WO1992000486A1

WO1992000486A1 - Rotatable flashlight holder

Info

Publication number: WO1992000486A1
Application number: PCT/US1990/003518
Authority: WO
Inventors: Todd A. Weinfield
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-12-20
Filing date: 1990-06-22
Publication date: 1992-01-09
Anticipated expiration: 1992-12-22
Also published as: US4938440A; EP0489039A1; EP0489039A4

Abstract

A portable, rotatable holder (10) for a flashlight (F) enclosing a battery comprises a base structure (12), an upright U-shaped bracket (14) secured thereto, a receptacle (16) attached to the upper portion of the bracket (14) and a clamp (22) mounted in the receptacle (16) for receiving and releasably holding the body of the flashlight (F). The holder includes means (18, 20) for a dual rotational movement of the clamped flashlight to a desired position.

Description

Rotatable Flashlight Holder

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a rotatable holder for a flashligh More particularly, the invention relates to a holding device for a standard flashlight, the device being adapted for adjustable movement thereof to a desired position.

Background Art

Various types of flashlight holders have been described in the prio art. For example, U. S. Patent No. 1,68 ,3 ? describes a flashlight holder comprising a pair of clamping members connected together for pivotal movement and a clamp connected to the clamping members. U. S. Patent No. 2,220,220 discloses a collapsible stand for holding a flash¬ light having two pivotably connected U-shaped bars. U. S. Patent No. 2,886,664 to Graubner teaches a magnet switch combination to enable the flashlight to be supported on a metal surface, ϋ. S. Patent No. 3,601,395 describes a flashlight and lantern including an elastic strap adapted to be fastened to the user's body or garment and an adjustable mount for rotational movement of light beam. U. S. Patent No. 3,713,614 discloses a flashlight holder comprising a mounting bracket having an adhesive base and a magnet disposed within the bracket. U. S. Patent No. 4,220,304 teaches an attachment for a flashlight to be magnetically attached to a metallic surface by means of protruding magnet molded to the flashlight barrel. While the above-mentioned prior art patents describe various concept of holding devices for flashlights, the improved holder of the present invention encompasses a distinct approach in the structure of such devices as it is characterized by certain novel features and advan¬ tages not heretofore known in the art.

Summary of Invention and Advantages

In view of the foregoing, it is the principal object of the inventio to provide an improved rotatable holder especially adapted for use in conjunction with a conventional battery-holding flashlight. Another object of the invention is to provide a small, portable holder for supporting a flashlight, such holder being characterized by a novel dual adjustable movement permitting a flashlight held therein to be placed in a desired position. A further object of the invention is the provision of a flashlight held by the holder which is suitable for use in darkness to direct the light beam to any spot by simply rotating two separate adjustable means mounted in the holder to a selected position_*

A still further object of the invention is to provide a convenient in use flashlight holder which can be made inexpensively from readily available materials.

These and other objects of this invention will become more fully apparent from the following description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a rotatable flashlight holder adapted for dual rotational movement characterized by comprising, in combination, a base structure which comprises a bottom plate member, an inverted U-shaped upper member having a horizontally extending top wall spaced apart from said bottom plate member in a parallel relation thereto and an upright U-shaped spring bracket secured to said bottom plate member inside said base structure; a U-shaped bracket extending upwardly from said base structure and rotatably secured thereto; first means for securing said U-shaped bracket to said base structure and adapted for rotatable move ment of said U-shaped bracket in horizontal plane; a receptacle affixe to the upper portion of said U-shaped bracket; second means for connec ting said receptacle with said U-shaped bracket for rotatable polar movement of said receptacle in vertical plane; and ola p means fastene in said receptacle for receiving and removably retaining a flashlight therein. The holder may additionally include a magnet secured to the underside of its base structure for attachment of the holder to a magnetic surface.

Brief Description of the Drawing

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the holder according to the inven- tion showing a flashlight placed in the clamp.

Fig. 2 is a crosssectional front elevation view of the holder alone without flashlight and with empty base structure.

Fig. 3 is a somewhat enlarged rear view of the base structure. Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial side view of the end portion of the extended top wall of the inverted U-shaped upper member; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged partial top view of the end portion of the extended top wall structure with the stop member turned away 90° from the slot.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Referring now to the drawing, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding elements, a portable, rotatable flashlight holder 10 is illustrated in Fig. 1 with a flashlight F inserted therei in operative position and in Fig. 2 in which the holder is shown witho flashlight. Holder 10 is composed of four main structural elements, i. e. a base structure 12, an upright U-shaped bracket 14 rotatably secured thereto, a receptacle 16 rotatably affixed to upper portion of bracket 14 and a clamp means 22 fastened in receptacle 16 and adapt for removably holding a flashlight therein.

The U-shaped bracket 14 is secured to the horizontal top wall 27 of base structure 12 by first fastener means 18, preferably in the form o a nut and threaded bolt, which is mounted vertically through an aper¬ ture in the center of the bottom wall of the U and another central aperture in the top wall of the base structure 12 registering therewit First means 18 is adapted for rotational movement of U-shaped bracket 14 about vertical axis either clockwise or counterclockwise about the entire 36θ°circle by slightly loosening fastener means 18, then tight¬ ening it at a selected position of bracket 14. Second means 20 provided for connection of bracket 14 with receptacle 16 extends through axially registering apertures in the upper portions of each side wall of bracket 14 and in the vertical legs of receptacle 16. Thus each pair of adjacent apertures forms a passageway for fastening means 20 for adjustable attachment of receptacle 1 to U-shaped bracket 14. Although any standard fastening means is suitable, a combination of a threaded bolt and wingnut on one side and a threaded bolt and nut on the oppo¬ site side of receptacle 16 are preferred. A threaded bolt and wingnut on ech side are likewise satisfactory. It will be noted that fastening means 20 permits a rotatable polar movement of receptacle 6 at right angles from vertical axis in each direction by loosening somewhat second means 20 and thereafter tightening it when a desired position for bracket 14 is attained. It will be understood that the dual arrangement of the function of first means 18 and of second means 20 provides rotational movements of bracket 14 and receptacle 16, respectively, in mutually perpendicular planes, thereby permitting an inclination of the flashlight clamped in the holder in any desired angular poεition, which represents an impor¬ tant feature of this invention.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the base structure 12 is composed of a horizontal bottom plate member 24 and inverted U-shaped upper member 26 having a horizontally extending top wall 27 spaced apart from the botto plate member 24 in a parallel relation thereto and a pair of vertical side walls joining top wall 27 and bottom plate member 27, the sizes of plate 24 and of spaced apart top wall 27 being substantially the same. A pair of holding brackets 46 is provided adjacent each side of vertica inner walls of the U in the U-shaped upper member 26 and attached to both such walls by suitable fasteners, such as threaded bolts and nuts to insure adequate support for upper member 26.

Base structure 12 further includes an upright U-shaped spring bracket 3 secured to the rear end of bottom plate member 24 by a suit¬ able fastener 48, such as a rivet, extending through vertically aligned holes in bracket 30 and plate 24, a threaded shaft 33 positioned hori¬ zontally through registering holes in vertical portions of the U in member 26, in holding brackets 46 and in vertical walls of spring bracket 30. Shaft 53 comprises a head at one end and a threaded nut at opposite end thereof. A pair of torsion springs 32 are mounted on threaded shaft 33 between each bracket 46 and each vertical wall of spring bracket 30 to insure a proper tension of the structure when upper member 26 is swung to a deεired angular position so that a firm grip of the object to be clamped is achieved, as will be explained hereinbelow. In another form of the invention, an additional clamping arrangement is provided, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, wherein upright plate 38 projects upwardly from the end portion of bottom plate member 24 and is adapted to pass through longitudinal slot 3 located near the end por¬ tion of top wall 27, the length of slot 34 being slightly greater than that of the upper edge of plate 38. An L-shaped stopper member 35 is affixed rotatably by a suitable fastener 36, such as a threaded bolt and nut, to the end portion of top wall 27 adjacent slot 34 to prevent insertion of upper portion of plate 3 so that it will not protrude through slot 34 when it is not desired. Stop member 35 is adapted for rotation from its inactive position to its intended poεition covering slot 34, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 5, by simply loosening fastener 36 and placing stop member 35 over slot 3 .

The clamp means 22 secured to the bottom of receptacle 16 by a suitable fastener 40, such as a rivet, comprises a pair of spaced apart opposed, deformable, coacting spring-like clips 4 having a substan- tially arcuate shape adapted for releasable firm gripping engagement with the cylindrical body of a conventional flashlight F in its initial transverse relation to the vertical axis of holder 10. Each clip 42 comprises a free upper end extending outwardly, as shown in Fig. 2, to facilitate insertion of the flashlight. The body of flashlight F is easily inserted into clamp means 2 by pressing it downwardly into the space between the two coacting clips 42 until it is firmly engaged and held therebetween. If desired, a second pair of clips 42 may be secured in receptacle 16 in a mutually parallel relationship with the first pair to increase firmness and stability of holding action of clamp 22. While the holder of this invention with a flashlight inserted there¬ in may be used in many instances by simply placing it in vertical position on any flat surface, a magnet 28 may optionally be secured to underside surface of bottom plate member 24 by a fastening means 44, such as a threaded bolt and nut, extending through a hole in the usual magnet holder and a registering hole in bottom plate 24. A flashlight holder of this invention provided with a magnet may be used by attach¬ ing its bottom to a supporting magnetic surface, thereby permitting the user to have both hands available for the intended purpose.

The additional clamping arrangement described hereinabove is useful in mounting the holder with a flashlight gripped therein on a handle bar of a bicycle ridden in darkness, thereby enhancing safety for the rider.

The holder according to the invention can be fabricated from a rigid metal, such as aluminum or stainless steel, by constructing the essen- tial parts thereof and assembling them by suitable fasteners, as des¬ cribed hereinabove. It will be apparent from the foregoing description of the invention in its preferred embodiment that I have devised an improved rotatable flashlight-supporting holder adjustable angularly to any position through its unique rotational mobility in two perpendicularly oriented planes. The device is characterized by a combination of new features which are required for its baεic function, i. e. the ability of pro¬ jecting light beam from a flashlight to any dark spot regardles of its location. The novel structure of my holder permits a battery-operated flashlight to be maintained in a fixed and stable position, thereby providing a convenient manner of lighting a dark area while obviating the n ecessity of holding or carrying a flashlight by hand. The holder described herein is useful in situations where electric power is either disrupted or unavailable, in overnight outdoor camping, in repair work underneath motor vehicles behind bumper or under fender and in any dark locations having no electrical outlets.

It will be understood that various modifications in the form of this invention as herein described may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of the claims which follow.

Claims

1. A rotatable flashlight holder (10) adapted for dual rotational movement, characterized by comprising, in combination: a base structure (12) which comprises a bottom plate member (24), an inverted U-shaped upper member (26) having a horizontally extending top wall (27) spaced apart from said bottom plate member (24) in a parallel relation thereto and an upright U-shaped spring bracket (30) secured to said bottom plate member (24) inside said base structure (12); a U-shaped bracket (14) extending upwardly from said base structure (12) and rotatably secured thereto; first means (18) for securing said U-shaped bracket (14) to said base structure (12) and adapted for rotatable movement of said U-shaped bracket (14) in horizontal plane; a receptacle (16) affixed to upper portion of said U-shaped bracket (14); second means (20) for connecting said receptacle (16) with said U-shaped bracket (14) for rotatable polar movement of said receptacle (16) in vertical plane; and clamp means (22) fastened in said receptacle (16) for receiving and removably retaining a flashlight (F) therein.

2. A holder (10) of claim 1, characterized in that said base structure (12) includes a magnet (28) secured to underside surface of said bottom plate member (24).

3_* holder (10) of claim 1, characterized in that said base structure (12) includes a threaded shaft (33) extending through vertical portions of said inverted U-shaped upper member (26) and a pair of torsion springs (32) mounted on said threaded shaft (33)_*

4. A holder (10) of claim 1, characterized in that said horizontally extending top wall (27) includes a slot (34) for insertion there- through of upright plate (38) projecting from end portion of said bottom plate member (24).

5. A holder (10) of claim 1, characterized in that said U-shaped bracket (14) includes an aperture in upper portion of each side wall thereof disposed to be axially aligned with an aperture in each side wall of said receptacle (16), each pair of adjacent apertures forming a passageway for fastening means (20) for adjustable attachment of said receptacle (16) to said U-shaped bracket (14).

6. A holder (10) of claim 5, characterized in that said fastening means. (20) comprises a wingnut and a bolt.

7. A holder (10) of claim 1, characterized in that said U-shaped bracket (14) includes a central aperture in bottom wall thereof registering with a central aperture in top wall (2?) of said base structure (12).

8. A holder (10) of claim 7, characterized in that a fastener means. (18) is mounted through said central apertures for securing said U-shaped bracket (14) to said top wall (27) of said U-shaped upper member (26).

9. A holder (10) of claim 1, characterized in that said clamp means (22) comprises a pair of spaced apart opposed spring clips (42) having a substantially arcuate shape adapted for releasable gripping of the flashlight (F).

10. A holder (10) of claim 1, characterized in that the flashlight (F) is gripped firmly by said clamp means (22) in substantially transverse relation to vertical position of said holder (10).

11. A holder (10) of claim 4, characterized in that a rotatable

L-shaped stop member (35) is secured to said top wall (27) to prevent insertion of said upright plate (38) through said slot (34)