Flashlight-continuity tester having plug and jack arrangement

Claim 2

A continuity tester comprising a flashlight including a lamp, a battery, and circuit means including a bias spring contacting one terminal of said battery for selectively coupling said lamp in circuit with said source to illuminate said lamp, wherein the improvement comprises: an insulating member positioned between said one battery terminal and said bias spring, a conductor coupled to said insulating member to define, at least in part, an electrical contact on a surface of said insulating member adjacent said battery to couple said one battery terminal to said conductor; a switch-including jack positioned on said flashlight and having first and second jack contacts one jack contact of which is coupled to said conductor on said insulating member, the remaining jack contact of which is electrically coupled to said circuit means of said flashlight on the side of said insulating member opposite said contact, and a switching contact coupled between said first and second jack contacts; and a plug adapted to fit in said jack and including a pair of contacts which contact said first and second jack contacts and a pair of continuity test leads coupled to said pair of plug contacts wherein said switching contact is selectively actuated by the insertion and removal of said plug into said jack to bypass said insulating member when said plug is removed, and to bypass said interruption means when the plug is inserted into said jack and electrical continuity exists between said continuity test leads.

Claim 3

A continuity tester comprising a flashlight including a lamp, at least one battery having a pair of electrical terminals, and circuit means selectively coupling said lamp in circuit with said battery to illuminate said lamp, wherein the improvement comprises: circuit interruption means comprising a disc of insulating material having an aperture formed therethrough and a conductor having one end extending through said aperture to provide an electrical contact on one side of said disc, said disc positioned between one of said terminals of said battery and associated circuit means normally in contact with said one battery terminal; a switch-including jack positioned on said flashlight and having first and second contacts electrically coupled to said circuit means of said flashlight on opposite sides of said circuit interruption means with one of said contacts coupled to said conductor extending from said disc; a switching contact coupled between said first and second contacts of said switch-including jack; and a plug adapted to fit in said jack and including a pair of contacts which contact said first and second contacts of said jack and a pair of continuity test leads coupled to said pair of plug contacts when said switching contact is selectively actuated by the insertion and removal of said plug into said jack to bypass said circuit interruption means when said plug is removed, and to bypass said interruption means when the plug is inserted into said jack and electrical continuity exists between said continuity test leads.

Claim 4

A continuity tester comprising a flashlight including a lamp, at least one battery having a pair of electrical terminals, and circuit means selectively coupling said lamp in circuit with said battery to illuminate said lamp, wherein the improvement comprises: circuit interruption means comprising a disc of insulating material having an aperture formed therethrough and a conductor having one end extending through said aperture to provide an electrical contact on one side of said disc, said disc positioned between one of said terminals of said battery and associated circuit means normally in contact with said one battery terminal; a switch-including jack positioned on said flashlight and having first and second contacts electrically coupled to said circuit means of said flashlight on opposite sides of said circuit interruption means with one of said contacts coupled to said conductor extending from said disc; a switching contact coupled between said first and second contacts of said switch-including jack; and a plug adapted to fit in said jack and including a pair of contacts which contact said first and second contacts of said jack and a pair of continuity test leads coupled to said pair of plug contacts when said switching contact is selectively actuated by the insertion and removal of said plug into said jack to bypass said circuit interruption means when said plug is removed, and to bypass said interruption means when the plug is inserted into said jack and electrical continuity exists between said continuity test leads.

Claim 5

The continuity tester as defined in claim 2 wherein said remaining contact of said jack is electrically coupled to the circuiT element in contact with an opposite surface of said disc.

Claim 6

The continuity tester as defined in claim 3 wherein said jack comprises a sub-miniature phone jack positioned on one end of the case of the flashlight.

Claim 7

A conversion kit for converting a conventional flashlight including a bias spring contacting one terminal of a battery fitted therein to a combined continuity tester/flashlight comprising: a switch-including jack having first and second contacts adapted to contact first and second contacts of a plug associated with said jack, said jack further including a switching contact coupled between said first and second contacts and selectively actuated by the insertion and removal of said plug therein to alternately uncouple and couple said first and second jack contacts respectively; an insulating member shaped to be fitted into a flashlight between one terminal of a battery and the bias spring normally contacting said one terminal and including an electrical contact on a surface adjacent the battery terminal to contact the terminal when the kit is installed in a flashlight; and conducting means coupled from said contact on said insulating member to one of said first or second contacts of said jack whereby the remaining jack contact is adapted to be coupled in circuit with the flashlight when said kit is installed therein to electrically bypass said insulating member when said switching contact of said jack is closed to short said first and second jack contacts.

Claim 8

A conversion kit for converting a conventional flashlight including a bias spring contacting one terminal of a battery fitted therein to a combined continuity tester/flashlight comprising: a switch-including jack having first and second contacts adapted to contact first and second contacts of a plug associated with said jack, said jack further including a switching contact coupled between said first and second contacts and selectively actuated by the insertion and removal of said plug therein to alternately uncouple and couple said first and second jack contacts respectively; an insulating member shaped to be fitted into a flashlight between one terminal of a battery and the bias spring normally contacting said one terminal and including an electrical contact on a surface adjacent the battery terminal to contact the terminal when the kit is installed in a flashlight; and conducting means coupled from said contact on said insulating member to one of said first or second contacts of said jack whereby the remaining jack contact is adapted to be coupled in circuit with the flashlight when said kit is installed therein to electrically bypass said insulating member when said switching contact of said jack is closed to short said first and second jack contacts.

Claim 9

A conversion kit for converting a conventional flashlight to a combined continuity tester/flashlight comprising: a switch-including jack having first and second contacts adapted to contact first and second contacts of a plug associated with said jack, said jack further including a switching contact coupled between said first and second contacts and selectively actuated by the insertion and removal of said plug therein to alternately uncouple and couple said first and second jack contacts respectively; and means for coupling said first and second jack contacts in series with the electrical circuit of a flashlight comprises a disc of insulating material having an aperture therein and adapted to be positioned in contact with one terminal of a battery of said flashlight and having an electrical conductor with one end extending through said aperture to form an electrical contact on one side of said disc, said opposite end of said conductor coupled to one of said contacts of said jack, the remaining contact of said jack including conducting means thereon adapted to be coupled to a circuit element contacting a surface of said insulating disc opposite said electrical contact thereon.

Claim 10

A conversion kit for converting a conventional flashlight to a combined continuity tester/flashlight comprising: a switch-including jack having first and second contacts adapted to contact first and second contacts of a plug associated with said jack, said jack further including a switching contact coupled between said first and second contacts and selectively actuated by the insertion and removal of said plug therein to alternately uncouple and couple said first and second jack contacts respectively; and means for coupling said first and second jack contacts in series with the electrical circuit of a flashlight comprises a disc of insulating material having an aperture therein and adapted to be positioned in contact with one terminal of a battery of said flashlight and having an electrical conductor with one end extending through said aperture to form an electrical contact on one side of said disc, said opposite end of said conductor coupled to one of said contacts of said jack, the remaining contact of said jack including conducting means thereon adapted to be coupled to a circuit element contacting a surface of said insulating disc opposite said electrical contact thereon.

Claim 11

The continuity tester as defined in claim 6 and further including a plug adapted to fit in said jack and having first and second contacts which electrically contact said contacts of said jack and further including a pair of continuity test leads coupled to said contacts and extending from said plug.

Claim 12

A continuity tester comprising: a flashlight including a battery-containing case having a conducting bias spring at one end thereof to position one or more batteries in electrical contact with a lamp positioned at an opposite end thereof; an insulating member having first and second opposed surfaces and positioned between said bias spring and a battery when positioned in said case to interrupt the electrical circuit therebetween; a plug including first and second contacts and a pair of continuity test leads coupled to said contacts and extending from said plug; a switch-including jack adapted to receive said plug and having first and second contacts which contact said plug contacts and which are electrically shorted when said plug is not inserted therein. a first conductor extending from one of said jack contacts to one of said surfaces of said insulating member to form an electrical contact with a battery when positioned in said case; and conducting means extEnding from the other of said jack contacts and coupled to said bias spring.

Claim 13

A continuity tester comprising: a flashlight including a battery-containing case having a conducting bias spring at one end thereof to position one or more batteries in electrical contact with a lamp positioned at an opposite end thereof; an insulating member having first and second opposed surfaces and positioned between said bias spring and a battery when positioned in said case to interrupt the electrical circuit therebetween; a plug including first and second contacts and a pair of continuity test leads coupled to said contacts and extending from said plug; a switch-including jack adapted to receive said plug and having first and second contacts which contact said plug contacts and which are electrically shorted when said plug is not inserted therein. a first conductor extending from one of said jack contacts to one of said surfaces of said insulating member to form an electrical contact with a battery when positioned in said case; and conducting means extEnding from the other of said jack contacts and coupled to said bias spring.

Claim 14

The continuity tester as defined in claim 8 wherein said insulating member comprises a disc having an aperture therein and wherein said first conductor has an end extending through said aperture to form an electrical contact at one of the surfaces of said disc.