Abstract: A portable hand carried lantern comprising components which may be quickly snapped together without the use of tools. A battery contact platform separates the battery chamber and bulb chamber and includes a plurality of contact strips by which the electrical circuit is automatically established without the use of wires upon assembly of the components. A safety disconnect system incorporated in the bulb chamber and battery contact platform that prevents explosion in a flammable atmosphere should the bulb break.

Abstract: A flashlight having a reinforced tubular plastic casing including a battery compartment and a bulb compartment separated by a transverse wall integrally molded with the casing. A bulb is retained in a socket integrally molded with the wall by a bushing which may be quickly connected and disconnected from the socket, the bulb and the bushing being resiliently axially moveable with respect to the socket and the transverse wall to prevent breakage of the bulb due to shock or impact. A novel reflector is axially moveable with respect to the bulb to afford adjustable focussing of the light emitted from the bulb. The reflective surface of the reflector combines a facetted parabolic surface on the outer portion of the reflector with a smooth spherical surface at the base of the reflector to optimize the amount of light collected from the light bulb and focused in the beam.

Abstract: A paper-lined dry cell battery includes an electrically insulating band over the full circumference of the inner surface of the can sidewall from a point below the level of the upper end of the liner to a point substantially thereabove, thereby to electrically insulate a segment of the can sidewall from smears.

Abstract: The switch includes a slide, mounted for movement along the housing between first, second and third positions, and carrying a depressable pushbutton. A flexible contact is movable by the pushbutton to a position wherein it is operatively connected to a fixed contact to complete the electrical circuit. The pushbutton and the flexible contact each have corresponding camming and non-camming surfaces thereon which respectively interact to move the flexible contact towards the fixed contact. The corresponding camming surfaces interact only as the slide is moved from the second to the third position. The corresponding non-camming surfaces interact only when aligned and the pushbutton is depressed. Since none of the surfaces operatively interact as the slide is moved from the first toward the second position, wearing of the interacting surfaces is substantially reduced.