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.

Abstract: A portable light or device may comprise: a housing for receiving a battery; a light source or other operating element in the housing; an electrical switch actuatable from outside the housing; a control circuit in the housing connecting the operating element in circuit with a battery for selectively energizing the operating element responsive to the electrical switch; a first electrical charging port on the housing coupled to the battery by the control circuit for charging the battery; and a second electrical charging port on the housing coupled to the battery by the control circuit for charging the battery. The second electrical charging port may include a USB connection for receiving battery charging current.

Abstract: A portable light or other device having a safety lock may comprise: a body having an opening; a cover for engaging and covering the opening of the body; and a lock mechanism including a lock member for engaging the body and the cover for preventing removal of the cover from the body unless the lock mechanism is released by a tool, wherein the lock member is retained on the body or on the cover when the lock mechanism is engaged and when the lock mechanism is released. The cover may be a light head or a light source.

Abstract: An electronic circuit and/or method that determines a type and/or size of a battery in a light and controls operation of a light source may comprise: a circuit measuring the voltage of the battery; and a processor for determining the measured battery voltage. The processor may compare the measured battery voltage and a predetermined voltage and set an operating condition of the light source based upon the difference between the measured battery voltage and the predetermined voltage. The processor may apply a predetermined load to the battery for a predetermined time and measure battery voltage during the predetermined time; and determine the difference between the measured voltage of the battery and the measured battery voltage during the predetermined time.

Abstract: A portable light may comprise a light body and a light head rotatable relative to the light body. The light head may comprise a light source that may be pivotable relative to a base of the light head. The light source may be electrically connected to the light body by rotatable coaxial connections between the light head and the light body and by rotatable coaxial electrical connections between the base of the light head and the light source. The light may optionally further comprise a hanger movable relative to the light body, or may comprise one or more magnets on the light body, or may comprise a clip on the light body, or a combination thereof.

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 method for making a flashlight housing comprises providing a blank of an electrically conductive material, impact extruding the blank of electrically conductive material to form an elongated hollow member that has an internal cavity open at a first end and that has a reduced inner diameter portion proximate a second end thereof, and coating the elongated hollow member with a coating material. The flashlight housing may have a tail cap, and may have O-rings for sealing at the rearward end of the tail cap, at the forward end of the housing, and/or at the interface between the housing and the tail cap.

Abstract: A portable light or device may comprise: a light source or operative element; a switch for controlling energization of the light source or operative element; and a housing supporting the light or operative element and the switch. The housing has a compartment having a relatively larger transverse dimension in one region for receiving a battery having a corresponding larger transverse dimension and has a relatively smaller transverse dimension at least at one end thereof for receiving a battery having a corresponding smaller transverse dimension. At least one electrical contact in the compartment is movable for making electrical connection to batteries having a relatively shorter length and a relatively longer length.

Abstract: A portable light or other device having a safety lock may comprise: a light body for receiving a source of electrical power; a light head including a light source for producing light and engaging the light body; and a lock mechanism engaging the light body or the light head and including a threaded member and a lock member. Rotating the threaded member moves the lock member radially relative to the light body and light head for engaging the lock for preventing removal of the light head from the light body unless the lock mechanism is released by a tool. A lock support may be disposed for supporting the lock member when the lock mechanism is engaged. The lock mechanism may be retained on the light body or the light head when the lock mechanism is engaged and when the lock mechanism is released.

Abstract: An electrical light or flashlight may comprise: a housing for receiving a battery; an electrical light source in the housing; an electrical switch including an electrically conductive flexible dome providing a switch contact; a controller for selectively energizing and de-energizing the electrical light source, wherein said controller is programmable responsive to closures or openings or both of the electrical switch, or to a time therebetween, or to continuous closure or opening thereof, or to a combination thereof, for operating the light source in predetermined operating states.

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.

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: 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.