Pivoting swivel illumination device

An illumination device having a body with attributes of a swivel/universal socket and/or typical ball-and-socket joint. The illumination device can be releasably coupled to surfaces and illuminate a specified surface by aiming the illumination device without needing to also move the base. Once the illumination device is aimed to illuminate the area of interest, the light body will remain in this position until further user input.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to illumination devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to illumination devices that pivot and/or swivel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Illumination devices, such as flashlights, are often used in areas that are dimly lit and have restricted space, making it difficult to perform certain jobs. It is preferable to mount the illumination device in restricted spaces and aim the illumination device to illuminate a desired surface without requiring a user to hold the device. Illumination devices can be coupled to mountable bases that allow for some adjustment to aim the illumination device, such as flashlight holders. A variety of illumination devices are also known, such as LED penlights, lights with bendable shafts, platform lights mounted to bases that can slide and swivel, etc. However, current illumination devices are usually bulky, have limited aiming adjustments, and/or require a user to hold the device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention broadly relates to an illumination device, such as a compact flashlight, a lamp, a magnifying glass, etc., having a body with attributes of a swivel/universal socket and/or typical ball-and-socket joint for 360 degree adjustment and one or more illumination sources disposed along an internal perimeter of the body. The illumination device can have a base adapted to be releasably coupled to surfaces and illuminate a specified area by aiming the illumination device without the need to move the base. Once the illumination device is aimed to illuminate the area of interest, the body will remain in this position until further manipulated by the user. Once aimed, the user does not need to hold the device in position. Accordingly, the illumination device is more compact and has improved aiming adjustments as compared to the current art.

In an embodiment, the present invention broadly includes an illumination device including a base adapted to releasably couple to a surface, a body coupled to the base with a pivoting coupling, and an illumination source disposed along an internal perimeter of the body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail, a preferred embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to embodiments illustrated. As used herein, the term “present invention” is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention and is instead a term used to discuss exemplary embodiments of the invention for explanatory purposes only.

The present invention broadly relates to an illumination device including a base adapted to releasably couple to a surface, a body coupled to the base with a pivoting coupling, and one or more illumination sources disposed along an internal perimeter of the body.

Referring toFIGS. 1 through 13, an illumination device100may be removably coupled to a surface to direct where additional illumination is desired. The illumination device100can have 360 degrees of adjustability by swiveling and/or pivoting to allow the user to aim the light where needed.

The illumination device100may include a body102and a base104. The base104is rotatably and/or pivotably coupled to the body102via a pivoting coupling106, which will be discussed in more detail below. The illumination device100may be a lamp, a magnifying glass, a flashlight, or any other suitable device that provides illumination to a dimly lit area.

The body102may be hollow and cylindrical. Although, the body102may be various geometric shapes, such as rectangular, square, etc., and adapted to contain an illumination source108, a power source110, a switch112, etc., which will be discussed in more detail below.

The body102can include a first end114and a second end116. The first end114can be open to allow light from the illumination source108to pass through. Additionally, or alternatively, the first end114can include a light cover118or lens to prevent debris from falling into the body102and/or to diffuse the light emitting from the illumination source108.

The pivoting coupling106can be a ball and socket coupling that includes a ball120and a socket. The ball120can be coupled to or formed on the second end116of the body102. The ball120is adapted to fit inside and be retained by the socket of the pivoting coupling106. In an embodiment, a pin130and the base104may function as the socket, discussed below. In another embodiment, a retaining cap122and the base104may function as the socket, discussed below. The pivoting coupling106allows the body102to swivel and/or pivot 360 degrees relative to the base104.

The illumination source108can be long lasting, low power consumption LEDs or other suitable light emitting sources, such as light bulbs or the like. The illumination source108is positioned and directed to emit light from the body102, as described above. The illumination source108can be disposed along an internal perimeter of the body102. As shown inFIGS. 4 and 6, the illumination source108can be disposed along an internal circumference proximate to the first end114of the body102. In an embodiment the illumination source108can be disposed along an internal circumference proximate to an end of the pivoting coupling106, as shown inFIG. 8. In an embodiment, the illumination source108is disposed along an internal circumference proximate to a center of the body102, as shown inFIGS. 12 and 13. In an embodiment, the illumination source108is arranged in an axial direction along interior walls of the body102, as shown inFIG. 12. In an embodiment, the illumination source108is disposed in a radial direction along an interior surface124of the body102and in an axial direction along the interior walls of the body102, thereby forming a “U” (not shown).

The power source110is adapted to provide energy to illuminate the illumination source108. The power source110can be or can include, but is not limited to, a battery, such as a DC battery, a rechargeable battery, or the like. In an embodiment, the power source110can be AC power. If a rechargeable power source, the charging means can be wired or wireless. The power source110can be housed in a separate compartment126within the body102. If desired, the power source110can be accessible by removing a portion of the body102, such as a battery door (not shown), to recharge or replace the battery as needed. The power source110also need not be housed within the body102. The power source110can instead be housed in the base104.

The switch112can be positioned on or in the body102or the base104. The switch112can have an actuation mechanism that employs a push button actuator, switch, or other type of actuator to activate or operate the switch112. In an embodiment, the switch112can be a toggle actuator, a touch sensitive actuator, a slide actuator, or other suitable actuator or device. The switch112is used to turn the illumination source108ON and OFF. In another embodiment (not shown) the switch112is actuated when the illumination device100is coupled to a surface using a connection means134, which is discussed in more detail below. In this embodiment, the illumination source108can be turned ON and OFF without requiring the operator to push the actuation mechanism. When the illumination device100decouples from the surface, the illumination device is turned OFF.

As discussed above, the switch112, the power source110, the illumination source108, and other components can be housed within the body102. In another embodiment, the switch112, the power source110, the illumination source108, and/or the other components can be housed within the ball120of the ball and socket coupling. In this embodiment, the illumination device100may not include the body102, as shown inFIGS. 7 and 8. The illumination device100may also include a circuit board (not shown) to which the various components are coupled. The switch112, the power source110, and the illumination source108can be connected to the circuit board and thus to one another via the board, as is known in the art. The illumination source108may be disposed on the board. Wires may be used to connect the various components to the circuit board. Electrical contacts can be provided as well between the various components and the circuit board. The functional design of these components can vary considerably within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The base104may be hollow and cylindrical, although the base104may be other various geometric shapes as well, such as square, rectangular, etc. The base104can have an open end adapted to receive and retain the ball120. In an embodiment, the base104can be adapted to function as a socket of the ball and socket coupling. This can be achieved various ways, including, but not limited to, the use of the pin130passing though the ball120, or with the retaining cap122coupled to the base104and adapted to retain the ball120in the base104. For the pin style embodiment, the base104can have two apertures128adapted to receive the pin130that retains the ball120in the base104. In the retaining cap style embodiment, the base104can be coupled to the retaining cap122to retain the ball120therein and compress the spring132. The retaining cap122can be pressed, crimped, threaded, or the like on the base104.

A spring132may be housed in the base104. The spring132can be preloaded to exert an axial force against the ball120. This axial force allows the body102to maintain its position without user manipulation. In another embodiment (not shown) a spring132can apply a radial force against the ball120. The radial force allows the body102to maintain its position without user manipulation. The spring132can be a coil spring, or other suitable biasing member that can provide the axial or radial force to maintain the illuminated position of the illumination device100.

In an embodiment, the base104can include a connection means134that allows for hands free use of the illumination device100. The connection means134can be coupled to or otherwise mounted on a bottom, outside surface of the base104(as shown inFIG. 10), a side of the base104(as shown inFIG. 9), or in a cavity136inside the base104on a bottom, inside surface of the base102(as shown inFIG. 11). In another embodiment (not shown), the connection means134can be coupled to or otherwise mounted on an outside surface of the cap122. The connection means134may be a magnet that allows the illumination device100to be coupled to a ferromagnetic surface. The connection means134can also be a clamp, a suction cup, or any other suitable means that allows for hands free use of the illumination device100.

As used herein, the term “coupled” and its functional equivalents are not intended to necessarily be limited to direct, mechanical coupling of two or more components. Instead, the term “coupled” and its functional equivalents are intended to mean any direct or indirect mechanical, electrical, or chemical connection between two or more objects, features, work pieces, and/or environmental matter. “Coupled” is also intended to mean, in some examples, one object being integral with another object.