U.S. patent application number 10/235301 was filed with the patent office on 2003-01-02 for combination flashlight and audio recorder assembly.
Invention is credited to Thrower, Wallace Jackson.
Application Number | 20030002274 10/235301 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24045240 |
Filed Date | 2003-01-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030002274 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Thrower, Wallace Jackson |
January 2, 2003 |
Combination flashlight and audio recorder assembly
Abstract
A combination handheld flashlight and audio recorder assembly.
The assembly includes a housing having a hollow interior, and
defining a handle for being gripped by a user. A light is contained
within the assembly housing, and is adapted for being activated by
the user to project light outwardly from the assembly housing to a
selected area. An audio recorder is also contained within the
assembly housing. The audio recorder includes a microphone for
receiving sound messages delivered by the user and a memory medium
to store the sound messages for subsequent playback by the
user.
Inventors: |
Thrower, Wallace Jackson;
(Pineville, NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Jeffrey J. Schwartz
Adams, Schwartz & Evans, P.A.
2180 Two Wachovia Center
Charlotte
NC
28282
US
|
Family ID: |
24045240 |
Appl. No.: |
10/235301 |
Filed: |
September 3, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10235301 |
Sep 3, 2002 |
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09950348 |
Sep 10, 2001 |
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6443587 |
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09950348 |
Sep 10, 2001 |
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09513956 |
Feb 28, 2000 |
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6286973 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
362/86 ; 362/208;
362/253 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F21V 33/0052 20130101;
H02J 7/0045 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
362/86 ; 362/208;
362/253 |
International
Class: |
H04M 001/22 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A method for recording voice messages while simultaneously
projecting light outwardly from a user during inspection of a
surrounding area, said method comprising the steps of: (a)
activating a light contained within an assembly housing of a
combination handheld flashlight and audio recorder assembly; (b)
while carrying the handheld flashlight and audio recorder assembly,
projecting the light outwardly from the user to the surrounding
area; (c) while inspecting the surrounding area, delivering voice
messages to an audio recorder contained within the assembly
housing; and (d) electronically recording the voice messages for
subsequent playback by the user.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a combination flashlight and audio
recorder assembly. The assembly resembles a conventional handheld
flashlight, is lightweight, and allows its user to conveniently
record voice messages while simultaneously inspecting dark areas
using the flashlight component of the invention. The invention is
especially applicable for use by professionals in the law
enforcement, fire safety and industrial safety industries, as well
as other professionals for inspections in dark areas.
[0002] The use of standard handheld flashlights, such as those
commercially available under the trademarks "Mag-Lite" and
"Streamlight", is quite common in certain professional safety
industries. Professionals working in these industries commonly
perform inspections at, for example, crime scenes, homes, and
industrial facilities. During an inspection, the professional is
generally unable to effectively record the details of information
gathered and will often wait until after the inspection is
completed before writing down the information on paper. In some
cases, important details of the inspection are simply forgotten or
inaccurately described. In other cases, where the professional
attempts to write down information at the time of the inspection,
the procedure proves to be not only time consuming, but especially
awkward and difficult.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a
combination handheld flashlight and audio recorder assembly which
is especially applicable for use by professionals in law
enforcement, fire, industrial, and other safety industries.
[0004] It is another object of the invention to provide a
combination handheld flashlight and audio recorder assembly which
uses a miniature, high quality digital recorder.
[0005] It is another object of the invention to provide a
combination handheld flashlight and audio recorder assembly wherein
the digital recorder is powered by DC5.5V+rechargeable Nickel
Cadmium batteries.
[0006] It is another object of the invention to provide a
combination handheld flashlight and audio recorder assembly which
is durable.
[0007] It is another object of the invention to provide a
combination handheld flashlight and audio recorder assembly which
is water resistant, i.e., "shower proof".
[0008] It is another object of the invention to provide a
combination handheld flashlight and audio recorder assembly which
is capable of continuous recording for approximately 30
minutes.
[0009] It is another object of the invention to provide a
combination handheld flashlight and audio recorder assembly which
uses a solid state, removable memory card for storing recorded
material.
[0010] It is another object of the invention to provide a
combination handheld flashlight and audio recorder assembly which
includes a voice indicator function for separately identifying each
recorded message.
[0011] It is another object of the invention to provide a
combination handheld flashlight and audio recorder assembly which
uses a built-in condenser microphone.
[0012] It is another object of the invention to provide a
combination handheld flashlight and audio recorder assembly which
uses a built-in, high quality speaker.
[0013] It is another object of the invention to provide a
combination handheld flashlight and audio recorder assembly which
includes a number of user function buttons operable for
playing/pausing recorded voice messages, recording new messages,
stopping recording or playback, returning to previous messages,
forwarding to subsequent messages, and deleting messages.
[0014] It is another object of the invention to provide a
combination handheld flashlight and audio recorder assembly which
includes a removable memory card which can be inserted and played
in a separate playback device.
[0015] It is another object of the invention to provide a
combination handheld flashlight and audio recorder assembly which
is relatively lightweight.
[0016] It is another object of the invention to provide an audio
recorder assembly which can be retrofit to standard, commercially
available handheld flashlights.
[0017] These and other objects of the present invention are
achieved in the preferred embodiments disclosed below by providing
a combination handheld flashlight and audio recorder assembly. The
assembly includes a housing having a hollow interior, and defining
a handle for being gripped by a user. A light is contained within
the assembly housing, and is adapted for being activated by the
user to project light outwardly from the assembly housing to a
selected, predetermined area. An audio recorder is also contained
within the assembly housing. The audio recorder includes a
microphone for receiving sound messages delivered by the user and a
memory medium to store the sound messages for subsequent playback
by the user.
[0018] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention,
the assembly housing includes separate audio recorder and
flashlight casings removably mated together at respective proximal
ends for containing the audio recorder and the light.
[0019] According to yet another preferred embodiment of the
invention, the assembly housing is substantially tubular.
[0020] According to yet another preferred embodiment of the
invention, the diameter of the assembly housing is between 3.5 and
4.5 cm to allow secure and comfortable gripping by the user.
[0021] According to yet another preferred embodiment of the
invention, the weight of the combination flashlight and audio
recorder assembly is less than 1 kg (or, approximately 2.12
lbs).
[0022] According to yet another preferred embodiment of the
invention, the memory medium includes a removable memory card.
[0023] According to yet another preferred embodiment of the
invention, the assembly housing includes a battery storage area for
storing one or more batteries used to activate the light.
[0024] According to yet another preferred embodiment of the
invention, a playback means is provided for playing back the sound
messages stored in the memory medium to the user.
[0025] According to yet another preferred embodiment of the
invention, the playback means includes a speaker contained in the
assembly housing for radiating the sound messages stored in the
memory medium outwardly from the assembly housing to the user.
[0026] According to yet another preferred embodiment of the
invention, the assembly housing includes a removable back cap with
openings for permitting passage of sound outwardly from the
speaker.
[0027] According to yet another preferred embodiment of the
invention, a plurality of user-activated switches are provided for
controlling the recording and playback of sound messages stored in
the memory medium.
[0028] In yet another embodiment, the invention is an audio
recorder assembly which is adapted for being attached to a
conventional handheld flashlight. The assembly includes an audio
recorder casing defining a hollow interior and having opposing
distal and proximal ends. The proximal end of the casing is adapted
for mating attachment to an end of the flashlight. An audio
recorder is contained within the casing, and includes a microphone
for receiving sound messages delivered by a user and a memory
medium to store the sound messages for subsequent playback by the
user.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] Some of the objects of the invention have been set forth
above. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as
the description proceeds when taken in conjunction with the
following drawings, in which:
[0030] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a combination handheld
flashlight and audio recorder assembly according to one preferred
embodiment of the invention;
[0031] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-section of the combination
flashlight and audio recorder assembly;
[0032] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the audio recorder assembly removed
from the flashlight, and showing the manual push buttons used for
controlling operation of the assembly;
[0033] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along
line 4-4 of FIG. 3;
[0034] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along
line 5-5 of FIG. 3;
[0035] FIG. 6 is an end view of the combination flashlight and
audio recorder assembly, and showing the perforations in the back
cap for allowing radiation of sound outwardly from the assembly;
and
[0036] FIG. 7 is an electronic schematic diagram of certain
electronic components of the assembly, including the main board,
keyboard, and memory card.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT AND BEST MODE
[0037] Referring now specifically to the drawings, a combination
handheld flashlight and audio recorder assembly according to the
present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 and shown generally at
reference numeral 10. The assembly 10 is especially applicable in
the law enforcement industry for recording voice messages of police
officers and investigating agents as they inspect a crime scene,
perform a search, make an arrest, or question a suspect or
witness.
[0038] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the assembly 10 includes a
tubular exterior housing with separate audio recorder and
flashlight casings 12 and 14 joined together at their respective
proximal ends. The flashlight casing 14 resembles that of a
conventional handheld flashlight and contains interior components,
such as batteries 15, an activation switch 16, and a bulb 17, which
function in a conventional manner to control output of light
through an end 18 of the assembly 10. The end 18 is typically
covered with a transparent glass or plastic lens 19. The flashlight
casing 14 may hold from three to six C-cell or D-cell batteries,
and has a preferred candlepower of between 15,000 and 20,000.
[0039] The audio recorder casing 12 contains interior components of
the audio recorder assembly 20, described further below. The end
diameter of the audio recorder casing 12 is preferably slightly
smaller than the end diameter of the flashlight casing 14 such that
the casing are frictionally secured to each other and form a
water-resistant seal when joined together. An aluminum ring adapter
21 may be included on the end 12A of the audio recorder casing 12
to enhance frictional attachment of these components. In an
alternative embodiment, the ends of the casings 12 and 14 have
complementary screw threads (not shown) which mate to removable
join the casings together.
[0040] Preferably, the assembly housing further defines an enlarged
head 22 for protecting the bulb 17 of the flashlight, and an
elongate handle portion 24 having an outer diameter which is
sufficiently small to be easily gripped by the user. In this
embodiment, the outer diameter of the handle portion 24 is between
3.5 and 4.5 cm. The overall length of the assembly 10 is preferably
between 40 and 45 cm.
[0041] Referring now to FIGS. 3-6, the audio recorder assembly 20
includes a main board 31, a function keyboard 32, and a removable
memory card 33 stored within an inner casing 34. The memory card 33
is electronically connected to the main board 31 and a built-in
condenser microphone 35 to receive and store electric signals
corresponding to sound messages delivered by a user through a small
sound port 36 in the outer casing 12. The function keyboard 32 has
manual switches 37A-37E which extend through respective openings
38A-38E formed with the inner casing 34, and are selectively
actuated by the user to control playing/pausing, message recording,
stopping, rewinding, forwarding, and message deleting. Preferably,
the switches 37A-37E are covered by integrally-formed silicone
rubber push buttons 39A-39E at respective openings 41A-41E in the
outer casing 12. The electric signals stored on the memory card 33
during recording are subsequently converted to sound waves and
transmitted to the user during playback of the memory card 33 using
a small built-in speaker 42 electronically connected to the main
board 31. The speaker 42 is positioned adjacent a free end 12B of
the audio recorder casing 12, and is readily accessed by the user
through a removable back cap 43. As shown in FIG. 6, the back cap
43 is perforated to allow radiation of sound outwardly from the
speaker 42. The audio recorder assembly 20 is preferably powered by
one or more DC5.5V+rechargeable Nickel Cadmium batteries (not
shown).
[0042] An electronic schematic of the main board 31 is shown in
FIG. 7. The function keyboard 32 and removable memory card 33 are
indicated in phantom.
[0043] Upon assembly of the invention, as best shown in FIG. 2, a
metal spring 45 extending from the proximal end 12A of the audio
recorder casing 12 engages a rear battery 15 in the flashlight
casing 14 to maintain the series of batteries 15 in operative
contact and to form a negative pole. A brass finger 46 extends
outwardly from the audio recorder casing 12 adjacent the spring 45,
and engages the rear battery 15 to form the positive pole.
[0044] In an alternative application of the invention, the audio
recorder assembly 20 is adapted for use as a retrofit item in
combination with a standard handheld flashlight, such as those
commercially available under the trademarks "Mag-Lite" and
"Streamlight". Such commercial flashlights typically have a
removable back cap for conveniently inserting and replacing
batteries. The back cap generally has a screw thread which mates
with a complementary thread formed with an end of the flashlight.
In this application, the audio recorder assembly has a threaded
proximal end which is adapted to mate with the threaded end of the
flashlight to operatively attach the audio recorder assembly and
flashlight together.
[0045] In addition, the digital memory card 33 may be removed from
the audio recorder assembly 20 of the present invention and
replayed in a separate playback unit (not shown). For this reason,
it is not essential that the audio recorder assembly include a
speaker or other audio playback means.
[0046] A combination handheld flashlight and audio recorder
assembly is described above. Various details of the invention may
be changed without departing from its scope. Furthermore, the
foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention
and the best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the
purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of
limitation-the invention being defined by the claims.
* * * * *