Battery operated appliance, flashlight and switching systems

A method of providing an electric appliance with first and second electric power supplies,

• comprising in combination:
• arranging first batteries of a first type in a first pattern inside a space in said appliance;
• establishing a first electric power supply with said first batteries arranged in said first pattern;
• removing said first batteries from said space in the appliance;
• arranging and selecting second batteries of a different second type in a different second pattern inside said space in the appliance;
• and
• establishing a different second electric power supply with said second batteries arranged in said second pattern to provide said second electric power supply with an output voltage substantially equal to an output voltage of said first electric power supply.

A method of providing an electric appliance with first and second electric power supplies,

• comprising in combination:
• arranging first batteries of a first type in a first pattern inside a space in said appliance;
• establishing a first electric power supply with said first batteries arranged in said first pattern;
• removing said first batteries from said space in the appliance;
• arranging second batteries of a different second type in a different second pattern inside said space in the appliance;
• and
• establishing a different second electric power supply with said second batteries arranged in said second pattern;
• wherein:
• electric power from said first and second electric power supplies is switched with a bistable OFF and ON switching function and with a momentary ON switching function for said electric light source,
• said bistable OFF and ON switching function and said momentary ON switching function are unified into one electric toggle switch having an external switch actuating lever having a stable first position in which said electric power is OFF, a stable second position in which said electric power is ON, and a momentary third position biased toward said first position so that said electric power is momentarily ON only as long as said external switch actuating lever is manually held in said third position against said biasing toward said first position;
• a recess is formed in a side of said appliance with a side wall for laterally protecting said external switch actuating lever against accidental interference;
• and
• said electric toggle switch is mounted inside said recess so that said side wall protects said actuating lever against accidental interference.

(Amended) An electric appliance for operation with alternative first and second electric power supplies comprised of first batteries of a first type and second batteries of a different second type, respectively,

• comprising in combination:
• a first battery compartment in said appliance adapted to accommodate said first batteries in a first pattern inside a space in said appliance;
• first circuitry adapted to interconnect said first batteries as said first electric power supply;
• a second battery compartment in said space in said appliance adapted to accommodate said different second batteries in a different second pattern inside said space in said appliance;
• and
• second circuitry adapted to interconnect said different second batteries as said second electric power supply.

An appliance for operation with alternative first and second electric power supplies comprised of first batteries of a first type and second batteries of a different second type, respectively,

• comprising in combination:
• a first battery compartment in said appliance adapted to accommodate said first batteries in a first pattern inside a space in said appliance;
• first circuitry adapted to interconnect said first batteries as said first electric power supply;
• a second battery compartment in said space adapted to accommodate said different second batteries in a different second pattern inside said space in said appliance;
• second circuitry adapted to interconnect said different second batteries as said second electric power supply;
• a tail end;
• a recess in a side of said tail end;
• and
• a toggle switch connectable to said circuitry and mounted in said tail end inside of said recess and having an external switch actuating lever in said recess having a stable first position in which said appliance is OFF, a stable second position in which said appliance is ON, and a momentary third position biased toward said first position so that said appliance is momentarily ON only as long as said external switch actuating lever is manually held in said third position against said biasing toward said first position.

An electric appliance for operation with alternative first and second electric power supplies comprised of first batteries of a first type and second batteries of a different second type, respectively,

• comprising in combination:
• a first battery compartment in said appliance adapted to accommodate said first batteries in a first pattern inside a space in said appliance;
• first circuitry adapted to interconnect said first batteries as said first electric power supply;
• a second battery compartment in said space in said appliance adapted to accommodate said different second batteries in a different second pattern inside said space in said appliance;
• and
• second circuitry adapted to interconnect said different second batteries as said second electric power supply;
• wherein:
• said first and second battery compartments have different widths in said appliance.