Better Torch

In 1994, I was caught in a frightening cyclone on a remote island, at dusk. Then my torch / flashlight went dead, and I lost my bearings. Determined not to get into such a situation again, I developed a torch with a fluorescent neon indicator (examples pictured) and reflector. This was about as bright as the moonlight, but it worked -- and it worked for days at a time off a set of AA batteries. OBSERVATION: Soon after, useful white LEDs came on the market. I copyrighted the first wind-up LED torch, which somebody else then patented! (US 7019492). I still use a prototype regularly.