Rechargeable flashlight and battery charger
A rechargeable flashlight and charging assembly are provided in which the charger has a receptacle for vertically receiving a flashlight therein. The charger further has a second receptacle for holding an auxiliary battery, and a latch for securely holding the auxiliary battery in the second receptacle. The flashlight is formed to removably contain a battery assembly. A pivotal cover member of the flashlight provides access to the battery compartment and has a pair of conductors situated therein for connection to charging contacts within the charging receptacle.
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Rechargeable flashlights are known in which a flashlight containing a rechargeable battery is configured to connect with a battery charger for charging the battery while it remains in the flashlight. Such flashlights are particularly desirable for emergency workers who must depend upon having a readily available source of light at remote locations. Although such flashlights are normally stored in a charging assembly, the battery may become discharged through repeated or extended use if there has not been enough time to fully recharge the battery between uses. In such a situation, it is necessary to return the flashlight to the charger for sufficient time to recharge. During this recharging time, the flashlight is unavailable for use. Thus it would be desirable to provide a rechargeable flashlight system in which an auxiliary battery is maintained in a charged condition so that the discharged battery may be removed from the flashlight and replaced by the auxiliary battery.
It would further be desirable for the auxiliary battery charger to be integrated with the flashlight charger so that the flashlight, the flashlight charger, and the auxiliary battery charger are maintained at a single location. Since many emergency crews already possess rechargeable flashlights, it would be desirable to provide an auxiliary battery assembly capable of being attached to an existing rechargeable flashlight system to provide for the ability to replace a discharged battery in such an existing rechargeable flashlight system.
Flashlights employed by emergency workers are often maintained aboard vehicles, and are used in hazardous locations. It is essential for a rechargeable flashlight system to hold the flashlight securely, and for the flashlight to be watertight and mechanically reliable.
SUMMARYIn accordance with the present invention, there is provided a rechargeable flashlight system which provides a flashlight having a rechargeable battery assembly, a flashlight charger for receiving the flashlight and charging the battery within the flashlight, and an auxiliary battery charger configured to be integrated with the flashlight charger for holding, charging, and maintaining the charge of an auxiliary battery assembly compatible with the flashlight.
The flashlight comprises a body having a central cavity for holding a rechargeable battery. The lower end of the body is closed by a cover member which opens to permit removal of the body. A pair of conductors extends through the cover member for contact with the flashlight charger, which recharges the battery when the flashlight is positioned in a receptacle in the flashlight charger. The lower end of the body is flared to mate with upward and inwardly extending walls of the receptacle by abutment, to securely hold the flashlight in the receptacle during charging.
An auxilliary battery charger is attached to the flashlight charger. The auxilliary battery charger is formed to provide a receptacle for receiving an auxilliary rechargeable battery. A latch mechanism connected with the auxilliary battery charger holds the auxiliary battery securely in the receptacle during charging.
The rechargeable battery comprises a case for holding rechargeable cells. Contacts are provided through the upper end of the case to provide contact with connectors positioned in the upper end of the interior of the body cavity. Contacts are also provided at the lower end of the case to connect with the rear cover member conductors of the flashlight when positioned therein, or with charging contacts positioned in the receptacle of the auxiliary battery charger.
Referring now to
The flashlight 10 is shown separated from the charger 12 in
The bottom portion of the body 19 of the flashlight 10 comprises a flared portion which provides a lip or rim extending outwardly about the bottom of the body 19 of the flashlight 10. As shown in
The cover member 27 has a pair of conductors 34a and 34b which extend through the cover member 27, as shown in
The cover member further has an outer rim 44 and sealing surface 44 which extends into the flashlight body when the cover is in the closed position. A groove is formed around the periphery of the sealing surface, and an O-ring 40 is situated in the groove to provide a fluid tight seal between the cover member and the rear opening of the body of the flashlight. As can be seen in
The flashlight charger 12 is shown separated from the flashlight in
Referring again to
The auxiliary battery charger 14 is shown in cross section in
The battery assembly 82 is shown in
The lower portion 86 or rear end member 86 of the case 82 has a circuit board 102 positioned therein. A pair of springs 104a and 104b are electrically connected to the circuit board 102 and extend outward from the bottom of the battery assembly 82 for engagement with the conductors 34a, 34b positioned in the cover member 27 of the flashlight 10. It will be appreciated that, in the assembled condition, the battery assembly 82 is thus insulated from physical shock due to its positioning between springs 100a-b of the flashlight 10 at the upper end of the battery assembly 82, and springs 104a-b of the battery assembly 82 at the lower end thereof. A pair of conductors 105a and 105b are electrically connected with the springs 100a and 100b via the circuit board 102. The conductors 105a and 105b extend within the case 82 to respective connection points at the negative and positive contacts 96a and 96b of the series-connected cells 88a-d so that electrical current is conducted to the cells when the flashlight 10 is positioned in the flashlight charger 12. When the battery assembly is removed from the flashlight and inserted into the auxiliary battery charger, the springs 100a and 100b connect to a pair of contacts provided in the receptacle of the auxiliary battery charger in order to conduct electrical current from the auxiliary battery charger to the rechargeable cells.
Claims
1. A charging assembly for a rechargeable flashlight system, comprising:
- a body having a flashlight receptacle portion and an auxiliary battery receptacle portion;
- the flashlight receptacle portion having a vertically and inwardly directed wall forming a receptacle for receiving a flashlight;
- a charging contact located in the receptacle of the flashlight receptacle portion;
- the battery receptacle portion having a well formed therein for receiving a rechargeable battery, and a latch for holding the battery in the battery receptacle portion.
2. The charging assembly of claim 1, wherein the flashlight receptacle portion is contoured to receive a lip portion of a terminal end portion of a flashlight, and wherein the flashlight receptacle portion has an open side for laterally receiving the lip portion of the flashlight.
3. The charging assembly of claim 2 comprising a stop member located at the open side of the flashlight receptacle portion for releasably holding the flashlight in the flashlight receptacle portion when the flashlight is received in the receptacle.
4. A battery assembly for a rechargeable flashlight, comprising:
- cylindrical rechargeable cells arranged in parallel and electrically connected at a rear end in series to provide respective positive and negative contacts at a forward end of the assembly;
- a shell for holding the cells and having an opening in a forward end for exposing the contacts for connection with electrical contacts positioned within a flashlight;
- a rear end member connected with the shell and having a pair of charging contacts located on the rear exterior thereof;
- a circuit board disposed within the rear end member for supporting the pair of charging contacts; and
- a pair of conductors within the shell for electrically connecting the charging contacts with the respective positive and negative contacts of the cells.
5. The battery assembly of claim 4 wherein the charging contacts on the rear end member comprise springs extending rearwardly from the shell.
6. A flashlight, comprising:
- a head assembly having a light bulb and a pair of rearwardly extending springs for conducting electricity to the light bulb;
- a body extending rearwardly from the head assembly and having a central cavity for receiving a battery;
- a rear cover member attached to the rear end of the body by a hinge, the rear cover member having a pair of conductors for conducting electricity through the rear cover member from a charger.
7. The flashlight of claim 6 wherein the rear cover member comprises a latch member for releasably holding the rear cover member in a closed position at the rear end of the flashlight.
8. The flashlight of claim 7 wherein the latch member comprises a clip attached by a hinge to a free end of the rear cover member for engagement with a clip receiving portion formed on the body of the flashlight.
9. The flashlight of claim 7 comprising a sealing member located between the rear cover member and the rear end of the flashlight for providing a fluid seal between the rear cover and the central cavity of the flashlight.
10. The flashlight of claim 9 wherein the rear cover member comprises a vent assembly therein for providing a one-way vent between the central cavity and the exterior of the flashlight.
11. The flashlight of claim 6 wherein the body comprises a rear portion having an outwardly extending lip for engaging with an inwardly extending wall of a charging receptacle.
12. The battery assembly of claim 5 wherein the pair of conductors within the shell are electrically connected to the springs extending rearwardly from the shell via the circuit board.
13. The battery assembly of claim 4 wherein the pair of conductors within the shell are electrically connected to the pair of charging contacts via the circuit board.
14. The battery assembly of claim 4 wherein the rear end member has a notch for engagement with a latching member of a battery charger when the battery assembly inserted into the battery charger.
15. The battery assembly of claim 4 wherein the cylindrical rechargeable cells are arranged as respective series pairs physically positioned adjacent to each other.
16. The battery assembly of claim 15 wherein each respective series pair is wrapped in an insulating jacket.
17. The battery assembly of claim 16 wherein the insulating jackets of the respective series pairs are paperboard and are secured to each other by adhesive.
18. The battery assembly of claim 4 wherein:
- the pair of charging contacts are positioned to make contact with charging contacts of a battery charger when the battery assembly is inserted into the battery charger; or
- the pair of charging contacts are positioned to make contact with conductors of a flashlight when the battery assembly is in the flashlight and the conductors of the flashlight make contact with charging contacts of a battery charger when the flashlight is inserted into the battery charger; or
- the pair of charging contacts are positioned to make contact with charging contacts of a battery charger when the battery assembly is inserted into the battery charger and to make contact with conductors of a flashlight when the battery assembly is in the flashlight and the conductors of the flashlight make contact with charging contacts of a battery charger when the flashlight is inserted into the battery charger.
19. A battery assembly for a rechargeable flashlight, comprising:
- a case including an upper portion and a lower portion to house a plurality of rechargeable cells;
- a plurality of rechargeable cells positioned adjacent each other in the case and electrically connected to together in electrical series to provide respective positive and negative contacts at a forward end of the case for connecting with electrical contacts within a flashlight;
- the upper portion of the case having openings in a forward end thereof exposing a positive contact of one rechargeable cell and a negative contact of another rechargeable cell to provide the respective positive and negative contacts at the forward end of the case for connecting with electrical contacts within a flashlight;
- a conductor connected to respective adjacent ends of two adjacent ones of the plurality of rechargeable cells wherein the plurality of rechargeable cells are all connected together in electrical series within the case;
- the lower portion of the case having a pair of charging contacts located at the rear exterior thereof;
- a circuit board disposed in the lower portion of the case for supporting the pair of charging contacts; and
- a pair of conductors within the case for electrically connecting the charging contacts with the respective positive and negative contacts of the rechargeable cells via the circuit board.
20. The battery assembly of claim 19 wherein the charging contacts on the lower portion of the case comprise springs extending rearwardly from the case.
21. The battery assembly of claim 20 wherein the pair of conductors within the case are electrically connected to the springs extending rearwardly from the case via the circuit board.
22. The battery assembly of claim 19 wherein the pair of conductors within the case are electrically connected to the pair of charging contacts via the circuit board.
23. The battery assembly of claim 19 wherein the lower portion of the case has a notch for engagement with a latching member of a battery charger when the battery assembly inserted into the battery charger.
24. The battery assembly of claim 19 wherein the cylindrical rechargeable cells are arranged as respective series pairs physically positioned adjacent to each other.
25. The battery assembly of claim 24 wherein each respective series pair is wrapped in an insulating jacket.
26. The battery assembly of claim 25 wherein the insulating jackets of the respective series pairs are paperboard and are secured to each other by adhesive.
27. The battery assembly of claim 19 wherein:
- the pair of charging contacts are positioned to make contact with charging contacts of a battery charger when the battery assembly is inserted into the battery charger; or
- the pair of charging contacts are positioned to make contact with conductors of a flashlight when the battery assembly is in the flashlight that make contact with charging contacts of a battery charger when the flashlight is inserted into the battery charger; or
- the pair of charging contacts are positioned to make contact with charging contacts of a battery charger when the battery assembly is inserted into the battery charger and to make contact with conductors of a flashlight when the battery assembly is in the flashlight that make contact with charging contacts of a battery charger when the flashlight is inserted into the battery charger.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Aug 10, 2010
Date of Patent: Nov 22, 2011
Assignee: Streamlight, Inc. (Eagleville, PA)
Inventors: Raymond L. Sharrah (Collegeville, PA), John C. DiNenna (Norristown, PA)
Primary Examiner: Edward Tso
Attorney: Dann, Dorfman, Herrell & Skillman, PC
Application Number: 12/853,701
International Classification: H01M 10/46 (20060101);