Flashlight Housing With Viewing Channel And Shoulder Light Sources
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flashlights poorly illuminate targets due to offset light sources and lack of a viewing channel, causing shadows and ambient light interference, which obstructs the user's vision.
Innovation Solution
A flashlight design with a housing featuring a channel extending between the first and second ends, incorporating light sources positioned about the second end's shoulder, and optionally including a lens for enhanced viewing, to minimize shadows and ambient light entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the light source is positioned in the conventional enclosed housing, then the flashlight can be handled and directed as desired, but the target is poorly illuminated and shadows are created due to offset between light source and viewing perspective
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new spatial dimension by creating a channel that extends beyond the front face of the housing. This allows the viewing perspective to be separated from the main housing body, enabling the user to view through the channel while the light source remains positioned in the housing, thereby eliminating shadows without compromising handleability.
2Device complexity
If no channel is provided for viewing, then the housing remains simple and enclosed, but the user cannot view the target clearly due to shadow obstruction
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into distinct functional zones: the main enclosed housing containing the light source and power supply, and the channel extending from the front face. This segmentation allows the viewing function to be separated from the illumination function, enabling clear target viewing while maintaining the simplicity of the enclosed housing structure.
3Device complexity
If ambient light is allowed to enter the housing, then the housing remains open and simple, but vision through the channel is obstructed and flashlight efficacy is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The channel is extracted as a distinct feature from the main housing body, extending outward from the front face. This extraction allows the channel to function as a dedicated viewing aperture that is optically isolated from ambient light sources, improving vision clarity while maintaining the simplicity of the housing structure.
4Volume of moving object
If the inner side of the housing does not extend past the forwardmost edge, then the housing remains compact, but the shoulder cannot be formed to position light sources and minimize ambient light entry
Solution Approach 1:
The inner side of the housing is extended past the forwardmost edge to form a shoulder that protrudes outward. This preliminary structural action creates the necessary mounting surface for positioning light sources and forming the channel aperture, enabling ambient light minimization while maintaining housing compactness through efficient use of the extended structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A flashlight for the illumination of an object and viewing the object through the flashlight. The flashlight includes a housing having an inner side forming a channel that extends between a first end of the housing and a second end of the housing. The flashlight includes one or more light sources that are able to emit light therefrom and at a desired target. A power supply is operably connected to a control such that they operate the one or more lights. The inner side of the housing extends past a forwardmost edge of an outer side of the housing at the second end to form a shoulder. The shoulder extends about the housing and, in one embodiment, the one or more lights are disposed thereon. In this way, the one or more lights directly illuminate a target without causing shadows to form from the viewing perspective.