Pressure-actuated light device with holding portion

A pressure-actuated light device (1) with a holding portion (2) that allows a user to hold the pressure-actuated light device in a user's hand. The pressure-actuated light device comprises a housing (3) which houses a light emitting diode (“LED”) (6) having a cathode (11) and an anode (10) extending from it. The cathode has one end permanently connected to the LED and a second end in constant contact with a negative terminal (8) of a battery (7). The anode has one end permanently connected to the LED and a second end separated from a positive terminal (9) of the battery by a spacer (12) which prevents the anode from making contact with the positive terminal while the device is not in use. When pressure is applied to a button (4) on the housing, the button presses the anode against the positive terminal thereby creating an electrical circuit which activates the LED. The holding portion may take alternative forms, including a fin (13), clip (14), ring (15) or elastomeric loop (16).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to theatrical lighting devices, more particularly a pressure-actuated light device with a holding portion which will allow a user to easily conceal the device from third parties while in use thereby creating the appearance that light is magically appearing in the users hand and/or from the user's finger tips.

Lighting devices are commonly used for entertainment and theatrical purposes, especially magic shows. For a magic trick to be effective, a magician must use sleight of hand along with specially designed devices to fool audiences into believing the magician is actually using magic to perform the trick. Currently, one device available to magicians is a small flesh-colored imitation thumb tip, usually made of plastic or rubber, which fits loosely over a thumb as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,548, issued as Mayfarth on May 27, 1997. A light may be placed inside the thumb tip at the end of the thumb tip along with a pressure actuator to turn the light on and off. Unfortunately, these devices may be easily spotted by an audience, especially if using the thumb tip while in close proximity to the audience. In addition, these devices are large and clumsy which could cause a magician to make a mistake while performing a trick thereby revealing the thumb tip to an audience.

Thus, a need exists for a pressure-actuated light device with a holding portion which will allow a user to easily conceal the device in the user's hand from third parties while in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a pressure-actuated light device with a holding portion which will allow a user to easily conceal the device in the user's hand.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pressure-actuated light device with a holding portion which will allow a user to easily conceal the device from third parties while in use.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a pressure-actuated light device with a holding portion which creates the appearance that light is magically appearing in the users hand and/from the user's fingers.

The present invention fulfills the above and other objects by providing a pressure-actuated light device with holding portion wherein the holding portion is preferably a fin which fits between a users fingers. The fin extends upward from the device and allows the user to hold the pressure-actuated light device at more spots in his/her hand and also allows the user to quickly and to easily conceal the device on his/her person in a place such as a pocket without being seen. The pressure-actuated light device has a housing which houses a lighting means, preferably a light emitting diode (“LED”) having a cathode and an anode extending from it. The cathode has one end permanently connected to the LED and a second end in constant contact with a negative terminal of the battery. The anode has one end permanently connected to the LED and a second end separated from a positive terminal of the battery by a spacer which prevents the anode from making contact with the positive terminal while the device is not in use. When pressure is applied to the a button on the base of the housing, the button presses the anode against the positive terminal thereby creating an electrical circuit which activates the LED. The anode and cathode may also be switched so that the anode is in constant contact with the positive terminal and the cathode is separated from the negative terminal by the spacer. The pressure-actuated light device with a holding portion may also be flesh colored to further conceal its presence in a user's hand.

To use the present invention, a user places the fin between his/her fingers and applies pressure to the button of the base of the housing to activate the lighting means. A user may use more than one of the pressure-actuated light device with a holding portion at the same time. For example, a user may hold one pressure-actuated light device with a holding portion in one hand and a second pressure-actuated light device with a holding portion in his/her other hand and alternate activating each pressure-actuated light device thereby creating the appearance that a light is jumping back and forth between the user's hands. Alternative embodiments of the invention include the use of a ring, clip, double sided tape, a book and loop fastener, magnets or elastic as a holding portion.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminology used in reference to the numbered components in the drawings is as follows:

Referring now to the drawing figures,FIGS. 1,2and3depict a pressure-actuated light device of the present invention1with a holding portion2that is a fin13. The pressure-actuated light device1comprises a housing3the holding portion2affixed to the top of the housing3which extends upward. The holding portion is preferably a fin13which may be placed between a user's fingers and used to hold the pressure-actuated light device1.

Referring toFIG. 2, a side view of a pressure-actuated light device ofFIG. 1, the lighting means5of the device is shown as a light emitting diode (“LED”)6having a cathode and an anode10extending from it. The anode10has one end permanently connected to the LED6and a second end separated from a positive terminal9of the battery7by a spacer which prevents the anode10from making contact with the positive terminal9while the pressure-actuated light device1is not in use. When pressure is applied to the a activation button4of the housing3, the activation button4presses the anode10against the positive terminal9thereby creating an electrical circuit which activates the LED6. The anode10and cathode may also be switched so that the anode10is in constant contact with the positive terminal and the cathode11is separated from the negative terminal8by the spacer12as shown inFIG. 3.

Referring toFIG. 3, a sectional side plan view of a pressure-actuated light device of the present invention1with a holding portion2is shown. The pressure-actuated light device1comprises a housing3having an activation button4which may be made from a flexible material such as rubber which would allow a user to apply pressure thereby pushing the activation button4upward. The holding portion2is preferably a fin13which extends upward form the housing3and may be placed between a user's fingers. The housing3houses a lighting means5, which is shown as a light emitting diode (“LED”)6having a cathode11and an anode10extending from it. The anode10has one end permanently connected to the LED6and a second end in constant contact with a positive terminal9of a battery7. The cathode11has one end permanently connected to the LED6and a second end separated from a negative terminal8of the battery7by a spacer12which prevents the cathode11from making contact with the negative terminal8while the pressure-actuated light device1is not in use. When pressure is applied to the activation button4of the housing3, the activation button4presses the cathode11against the negative terminal8thereby creating an electrical circuit which activates the LED6.

Referring toFIG. 4, a front view of a pressure-actuated light device of the present invention wherein the holding portion2comprises a clip14is shown. The clip14may be placed around a user's finger hold the pressure-actuated light device1preferably on the inside of a user's hand.

Referring toFIG. 5, a front view of a pressure-actuated light device of the present invention wherein the holding portion2comprises a ring15is shown. The ring15may be placed around a user's finger to hold the pressure-actuated light device1preferably on the inside of a user's hand.

Referring toFIG. 6, a front view of a pressure-actuated light device of the present invention wherein the holding portion2comprises an elastomeric loop16is shown. The elastomeric loop16may be placed around a user's finger and used to hold the pressure-actuated light device1preferably on the inside of a user's hand.

Although a preferred embodiment of a pressure-actuated light device with a holding portion has been disclosed, it should be understood, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and drawings.