Mechanism and cap for an electrically powered device, electrically powered device and lighting device with such a cap
US7771077B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 3, 2006 |
| Grant date | Aug 10, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 23, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF21Y2115/10
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present subject matter relates to a tail cap for portable lighting device such as a flashlight. The tail cap includes a locking mechanism which secures the tail cap on the flashlight as well as enables or disables the switch that activates, or deactivates the flashlight and/or its various lighting modes. The tail cap with the present multi-purpose locking mechanism allows the user to rapidly replace the battery, and ensures that the switch and contact pins return to the correct position, after the tail cap is reinserted. The combined use of a magnetic switch and O-ring gasket between the tail cap and main housing ensures complete waterproofing. The ambidextrous switch consisting of either a switch bar or dual push-button switch located on the rear wall of the tail cap allows ambidextrous use, even when the flashlight is mounted on a firearm such as a handgun, where the trigger guard would normally interfere with the operation of a switch mounted on the rear face of the flashlight.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.