GB2118290A - Electric torch - Google Patents

Abstract

An electric torch is provided with separate bulbs 7, 12 and 13 for providing a forward beam illuminating the way ahead, and a rearward beam or beams for warning vehicles approaching from the rear and/or to guide people following the torch user. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Electric torches According to the present invention I provide a torch adapted to provide simultaneously two beams of light, one to illuminate the way ahead and one to be directed rearwardly to warn vehicles approaching from the rear of the user and/or to help pedestrians following the torch user. The rear beam may be coloured e.g. red or white and may be flashing or continuous.

Alternatively two rear beams may be provided, one continuous, to assist following pedestrians and the other flashing to warn vehicles approaching from behind. The invention may be incorporated in a torch constructed for example in the conventional generally cylindrical configuration with the main cylindrical body of the torch housing the electrical cells to energise the bulbs for the ahead and ground beams which are mounted in an enlarged cylindrical head at the forward end of the torch. At the rear end of the torch, one lamp is provided, suitably coloured red or plain white so that persons following the user can see where he or she is going, while another, flashing bulb is provided at its rear end to warn vehicles approaching from behind.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 is a very schematic longitudinal section through one embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 2 shows the directions of the beams emitted from the torch shown in Fig. 1.

The torch shown in Fig. 1 comprises a main cylindrical body portion 1 having a battery compartment containing five cells such as 2 for energising the various lamps of the torch.

At the forward end of the cylindrical body portion 1 is a cylindrical portion 3 of larger diameter serving to house two light sources 4 and 5 for providing, respectively, the forward and ground beams. As indicated the forward beam source comprises a reflector 6, bulb 7 and cover 8 while the ground beam source 5 correspondingly comprises a reflector 9, bulb 10 and cover 11. As indicated in Fig. 2, the reflector and bulb assemblies are arranged so that the forward and ground beams are substantially perpendicular to one another.

At the rear end 1 b of the torch are a tail lamp 1 2 to enable people following the user to see where he is and a flashing lamp 1 3 to warn vehicles. Both of these lamps may either use red coloured bulbs or red coloured filters over the bulbs. It may be preferable for the lamps 1 2 and 1 3 to be provided with suitable reflector assemblies so that their light is not concentrated into a beam like the forward and ground beams but rather is spread over a larger angle to increase the range of directions from which the two rear lamps are visible is as large as possible.

A multi-position switch 1 4 mounted on the body portion 1 enables the user to select the various permutations of the lamps to be operated simultaneously. The reflectors 6 and 9 are arranged so that the forward beam is more concentrated than the ground beam (see Fig.

2); this is so that the forward beam has a relatively long range for illuminating objects far away while the ground beam can be used to illuminate a relatively wide area of the ground because of its relative proximity.

The switch may have for example four posi tions:- 1) Forward beam only 2) Forward and ground beams 3) Forward and ground beams and tail light 4) Forward and ground beams, tail light and flashing rear light.

The above described torch is also described and claimed in my application No. 8014012 from which the present application was divided.

1. An electric torch adapted so as, in normal use, to provide two beams of light, namely a forward-beam to illuminate the way ahead and a rearward-beam which is rearwardly directed to vehicles approaching from the rear of the user and/or to help pedestrians following the torch user, 2. A torch according to claim 3 and including a flashing light source to produce the rearward-beam.

3. A torch according to claim 1 or 2 and including a continuous light source to produce the rearward-beam.

4. A torch according to claim 1, 2 or 3 and comprising a cylindrical body for housing electrical cells to energise the light sources providing the beams, an enlarged cylindrical head at the forward end of the body and in which is a light sources for the forward-beam and a light source at the rear of the body for providing the rearward beam.

5. A torch according to any one of the preceding claims and provided with an operating switch on an upper surface thereof.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

1. **WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

   SPECIFICATION Electric torches According to the present invention I provide a torch adapted to provide simultaneously two beams of light, one to illuminate the way ahead and one to be directed rearwardly to warn vehicles approaching from the rear of the user and/or to help pedestrians following the torch user. The rear beam may be coloured e.g. red or white and may be flashing or continuous.

   Alternatively two rear beams may be provided, one continuous, to assist following pedestrians and the other flashing to warn vehicles approaching from behind. The invention may be incorporated in a torch constructed for example in the conventional generally cylindrical configuration with the main cylindrical body of the torch housing the electrical cells to energise the bulbs for the ahead and ground beams which are mounted in an enlarged cylindrical head at the forward end of the torch. At the rear end of the torch, one lamp is provided, suitably coloured red or plain white so that persons following the user can see where he or she is going, while another, flashing bulb is provided at its rear end to warn vehicles approaching from behind.

   The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 is a very schematic longitudinal section through one embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 2 shows the directions of the beams emitted from the torch shown in Fig. 1.

   The torch shown in Fig. 1 comprises a main cylindrical body portion 1 having a battery compartment containing five cells such as 2 for energising the various lamps of the torch.

   At the forward end of the cylindrical body portion 1 is a cylindrical portion 3 of larger diameter serving to house two light sources 4 and 5 for providing, respectively, the forward and ground beams. As indicated the forward beam source comprises a reflector 6, bulb 7 and cover 8 while the ground beam source 5 correspondingly comprises a reflector 9, bulb 10 and cover 11. As indicated in Fig. 2, the reflector and bulb assemblies are arranged so that the forward and ground beams are substantially perpendicular to one another.

   At the rear end 1 b of the torch are a tail lamp 1 2 to enable people following the user to see where he is and a flashing lamp 1 3 to warn vehicles. Both of these lamps may either use red coloured bulbs or red coloured filters over the bulbs. It may be preferable for the lamps 1 2 and 1 3 to be provided with suitable reflector assemblies so that their light is not concentrated into a beam like the forward and ground beams but rather is spread over a larger angle to increase the range of directions from which the two rear lamps are visible is as large as possible.

   A multi-position switch 1 4 mounted on the body portion 1 enables the user to select the various permutations of the lamps to be operated simultaneously. The reflectors 6 and 9 are arranged so that the forward beam is more concentrated than the ground beam (see Fig.
2. 2); this is so that the forward beam has a relatively long range for illuminating objects far away while the ground beam can be used to illuminate a relatively wide area of the ground because of its relative proximity.

   The switch may have for example four posi tions:- 1) Forward beam only 2) Forward and ground beams 3) Forward and ground beams and tail light 4) Forward and ground beams, tail light and flashing rear light.

   The above described torch is also described and claimed in my application No. 8014012 from which the present application was divided.

   1. An electric torch adapted so as, in normal use, to provide two beams of light, namely a forward-beam to illuminate the way ahead and a rearward-beam which is rearwardly directed to vehicles approaching from the rear of the user and/or to help pedestrians following the torch user, 2. A torch according to claim 3 and including a flashing light source to produce the rearward-beam.
3. 3. A torch according to claim 1 or 2 and including a continuous light source to produce the rearward-beam.
4. 4. A torch according to claim 1, 2 or 3 and comprising a cylindrical body for housing electrical cells to energise the light sources providing the beams, an enlarged cylindrical head at the forward end of the body and in which is a light sources for the forward-beam and a light source at the rear of the body for providing the rearward beam.
5. 5. A torch according to any one of the preceding claims and provided with an operating switch on an upper surface thereof.