Importance

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Abstract

A flashlight having a delayed action switch assembly which functions to connect a light bulb to a battery supply. Included in the assembly is a pivoted trigger lever mounted on the underside of the flashlight handle. The lever is biased by a leaf spring forming the first contact of a leaf spring switch having a second contact and an intermediate contact interposed between the first and second contacts, the contacts being normally disengaged from each other. The switch is closed only when the first and second contacts engage the intermediate contact. Also included in the flashlight is a slide actuator on the upper side of the handle which cooperates with the second contact, such that when the actuator is in its forward 'on' position, the second contact is deflected to engage the intermediate contact, and when in its rear 'off' position, the second contact is disengaged. When the trigger lever is momentarily depressed by an operator grasping the handle, it acts to deflect the first contact to engage the intermediate contact. When so depressed, the lever engages, compresses and collapses a stationary suction cup to retain the lever in its depressed state, whereby if the actuator is then in its 'on' position, the flashlight is turned 'on.' The memory characteristics of the cup are such as to retain the lever in its depressed state for a predetermined interval. At the conclusion of this interval, the cup resumes its normal form and the lever is released to open the switch.

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First Claim