Rechargeable Flashlight with USB Charging and Key Ring Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flashlights are bulky and heavy, making them inconvenient for law enforcement and military personnel to carry, and they require spare batteries that add additional weight and bulk, posing safety risks when not readily available.
Innovation Solution
A compact, lightweight rechargeable flashlight system with a flexible USB to micro USB connector that can be charged via USB outlets, wall adapters, or car adapters, featuring a lithium polymer battery for high energy density and a durable design with a ambidextrous switch and LED indicators for charge status, allowing easy attachment to keychains or clothing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If conventional flashlights are used, then illumination function is provided, but size and weight increase, reducing mobility and convenience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the flashlight with a key ring assembly, merging two separate functions (illumination device and key carrier) into a single integrated unit. This allows the flashlight to be permanently attached to keys or clothing, eliminating the risk of leaving it behind while reducing the need to carry it separately, thus resolving the contradiction between weight and availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The key ring assembly serves multiple functions: it carries keys, attaches the flashlight, and provides a convenient carrying mechanism. This multi-functionality reduces the overall burden on the user by consolidating several needs into a single device, addressing the mobility and convenience issues.
2Reliability
If spare batteries are carried, then flashlight operation continuity is ensured, but weight and bulk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flashlight incorporates a rechargeable lithium polymer battery with USB charging capability, allowing it to be recharged using standard USB outlets, wall adapters, or car adapters. This self-service charging system eliminates the need to carry spare batteries, as the same battery can be reused multiple times after recharging, significantly reducing weight while maintaining operation continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from disposable or rechargeable battery systems to a rechargeable lithium polymer battery system with USB charging capability. This parameter change in the power storage and recharging mechanism enables continuous operation without the need for additional spare batteries, resolving the weight and reliability contradiction.
3Weight of moving object
If flashlight is made compact and lightweight, then mobility is improved, but durability and reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the flashlight into modular components: a head assembly with LED and switch, a body assembly with battery compartment, and a key ring assembly. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the head and body can be made compact and lightweight while the key ring provides durable attachment functionality, resolving the contradiction between compactness and durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The flashlight uses a lithium polymer battery which combines lightweight properties with high energy density and durability. The composite construction of the flashlight body and key ring assembly provides both compactness and structural integrity, addressing the contradiction between weight reduction and durability.
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
The rechargeable flashlight system provides a reliable, compact, and lightweight solution that reduces the need for spare batteries, ensuring the flashlight is always accessible and charged, enhancing user safety and mobility.
Implementation Method 1
featuring a lithium polymer battery for high energy density
Implementation Method 2
LED indicators for charge status
Data Source
AI summary
A flashlight is provided. The flashlight includes a frame defined by a rail that extends around a central opening predominantly within a single plane, a mounting loop extending outboard of the frame on a first end, a planar circuit board disposed within the central opening. The plane of the circuit board coincident with the plane of the frame, an LED light disposed on the circuit board, where a light emitting end of the LED light extending through the frame on a second end of the frame opposite the first end. A rechargeable battery is disposed on the circuit board, a switch is provided that couples the battery to the LED light. An actuator of the switch extends through the frame between the first and second ends, a USB connector is disposed on the circuit board, the USB connector extends through the frame between the first and second ends and a battery charger is disposed on the circuit board that charges the battery via energy received through the USB connector.