Pivoting Light Head Access Cover for Mounted Battery Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mountable lights require removal from the firearm to access the battery compartment, which can misalign aiming lasers and is inconvenient, especially for smaller lights with multiple batteries, and there is a need for a design that allows battery replacement without affecting laser alignment.
Innovation Solution
A mountable light with a pivotable light head assembly that serves as an access cover, allowing battery replacement while mounted, featuring a clamping arrangement, actuators, and a latch for securing the assembly, enabling access to the power compartment without dismounting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the access cover is located at the rearward end of the mountable light, then the light can be securely mounted, but the light must be removed from the firearm to replace batteries which is inconvenient and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The mountable light is divided into separate functional modules: the light body with clamping arrangement remains mounted on the firearm, while the light head assembly with battery compartment can be independently accessed by pivoting open. This segmentation allows battery replacement without removing the entire light from the firearm.
Solution Approach 2:
The light head assembly is made dynamically movable through a pivotable connection to the light body. This dynamic design allows the light head to be rotated open for battery access and closed for operation, providing flexible access while maintaining secure mounting of the main body.
2Ease of operation
If the mountable light is removed from the firearm for battery replacement, then the batteries can be accessed, but the aiming laser becomes misaligned requiring realignment
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the battery compartment access from the main mounting interface, the design allows only the light head assembly to be moved while the light body remains fixed on the firearm. This preserves the alignment of the aiming laser which is mounted on the stationary light body.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery compartment is extracted as a separate accessible component within the light head assembly. This allows batteries to be removed and replaced without taking out or disturbing the main light body that contains the laser alignment system.
3Volume of moving object
If smaller batteries are used to reduce size, then the light package is more compact, but the light output power is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable light head assembly creates dynamic access to the battery compartment, allowing efficient placement of multiple batteries in a compact arrangement. The compact battery layout enables smaller overall package size while still accommodating sufficient power capacity through optimized battery configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
A mountable light may comprise: a light body having a clamping arrangement and a compartment with an opening at an end thereof; a light head assembly including a source of light, the light head assembly being configured to cover the opening of the compartment; the light body and the light head assembly each having a feature that engages the feature of the other for pivoting the light head assembly relative to the light body, e.g., for covering and uncovering the opening of the compartment; and a latch for retaining the light head assembly against the light body to cover the opening of the compartment. A source of electrical power can be placed into and/or removed from the compartment of the light body when the mountable light is mounted to an object, e.g., a firearm or other object or device, by the clamping arrangement.