Flashlight and flashlight electrical connectors
AssigneeMag Instrument, Inc.
InventorsGreg W. Koch, Bruce K. Bangerter, Kevin E. Collier, Darrell B. Steinicke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flashlight with unique flashlight electrical connections, including a switch structure featuring a switch requiring a small amount of force, and a short stroke distance to actuate, attached to a member on which a circuit adding additional functions to the flashlight may be located. The member has conductive springs attached to either end that are used to complete the electrical circuit with the battery and the lamp, while their compressive force is absorbed by a housing protecting the switch structure. A conductive strip is used to improve the conductivity of the circuit in a metal flashlight which has been provided with an electrically resistive protective coating.
Claims28
A portable illumination device comprising:
- a barrel for receiving at least one battery;
- an illumination source adjacent an end of said barrel;
- a conductive spring electrically coupled to said illumination source;
- a switch including a plunger, a first connection and a second connection, said plunger used to operably actuate said switch, said first connection electrically coupled to said at least one battery, said second connection electrically coupled to said conductive spring;
- a protective housing within said barrel for holding said switch, said protective housing including an aperture and a wall, said plunger of said switch extending through said aperture, said conductive spring bearing against said wall such that said protective housing absorbs the compressive force of said conductive spring.
The portable illumination device of claim further including a printed circuit board electrically coupled to said switch, said printed circuit board mounted to said protective housing.
A flashlight comprising:
- a barrel for receiving at least one battery;
- a light source adjacent an end of said barrel for generating light;
- a conductive coil spring electrically coupled to said light source;
- a switch including a plunger, a first connection and a second connection, said plunger adapted to operably actuate said switch, said first connection electrically coupled to said at least one battery;
- a printed circuit board including a conductive path, said conductive path electrically coupled to said second connection of said switch, said conductive coil spring electrically coupled to said conductive path;
- and
- a protective housing within said barrel for holding said switch, said protective housing including an aperture, an opening and a wall, said plunger of said switch extending through said aperture, said conductive coil spring extending through said opening and bearing against said wall.
A flashlight comprising:
- a barrel for receiving at least one battery;
- a light source adjacent an end of said barrel;
- a conductive spring electrically connected to said light source;
- a circuit board including a conductive path, said conductive path electrically connected to said conductive spring;
- and
- a protective housing within said barrel holding said circuit board, wherein said conductive spring is compressed against the protective housing such that said protective housing absorbs the compressive force of said conductive spring.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.