Patent · US Expired

Switch-less flashlights

US5590951A · kind A · utility

39Cited by
127References
34Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 21, 1994
Grant dateJan 7, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 21, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF21V23/0421
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Switch-less flashlights have a tube for housing the battery and a lamp assembly threaded or mounted on an end portion of that tube and having spaced first and second lamp terminals adapted to contact corresponding battery terminals upon rotation or movement of that lamp assembly relative to the tube in a first sense of rotation or direction. One of such first and second lamp terminals is also adapted to disengage from a corresponding one of the first and second battery terminals upon rotation or movement of the lamp assembly relative to the tube in a second sense of rotation or direction. The flashlight preferably includes a spring, such as in the form of the first lamp terminal contacting the first battery terminal, for permanently pressing the battery against an opposite end portion of the battery housing tube. A special version of the flashlight has a flexible diaphragm across one end of the tube depressible against the battery so as to activate the flashlight by longitudinal movement of the battery in the flashlight.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.