Wrist-Worn Flashlight with Click-Lock Angle Adjustment

The problem

Nurses on night rounds check patients in dark rooms without switching on the main light. A normal flashlight takes up one hand, has to be put down to work, and - as the patent notes - is easily forgotten in a patient’s room. Headlamps solve the hands problem but feel out of place in a ward and shine in people’s faces whenever the wearer looks up.

The solution

The patent moves the light to the wrist and makes its beam angle adjustable and lockable:

1. A wrist strap (1) closes with hook-and-loop.
2. A base (2) on the strap carries a waterproof switch (9), a brightness button (10) and a USB port under a plug (11).
3. The lamp (3) sits on the side of the base on an axle (4) and can rotate around it.
4. A toothed disc (5) on the axle meshes with teeth inside the lamp (32), so the lamp cannot turn by accident.
5. Pressing the button (7) on the end of the lamp pushes the axle in. A push-push cam - the same idea as a retractable ballpoint pen - holds it in, the teeth come out of mesh, and the lamp turns freely. Pressing again releases the axle and the teeth lock.

Who it is for

• Flashlight and outdoor-lighting brands looking for a wrist light with a clear, mechanical angle lock.
• Medical and nursing supply distributors - a hands-free light for night rounds (as a general light, not a medical device).
• Workwear and safety suppliers - mechanics, warehouse staff, inspectors and runners who need light where their hands are.

How it works

The main parts

Setting the angle

1. Press the button (7) - the lever in the cam track moves to the pause point and holds the axle in; the teeth separate.
2. Turn the lamp to the angle you want, using the dial and pointer.
3. Press again - the lever passes the opening point, the spring pulls the axle back and the teeth lock the lamp.

Using the light

1. Strap it on the wrist with the lamp facing forward.
2. Switch on with the waterproof switch and set the brightness.
3. Aim the beam with the click-lock and work with both hands.
4. Recharge through the USB port under the plug.

Applications

Night rounds in hospitals and care homes

The patent’s own use - checking patients without turning on the room light.

Mechanics and technicians

Light aimed into an engine bay or a cabinet while both hands hold tools.

Running, walking and cycling at night

Visible, hands-free light on the wrist.

Camping and outdoor chores

Setting up tents, cooking or feeding animals after dark.

Security and inspection rounds

Checking doors, meters and equipment on foot.

Where it is less suitable

• Long-range searching - a small wrist light is for close work; long throw needs a full-size flashlight.
• Clinical examination lights - a light sold for diagnosis (e.g. pupil checks) is a medical device with its own rules; this design is a general-purpose light.