Dual mode switch mechanism for flashlights

A switch device for use in a flashlight comprising:

• a tubular housing having an electrically conductive outer wall, a first end and a second end, said outer wall defining an interior cavity;
• at least one battery received in said interior cavity, said battery being spring biased in a first linear direction towards said first end of said housing;
• an end cap threadedly received on said first end of said housing, said end cap having an annular opening therein;
• an actuator having a head portion and a contact portion with a post extending therebetween, said head portion further including retention clips adjacent to said post, said post of said actuator being slidably received in said annular opening of said end cap;
• and
• a contact plate, said contact plate being electrically conductive and having a first contact surface and a second surface opposite said first surface, said second surface being attached to said contact portion of said post, said contact plate in electrical communication with one terminal of said battery,
• said switch device having a fully closed position wherein said contact surface is in electrical communication with said first end of said housing when said end cap is fully threaded onto said housing, said switch device having a selectibly closed position wherein rotation of said end cap relative to said housing creates a space between said first end of said housing and said contact surface, said contact surface being urged into electrical communication with said first end of said housing by pressing said actuator in a second linear direction opposite said first and said switch device having a fully open position wherein further rotation of said end cap relative to said housing causes said space between said first end of said housing and said contact surface to be greater than the space between said retention clips of said actuator and said end cap, contact of said retention clips with said end cap preventing said contact surface from contacting said housing.

A flashlight assembly comprising:

• a housing having an outer wall, a first end, a second end and an electrical contact on said first end thereof, said outer wall defining an interior cavity;
• at least one battery in said interior cavity, said battery having a first contact and a second contact, said battery being spring biased in a first linear direction towards said first end of said housing;
• a lighting element having first and second electrical contacts, said lighting element disposed in said second end of said housing, said first electrical contact in electrical communication with said electrical contact on said housing and said second electrical contact in electrical communication with said second contact of said battery;
• and
• a switch assembly including,
• an end cap threadedly received on said first end of said housing, said end cap having an annular opening therein;
• an actuator having a head portion and a contact portion with a post extending therebetween, said head portion further including retention clips adjacent to said post, said post of said actuator being slidably received in said annular opening of said end cap, and
• a contact plate, said contact plate being electrically conductive and having a first contact surface and a second surface opposite said first surface, said second surface being attached to said contact portion of said post, said contact plate in electrical communication with one terminal of said battery,
• said switch device having a fully closed position wherein said contact surface is in electrical communication with said first end of said housing when said end cap is fully threaded onto said housing, said switch device having a selectibly closed position wherein rotation of said end cap relative to said housing creates a space between said first end of said housing and said contact surface, said contact surface being urged into electrical communication with said first end of said housing by pressing said actuator in a second linear direction opposite said first and said switch device having a fully open position wherein further rotation of said end cap relative to said housing causes said space between said first end of said housing and said contact surface to be greater than the space between said retention clips of said actuator and said end cap, contact of said retention clips with said end cap preventing said contact surface from contacting said housing.