US 5,205,640 A · Miniature flashlight

Abstract

A miniature flashlight comprising a bulb, a casing holding batteries therein, a head rotatably mounted on said casing, a rotary member for connecting electrodes of the battery to terminals of the bulb, and a conductive member. The rotary member is made of non-conductor and provided with connectors made of conductor and also is disposed between the head and the casing in order to rotate in accompanying with rotation of the head with respect to the casing. The conductive member selectively contact with one of the connectors of the rotary member. The conductive member engages with the casing so that the conductive member is rotated in accompanying with the casing with respect to the head. One of the connectors of the rotary member selectively contacts with the conductive member in accordance with rotation of the head with respect to the casing irrespective of the rotational direction, while the other of the connectors always connects the negative terminal of the bulb to the positive electrode of the batteries, thereby turning the bulb on and off in accordance with the rotation of the head with respect to the casing irrespective of rotational direction.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A flashlight comprising:

an electrically conductive casing adapted to hold a battery therein, said battery having positive and negative electrodes, said negative electrode electrically communicating with said casing;
a head assembly rotatably mounted on one end of said casing so as to rotate in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction;
an insulating rotatable member received between said casing and said head assembly, said rotatable member being rotatable with said head assembly;
a bulb mounted in said rotatable member, said bulb having positive and negative terminals;
means on said rotatable member for establishing electrical communication between the positive electrode of said battery and the positive terminal of said bulb;
and
rotary switch means comprising first contact means on said rotatable member and second contact means rotatable with said casing, said first contact means being in electrical communication with the negative terminal of said bulb and said second contact means being in electrical communication with the negative electrode of said battery,
said switch means being operated by rotating said head assembly relative to said casing wherein said first contact means contacts said second contact means at one of a plurality of predetermined circumferential locations irrespective of the direction of rotation of said head assembly.

5 more elements

A flashlight comprising:

a casing adapted to hold a battery therein;
a head assembly rotatably mounted on said casing so as to rotate in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, said head assembly having an axial slot formed on the inner surface thereof;
a cup-shaped rotary member formed from a non-conductive material, said rotary member comprising a cylindrical wall, a bottom, and an axial protrusion integrally formed on the outer surface of said cylindrical wall, said rotary member being received in said head assembly, said axial protrusion interengaging with the axial slot in said head so that said rotary member is rotatable with said head assembly;
a bulb mounted within said head assembly;
and
rotary switch means actuatable for illuminating said bulb, said switch means comprising a first contact means rotatable with said head assembly and second contact means rotatable with said casing, said first contact being located on said rotary member,
said switch means being operated by rotating said head assembly relative to said casing wherein said first contact means contacts said second contact means at a predetermined circumferential location irrespective of the direction of rotation of said head assembly.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Miniature flashlight

Life of this patent

Miniature flashlight

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13