Miniature LED flashlight having split ring

1. A flashlight, comprising:

a body portion with a forward end and a rearward end and opposing sides, the rearward end comprising a split-ring clip portion, the split-ring clip portion being formed by a first arm and a second arm, the arms being entirely molded along with the body of the flashlight, each arm projecting from one of the opposing sides of the forward end of the body to form the rearward end of the body such that the first arm and second arm overlie one another for an effective length to operatively form a ring clip operable by twisting the first arm apart from the second arm;

a light source carried by the body portion;

a power source carried in the body portion for energizing the light source; and

a switch configured to operatively couple the power source and the light source.

2. The flashlight in accordance with claim 1 wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.

3. The flashlight in accordance with claim 2 wherein the power source is at least one battery.

4. The flashlight in accordance with claim 1 wherein the power source is a pair of coin-type batteries.

5. The flashlight in accordance with claim 3 wherein the light emitting diode has a pair of leads operatively disposed on opposite sides of the at least one battery.

6. The flashlight in accordance with claim 3 including an annular insulating spacer disposed between a surface of the at least one battery and the momentary contact switch operative to space the momentary contact switch out of electrical contact with the surface of the at least one battery.

7. The flashlight in accordance with claim 1 wherein the momentary contact switch includes a flexible disk formed of conductive material.

8. The flashlight in accordance with claim 3 further including an annular insulating spacer, and a flexible disk formed of conductive material disposed between the annular insulating spacer and one lead of the light emitting diode.

9. The flashlight in accordance with claim 1 wherein the body portion includes a cup-shaped recess defined by a bottom portion, sidewalls integrally formed with the bottom portion, and an open top portion.

10. The flashlight in accordance with claim 1 including a top cover having at least a portion formed of elastomeric material.

11. The flashlight in accordance with claim 10 , wherein an underside of the top cover includes a plurality of concentric rings formed in the elastomeric material.

12. The flashlight assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein the body portion is replaceable.

13. The flashlight in accordance with claim 1 wherein the body portion includes a replaceable bottom wall.

14. The flashlight in accordance with claim 13 wherein the replaceable bottom wall is formed of plastic.

15. A flashlight, comprising:

a body having a forward end and a rearward end, the rearward end comprising a split-ring clip portion, the split-ring clip portion being formed by a first arm and a second arm, the arms being entirely molded along with the body of the flashlight, each arm projecting from one of the opposing sides of the forward end of the body to form the rearward end of the body such that the first arm and second arm overlie one another over an effective length to operatively form a ring clip operable by twisting the first arm apart from the second arm;

a light source carried by a portion of the body;

a power source carried by the body;

a switch, configured to electrically couple the power source and the light source, the switch having surface extending outwardly from the body; and

a top cover configured to cover a portion of the body, at least a portion of the top cover formed of an elastomeric material.

16. The flashlight in accordance with claim 15 wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.

17. The flashlight in accordance with claim 16 wherein the power source is at least one battery.

18. The flashlight in accordance with claim 15 wherein the power source is a pair of coin-type batteries.

19. The flashlight in accordance with claim 17 wherein the light emitting diode has a pair of leads operatively disposed on opposite sides of the at least one battery.

20. The flashlight in accordance with claim 17 including an annular insulating spacer disposed between a surface of the at least one battery and the momentary contact switch operative to space the momentary contact switch out of contact with the surface of the at least one battery.

21. The flashlight in accordance with claim 15 wherein the momentary contact switch includes a flexible disk formed of conductive material.

22. The flashlight in accordance with claim 16 further including an annular insulating spacer, and a flexible disk formed of conductive material disposed between the annular insulating spacer and one lead of the light emitting diode.

23. The flashlight in accordance with claim 15 wherein an underside of the top cover includes a plurality of concentric rings formed in the elastomeric material.

24. The flashlight in accordance with claim 15 wherein the body is replaceable.

25. The flashlight in accordance with claim 15 wherein the body includes a replaceable bottom wall.

26. The flashlight in accordance with claim 25 wherein the replaceable bottom wall is formed of plastic.

27. The flashlight in accordance with claim 25 wherein the replaceable bottom wall is configured to receive at least one of a plurality of indicia.

28. The flashlight in accordance with claim 27 wherein the indicia is selected from the group consisting of text, graphics, designs, and corporate logos.

29. The flashlight in accordance with claim 27 wherein the indicia is applied or affixed to the replaceable bottom by techniques selected from the group consisting of engraving, silk screening, inking, pad printed, foil stamping, and marking.