Hand mounting of illumination device

A hand mounting of illumination device. A common flashlight or other light source is mounted on the hand between the metacarpal bones of the thumb and forefinger. This directs the light to the area where the fingers meet and where common hand tools operate and allows full use of the hand holding the light source.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a device to mount a light source such that 
light may be directed to the point where the fingers meet or hand tools 
held in the fingers operate. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Many work applications require that light be directed to the point where 
the fingers meet or that light be directed to the point where tools held 
in the hands are operating. Common hand tools such as pliers, 
screwdrivers, and the like are often used in locations where there is 
little light. Flashlights are the traditional method of supplying light to 
the point where the work is being performed. Hand held flashlights have 
two major drawbacks. First, is the inability to use both hands while 
holding a common flashlight. Second, is the inability to get the hand 
holding the flashlight, the hand that is working and the head into a small 
space so that the person can see the work to be done. 
Several early flashlight devices had finger rings so that they could be 
supported on the hand. U.S. Pat. No. 914,975, dated Mar. 9, 1909, to G. R. 
Radley and U.S. Pat. No. 1,754,570, dated Apr. 15, 1930, to J. P. Picket 
represent such devices. Flashlights have also been mounted on the wrist or 
top of the hands as in U.S. Pat. No. 3,112,889, dated Dec. 3, 1963, to M. 
L. Marmo. More recently, U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,167, dated Oct. 19, 1993, to 
Toussaint and U.S. Pat. No. 5,086,378, dated Feb. 4, 1992, to Prince, 
mounted a light source on the fingers for the purpose of directing light. 
None of these devises allowed the use of the hand holding the flashlight 
while directing the light to the place it was needed most. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is the object of the present invention to provide a device whereby a 
light source such as a common flashlight can be mounted on the hand with 
the light emitted by the light source directed to the location where the 
fingers meet or where common hand held tools operate. Placing the light 
source between the metacarpal bones of the thumb and forefinger on the 
hand positions the light source to shine where the fingers meet. The 
present invention is far superior to prior art. The utility is further 
enhanced when the light source is removably attached so that it can be 
repositioned to shine the light where it is most needed if tools are 
changed. 
These and other objects of the invention are achieved by providing a device 
mounting the light source on the surface of the skin of the hand on 
between the metacarpal bones of the thumb and forefinger. The device will 
work with any light source which has a housing for the light source which 
directs and focuses the light source to a point in space. The light source 
most commonly used will be a small flashlight but can be a specially built 
light, fiber optic cable or other light source. The device includes a 
means for releasably attaching the light source housing to the hand. The 
light source is releasably secured to the hand in order that it may be 
adjusted to reposition the light when tools are changed. 
For example, where the light source is a common hand held flashlight, and a 
strap is used to secure the flashlight to the hand, it could be attached 
to the strap using glue, bolts, rivets or similar means. The flashlight 
would be aimed in the direction of the meeting point of the thumb and 
index finger or forefinger with the illuminated area sufficient large for 
a person to be able to see in that general area and use tools such as a 
standard screwdriver, pliers, wire cutters, or other common hand tools. 
Alternatively, the flashlight may be releasably attached by a snap, 
buttons or other means so that the focal point of the light may be shifted 
as needed. The preferred method of doing this is to use loop and hook 
fabric, commonly sold under the trade name, (Velcro), with one part 
connected to the flashlight housing by elastic bands and the other part 
being sewn to the strap. Because of the curvature of the hand as the light 
source is adjusted closer to the fingers, the focal point of the light 
moves closer to the point where the fingers meet and as the light source 
is moved further back toward the wrist, the focal point is moved further 
away from where the fingers meet. 
The light source may include one or more batteries contained in its housing 
or may be connected by wires to a remote power source located elsewhere on 
the person of the use, the ground, or even plugged in to a common 
electrical outlet. The strap may entirely consist of hook and loop 
fastener (Velcro) hook or loop strip of the hook and loop fastener 
attached to a glove or another strap which is secured to the hand.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring in detail to the drawings wherein like references refer to like 
parts as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 & 3. The device as shown in FIG. 3a is 
comprised of a wrist portion 11, a hand portion 18 and 19 connected by a 
snap 23 and 14, with a flashlight connecting portion 20, 21, and 22. The 
wrist portion as shown in FIG. 3b is comprised of strap portion 11 to 
which a loop strip 12 is sewn, a hook strip 13 is sewn, a hook strip 15 is 
sewn and a hook strip 16 is sewn, and contains snap bottom 14. The hand 
portion is comprised of a hook strip 19 which is sewn to strap 18, a loop 
strip 17 which is sewn to strap 18, and snap top 23. The strap portion 
will connect at the top and bottom of the wrist running between the thumb 
and forefinger and along the top of the hand between the metacarpal bones 
of the thumb and forefinger of either left or right hand. The flashlight 
connecting portion is comprised of elastic straps 21 and 20 sewn to loop 
strip 22. 
The device adjustably secures a flashlight to the hand at the location 
between the metacarpal bones of the thumb and forefinger. Elastic strap 11 
connected by a snap, the top of which is 23 (FIG. 3c) and the bottom of 
which is 14, (FIG. 3b) which allows the device to be worn on either the 
left hand or the right hand . The fastener strips 16 and 12 are sewn on 
strap 11 so that they will removably secure strap 11 around the wrist as 
shown in FIG. 2. Fastener strips 13 and 15 are sewn on strap 11 such that 
fastener strip 17 on strip 18 matches fastener strap 13 for the left hand 
or fastener strip 15 for the right hand. Fastener strip 19 is sewn to 
strap 18, so that each is approximately half the length of the hand 
portion. On fastener strip 22, the elastic straps 20 and 21 are sewn. 
Flashlight 24 is removably held in position by elastic straps 20 and 21 
and is releasably attached to the hand portion by connecting fastener 
strip 22 and fastener strip 19. 
While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of the 
invention, it is understood that there are many variations and 
modifications and that I therefore, do not wish to be limited to the 
precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes, 
alteration or equivalents as fall within the purview of the following 
claims.