# US 5,349,506 A · Miniature flashlight > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,349,506 A - Document ID: US5349506A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Filed: 1993-04-20 - Granted: 1994-09-20 - Earliest claimed: 1984-09-06 - Assignees: Mag Instrument, Inc. - Inventors: Anthony Maglica - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5349506A ## CPC - F21L 4/005: {the device being a pocket lamp (F21L4/022, F21L4/045, F21L4/085 take precedence)} - F21L 2/00: Systems of electric lighting devices (systems employing both electric and non-electric light sources or exchangeable light sources F21L27/00) - F21S 9/02: the power supply being a battery or accumulator - F21V 14/025: {in portable lighting devices} - F21V 14/045: {in portable lighting devices} - F21V 19/047: {by using spare light sources comprised in or attached to the lighting device and being intended to replace a defect light source by manual mounting} - F21V 23/04: the elements being switches (safety devices F21V25/00) - F21V 23/0414: {specially adapted to be used with portable lighting devices} - F21V 31/00: Gas-tight or water-tight arrangements - F21V 31/005: {Sealing arrangements therefor} - F21V 31/03: with provision for venting {(for vehicle head lights F21S45/33; for vehicle rear lights F21S41/192)} - H01H 13/58: with contact-driving member rotated step-wise in one direction - F21S 6/00: Lighting devices intended to be free-standing (F21S9/00, F21S10/00, {F21S13/12} take precedence {lighting devices specially adapted to be transported from place to place, e.g. lighting devices carried on wheeled supports F21L; details of supports for lighting devices F21V21/00}) - F21V 15/01: Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts (F21V15/02 takes precedence {housings forming signs or letters G09F13/04}) - 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} - F21L: LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF, BEING PORTABLE OR SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR TRANSPORTATION - F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) ## Abstract A miniature flashlight as disclosed to comprise a barrel, a tail cap, a head assembly, and means for holding a miniature lamp bulb and for providing interruptible electrical coupling to dry cell batteries retained within the barrel. A spring is disposed between the tail cap and the batteries within the barrel to urge the batteries into contact with the center conductor on the second insulated receptacle, thereby urging the second and the first insulated receptacles in the same direction until the second insulated receptacle contacts the lip on the end of the barrel whereat the second conductor member is in contact with the lip. One-way valves may be positioned at seal locations in association with passageways to allow venting of overpressure within the interior volume of the flashlight. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A flashlight comprising a battery housing; an end cap at one end of said battery housing, having a cavity therein open at a first end toward said battery housing and a port open to atmosphere from said cavity and displaced from said first end; an insert in said cavity having a cross section providing for a longitudinal passage between said insert and said end cap in said cavity and a lip seal about said insert and extending to said end cap in said cavity fully about said insert and inclined toward said port to form a one-way seal allowing flow from said battery housing to said port. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The flashlight of claim 1 wherein said insert further includes a socket open at said first end and a spare lamp bulb in said socket. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The flashlight of claim 1 further comprising a lamp bulb; an electrical circuit extending from said battery housing to said lamp bulb; a lens positions adjacent said lamp bulb; a reflector positioned about said lamp bulb to reflect light from said lamp bulb through said lens. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The flashlight of claim 1 wherein said end cap is a tail cap mounted by threads to said battery housing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The flashlight of claim 1 wherein said end cap is a head mounted by threads to said battery housing, said lens in said reflector being mounted in said head. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The flashlight of claim 1 wherein said end cap is a lens retainer cap. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The flashlight of claim 1 wherein said port is between said end cap and said battery housing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The flashlight of claim 7 wherein said battery housing and said end cap have mating threads, said port extending between said mating threads. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The flashlight of claim 7 wherein said lip seal is a seal ring having a flexible flange extending to seal against a side of said end cap in said cavity and inclined toward said port to form a one-way seal.