How super would be this super?And how much would be the total cost?
Most flashlights use parabolic reflectors to collimate light from a LED emitter. If the reflector has spherical curvature instead of a parabolic one and is used to collimate light then there is no patent infringement. No one can stop use from using that reflector upside down so as to reflect light back to the LED emitter for personal use. So if you can find a factory in China that would make a semi-spherical reflector for “regular” use should not be expensive. Does any one have contacts with flashlight manufacturers in China?
Unfortunately you’re wrong. The collar patent does prevent one from legally using a regular spherical reflector upside down. Though I would love to see someone in China making a budget light infringing on that patent…
Reflectors with spherical curvature instead of parabolic curvature existed and were used long before the Wavien collar existed. So there is no infringement for a manufacturer to make a spherical reflector to be used the way a parabolic or elliptical reflector are used in a flashlight as long as the reflector is clearly marked for that purpose. You are right that it would be illegal to use that reflector upside down for commercial reasons. Once you buy the reflector how one will use it for personal purposes is not an issue.
Cool.
So, a quick quote from a chinese optics manufacturer for a spherical reflector made from aluminum and with reflective coating similar to reflectors used in flashlights is $250 tooling cost, and $0.40/reflector for 1000units order. Total cost is $650. If there are 20 people the price would be around $30/unit, 100 people $6.5/unit. Here is their drawing. Would that work if used upside down?
Looks like it, except that the hole is probably too narrow. The opening spreads out 2asin(1/3) = ≈38.942°.
A 60° top opening is often used for collars (?) I think. Wait for others to chime in concerning this subject, though.
There is more informed people in this respect than me, but a good starting point could be choosing some known aspheric host which could accommodate the collar, then choosing the collar dimensions to fit. I was going to say the UF-1405, but as I see it its pill design is pretty bad, it would require a completely redesigned pill with super-flat emitter surface as the well known Cometa or Jaxman Z1 (job for kiriba-ru if enough interested people). There's a long zoomie flashlight discussion in Zooming Model List (2018 Updated) Tell us about your newest zoomie!, great place to ask questions about good zoomie hosts for collars inverted :-D reflectors.
This was a quick quote that I obtained to make a point that ordering an aluminum reflector with spherical curvature is not that expensive. The size of the reflector, the diameter of the aperture and the shape of the aperture can of course be customized. I don’t expect the cost to change a lot (unless the size of the reflector increases a lot). One member suggested also the aperture should be sharp. This reduces reflections off the edge – and a ring artifact caused by it. If a reflector design is finalized then submitting a RFQ on alibaba might return quotes that are less expensive or perhaps if we are lucky a factory already makes a reflector with spherical curvature and similar specifications 
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The quote was obtained by doing a google search and contacting one the first companies in the search results. The company that gave me the quote is called Nata , supposedly the biggest reflector designer and manufacturer in China according to their website (maybe they make the reflectors in our flashlights too) . I know some people in this forum manufacture their own flashlights (Simon, Convoy flashlights), they would probably know where and how to make exactly what we need for cheap.
Actually I just did another google search for spherical reflectors and there seems to be some already made and in stock by Optiform, although they are rather large in side (7” diameter). This proves the point that making a reflector with spherical curvature is not infringing on any intellectual properties. Using it for personal purposes is not an issue either. Spherical reflectors existed long before the Wavien RLT Collar was created.
Math is a bit confusing there. For 1000 units for $650, the price comes out to $0.65/unit no matter what. For 20 people that would be $32.50 each, but they would be getting 50 reflectors. Similarly, for 100 people, $6.50 each but they get 10 units.
Yes, you are right. I assumed people would be interested in one or two reflectors only. Keep in mind that these would be for personal use, not commercial use.
I can ask the manufacturer if they would do a smaller quantity. Usually many manufacturers have MOQ so even if you order less units they still charge you about the same, otherwise it is not worth their time to get involved.
Yeah. So if it’s $650 either way, may as well get all the reflectors. And if only 20 people got 50 each, I’m sure they’d eventually be able to sell some of them later.
Nice! If Enough people interested and price go down to a certain level I am interested too.