Focusable flashlight

Abstract

A flashlight has a casing extending along an axis, a light source capable of emitting a cone of light, and a lamp head with a lens attachment that can be displaced axially relative to the light source in order to focus the emitted cone of light. A cylindrical connecting piece connected positively to the lamp head is axially movable on the casing for fixing the lamp head in a selectable longitudinal axial position on the casing.

Claims

1. A flashlight comprising: a casing extending along an axis; a light source fixed in the casing and capable of emitting a cone of light; a lamp head with a lens attachment that can be displaced longitudinally axially relative to the light source in order to focus the emitted cone of light; and a cylindrical connecting piece connected positively to the lamp head and axially movable on the casing for fixing the lamp head in a selectable longitudinal axial position on the casing, the connecting piece being fixed against substantial axial movement on the head and axially shiftable along the casing, the head and connecting piece having interengaging ramps movable by limited rotational or axial movement of the connecting piece between a position pressing against each other and clamping the connecting piece and head to the casing against relative axial movement and a relatively disengaged position permitting free axial movement of the head and casing.

2. The flashlight defined in claim 1, wherein the lamp head is secured to the casing with a frictional or positive connection.

3. A flashlight comprising: a casing extending along an axis; a light source capable of emitting a cone of light; a lamp head with a lens attachment that can be displaced longitudinally axially relative to the light source in order to focus the emitted cone of light; a cylindrical connecting piece connected positively to the lamp head and axially movable on the casing for fixing the lamp head in a selectable longitudinal axial position on the casing; and a raised portion on the connecting piece that connects the connecting piece to the lamp head and that has a downward-sloping surface at the rear that bears against an upward-sloping surface on the lamp head.

4. A flashlight comprising: a casing extending along an axis; a light source capable of emitting a cone of light; a lamp head with a lens attachment that can be displaced longitudinally axially relative to the light source in order to focus the emitted cone of light; and a cylindrical connecting piece connected positively to the lamp head and axially movable on the casing for fixing the lamp head in a selectable longitudinal axial position on the casing, the connecting piece having a radial downward-sloping ramp that bears against an upward-sloping ramp on the lamp head and is arranged such that axial displacement of the lamp head relative to the connecting piece results from rotation of the connecting piece.

5. The flashlight defined in claim 1, wherein, when there is a longitudinal axial displacement between the lamp head and the connecting piece, a bearing surface of the connecting piece forms a frictional connection with the flashlight casing.

6. The flashlight defined in claim 1, wherein the lamp head has guide elements so that rotation between the lamp head and the flashlight casing is inhibited.

7. The flashlight defined in claim 1 wherein the ramps are oppositely complementarily angled relative to the axis and the clamping means includes a cam formation that, on rotation of the connecting piece about the axis relative to the head, axially slides the ramps on each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) Other preferred embodiments of the present invention are explained below with reference to the drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic view from above of a clamping device,

(3) FIG. 2a shows an exploded view of a flashlight with a lamp head and a clamping device,

(4) FIG. 2b shows a flashlight with a clamping device in the assembled state and

(5) FIG. 3 shows a view in cross section of an assembled flashlight with a clamping device,

(6) FIGS. 4a-c show different view of an alternative clamping device with a connecting piece,

(7) FIGS. 5a+b show a further embodiment of a clamping device with a connecting piece and

(8) FIGS. 6a-f show different views of a flashlight with a clamping device with multiple clamping elements.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF FIRST CONCRETE EMBODIMENT

(9) According to a concrete embodiment of the present invention, the clamping device 1 has a clamping body 2 that is mounted so that it can rotate about the longitudinal axis A of the flashlight 3. The clamping body 1 here bears against a base plate 5 at the center of which a light source, preferably an LED 21, is arranged. Moreover, two kidney-shaped elements 6, 6 that fulfill two functions are arranged on the base plate 5. On the one hand, the outer surfaces of the kidney-shaped elements 6, 6 are designed as upward-sloping surfaces 7, 7. On the other hand, the kidney-shaped elements 6, 6 serve as spacers for a cover plate 8 (see FIG. 2) that covers the clamping device 1 from the lens attachment 20.

(10) The clamping body 2 essentially consists of a web 9 arranged along the diameter of the flashlight 3, a central recess 10 being provided for the passage of the LED 21. Two clamping elements 11, 11 that bear against the upward-sloping surfaces 7, 7 are pivotably arranged radially on the web 9. Furthermore, the clamping body 9 has a radially projecting catch 12 that engages in a groove 13 of the lamp head 14 in the assembled state. In the embodiment shown, an annular gap 17 is formed between the lamp head 14 and the casing 16 or the base plate 5 so that the lamp head 14 can be displaced longitudinally axially (arrow 4). However, if the lamp head 14 is turned clockwise (arrow 18), the clamping elements 11, 11 are pressed against the cylindrical inner shell surface of the lamp head 14 because the clamping elements 11, 11 have a thickness 15,15 that gets larger and larger, so that they are pushed outward by the kidney-shaped elements 6, 6 and close the annular gap 17 in some areas. The force with which the clamping elements 11, 11 push against the inner shell surface of the lamp head 14 is great enough to fix the latter with frictional contact. To prevent the clamping device 1 from involuntarily falling back into the unfixed position shown in FIG. 1, the locking elements 11, 11 have locking lugs 19, 19 that, together with the kidney-shaped elements 6, 6, form an engaged position. The fixed position can thus be quit only by actively turning back the lamp head 14 and therefore the clamping body 2.

(11) FIG. 2a shows an exploded view of a flashlight 3 with the casing 16, the lamp head 14, the base plate 5, the clamping body 2 and the cover plate 8. In the assembled state (see FIG. 2b), the clamping device 1 and the clamping body 2 are mounted between the base plate 5 and the cover plate 8.

(12) The mode of operation of the present flashlight can be seen with the aid of the cross-sectional view in FIG. 3. At its front end, the flashlight casing 16 has a base plate 5 that is connected, spaced apart, to the cover plate 8. The clamping device 1 with the clamping elements 11, 11 is arranged between the cover plate 8 and the base plate 5. The flashlight casing 16, the base plate 5, the clamping device 1, and the cover plate 8 are surrounded by the lamp head 14, at the end of which a lens attachment 20 is arranged. In the unfixed position, the lamp head 14 can be displaced longitudinally axially with respect to the LED 21, as a result of which the desired focus setting can be selected. When the lamp head 14 is turned (in the direction of the arrow 18) about the longitudinal axis A of the flashlight, the clamping elements 11, 11 are pushed against the cylindrical inner shell surface of the lamp head 14 in such a way that longitudinal axial displacement (arrow 17) is effectively prevented. In this state, it is not possible for the set focus position to be adjusted involuntarily.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF SECOND CONCRETE EMBODIMENT

(13) A further embodiment is shown in FIGS. 4a to 4c. The clamping device is designed as a cylindrical connecting piece 41 that is positively connected to the lamp head 14. The lamp head 14 and the connecting piece 41 thus bear against each other via their upward-sloping surfaces 42 and downward-sloping surfaces 43 respectively, the downward-sloping surface 43 being formed on the rear of a raised portion 49. Owing to a longitudinal axial displacement between the connecting piece 41 and the flashlight head 14 in the direction of the arrow 44, the downward-sloping surface 43 runs down on the upward-sloping surface 42 so that the connecting piece 41 at this point is pushed in the direction of the arrow 45 against the flashlight casing 16 until it bears frictionally against it. The lamp head 14 can consequently be fixed comfortably in a selectable longitudinal axial position.

(14) FIG. 4b shows an exploded view of the flashlight, wherein the downward-sloping ramp 46 on the connecting piece and the upward-sloping ramp 47 on the flashlight head can be seen, bearing against each other in the assembled state. When there is a relative rotational movement between the connecting piece 41 and the flashlight head 14, they are displaced longitudinally axially toward each other in the direction of the arrow 44 so that the connecting piece 41 is clamped in place. Guide elements (not shown) are provided to prevent the lamp head 14 from turning too when the connecting piece 41 is turned.

(15) FIG. 4c shows an embodiment of the flashlight in the assembled state. A catch 48 that can be pushed by a thumb is provided so that the connecting piece 41 can also be operated with one hand.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THIRD CONCRETE EMBODIMENT

(16) According to a further concrete embodiment, the clamping device is designed as a cylindrical connecting piece 51 that can be connected to the lamp head 14 via a threaded connection 52. The connecting piece 51 has multiple clamping elements 53 on the front side of which downward-sloping surfaces 54 are formed. It can be clearly seen in FIG. 5b that the connecting piece 51 can be displaced, together with the flashlight head, in the direction of the arrow 44. However, the connecting piece 51 can be screwed even further onto the flashlight head 14 by a turning motion so that the downward-sloping surface 54 runs down the upward-sloping surface 55 and the connecting piece 51 is pushed onto the flashlight casing 16 until it is frictionally connected. In this embodiment too, guide elements (not shown) are provided that prevent the lamp head 14 from turning at the same time.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF FOURTH CONCRETE EMBODIMENT

(17) A further concrete embodiment of a clamping device for releasably fixing a lamp head 14 in a selectable relative position with respect to the flashlight casing 16 is shown in FIGS. 6a to 6f. In the embodiment shown, the clamping device is formed by four clamping elements 61 that engage in grooves 62 of a pin-shaped locking element 63. The locking element 63 is configured as part of a connecting piece 64 that is connected to the flashlight casing 16 via a threaded portion 65. The clamping elements 61 are housed in a recess of the flashlight head 14 and have a central recess 66 through which the locking element 63 engages. The clamping elements 61 have wedge-shaped surface portions 67, 67 that, in the locked-in position, bear against the walls of the grooves 62 of the locking element 63. Because four clamping elements 61 are provided in the embodiment shown, at least two of them in each case engage in the grooves 62 independently of the longitudinal axial position so that longitudinal axial displacement is inhibited.

(18) FIGS. 6b and 6c show two different relative positions of the lamp head 14 with respect to the flashlight casing 16 and to the connecting piece 64, respectively, and two different locked-in positions of the clamping elements 61. In FIG. 6b, the two central clamping elements 61 engage in the grooves 62, whereas in FIG. 6c the two outer clamping elements 61 are arranged in the locked-in position. In order to displace the lamp head 14 longitudinally axially in the direction of the arrow 68, the clamping elements 61 need to be moved out of the locked-in position by being pushed in the direction of the arrow 69 counter to the force of a spring. FIG. 6d shows (in a view from above) a concrete embodiment of a clamping element 61 with the central recess 66 and leaf springs 611, 611 that, in the assembled state, are supported against projections 612, 612 in the flashlight head 14.

(19) The perspective views in FIGS. 6e and 6f show the flashlight in an exploded view (FIG. 6e) and in the assembled state (FIG. 6f). FIG. 6f clearly shows that the locking elements 63 are positioned in such a way that are pushed down easily with a thumb so that the focusing can be performed using one hand.