Flashlight with selectable output level switching

US 20070247839A1

(io) Pub. No.: US 2007/0247839 Al (43) Pub. Date: Oct. 25, 2007

(54) FLASHLIGHT WITH SELECTABLE OUTPUT LEVEL SWITCHING

(76) Inventors: John W. Matthews, Newport Beach, CA (US); William A. Hunt, Foothill Ranch, CA (US)

Correspondence Address:
LANGLOTZ PATENT WORKS, INC.
PO BOX 759
GENOA, NV 89411 (US)

(21) Appl. No.: 11/710,456

(22) Filed: Feb. 22, 2007

Related U.S. Application Data

(63) Continuation of application No. 10/732,873, filed on Dec. 9, 2003, now Pat. No. 7,186,002.

Publication Classification

(51) Int. CI.

F21L 4/04 (2006.01)

(52) U.S. CI 362/205

(57) ABSTRACT

A flashlight having a lamp, a power storage element, a switch, and an electronic controller. The controller has a switch input connected to the switch and operates in response to the input to deliver power from the power storage element to the lamp. The controller may be directly connected to each of the lamp, source, and switch. The switch may include several separate contact elements operating sequentially in response to movement of a switch actuator. The controller may provide different illumination levels and functions in response to different pressures and durations of actuation. The flashlight may include a dimmer level control to establish an intermediate "dimmed" output level, and operate to provide the selected dimmed output when the switch is depressed by an intermediate amount, and to provide a greater maximum output level in response to full actuation of the switch.