flashlight

Abstract

The invention relates to a flashlight (1) which can be produced at low cost and which can be operated with one hand and comfortably in different gripping positions, having a flashlight head (2) with a light-emitting unit (18), a housing (3) which is configured as a gripping element, extends along a longitudinal axis (L) and has a closed end section (4) at the rear, and a push switch having a slide (5) for operating the flashlight (1), wherein the slide (5) is mounted in a slidingly movable and fixed manner on the housing (3), wherein the slide (5) is configured in an L shape with a first section (6) and a second section (9), and wherein the first section (6) extends longitudinally along the housing (3) and the second section (9) grips (or bites) the closed end section (4) of the housing (3) from the rear, so that the push switch can be operated in different gripping positions.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a torch having a torch head with a light-emitting unit, a housing configured as a grip, extending along a longitudinal axis and having a closed end section at the rear, and a push switch for operating the torch, whereby the push switch is slidably and fixedly arranged on the housing.

[0002] According to the prior art, cylindrical torches are known which can be operated in different ways, wherein the operation is adapted to the preferred gripping position or hold when the torch is intended to be used. Here, a distinction can be made between the conventional gripping position and the so-called tactical gripping position.

[0003] For the conventional gripping position, the torch is held here in the hand such that the front section of the torch having the torch head lies substantially between the index finger and the middle finger. Such a torch has a switch arranged in the front region of the torch and operated with the thumb. Here, the switch can be configured as a push switch or as a key switch. Such a torch is disclosed, for example, in DE 20 2010 009 881 U1.

[0004] For the tactical gripping position, which is particularly preferred for emergency operations, the torch is held with a 180° rotation such that the section of the torch having the torch head lies in the region of the hand edge, that is to say substantially between the little finger and the ball of the hand, out of the closed hand. Such a torch generally has a key switch which is arranged in the end section of the housing, preferably inside an end cap, and is also operated with the thumb. A torch having such an end cap switch is described, for example, in WO 2012 / 010126 A2.

[0005] Torches known according to the prior art have the disadvantage that they can only be operated single-handedly and comfortably in the respective specific gripping position. If the torch is gripped in an unintended gripping position, it must be rotated through 180° in order to be operated or the switch must be operated with the aid of the other hand. Although torches having two separate and functionally identical switches are also known, such torches are complex to produce and are therefore expensive, since two separate switch mechanisms having a corresponding cable connection must be provided and installed.

[0006] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a torch which can be operated single-handedly and comfortably independently of the gripping position and which can be produced at low cost.

[0007] This object is solved by a flashlight according to claim 1. According to the application, the slide is L-shaped configured with a first section and a second section, wherein the first section extends longitudinally along the housing and the second section grabs (or bites) from behind the closed end section of the housing, so that the push switch can be operated in different grip positions. Thereby, the flashlight can be operated single-handed, comfortably and without troublesome hand change not only in the conventional grip position but also in the tactical grip position. In the conventional grip position, the thumb is placed here on the first section of the slide, so that the flashlight can be manipulated by the longitudinal movement of the slide. In the tactical grip position, the thumb is placed on the second section of the slide, which can thereby be manipulated like a key switch or button of an end cap switch. Despite the variable operability of such a flashlight, only one switch mechanism is required, which reduces the costs of the flashlight according to the application compared to such a flashlight having two separate, but functionally identical switches in different positions.

[0008] The preferred embodiments of the application are described below and in the dependent claims.

[0009] According to a first preferred embodiment of the application, the slide can be moved against the force of a spring for manipulating the push switch, wherein the spring is preferably configured as a compression spring and is arranged between the end side of the end section of the housing and the second section of the slide. By the spring-loaded arrangement of the slide, unintentional switching on or off of the flashlight is prevented.

[0010] For fixedly arranging the slide, preferably its first section is flush-fitted in the front into the cylindrical receptacle of the flashlight head and / or its second section has a guide element with a guide surface and a locking hook, which engages into an undercut receptacle on the rear end section of the housing.

[0011] Within the scope of a further preferred embodiment of the application, the slide is covered in its section between the contact surface and the rear end section by a housing part and extends in this section inside the guide channel of the housing. Thereby, the slide can be manipulated unhindered and easily also when the flashlight is firmly gripped.

[0012] According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the application, the flashlight has a magnetic switch, for which a magnetically sensitive sensor is arranged in the flashlight head or the housing of the flashlight in such a way that it can be actively connected by the sliding movement of the slide and a magnetic element connected to the slide. It is preferably provided that the magnetic element is arranged in a section of the slide which is inserted into the cylindrical receptacle of the flashlight head. As an alternative to such a magnetic switch, the switch can also be configured as a mechanical pushbutton switch or button. For this purpose, the button or pushbutton switch can likewise be arranged in the cylindrical receptacle of the flashlight head, wherein a rubber membrane is arranged between the button and the slide, so that the interior of the housing is protected from dust, dirt and water.

[0013] Finally, it is provided according to a preferred embodiment of the application that the slide has a ball spring and a ball which rolls down a starting ramp when the slide is actuated. The ball spring is preferably arranged in a ball spring receptacle of the slide here. By the selection of the shape of the starting ramp and by the spring force of the ball spring, it is possible to adjust the haptic feeling when actuating the push-and-slide switch in such a way that the operator always feels or senses at which position the slide is observed with respect to the housing of the flashlight and how far the slide has to be pushed in order to actuate the flashlight.

[0014] Such a flashlight can essentially be configured from any material, for example plastic and / or aluminum, wherein the slide and the flashlight housing can also be configured from different materials according to requirements.

[0015] A specific embodiment of the application is explained below with reference to the drawings. In which:

[0016] Figure 1a A top view of the flashlight is shown;

[0017] Fig. lb shows a cross-sectional view of the flashlight according to Figure 1a Fig. lb shows a cross-sectional view of the flashlight according to

[0018] Figure 2a A side view of the flashlight is shown;

[0019] Fig. lb shows a cross-sectional view of the flashlight according to Figure 2a Fig. lb shows a cross-sectional view of the flashlight according to

[0020] Figure 3a A top view of the flashlight is shown; and

[0021] Fig. lb shows a cross-sectional view of the flashlight according to Figure 3a Fig. lb shows a cross-sectional view of the flashlight according to

[0022] Figure 1aA specific embodiment of the flashlight 1 according to the invention is shown in a perspective top view. The flashlight 1 has a flashlight head 2 with a light-emitting unit 18 (FIG. 1b). The flashlight head 2 is connected to a housing 3, which is configured as a gripper and extends along a longitudinal axis L. The housing 3 has a closed end section 4 at the rear. For operating the flashlight 1, a push switch with a slider 5 is provided, the slider being slidably and fixedly mounted on the housing 3 in the direction of arrow 24, wherein the mobility of the slider 5 is limited by a front stop and a rear stop. To operate the slider 5 not only in a conventional gripping position but also in a tactical gripping position, the slider 5 is L-shaped and firstly has a first section 6 extending longitudinally along the housing 3. Figure 1a The top view shows the first section 6 of the slider 5, wherein the slider 5 has a roughened contact surface 7 in the front region for operation with the thumb in a conventional grip position.

[0023] Figure 1b shows a cross-sectional view of the flashlight 1 along section AA, revealing the L-shaped structure of the slider 5. For secure mounting, the slider 5 is first fitted into the cylindrical receiving portion 8 of the flashlight head 2 via its first section 6 on the housing 3. At the rear end of the flashlight 1, the slider 5 has a second section 9, which is oriented substantially perpendicular to the first section 6 and grips (or bites) the closed end section 4 of the housing 3 from behind. This second section 9 is used to operate the flashlight 1 in a tactical grip position and can be pressed by the thumb. In the illustrated embodiment, the slider 5 is positioned in a sliding manner against the force of a compression spring 13, which is arranged between the rear end section 4 of the housing 3 and the second section 9 of the slider 5. In the region of the first section 6 of the slider 5, the slider 5 has a magnetic element 14 as a signal transmitter. This magnetic element can be effectively connected to a magnetically sensitive sensor 19 as a signal receiver by pushing the slider 5 in order to operate the flashlight 1. The magnetically sensitive sensor is arranged in the flashlight head 2. In addition, the slider 5 has a ball spring 15, which is disposed inside the cylindrical ball spring receiving portion 20 of the slider 5. The ball 16 of the ball spring 15 rolls along the assisted ramp 17 formed on the housing 3 of the flashlight 1 when the slider 5 is operated.

[0024] Figure 2a A perspective side view showing the situation according to Figure 1aFig. 2b shows a cross-sectional view along the cross-section B-B which is arranged eccentrically. According to this, in order to fixably arrange the slide 5, the slide 5 also has two guide elements 21 which are spaced apart from one another and have a guide surface 10 and a catch hook 11 which engages into an undercut receptacle 12 on the rear end section 4 of the housing 3.

[0025] Figure 3a Fig. 2b shows a cross-sectional view along the cross-section B-B which is arranged eccentrically. According to this, in order to fixably arrange the slide 5, the slide 5 also has two guide elements 21 which are spaced apart from one another and have a guide surface 10 and a catch hook 11 which engages into an undercut receptacle 12 on the rear end section 4 of the housing 3.

[0026] List of reference signs:

[0027] 1 torch

[0028] 2 torch head

[0029] 3 housing

[0030] 4 end section

[0031] 5 slide

[0032] 6 first section

[0033] 7 contact surface

[0034] 8 cylindrical receptacle

[0035] 9 second section

[0036] 10 guide surface

[0037] 11 catch hook

[0038] 12 receptacle

[0039] 13 compression spring

[0040] 14 magnetic element

[0041] 15 ball spring

[0042] 16 ball

[0043] 17 assistance ramp

[0044] 18 light-emitting unit

[0045] 19 magnetically sensitive sensor

[0046] 20 ball spring receptacle

[0047] 21 guide element

[0048] 22 section (with partially concealed slide)

[0049] 23 guide channel

[0050] 24 arrow direction

[0051] L longitudinal axis

Claims

1. Torch (1) having - a torch head (2) with a light-emitting unit (18), - a housing (3) which is configured as a grip, extends along a longitudinal axis L and has a closed end section (4) at the rear, and - a slide switch with a slide (5) for operating the torch (1), wherein the slide (5) is arranged in a slideable and fixed manner on the housing (3), characterized in that the slide (5) is configured in an L shape with a first section (6) which extends longitudinally along the housing (3) and a second section (9) which grips the closed end section (4) of the housing (3) at the rear, so that the slide switch can be operated in different grip positions. The slide (5) can be moved against the force of a spring for operating the slide switch. The spring is configured as a compression spring (13) and is arranged between the end side of the end section (4) of the housing (3) and the second section (9) of the slide (5). For fixed arrangement of the slide (5), its first section (6) is flush-fitted in a cylindrical receptacle (8) of the torch head (2) at the front, and / or its second section (9) has a guide element (21) with a guide surface (10) and a locking hook (11) which engages into an undercut receptacle (12) on the rear end section (4) of the housing (3).

2. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein, The slide (5) is partially covered by the housing (3) in a section (22) between a contact surface (7) and the rear end section (4) and extends inside a guide channel (23) of the housing (3) in the section (22).

3. The flashlight of claim 2, wherein, The slide switch is configured as a magnetic switch, for which a magnetically sensitive sensor (19) is arranged in the torch head (2) or the housing (3) such that it can be actively connected by the slide movement of the slide (5) and a magnetic element (14) connected to the slide (5).

4. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein, The magnetic element (14) is arranged in a section of the slide (5) which is flush-fitted in a cylindrical receptacle (8) of the torch head (2).

5. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein, The slide (5) has a ball spring (15) and the ball (16) rolls down a ramp (17) when the slide (5) is operated.

6. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein, ​ 7. The flashlight of claim 6, wherein, ​ 8. The flashlight of claim 1, wherein, ​

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