Electrical switch and flashlight

• US 8,258,416 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2010
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Streamlight, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Streamlight, Inc.
• Inventors: Sharrah, Raymond L., Ziegenfuss, Peter J., Snyder, Mark W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luebke, Renee S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CAROC, LHEIREN MAE ANGLO
• Application Number:
  US12/975,575
• Publication Number:
  US 20110095708A1
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 200/1.B
• US Class Current: 200/1.B
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0414 specially adapted to be used with portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/18 with subsequent sliding
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/48 using buckling of disc springs
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/64 wherein the switch has more than two electrically distinguishable positions, e.g. multi-position push-button switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2227/028 Key stroke
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2227/032 Operating force

Abstract

An electrical switch and a flashlight employing the switch may comprise a base having electrical conductors thereon and an electrically conductive flexible dome. The flexible dome has plural longer legs extending from its dome and in electrical contact with a first conductor, has a shorter leg extending from its dome and overlying a second conductor, and has its dome overlying a third conductor. A pushbutton may be moved to apply actuation force to cause the shorter leg to contact the second conductor and the dome to contact the third conductor.

Claims

1. An electrical flashlight comprising:

a housing having a head end and a tail end and having a cavity for receiving a battery;

an electrical light source disposed proximate the head end of said housing; and

a switch disposed on said housing for providing two switch contacts, wherein said switch includes an electrically conductive flexible dome having a plurality of relatively longer legs extending from a dome portion thereof, a relatively shorter leg extending from the dome portion thereof, wherein the relatively shorter leg of said flexible dome closes a first normally open switch contact of the two switch contacts when said flexible dome is pressed with a first actuation force, and wherein the dome portion of said flexible dome closes a second normally open switch contact of the two switch contacts when said first flexible dome is pressed with a second actuation force;

wherein said switch includes a base having at least first and second peripheral electrical conductors and a central electrical conductor thereon;

wherein said electrically conductive flexible dome is disposed on said base, and

wherein the plurality of relatively longer legs extending from a dome portion of said electrically conductive flexible dome are in electrical contact with the first peripheral electrical conductor, wherein the relatively shorter leg extending from the dome portion of said electrically conductive flexible dome overlies the second peripheral electrical conductor, and wherein the dome portion of said flexible dome overlies the central electrical conductor;

wherein said light source is responsive to closure, or opening, or both, of the two switch contacts of said switch for selectively energizing and de-energizing said electrical light source when the battery is present in the cavity of said housing, and

whereby said electrical light source of said flashlight may be selectively energized and de-energized responsive to said switch.

2. The electrical flashlight of claim 1 further comprising:

a controller disposed in said housing and electrically connected to said electrical light source and to the battery when a battery is provided in the cavity of said housing, wherein said controller is responsive to the two switch contacts of said switch for selectively coupling electrical power from the battery to said electrical light source.

3. The electrical flashlight of claim 2 wherein said controller is responsive to operation of said switch to control said electrical light source to a sequence of operating modes including at least momentary ON, continuous ON, flashing and OFF operating modes.

4. The electrical flashlight of claim 2 wherein said controller is responsive to operation of said switch to control electrical power to said electrical light source for energizing said electrical light source momentarily, for energizing said electrical light source continuously, for de-energizing said electrical light source, for causing said electrical light source to alternate repetitively between energized and de-energized conditions, for causing said electrical light source to change from a more energized condition to a less energized condition, for causing said electrical light source to change from a less energized condition to a more energized condition, or for any combination of the foregoing.

5. The electrical flashlight of claim 2 wherein said controller is responsive to operation of said switch to control said electrical light source to momentary ON, to continuous ON, to OFF, to flashing, and to dimming operating modes, and optionally to an un-dimming operating mode.

6. The electrical flashlight of claim 2 wherein said controller latches a momentary closure of said switch into a continuous action until a subsequent closure of said switch occurs.

7. The electrical flashlight of claim 2 wherein said controller responds to operations of said switch to control said light source, the operations of said switch including the number of actuations of said switch, or the time between actuations of said switch, or the time of continuous actuation of said switch, or combination thereof.

8. The electrical flashlight of claim 1 wherein said switch includes a base having first, second and third electrical conductors thereon, and further includes:

at least one spring extending from said base for providing an electrical connection to at least one of the first, second and third electrical conductors of said base;

or

two concentric springs extending in a direction generally parallel to a plane defined by said base.

9. The electrical flashlight of claim 1 wherein said switch comprises:

a pushbutton switch disposed proximate the head end of said housing;

or

a pushbutton switch disposed proximate the tail end of said housing;

or

a first pushbutton switch disposed proximate the head end of said housing and a second pushbutton switch disposed proximate the tail end of said housing.

10. The electrical flashlight of claim 1 wherein said switch further comprises:

an actuator movable for exerting force on the flexible dome thereof via a spring, wherein the actuator moves a distance for closing the normally open contacts of the flexible dome that is substantially longer than an actuating distance of the flexible dome.

11. An electrical switch comprising:

a switch for providing two switch contacts, wherein said switch includes an electrically conductive flexible dome having a plurality of relatively longer legs extending from a dome portion thereof, a relatively shorter leg extending from the dome portion thereof, wherein the relatively shorter leg of said flexible dome closes a first normally open switch contact of the two switch contacts when said flexible dome is pressed with a first actuation force, and wherein the dome portion of said flexible dome closes a second normally open switch contact of the two switch contacts when said first flexible dome is pressed with a second actuation force;

wherein said switch includes a base having at least first and second peripheral electrical conductors and a central electrical conductor thereon;

wherein said electrically conductive flexible dome is disposed on said base, and

wherein the plurality of relatively longer legs extending from a dome portion of said electrically conductive flexible dome are in electrical contact with the first peripheral electrical conductor, wherein the relatively shorter lea extending from the dome portion of said electrically conductive flexible dome overlies the second peripheral electrical conductor, and wherein the dome portion of said flexible dome overlies the central electrical conductor;

a controller electrically connectable to a load and to a battery, wherein said controller is responsive to closure, or opening, or both, of the two switch contacts of said switch for selectively coupling electrical power from the battery to the load,

for selectively energizing and de-energizing the load when the battery and load are provided,

whereby the load may be selectively energized and de-energized by said controller responsive to said switch.

12. The electrical switch of claim 11 wherein said load is an electrical light source and wherein said controller is responsive to operation of said switch to control said electrical light source to a sequence of operating modes including at least momentary ON, continuous ON, flashing and OFF operating modes.

13. The electrical switch of claim 11 wherein said controller is responsive to operation of said switch to control electrical power to said electrical light source for energizing said electrical light source momentarily, for energizing said electrical light source continuously, for de-energizing said electrical light source, for causing said electrical light source to alternate repetitively between energized and de-energized conditions, for causing said electrical light source to change from a more energized condition to a less energized condition, for causing said electrical light source to change from a less energized condition to a more energized condition, or for any combination of the foregoing.

14. The electrical switch of claim 11 wherein said load is an electrical light source and wherein said controller is responsive to operation of said switch to control said electrical light source to momentary ON, to continuous ON, to OFF, to flashing, and to dimming operating modes, and optionally to an un-dimming operating mode.

15. The electrical switch of claim 11 wherein said controller latches a momentary closure of said switch into a continuous action until a subsequent closure of said switch occurs.

16. The electrical switch of claim 11 wherein said controller responds to operations of said switch to control the load, the operations of said switch including the number of actuations of said switch, or the time between actuations of said switch, or the time of continuous actuation of said switch, or combination thereof.

17. The electrical switch of claim 11 wherein said switch further comprises:

an actuator movable for exerting force on the flexible dome thereof via a spring, wherein the actuator moves a distance for closing the normally open contacts of the flexible dome that is substantially longer than an actuating distance of the flexible dome.

18. An electrical switch comprising:

a base having at least first, second and third electrical conductors thereon;

a housing cover disposed adjacent said base, said housing cover having walls defining a central cavity, and having an opening therethrough;

an electrically conductive flexible dome disposed in the central cavity of said housing cover, said flexible dome having a plurality of relatively longer legs extending from a dome portion thereof and being in electrical contact with the first electrical conductor of said base, said flexible dome having a relatively shorter leg extending from the dome portion thereof and overlying the second electrical conductor of said base, and the dome portion of said flexible dome overlying the third electrical conductor of said base, said flexible dome having an actuation distance,

wherein the relatively shorter leg of said flexible dome comes into electrical contact with the second electrical conductor when said flexible dome is pressed with a first actuation force, and wherein the dome portion of said flexible dome comes into electrical contact with the third electrical conductor when said flexible dome is pressed with a second actuation force;

a pushbutton disposed in the opening of said housing cover, wherein said pushbutton is movable in the opening of said housing cover for exerting actuating force on said flexible dome;

first and second housing parts defining a generally cylindrical module, wherein said base and said housing cover are disposed between said first and second housing parts with said pushbutton actuatable through an opening in said first housing part; and

at least one spring extending axially from the generally cylindrical module and providing an electrical connection to at least one of the first, second and third electrical conductors of said base.

19. An electrical flashlight comprising:

a housing having a head end and a tail end and having a cavity for receiving a battery;

an electrical light source disposed proximate the head end of said housing; and

a switch disposed on said housing for providing two switch contacts, wherein said switch includes an electrically conductive flexible dome having a plurality of relatively longer legs extending from a dome portion thereof, a relatively shorter leg extending from the dome portion thereof, wherein the relatively shorter leg of said flexible dome closes a first normally open switch contact of the two switch contacts when said flexible dome is pressed with a first actuation force, and wherein the dome portion of said flexible dome closes a second normally open switch contact of the two switch contacts when said first flexible dome is pressed with a second actuation force;

wherein said switch includes a base having first, second and third electrical conductors thereon, and further includes;

at least one spring extending from said base for providing an electrical connection to at least one of the first, second and third electrical conductors of said base;

wherein said light source is responsive to closure, or opening, or both, of the two switch contacts of said switch for selectively energizing and de-energizing said electrical light source when the battery is present in the cavity of said housing, and

whereby said electrical light source of said flashlight may be selectively energized and de-energized responsive to said switch.

20. An electrical switch comprising:

a switch for providing two switch contacts, wherein said switch includes an electrically conductive flexible dome having a plurality of relatively longer legs extending from a dome portion thereof, a relatively shorter leg extending from the dome portion thereof, wherein the relatively shorter leg of said flexible dome closes a first normally open switch contact of the two switch contacts when said flexible dome is pressed with a first actuation force, and wherein the dome portion of said flexible dome closes a second normally open switch contact of the two switch contacts when said first flexible dome is pressed with a second actuation force;

wherein said switch includes a base having first, second and third electrical conductors thereon, and further includes;

at least one spring extending from said base for providing an electrical connection to at least one of the first, second and third electrical conductors of said base;

a controller electrically connectable to a load and to a battery, wherein said controller is responsive to closure, or opening, or both, of the two switch contacts of said switch for selectively coupling electrical power from the battery to the load for selectively energizing and de-energizing the load when the battery and load are provided,

whereby the load may be selectively energized and de-energized by said controller responsive to said switch.