JP2005063696A - Portable light apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable light apparatus with high waterproof, which has a switch operated easily and firmly. <P>SOLUTION: A portable light apparatus includes (a) a cylindrical casing 1 having a front portion provided with a transparent area and a back portion 10 detachable and closely coupled with front portion 9 with a screw, (b) a lamp 2 disposed adjacent to the transparent area of front portion 9 in casing 1, (c) a battery case 3 disposed in casing 1, (d) an electric circuit 4 constructed to electrically connect lamp 2 with battery case, (e) a permanent magnet 14, switch 5 slidably mounted on the side of the outer surface of casing 1, and (f) a magnetic sensor 19 for detecting the movement of permanent magnetic 14, and a controller 6 for intermittently activate circuit 4 in response to a detection signal of magnetic sensor 19. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a portable light, and more particularly to a portable light having high waterproofness and switch operability.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In addition to emergency flashlights, portable lights that emit light from built-in batteries are now used as headlamps for bicycles, etc., and for lighting and mutual positioning in leisure activities such as trekking, mountain climbing, and diving. ing. Therefore, portable lights are required to have simple and reliable switch operability and high waterproofness.
[0003]
Conventional portable lights generally include (a) a cylindrical casing formed by screwing a transparent front end and a rear part, and (b) a lamp disposed near the front end in the casing, (C) a battery housed in the casing; (d) an electric circuit configured to be electrically connectable to the lamp and the battery; and (e) a switch for intermittently connecting the electric circuit. This switch normally employs a slide switch, a push button switch, or the like that penetrates the casing inside and outside, and is configured to intermittently connect an electric circuit by an operation from the outside of the portable light.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional portable light described above, the threaded portion between the front end portion and the rear portion constituting the casing and the switch portion are factors that reduce waterproofness. With respect to the screwed portion between the front end portion and the rear portion, waterproofness can be considerably improved by inserting a rubber O-ring. However, since the switch portion penetrates into and out of the casing, there is a certain structural limit in improving waterproofness. For this reason, the conventional portable light has a disadvantage in that water leaks from the switch portion to the inside due to use over time, and the life is shortened. In particular, when the portable light is used in an environment where moisture easily adheres, such as a bicycle or diving, the waterproof problem is significant.
[0005]
Further, according to the push button type switch, the waterproof property can be improved by means such as laying a rubber sheet on the outer surface, but it cannot be completely waterproofed without a gap communicating between the inside and outside of the casing, On the other hand, there is a disadvantage that the switch is turned on by unintentional pressing such as water pressure and the battery is consumed.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of these disadvantages, and an object of the present invention is to provide a portable light having high waterproofness and easy and reliable switch operation.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems includes: (a) a cylindrical casing having a front portion having a transparent area and a rear portion detachably and watertightly engaged with the front portion; and (b) a front portion in the casing. A lamp disposed in the vicinity of the transparent area, (c) a battery housing portion disposed in the casing, and (d) an electric circuit configured to be able to electrically connect the lamp and the battery in the battery housing portion. (E) a switch having a permanent magnet and slidably attached to the outer surface of the casing; and (f) a magnetic sensor for detecting the movement of the permanent magnet, in accordance with a detection signal of the magnetic sensor. It is a portable light provided with the control part which interrupts an electric circuit.
[0008]
Since the portable light includes a lamp, a battery storage unit, an electrical circuit, and a control unit in the casing, a battery is inserted into the battery storage unit, and an electrical circuit is connected by the control unit based on a switch operation. By energizing the lamp, the lamp can emit light, and light can be emitted from the transparent area at the front.
[0009]
Further, the portable light has a switch slidable on the outer surface side of the casing, and the movement of the permanent magnet included in the switch is detected by a magnetic sensor, and the control unit causes the electrical circuit to be interrupted by this detection signal. It is configured. Therefore, the portable light is not configured so that the switch portion penetrates the inside and outside of the casing as in the prior art, so that water leakage from the switch portion is completely prevented and the waterproof property is remarkably improved.
[0010]
In the portable light, the switch may have a spring that is elastically provided in the sliding direction with respect to the casing, and may be biased to one side in the sliding direction. Moreover, the said control part is good to comprise so that switching-off of a lamp, blinking, and lighting can be switched according to the slide of a switch.
[0011]
The portable light includes a control unit that interrupts an electrical circuit, and controls the electrical circuit according to the movement of a switch (permanent magnet) detected by a magnetic sensor. Therefore, the portable light can arbitrarily set the lighting mode of the lamp and the operation mode of the switch for switching the lamp, and as a result, the switch is resisted against the spring force of the spring as in the means. It can be configured to switch the lighting mode of the lamp by reciprocating once in the sliding direction, and can be configured to be able to switch off, flashing, and lighting of the lamp. According to such a switch operation, the switching operation of the lamp lighting mode is simple and reliable. Moreover, according to the lighting form of such a lamp, the utilization degree and convenience of the portable light are improved.
[0012]
In the present invention, the “portable light” is not limited to a light that can be worn or held in the hand, but means a light that is small and light and convenient for carrying. For example, it is attached to a bicycle or the like. It is a concept that also includes a light for. “Transparent” is a concept including translucency, and is a concept that does not matter whether it is colorless and transparent or colored and transparent. The “cylindrical shape” means a tubular shape whose front end and rear end are closed, and the cross-sectional shape is not limited to a circular shape.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a portable light according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic enlarged view showing a switch and a control unit of the portable light of FIG.
[0014]
The portable light shown in FIG. 1 includes a casing 1, a lamp 2, a battery storage unit 3, an electrical circuit 4, a switch 5, a control unit 6, a battery 7, and an engagement unit 8.
[0015]
The casing 1 has a hollow cylindrical shape, and includes a front portion 9 and a rear portion 10 that are detachably and watertightly screwed together. The front portion 9 has a cylindrical shape with an opening at the rear, has a transparent region that transmits light emitted from the lamp 2 at least at the front end, and has a convex lens portion 11 that collects transmitted light at the center of the front end. . The rear portion 10 has a cylindrical shape with an opening at the front, and the threaded portion is a cylinder, but the rear shape can be arbitrarily formed, such as a shape that follows the shape of the battery storage portion 3 described later. The front portion 9 and the rear portion 10 are threadably engaged with each other in a cylindrical opening. Two rubber O-rings 12 are inserted into the screwed portions of the front portion 9 and the rear portion 10 to ensure almost perfect watertightness.
[0016]
The lamp 2 is disposed in the casing 1 (particularly in the rear portion 10) so as to emit light toward the transparent area (front end portion) of the front portion 9. The type of the lamp 2 is not particularly limited, and various types such as a light emitting diode (LED), an incandescent lamp, and a fluorescent lamp are used. Among them, a light-emitting diode that has a long lifetime and low power consumption is particularly preferable.
[0017]
The battery housing part 3 is disposed in the rear part 10 of the casing 1. The battery storage unit 3 is formed in a hollow shape that can hold the battery 7 according to the shape of the battery 7 to be stored.
[0018]
The electric circuit 4 is configured so that the lamp 2 and the battery 7 can be electrically connected. The specific configuration of the electrical circuit 4 is not particularly limited, and various known means are employed. The electric circuit 4 is composed of, for example, a contact plate, a conductive wire and the like that elastically contacts both electrodes of the battery 7, and a capacitor, a resistor, and the like are incorporated as necessary. For such contact plates and conductors, copper, iron, aluminum, nickel, alloys thereof, and the like excellent in electrical conductivity, strength, and durability are used.
[0019]
The switch 5 includes a main body 13, a permanent magnet 14, a cover 15, a spring 16, and a grip part 17. The main body 13 is fitted in a groove in the front-rear direction formed on the outer surface side of the rear portion 10, and is attached to be slidable in the front-rear direction. The permanent magnet 14 is embedded in the lower surface side of the main body 13 (the contact surface side to the outer surface of the casing 1). The type of the permanent magnet 14 is not particularly limited, and for example, a KS magnet, an MK magnet, a new KS magnet, a ferrite magnet, or the like is used. The cover 15 is disposed so as to cover the upper surface and the side surface of the main body 13 and prevents the main body 13 from falling off. A slit is formed in the upper part of the cover 15, and the convex portion of the main body 13 is inserted into this slit. The spring 16 is elastically provided between the casing 1 (specifically, a cover 15 that contacts the casing 1) and the main body 13 and in the front-rear direction (sliding direction). The main body 13 is urged backward by the spring 16 in the front-rear direction. The grip portion 17 is an operation piece having a shape along the belly of the finger. The grip portion 17 is attached to the upper surface side of the cover 15 and is coupled to the convex portion of the main body 13 protruding from the slit of the cover 15. It is slidably attached.
[0020]
The switch 5 having the structure described above can slide the main body 13 and the permanent magnet 14 forward by placing the finger against the grip portion 17 and sliding it forward against the spring 16. Is released, the main body 13 and the permanent magnet 14 return to the rear by the elastic force of the spring 16.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 6 is incorporated in the middle of the electric circuit 4 and is configured to control the interruption of the electric circuit 4. Specifically, the control unit 6 includes a magnetic sensor 19 and a rubber-coated chip memory 20 incorporated on the green board 18. The magnetic sensor 19 has a sealed glass tube 21 and a pair of metal wires 22 and 23 that extend from both end portions in the glass tube 21 and are overlapped with each other at a slight interval. doing. In the normal state, the magnetic sensor 19 is not in contact with the pair of metal wires 22 and 23 as shown in FIG. 2A, but as shown in FIG. The tip ends of the pair of metal wires 22 and 23 come into contact with each other and become conductive. The magnetic sensor 19 having such a structure is disposed in the vicinity of the position where the permanent magnet 14 of the switch 5 is slid forward, and can detect the approach of the permanent magnet 14. The material of the metal wires 22 and 23 is not particularly limited as long as the material can be bent and brought into contact with the approach of the permanent magnet 14, for example, high permeability material such as low carbon steel, silicon steel, permalloy, sendust, nickel, etc. Magnetostrictive materials such as containing alloys and ferrite are used. The chip memory 20 is stored so as to switch the lighting mode of the lamp 2 by intermittently connecting the electric circuit 4 due to a signal (one-time conduction) for detecting the approach of the permanent magnet 14 by the magnetic sensor 19.
[0022]
The control unit 6 having the above-described structure can switch the lighting mode of the lamp 2 by controlling the on / off of the electric circuit 4 by sliding the switch 5 forward. Although the lighting form of the lamp 2 is not particularly limited, it is preferable to turn off, blink, and turn on the portable light from the viewpoint of utilization and convenience. It should be noted that the flashing timing, rhythm, etc. can be arbitrarily set, and it is possible to switch between flashing modes having different timings.
[0023]
The battery 7 is not particularly limited as long as the power for turning on the lamp 2 and a predetermined life can be secured. For example, a manganese dry battery, an alkaline manganese dry battery, a silver oxide battery, a mercury battery, a nickel-zinc battery, an air battery, a lithium battery. Nickel-cadmium livestock batteries, solar cells, etc. can be used. The size and number of the batteries 7 are not particularly limited. For example, the first type, single type, single type, single type, single type, single type, button type, etc. can be arbitrarily selected according to the size of the portable light. can do.
[0024]
The engaging portion 8 has an engaging piece 24 that forms a circular opening, and a bolt 25 for making the inner diameter of the engaging piece 24 variable. The engaging portion 8 can engage the portable light with, for example, a bicycle handle.
[0025]
Since the portable light includes the lamp 2, the battery storage unit 3, the electric circuit 4, and the control unit 6 in the casing 1, the permanent magnet 14 can be obtained by sliding the switch 5 on the outer surface side of the casing 1. The forward movement of the lamp 2 is detected by the magnetic sensor 19, and the controller 6 controls the on / off state of the electric circuit 4 in accordance with the detection signal, thereby controlling the lighting mode of the lamp 2.
[0026]
In the portable light, the front portion 9 and the rear portion 10 of the casing 1 are screwed in a watertight manner by an O-ring 12, and the switch 5 is attached to the outer surface side of the casing 1, and water leakage from the switch portion is prevented. It is completely prevented. Therefore, the portable light has a significantly improved waterproof property, and can be used sufficiently in water during diving.
[0027]
Furthermore, the portable light can switch the lighting mode of the lamp 2 by a simple and reliable operation of sliding the switch 5 forward, and the utilization and convenience are improved.
[0028]
The portable light of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the switch only needs to have a permanent magnet and be slidably attached to the outer surface side of the casing. The switch 16 can be slid in a predetermined direction to be lit and turned back on and off. . As the magnetic sensor, various known magnetic sensors can be used as long as they can detect the movement of the permanent magnet.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the portable light of the present invention, the prevention property is remarkably high, and the switching operation of the lighting mode is simple and reliable. It can be used sufficiently for leisure lighting such as mountain climbing and diving.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a portable light according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic enlarged view showing a switch and a control unit of the portable light in FIG. 1;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Casing 2 Lamp 3 Battery storage part 4 Electrical circuit 5 Switch 6 Control part 7 Battery 8 Engagement part 9 Front part 10 Rear part 11 Convex lens part 12 Rubber O-ring 13 Main body 14 Permanent magnet 15 Cover 16 Spring 17 Grip part 18 Green Board 19 Magnetic sensor 20 Rubber-coated chip memory 21 Glass tube 22 Metal wire 23 Metal wire 24 Engagement piece 25 bolt

Claims (3)

A cylindrical casing having a front portion with a transparent zone and a rear portion that is detachably and watertightly screwed to the front portion;
A lamp disposed near the front transparent area in the casing;
A battery compartment disposed in the casing;
An electric circuit configured to be electrically connectable to the lamp and the battery in the battery storage unit;
A switch having a permanent magnet and slidably attached to the outer surface of the casing;
A portable light having a magnetic sensor for detecting the movement of a permanent magnet and a control unit for interrupting an electric circuit in accordance with a detection signal of the magnetic sensor. The portable light according to claim 1, wherein the switch has a spring that is elastically provided in a sliding direction with respect to the casing, and is biased to one side in the sliding direction. The portable light according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to be able to switch off, blink, and turn on the lamp according to the slide of the switch.

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