WO2002066887A1

WO2002066887A1 - Flash light with magnetic switch

Info

Publication number: WO2002066887A1
Application number: PCT/KR2001/000701
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nam-Yong Kim
Original assignee: Kim Nam Yong
Priority date: 2001-02-21
Filing date: 2001-04-26
Publication date: 2002-08-29
Also published as: AU2001255083A1; KR20010044446A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a flashlight with magnetic switch. The present invention is characterized in that it comprises a head upper portion in which a reflection plate for irradiating a light to the outside through a transparent plate is received, with said transparent plate inserted into an upper end of a head cap; a head centre portion engaged at a lower end of said head upper part, in which a bulb for emitting light, a bulb support for receiving said bulb, a head for receiving said bulb and said bulb support, and a head cover for wrapping around said head are accommodated; a head support engaged with a lower end of said head center portion; a main body portion engaged with said head support with a space for batteries; and a cover portion engaged with a lower end of the main body portion in which a spring, a clip and a magnet are attached to a cover.

Description

FLASH LIGHT WITH MAGNETIC SWITCH

Technical Field The present invention relates to a flashlight incorporating a magnetic switch, and more specifically, to a waterproof flashlight with a magnetic on-off switch situated within a closed space that can be operated from outside of the closed space.

Background Art Conventional flashlights have been widely used in traveling or vehicle services due to its compact size and portability. In particular, it is widely kept and used in the home so as to prepare for unpredicted accidents such as a power failure. However, when a flashlight with the same functions as an existing illuminator is used, although the flashlight is useful to illuminate an arbitrary portion, there are many insufficiencies of illuminating the entire space.

Thus, in addition to the function of the existing illuminator, a flashlight with a signal lamp attached thereto with the function of a signal lamp has been proposed. General flashlights with signal lamps attached thereto have a function of irradiating a white illuminating light as the original illuminator and a function of emitting a red scattering light as the signal lamp. Such a flashlight with a signal lamp attached thereto has been widely used for warning traffic facilities of danger and the like. In particular, it is frequently carried by a police officer in charge of traffic control. Further, in a case where night work for vehicle services, general maintenance, etc. is made, the flashlight with the signal lamp attached thereto has been mostly used because it is handy to carry. However, there were problems in that many conventional flashlights are not completely waterproof due to an incomplete sealing of the switch which is attached for performing the on-off function. Also, the part for gripping the flashlight was easily slip out of the hand due to the flatness of the part for gripping, and the flashlight did not have a function for attaching it to clothes or to proper places in operation. Disclosure of Invention

Thus, the present invention is proposed to solve the problems as described above. An object of the present invention is to provide a flashlight with a magnetic switch, wherein the on-off operatipn of the switch situated within a closed space can be performed with the magnetic force from the outside of the closed space and waterproofing of the flashlight can be made, wherein a slip thereof from the hands can be prevented and a good grip can be obtained by attaching a silicon rubber to a handle part of the main body, wherein since a magnet is attached to the rear side of the flashlight, the flashlight can be attached to metallic portions and used even in narrow spaces during night work for the vehicle services, general maintenance, etc., and wherein the flashlight can be fixed to clothes and the like with a clip.

In order to achieve the object of the present invention, a magnetic switched flashlight according to the present invention comprises an upper head portion in which a reflection plate for irradiating light to the outside through a transparent plate is received, with said transparent plate inserted into the upper end of a head cap; a head center portion engaged at a lower end of said upper head part, in which a bulb for emitting light, a bulb support for, receiving said bulb, a head for receiving said bulb and said bulb support, and a head cover for wrapping around said head are accommodated; a head support engaged with a lower end of said head center portion; a main body portion engaged with said head support with a space for batteries; and a cover portion engaged with a lower end of the main body portion in which a spring, a clip and a magnet are attached to a cover.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a flashlight with a magnetic switch according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the flashlight according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a state where the flashlight with the magnetic switch of FIG. 1 is lit up so that it is used as an illuminator.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a state where the flashlight with the magnetic switch of FIG. 1 is lit up so that it is used as a signal lamp.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a state where the flashlight with the magnetic switch of FIG. 1 is lit out.

FIG. 6 is a view seen from an upper side of a head of the flashlight.

FIG. 7 is a view seen from a cover side of the flashlight.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

As shown in the figure, the flashlight with the magnetic switch has a cylindrical shape, and is mainly comprised of a head portion 100, a main body portion 110, and a cover portion 120. The head portion 100 comprises of three cylindrical parts, i.e., a head upper portion 102, a head central portion 104 and a head support 18 sequentially from above. The head portion 100 is coupled with an upper and outer periphery of the main body portion 110. The main body portion 110, the head portion 100, and the cover portion 120 are disposed to have a common central axis, which becomes a longitudinal axis thereof.

The cover portion is threaded to the bottom of the main body portion 100. Batteries are accommodated in the main body portion and can be exchanged by taking off the cover portion 120 therefrom. With reference to Fig. 2, the magnetic switch flashlight will be explained in detail.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the flashlight according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the flashlight with the magnetic switch comprises the head portion 100, the main body portion 110 and the cover portion 120. The head portion 100 comprises three cylindrical portions of the head upper portion 102, the head center portion 104 and the head support 106 sequentially from above. The main body portion 110ι comprises a body 20 and a silicon rubber 22. The cover portion 120 comprises a spring 30, a cover 32, a clip 34 and a cover magnet 36. The clip 34 is provided with a small hole 35, which is used to make the flashlight easier to carry. For example, a string may be inserted into the hole.

The upper head portion 102 comprises a head cap 2, a transparent plate 4 and a reflection plate 6. The reflection plate 6 is provided with a circular window 7 through which a bulb 10 can move up and down. The head center portion 104 comprises the bulb 10, a bulb support 21, a head

12, and a head cover 14. The bulb 10 is installed on the bulb support 21 in order to enable the bulb 10 to move up and down. Furthermore, a magnet 16a with a strong magnetic force is attached onto the bulb support 21 to enable the bulb support 21 to move without any contact through a directly connected portion with the bulb 10 and the head cover 14. The bulb support 21 has a bulb supporting arm 11 that can come into contacts with an inner face of the head 12 so that it can move without shaking in an up and down movement. 'The head cover 14 is detachable, and the two semicircular covers are combined to form a single cylindrical shape. On the inside of the head cover 14, spiral grooves are formed in order to enable the magnet 16b to move up and down. One of the grooves is formed to rise from left to right and the other is formed to descend from left to right. The connecting region for connecting the two grooves is formed as such so that the magnet 16b can move smoothly along the connecting region. Thus, if the head cover 14 is turned left or right, the magnet 16b moves up and down and so the bulb support 21 also moves up and down. A metallic plate 13, which is connected to the magnet 16a attached to the bulb support 21, is lineally attached to the inside of the head 12. The lower portion of the metallic plate 13 that is attached to the opposite side of the magnet protrudes outwardly, and thus, an effect where the circuit is open is obtained when the bulb support 21 is placed at^" a lower portion of ithe body 12. On the outside of the head 12, a piece of the metallic plate 13a is provided for connection with batteries 24 received in the main body 20, and the piece of the metallic plate 13a is connected to the side of the bulb 10. The head support 18 is threaded into the main body 20. The main body portion 110 comprises the main body 20 and the silicon rubber 22. The batteries 24 are received in the main body 20. A diameter-reduced section is formed in a portion of the main body 20 where the silicon rubber 22 is installed. Thus, the section is not convex but flat, even after the silicon rubber 22 has been installed therein.

The cover portion 120 comprises the spring 30, the cover 32, the clip 34 and the cover magnet 36. The spring 30 is connected with the batteries 24 that are received in the main body 20. The cover portion 120 fixes the spring 30 and is threaded into the main body 20 for accommodating the batteries 24. The groove for fixing the clip 34 is formed on a lower portion of the cover portion 120. The clip 34 is installed into the groove, and the cover magnet 36 is attached on the clip 34 in order to firmly fix the clip 34. FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a state where the flashlight with the magnetic switch of FIG. 1 is lit up so that it can be used as an illuminator.

As shown in the figure, the state where the flashlight with the magnetic switch is lit up to be used as an illuminator is as follows. The magnet 16a attached to the bulb support 21 within the head 12, and the magnet 16b provided at the external groove of the head 12 are symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of the head 12. When the magnet 16b disposed in the external groove of the head 12 moves up and down as the head cover 14 is turned left and right, the bulb support 21 also moves up and down. At this time, in order to use the flashlight as an illuminator, the bulb 10 should be placed at the inside of the reflection plate 6 after passing through the circular window 7, and thus, the magnet 16b disposed outside the head 12 should be placed on the upper side.

As shown in the figure, if the flashlight with the magnetic switch is lit up to be used as the signal lamp, the bulb 10, which has been placed at the inside of the reflection plate 6 after passing through the circular window 7, should again be placed at the outside of the reflection plate 6 after coming out of the circular window 7. Thus, the magnet 16b disposed outside the head 12 should be placed to move between an extinguished position and a position where the bulb 10 is placed at the inside of the reflection plate 6.

As shown in the figure, if the flashlight with the magnetic switch is in the lit- out state, the magnet 16b disposed outside the head 12 should be provided at the lowermost position of the head 12, so that the bulb support 21 can be placed in the position where it does not come into contact with the metallic plate 13b. At this time, the metallic plate 13b is formed so that its lower portion can be curved outwardly. Where the bulb support 21 is placed at a lower portion of the head 12, it does not come into contact with the metallic plate 13b so that the circuit becomes open. Thus, the flashlight is extinguished.

FIG. 6 is a view seen from an upper side of a head of the flashlight.

Referring to FIG. 6, the head cap 2 is positioned at the outermost side, and the reflection plate 6 is provided VΛthin the head cap 2. Further, the circular window 7 is in the form of a hole at the center of the reflection plate 6, thus, the bulb 10 can move up and down through the circular window 7.

FIG. 7 is a view seen from a cover side of the flashlight.

Referring to FIG. 7, the magnet 36 for fixing the clip 34 is attached onto the clip 34 at the midmost thereof. At this time, a part where the clip 34 is fixed to the cover 32 is not flat so that the clip is firmly fixed from side to side, that is, it protrudes to engage with the grooves of the cover 32.

According to the flashlight with the magnetic switch of the present invention as described above, there are an advantage in that the flashlight can be waterproofed since the on-off operation of the switch provided within a closed space can be performed with the magnetic force at the outside of the closed space. A slip of the flashlight can be prevented and a good grip can be obtained since silicon rubber is attached to the handle part of the main body. The flashlight can be . conveniently used even in narrow spaces during night work for the vehicle services, general maintenance, etc., since the magnet is attached to the rear side thereof and the flashlight can be attached to a metallic member. The flashlight can also be fixed to clothes and the like with the clip.

Claims

1. A flashlight with a magnetic switch, comprising: a head upper portion in which a reflection plate for irradiating light to the outside through a transparent plate is received, with said transparent plate inserted into an upper end of a head cap; a head center portion engaged at a lower end of said head upper part, in which a bulb for emitting light, a bulb support for receiving said bulb, a head for receiving said bulb and said bulb support, and a head cover for wrapping around said head are accommodated; a head support engaged with a lower end of said head center portion; a main body portion engaged with said head support with a space for batteries; and a cover portion engaged with a lower end of the main body portion in which a spring, a clip and a magnet are attached to a cover.

2. The flashlight with the magnetic switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said head center portion further comprises a magnet attached to a magnet support of said bulb support and a metal piece attached to said bulb support.

3. The flashlight with the magnetic switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said head of said head center portion has a cylindrical shape and is closed, several grooves are formed on an inner side of said head, two metallic plates are symmetrically attached to said inner side of said head, a groove is formed on an outer side of said head, and a magnet is installed into said groove.

4. The flashlight with the magnetic switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said head cover of said head center portion comprised of two parts is detachably attached to said head and wraps around the outside of said head, a groove for enabling a magnet installed into the other groove to move up and down is formed on an inner side of said head cover, and said grooves are formed such that one of the grooves extends to rise from left to right and the other groove extends to descend from left to right.

5. The flashlight with the magnetic switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein a groove in which silicon rubber is installed is formed at a central part of said main body portion, and the ishape of said main body portion is flat at a part where said silicon rubber is installed.

6. The flashlight having the magnetic switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cover portion has a diameter-reduced section formed at a central portion thereof which is in contact with an upper part of said clip, said upper part of said clip protrudes parallel to the clip rest so as to come into contact with an inner side of said section of said cover portion, and said magnet is attached onto said clip.