Abstract:
A portable illumination device includes a body, a flexible extension and an plurality of interchangeable illumination elements. The flexible extension may be formed from one piece or multiple pieces assembled together. The illumination element is selected from a set of different types of interchangeable illumination elements. The body houses a power source which transmits power through the flexible extension to the illumination element. Different types of mounting brackets may be attached to either the body or extension for securing the portable illumination device. Several different illumination elements and several different extension pieces may be packaged together forming a portable illumination device kit.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to portable illuminating devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to mountable portable illuminating devices having flexible positioning, interchangeable illumination elements of various sizes and types. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Proper illumination helps improve the repair process for mechanical devices such as: automobiles, farm equipment, lawn mowers, snow blowers, snow machines, or other types of power equipment. For example, a mechanic may need to see the position of a bolt while maneuvering a wrench into position or may need to see the type or size of a bolt. A mechanic may also need to see whether a bolt is really moving as force is applied. In addition, a mechanic may need to see whether a part is worn, dirty, or bent. All these tasks and others require that the area of interest be properly illuminated. 
         [0005]    Often points of repair are hidden in dark and hard to reach places. Thus, illuminating a point of repair may be difficult. The distances from the point of access to the point of repair may greatly vary. A route from the point of access to the point of repair may require negotiating around several different points of varying sized openings. A point of repair may be dark. Thus, illuminating devices which are portable, extendable, and physically flexible are useful. 
         [0006]    Another issue, which may affect properly illumination, includes the size and type of surface near the point of repair. The surface near the point of repair may be such that an illuminating device must be mounted to insure stability. 
         [0007]    Yet, another issue, a light or illumination source which oscillates may distract the mechanic. Thus, motionless illumination is desirable. A motionless illumination source enables a mechanic to work with more focus. 
         [0008]    Still yet, the type and brightness of illuminating devices may be important. An illuminating device with proper intensity, neither too bright nor too dim improves the mechanics ability to see clearly, the necessary detail. Mechanics may prefer a particular type of illumination for a particular repair. Providing illuminating devices with different types of illumination elements is advantageous. 
         [0009]    Finally, repairs often require two hands. For example, bolting together parts or checking fluid levels generally requires two hands. A local mountable illumination device is advantageous, because it allows a mechanic the flexibility of using both hands. 
         [0010]    Known illuminating devices used during repairs include several different types such as: overhead house lights, treble lights, and portable illuminating devices. Some portable illuminating devices such as flashlights have been used. Generally, portable illuminating devices are comprised of a body, an extension, and an illumination element. The power source for portable illuminating devices, though generally batteries located in the body, may also be located in the illuminating element. An illuminating element generally includes: housing with a lens, and a light source. Various types of portable illuminating devices are known. 
         [0011]    One such device comprises a flat bottom body with multiple elongated, flexible, fixed length extensions. An LED connects at the end of each fixed length extension. The LEDs are electrically attached through the extensions to a battery power source located within the body. The device does not permit multiple types of illumination elements. It is also limited by the fixed length of each flexible extension. 
         [0012]    Another such device comprises a free standing body with a battery power source. The lamp assembly and flat bottom body connect through an extension comprised of a rigid set of extendable rods. The device does not permit multiple types of illumination elements. 
         [0013]    Yet, another such device comprises a hand held body with a battery power supply, a flexible extension, a lamp assembly, and a lamp assembly storage clamp. The device does not permit multiple types of illumination elements. It is also limited by the fixed length of the flexible extension. 
         [0014]    Still, yet other such devices comprise a battery power source, a fixed length extension comprised of a flexible rod, and a lamp assembly of one type. The device does not permit multiple types of illumination elements. It is also limited by the fixed length of the flexible extension. 
         [0015]    Even yet, other such devices comprise a hand-held body containing a battery power source, a fixed length extension pre-assembled from fixed length pieces, and a single type lamp assembly. The extension is covered with a tubular fixed length flexible sheath. In general, these disclosed devices provide a means for folding over and clamping the body with the illuminating element. The device does not permit multiple types of illumination elements. It is also limited by the fixed length of the flexible extension. 
         [0016]    Yet even more, another such device, comprising a magnetic base flat bottom base with a fixed length flexible rod connected to a single type lamp assembly, is disclosed. Power is supplied through a connection with the vehicles power system usually an auto cigarette lighter socket. The device does not permit multiple types of illumination elements. It is also limited by the fixed length of the flexible extension. 
         [0017]    Each of the disclosed devices lack one or more of the requirements. Some lack a flexible extension. All of these disclosed devices are limited to a fixed length extension. Still, others fix the illumination element with the extension. Others lack a mounting device. All of the elements comprising the disclose devices are limited to a single size. Lastly, none of the disclosed devices disclose interchangeable illuminating elements. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    The present invention provides a portable, flexible illuminating device. According to one aspect of the invention, this device includes a body with a portable power source, a flexible extension, and interchangeable illuminating elements. The interchangeable illuminating elements may include different types of lighting elements. In addition, the interchangeable illuminating elements may vary in size. 
         [0019]    In another aspect, the invention comprises a mountable base element, a flexible extension, and interchangeable illuminating elements. The mountable base element may include interchangeable mounting brackets attached to the base element. 
         [0020]    In still, another aspect, the invention consists of a body with an outside power source connection, a flexible extension, and an illuminating element. The illuminating device may be powered from either AC or DC electrical power. In this aspect, the intensity of the illumination element may be varied. 
         [0021]    In still yet, another aspect, the invention consists of a body with interchangeable and expandable extension pieces. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a portable flexible illumination device of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIGS. 2A-2C  are perspective views of multiple mounting brackets for use with a portable illumination device according to embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIGS. 3A-3B  are perspective views of multiple types of extensions for use with a portable illumination device according to embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a power system detail according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a detail of one type of flexible joint according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is a detail view of an embodiment of an illumination element of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]    The present invention provides a device for improved local illumination of areas in need of repair or inspection. The illumination device  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1  includes a body  20 , an extension  30 , an illumination element  40 , a mounting bracket  50 , and a power system  60 . The exterior  23  of the body  20  may be of any shape and made of any non-electrical conducting material including: plastic, rubber or other material. Alternatively, the body may be of any material which is electrically insulated from the power system  60  and illumination element  40 . 
         [0029]    According to a preferred embodiment, illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the extension  30  is made of one or more extension pieces  31  with connectors  32 A,  32 ′ at each end. The connectors  32 A,  32 ′ may be of several types including: snap adapters, threaded adapters, or quick coupler adapters. Also,the type of connectors found in a set of extension pieces  31  generally are the same type so that they can be connected together. The exterior  33  of an extension piece  31  may be made of any non-electrical conducting material including: plastic, rubber, or other material or any material which is insulated from the power of the illumination device. The interior  34  of an extension piece  31  may be made of any suitable material including: metal, plastic, rubber, or other material. A connector  32 A of an extension piece  31  connects with the body  20 . In this embodiment, an interchangeable illumination element  40  is connected to the other end of the extension piece  31 . In general, the term “interchangeable” with respect to the illumination element  40  means replaceable with different types of illumination elements. Although an extension piece  31  illustrated in  FIG. 5  is cylindrical, other embodiments include extension pieces  31  made of any size and shape. 
         [0030]    Although in this embodiment, the power source  61  is located inside the body  20 , the power source may be housed in the illumination element in other embodiments. A power circuit  66 , a power connector  62 , and a power switch  64  are also shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0031]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the mounting bracket  50  connects to the body  20  with a hinged type fastener  59 . 
         [0032]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , an extension  30  may be flexible. The flexible nature of a piece  31  made be from the natural attribute of the material or from a flexible joint  37  or any combination of the two means. Although preferably a piece is small enough to fit around the various sized spaces in-between the different pieces of equipment, a piece  31  may be of any length and size. In this aspect, a spring based clip  36  secures the joint connection. Also is this aspect, the lower end  38  of a piece  31  is made of a flexible material allowing the extension to bend. A hollow space  35  is left inside a piece  31 . 
         [0033]    In another embodiment, any type of connection  32 A,  32 ′ may be mixed and matched respectively as long as  32 A,  32 ′ are of compatible types. 
         [0034]    According to one embodiment of the illumination element illustrated in  FIG. 6 , an illumination element  40  consists of a housing  44 , a lens  43 , a conductive holder  46  attached with the housing  44 , and an illuminating source  45  attached to the conductive holder  46 , the illuminating source  45  being positioned in the inside part of the compartment  42 . The illuminating source  45  may be any light emitting device such as one or more incandescent light bulb, an LED, neon light, florescent, halogen or other such device for producing illumination. The exterior of the housing  44  may be made of any non-electrical conducting material such as rubber, plastic or other material or any material which is insulated from the power of the illumination device  10 . The inner portion of the housing  44  may be constructed of any suitable material or combination thereof of sufficient strength including: plastic, metal, rubber, or other material. The total size of the illuminating element  40  may be of any sufficient size to fit within the space between equipment. 
         [0035]    In an embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the power system  60  consists of a power source  61  located inside a cavity in the body  20 , an electrical switch, a power circuit and an illuminating source  45 . Generally, this power source  61  is portable consisting of rechargeable or traditional batteries. In other embodiments, this power source  61  may include an AC or DC power connector  62  with or with out a battery charger. The AC or DC power connector  62  electrically connects to the power source  61 . 
         [0036]    The power source  61  also connects electrically with a power on/off switch  64 . The power switch  64  connects electrically with the power circuit  66 . The power switch  64  may also vary the amount of power delivered to the power circuit  66 . The power circuit  66  is inserted through the hollow portion  37  of the extension  30 . The power circuit  66  electrically connects with the conductive holder  46 . The illuminating source  45  attaches electrically with the conductive holder  46 . 
         [0037]      FIGS. 2A-2C  illustrate multiple types of mounting brackets  50 .  FIG. 2A  shows a magnet type mounting bracket  110 . In  FIG. 2A , a connector  112  attaches with sufficient strength to a body  111 . The body  111  is magnetic.  FIG. 2B  shows a strap type mounting bracket  120 . In  FIG. 2B , the connector  122  attaches with sufficient strength to a body  121 . The body  121  includes a strap  124  of sufficient strength made of any flexible material including: plastic, rubber, leather, or other material.  FIG. 2C  shows a clamp type mounting bracket  130 . In  FIG. 2C , the connector  132  attaches using a fastener  134  of sufficient strength to a body  131 . The body  131  includes a clamp  135  of sufficient strength made from any material including: metallic, plastic, rubber, leather, or other material. The connectors  112 ,  122 , 132  may be of any known type including: snap adapters, threaded adapters, or quick coupler adapters. Of course, other types of mounting brackets could also be used. 
         [0038]    Each of these mounting brackets may be attached either with a body  20  or an extension  30  via a connector  59  positioned as shown in  FIG. 1 . Although the mounting bracket  50  shown in  FIG. 1  is a strap type mounting bracket, the present invention is not limited to this type of connector. 
         [0039]    In other embodiments, illustrated in  FIGS. 3A-3B , an extension  330   230  may be constructed differently including: a fixed rod as shown in  FIG. 3A  or a telescoping set of rods assembled together as shown in  FIG. 3B . In  FIG. 3A , the extension  330  consists of connectors  332 A,  332 ′ at each end and a single component rod  338  made of any suitable non-electrical conducting material. The connector  332 A,  332 ′ may be of any type including: snap adapters, threaded adapters, or quick coupler adapters. In  FIG. 3B , the extension  230  consists of a connector  232 A,  232 ′ at each end with telescoping inner connecting rods  234  made of any non-electrical conducting material. The connector  232 A,  232 ′ may be of any type including: snap adapters, threaded adapters, or quick coupler adapters. 
         [0040]    Having disclosed at least one embodiment of the present invention, various adaptations, modifications, additions, and improvements will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Such adaptations, modifications, additions and improvements are considered part of the invention which is only limited by the several claims attached hereto.