Focusable flashlight

Abstract

Flashlight with a flashlight head (21) having an attachment lens (30), and a flashlight housing (22) connected to a light source (29) and an end cap (23) on which a pressure switch (26) for actuating the flashlight (20) is arranged, wherein the flashlight head (21) is mounted so as to be movable relative to the flashlight housing (22) for focusing and defocusing the emitted light cone, wherein the flashlight head (21) merges into a sleeve (24) which surrounds the flashlight housing (22) in the longitudinal axial direction, characterized in that the sleeve (24) is designed as a handle section (25) which can be gripped with the fingers (10 a-d ) of a hand (9) and, when the flashlight (20) is used as intended, allows the flashlight housing (22) to be moved within the sleeve (24) by means of a thumb movement.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a flashlight with a flashlight head having an attachment lens and a flashlight housing connected to a light source and an end cap on which a pressure switch for actuating the flashlight is arranged, wherein the flashlight head is mounted so as to be movable relative to the flashlight housing for focusing and defocusing the emitted light cone, wherein the flashlight head merges into a sleeve which surrounds the flashlight housing in the longitudinal axial direction.

[0002] Such flashlights are known as so-called stick flashlights from the state of the art and are used in the Fig. 1a-d. The flashlight 1 shown in each case has a flashlight head 2, which is connected in a sliding and captive manner in the direction of the arrow 3 to a flashlight housing 4, which, in flashlights known from the prior art, is formed with a handle portion. An end cap 5 with a rear push button 6 for actuating the flashlight 1 is provided at the end of the flashlight housing 4. Fig. 1a shows the flashlight 1 in a side view. In Fig. Figure 1b shows a sectional view of the flashlight 1, according to which the flashlight housing 4 with the light source 7 is pushed as far as possible into the flashlight head 2, so that the front of the flashlight housing 4 is in contact with an attachment lens 8. The light source 8 shown is usually an LED in modern flashlights. In this relative position between the flashlight head 2 and the flashlight housing 4, the defocused position of the flashlight 1 is set. Fig. 1c, in contrast, shows a relative position between the flashlight housing 4 and the flashlight head 2, in which the flashlight housing 4 protrudes further from the flashlight head 2, resulting in a greater distance between the light source 7 and the attachment optics 8, so that a focused position of the flashlight 1 is set here.

[0003] In practice, it has been shown that such flashlights are held in different ways during their intended use. Emergency personnel, especially the police and fire service, prefer the so-called tactical position, which is schematically shown in Fig. 1d is indicated. A hand 9 grasps with the fingers 10 a-d the handle section of the flashlight 1 such that the flashlight head 2 protrudes from the closed hand 9 at the edge 11 of the hand and the thumb 12 rests on the push button 6 of the end cap 5. This allows the flashlight 1 to be operated quickly, and different modes can be easily switched on and operated.

[0004] A disadvantage of flashlights of the previously known and illustrated type, however, is that they cannot be focused and / or defocused in the described tactical position without changing the grip. To do so, the flashlight must either be rotated 180° in the hand, allowing the flashlight head to be moved using the thumb, or the other hand must be used for assistance, which experience has shown to be disadvantageous during use.

[0005] Comparable flashlights are known from US 5 421 548 A, DE 21 2013 000 017 U1, US 2011 / 0 080 736 A1 and US 2013 / 0 301 254 A1.

[0006] It is therefore the object of the present invention to propose a flashlight which allows the rear push button to be actuated and the light cone to be focused / defocused without having to change the grip.

[0007] This object is achieved by the flashlight according to claim 1. According to the invention, the sleeve is designed as a grip section that is configured to be grasped with the fingers of one hand and, during intended use of the flashlight, allows the flashlight housing to be moved within the sleeve by means of a thumb movement. The grip section is thus displaced from a part of the flashlight housing to a part of the flashlight head. This allows both the displacement of the flashlight housing relative to the flashlight head and thus the focusing / defocusing as well as the operation of the flashlight via the end-side push button to be carried out by means of a thumb movement.It is therefore no longer necessary to grasp the flashlight during its intended use or to use the second hand, which allows one-handed operation and simplifies the handling of the flashlight according to the invention during use and in the tactical position.

[0008] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are specified below and in the subclaims.

[0009] According to a first advantageous embodiment of the invention, the end cap has entraining elements designed to support the thumb when sliding the flashlight housing. The entraining elements are preferably two spaced-apart annular shoulders that completely surround the end cap. Alternatively, recesses or other entraining elements can be incorporated into the outer surface of the end cap.

[0010] Within the scope of a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the sleeve has at least one recess, particularly in the area of the handle section, which allows access to the flashlight housing. During intended use, the at least one recess fulfills several functions. If the flashlight is held tactically in the manner described, a certain amount of pressure can be exerted on the flashlight housing, for example by the ball of the hand. This prevents the flashlight housing from shifting relative to the flashlight head or the sleeve and thus prevents the focus from being adjusted, even when the push button on the end cap is pressed to turn the flashlight on or off.On the other hand, in the classic position of the flashlight, in which the end cap protrudes from the edge of the closed hand, the recess serves to move the flashlight housing within the sleeve by means of a thumb movement, so that the flashlight can also be focused in this position of the flashlight.

[0011] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the flashlight head is constructed in two pieces and has a front section and a rear sleeve section, wherein the front section and the sleeve section are preferably detachably connected to one another by means of a threaded connection. A two-part design of the flashlight head simplifies assembly of the flashlight, after which the flashlight housing, without the end cap attached, is first inserted through the front opening of the sleeve section until the flashlight housing rests against a stop on the sleeve section. The front section is then screwed onto the sleeve section, so that the flashlight housing is connected to the flashlight head in a form-fitting and thus captively manner.Finally, the end cap is screwed on to complete the flashlight housing, for which purpose the flashlight housing and the end cap are also detachably connected to each other by means of a threaded connection.

[0012] Compared to prior art flashlights, a comparatively large contact surface is formed between the flashlight head and the flashlight housing. To reduce friction between the flashlight head and the flashlight housing and thus simplify the operation of the focusing mechanism, a preferred embodiment of the invention provides an annular groove on the inside of the sleeve that accommodates a lubricious material, thus preventing direct frictional contact between the flashlight housing and the sleeve. The lubricious material is preferably a Teflon tape.

[0013] According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the flashlight has a focus stopper that can be activated and deactivated and acts as a clamping device to prevent displacement of the flashlight housing relative to the flashlight head. Such a focus stopper is described, for example, in WO 2012 / 159 601 A2 and is activated / deactivated, in particular, by rotating the flashlight housing. It blocks relative displacement between the flashlight head and the flashlight housing, preventing unwanted changes to the focus setting. This setting also prevents the selected focus setting from changing due to actuation of the end cap's push button.

[0014] Concrete embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the Fig. 2a-e. They show: Fig. 1a-d a focusable flashlight (state of the art) and Fig. 2a-g schematic views of a focusable flashlight.

[0015] Fig. Figure 2a shows a specific embodiment of a flashlight 20 according to the invention, comprising a flashlight head 21 and a flashlight housing 22, which is connected at the rear to an end cap 23. The flashlight head 21 merges into a sleeve 24, which is designed as a handle portion 25. When the flashlight 20 is assembled, the sleeve 24 surrounds the flashlight housing 22, which protrudes rearward from the sleeve 24 with its end cap 23. The end cap 23 has a push button 26 at the rear as well as two spaced-apart drive elements, which are designed as annular shoulders 27, 27'.The special design of the flashlight head 21 with the sleeve 24 designed as a handle, as well as the end cap 23 with the rear push button 26 and the drive elements designed as annular shoulders 27, 27', allow the flashlight 20 to be fully operated with one hand without changing grip, and thus both to turn it on and off and to move the flashlight housing 22 in the direction of arrow 28, thereby focusing / defocusing the flashlight 20. To prevent moving the sleeve 24 from scratching the flashlight housing 22, a groove 33 is formed on the inside of the sleeve 24, which accommodates a lubricious material, such as Teflon tape.

[0016] Fig. Figure 2a shows a setting in which the flashlight housing 22 is pushed as far as possible into the flashlight head 21 (arrow direction 32), so that the light source 29 arranged on the flashlight housing 22 has the smallest possible distance from the attachment optics 30. This results in the defocused setting of the flashlight 20.

[0017] Fig. 2b, on the other hand, shows a setting in which the flashlight housing 22 is shifted in the direction of the arrow 31, so that there is a greater distance between the light source 29 and the attachment optics 30 and thus a focused setting of the emitted light cone.

[0018] The Fig. 2c, d show side views of the flashlight 20 in a defocused setting ( Fig. 2c) and a focused setting ( Fig. 2d). Shown in particular are the drive elements designed as annular shoulders 27, 27', which thereby form an annular recess 34 on the cylindrical outer surface of the end cap 23, which serves as a support for the thumb when moving the flashlight housing. Fig. Figure 2e schematically shows the possible one-handed operation in the preferred position of the flashlight 20. Both the displacement of the flashlight housing 22 in the direction of arrow 28 and the actuation of the push button 26 are possible with one hand without changing the grip. The fingers 10a-d of hand 9 grasp the grip portion 25 of the sleeve 24, while the thumb 12 operates the push button 26 or reaches into the annular recess 34 for focusing / defocusing.

[0019] In the Fig.2f, g illustrates an embodiment of a flashlight 20 in which the sleeve 24 has a recess 35 that allows access to the flashlight housing 22. In the tactical position of the flashlight 20, the recess 35 allows access with the ball of the hand, so that the flashlight housing 22 can be fixed in relation to the sleeve 24, particularly during actuation of the push button 26, which prevents unintentional adjustment of the focus setting. In the classic holder of the flashlight 20, the recess 35 serves as access with the thumb 12, which also allows one-handed focusing in this position.

[0020] On the side of the sleeve 24 facing away from the recess 35, a plurality of openings 36 are formed which serve to remove dust or dirt particles or moisture, so that no particles can accumulate between the flashlight housing 22 and the sleeve 24, which could adversely affect the sliding mechanism. Reference symbol 1 flashlight 2 flashlight heads 3 Arrow direction 4 flashlight housings 5 End cap 6 pressure switches 7 Light source 8 front lens 9 hands 10 a-d finger 11 Edge of hand 12 thumbs 20 flashlight 21 Flashlight head 22 flashlight housings 23 End cap 24 sleeve 25 handle section 26 pressure switches 27, 27' ring-shaped heel 28 Arrow direction 29 Light source 30 front optics 31 Arrow direction 32 Arrow direction 33 grooves 34 Deepening 35 recess 36 Breakthrough

Claims

[1] Flashlight with a flashlight head (21) having an attachment lens (30) and a flashlight housing (22) connected to a light source (29) and an end cap (23) on which a pressure switch (26) for actuating the flashlight (20) is arranged, wherein the flashlight head (21) is mounted so as to be movable relative to the flashlight housing (22) for focusing and defocusing the emitted light cone, wherein the flashlight head (21) merges into a sleeve (24) which surrounds the flashlight housing (22) in the longitudinal axial direction, characterized by that the sleeve (24) is designed as a grip section (25) which can be gripped with the fingers (10 a-d ) of a hand (9) and, when the flashlight (20) is used as intended, allows the flashlight housing (22) to be moved within the sleeve (24) by means of a thumb movement. [2] Flashlight according to claim 1, characterized bythat the end cap (23) has driving elements which are designed to support the thumb when moving the flashlight housing (22). [3] Flashlight according to claim 2, characterized by that the driving elements are two spaced-apart annular shoulders (27, 27') which completely surround the end cap (23). [4] Flashlight according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the sleeve (24) preferably has at least one recess (35) in the region of the handle section (25) which allows access to the flashlight housing (22). [5] Flashlight according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the flashlight head (21) is formed in two pieces and has a front section and a rear sleeve section, wherein the front section and the sleeve section are preferably detachably connected to one another by means of a threaded connection. [6] Flashlight according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the flashlight housing (22) and the end cap (23) are detachably connected to one another by means of a threaded connection. [7] Flashlight according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that an annular groove (33) is formed on the inside of the sleeve (24) which receives a sliding material so that direct frictional contact between the flashlight housing and the sleeve is avoided. [8] Flashlight according to claim 7, characterized by that the sliding material is a Teflon tape. [9] Flashlight according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that the flashlight (20) has a focus stopper which, as an activatable and deactivatable clamping device, prevents displacement of the flashlight housing (22) with respect to the flashlight head (21)

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