Abstract: A battery powered cigarette lighter having a switch which is activated by a change in air pressure or air flow is described. The change in air pressure or air flow, which is caused by the consumer forcing air through the air permeable cigarette, causes the switch to close thereby allowing the lighter's direct current power supply to increase the temperature of the lighter's heating element above the cigarette's ignition point.

Abstract: A battery powered electrical appliance (100) operates using batteries (406, 408) of more than one size and provides preparedness information (120) which may be used to assist in preparing for an emergency or otherwise obtaining desired supplies. The electrical appliance (100) may be employed to provide a first task illumination function, at least a first visible signaling function, and an audible signaling function.

Abstract: A portable electrochemical power supply for handheld electronic devices, such as cellular telephones, is disclosed. The power supply includes a housing with an electrical connector, a circuit board, and a removable electrochemical cell disposed therein. The circuit board carries power supply circuitry which receives electrical energy from the electrochemical cell and provides a power supply output for powering an external device.

Abstract: A lighting device which is adapted to be converted between a flashlight mode and an area light mode includes a housing to receive a power supply, a light source associated with the housing and a tubular lens surrounding the light source, a reflector mounted to said device so as to slide relative to the tubular lens, the reflector including an aperture through which the light source can pass, the aperture having a shutter associated therewith whereby the shutter closes the aperture when the reflector is in a position which allows the device to be used in the area light mode.

Abstract: A device (100) such as a battery charger includes a body (102), a movable member (104, 402), and a plurality of battery bays (108). Moving the member (104, 402) toward a first position increases a distance between respective first (132) and second (114) battery contacts so that a battery may be inserted with zero or substantially zero insertion force. Moving the member (104, 402) in the second direction decreases the distance between the first and second battery contacts. In one implementation, the device (100) is polarity agnostic.

Abstract: A battery charger (100) includes a plurality of battery receiving bays (108) for receiving batteries to be charged. A user interface (120) includes a display which displays information indicative of batteries received in the various bays (108) in graphical and textual form. The displayed information includes the number of batteries received in the charger, as well as their size, good/bad state, and state of charge.

Abstract: A lighting device includes one or more light sources, one or more switches, and a controller. The lighting device has multiple modes of operation. The controller selects modes of operation according to the one or more switches. The controller controls or operates the one or more light sources according to the selected mode of operation.

Abstract: An intrinsically safe battery powered device (100) includes a housing (102), a battery receiving region (104), an intrinsically safe power supply (108, 110), and device electrical circuitry (112). The power supply (108, 110) uses energy from batteries (106) received in the batter receiving region (104) of the device (100) to power the circuitry (112). In one implementation, the power supply includes an intrinsically safe charge pump circuit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lighting device having a light housing including a light source being rotatably connected by a rotatable connection means to a lighting device body, said body having said rotatable connection means positioned so as to allow said light housing to lay adjacent said body and to define therebetween a narrow space which is accessible in a base to top direction. The present invention also provides a light housing for a lighting device, said light housing including a light source holder at one end thereof, said light housing also including means to receive a mounting member at one end of said light housing opposite to said light source holder, said light housing being characterised by said light source holder allowing limited pivotal movement of said light source when said light source is mounted in said light source holder, said limited pivotal movement being in the range of 5° to 30°.