Patent ID: 7344270
Filing Date: 2008-03-18
Classification: F21L,F21V,F21Y,H05B

Abstract:
1. A flashlight comprising: a single lamp; a power storage element; a single switch having an electrical portion operable to be incremented through a sequence of states including an off state in addition to at least two different brightness states; the switch having a push-button actuator operably connected to the electrical portion and operable in response to external pressure to move from a resting position to a depressed position, and upon release of pressure to return to the resting position; the switch being operable in response to a sequence of single momentary applications and releases of pressure to increment from a first one of the states in the sequence to a second one of the states in the sequence to a third one of the states in the sequence; the first one of the states comprising operating the lamp at a first brightness; the second one of the states comprising operating the lamp at a different brightness; the third one of the states comprising maintaining the lamp in an off condition; and including a controller operable to deliver different selected power levels to the lamp, and having a plurality of inputs, the switch having a plurality of outputs connected via a corresponding plurality of conductive connections to the respective controller inputs, each connection corresponding to a operational state, such that current flows through a selected output when the flashlight is in the corresponding operational state.