Tubular barrel-shaped flashlight having rotatable switching assembly and focusing and defocusing capability

Abstract

A flashlight in accordance with the present invention includes a chamber, end cap, head assembly and lamp holder assembly. The end cap includes a bowed tripod portion to facilitate standing the flashlight on a flat surface. The head assembly includes a reflector and a lens. In one embodiment of the invention, the head assembly includes an elliptical reflector. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the flashlight having a elliptical reflector is matched with a negative or planar lens. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the head assembly includes an hyperbolic reflector. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the flashlight having a hyperbolic reflector is matched with a positive or planar lens. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the flashlight includes electrode connections which prevent the conduction of electrical energy from batteries which are improperly aligned within the flashlight. In another embodiment, the lamp holder assembly includes a lamp socket having a lamp guide which provides a guide for installing lamp bulbs into the lamp socket and also provides a secure position for the lamp bulb. In another embodiment, the lamp holder assembly further includes a fluorescent coating or additive which illuminates light in otherwise dark conditions, thereby facilitating lamp replacement in the less than desirable light conditions. In another embodiment, the flashlight comprises a head assembly attached to the chamber which is rotatable relative to the chamber to cause electrical coupling of a lamp and one or more batteries retained by a chamber. In another embodiment of the flashlight, the spare lamp is held secure by the lamp holder assembly until the user of the flashlight rotates the lamp holder assembly to align a spare lamp opening with the spare lamp.

1. A flashlight comprising:
 (a) chamber means for retaining at least one battery;  
 (b) a lamp;  
 (c) electrical coupling means for holding said lamp and selectively electrically coupling said lamp and said at least one battery retained by said chamber means;  
 (d) a head piece attached to said chamber means and solely rotatable radially relative to said chamber means;  
 (e) a reflector for reflecting light from said lamp;  
 (f) a bezel attached to said head piece and solely rotatable radially relative to said head piece;  
 wherein said bezel is rotatable to cause said reflector to axially move relative to said chamber means;  
 wherein said head piece is rotatable to cause said electrical coupling means to selectively electrically couple said lamp and said at least one battery retained by said chamber means.  
 
     
     
       2. A flashlight as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said bezel is rotatable in a first direction relative to said head piece to cause said reflector to move away from said chamber means and rotatable in a second direction relative to said chamber means to cause said reflector to move towards said chamber means. 
     
     
       3. A flashlight as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said coupling means comprises:
 a lamp holder assembly for holding said lamp;  
 wherein the rotation of said head piece relative to said chamber means causes said lamp holder assembly to rotate to cause said electrical coupling means to electrically couple said lamp and said at least one battery retained by said chamber means.  
 
     
     
       4. A flashlight as claimed in  claim 1 , said flashlight further comprises:
 detent means for providing a first detent position whereto said head piece is capable of being rotated to and removably fixed;  
 wherein said head piece is rotatable to said first detent position to cause said electrical coupling means to selectively electrically couple said lamp and said at least one battery retained by said chamber means;  
 wherein said detent means is structurally independent of said electrical coupling means.  
 
     
     
       5. A flashlight as claimed in  claim 1 , said flashlight further comprises:
 detent means for providing a first detent position whereto said head piece is capable of being rotated to and removably fixed;  
 wherein said head piece is rotatable to said first detent position to cause said electrical coupling means to selectively electrically couple said lamp and said at least one battery retained by said chamber means;  
 wherein said detent means is structurally part of said electrical coupling means.  
 
     
     
       6. A flashlight which is portable and hand held, and which is capable of operating with at least one battery, said flashlight comprising:
 (a) a chamber for retaining at least one battery, wherein said chamber comprises a first opening for receiving one or more batteries; and a second opening substantially opposite said first opening;  
 (b) an end cap removably connected to said chamber for selectively covering and uncovering said first opening;  
 (c) a light bulb source;  
 (d) means for holding said light bulb source, said means for holding said light source retained by said chamber at said second opening;  
 (e) coupling means for selectively electrically coupling said means for holding a light bulb  source and said at least one battery retained in said chamber;  
 (f) a conic reflector comprising a first central opening, a second central opening substantially opposite said first central opening, and an inner area defined by the space between said first central opening and said second central opening;  
 (g) a lens;  
 (h) head assembly means for positioning said lens and said reflector relative to said light bulb  source when said head assembly means is connected to said second opening of said chamber;  
 wherein said head assembly means further comprises (i) a head piece which is solely rotatable radially relative to said chamber to cause said coupling means to selectively electrically couple said means for holding a  said light bulb  source and said at least one battery retained in said chamber, and (ii) a bezel which is solely rotatable relative to said head piece to cause said reflector to axially move relative to said light bulb source.  
 
     
     
       7. A flashlight as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said head assembly means holds said lens a fixed distance from said light bulb  source when said bezel is rotated. 
     
     
       8. A flashlight as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said head assembly means comprises a first portion and a second portion;
 wherein said first proton is rotatable relative to said chamber to cause said coupling means to selectively electrically couple said means for holding a lamp bulb  said light source and said at least one battery retained in said chamber;  
 wherein said head assembly means  second portion is rotatable relative to said first portion to cause said conic reflector to move relative said lamp light source.  
 
     
     
       9. A flashlight as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said first portion is a head piece and said second portion is a bezel. 
     
     
       10. A flashlight as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said head assembly means fixedly positions said lens relative to said light bulb  source and moveably positions said reflector relative to said light bulb source. 
     
     
       11. A flashlight comprising:
 (a) chamber means for retaining at least one battery;  
 (b) a lamp;  
 (c) coupling means for selectively electrically coupling said lamp and said chamber means; and  
 (d) a head assembly comprising:  
 a reflector having a first central opening, a second central opening substantially opposite said first opening, and an inner area between said first central opening and said second central opening;  
 a lens;  
 a head piece rotatable relative to the chamber means to cause said coupling means to selectively electrically couple said lamp and said chamber means;  
 a bezel rotatable relative to said head piece such that the position of said lamp may be varied within said inner area of said reflector to focus and defocus light illuminated by said lamp.  
 
     
     
       12. A flashlight comprising:
 (a) chamber means for retaining at least one battery;  
 (b) lamp holder means for holding a lamp;  
 (c) electrical coupling means for selectively electrically coupling said chamber means and said lamp holder means;  
 (d) a reflector;  
 (e) a head piece that is rotatably secured to said chamber means so that said head piece may rotate relative to said chamber means without axial movement of said head piece relative to said chamber means to cause said electrical coupling means to selectively electrically couple said chamber means and said lamp holder means; and  
 (f) a bezel that is rotatably secured to said head piece so that said bezel may rotate relative to said chamber means without axial movement of said bezel relative to said head piece to cause said reflector to move axially relative to said lamp.  
 
     
     
       13. A flashlight comprising:
 ( a )  a chamber for retaining at least one battery;      ( b )  a lamp holder assembly for retaining a lamp, positioned at least partially within said chamber;      ( c )  a head assembly attachable to said chamber for retaining a reflector, wherein rotation of said head assembly causes electrical coupling of said lamp and said battery;      ( d )  a bezel rotatable relative to said chamber, wherein solely radial rotation of said bezel causes the light emanating from said lamp to focus and defocus.     
     
     
       14. A flashlight comprising:
 ( a )  a chamber for retaining at least one battery;      ( b )  a lamp holder assembly for retaining a lamp, positioned at least partially within said chamber;      ( c )  a head assembly attachable to said chamber for retaining a reflector, said reflector adapted to receive said lamp, wherein rotation of said head assembly causes electrical coupling of said lamp and said battery;      ( d )  a bezel rotatable relative to said chamber and operably connected to said reflector, wherein solely radial rotation of said bezel causes axial movement of said reflector relative to said lamp.     
     
     
       15. A flashlight comprising:
 ( a )  a chamber for retaining at least one battery, said chamber having a first end portion and a second end portion;      ( b )  a lamp positioned at said first end portion of said chamber;      ( c )  a switch assembly positioned between said lamp and said battery wherein movement of said switch assembly electrically couples said lamp to said battery;      ( d )  a reflector adapted to receive said lamp;      ( e )  a bezel rotatable relative to said chamber and operably connected to said reflector, wherein solely radial rotation of said bezel causes axial movement of said reflector relative to said lamp.     
     
     
       16. A flashlight comprising:
 ( a )  a chamber for retaining at least one battery, said chamber having a first end portion and a second end portion;      ( b )  a lamp positioned at said first end portion of said chamber;      ( c )  a head piece attachable to said chamber;      ( d )  a reflector adapted to receive said lamp;      ( e )  a bezel rotatable relative to said chamber and operably connected to said reflector, wherein rotation of said bezel relative to said chamber causes axial movement of said reflector relative to said lamp, but does not cause axial movement of said bezel relative to said lamp.