Torch

Abstract

The invention relates to a torch having a housing in which at least one LED secured to a carrier element, and a lens system, are arranged and can be displaced relative to one another in order to focus the cone of light that is emitted. According to the invention, a seal consisting of a membrane (14) closes the space (23) between the LED (11) and the lens system (13) in a watertight and dust-proof manner.

Claims

1. A torch with a housing, in which at least one LED attached to a support element and an optical attachment are arranged, which are displaceable relative to one another for focusing the light cone radiated, characterized in that a seal comprising a membrane closes the space between the LED and the optical attachment in a dust-tight and waterproof manner, wherein the seal has at an upper edge a collar or a rib, wherein the collar or the rib is clamped between the optical attachment and the housing in a groove incorporated on an inner wall of the housing and at least one of: (i) a lower edge of the seal is connected to an annular body, the surface of which facing an inside of the seal is a groove, which together with a hook-shaped nose of the support element forms a positive connection, or (ii) the seal has an inner jacket in the lower region with an annular rib, the inner jacket engaging a groove of the support element.

2. The torch according to claim 1, characterized in that the seal comprises an elastic material, comprising at least one of silicone rubber or natural rubber.

3. The torch according to claim 1, characterized in that the seal has a thickness of 0.5 mm to 0.7 mm.

4. The torch according to claim 1, characterized in that the collar, the seal and the annular body form an integral part.

5. The torch according to claim 4, characterized in that the support element is constructed in multiple parts and comprises the following parts: a circuit board supporting the LED with voltage connections, two clamping elements for fixing the circuit board on pins that are used for the voltage supply, a base plate fixed in a non-rotating manner in the lamp housing from which the two clamping elements project, a holder with holes to lead the pins through and a front cover element, which comprises a front opening for the LED and snap-in hooks, which protrude to the rear and engage in corresponding recesses of the holder, forming a snap connection.

6. The torch according to claim 5, characterized in that the support element has on its outer jacket at least two protruding, circular ribs, which engage detachably in grooves on the inner jacket of the housing.

7. The torch according to claim 6, characterized in that several circumferential grooves are provided spaced from one another on the inner jacket of the housing, which serve as locking profiles for the ribs on the outer jacket of the support for fixing different positions of the LED support along the longitudinal axis in relation to the optical attachment.

8. The torch according to claim 7, characterized in that the optical attachment is arranged and fastened in a longitudinally displaceable lamp head, whereas the support element of the LED is arranged stationary in the lamp housing.

9. The torch according to claim 4, characterized in that the lamp head is fixedly connected to the optical attachment and that the lamp head is longitudinally displaceable by means of a helical guide with respect to the lamp housing by relative rotation, the torch further comprising an O-ring seal between the lamp head and lamp housing.

10. The torch according to claim 1, characterized in that the support element is constructed in multiple parts and comprises the following parts: a circuit board supporting the LED with voltage connections, two clamping elements for fixing the circuit board on pins that are used for the voltage supply, a base plate fixed in a non-rotating manner in the lamp housing from which the two clamping elements project, a holder with holes to lead the pins through, and a front cover element, which comprises a front opening for the LED and snap-in hooks, which protrude to the rear and engage in corresponding recesses of the holder forming a snap connection.

11. The torch according to claim 10, characterized in that the optical attachment is arranged and fastened in a longitudinally displaceable lamp head, whereas the support element of the LED is arranged stationary in the lamp housing.

12. The torch according to claim 1, characterized in that the support element has on its outer jacket at least two protruding circular ribs which engage detachably in grooves on the inner jacket of the housing.

13. The torch according to claim 12, characterized in that several circumferential grooves are provided spaced from one another on the inner jacket of the housing, which serve as locking profiles for the ribs on the outer jacket of the support for fixing different positions of the LED support along the longitudinal axis in relation to the optical attachment.

14. The torch according to claim 1, characterized in that the optical attachment is arranged and fastened in a longitudinally displaceable lamp head, whereas the support element of the LED is arranged stationary in the lamp housing.

15. The torch according to claim 14, characterized in that the lamp head is fixedly connected to the optical attachment and that the lamp head is longitudinally displaceable by means of a helical guide with respect to the lamp housing by relative rotation, the torch further comprising an O-ring seal between the lamp head and lamp housing.

16. The torch according to claim 1, characterized in that the support element is constructed in multiple parts and comprises the following parts: a circuit board supporting the LED with voltage connections, two clamping elements for fixing the circuit board on pins that are used for the voltage supply, a base plate fixed in a non-rotating manner in the lamp housing from which the two clamping elements project, a holder with holes to lead the pins through and a front cover element, which comprises a front opening for the LED and snap-in hooks, which protrude to the rear and engage in corresponding recesses of the holder, forming a snap connection.

17. The torch according to claim 1, characterized in that the lamp head is fixedly connected to the optical attachment and that the lamp head is longitudinally displaceable by means of a helical guide with respect to the lamp housing by relative rotation, the torch further comprising an O-ring seal between the lamp head and lamp housing.

18. A torch with a housing, in which at least one LED attached to a support element and an optical attachment are arranged, which are displaceable relative to one another for focusing the light cone radiated, characterized in that a seal comprising a membrane closes the space between the LED and the optical attachment in a dust-tight and waterproof manner, wherein the support element comprises: a circuit board supporting the LED with voltage connections, two or more clamping elements for fixing the circuit board on pins that are used for the voltage supply, a base plate fixed in a non-rotating manner in the lamp housing from which the two clamping elements project, a holder with holes to lead the pins through and a front cover element, which comprises a front opening for the LED and snap-in hooks, which protrude to the rear and engage in corresponding recesses of the holder, forming a snap connection.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) Other embodiments are explained on the basis of the drawings. These show:

(2) FIG. 1 a torch according to the present invention in an exploded representation,

(3) FIG. 2 a sectional view through the lamp head of a torch,

(4) FIG. 3 a sectional view through a membrane,

(5) FIG. 4 another torch according to the invention according to an exploded representation,

(6) FIG. 5 a sectional view through the head of the lamp according to FIG. 4 and

(7) FIG. 6 a sectional view through a differently configured membrane.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) Battery-operated torches are known in principle, so that the arrangement of the batteries or battery, the switch for turning the torch on and off and the possible designs of an optical attachment, consisting of one or more lenses, are not described in greater detail. The different parts in a lamp housing 10, which is formed cylindrically in the present case, are depicted in detail in FIG. 1. The LED 11, which is arranged on a circuit board 12, forms together with the optical attachment 13 the substantial parts required for the illumination and the light cone formation. By displacing the optical attachment 13 with respect to the LED 11, the light cone can be varied, as is basically known according to the prior art. A membrane 14, which is depicted in detail in FIG. 3, is provided for dust-tight and waterproof shielding. The front closure is formed by the ring 15, which, as is recognized better from FIG. 2, has a circumferential inner collar 16 that acts at the same time as a stop for the optical attachment 14. The lamp head 17 is formed by a sheath-like element, over the front end of which said ring 15 is pushed and there creates a friction-type connection. A cover element 18 with an opening for leading the LED 11 through adjoins the upper side of the circuit board. The cover element 18 has a hook-shaped nose 19 as a circumferential part, which rests in a positive-locking manner in a groove 20 of the membrane 14. At its opposite end, the membrane has a collar 21, which engages in a groove 22 of the ring 15. As recognized in detail from FIG. 2, the membrane 14 is fixed in the lamp head housing 17 at the front edge and in the rear region via the positive connection 19, 20. The membrane 14 is elastic and preferably has a thickness of 0.6 mm. When the optical attachment is displaced away from the LED 11, the membrane is stretched, while when led back in the direction of the LED 11 it is slightly compressed. In each case the interior space 23 between the LED and the optical attachment is enclosed in a water- and liquid-proof manner by the membrane 14.

(9) The cover element 18 has furthermore snap-in hooks 24 at its rear end 4, which engage in appropriately corresponding recesses 25 of a holder 26. The holder 26 has two holes through which the pins 27 and 28 can be inserted as a voltage supply. These pins are fixed to the circuit board 12 via clamping elements. The pins themselves protrude from a base plate 29, which is supported in a twist-proof manner in the lamp housing 10. The support element is formed overall by the parts 18, 26 and 29.

(10) On its outer sheath the holder 26 has two protruding circumferential ribs 30, 31, which engage detachably in grooves 32, 33, 34, 35 or 36 on the internal edge of the housing, namely the lamp head 17. These grooves 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 act in conjunction with the ribs 30, 31 as locking profiles, whereby the lamp head can be pushed back and forth along the longitudinal axis in the direction of the double arrow 37, wherein the lamp head takes the optical attachment 13 with it, whereas the LED together with the support element remain fixed in a stationary manner in relation to the housing 10. The grooves 32 to 36 are arranged equidistantly and form respective locking options of the lamp head.

(11) In FIGS. 4 to 6 a differently configured torch design has been chosen, in which the lamp head is not moved by means of a linear advance relative to the housing, but the lamp head is arranged rotatably in relation to the lamp housing, wherein a translatory movement of the lamp head 47 and thus a change in the distance of the optical attachment 43 relative to the LED 41 can be realized at the same time via the rotation. In FIGS. 4 and 5 the lamp housing 40 and the lamp head 47 are connected rotatably to one another. On the basis of the selected design of the guide part 50 and the carriage 51, the lamp head 47 is moved when the lamp head is rotated together with the optical attachment 43 so that the spacing of the optical attachment 43 from the LED 41, which is arranged on a circuit board 42, is reduced. In the present exemplary embodiment, an insulator 49 is required, which prevents a short circuit on account of the selected spring contacts 46. The parts 41, 42 and 47 are covered by a cover 48 for the lamp head aperture, which is determined by the screwed-on ring 45. In the present case also and as can be gathered in a sectional representation in FIG. 6, a membrane 44 is used as a seal, which closes the space between the LED and the optical attachment in a dust-tight and waterproof manner. This membrane 44 has an outer rib 38, which engages in a corresponding groove of the lamp head. At the opposite end the membrane 44 has an annular rib 39, which is fixed in a corresponding groove of the holder 53.

(12) The membrane 44 is designed as a “rotation bellows” in which, however, acute-angled separating lines such as are known in rotation folding bellows have been eliminated to avoid excessive wear. To counteract the reset torque of the membrane 44 following corresponding rotation, an O-ring 52 is used in addition. The carriage 51 is attached by means of snap-in hooks in the lamp head, so that this carriage can move the entire lamp head in the guide part, which preferably has three guide grooves for guiding the carriage.