Flashlight and switch assembly

Claim 2

A switch assembly for use with a magnetic reed switch operatively mounted in the external wall of a device comprising: a. a nonconductive base having a front wall and a back wall and formed with a channel between the front wall and back wall along the longitudinal dimension of the base; b. a switch button slidably mounted in the channel; c. a magnet affixed to the underside of the switch button for movement therewith, the magnet having its north and south poles in alignment with the longitudinal dimension of the channel of the base, the base being positioned over a magnetic reed switch in alignment with the longitudinal dimensions of the contact arms of the reed switCh, in such position that when the switch button and magnet are moved toward the front wall of the base, the magnet will cause the contact arms of the reed switch to close; d. means to mount the switch assembly on the external wall of a device, e. resilient means positioned between the front wall of the base and the front surface of the switch button to urge the switch button toward the back wall of the base; and f. movable locking means mounted in the base to hold the switch button toward the front wall of the base.

Claim 3

A switch assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein: a. the base is formed with a first aperture through one side, proximate to the back wall and opening into the channel of the base; b. the back wall is formed with a hole through the center portion and with a second aperture rearward of the hole, the second aperture extending part way through the back wall and being on the opposite side of the base from the first aperture; and c. a non-magnetic S-shaped pin is movably mounted transversely of the channel, through the hole and first and second apertures, one arm of the pin passing into the first aperture, the body of the pin passing through the hole and the second arm of the pin passing into the second aperture, the movement of one arm through the first aperture into the channel locking the switch button in a position toward the front end of the base, the movement of the second arm into the second aperture causing the withdrawal of the first arm from the channel to release the switch button.

Claim 4

A switch assembly for use with a magnetic reed switch operatively mounted in the external wall of a device comprising: a. switch cover formed with a chamer and having a front end, back end, two side walls, an open bottom and a top face formed with an opening; b. a switch button slidably mounted over the opening in he top face of the switch cover; c. a magnet having its north and south poles in alignment with the front and back ends of the switch cover and having its north and south poles positioned parallel to the longitudinal dimensions of the contact arms of the reed switch, affixed to the underside of the switch button for movement therewith within the chamber; d. resilient means positioned between the front end of the switch cover and one end of the magnet to urge the magnet toward the back end of the switch cover and away from the center portion of he magnetic reed switch; e. magnetizable locking means movably mounted in the chamber at the back end of the switch cover; and f. means to mount the switch assembly on the external wall of a device.

Claim 5

A switch assembly for use with a magnetic reed switch operatively mounted in the external wall of a device comprising: a. switch cover formed with a chamer and having a front end, back end, two side walls, an open bottom and a top face formed with an opening; b. a switch button slidably mounted over the opening in he top face of the switch cover; c. a magnet having its north and south poles in alignment with the front and back ends of the switch cover and having its north and south poles positioned parallel to the longitudinal dimensions of the contact arms of the reed switch, affixed to the underside of the switch button for movement therewith within the chamber; d. resilient means positioned between the front end of the switch cover and one end of the magnet to urge the magnet toward the back end of the switch cover and away from the center portion of he magnetic reed switch; e. magnetizable locking means movably mounted in the chamber at the back end of the switch cover; and f. means to mount the switch assembly on the external wall of a device.

Claim 6

A switch assembly as recited in claim 3 wherein: a. the first side wall of the switch cover is formed with a pair of apertures, a front aperture and a back aperture, both apertures being positioned toward the back end of the switch cover; b. the second side wall of the switch cover is formed with a pair of apertures, a front aperture and a back aperture, both apertures being positioned toward the back end of the switch cover slightly rearward of the apertures in the first side wall; and c. a magnetizable S-shaped pin is movably mounted transversely of the chamber, the front arm of the S-shaped pin passing into the front aperture on the frist side wall, the back arm of the S-shaped pin passing into the back aperture in the second side wall and the body of the S-shaped pin passing through the back aperture of the first side wall and the front aperture of the second side wall, the front aperture in the first side wall being a predetermined distance from the magnetic read switch with respect to the size of the magnet so that when the front arm of the S-shaped pin is pulled into the chamber by magnetic attraction it will hold the magnet over the center portion of the magnetic reed switch.

Claim 7

A switch assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein the S-shaped pin is made of steel.