Flashlight having a push button switch means

• US 3,924,116 A
• Filed: 09/04/1974
• Issued: 12/02/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eveready Battery Company Incorporated (Energizer Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Robert E. Brindley
• Inventors: Brindley, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Application Number:
  US05/503,094
• Time in Patent Office: 454 Days
• Field of Search: 240/10.6,10.65,10.66,10.67 200/60,302
• US Class Current: 362/158
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/005 the device being a pocket lamp F21L4/022, F21L4/045, F21L4/085 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0414 specially adapted to be used with portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/048 using a sealing boot, e.g. the casing having separate elastic body surrounding the operating member and hermetically closing the opening for it

Abstract

A flashlight employing a push button switch fixedly secured on a mounting bracket disposed within the battery casing with the button member of the switch disposed in an opening in the wall of the battery casing and having a flexible boot member disposed and secured over said opening and said button member.

Claims

1. A flashlight comprising a lens and reflector unit having a front open end adapted to be detachably mounted to a battery casing and having a lens, a lens ring, a lamp holder adapted for accommodating a lamp and containing a first contact means therein;

a battery casing provided with a first open end adapted to receive battery means and adapted to be detachably mounted to an end cap for securing said battery means therein, a second open end at the opposite end thereof adapted to be detachably mounted to the front open end of the lens and reflector unit, and wherein second contact means are provided for electrically connecting the interior vicinity of the end cap to said first contact means;

a push button switch fixedly secured on a mounting bracket disposed within the second open end of the battery casing with the button member of the switch disposed within an opening in the wall of the battery casing at the vicinity of the second open end thereof and having a flexible boot member disposed and secured over said opening so that upon being depressed, the boot will in turn depress the button member of the switch; and

third contact means adapted through activation of the push button switch in the presence of a lamp bulb and battery means assembled in the flashlight to complete or interrupt the continuity of an electrical circuit between the lamp bulb and the battery means.

2. The flashlight of claim 1 wherein the first open end of the battery casing is threadably secured to the end cap and wherein the second open end is threadably secured to the lens and reflector unit.

3. The flashlight of claim 1 wherein the battery casing is made of a conductive material.

4. The flashlight of claim 3 wherein the battery casing, end cap and lens ring are made of the same material.

5. The flashlight of claim 3 wherein a lock ring secures the mounting bracket within the battery casing and secures the flexible boot to the opening in the side wall of said battery casing.

6. The flashlight of claim 5 wherein an accent ring is disposed between the flexible boot and the lock ring.

7. The flashlight of claim 1 wherein the battery casing is made of a nonconductive material and wherein said battery casing has an electrical contact strip extending from its first open end to its second open end.

8. The flashlight of claim 7 wherein the battery casing, end cap and lens ring are made of the same material.

9. The flashlight of claim 7 wherein a gasket is added between the flexible boot and the opening in the wall of the battery casing so as to provide a water-tight seal thereat.

10. The flashlight of claim 9 wherein a gasket is added between the first open end of the battery casing and the end cap and between the second open end and the lens and reflector unit so as to provide a water-tight seal at these detachable joints.