IP Library Granted Patent US 7,959,317
Granted Patent B2
US 7,959,317 · App. 12/961,969 · Granted Jun 14, 2011

Lighting device configured to operate with different batteries

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,959,317
App. No.
12/961,969
Granted
Jun 14, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A lighting device in the form of a handheld flashlight is provided that includes a plurality of light sources. The lighting device also has a tail cap that engages the main body by way of a cam lock wheel to provide a closure to the battery compartment. A ribbon having four traces couples a bottom switch and negative contacts to control circuitry. The lighting device further includes multiple modes of operation having a plurality of switches that provide control in various lighting modes. The lighting device is configured to be powered by one number of batteries supplying a first voltage output and is configured to be powered by a second different number of batteries supplying a second different voltage output, and the batteries are installed in battery compartments.

Claims (25)

1. A lighting device comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of light sources within the housing, the plurality of light sources including a first light source and a second light source;

control circuitry coupled to the first and second light sources;

a battery compartment defined within the housing at a tail end;

a tail cap removably coupled to the battery compartment, the tail cap including a bottom switch;

a first positive battery contact and a second positive battery contact located within the battery compartment and individually coupled to the control circuitry;

a first negative battery contact and a second negative battery contact located on an interior surface of the tail cap;

a ribbon including a first trace connected to a bottom switch, a second trace connected to the bottom switch, a third trace connected to a first negative battery contact and a fourth trace connected to a second negative battery contact, the ribbon coupled to the control circuitry and extending from the tail cap and through a portion of the housing;

a front switch positioned on a front side of the housing and coupled to the control circuitry to operate the first light source; and

the bottom switch is coupled to the control circuitry via the first and second traces of the ribbon cable to operate the second light source.

2. The device of claim 1 , the control circuitry is positioned above the battery compartment.

3. The device of claim 1 , the plurality of light sources operable with power from only the first positive battery contact and the second battery contact.

4. The device of claim 1 , the first positive battery contact comprising a protruding nubbin to prevent contact with a negative terminal of a reserve battery inserted into the battery compartment.

5. The device of claim 1 , the first negative battery contact and the second negative battery contact being electrically isolated from each other.

6. The device of claim 1 , the control circuitry electrically connects the first negative battery contact and the second positive battery contact.

7. The device of claim 1 , further comprising first and second batteries installed in the battery compartment.

8. The device of claim 7 , the second battery installed in a reverse orientation.

9. The device of claim 7 , the first and second batteries installed in a parallel orientation.

10. The device of claim 1 , the tail cap further comprising a cam lock wheel rotatable to engage a tooth on the housing.

11. The device of claim 10 , the rotation of the cam lock wheel forms a sealed closure with the battery compartment.

12. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a boost circuit to provide power to the plurality of light sources at a voltage of about 3.6 volts.

13. The device of claim 12 , the boost circuit receiving battery power.

14. The device of claim 13 , the battery power having a voltage of about 1.5 volts.

15. The device of claim 13 , the battery power having a voltage of about 3.0 volts.

Assignments (7)
AMENDED AND RESTATED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 19, 2025
From: ENERGIZER BRANDS, LLC; ENERGIZER AUTO, INC.,; ENERGIZER AUTO SALES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 070565/0282 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 30, 2020
From: ENERGIZER BRANDS, LLC; ENERGIZER AUTO, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 054875/0651 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 8, 2019
From: ENERGIZER HOLDINGS, INC.; AMERICAN COVERS, LLC; ASSOCIATED PRODUCTS, LLC; CALIFORNIA SCENTS, LLC; ENERGIZER BRANDS, LLC; ENERGIZER MANUFACTURING, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 048029/0246 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Jan 8, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: ENERGIZER BRANDS, LLC
Reel/Frame 048888/0300 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE APPLICATION NUMBER 29/499,135 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 036019 FRAME: 814. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Sep 16, 2016
From: EVEREADY BATTERY COMPANY
To: ENERGIZER BRANDS, LLC
Reel/Frame 040054/0660 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 15, 2015
From: ENERGIZER BRANDS, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 036106/0392 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 26, 2015
From: EVEREADY BATTERY COMPANY, INC.
To: ENERGIZER BRANDS, LLC
Reel/Frame 036019/0814 →