Flashlight with tail cap switch assembly

Claim 1

A flashlight comprising: a conductive barrel adapted to receive a battery unit therein and having an externally threaded rear end portion with a contact end face; a tubular tail cap member sleeved on said rear end portion of said barrel and formed with an internal screw thread for coupling threadedly therewith, said tail cap member having an open rear portion formed with a radial inward annular flange that is spaced apart from said contact end face in an axial direction relative to said tail cap member; and a tail cap switch assembly including a push button cap made from an insulator material and having a contact support portion disposed in said tail cap member between said annular flange and said contact end face, a cap engaging portion extending rearwardly from said contact support portion and in the axial direction through said annular flange and in sliding engagement with said annular flange, and an operating portion formed on a rear end of said cap engaging portion and accessible from said open rear portion of said tail cap member, and a conductive contact member disposed on said contact support portion and adapted to connect electrically with the battery unit, said operating portion being operable so as to move said push button cap in the axial direction to move said contact member to contact said contact end face so that electrical connection can be established between said barrel and the battery unit.