Patent ID: 6971762

Claim:
A switch device for use in a flashlight comprising: a housing having an electrical contact on a first end thereof and an outer wall defining an interior cavity; at least one battery in said interior cavity, said battery being spring biased in a first linear direction towards said first end of said housing; and a switch assembly having a slidable actuator therein, said switch assembly threadedly received on said first end of said housing, said actuator being in electrical communication with said battery, said switch device having a fully closed position wherein said switch assembly is fully threaded onto said housing and said actuator is in electrical communication with said electrical contact, said switch device having a selectibly closed position wherein said switch assembly is partially unthreaded relative to said housing creating a space between said actuator and said electrical contact, said actuator being depressible in a second linear direction opposite said first causing said actuator to displace said battery and to move into electrical communication with said electrical contact and said switch device having a fully open position wherein further unthreading of said switch assembly relative to said housing causes said space between said actuator and said electrical contact to be greater than the allowable linear travel of said actuator preventing said actuator from contacting said electrical contact.