Flashlight Zooming Mechanism for Adjustable Beam Focus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flashlights have a fixed focus, limiting their ability to illuminate targets at varying distances, as the divergent light emitted cannot reach faraway targets.
Innovation Solution
A zooming assembly is integrated into the flashlight, comprising a cap, cup seat, and transparent lamp cup with a convex lens, allowing manual adjustment to change the distance between the lamp cup and the lighting unit, enabling flexible projection of light as convergent or divergent beams by rotating the cap to move the lamp cup forward or backward.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed focus lighting unit is used, then the structure is simple, but the flashlight cannot illuminate distant targets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the lamp cup movable rather than fixed. The lamp cup can be adjusted forward and backward along the optical axis through thread ed engagement between the cap and cup seat, allowing the flashlight to switch between divergent light mode (for nearby targets) and convergent light mode (for distant targets), thereby resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the nesting principle by placing the cup seat inside the cap, with the lamp cup nested within the cup seat. The lugs on the cup seat are inserted into notches on the middle annular element, creating a compact nested structure that enables zooming functionality while maintaining relatively simple overall device complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If the lamp cup is moved forward or backward to adjust focus, then light can reach different distances, but the mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the intermediary principle by introducing the middle annular element as a mediator between the cap and the main body. This element provides the notches that guide the movement of lugs on the cup seat, enabling smooth and controlled adjustment of the lamp cup position while simplifying the overall mechanism compared to direct threading
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the zooming mechanism into distinct functional components: the cap for external engagement, the cup seat for holding and moving the lamp cup, the middle annular element for guiding movement, and the lamp cup itself. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining ease of assembly and adjustment
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the flashlight to project light effectively to both nearby and distant targets through adjustable light beams, enhancing its utility and versatility.
Implementation Method 1
The light emitted by a lighting unit at the end of the neck of the main body is projected outward through the transparent lamp cup in the zooming assembly either convergently or divergently
Data Source
AI summary
A flashlight zooming structure includes a main body and a zooming assembly screwed on one end of a neck of the main body. In the zooming assembly, a transparent lamp cup centrally formed with a convex lens is received in a cup seat, the cup seat is screwed into a cap, and the lugs on the outer periphery of the cup seat are received in the corresponding peripheral notches of a receiving section extending from one end of a middle annular element. To illuminate a distant or nearby target, the zooming assembly mounted around the neck of the main body is rotated in the desired direction so that the light emitted by a lighting unit at one end of the neck of the main body is projected outward through the transparent lamp cup in the zooming assembly as a convergent or divergent light beam.