Abstract: A portable lamp is provided that is powered by a plurality of batteries. The lamp includes a housing having a battery compartment with a removable closure. The closure includes a plurality of electrically conductive contacts configured to contact batteries in the battery compartment. The battery compartment and the closure comprise mating alignment elements adapted to align the contacts on the closure with batteries in the battery compartment. The alignment element on the closure is configured to move relative to the closure when the closure is twisted relative to the battery compartment to connect the closure to the housing. The lamp also incorporates a valve that may be integrally formed with a sleeve on the housing.

Abstract: A sleeve for a portable light may comprise: a hollow sleeve for surrounding a source of electrical power and having a plurality of elongated longitudinal spring members. Only one end of each spring member is connected to a wall of the hollow sleeve and an opposite end thereof is free. Each spring member is formed to partly extend radially outward of the hollow sleeve and to partly extend radially inward of the hollow sleeve toward a source of electrical power that may be disposed therein. The hollow sleeve may be disposed in a portable light that may include a housing, a light source and a source of electrical power that may reside in the sleeve.

Abstract: A sleeve for a portable light may comprise: a hollow sleeve for surrounding a source of electrical power and having a plurality of elongated longitudinal spring members. Only one end of each spring member is connected to the hollow sleeve and an opposite end thereof is free. Each spring member is formed to partly extend radially outward of the hollow sleeve and to partly extend radially inward into the hollow sleeve toward a source of electrical power that may be disposed therein. The hollow sleeve may be disposed in a portable light may include a housing, a light source and a source of electrical power in the sleeve.

Abstract: A portable light may comprise: a light housing for enclosing a source of electrical power and supporting an electrical light source, a face cap rotatably mounted to the light housing. The face cap may have one or more lenses positionable in front of the electrical light source. A light source control circuit interior the light housing has at least one switch actuator for selectively energizing the light source, and an actuator member of the face cap. Rotating the face cap moves the actuator member into a position to actuate the switch actuator, whereby rotating the face cap produces the selective energization of the light source. The portable light may require a tool to open the housing, e.g., to replace the source of electrical power and/or may be pivotably mounted to a light base.

Abstract: A portable lamp is provided that is powered by a plurality of batteries. The lamp includes a housing having a battery compartment with a removable closure. The closure includes a plurality of electrically conductive contacts configured to contact batteries in the battery compartment. The battery compartment and the closure comprise mating alignment elements adapted to align the contacts on the closure with batteries in the battery compartment. The alignment element on the closure is configured to move relative to the closure when the closure is twisted relative to the battery compartment to connect the closure to the housing. The lamp also incorporates a valve that may be integrally formed with a sleeve on the housing.

Abstract: A portable light may comprise: a light body; a source of electrical power disposable in the light body; a light head supported by the light body and including a light source; a switch for selectively actuating the light source; a USB connector on the light body for connecting to a source of electrical power; and an electronic circuit in the light body for controlling operation of the light source responsive to the electrical switch and for coupling electrical power received at the USB connector to the source of electrical power.

Abstract: A portable light or device or heat dissipater may comprise a heat sink for having a light source or other heat generating element thermally coupled thereto, and having a plurality of walls extending from a side thereof for defining a cavity and plural passages, a fluid mover in the cavity of the heat sink for selectively causing a fluid to move through the cavity and the plural passages, and a light source or other heat generating element adjacent to and thermally coupled to the heat sink. The heat dissipater may be connected to a housing in various configurations.

Abstract: A portable light may comprise: a light body; a source of electrical power disposable in the light body; a light head supported by the light body and including a light source; a switch for selectively actuating the light source; a USB connector on the light body for connecting to a source of electrical power; and an electronic circuit in the light body for controlling operation of the light source responsive to the electrical switch and for coupling electrical power received at the USB connector to the source of electrical power.

Abstract: A rechargeable portable light may comprise: a generally rectangular light body having a cavity therein; a rechargeable source of electrical power disposed in the cavity of the light body; a light source supported by the light body for producing light; a switch for selectively actuating the light source; a USB compatible connector on the light body electrically coupled for charging the rechargeable source of electrical power. The light source may be movable relative to the light body. The light may also include a clip attached to the light body for attaching the light to a person and/or object.

Abstract: A portable light may comprise: a light body having a light source near one end for emitting light in a substantially transverse direction; a switch actuator near the end of the light body for controlling the light source; and a stowable hanger affixed to the light body near the end thereof. The light body may have an external opening and a given cross-sectional shape and size for receiving a light source module having an exterior of the given cross-sectional shape and size. The light source module may comprise: a light source, a reflector, a heat sink thermally coupled to the light source, a lens, reflector, and a lens ring holding the lens. The portable light may also comprise: a clip extending adjacent the light body in a longitudinal direction, wherein the clip is rotatably mounted so as to be movable about the light body.

Abstract: In a portable light and/or a light source adapter therefor, the open end of a light body has one or more features, and a light source includes an adapter base for being disposed in the open end of the light body. The adapter base has one or more features in an asymmetric pattern complementary to that of the features of the light body, so the adapter base seats in the light body only with the complementary features in a predetermined rotational relationship for mating. The light source may be connected to an electrical connection of the adapter base that mates with the electrical connection of the light body when the adapter base is seated in the predetermined rotational relationship for mating. The light source may preferably be retained in the light body by a retainer.

Abstract: An electronic adapter circuit for charging and/or recharging a battery of a first battery type utilizing a charging device for a battery of a second different battery type, may comprise: an electronic circuit for controlling the charging of the battery of the first battery type when the battery of the first type is charged by the battery charging device, wherein the electronic circuit has high conductivity when the battery of the first type provides electrical power to a load, and has a reduced conductivity for limiting charging of the battery of the first type when it is charged by the battery charging device. The electronic circuit may include a controllable conductivity device having high conductivity when the battery of the first type provides power to a load, and a battery charging control circuit for reducing the conductivity of the controllable conductivity device for limiting the charging of the battery.

Abstract: A force-spreading clamp including a tubular body having a longitudinal opening for receiving at least a portion of a generally cylindrical object and a wall encircling the longitudinal opening, a gate including a clamping member positioned within the longitudinal opening and having a contact wall for distributing clamping force along a surface of a generally cylindrical object, a guide mechanism being configured to maintain alignment between the gate and the tubular body, and an actuator configured to actuate the gate in a radially inward direction with respect to the tubular body wall to cause the clamping member to apply clamping force to a generally cylindrical object.