- a. keeping anytransducer12,13, etc., isolated from any and all battery chargers and charging current, even if the user accidentally turns on a second transducer energizing switch (e.g.30); and
- b. keeping any second transducer energizing switch (e.g.30) out of the battery charging circuit (e.g.21 and22), thereby avoiding the need of users having to set two switches in series before charging can take place and thereby avoiding the charging current limitations imposed by prior-art systems which charge through a flashlight filament.
- c. while leading any and all battery charging currents throughparts21 and22 of theapparatus10, without the need of any electrodes, wires and the like that would have to be electrically insulated from the apparatus part through which the particular electrode or wire proceeds, and
- d. while also avoiding a shorting of any battery charger through any faulty switch position.

By way of example, theswitch26 may be a single-pole double-throw switch, with or without an open third position for deenergization of the transducer or of the battery charging circuit in alternate switch positions41 and42. In this respect, the expression “double throw” is intended to be broad enough to cover “triple-throw” or “multithrow.”

A push-button on/offswitch127 for thetransducer12 or

transducers

12 and13 may also be in the electrictransducer energizing circuit20, such as in athird position43 of the switchingarrangement26, in which case theswitch26 may be a triple-throw switch, such as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4. In this respect, thecommon element27 may have a third or rest position which is symbolically illustrated at43 inFIGS. 3 and 4 and which in the illustrated embodiment would be between the first switchedcontact28 and the second switchedcontact29 in a third angular and axial position of the threadedswitch actuator32 or in between the first position shown in FIG.1 and the second position shown in FIG.2.

The switchingarrangement26 may be implemented at or about the location of theswitch30, such as in the context of thebattery charge terminal23, in which case the otherbattery charge terminal24 may be directly connected to the battery terminal contact orspring19.

Within the scope of the invention, theswitch30 may be omitted, especially if there is only one transducer, and theswitch26 may then perform the function of a first switching arrangement in the electrictransducer energizing circuit20, such as when theswitch26 is in

position

41 or43, and the function of a second switching arrangement in thebattery charging circuit22, such as when theswitch26 is in itsposition42.

On the other hand, theswitch30 may be provided in the electrictransducer energizing circuit20 in series with theswitch26, whereby the user has the option to switch the transducer either with theswitch30 or with theswitch26 with or without an on-off push-

button

36 or127. As seen inFIG. 3, theswitch30 may then be a simple on/off switch in series with the first switchedcontact28 of the double- or triple-throw switch26.

Theswitch30 is particularly useful if the electric transducer includes afirst transducer element12 providing afirst output14, and asecond transducer element13 providing a differentsecond output15, such as shown inFIGS. 1 and 4 or otherwise. In that case, the first electric switching arrangement may include an at least two-position transducer elementelectric switch30 interconnected between the electrictransducer energizing circuit20 and thefirst transducer element12 in afirst position45, and interconnected between that electric transducer energizing circuit and thesecond transducer element13 in asecond position46 of that transducer elementelectric switch30.

Theswitch30 may be a rotary switch and may in fact be actuated by rotation or angular movement of thetransducer mount17 which may be threaded to thebattery housing16 or hand-heldbarrel31 bymating threads48 which preferably are electrically insulated from each other. A similarity to thecap32 which is threaded onto that hand-heldbarrel31 of thebattery housing16 bymating threads49 which preferably are electrically insulated from each other may be noted in this respect.

FIGS. 3 and 4 by way of example indicate possible angular positions of theend cap32 and of thetransducer mount17 relative to thebarrel31 fordifferent switch positions41 to43 and45 to47 and147 in terms of degrees of angular movement.

In addition to or even apart from, what has been disclosed so far, theelectric switch26 may be seen as an embodiment of yet another invention, comprising, in combination, asupport16, arotary switch actuator32 threaded on that support for rotary and axial movement relative to that support, a firstswitch contact part28 on that support, a secondswitch contact part29 on or in the rotary switch actuator, and a thirdswitch contact part27 coupled to thatrotary switch actuator32 and in electrical connection with the firstswitch contact part28 and out of connection from the secondswitch contact part29 in a first angular andaxial position41 of the rotary switch actuator, and in electrical connection with the secondswitch contact part29, and out of connection from the firstswitch contact part28 in a second angular andaxial position42 of therotary switch actuator32.

The push-button on/offactuator127 may be coupled to the thirdswitch contact part27 in circumvention of therotary switch actuator32. By way of example, thethird contact part27 and the push-button127 may be integral in the form of a plunger, such as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2.

The secondswitch contact part29 may have a conducting resilient portion. By way of example, the second switch contact part may be a spring at129 abutting and in electrical contact with an exposed internal surface of the electrically conductive end cap orrotary switch actuator32 leading to thebattery charging electrode24.

Theelectric switching arrangement26 preferably includes an insulatingspacer37 maintaining theresilient portion29 orspring129 out of connection from the thirdswitch contact part27 in the first angular andaxial position41 of therotary switch actuator32. Thatspring129 orresilient portion29 acts on the insulatingspacer37, such as by biasing the same against thebattery housing16 or itspart28. Since the lateral lug or lugs237 of the insulatingspacer37 is or are longer in an axial direction than the lateral lug or lugs227 of the thirdswitch contact part27, these insulating spacer lugs keep the second switch contact part spaced from the lugs of the third switch contact part, and theend cap32 and itsexternal electrode24 are disconnected or isolated from thebattery11 orbattery terminal19 as long as the end cap or rotary actuator is in its first angular andaxial position41. In that case, thebattery terminal19 is connected viaplunger127,third contact part27, itsconductive lugs227,switch contact28,conductive housing16 to theswitch30 for selective energization of the

transducer

12 or13.

Conversely, therotary switch actuator32 releases the thirdswitch contact part27 into electrical connection with the conductingresilient portion29 in circumvention of the insulatingspacer37 upon actuation to the second angular andaxial position42. In that case, the end cap oractuator32 and itselectrode24 are connected to thebattery terminal19 for a charging of the battery via electrode or terminal24, end cap oractuator32, resilient second switch, contact part129-29, thirdswitch contact part27 atlugs227, andbattery terminal19.

Most importantly, that thirdswitch contact part27 is positively disconnected from the firstswitch contact part28 and thus from the

transducers

12 and13 in that second angular andaxial position42 of the rotary end cap or switchactuator32. In this manner, damage of the

transducers

12 and13 from any battery charger is safely avoided. Also, the battery charging current is not limited by any transducer resistance. Moreover, no battery charger can be damaged through any faulty switch position on or in the flashlight or other apparatus.

The thirdswitch contact part27 preferably has rest position between the firstswitch contact part28 and the secondswitch contact part29 in a third angular andaxial position43 of therotary switch actuator28. In that rest position, thethird contact part27 or itslugs227 are spaced from both thefirst contact part28 and thesecond contact part29. However, theelectric switching arrangement26 preferably includes a push-button or otherlinear switch actuator127 connected to or integral with the thirdswitch contact part27 to turn the

transducer

12 or13 on and off by depression and release of thatactuator127.

In general terms it may be said that theswitch26 includes aspring19 biasing the thirdswitch contact part27 away from said first contact part2E. That spring may or may not be a battery terminal, depending on the use to which the switch is put.

The thirdswitch contact part27 has spaced contact portions engaging the firstswitch contact part28 against a bias of thespring19 in the first angular andaxial position41 of therotary switch actuator32, and engaging the secondswitch contact part29 in the second angular andaxial position42 of thatrotary switch actuator32. The insulatingspacer37 is between the second and third

switch contact parts

29 and27 in the first angular andaxial position41 of therotary switch actuator32 and in any third angular andaxial position43 of thatrotary switch actuator32 between its first and second angular and

axial positions

41 and42. Thespacer37 preferably has or is in the form of a sleeve isolating and insulating the plunger part of thethird contact part27 also from the end cap orrotary switch actuator32, as may be seen fromFIGS. 1,2 and6.

The battery-operated apparatus may be aflashlight10 comprising a

light source

12 or13 having a base81 or a similar base around leads72 and73, and a light source-energizingcircuit20 having anelectric switch30 for a light source, such as12 or13 in that energizing circuit. A part of that switch is releasably fastened outside of such base to a support for that part of theswitch30. While the embodiment or invention currently being described is applicable to all kinds of flashlights and switches,FIGS. 1,2 and5 show a switch part orcontact carrier54 as releasably fastened to a support or mount17, such as with a screw orother fastener55 that preferably is insulated from anyswitch contact53, such as with the aid of an insulatingwasher155, or by making thefastener55 of insulting material.

The

light source

12 or13 is mounted on the part such as54, whereby that light source is disposable with that part of the switch on which it is mounted.

Accordingly, if the

light source

12 and13 burns out, the switch support ortransducer mount17 may be unscrewed, the fastener removed, and the burned-outlight source12 and/or13 discarded along with the switch part, such as54, on which it is mounted.

FIG. 2 as againstFIG. 1, for instance, may be taken as showing a replacement for thepart54 of the switch, and areplacement light source12 and/or13 mounted on that replacement for that part of theswitch30, since theparts54 andlight sources12 and/or13 are identical inFIGS. 1 and 2.

Indeed, it is a special advantage of the currently discussed aspect of the invention that the light sources and theirreplacement12 may be pre-focused on their supportingswitch parts54 with respect to thereflector36, so that simple manipulation of afastener55 will suffice to have a fresh light source focused in its place in thereflector36 by simple tightening of thefastener55. This in contrast to those prior-art flashlights in which the light output deteriorates when a light bulb is replaced, since the filament of the replacement bulb frequently is out of focus with the reflector.

Where theswitch30 has aswitch actuator17 for thepart54 on which the

light source

12 or13 is mounted, that part of the switch may be mounted on that switch actuator as the above mentioned support.

Where the flashlight has areflector module17, thepart54 of the switch may be mounted on thatreflector module17 as the above mentioned support, and the

light source

12 or13 extends into that reflector module, which may be a switch actuator for thepart54 on which the

light source

12 or13 is mounted.

By way of example, thebattery housing16 orbarrel31 may be seen as a module support bearing thereflector module17, with that reflector module being movable relatively to thatmodule support31. Theswitch30 then may have afirst contact62 on thatmodule support31 and in the lightsource energizing circuit20. Thepart54 of the switch may have asecond contact53 in engagement with thatfirst contact62 in the first position of thereflector module17 shown inFIG. 1 relative to themodule support31, but disengaged from thatfirst contact62 in the second position of thereflector module17 shown inFIG. 2 relative to themodule support31. Thelight source12 is connected to thatsecond contact53 in the lightsource energizing circuit20.

Thedisposable part54 of the switch has a

third contact

52 or18 in the lightsource energizing circuit20, and thelight source12 may be connected between such second and third contacts, such as via leads58 and59. Thereflector module17 may be threaded to themodule support31, such as at48, for rotational and axial movement relative to that module support, and the first position, such as shown inFIG. 1, is a first rotational and axial position of thatreflector module17 relative to themodule support31, whilst the second position shown inFIG. 2 is a second rotational and axial position of thatreflector module17 relative to itsmodule support31.

Thereflector36 preferably is a parabolic reflector for optimized or highpower light output14 of thelamp12.

If different

light outputs

14 and15 are desired, a light bulb with high-beam and low-beam filaments could be used. However, according to the preferred embodiment shown inFIGS. 1,2,4 and5, the flashlight has two

separate lamps

12 and13, one high power, the other low power, and both lamps are mounted in asingle reflector36, with thehigher power lamp12 mounted in a central opening in the reflector and having itsfilament112 located at the focus of the reflector, and thus having itsbeam14 focused by that reflector, and thelower power lamp13 being mounted off to the side of thehigh power lamp12 in a second opening in the reflector and thus out of focus in thereflector36. In consequence, thelow power lamp13 does not use the reflector to focus itsbeam15, but instead may use alens117 on the front of thetransducer mount17. According to a preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention, there is arefractive lens213 for the second orlow power lamp13, which may be directly on that lamp for focusing its beam. As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, thelower power lamp13 is oriented for generating itslight beam15 along a generally similar direction as thelight beam14 of thehigher power lamp12. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the higher and

lower power lamps

12 and13 may be oriented substantially parallel to one another, pointing in substantially the same direction. As further shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, thelower power lamp13 is recessed in its reflector opening with itsrefractive lens213 exposed in thereflector36, preferably with itsrefractive lens213 adjacent to thereflector36 at the reflector opening in which thelower power lamp13 is recessed.

Compared to using a single lamp with two filaments, which will produce a well-focused narrow beam from one filament and a very poorly focused irregular beam with dark rings and spots from the other filament, the illustrated preferred embodiment not only produces a well-focusednarrow beam14 from thehigher power lamp12, but also can produce a well-focused butbroad beam15 from the lowerpowered lamp13.

According to the invention presently under consideration, an electric light source comprises areflector36 having a focal point (at112), a firstelectric lamp12 having afilament112 at that focal point, and a different secondelectric lamp13 extending into thatreflector36 on a side of the firstelectric lamp12, such as shown inFIG. 1, for instance. There also may be arefractive lens213 for the secondelectric lamp13, but not for both lamps. As seen inFIG. 1, thelens213 is on the second or low-beam lamp13 only, and thecomponent117 is only a flat reflector cover backed by a sealing O-ring and retained by a front-end cap orbezel217. In that manner, thesecond lamp13 has a clearly definedoutput15 as well, without the prior-art light and dark ring pattern and other discontinuities.

Where the electric light source has a moveable housing, such as thetransducer mount17, and first and

second lamps

12 and13, the switchingarrangement30 may have a switch actuator coupled to that moveable housing ortransducer mount17. For example, if the lamp housing is rotatable in thebattery housing16, such as throughmating threads48, the switchingarrangement30 may be a rotary switch coupled to and actuated by rotation of the lamp housing between first, second and

third positions

45,46,47, for instance.

FIGS. 1,2 and5 show aspecial switch30 that may be used in the flashlight orother apparatus10. Thatswitch30 may be used with a single light bulb, filament orother transducer12 or for two

such transducers

12 and13.

Theswitch21 according toFIGS. 1 and 5 comprises two

contact discs

52 and53 of which one, such as thedisc52, may be considered the positive contact disc, and the other, such as thedisc53, may be considered the negative contact disc, depending, however, on the polarity or orientation of thebattery11, which is shown with thepositive battery terminal111 inFIGS. 1,2 and5, and with thenegative terminal211 inFIGS. 1 and 2. Thedisc53 may be considered the switching disc.

A disc carrier or insulatingdisc54 is sandwiched between the

contact discs

52 and53 of thespecial switch30. The insulating disc preferably has aprotrusion56 which extends through the preferablyannular switching disc53 and which receives in this case thepositive battery terminal111. The above mentioned internalbattery terminal contact18 is on a protrusion orprong57 of thetransducer disc52 forming part of the transducer energizing circuit.

When theswitch30 is assembled and thebattery11 inserted, the prong orinternal battery contact18 contacts the battery pole or terminal111 in thebattery housing16.

The onetransducer12 has a lead58 welded or otherwise connected to thetransducer disc52 which is electrically contacted by thepositive terminal111 of thebattery11 at the bent central protrusion of that disc. Thatprotrusion57 orbattery terminal contact18 and theterminal111 of thebattery11 touch each other through the center apertures of theouter contact disc53 and of theinsulator disc54 and are held in contact by virtue of spring pressure constantly applied to thenegative end211 of the battery pack by thespring19 of the other battery terminal contact.

Theother lead59 of the onetransducer12 extends through apertures in thetransducer disc52 and in the insulatingdisc54 to theswitching disc53 to which it is welded or otherwise connected.

When thetransducer mount17 is screwed-in snugly, theouter contact disc53 to which thesecond lead59 of the transducer is affixed, will electrically contact thebattery housing16 ortransducer energizing circuit20 through the uninsulatedannular ridge62 at the base of theinternal threads48 of the transducer mount receptacle orbarrel31. The onetransducer12 is thus energized by thebattery11 if theother switch26 is in itsfirst position41, or if thatother switch26 is in itssecond position43 and the push-button127 is depressed, or if there is noother switch26 and the internalbattery terminal contact19 is directly connected to the battery housing or transducer energizing circuit, such as through theend cap32. In that case, theswitch30 might be the only switch of the transducer, with or without an on/off push button.

This illustrated embodiment expresses an underlying broader invention that has utility not only with flashlights and other transducer apparatus, but also in other applications where switching is required.

According to the invention presently under consideration, theelectric switch30 comprises asupport16, and a transducer mount or otherrotary switch actuator17 threaded to that support, such as at48, for rotary and axial movement relative to that support. A firstswitch contact part62 is on thesupport16, such as in the form of an exposed portion on an otherwise anodized or insulated aluminum or other electrically conductive body, or such as in the form of a contact on an insulating body or support.

Theswitch30 also includes a secondswitch contact part53 coupled to therotary switch actuator17 and in electrical connection with the firstswitch contact part62 in a first angular andaxial position45 of the rotary switch actuator, and out of connection from that first switch contact part in a second angular andaxial position46 of therotary switch actuator17. Theswitch30 further includes a thirdswitch contact part75 coupled to the rotary switch actuator and in electrical connection with the firstswitch contact part62 in the second angular andaxial position46 of the rotary switch actuator, and out of connection from that firstswitch contact part62 in the first angular andaxial position45 of therotary switch actuator17.

According to an embodiment, the second and third

switch contact parts

53 and75 are out of connection from the firstswitch contact part62 in a third angular andaxial position47 of therotary switch actuator17.

In this respect,FIG. 4 also indicates aposition147 between the

positions

45 and46. Thatposition147 may in fact be the third angular and axial position at which the

switch contact parts

53 and75 are out of connection from the firstswitch contact part62. Thatintermediate position147 thus may be an OFF position of theswitch30, at which both transducers or

lamps

12 and13 are deenergized. The above mentionedthird position47 may then not be necessary.

By way of example, theposition147 may be implemented as an OFF position by making thedisc53 flat so that it will disengage thefirst contact62 and thereby interrupt energization of thelamp12 before the actuator78 permits thethird contact75 to engage thefirst contact62, such as shown inFIG. 2 or atposition46 in FIG.4.

Both

lamps

12 and13 thus would be deenergized at that point. In practice, this may not be desirable, since it could confuse the user or provide an opportunity for a supposedly switched-off flashlight to switch itself “on” through a relatively slight accidental motion between itstransducer mount17 andbarrel31, thereby unnecessarily draining the battery.

Accordingly, a preferred embodiment of the invention energizes both lamps during the transition between the first and second rotational positions of the switch actuator orrotary transducer mount17. By way of example, thecontact disc53 may be provided with a protrusion ortang153 which axially protrudes toward the firstswitch contact part62 so as to maintain an electric contact between the

switch contact parts

53 and62 when the switch actuator ortransducer module17 is rotated away from its first rotary andaxial position45 shown inFIGS. 1 and 4.

That tang or projection is shown as anarc153 inFIG. 4, since it maintains both

contact parts

53 and57 in contact with the first contact part and thereby

lamps

12 and13 energized, while theswitch30 switches theflashlight10 from onelamp12 to theother lamp13; that is, while the switch actuator orlamp mount17 goes through its rotational andaxial position147.

In this manner, the user, seeing both

lamps

12 and13 energized at this point, will realize that themodule17 has to be rotated further for thefirst lamp12 to be turned off.

Of course, depending on the nature of the lamps or

other transducers

12 and13, it may, indeed be useful to have both transducers energized for a

compound output

14 and15.

Nevertheless, thetang153 is short enough in axial direction relative to thethird contact75 and its actuator orlifter78 for the first transducer orlamp12 to be deenergized by movement of thetang153 away from thefirst contact part62 when themount17 reaches its rotary andaxial position46 for exclusive energization of the second transducer orlamp13 until themount17 is rotated further, such as to itsextreme position47.

As also shown in the illustrated embodiment, theswitch contact actuator78 is coupled to the thirdswitch contact part75 and maintains that third switch contact part separated from the firstswitch contact part62 in the first angular andaxial position45 of therotary switch actuator17.

In the illustrated embodiment under consideration, the first and second

switch contact parts

62 and53 have arcuate portions matching in the first angular and axial position of therotary switch actuator17, such as theannular disc53 matching an annular orarcuate contact62.

The third switch contact part may be in the form of, or include a projectingelectric contact75 in engagement with the firstswitch contact part62 in the second angular andaxial position46 of the rotary switch actuator, and including theswitch contact actuator78 maintaining that projecting electric contact out of engagement from the firstswitch contact part62 in the first angular andaxial position45 of therotary switch actuator17.

Thatswitch contact actuator78 in particular may project from the thirdswitch contact part69/75 toward the firstswitch contact part62 in mechanical engagement with that first switch contact part in the first angular andaxial position45 of the rotary switch actuator, maintaining the projectingelectric contact75 out of engagement from that firstswitch contact part62. Preferably, the secondaxial position46 of therotary switch actuator17 is more remote from the firstswitch contact part62 than the firstaxial position45 of that rotary switch actuator whereby theswitch contact actuator78 is in disengagement from the firstswitch contact part62 in the second rotary andaxial position46 of the rotary switch actuator, and the projectingelectric contact75 of the third switch contact part is in electrical connection with the firstswitch contact part62 in that second angular and axial position of therotary switch actuator17.

Theswitch30 may include arotary contact carrier54 of insulating material coupled to therotary switch actuator17 and bearing the second and third

switch contact parts

53 and75 and itsflexible support69 having an end remote from the free end at75 attached to thecarrier54. The switch may include anelectric terminal18, with or without52 and57, coupled to at least one of therotary switch actuator17 and therotary contact carrier54.

The illustratedrotary contact carrier54 has an aperture orhollow protrusion56 and the first, second and third

switch contact parts

62,53,69,75 and78 are clear of that aperture orhollow protrusion56. Theelectric terminal18 is contained within that aperture or hollow-cylindrical protrusion56 in therotary contact carrier54. Accordingly, theelectric terminal18 either reaches through the opening at56 to thebattery terminal111, or that battery terminal protrudes into thehollow protrusion56, meeting theswitch terminal18 therein.

In practice, therotary switch actuator17 may house an electric load, such as the transducer orlamp12, connected to one of the second and third

switch contact parts

53 or69/75 or even supported by one of these contact parts or by thecontact carrier54.

Moreover, thatrotary contact carrier54, coupled to therotary switch actuator17 and bearing the second and third

switch contact parts

53 and69/75, may carry a furtherelectric load13 connected to the other of the second and third

switch contact parts

53 or69/75. Theelectric terminal18 is coupled to at least one of therotary switch actuator17 and therotary contact carrier54, such as viadisc52 andprong57, and may be connected to the

electric loads

12 and13.

The invention presently to be discussed resides in a battery-poweredapparatus10 for holding and energizing a firstelectric transducer12 producing afirst output14, and a secondelectric transducer13 producing a differentsecond output15 from a battery current. That apparatus comprises a hand-heldbattery housing16 mounting the first and second electric transducers and having a pair of spaced internal

battery terminal contacts

18 and19, and an electrictransducer energizing circuit20 between the internal battery terminal contacts and the first and second

electric transducers

12 and13, including anelectric switch30. That electric switch comprises arotary switch actuator17 threaded on, in or otherwise to the battery housing for rotary and axial movement relative to thatbattery housing16, a firstswitch contact part62 on the battery housing, a secondswitch contact part53 coupled to therotary switch actuator29 and in electrical connection with the firstswitch contact part62 in a first angular andaxial position45 of the rotary switch actuator, and out of connection from that firstswitch contact part62 in a second angular andaxial position46 of the rotary switch actuator, and a thirdswitch contact part75 coupled to the rotary switch actuator and in electrical connection with the firstswitch contact part62 in that second angular andaxial position46 of the rotary switch actuator, and out of connection from that first switch contact part in the first angular andaxial position45 of the rotary switch actuator. The firstswitch contact part62 is connected to one of the internal battery terminal contacts, such as to the terminal19 throughbattery housing16 andswitch26.

The firstelectric transducer12 has a first terminal at59 connected to the secondswitch contact part53, and the secondelectric transducer13 has a first terminal at72 connected to the thirdswitch contact part75. These first and second electric transducers have second terminals at58 and73 connected to the other internalbattery terminal contact18, such as viadisc52. In this respect, sinceFIG. 5 is an exploded view, particularly the electrically insulated leads58,59, and73 have come out somewhat longer in that exploded view, than as they are in reality, more realistically shown in the assembly drawings ofFIGS. 1 and 2.

As already indicated above, therotary contact carrier54 bears at least one of the electric transducers, lamps or loads12 and13. Therotary switch actuator17 may be a transducer housing, such as in the form of the above mentioned block of material threaded to thebattery housing16 and preferably having an internal orother reflector surface36 for the transducer orlamp12.

Other features herein disclosed may be combined with this aspect of the invention.

Where the light source, as here, includes first and

second lamps

12 and13 mounted on the above mentionedpart54 of theswitch30, that part of the switch may include afirst portion53 in the energizingcircuit20 for switched energization of thefirst lamp12, and asecond portion75 in that energizing circuit for switched energization of thesecond lamp13. That switch may have aswitch actuator17 for the first and

second portions

53 and75 of thepart54 on which the first and

second lamps

12 and13 are mounted. Thatpart54 of the switch may be mounted on theswitch actuator17 as its support.

The flashlight may have a reflector module, such as shown at17 and thepart54 of the switch including the first and

second portion

53 and75 may be mounted on that reflector module as a support of thatpart54. The first and

second lamps

12 and13 extend into thatreflector module17, as seen inFIGS. 1 and 2.

Thereflector module17 includes areflector36 having a focal point (at112). Thefirst lamp12 may have afilament112 at that focal point, such as described above, while thesecond lamp13 extends into thatreflector36 on a side of thefirst lamp12. There may be arefractive lens213 for thesecond lamp13 only.

Thereflector module17 may be a switch actuator for the first and

second portions

53 and75 of thepart54 on which the first and

second lamps

12 and13 are mounted.

Thebarrel31 may form or constitute a module support bearing thereflector module17, and that reflector module may be movable relatively to that module support. Theswitch30 then may have afirst contact62 on thatmodule support31 and in the lightsource energizing circuit20. The above mentioned first portion of thepart54 of the switch has asecond contact53 in engagement with thefirst contact62 in afirst position45 of thereflector module17 relative to its module support and disengaged from that first contact in a second position of the reflector module relative to its module support. That second position may, for instance, be theposition147 when thetang153 is not present, or theposition47 when that tang is present.

The second portion ofpart54 of the switch has athird contact75 in engagement with thefirst contact62 in athird position46 of saidreflector module17 relative to themodule support31 and disengaged from thatfirst contact62 in another position of thereflector module17 relative to its module support. If there is atang153 andextra position147, the later third position may be theposition46. If there is notang153, the latter other position may, for instance, be the

position

47 or147. Alternatively, the latter second and third positions may be identical, such as at46.

Thefirst lamp12 is connected to thesecond contact53 in the light source energizing circuit, and thesecond lamp12 is connected to thethird contact75 in that lightsource energizing circuit20.

The above mentionedpart54 of the switch may have afourth contact18 in the lightsource energizing circuit20, and thefirst lamp12 is then connected between the second and

fourth contacts

53 and18, such as by

wires

58 and59, whist thesecond lamp13 is connected between the third and

Where thereflector module17 is threaded to themodule support31 for rotational and axial movement relative to that module support, the first position is a first rotational andaxial position45 of thereflector module17 relative to itsmodule support31, the second position may be a second rotational and

axial position

46 or47 of that reflector module relative to its module support and the third position may be a third rotational and axial position of the reflector module relative to this module support.

When either of the first and second lamps burns out, thescrew55 is removed and the

whole unit

12,13,18,52,53,57,69,75,78 is discarded and replaced by a like new unit. This will not only provide

fresh lamps

12 and13, but also fresh contacts at18,53 and75 for superior long-time performance of the flashlight or other battery-operatedapparatus10.

This in contrast to the deteriorating performance from progressively corroding switch contacts and battery terminal contacts of prior-art flashlights.

Also, the replacedlight bulb12 orfilament112 will be as well focused as the light bulb or filament it replaces in thetransducer mount17 andreflector36. For instance, when the replacement unit is manufactured, eachbulb12 may first be cemented or similarly fastened in asleeve81 and such sleeve may be mounted on theswitch carrier54, or in itshollow part56, and the focus of thefilament112 may be checked and rechecked during such manufacturing procedure.