeable battery powered pocket torch - has movable cover displayed to allow plug element to engage supply with block preventing engagement if cover is open |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CA2300058A1 (en) | 1999-02-25 |
US5847540A (en) | 1998-12-08 |
EP1003995A1 (en) | 2000-05-31 |
BR9811900A (en) | 2000-08-15 |
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