Patents Assigned to Koehler-Bright Star, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8922159
    Abstract: A battery pack features a housing with a battery cell positioned within the housing. A pair of terminals attached to the battery cell and are adapted to provide power to a cap lamp and/or other device(s). Charging circuitry is positioned within the housing and attached to the battery cell. The charging circuitry provides a charging current to the battery cell when the battery pack is connected to a charger. A microprocessor is positioned within the housing and operatively connected to the charging circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Koehler-Bright Star, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Bobbin, Mark Dirsa
  • Patent number: 8729851
    Abstract: A battery pack features a shock-absorbing and sealed construction and an electronic control module that provides automatic recovery circuitry in the event of a short circuit in the load whereby the power is terminated and then restarted at a lower level so that removal of the short circuit may be detected. Full power is restored to the load when the short circuit is removed. In addition, the electronic control module of the battery pack uses the battery pack load, such as a cap lamp, to provide an indication of a low battery charge level. The electronic control module also provides a soft-start feature where the power provided to the bulb is ramped up to avoid current in-rush to the bulb during startup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Koehler-Bright Star, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Bobbin, Mark Dirsa
  • Patent number: 8690375
    Abstract: A cap lamp system features a battery pack, a cap lamp housing containing a cap lamp bulb and a power cord connected between the battery pack and the cap lamp housing. The power cord provides power to the cap lamp bulb from the battery pack. An electronic module includes a housing defining a chamber and electronic circuitry is positioned within the chamber of the housing. The electronic module is positioned in circuit with the power cord. The electronic module may receives power from the battery pack and the electronic circuitry of the electronic module may includes a battery that powers the module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Koehler-Bright Star, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Bobbin, John Devaney, Mark Dirsa
  • Patent number: 8575893
    Abstract: A portable lighting device that is lightweight and features a space-efficient design includes a body containing a Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery. The body includes a pair of pivot arms that are spaced from one another. A lamp assembly includes a lamp assembly housing containing a light source that is powered by the Li-ion battery. The lamp assembly housing is pivotally connected to each of the pair of pivot arms and positioned there between. A handle includes a gripping portion that is spaced from the body so that a gripping space is defined between the gripping portion of the handle and the body. A removable bumper pad is positioned on the bottom of the body. The portable lighting device features recesses on opposite sides that are engaged by corresponding tabs on a charging rack. This prevents non-compatible lighting devices from being positioned on the charging rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Koehler-Bright-Star, Inc.
    Inventors: John Devaney, Mark Dirsa
  • Patent number: 7967467
    Abstract: A portable lighting device that is lightweight and features a space-efficient design includes a body containing a Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery. The body includes a pair of pivot arms that are spaced from one another. A lamp assembly includes a lamp assembly housing containing a light source that is powered by the Li-ion battery. The lamp assembly housing is pivotally connected to each of the pair of pivot arms and positioned there between. A handle includes a gripping portion that is spaced from the body so that a gripping space is defined between the gripping portion of the handle and the body. A removable bumper pad is positioned on the bottom of the body. The portable lighting device features recesses on opposite sides that are engaged by corresponding tabs on a charging rack. This prevents non-compatible lighting devices from being positioned on the charging rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Koehler-Bright Star, Inc.
    Inventors: John Devaney, Mark Dirsa
  • Patent number: 7737655
    Abstract: A controller allows use of a battery protection circuit that limits electrical current to a safe level regarding short circuits and hazardous locations as well as determining each battery configuration having a voltage-temperature profile associated with that enhances cold weather operation; high battery temperatures are also detected and then rectified by the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Koehler-Bright Star, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Devaney, Mark Dirsa
  • Patent number: 7563001
    Abstract: An adapter for a portable light source permits a module to be attached to the portable light source and powered by the power source of the portable light source. In one embodiment of the invention, the power source is a battery and the adapter includes a bottom plate and a housing defining a compartment that holds the module. In this embodiment, the bottom plate of the adapter features a positive contact opening and a negative contact opening adapted to receive and electrically communicate with the positive and negative terminals of the battery. The bottom plate of the adapter also includes positive and negative contact leads which communicate with the contact openings and the module so that the latter receives power from the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Koehler-Bright Star, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Bobbin, John Devaney, Mark Dirsa
  • Patent number: 7549770
    Abstract: A flashlight or lantern having a separate modular component that is preferably powered by the flashlight or lantern power source and is mounted within a pocket or recess on the outer surface of the body of the flashlight or lantern. The module can be a secondary lighting source or a device such as a tracking mechanism or GPS receiver. The module can be semi-permanently or detachably mounted to the flashlight or lantern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Koehler-Bright Star, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Devaney, Mark F. Dirsa
  • Patent number: 6505952
    Abstract: A flashlight particularly useful by safety personnel such as a firefighter and capable of operation with chargeable battery means or non-chargeable battery means. The flashlight includes a one piece plastic casing having a tubular body portion defining a battery compartment and a right angled head portion in which a light bulb is mounted. The battery compartment is closed by an end cap on which electrical conductive means is mounted to form a part of the battery circuit when non-rechargeable batteries are placed in the compartment. A plurality of charging contacts are mounted on the rear wall of the body portion of the flashlight for enabling rechargeable batteries to be recharged while in the compartment. The charging contacts are recessed within the rear wall of the battery compartment so that they can not be engaged by non-rechargeable batteries within the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Koehler-Bright Star, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Kish, Randy S. Cramer
  • Patent number: 6161938
    Abstract: A flashlight particularly useful by safety personnel such as a firefighter and capable of operation with rechargeable battery means or non-rechargeable battery means. The flashlight includes a one-piece plastic casing having a tubular body portion defining a battery compartment and a right angled head portion in which a light bulb is mounted. The battery compartment is closed by an end cap on which electrical conductive means is mounted to form a part of the battery circuit when non-rechargeable batteries are placed in the compartment. A plurality of charging contacts are mounted on the rear wall of the body portion of the flashlight for enabling rechargeable batteries to be recharged while in the compartment. The charging contacts are recessed within the rear wall of the battery compartment so that they can not be engaged by non-rechargeable batteries within the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Koehler-Bright Star, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Kish, Randy S. Cramer
  • Patent number: D545470
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Koehler-Bright Star, Inc.
    Inventors: John Devany, Matthew Malcolm, Mark Dirsa
  • Patent number: D583987
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Koehler-Bright Star, Inc.
    Inventors: John Devaney, Matthew Malcolm, Mark Dirsa
  • Patent number: D593241
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Koehler-Bright Star, Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Wiesmeth, Matthew Malcolm
  • Patent number: D605319
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Koehler-Bright Star, Inc.
    Inventors: John Devaney, John Kosek