2. Description of the Related Art In general, a flashlight is used for discriminating things or for lighting up the way to make people's passing easy at night or in a dark place. Conventional flashlights can light up only a front area of a user through a parabolic reflector. However, these days, there are frequent occasions when people pass a night in a mountain, a field, a riverside or others since mountain-climbing, fishing, camping and others have been widely popularized, and thus, it has been required to light up the user's surroundings, i. e., surroundings of the flashlight, rather than to light up only the front area. To satisfy such requirement, in FIGS.

1A to 1 C of Korean Patent Publication No. 84-2722, the flashlight has means mounted at a front surface thereof for irradiating the user's front part by emitting light far and wide using a parabolic reflector 3, and means mounted at a rear surface thereof for lighting up the user's surroundings, the rear means having a miniature bulb, a reflector 10 and a cover 11 a covering and protecting the miniature bulb and the reflector 10. The cover lla is made of transparent or semitransparent material. FIG. 1A is a usage example of the flashlight used for discriminating remote objects or for passing the user's way, and FIG. 1B is a usage example of the flashlight used for lighting up the user's surroundings by standing vertically

the flashlight on the ground to have the same effect as a lamp. An advancing direction of the light generated from the bulb is divided into two parts, i. e., a and (3 as shown in FIG. 1C. a is a range of the light irradiating the surroundings of the flashlight, that is, an effective range of the light that is actually required when the flashlight is used outdoors, and p is a range of the light consumed by being dispersed in the air. In the latter case, there is little difference in an amount of the luminous intensity consumed in the interior of a room due to a reflection of a ceil of the room, but 50% or more of the amount of the light generated from the miniature bulb 9 is consumed outdoors. If the range of ß is wide, the luminous intensity of a becomes weak by a loss of the light in the range of p, and the user fees fatigue in the eyes and cannot see exactly the surrounding objects due to a strong light of the bulb in the range of ß.

FIGS. 2A to 2C of Korean Patent Publication No. 99-0038800 show a flashlight, which has a parabolic reflector 3 moving back and forth, a cylindrical cover lib made of transparent or semitransparent material, through which the light is passed, and a reflector 10, the cover 11 b and the reflector 10 being mounted at the rear part of the parabolic reflector 3.

FIG. 2A is a usage example of the flashlight in a state that the parabolic reflector is moved backward in such a manner that a miniature bulb is located in a front part of the parabolic reflector to discriminate remote objects or for passing the user's way. FIG. 2B is a usage example of the flashlight in a state that the parabolic reflector is moved forward in such a manner that the miniature bulb is located in a rear part of the parabolic reflector to light up the user's surroundings by standing vertically the flashlight on the ground. The advancing direction of the light generated from the bulb is divided into two parts, i. e., a and ß. a is a range of the light irradiating the surroundings of the flashlight, that is, an effective range of the light that is actually required when the flashlight is used outdoors, and ß is a range of the

light emitted and consumed in the air through a hole, which is formed in the parabolic reflector to pass the miniature bulb, when the parabolic reflector is moved forward, i. e., the miniature bulb is located in the rear part of the parabolic reflector. An amount of the consumed light of P varies according to a distance between the miniature bulb and the hole of the parabolic reflector, but the amount of the consumed light of P is. about 20%-40% of a total amount of the light. A strong light of the bulb of the range of P dazzles the user's eyes to thereby make the user feel fatigue, and the luminous intensity of a becomes weak, and thereby the user cannot exactly discriminate the objects. Furthermore, there are several disadvantages that it is complicate in manufacturing the flashlight and the user must manipulate the flashlight using both hands. There is a further disadvantage that a straight flashlight cannot be stood in a level ground as well as an inclined ground because the area of a rear part of the flashlight is small.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a flashlight, which allows a user to discriminate objects in the front of the user and to pass the user's way in safety. To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a flashlight including a parabolic reflector disposed on a front part thereof to reflect light and irradiate ahead of the user, first and second reflectors 10 and 12, a cover 11 made of transparent or semitransparent material for fixing the first and second reflectors 10 and 12, a miniature bulb 9 located between the reflectors and the cover, and a switch 8a for lighting the miniature bulb 9. The first and second reflectors 10 and 12, the cover 11 and the miniature bulb 9 are located in a rear part of the flashlight.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a flashlight, which does not

make the user feel fatigue in the eyes because there is not the dazzle of the light, the luminous intensity of the range of a of the surroundings of the flashlight is increased more in comparison with that of conventional flashlights, and the area of a shadow of the flashlight can be narrowed considerably. To achieve the above object, as shown in FIG. SB, when a switch 8b is turned on after the flashlight is stood on the ground vertically, the light of the miniature bulb is reflected by two reflectors 10 and 11 as shown in FIG. 5C and advances only to the range a. At this time, the range of ß of the light consumed in the air shown in FIGS. 1C and 2C'is not generated, and the user does not feel fatigue in the eyes because there is not the dazzle of the light. The luminous intensity of a of the surroundings of the flashlight is increased to 40% of the first conventional flash light (see FIG. 1) and improved to 20%-40% of the second conventional flashlight (see FIG. 2), and the area of shadow of the flashlight is considerably narrowed.

Thus, people can enjoy eating, reading, recreation, or others sitting around the flashlight outdoors. Furthermore, the flashlight may be used for emergency by way of provision for a breakdown of electric current. Moreover, when a change of direction, i. e., from a side irradiation to a front irradiation or from the front irradiation to the side irradiation, is needed during using the flashlight, in the conventional flashlight of FIG 2, the user must use both hands, but in the present invention, the user can rapidly and exactly change the direction of the light by a simple manipulation of the switch with only one hand.

According to the present invention, the flashlight can be used effectively in mountain climbing, fishing or others, and can be easily stood on the level ground or the inclined ground because of the wide area of the flashlight, which is in contact with the ground.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further objects and advantages of the invention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a view of an operational example of a conventional bi-directional flashlight ; FIG. 1A is a view of an advancing direction of light used for discriminating objects in front of the conventional bi-directional flashlight or for passing a user's way; FIG. 1B is a view of the advancing direction of the light used for lighting up the user's surroundings by standing vertically the conventional bi-directional flashlight on the ground; . FIG. 1C is a view of an amount of the light passed according to directions in the conventional bi-directional flashlight; FIG. 2 is a view of another conventional bi-directional flashlight; FIG. 2A is a view of an advancing direction of light used for discriminating : in front of the conventional bi-directional flashlight or for passing a user's way; FIG. 2B is a view of the advancing direction of the light used for lighting up the user's surroundings by standing vertically the conventional bi-directional flashlight of FIG.

2A on the ground; FIG. 2C is a view of an amount of the light passed according to directions in the conventional bi-directional flashlight of FIG. 2A; FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a view of an operational example of a bi-directional flashlight according to

the present invention; FIG. SA is a view of an advancing direction of light used for discriminating objects in front of the bi-directional flashlight of the present invention or for passing a user's way; FIG. 5B is a view of the advancing direction of the light used for lighting up the user's surroundings by standing vertically the bi-directional flashlight of FIG. SA on the ground; and FIG. 5C is a view of an amount of the light passed according to directions in the bi- directional flashlight of FIG. 5A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, a detailed explanation of the invention will be followed.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are views of a bi-directional flashlight according to the present invention. In the drawings, a protective glass 2 and a parabolic reflector 3 are fixed on a front surface of a body 7 by screwing using a cover 1. A first miniature bulb 4 is fixed between the parabolic reflector 3 and a cell or a storage cell 14 disposed in the center of the body 7 with a first socket 5. A second miniature bulb 9 is fixed on a rear surface of the body 7 with a second socket 6, and first and second reflectors 10 and 12 are screwed and fixed to the body 7 by a transparent or semitransparent cover 11. A reflector protecting cap 13 is fixed to an end of the transparent or semitransparent cover 11 to protect the second reflector 12. At this time, on the rear surface of the flashlight, the miniature bulb 9 must be located and fixed between the first reflector 10 and the second reflector 12. The first and second reflectors 10 and 12 serve to reflect the light generated from the miniature bulb 9 to the surroundings of the flashlight as shown in FIG. 5B. Therefore, the first reflector 10, preferably, is in the form of a conic funnel, but may be in one of various shapes, such as a

semicircle, a plane or others, and also the second reflector 12, preferably, is in the form of a cone, of which a central angle is large, but may be in one of various shapes, such as a semicircle, a plane, a concave mirror or others.

At this time, switches 8a and 8b are mounted in proper positions. When the switch 8a is turned on, the first miniature bulb 4 disposed on a front surface of the flashlight is lighted and the light from the first miniature bulb 4 is reflected to the parabolic reflector 3 and emitted as shown in FIG. 5 A, so that a user can discriminate objects in front of the user.

When the switch 8b is turned on, the second miniature bulb 9 disposed on the rear surface is lighted and the light from the second miniature bulb 9 is reflected to the reflectors 10 and 12.

The light from the reflectors 10 and 12 is emitted as shown in FIG. 5B and lights up the surroundings and the surrounding ground of the flashlight when the flashlight is stood and used on the ground. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5C, the luminous intensity of a in a part where 100% of the light generated from. the miniature bulb lights up the surroundings and the surrounding ground of the flashlight is increased.

The switches 8a and 8b may be bi-directional change switches or independent switches, and the description of an electric circuit will be omitted since it is a common technique.

As described above, the bi-directional flashlight according to the present invention is improved in practical use and effective because rapidly and exactly reflecting the light in front and rear directions according to the user's intention. Furthermore, the bi-directional flashlight according to the present invention is economical as being used for multi-purpose and can secure a wide field of vision as having a stronger luminous intensity of the surroundings of the flashlight. In the present invention, the flashlight of a lantern type is described as a preferred embodiment, but it will be appreciated that the present invention is

not to be restricted by the specific embodiment and may be changed in various forms and is irrespective of the size and form. It is to be appreciated that, if the changed form is caused by a selective coupling of the first and second reflectors 10 and 12, it will belong to the scope of the present invention.