Abstract:
A portable lamp is provided having a housing having a front end, a rear end and at least a pair of walls there between; and a spring actuated grip attachable to the housing whereby the flashlight is able to be hung from a stationary member; wherein the grip is able to be actuated by one hand of a user of the flashlight. A method for securing the portable lamp is further provided.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The present application claims the benefit of United States Provisional Patent Application No. 60/319,452 filed 7 Aug. 2002. Said application is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Technical Field 
   The present invention generally relates to portable lighting devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to a flashlight lamp that is attachable to a variety of surfaces or objects. 
   2. Background Information 
   Flashlights have been available for use for many years. Typically, the flashlight is designed as a cylinder with a lens at one end from which a beam of light is emitted. The cylindrical design is functional in that it provides a storage chamber for one or more batteries used in operating the flashlight. The design is also convenient for gripping and carrying the flashlight. 
   Other designs are also known, such as a handle mounted on top of a battery source with a lens projecting forwardly either separate from or as a part of the case or housing for the battery source. These designs offer the convenience of providing a stable base or bottom for the light to stand on, with the handle positioned on top, when not carried. 
   Other modifications to these lights are also known, such as providing a lens covering of various colors, or enabling the light to flash intermittently. Separate clips and rings have also been provided as accessories to traditional flash lights for allowing the light to be secured to such things an operator&#39;s pant pocket, or hung from a support such as a hook or nail. 
   Still, there is a need for a flashlight or portable lamp that can be easily secured to a variety of surfaces, from one that is narrow and flexible, such as a seat pocket on the back of a seat in a vehicle or a wire or tree limb, to one that is wide and irregularly shaped, such as a curved hood or trunk of a vehicle, or a car door, or a portion of a load carrier such as a lip of a cargo box, or the frame of a bicycle. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a flashlight or portable lamp designed to satisfy the aforementioned need by providing a securing arrangement or clamp for attaching the light to a supporting object or surface. Further, the lighting device of the present invention is provided with one or more legs that enable the device to stand upright on a substantially flat surface, such as the ground or the roof of a vehicle, when not suspended by means of the clamp or grip. 
   Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a portable lighting device having a housing that has at least one lamp element disposed at a front end of the device; a handle adjacent to the housing for carrying the device; a clamp able to secure the device to a variety of surfaces; and an actuator tangent to the clamp for operating the clamp when securing the device to the surface. The lighting device includes a base for standing the device upright without operator assistance. The base of the device can include one or more legs used in balancing the device to keep it in its upright position when standing. Instead of such leg(s), a side of the device may be adapted to present a balancing surface upon which the light can stand for distributing light over a work area. 
   Preferably, the handle is built or molded into the housing. The switch for turning the lamp on and off is ergonomically placed near the handle so that a person carrying the lamp by the handle can easily reach the switch with one finger, and preferably the thumb, from the hand carrying the lamp. The hand-grip portion of the device is pivotably positioned upon the light emitting portion so that the hand of an operator carrying the lamp can easily manipulate the device when securing the lamp to a supporting surface. A clip or clamping extension is connected to, and projects away from the hand-grip portion. This clamping extension is spring-biased toward the body of the lighting device for making a grasping connection to a supporting object when operator opening actuation is released. With this design, the other hand of a person using the lamp is left free. 
   The lighting device may have one or more intensities or brightness of light beams. Preferably, the light created by the device is one that is dispersed up to about 120 degrees from the light, such as the light created by a room light, rather than focused, such as the beam of light created by a traditional flashlight or vehicle headlight. The device can further include one or more elevations for protecting the lens of the light from breaking when dropped or knocked against an object. 
   The portable lamp can also include a storage compartment. This compartment can serve to carry any of a number of objects, such as first aid articles, food, and tools. Preferably, the compartment carries additional batteries or a cord for use in recharging the lamp. Most preferably, the cord is one adapted for plugging into the cigarette lighter or 12 volt plug of a vehicle. The light preferably can be used when recharging. 
   The clamp of the present invention is unlike belt clips found on flashlights known in the art. As named or referred to, those clips typically are an extension of the case of a cylindrical flashlight, located substantially adjacent to the case. The clips offer a slight flexibility, enabling them to slip over the belt or pants pocket of a person for carrying the flashlight. In contrast to those clips, the clamp of the present invention is able to pivot or rotate to an extended position that can be as much as ninety degrees outwardly from the case or housing of the lamp over a surface thicker or larger than a belt or pants pocket. These surfaces or objects can include a vehicle door, hood or trunk, or a cargo carrier. While having the strength to clamp to such larger objects, the clamp is still preferably thin in design so that it can be applied to a thin and flexible object, such as a seat pocket typically found on the rear seat of a vehicle. 
   The present invention also provides a method of securing a portable lamp to an object. With this method, the lamp is provided with a lumination source and a handle opposite the lumination source. A spring-biased securing arrangement is associated with the lamp&#39;s handle that is configurable to form a clamping mechanism capable of suspending the lamp from a supporting object. With the lamp grasped by its handle, the securing arrangement is raised from the housing of the lamp. In a preferred embodiment, this movement of the clamping mechanism away from the lamp&#39;s body is accomplished by rotation or pivotation of the grasped lamp handle that is connected to the extendable clamp member. Alternatively, extension of the clamp member may be accomplished by extending one or more fingers that are grasping the handle against an actuating lever. In doing so, a gap-space is created for receiving an object upon which the lamp is to be secured. The support object is positioned into the space created between the securing arrangement and the lamp and the biasing spring is allowed to take control and urge the clamp member toward the lamp body with the supporting object therebetween. This allows the securing arrangement to move towards the lamp body thereby securing the lamp onto the object. 
   These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of a portable lamp according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of a portable lamp according to the present invention, illustrating the motion of a clamp provided by the lamp of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of a portable lamp according to the present invention, illustrating the lamp secured to a surface. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to the drawings in general, the lighting device  10  includes a case or housing  20 , a handle  22  for carrying the lighting device, and a clamp or grip  50  for securing the lamp  10  to a surface or object. The housing  20  and portions of the handle  22 , or at least supports for the handle  22  can be molded as one piece. 
   The housing  20  includes a front  36 , a rear  34 , at least a pair of walls or sides  30 ,  32 , and a base  38 . By describing the housing  20  as having a front and a rear, it should be understood that such elements are provided for references for use in describing the lamp  10 , and are not meant to imply a permanent fixture, such as the front of a house or front of a vehicle. The front  36  of the housing  20  includes at least one lens  24  from which a light source is emitted. Preferably, the light emitted from the lens  24  is more broadly dispersed, outwardly lighting an area in an arc of up to about 120 degrees, as opposed to a more concentrated or direct light beam that is typically provided by a flashlight. In an alternative embodiment not shown, an additional lens is provided that serves in giving a more concentrated light beam. Further, the intensity of the light emitted can preferably vary in intensity. 
   The handle  22  is positioned at the rear  34  of the device  10 . The handle  22  is preferably slightly curved in shape, so as to comfortably fit the hand of a user of the lamp  10 . Further, the handle can include one or more ridges for improving the grip of the fingers holding the lamp  10 . 
   The housing  20  includes a switch or light actuator  40  for turning on and off the light beam. Preferably, the switch  40  is placed near the handle  22  so that it can be pressed on and off by the hand of the user that is gripping the handle  22 . The switch  40  can include a ridge at least partially surrounding it for preventing the lamp  10  from being accidentally turn on or off when bump or hit against an object. 
   The housing further includes a compartment having a door  26  for storing any of a variety of items therein. For example, tools or batteries can be stored therein. Preferably, an outlet cord is stored therein for use in recharging the lamp  10 . More preferably, the cord is provided with an adapted for recharging the lamp  10  with a 12 volt outlet of a vehicle. Further, the lamp  10  can preferably be used during charging. The compartment door  26  can be secured to the housing  20  by any of a variety of ways known by one skilled in the art, such as snapping the door  26  onto the housing  20 , or screwing the door  26  onto the housing  20 . 
   The housing can included a charge outlet  28  for plugging the charging cord into. In an optional embodiment, the housing  20  can include a charge indicator  29  for indicating that charging of the lamp  10  is occurring, and/or that the lamp  10  power source is fully charged. 
   The lamp  10  further included a base  38  on which the lamp  10  can stand when not being carried or secured to an object. The base  38  should allow the lamp  10  to stand on any substantially flat surface, such as the roof or hood of a vehicle, the ground, a floor, or a table. To further support the lamp  10  when standing on its base  38 , the lamp can optionally include one or more feet  39  for enhancing the lamps&#39;  10  stability. In  FIG. 3 , two rear feet  39  are shown. However, it should be recognized that the design of the lamp  10  is not limited to such feet  39  as illustrated. For example, a single foot  39  can extend across the rear  34  of the base  38  of the lamp  10 . Further, the base  38  itself can be extended rearward to provide more stability. 
   Towards the front  36  of the lamp  10 , the housing  20  can include one or more elevations or ridges  44  positioned about the lens  24 . The ridges  44  are designed to surround the lens  24  so as to catch and absorb the impact of a drop, thereby avoiding breaking the lens  24 . 
   Adjacent to both the handle  22  and the housing  20  of the lamp  10  is a clamp or grip or securing arrangement  50 . Preferably, the clamp  50  is spring actuated, with the tension of the spring such that the clamp  50  is biased towards the housing  20 . In one embodiment, the side of the clamp  50  adjacent to the housing  20  is provided with a grip or grip pad  52  for preventing the lamp  10  from slipping off an object when secured thereto. This pad  52  can be co-molded into the internal surface of the clamp  50  (i.e., the side adjacent to the housing  20 ), providing a rubberized or rubber-like surface for enhancing frictional contact with an object. 
   The clamp  50  further includes a clamp actuator or lever  54  tangent or adjacent to the clamp  50  for operating the clamp when securing the device to the surface. Preferably, the lever  54  is integral with the clamp  50 . The lever  54  extends away from the clamp  50 , preferably at an angle of about ninety degrees from the clamp  50 . The lever  54  is placed between the handle  22  and the housing  20 . By doing so, a person carrying the lamp  10  can simply extend one or more fingers against the lever, thereby pivotally pushing or moving the clamp  50  away from the housing  20 , creating a space for receiving an object that the lamp  10  is to be secured onto. The surface  56  of the clamp  50  can serve as a location for placing the mark or brand name of the lamp  10 . 
   In a preferred embodiment, the clamp  50  is co-molded, or at least fixed to the grip-adapted handle  22 . The handle  22  itself is rotatably or pivotably coupled to the main body of the lamp. The graspable portion of the handle is formed about a functional axle that serves as an axis about which rotation of the clamp  50  occurs. In this way, rotation or twisting of the graspable handle relative to the lamp body actuates the clamp  50  to an open position against a biasing spring that continually urges the clamp toward the lamp body. In this embodiment, no additional actuating lever is required for the clamping mechanism. 
   In practice, the rotatable handle  22  is twisted relative to the lamp body against the force of the biasing spring. The twisting action that overcomes the bias of the spring can be accomplished against the weight of the lamp body. More typically, however, this twisting action that overcomes the bias of the spring will be accomplished by essentially anchoring the lamp body by placing it against the object upon which it is to be clamped. With the lamp body in abutting engagement with the object and functionally fixed thereto, the grip portion of the handle is twisted thereby rotating or pivoting the clamping portion away from the lamp body where it had been nested. This forms a receiving gap space between the clamp portion of the lamp and the object upon which the lamp is to be secured. 
   With the gap space established, the lamp may be manipulated so that a portion of the supporting object is located therein. In most cases, this will mean pushing the now-open mouth of the clamping lamp over a portion of the support object. From a practical stand point, the body of the lamp which has been placed in abutting engagement with a portion of the support object is slid along the object so that part of the object is positioned inside the gap space. The grip is then permitted to rotate back toward the starting position with the clamp portion simultaneously moving back toward the lamp body under the action of the biasing spring. The force or power of the spring is sufficient to close the mouth or gap space with sufficient force to secure the lamp to the supporting object. 
   Referring back to the drawings, the shown embodiment of the lamp  10  is secured onto a surface or object as follows. The lamp  10  is provided with a lens or lumination source  24  at one end  36 , and a handle  22  at the opposite end  34  of the lumination source  24 . A securing arrangement  50  is attached to the lamp adjacent to the handle. The securing arrangement  50  is preferably spring actuated, and pivots about an axis on a hinge to which it is connected on the handle  22  or at the rear  34  of the housing  20 . While grasping the lamp  10  by the handle  22 , a person extends one or more fingers against a lever  54 . The lever  54  is preferably an extension of the securing arrangement most adjacent to the hinge. Further, the lever  54  extends outwardly from the axis of rotation, thereby allowing the securing arrangement to be raised from the lamp  10  when pushed by the fingers. This creates a space for receiving an object to secure the lamp  10  onto. The object is inserted into the space created between the securing arrangement  50  and the housing  20 , and the finger(s) is (are) retracted from the lever  54 , thereby lowering the securing arrangement  50  towards the lamp  10  and securing the lamp  10  onto the object. In like manner, when removing the lamp  10  from the object that it is secured to, a person grasps the handle  22  and pushes against the lever  54 , raising the securing arrangement  50  and allowing the lamp  10  to be pulled off the object. 
   While particular embodiments of the invention have been herein illustrated and described, it is not intended to limit the invention to such disclosures, but changes and modifications may be made therein and thereto within the scope of the following claims.