At a glance
| Patent number | CN106545770B (application CN201610924716) |
| Type | China invention patent (发明专利) - protects technical solutions relating to a product or process |
| Original title | A kind of adjustable flashlight that light source assembly can pump (一种光源组件可上下往复运动的可调式手电筒) |
| Patent owner | Guanxian Anchang Information Technology Service Co ltd, Shanghai Chengkang Intellectual Property Service Co ltd |
| Inventors | Wang Yin, Zhang Yang |
| Filing date | 2016-10-24 |
| Grant date | 2019-07-05 |
| Status (China) | In force in China until at most 2036-10-24 (if annual fees are paid) |
| Patent family | Chinese filings only - no US, European, Japanese, PCT or other filings listed |
| Cited by | 0 later documents |
| Source | Google Patents (search for CN106545770B) |
What the claims cover, in plain language
Claim 1 - an adjustable flashlight comprising a base, a light-emitting mechanism, a light-emitting tube, a diffuser cover, and a lamp holder arranged vertically on the base. The light-emitting mechanism is inside the tube. A slide rail is on the lamp holder, and both the tube and the diffuser slide on it. Magnetic rings are on the opposing sides of the tube and diffuser. A fixing ring is sleeved on the outer contour of the tube opening, and its diameter matches the diffuser. When the magnetic rings have different properties, the tube and diffuser contact each other.
Claim 2 - adds a spring inside the slide rail. One end of the spring is fixed to the base; the other end is sleeved on a threaded rod and secured with a rotating nut.
Claim 3 - specifies that the light-transmitting sheet is a circular sheet.
Claim 4 - specifies that the material of the diffuser cover is polycarbonate plastic.
This is a simplified reading for orientation only. The legal scope is defined by the exact claim wording in the official Chinese document.
What this means for US production
This patent was filed only in China and is currently in force there (until at most 2036-10-24, provided annual fees are paid). It has no US or other foreign counterpart. However, because it remains active in China, making or selling this exact design in China needs the owner’s permission.
Two points to settle early:
- Other patents may exist. Portable lighting and adjustable-beam flashlights are covered by numerous US and international patents held by major lighting manufacturers. Nothing outside China cites this filing yet; even so, the slide-rail and magnet-spaced lens travel should go through a freedom-to-operate (FTO) review before any US launch.
- Magnet safety. The magnetic rings must be securely encapsulated within the tube and diffuser housings so they cannot detach during impact or drop testing, which is a common failure point in portable lights.
Customization and manufacturing
What can be customized
| Area | Options |
|---|---|
| Overall length | To be confirmed in design based on the slide rail travel |
| Body material | Aluminum alloy, ABS plastic, or polycarbonate blends |
| Magnetic rings | Neodymium or ferrite grade; polarity set for attraction or repulsion gap |
| Diffuser | Polycarbonate plastic per the patent, with frosted or clear finish |
| Power source | Battery compartment size to be confirmed in design (e.g., AA, 18650) |
| Light source | LED module wattage and color temperature set in design |
| Nut and rod | Thread pitch and knob profile for ergonomic locking |
Things to plan for (US market)
- UL 153 or UL 1598 - applicable safety standards for portable electric lamps if sold for household or general use.
- UN 38.3 - required for lithium-ion batteries if the flashlight uses rechargeable cells, covering transport testing.
- FCC Part 15 - if the flashlight includes any electronic driver circuitry that oscillates above 9 kHz, it must meet unintentional radiator limits.
- California Prop 65 - materials including polycarbonate, metal finishes, and magnets must be screened for listed substances.
How a project runs
- Inquiry - target dimensions, battery type, brightness levels, and quantity.
- Design - engineering the slide rail, spring rate, magnet placement, and threaded rod geometry.
- Prototype - a handful of hand-built flashlights to check that the magnet rings keep their spacing and the lens slides without sticking.
- Pilot run - small batch for drop testing, thermal management of the LED, and cycle testing of the slide mechanism.
- Production - injection molding for plastic parts, CNC machining for metal bodies, magnet assembly, and final electrical testing.
Quantities & timeline
The slide rail and threaded rod require precision molds or machining dies, and the magnetic rings need custom tooling for secure insertion into the polycarbonate diffuser and light-emitting tube. Safety certification tests for portable lighting add time before the first shipment. Send us your target size, battery type, material preference, estimated quantity and timeline and we will reply with options.
Patent drawings
Drawings reproduced from the public patent document for reference.
