Variable-beam flashlight device

Claim 2

A flashlight device for producing a light beam of variable width and intensity comprising, a body, a light assembly including a light source mounted on said body for directing light rays in generally one direction from said light source to produce a light beam, lens means supported by said body for selectively altering the direction of said light rays, said lens means comprising a hollow sealed compartment having a transparent fluid therein, said compartment including a transparent lens chamber for receiving a fluid material therein, and a fliud storage chamber for storing said fluid when it is not disposed in said lens chamber said lens chamber being mounted in the path of said light rays and defining when empty a solid lens for causing said light rays to form a beam of one width and one intensity, said fluid storage means being mounted out of the path of said light rays and connected in fluid communication with said lens chamber to enable selective transfer of said fluid material between and fluid storage chamber and said lens chamber, and said fluid material defining a movable lens when disposed in said lens chamber and co-acting with said solid lens to cause said light rays to form a beam having another width and another intensity.

Claim 3

A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said lens chamber is mounted in substantially stationary relation on said body.

Claim 4

A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said lens chamber is connected at only one side to said storage chamber to enable said fluid to fill said lens chamber, by gravity, when said storage chamber is positioned above said lens chamber and to enable said fluid to be emptied from said lens chamber, by gravity, when said storage chamber is positioned below said lens chamber upon rotation of said body 180* about the directional axis of said light beam.

Claim 5

A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said storage chamber has a volume sufficiently large to enable said lens chamber to be complately emptied of fluid.

Claim 6

A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said lens chamber is defined by a front wall and rear wall spaced from said front wall, and said fluid storage is connected in fluid communication with said lens chamber for filling the space between said front and rear walls.

Claim 7

A device in accordance with claim 5, wherein said front and rear walls are disposed radially outwardly of said light source, and said fluid forms a lens for reflecting said light rays when disposed within said lens chamber.

Claim 8

A device in accordance with claim 5, wherein said front and rear walls are disposed forwardly of said light source, and said fluid forms a lens for the passage of said light rays therethrough when disposed within said lens chamber.

Claim 9

A device in accordance with claim 5, wherein said front and rear walls are disposed radially outwardly of said light source, and said fluid forms a lens for reflecting said light rays when disposed within said lens chamber.

Claim 10

A device in accordance with claim 5, wherein said lens means includes a reflector surrounding said light source, and said reflector extends outwardly and forwardly of said light source for directing said light rays forwardly away from said light source.

Claim 11

A device in accordance with claim 9, wherein said reflector is disposed rearwardly of said front and rear walls for reflecting said light forwardly through said one chamber.

Claim 12

A device in accordance with claim 5, wherein said front wall extends angularly outwardly and forwardly from said light source, and said fluid forms a lens for reflecting said light rays forwardly away from said light source.

Claim 13

A device in accordance with claim 5, wherein said front wall comprises a diffusing lens for diffusing said light rays when said space is filled with fluid.

Claim 14

A device in accordance with claim 5, wherein said front wall comprises a diffusing lens for diffusing said light rays when said space between said walls is not filled with fluid.

Claim 15

A flashlight device for producing a light beam of variable width and intensity comprising, a body, a light assembly including a light source mounted on said body for directing light rays in generally one direction from said light source to produce a light beam, lens means supported by said body for selectively altering the direction of said light rays, said lens means comprising a hollow-sealed compartment having a fluid therein, said compartment including a transparent lens chamber for receiving a fluid material therein, and a fluid storage chamber for storing said fluid when it is not disposed in said lens chamber, said storage chamber has a volume sufficiently large to enable said lens chamber to be substantially emptied into said storage chamber, said lens chamber being mounted in the path of said light rays and defining when empty a solid lens for causing said light rays to form a beam of one width and one intensity, said storage means being mounted out of the path of said light rays and connected in fluid commumication at only one side to said lens chamber to enable said fluid to fill said lens chamber, by gravity, when said storage chamber is positioned above said lens chamber and to enable said fluid to be emptied from said lens chamber, by gravity, when said storage chamber is positioned below said lens chamber upon rotation of said body 180* about the directional axis of said light beam, and said fluid material defining a movable lens when disposed in said lens chamber and coacting with said solid lens to cause said light rays to form a beam having another width and another itensity.

Claim 16

A flashlight device for producing a light beam of variable width and intensity comprising, a body, a light assembly including a light source mounted on said body for directing light rays in generally one direction from said light source to produce a light beam, lens means supported by said body for selectively altering the direction of said light rays, said lens means comprising a hollow-sealed compartment having a fluid therein, said compartment including a transparent lens chamber for receiving a fluid material therein, and a fluid storage chamber for storing said fluid when it is not disposed in said lens chamber, said storage chamber has a volume sufficiently large to enable said lens chamber to be substantially emptied into said storage chamber, said lens chamber being mounted in the path of said light rays and defining when empty a solid lens for causing said light rays to form a beam of one width and one intensity, said storage means being mounted out of the path of said light rays and connected in fluid commumication at only one side to said lens chamber to enable said fluid to fill said lens chamber, by gravity, when said storage chamber is positioned above said lens chamber and to enable said fluid to be emptied from said lens chamber, by gravity, when said storage chamber is positioned below said lens chamber upon rotation of said body 180* about the directional axis of said light beam, and said fluid material defining a movable lens when disposed in said lens chamber and coacting with said solid lens to cause said light rays to form a beam having another width and another itensity.