FLASHLIGHT SWITCH

• US 3,851,126 A
• Filed: 09/21/1973
• Issued: 11/26/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ITT Corporation (ITT, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Donald A. Keller
• Inventors: Keller, Donald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, James R.
• Application Number:
  US05/399,756
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: 200/6R,6B,6BB,6BA,6C,16R,60,237-250,302,329 240/8.4,11.2R,10.66
• US Class Current: 200/60
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 15/102 comprising cam devices

Abstract

A flashlight switch combining reliable, positive-action operation with ease of assembly and disassembly. Two terminals are formed integral with the flashlight body and two contact strips are secured to the terminals by screws which also serve to secure a switch cover to the body. A switch button protrudes through an opening in the cover and the lower side of the button has a camming surface which cooperates with one of the contact strips to close the switch in a positive manner. The switch has an off position, an intermediate non-lock position in which the contacts may be momentarily operated upon depression of the switch button and a lock-on position in which the contacts are held in fixed engagement by a cam projection on the switch button. The cam operated movable contact is configured in such manner so that two switch operative modes are possible.

Claims

1. In a flashlight having an insulated body, the combination comprising:

first and second terminals integral with the body;

a fixed contact strip secured to said first terminal and extending toward said second terminal exteriorly along the body;

a resilient movable contact strip secured to said second terminal and extending toward said first terminal in partly overlapping relationship with said fixed contact strip, said movable contact strip being generally arcuate in shape with at least one convex hump of relatively small radius intermediate its ends;

a hollow switch cover having side walls and a top wall, said switch cover being removably secured to the flashlight body to surround said fixed and movable contact strips, and said top wall having an elongated opening therethrough; and

a switch button sized to fit under said switch cover to overlie said movable contact strip and protrude partly through said elongated opening, said switch button having at least two transverse ribs thereunder, and being movable between an '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'off'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' position, in which both of said ribs are positioned on the side of said convex hump closer to said second terminal, and an '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'on'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' position, in which both of said ribs are positioned on the opposite side of said convex hump and said movable contact strip is thereby cammed into electrical contact with said fixed contact strip, said switch button also being movable to an intermediate position, between said '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'off'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' and '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'on'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' positions, in which said ribs straddle said convex hump and in which said resilient movable contact strip is movable into momentary contact with said fixed contact strip by momentary depression of said switch button, whereby said ribs and said convex hump coact as a detent to provide positive retention of said switch button in any of said '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'off'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'on'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' and intermediate positions.

2. The combination defined in claim 1, further including at least two screws extending through holes in said switch cover and through corresponding holes in said contact strips to engage corresponding threaded holes in said terminals and thereby to secure said switch cover and said contact strips to the flashlight body and to hold said contact strips in electrical contact with said terminals.

3. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein:

said switch button has three transverse ribs thereunder; and

said movable contact strip has a plurality convex humps intermediate its ends, with concave depressions between adjacent ones of said humps spaced along said movable contact strip to coact with said ridges and thereby positiVely retain said switch button at any of said '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'off,'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'on'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' and intermediate positions.

4. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein:

said switch button and said switch cover are provided with inter-engaging complementary guide-rail and groove means for guiding said switch button between said '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'on'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' and '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'off'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' positions, said guide-rail means being inclined with respect to the flashlight body thereby to position said switch button closer to the body in said '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'off'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' position than in said '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'on'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' position; and

said switch button is further provided with at least one lug depending therefrom to abut the flashlight body in said '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'off'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' position but not in said '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'on'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' or intermediate positions, thereby to prevent depression of said switch button and consequent contact between said contact strips in said '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'off'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' position.