Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a flashlight and associated apparatuses for supporting
it. The present invention also relates to a flashlight support assembly for securing,
stabilizing, and removing a flashlight from a device which can support the flashlight
in a variety of directions and positions.
Background of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to a "third hand" for a flashlight or the like, particularly
for adjustably holding the flashlight in a selected one of a plurality of positions
and orientations, relieving the hands of the user.
[0003] Mechanics, installers, repairpersons and the like commonly have the need to apply
portable lighting to their work and, particularly, to aim a beam of light, such as
from a flashlight, on a particular portion of the work while the hands remain free
to perform operations on the work or to hold tools. It is therefore often desired
to adjustably and temporarily fix the flashlight or other light source in space at
a particular location and orientation. However, the light must be attached to or rest
upon something if it is not held by the worker's hand, and it is not generally the
case that the work or site has a specialized provision for this purpose.
[0004] A common, but inconvenient, solution to this problem is for the worker to hold the
butt of the flashlight in his or her mouth. A variation on this concept is exemplified
by Sedlock, U.S. Pat. No. 3,418,461, wherein a bracket is provided on the flashlight
having a mouthpiece for clenching between the user's teeth.
[0005] Bacevius, U.S. Pat. No. 4,399,498, provides a clamp housing, one end of which is
adapted to receive a flashlight or lantern and the other end of which defines a clamping
jaw, and a complementary movable jaw biased with a spring means. The span opening
or distance between the gripping jaws can be adjusted for clamping onto surfaces having
variable cross sectional shapes. While it is asserted that a wide range of jaw opening
is provided, the range of suitable supports remains limited. Moreover, angular adjustment
of the direction of the light is also limited in range as well as being limited to
one axis.
[0006] Thul, U.S. Pat. No. 4,897,768, provides an arcuate track that is mountable with suction
cups to a supporting surface. A flashlight is strapped to the track at a selected
location and, therefore, inclination. A drawback of the device is that varying the
inclination requires two hands for manipulating the strap. Another drawback is that,
without removing the suction cups from the support surface, the inclination is adjustable
only about one axis. Yet another drawback is that a support surface sufficiently flat
and large to receive widely spaced-apart suction cups is required. Van Gennep, U.S.
Pat. No. 5,573,329, provides a clamping pliers carrying a ball and socket joint for
a flashlight holder. A disadvantage of clamping pliers is that they are generally
limited to clamping onto objects that can be gripped with a relatively small jaw opening,
and may cause damage to some of objects, particularly if misadjusted.
[0007] Accordingly, there is a need for a flashlight support assembly that provides for
attachment to, or stabilization upon, a wide variety and range of support objects
and surfaces, and provides a wide range of positional and directional adjustability
obtained with a minimum of repositioning.
Summary of the Invention
[0008] The present invention solves the aforementioned problems and meets the aforementioned
needs by providing a flashlight and support assembly which can support the position
of the flashlight in a number of environments.
[0009] The present invention solves the aforementioned problems by providing a set of interchangeable
attachments which can be conveniently coupled to a flashlight to support a variety
of flashlight positions in a hands free environment. The flashlight and support assembly
includes, a support member coupled to an attachment, and a receiving slot. The support
member and the receiving slot have mutually engaging devices to serve as a locking
mechanism. When the support member is disposed of inside the receiving slot, the mutually
engaging devices engage, to prevent the support member from unintentionally sliding
out of the receiving slot. The flashlight and support assembly also allow the attachments
to be easily detached from the flashlight when the attachments are not needed.
[0010] The interchangeable attachments for the flashlight are used in conjunction with a
variety of applications. One attachment used is a tripod. The tripod can be used to
aim the flashlight in a desired direction for an extended period of time without having
to readjust the position of the flashlight. The tripod gives the flashlight the ability
to have pitch movements so that the direction of the light beam can be adjusted. Additionally,
the legs of the tripod can be folded so as to minimize the size of the tripod, when
space is a limitation.
[0011] The magnetic block is another interchangeable attachment which is used. The magnetic
block, like the tripod, can be used to aim the flashlight in a desired direction for
an extended period of time without having to readjust the position of the flashlight.
However, unlike the tripod, the magnetic block allows use of the flashlight without
having to support the flashlight on the ground. The magnetic block allows the flashlight
for example, to be attached to a magnetic object in free space, or attached to a magnetic
object on a wall.
[0012] The belt clip is another interchangeable attachment used in conjunction with the
flashlight. The belt clip can be used to attach the flashlight to an object, which
can at least partially fit between the belt clip. As a result the belt clip can be
used to support the flashlight by attaching it to objects in free space, or objects
that are on the ground.
[0013] All of the interchangeable attachments aforementioned can easily be changed when
a flashlight is being used. By allowing an operator to quickly and easily change attachments,
the operator can quickly adapt to changes in the environment in which the flashlight
is being used.
[0014] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be
more readily understood upon consideration of the following detailed description of
the invention, taken in conjunction with the following drawings. Also, the attachments
do not need to be used in conjunction with specialized equipment. They are all adaptable
to common situations that are encountered when using a flashlight.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0015]
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the flashlight according to a first embodiment.
Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the receiving slot.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the receiving slot.
Fig. 4a is a perspective view of the support member according to one aspect of this
invention.
Fig. 4b is a cross sectional view of the tripod.
Fig. 4c is a perspective of the tripod according to an alternate embodiment.
Fig. 4d is a bottom view of the sphere of the tripod.
Fig. 4e is a cross sectional view of the sphere and the flashlight.
Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of the support member being inserted in the receiving
slot.
Fig. 6a is a perspective view of the flashlight according to an alternate embodiment
of this invention.
Fig. 6b is a perspective view of the flashlight according to an alternate embodiment
of this invention.
Fig. 6c is a perspective view of the flashlight according to an alternate embodiment
of this invention.
Fig. 6d is a perspective view of the flashlight according to an alternate embodiment
of this invention.
Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments
[0016] The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference
to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are
shown. This invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed
as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.
[0017] A flashlight and support assembly for supporting the flashlight using interchangeable
attachments is described with reference to Figs. 1-6. Shown in these figures is a
, flashlight and support assembly that consists of a flashlight, a receiving slot,
a support member, and several interchangeable attachments connected to the support
member. The support member preferably contains a protruberance. When the support member
is disposed inside the receiving slot, the protruberance prevents the support member
from unintentionally sliding out of the receiving slot. However, when an operator
wants to remove the interchangeable attachment from the flashlight, the attachment
can easily be disengaged from the flashlight.
[0018] The flashlight and support assembly according to a first embodiment will now be described
with reference to Figs. 1-5. Fig. 1 shows the flashlight and support assembly according
to the first embodiment of this invention. The flashlight and support assembly for
a flashlight 1 includes a receiving slot 3 located on the flashlight I and a support
member 5 attached to a tripod attachment 7, the support member 5 engaging with the
receiving slot when the flashlight is supported. The receiving slot 3, shown in Fig.
2 includes a first surface 4, and a parallel second surface 6 opposing, but spaced
equally from the first surface 4. A portion of the first surface 4 preferably has
an indentation formed in it so as to define a detent 8. The detent 8 is comprised
of a first surface 4a, a first wall 12, extending between the first surface 4a and
the second surface 6, and a second wall 14, extending between the first surface 4a,
and the first surface 4. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the receiving slot 3, which
shows the first and second sidewalls 16, 18.
[0019] Referring to Figs. 4a- 4b, the tripod 7 comprises a sphere 34, the aforementioned
support member 5, and a plurality of legs 38. The support member 5 preferably comprises
a first surface 20, a second surface 22, first and second sidewalls 24, 26, a front
face 28, and a protruberance 30. The support member 5 is preferably attached to the
sphere 34 with a rigid joint 32. The support member 5 also includes a support beam
35 mounted longitudinally on the bottom surface 22 of the support member 5 and connected
to the rigid joint 32 to help support the weight of flashlight 1.
[0020] The plurality of legs 38 are mounted to a central column 40 via hinges 42, which
allow the plurality of legs 38 to project outwards, as well as retract, forming a
circular surface as seen in Fig. 4c. When the plurality of legs 38 project outwards,
they are preferably spaced apart equally. An arm 44 is used to attach the central
column 40 to sphere 34. As shown in Figs. 4d - 4e, the sphere 34 contains a cavity
46, wherein the arm 44 is engaged about a pin 48. The arm 44 engaged in the sphere
34 about the pin 48 allows the sphere 34 to have pitch movement about the engaged
arm 44 as shown in Fig. 4e due to the presence of cavity 46 in sphere 34 (See Fig.
4d).
[0021] The support member 5 may be detachably disposed in the receiving slot as shown in
Fig. 5. When the support member 5 is disposed inside the receiving slot 3, the first
surface 20 of the support member 5 contacts the first surface 4 of the receiving slot
3. The second surface 22 of the support member 5 contacts the second surface 6 of
the receiving slot 3, and the first and second sidewalls 24, 26 of the support member
5 contact the first and second sidewalls 16,18 of the receiving slot 3. Also, the
protruberance 30 is disposed inside the detent 8 to prevent the unintentional release
of the support member 5 from the receiving slot 3.
[0022] According to another embodiment, a magnetic block attachment 9 or belt clip attachment
11 is used, as shown in Figs. 6a - 6d. The magnetic block attachment 9 consists of
a support member 13 and a magnetic block 15. The magnetic block 15 and the support
member 13 are attached with a rigid joint 17. Similarly, the belt clip attachment
11 consists of a belt clip 19 mounted to a support member 21. The support member 13
of the magnetic block and the support member 21 of the belt clip are both disposed
inside the receiving slot 5 on the flashlight 1. The flashlight 1 can be conveniently
packaged with a tripod attachment 7, a magnetic block attachment 9, and/or a belt
clip 11. The flashlight 1 can be supported by any one of the attachments 7, 9, 11
or it may be handheld in a convenient position.
[0023] Let it be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the invention.
Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art
without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the present invention
is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variances which fall
within the scope of the appended claims.
1. A flashlight and support assembly comprising:
a flashlight having a receiving slot, the receiving slot having a first surface, a
second surface, first and second sidewalls; and
a set of interchangeable flashlight attachments, each flashlight attachment having
a support member, wherein the support member comprises a first and second surface,
first and second sidewalls, the support members being adopted to be temporarily disposed
in the receiving slot of the flashlight for supporting the flashlight in a variety
of positions.
2. The flashlight and support assembly of claim 1, further comprising mutually engaging
devices associated with the support member and the receiving slot for temporarily
locking the support member in the receiving slot.
3. The flashlight and support assembly of claim 2, wherein the mutually engaging devices
comprise a protruberance located on the support member and a detent located in the
receiving slot to prevent the support member from unintentionally sliding out of the
receiving slot.
4. The flashlight and support assembly of claim 3, wherein the detent is comprised of
a first surface, a first wall, and a second wall.
5. The flashlight and support assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second sidewalls
of the receiving slot prevent the support member from moving in a direction perpendicular
to the first and second sidewalls of the receiving slot.
6. The flashlight and support assembly of claim 1, wherein the set of interchangeable
attachments consist of a tripod, magnetic block, and belt clip.
7. The flashlight and support assembly of claim 6, wherein the tripod allows the flashlight
to have pitch movement.
8. The flashlight and support assembly of claim 6, wherein the tripod includes a plurality
of legs which can be retracted.
9. The flashlight and support assembly of claim 8, wherein the plurality of legs of the
tripod when retracted define, by outwardly facing surface, a circle.
10. The flashlight and support assembly of claim 6, wherein the magnetic block allows
the flashlight to be attached to a magnetic object.
11. The flashlight and support assembly of claim 6, wherein the belt clip allows the flashlight
to be attached to an object, wherein at least a portion of the object fits between
the belt clip.
12. A method of supporting a flashlight comprising the steps of:
attaching interchangeable attachments to a flashlight; and
positioning the flashlight with the interchangeable attachments.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of attaching, further comprises:
disposing a support member attached to the interchangeable attachments in a receiving
slot located on the flashlight;
engaging mutually engaging devices of the support member and the receiving slot to
prevent the unintentional release of the support member from the receiving slot.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein the interchangeable attachments consist of a tripod,
magnetic block, and belt clip.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the mutually engaging devices includes a protruberance
located on the support member and a detent located in the receiving slot.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein the tripod allows the flashlight to have pitch movement.
17. The method of claim 14, wherein the tripod includes a plurality of legs which can
be retracted.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of legs of the tripod when retracted
define, by outwardly facing surface, a circle.
19. The method of claim 14, wherein the magnetic block allows the flashlight to be attached
to a magnetic object.
20. The method of claim 14, wherein the belt clip allows the flashlight to be attached
to an object, wherein at least a portion of the object fits between the belt clip.
21. A flashlight and support assembly wherein the flashlight has a receiving slot for
detachably receiving a support member associated with the support assembly; and the
support assembly comprises a multiple-legged support stand coupled to the support
member.
22. The flashlight and support assembly of claim 21, wherein the support assembly includes
a ball joint for coupling the multi-legged support stand to the support member.