Abstract:
A mount for magnifying lenses including a U-shaped clip having front and rear panels with the front panel relatively shorter than the rear panel and with the lower edge of the front panel pivoted to the rear leg of an L-shaped bracket. The bracket includes a forward leg extending from the rear leg and terminating in a forward edge having a slot therein opening into an interior pocket adapted to receive a mounting tab of a magnifying lens.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is broadly concerned with the provision of a mount for the support and positioning of a magnifying lens adjacent a source of artificial light. 
     The advantages of such a combination are many, including a convenient illumination and enlargement of reading material, and an enhanced visibility of the viewing or work area for any number of purposes including medical examination, handicrafts, and the like. 
     Examples of known mounts for positioning magnifying lenses relative to a light source will be seen in the following patents: 
     
         ______________________________________1,556,510            King1,884,968            Bloch2,641,965            Valenza4,540,239            Frankel______________________________________ 
    
     The known mounts are each of limited utility, generally being adapted for use with and able to accommodate only the single light fixture with which it is associated, and containing in effect a permanently mounted lens. The known mounts are not, as a practical matter, capable of providing for use of the lens as a self supported device independent of the light fixture. 
     The inventor&#39;s own prior U.S. Pat. No. 4,893,221, Friedman, issued Jan. 9, 1990, discloses a unique portable light utilizing a flat battery case with a pivotally mounted lamp housing thereon. This light, adapted to be suspended about the neck of a user, has been found to be a particularly useful portable light source. It has also become apparent that it would be highly desirable to provide for use of a magnifying lens in association therewith. The known devices, while acceptable for their intended purposes, cannot in any obvious manner associate with the type of portable light shown in the prior Friedman patent, do not provide the desired versatility of accommodating interchangeable lens, and do not allow for the actual mounting and positioning of the lens for use independently of the portable light. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a lens mount which will releasably clip to the flat case of a portable light of the type shown in the Friedman patent in a manner as to position the lens over and behind the actual light source for a clear viewing of the illuminated area. 
     Another significant object of the invention is to provide a mount which accommodates interchangeable lens, preferably by a frictional retention thereof. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a lens mount which, when affixed to a strap-suspended portable light, allows for a pivotal movement of the lens itself between a projecting in use position and a retracted position collapsed against the chest of the user of the light. 
     An additional and particularly significant object of the invention is to provide a mount which has multiple uses including the capability of acting as a stand, independent of the portable light, for the positioning of a lens on or adjacent a work or reading surface. 
     The objects of the invention are achieved by providing a mount which comprises two components, a U-shaped clip or support member and an L-shaped bracket. The clip includes a top panel, a depending rear panel and a relatively shorter depending front panel generally parallel to the rear panel. 
     The L-shaped bracket includes a pair of legs or leg panels at approximately right angles to each other. One of the bracket legs has an outer edge hinge joined to the lower edge of the front panel of the U-shaped clip. The second leg of the L-shaped bracket extends forwardly from the inner edge of the first leg and has a forwardly opening pocket defined therein and accessible through a slot in the free forward edge thereof. This pocket receives and frictionally retains the mounting tab or handle provided along the edge of a flat magnifying lens of the type contemplated for use with the mount of the invention. 
     When used with a portable light, the clip engages over the rear portion of the battery case with the front and rear panels of the clip respectively overlying the upper and lower panels or faces of the battery case. The lens supporting bracket overlies the upper panel of the battery case immediately above the lamp housing and, through the hinge-joinder, pivotally moves between an in use position wherein the rear leg of the bracket parallels the front panel of the clip and seats against the upper panel of the battery case. In this position, the lens extends generally perpendicularly outward from the portable light. In a second stored position, the lens mounting bracket is upwardly pivoted and in close proximity to the chest of the user. 
     The mount is also capable of use as an independent stand. When used in this manner, the lens-mounting bracket is pivoted to position the rear or hinge joined leg in direct overlying engagement with the front panel of the U-shaped clip. This positions the forward leg of the bracket, and the lens mounted therein, parallel to and spaced from the top panel of the clip. The mount is positioned on a support surface, for example tabletop, with the free lower edge of the rear panel of the clip and with the hinge assembly engaging the support surface. In light of the shorter front panel of the clip, the mount will be oriented with the lens slightly rearwardly inclined and with the rear panel of the clip acting as a brace. So positioned, the mount forms a completely balanced stand with the lens directed at a comfortable angling for convenient viewing of the work area, whether this be for reading, craft work, the enhanced viewing of stamps, or the like 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the more detailed discussion of the invention following hereinafter. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of the mount clipped to a portable light and illustrated both in an in-use position and in a retracted position; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the mount, portable light and magnifying lens; 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the mount on a portable light; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the mount; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the mount used as a free-standing stand; and 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the mount as illustrated in FIG. 5. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the mount 10 includes two components, a mounting clip or support member 12 and a lens-receiving bracket 14. 
     The clip 12 is a transversely elongate member having a planar first or top panel 16, a second or rear panel 18 integral with the rear edge of the top panel 16 and depending therefrom to a free lower edge 20, and a third or front panel 22 integral with the front edge of the top panel 16 and depending therefrom for a minor distance compared to the height of the rear panel 18. 
     The bracket 14 is L-shaped and of a transverse width equal to that of the clip 12. Structurally, the bracket 14 includes a panel shaped first or rear leg 24 with an upper edge hinge-joined to the lower edge of the front panel 22 of the clip 12. As illustrated, the hinge-joined edges will have appropriate integral hinge knuckles 26 formed therealong and receiving a hinge pin 28 therethrough. 
     The lower edge of the rear leg of the bracket 14 is integrally joined to the rear edge of the second or forward panel-shaped leg 30, which projects at approximately right angles to the rear leg 24. 
     The forward leg 30 is relatively thicker than the rear leg 24 and includes a pocket 32 defined therein between the upper and lower faces thereof. The pocket 32 opens through a slot defined in the forward edge of the forward leg 30. 
     The mount 10, through the hinge joinder between the clip 12 and bracket 14, has two in-use positions, a first position wherein the rear bracket leg 24 is substantially coplanar with and depends from the front panel 22 of the clip 12, the positioning of the hinge knuckles 26 providing for coplanar rear faces on both the rear leg 24 and front panel 22, and a second in-use position wherein the forward face of the rear leg 24 engages flat against the forward face of the front panel 22 with the hinge joinder comprising a free lower edge 
     One of the principal purposes of the mount 10 is for use with a portable light 34 having a flat battery case 36, the thickness of which is basically only slightly greater than that of the batteries internally received therein. The battery case 36 itself includes a rear wall 38, opposed side walls 40, an upper panel or wall 42 and a lower panel or wall 44. The actual illumination is provided by a lamp housing 46 extending forwardly relative to the battery case 36 and selectively pivoted between a closed position forward of and generally within the plane of the battery case and an open illuminating position upwardly swung to a position angularly extending above the upper panel. 
     The clip 12 of the mount 10 is positioned over the battery case 36 with the top panel 16 engaging on the rear wall 38 of the battery case 36, either immediately over the suspension strap 48 or thereunder. Noting FIG. 2 in particular, the rear wall 38 of the battery case may include a socket 50 for the reception of a plug in jack from an external source of power. In order to accommodate this socket 50, the top panel 16 of the clip can be provided with a central aperture 52 therethrough. 
     With the clip 12 mounted to the battery case, the front and rear panels 22 and 18 respectively of the clip will engage the upper and lower walls 42 and 40 of the battery case. This engagement, along with the engaged top panel 16 of the clip, will provide for a stable positioning of the mount 10 on the battery case. Preferably, and through an inherent resilient flexibility of the rigid synthetic resinous material of the mount 10, there will actually be a frictional engaging of the clip 12 to the battery case 36. 
     The magnifier or planar magnifying lens 54 will, through an edge projection 56 thereon, mount to the bracket portion 14 of the mount 10. The magnifying lens 54 will normally be of a relatively elongate configuration with a mounting projection 56 along both a longitudinal edge thereof and a transverse edge thereof allowing for selectivity in positioning of the lens 54. The mounting projection or tab 56 is slidable received and frictionally retained within the pocket 32 through the open or slotted forward edge of the forward leg 30. 
     The combined height of the rear leg 24 of the bracket and front panel 22 of the clip 12 are slightly less than the height of the clip rear panel 18 and, when aligned in the in use position as suggested in full lines in FIGS. 1 and 3, position the magnifying lens 54 in overlying relation to the upwardly opened lamp housing 34 and the work or reading area toward which the illumination is directed. So positioned, the L-shaped bracket 14 abuts against the upper panel or wall 42 of the battery case 36 and thus provides for a positive and stable positioning of the magnifying lens 54. It will be appreciated that the positioning of the mount 10 on the battery case is such as to allow for the free pivotal movement of the lamp housing 46 without interference between the lamp housing 46 and the magnifying lens 54. 
     The hinged joinder between the clip 12 and the bracket 14, again noting FIGS. 1 and 3, allows for an upward swinging of the magnifying lens 54 to a compacted or collapsed position substantially flat against the chest of the user. It will be appreciated that the mount and lens are supported directly from the neck suspended portable light for hands-free use in conjunction with the portable light. 
     A further particularly significant feature of the invention is the use of the mount 10 as a free-standing support or stand for the lens 54. When used in this manner, noting FIGS. 5 and 6, the L-shaped bracket will be swung about the pivot joinder to a second in use position with the forward face of the rear leg 24 seated against the forward face of the front panel 22 and with the forward leg 30 paralleling the top panel 16 in spaced relation thereto. The mount 10, so folded, is positioned on the workpiece or a supporting surface with the lower edge 20 of the rear panel and the hinged joinder edges, defined by the knuckles 26, engaging the surface. So positioned, the forward leg 30 of the bracket 14 is upwardly and rearwardly inclined. The magnifying lens 54, upon insertion of the appropriate tab or projection 56 within the upwardly directed pocket 32, extends upwardly and angles rearwardly with the mount 10 acting as a support easel and the rear panel 18 as a stabilizing brace. So positioned, the magnifying lens is oriented at a convenient angle for a viewing of the work area therethrough by a person sitting forward thereof. The substantially shorter front panel 22 of the clip 12 provides the desired degree of inclination. Similarly, the rearward inclination of the magnifying lens 54 directs a major component of the weight thereof rearwardly of the forward edge of the stand to retain the mount in this in-use position with the lens stably retained relative to the work surface or area. 
     From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that a unique mount for magnifying lenses has been defined. The mount, through the provision of particularly cooperating pivotally joined components, is capable of use in two distinct ways, for securing a magnifying lens to a portable light, and for a free standing support of the lens directly at the work area itself. 
     Important aspects of the invention include the ability to quickly and easily interchange lenses of different powers, and the ability to quickly and easily engage the mount with a portable light by merely a slip engaging of the mount thereon without other mechanical fastening being required. Once mounted on the portable light, the mount includes the ability to be selectively positioned in both a use position and a stored position. 
     The foregoing is considered illustrative of the features of the invention and not as limitations on the scope of the invention.