Portable Lighting Devices

Abstract

A portable lighting product with a lock out mode of operation in which the portable lighting product cannot be turned on solely by a single actuation of a user-actuated switch until a sequence of operations is performed to unlock the user-actuated switch and turn off the lock out mode. Entry into the lock out mode of operation can be signaled by visual, audio or tactile signals. The sequence of operations can be activation of the user-actuated switch along with a designated movement of the principal axis of projection from a light source or activation of the user-actuated switch a plurality of times within a preselected interval.

1 . A portable lighting product, comprising:
 a battery power source;   a light source which emits light along a principal axis of projection from the light source;   a circuit powered by the battery power source which causes the light source to emit light in an on state;   a user-actuated switch operable to turn the portable lighting product on and off; and   a controller operable to control a lock out mode of operation of the portable lighting product in response to a user actuation of said lock out mode;   wherein during the lock out mode of operation, the portable lighting product cannot be turned on solely by a single actuation of the user-actuated switch until a sequence of operations is performed to unlock the user-actuated switch and turn off the lock out mode.   
     
     
         2 . Then portable lighting product of  claim 1 , wherein entry into the lock out mode of operation is acknowledged by a user perceptible signal. 
     
     
         3 . The portable lighting product of  claim 2 , wherein the perceptible signal is a visual signal. 
     
     
         4 . The portable lighting product of  claim 2 , wherein the perceptible signal is an audible signal. 
     
     
         5 . The portable lighting product of  claim 2 , wherein the perceptible signal is a tactile response signal. 
     
     
         6 . The portable lighting product of  claim 1 , wherein the sequence of operations is comprised of activation of the user-actuated switch along with a designated movement of the principal axis of projection from the light source. 
     
     
         7 . The portable lighting product of  claim 1 , wherein the sequence of operations is comprised of activation of the user-actuated switch a plurality of times within a preselected interval. 
     
     
         8 . A method for operating a portable lighting product, comprising the steps of:
 causing the portable lighting product to change from a non lock out mode of operation to a lock out mode of operation; and   causing the portable lighting product to change from the lock out mode of operation to the non lock out mode of operation;   wherein during the lock out mode operation the portable lighting product cannot be turned on solely by a single actuation of the user-actuated switch until a sequence of operations is performed to unlock the user-actuated switch and turn off the lock out mode.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , comprising the additional step of generating a user perceptible signal upon activation of the lock out mode. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the perceptible signal is a visual signal. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the perceptible signal is an audible signal. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the perceptible signal is a tactile response signal. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the sequence of operations is comprised of activation of the user-actuated switch along with a designated movement of the principal axis of projection from the light source. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the sequence of operations is comprised of activation of the user-actuated switch a plurality of times within a preselected interval.