Patents by Inventor Richard J. Gammache

Richard J. Gammache has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5278739
    Abstract: A flashlight having a casing containing a pair batteries, a head assembly mounted on an upper end of the casing, and a tail assembly mounted on a lower end of the casing disclosed wherein the head assembly includes a swivel head carrying a bulb and a reflector and is rotatable about an inclined swivel axis aligned with a bulb extending through a side of a reflector. The flashlight includes a terminal mechanism for electrically connecting the bulb to the battery irrespective of the rotated position of the swivel head relative to the casing. A rotary switch mechanism is provided in the tail assembly to control the illumination of the bulb through a cam mechanism actuated by a rotation of the tail cap switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Inventor: Richard J. Gammache
  • Patent number: 5161095
    Abstract: A flashlight having a casing containing a pair of batteries, a head assembly mounted on an upper end of the casing, and a tail assembly mounted on a lower end of the casing. The head assembly includes a swivel head carrying a bulb with the swivel head being rotatable about a swivel axis which is inclined with respect to a longitudinal axis of the casing. The tail assembly includes a rotary switch for illuminating and extinguishing the bulb. The bulb has a terminal which is connected electrically to a negative terminal on one of the batteries by operating the rotary switch. Another terminal on the bulb is connected electrically to a positive terminal on the other battery. The rotary switch includes a lifter that is movable in response to rotation of the tail cap for lifting a spring out of contact with a conductive insert in the casing lower end thereby electrically disconnecting the conductive means and the battery negative terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Inventor: Richard J. Gammache
  • Patent number: 5097399
    Abstract: A flashlight has a casing containing batteries and a head assembly mounted on the casing. The head assembly includes a swivel head arranged for rotational movement about a swivel axis which is disposed at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the casing. The swivel head carries a bulb and is asymmetrical so that rotational movement of the swivel head causes the beam of light emitted by the bulb to be directed in different directions. In one embodiment of the flashlight, the bulb is moved to various angular positions relative to the casing as the swivel head is rotated. In another embodiment of the flashlight, the bulb remains in a fixed relationship with the casing but a reflector is moved to various angular positions when the swivel head is rotated. The flashight also includes a push button type of switch mechanism for illuminating and extinguishing the bulb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Inventor: Richard J. Gammache
  • Patent number: 5043854
    Abstract: A flashlight has a casing containing batteries and a head assembly mounted on the casing. The head assembly includes a swivel head arranged for rotational movement about a swivel axis which is disposed at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the casing. The swivel head carries a bulb and is asymmetrical so that rotational movement of the swivel head causes the beam of light emitted by the bulb to be directed in different directions. In one embodiment of the flashlight, the bulb is moved to various angular positions relative to the casing as the swivel head is rotated. In another embodiment of the flashlight, the bulb remains in a fixed relationship with the casing but a reflector is moved to various angular positions when the swivel head is rotated. The flashlight also includes a push button type of switch mechanism for illuminating and extinguishing the bulb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Inventor: Richard J. Gammache
  • Patent number: 4999750
    Abstract: A flashlight includes a cylindrical casing containing a battery. A bulb is slidably disposed in a socket member carried in the casing, and a head assembly is rotatably mounted on one end of the casing. The bulb has an annular flange forming an electrical terminal. The head assembly has a preloaded pressure pad arranged for engaging the bulb flange. When the head assembly is rotated in one direction, the bulb is moved toward the battery and the bulb flange is moved into contact with another electrical terminal in the casing. This closes an electrical circuit connecting the battery and the bulb, illuminating the bulb. A spring carried by the socket member is disposed between the battery and the bulb. When the head assembly is rotated in the opposite direction, the spring urges the bulb away from the battery and moves the bulb flange out of contact with the electrical terminal in the casing. This opens the electrical circuit between the battery and the bulb, extinguishing the bulb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Inventor: Richard J. Gammache
  • Patent number: 4914555
    Abstract: A rechargeable flashlight includes a cylindrical casing containing a battery and an electronic circuit board for recharging the battery. A bulb is disposed in the casing, and a head assembly is rotatably mounted on one end of the casing for moving a flange on the bulb into contact with a terminal inside the casing thus completing an electrical circuit connecting the battery with the bulb and thereby illuminating the bulb. A knot is rotatably mounted adjacent the other end of the casing for extending and retracting a pair of prongs which may be plugged into an alternating current electrical receptacle in order to energize the circuit board and thereby recharge the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Inventor: Richard J. Gammache
  • Patent number: 4827385
    Abstract: A pocket flashlight utilizes a push button type of switch assembly retained in one end of a cylindrical casing by a metal retainer. A lamp bulb is disposed in the other end of the casing. The switch assembly includes a shuttle formed of conductive material which is movable within a sleeve into and out of electrical contact with the retainer to illuminate and extinguish the bulb. The switch assembly also includes a rotor and a plunger movably disposed in the sleeve. The shuttle may be locked in electrical contact with the retainer by engaging teeth on the rotor with splines on the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1989
    Inventor: Richard J. Gammache
  • Patent number: 4807097
    Abstract: A miniature flashlight utilizes a standard type of bulb commonly used in standard size flashlights. In the preferred embodiment, the miniature flashlight includes a cylindrical casing containing a pair of batteries. A bulb disposed in the casing has a first terminal connected to the positive terminal of one of the batteries. The bulb has a cylindrical metallic base with an integral annular flange that forms a second terminal of the bulb. The casing carries a conductive flange for contacting the annular flange of the bulb in order to illuminate the bulb. The miniature flashlight of the preferred embodiment also includes a shuttle switch formed of nonconductive material which is operable for extinguishing the bulb by moving the bulb in a direction which moves its annular flange away from the conductive flange on the casing. The shuttle switch is generally ring shaped with a plurality of lugs for engaging the annular flange of the bulb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Inventor: Richard J. Gammache
  • Patent number: 4725932
    Abstract: A miniature flashlight utilizes a standard type of bulb commonly used in standard size flashlights. In the preferred embodiment, the miniature flashlight includes a cylindrical casing containing a pair of batteries. A bulb disposed in the casing has a first terminal connected to the positive terminal of one of the batteries. The bulb has a cylindrical metallic base with an integral annular flange that forms a second terminal of the bulb. The casing carries a conductive flange for contacting the annular flange of the bulb in order to illuminate the bulb. The miniature flashlight of the preferred embodiment also includes a shuttle switch formed of nonconductive material which is operable for extinguishing the bulb by moving the bulb in a direction which moves its annular flange away from the conductive flange on the casing. The shuttle switch is generally ring shaped with a plurality of lugs for engaging the annular flange of the bulb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1988
    Inventor: Richard J. Gammache
  • Patent number: D303578
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Inventor: Richard J. Gammache
  • Patent number: D332320
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Inventor: Richard J. Gammache