The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 04, 2000
Filed:
Aug. 09, 1996
Leo K Cheng, Kowloon, HK;
Eddie Y Lo, Kowloon Tong, HK;
Victer Au-Yeung Shun, Taj Haung, HK;
Roger Q Smith, Reisterstown, MD (US);
Black & Decker Inc., Newark, DE (US);
Abstract
The present invention is directed to an on/off switch for a flashlight having a reflector secured against axial motion. The reflector has a central opening. The flashlight includes a bulb with a base having an outer cylindrical electrical terminal. The bulb extends through the central opening of the reflector. The switch includes a bulb holder, with the bulb secured in and moving with the bulb holder. The switch also includes an electrical contact disposed in the flashlight so as to be adjacent and biased away from the cylindrical electrical terminal of the bulb. The switch also includes a ring rotatably disposed in the flashlight. The ring is mechanically linked to the bulb holder and includes an element disposed adjacent the electrical contact. Rotation of the ring causes the bulb holder and thus the bulb to move axially relative to the reflector due to the mechanical link and simultaneously causes the element to force the electrical contact against the bias and into contact with the cylindrical electrical terminal of the bulb.