DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0018] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a multi-purpose warning device includes a cylinder 10 , a bracket 12 , a flashlight head 13 , a socket 20 , three legs 30 and three connectors 40 .

[0019] The cylinder 10 is hollow in order to contain elements to be described. A first cap 11 is secured to a first end of the cylinder 10 . A second cap 50 can be engaged with a second end of the cylinder 10 in a manner to be described. A bracket 12 is rotationally mounted on the first cap 11 . The flashlight head 13 is pivotally mounted on the bracket 12 . A bulb (not shown) is received in the flashlight head 13 , and a bulb (not shown) is received in the cylinder 10 . A circuit board 16 is received in the cylinder 10 for electric connection with both of the bulbs. A first switch 17 a and a second switch 17 b are in electric connection with the circuit board 16 . The switches 17 a and 17 b are exposed to the exterior of the cylinder 10 through two holes (not numbered) defined in the cylinder 10 . The switches 17 a and 17 b can be in the form of a button. The first switch 17 a is used to turn on and off the bulb in the flashlight head 13 , and the second switch 17 b the bulb in the cylinder 10 . Obviously, the cylinder 10 must be transparent or at least translucent. At least one battery 15 can be received in the cylinder 10 for electric connection with the circuit board 16 . A thread 18 is formed on an external face of the cylinder 10 at the second end for engagement with a thread 51 formed on an internal face of the second cap 50 . A groove 14 is defined in the external face of the cylinder. The groove 14 includes a first closed end and a second closed end. A ridge 19 is formed on the bottom of the groove 14 near the second closed end.

[0020] The socket 20 is movably mounted on the cylinder 10 . The socket 20 is transparent or at least translucent so that light emitted from the bulb in the cylinder 10 can pass through the socket 20 . The socket 20 includes an enlarged portion 21 formed at a first end thereof and three cutouts 22 defined in a second end thereof. Each of the cutouts 22 is located between two lugs 24 formed on the internal face of the socket 20 . The socket 20 includes a tab 23 formed via cutting two slits (not numbered) in the second end thereof. A ridge 25 is formed on an internal face of the tab 23 . The ridge 25 is allowed to slide in the groove 19 between the first and second closed ends when the socket 20 is mounted on the cylinder 10 . The socket 20 defines a first hole 27 a corresponding to the first switch 17 a and a second hole 27 b corresponding to the second switch 17 b.

[0021] Each of the legs 30 includes a pair of axles 31 formed on a first end thereof, two holes 37 defined therein near a second end thereof, two lugs 32 formed on an internal face thereof and a tab 33 formed on the internal face thereof. The pair of axles 31 of each of the legs 30 is engaged with each of the pairs of lugs 221 so that each of the legs 30 is pivotally connected with the socket 20 . A pad 36 is attached to the second end of each of the legs 30 . The legs 30 may be made of a reflective material for reflecting light shun thereon. Alternatively, the external face of each of the legs 30 can be covered with a layer of a reflective material or a reflective sticker.

[0022] Three ribs 35 can be connected between the cylinder 10 and the legs 30 . Three grooves 48 are defined in the external face of the cylinder 10 for receiving the ribs 35 in the shown embodiment; however, a groove may be defined in the internal face of each of the legs 30 for receiving one of the ribs 35 in another embodiment. Three pairs of lugs 49 are formed on the external face of the cylinder 10 . Each of the ribs 35 includes two axles 38 formed at a first end thereof for engagement with the lugs 32 formed on one of the legs 30 and two axles 39 formed at a second end thereof for engagement with one of the pairs of lugs 49 formed on the external face of the cylinder 10 .

[0023] Each of the connectors 40 is connected between two of the legs 30 . Each of the connectors 40 is a toggle in the shown embodiment and may, however, be a flexible element such as a cable and a chain in another embodiment. Each of the toggles 40 consists of a first link 41 and a second link 42 pivotally connected with the first link 41 . A limit 44 is formed on the first link 41 for engagement with the second link 42 when they are opened. The first link 41 includes a pin 45 inserted through one of the holes 37 defined in one of the legs 31 into engagement with a cap 43 . The second link 42 includes a pin 46 inserted through one of the holes 37 defined in another one of the legs 31 into engagement with a cap 43 .

[0024] A spring 52 is secured to the internal face of the second cap 50 in order to bring the at least one battery 15 into firm contact with the circuit board 16 . The second cap 50 is connected with a third cap 55 through a chain 54 . The chain 54 includes a first end hooked on a hook 53 formed on the second cap 50 and a second end hooked on a hook 56 formed on the third cap 55 . Three rods 57 project from the third cap 55 . Each of the rods 57 includes an enlarged head for engagement with one of the tabs 33 .

[0025] Referring to FIG. 3 , the legs 30 are closed, thus forming a cylindrical handle to be held by a hand of a user such as a policeman. The second ends of the legs 30 are inserted in the third cap 55 . The third cap 55 is rotated relative to the second ends of the legs 30 in order to engage the enlarged heads of the rods 57 with the tabs 33 , thus keeping the legs 30 in the closed position. The bracket 12 is in the socket 20 and the flashlight head 13 the enlarged portion 21 . Thus, the flashlight head 13 is kept in position relative to the bracket 12 . In an application, the light bulb in the flashlight head 13 is turned on so that the warning device is used as a flashlight. In a second application, the light bulb in batter-container 10 is turned on so that the warning device is used as a baton.

[0026] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 , in a third application, the legs 30 are opened. Thus, the warning device can be installed on the ground. The ridge 25 is trapped between the second closed end of the groove 14 and the ridge 19 . Thus, the legs 30 are kept in the open position. The legs 30 are held stably in the open position because of the connectors 40 and the ribs 35 .

[0027] The present invention has been described through detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive many variations from the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined in the attached claims.