Abstract:
An illuminating device has a housing, an illuminating element coupled to a first end of the housing, and a base coupled to a second end of the housing, the base having a clipping mechanism for securing the base to an independent element. A cable is also provided for providing power from a computer device to the illuminating element. The illuminating device can also include a power control unit for switching the supply of power between the computer device and a power source that is retained inside the housing.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to portable illuminating devices, and in particular, to an illuminating device that can be connected to a desk-top computer, notebook computer, personal digital assistant, or other information appliance having at least one connecting port.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    The increased popularity of personal computers (PCs) and similar devices, such as notebook computers, personal digital assistants, or other information appliances, means that consumers can now access and process information at almost any location and at almost any time. As a result, lighting or illumination of the displays for these devices has become an important objective.  
           [0005]    Most computer or related devices provide several ports for the communication of signals therebetween, or to provide information or electricity to the computer or related devices.  
           [0006]    For example, US Publication No. 2001/0043468 discloses a computer light using IEE1394 or USB port. In addition, WO 01/92781 discloses another computer light device for connecting with a USB port of a notebook computer. Yet another computer illuminating device is further disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,186,636. Unfortunately, these illuminating devices suffer from one or more of the following drawbacks.  
           [0007]    First, these illuminating devices provide an adjustable lever or flexible neck for directing the illuminating device at a very small area around the computer. As a result, the effect of the illumination may not be sufficient to adequately illuminate the entire keyboard and display area of the computer device. Second, the adjustable lever or flexible neck typically has one end that connects with a connecting port on the computer device (such as a USB port). Unfortunately, moving or adjusting a flexible or movable lever or neck can compromise the quality of the connection between the end of the lever or neck and the connecting port. Third, the adjustable lever or flexible neck will always need to be re-adjusted when the computer device is set up for use at a different location.  
           [0008]    Thus, there still remains a need for an illuminating device that can be conveniently adapted for use with a desk-top computer, notebook computer, personal digital assistant, or other information appliance, which avoids the drawbacks described above.  
         SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE  
         [0009]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable illuminating device having a small size, and which is easy to connect with a computer device.  
           [0010]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an ultraviolet illuminating device for detecting fake bills.  
           [0011]    In order to accomplish the objects of the present invention, the present invention provides an illuminating device that has a housing, an illuminating element coupled to a first end of the housing, and a base coupled to a second end of the housing, the base having a clipping mechanism for securing the base to an independent element. A cable is also provided for providing power from a computer device to the illuminating element. The illuminating device can also include a power control unit for switching the supply of power between the computer device and a power source that is retained inside the housing. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an illuminating device according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the illuminating device of FIG. 1 shown after it has been assembled.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating how the illuminating device of FIG. 2 can be connected to a computer device.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the components of the illuminating device of FIGS. 1 and 2, and how the illuminating device is connected with a computer port. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0016]    The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.  
         [0017]    FIGS.  1 - 3  illustrate one embodiment of a portable illuminating device according to the present invention. The portable illuminating device has a housing  1 , an illuminating element  2 , and a base  3 . The housing  1  has a first housing portion  11  and a second housing portion  12  that together define an interior space. A battery container  13  is provided in the interior space, and functions to retain one or more batteries  40  (which can be normal or rechargeable batteries). Referring also to FIG. 4, a power control unit  50  (which can be a printed circuit board) is also retained in the interior space of the housing  1 , with electrical couplings provided within the battery container  13  for electrically coupling the batteries  40  and the power unit  50  to the illuminating element  2 . The batteries  40  provide power for the portable illuminating device when it is used outdoors or when the portable illuminating device cannot be coupled with the computer device  6  to be powered by the computer device  6 .  
         [0018]    The lateral wall  15  of the first housing portion  11  defines two opposing first recesses  16  adjacent its top end, and the lateral wall  19  of the second housing portion  12  defines two opposing second recesses  17  adjacent its top end. Each recess  16  and  17  has a generally semi-circular shape. As a result, each pair of the recesses  16  and  17  together defines a generally circular opening along each side of the housing portions  11  and  12 . A cage  14  is defined by the space between the lateral walls  15  of the housing portions  11  and  12  at the location of the recesses  16 ,  17 , with the cage  14  having a shape that corresponds to the shape of the illuminating element  2 , so that the illuminating element  2  can be seated in the cage  14 .  
         [0019]    The illuminating element  2  can be any conventional light source, including an ultraviolet light source, an LED light, and a flourescent light, among others. The illuminating element  2  can be electrically powered by the computer device  6  when the illuminating device is connected via a cable  4  with a communication port  70  of the computer device  6  (see also FIG. 4), and can be electrically powered by the batteries  40  when the cable  4  is separated from the computer device  6 . The illuminating element  2  has hole  21  provided along each side, with each hole  21  adapted to receive a corresponding pivot plug  22 . In particular, each pivot plug  22  extends through one opening defined by a pair of recesses  16 ,  17 , and into a corresponding hole  21 , to create a pivoting connection between the housing  1  and the illuminating element  2 .  
         [0020]    The lateral wall  15  of the first housing portion  11  also defines two opposing third recesses  166  adjacent its bottom end, and the lateral wall  19  of the second housing portion  12  also defines two opposing fourth recesses  177  adjacent its bottom end. Each recess  166  and  177  has a generally semi-circular shape. As a result, each pair of the recesses  166  and  177  together defines a generally circular opening along each side of the housing portions  11  and  12 .  
         [0021]    The base  3  has two opposing lateral wings  31  that define an internal space therebetween. The lateral wings  31  are seated on a plate  37 , and a curved upper clip  32  extends from a forward edge of the plate  37 . A rounded wall  38  extends from the bottom of the plate  37 , and a lower clip  33  extends from the front of the rounded wall  38 . The lower clip  33  is positioned below the upper clip  32 . Opposing and aligned holes  34  are provided on each lateral wing  31 . One pivot plug  35  extends through each opening defined by a pair of recesses  166 ,  177 , and into a corresponding hole  34 , to create a pivoting connection between the housing  1  and the base  3 .  
         [0022]    The housing  1  has a plug  18  that is adapted to be electrically connected with a port  70  of a computer device  6  via a cable  4  such that the computer device  6  can provide power via the cable  4  and the plug  18  to power the portable illuminating device. FIG. 3 also shows the provision of a ratchet reel  5  for retracting and holding the cable  4  at a desired length. The port  70  of the computer device  6  can be selected from one of PS2, USB, and IEE 1394, among others. The plug  18  is also electrically connected with the battery container  13  such that the batteries  40  can be recharged. A switch  60  is provided along the housing  1  and is electrically coupled to the power unit  50  to allow the user to turn on and turn off the illuminating element  2 .  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3 illustrates the plug  18  being electrically connected with a cable  4  for use in receiving power from a computer device  6 . The upper clip  32  and the lower clip  33  of the base  3  can be used to clip the illuminating device to any desired location (e.g., the desk, the display screen, etc.). When the illuminating element  2  is used as a computer light, the illuminating element  2  will illuminate not only the computer area (i.e., the display and the keyboard), but can also illuminate the neighboring areas. If the filter of the illuminating element  2  is further exchanged to provide an ultraviolet light emitter, then a user may even use the illuminating element  2  to check whether money bills are fake or real.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the interconnections of the main components of the portable illuminating device, which includes a power unit  50 , a switch  60 , rechargeable batteries  40 , and an illuminating element  2 . The cable  4  has a USB connector  90  to facilitate connection with a USB port  70  of the computer device  6 . When the cable  4  is connected with the computer port  70 , the power unit  50  will allow the illuminating element  2  to use the power from the computer device  6 , and enable the rechargeable batteries  40  to retrieve power therefrom. When the cable  4  is disconnected from the computer port  70 , the power unit  50  will allow the batteries  40  to power the illuminating element  2 .  
         [0025]    Thus, the present invention provides an illuminating device that can be easily adjusted in use, or packed for storage (because the base  3  and illuminating element  2  can be pivoted towards the housing  1  to form a compact and slim configuration). The ability of the illuminating element  2  and the base  3  to pivot allows the user to adjust for appropriate illumination. In addition, the adjustment does not involve twisting or pivoting of the cable  4 , so that the connection between the cable  4  and the port  70  will not be compromised.  
         [0026]    While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.