Flashlight

Abstract

A flashlight in accordance with an aspect of the invention includes a main housing having a lamp housing. A mounting mechanism and mating features are adapted to selectively couple and decouple the main housing and the lamp housing. In an aspect, a flexible conduit connects the main housing and lamp housing. The flexible conduit can be formed in an arc having an apex that lies directly above a center of gravity of the flashlight when the main housing and the lamp housing are coupled, thereby allowing the flashlight to be balanced when the flexible conduit is used as a carrying handle.

1 . A flashlight, comprising:
 a main housing;   a lamp housing removably attachable to the main housing; and   a semi-rigid conduit coupling the main housing to the lamp housing that, when the lamp housing is not attached the main housing, supports the lamp housing in a fixed position with respect to the main housing, the semi-rigid conduit bendable so that the fixed position of lamp housing with respect to the main housing can be adjusted by bending the semi-rigid conduit.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein one of the main housing and lamp housing includes a retaining mechanism and the other of the main housing and lamp housing includes a mating feature that is engaged by the retaining mechanism to attach the lamp housing to the main housing. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the retaining mechanism includes a catch and the mating feature includes a detent that is engaged by the catch. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the retaining mechanism includes a magnet and the mating feature includes a magnetic element magnetically attracted by the magnet. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the magnetic element is any of a ferrous plate, a magnet, or both a magnet and a ferrous plate. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the semi-rigid conduit provides a handle by which the flashlight can be carried. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein when the lamp housing is attached to the main housing, an apex of the semi-rigid conduit lies above a center of gravity of the flashlight. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the retaining mechanism includes a catch and the mating feature includes a detent that is engaged by the catch. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the retaining mechanism includes a magnet and the mating feature includes a magnetic element magnetically attracted by the magnet. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the magnetic element is any of a ferrous plate or a magnet, or both.