Flashlight switch

A switch for selectively placing a light source in electrical communication with at least one battery disposed in a body, comprising:

• a switch housing threadably coupled to said body and concentric therewith, and having a detent extending from an inner surface thereof;
• an end cap having a neck portion concentrically received in said switch housing, said neck portion extending substantially through said switch housing along a longitudinal axis of said end cap and having a groove for receiving said detent to define at least a first and second rotational position of said end cap with respect to said switch housing about said longitudinal axis;
• a contact assembly disposed in said neck portion of said end cap and having a first portion in electrical communication with the battery and a second portion forming a contact;
• a retaining member received in said neck portion of said end cap for fixing said contact assembly therein and pivotally retaining said neck portion of said end cap within said housing;
• and
• said end cap being manually pivotal with respect to said switch housing about said longitudinal axis between said first and second rotational positions for selectively moving said contact into said electrical communication with the light source.

A switch for selectively connecting and disconnecting a direct current circuit, comprising:

• a housing having a cylindrical inner wall;
• a detent extending from said inner wall;
• an end cap having a neck portion concentrically received by said housing and extending substantially the length of said housing;
• a cantilever spring disposed in a slot formed in said neck portion for defining first and second positions for said detent on opposite sides of said cantilever spring;
• a contact assembly disposed within said neck portion and having a first end for contacting one end of the circuit and a second end for selectively contacting an opposite end of the circuit;
• and
• a retaining member disposed within said neck portion and fixed therein for preventing said neck portion from being withdrawn from said housing while allowing rotation of said end cap between said first and second positions.

A flashlight, comprising:

• a body for receiving a power source therein;
• a light assembly including a light source coupled to said body, said light source having one terminal positioned to be in electrical contact with one pole of said power source and a second terminal positioned to be proximate an opposite pole of said power source;
• a switch assembly closing said body, for selectively connecting and disconnecting said light source with said opposite pole of said power source, said switch assembly having a housing having a first end detachably received in said body and an end cap received in and closing said housing, said end cap being rotatable about an axis between a first position electrically connecting said light source and said power source, and a second position electrically disconnecting said light source and said power source;
• a contact assembly disposed in said end cap for contacting said opposite end of said battery;
• a retaining member disposed within an end of said end cap inside said body for retaining said end cap within said housing;
• a contract strip extending from said light assembly substantially the length of said housing and selectively in contact with said contact assembly disposed in said end cap;
• and
• a hydrogen absorbing device disposed in said end cap.

A flashlight, comprising:

• a body for receiving a power source therein;
• a light assembly including a light source coupled to said body, said light source having one terminal positioned to be in electrical contact with one pole of said power source and a second terminal positioned to be proximate an opposite pole of said power source;
• a switch assembly closing said body, for selectively connecting and disconnecting said light source with said opposite pole of said power source and having a housing having a first end detachably received in said body and an end cap received in and closing said housing, said end cap being rotatable about an axis coincident with said housing between a first position electrically connecting said light source and said power source, and a second position electrically disconnecting said light source and said power source;
• a contact assembly disposed in said end cap for contacting said opposite end of said battery;
• a retaining member disposed within said end cap for retaining said end cap within said housing;
• a key received in said end cap;
• a flange defined at one end of said key to lie adjacent said end cap and said housing;
• and
• a locking detent formed on said key for engaging said end cap, locking said flange adjacent said end cap and said housing.

A switch for selectively placing a light source in electrical communication with at least one battery disposed in a body, comprising:

• a housing detachably adapted to be coupled to said body, and having a detent extending from an inner surface thereof;
• an end cap having a neck portion concentrically received in said housing, said neck portion having a groove for receiving said detent to define at least a first and second position;
• a contact assembly disposed in said neck portion and having a first portion in electrical communication with the battery and a second portion forming a contact;
• a retaining member received in said neck portion for fixing said contact assembly within said neck portion and pivotally retaining said neck portion within said housing fixed with respect to said body;
• a key slot defined in and extending through a wall of said neck portion;
• a spline extending from said retaining member to be received in said key slot for orienting said retaining member in said neck portion and urging in a portion of said contact assembly toward a periphery of said neck portion;
• and
• said end cap being manually pivotal with respect to said housing between said positions for selectively moving said contact into electrical communication with the light source.