Portable light for laptop computer

A portable light for laptop computers comprising a battery pack and a light assembly selectively engageable in a use position with the light assembly extending perpendicular from the upper portion of the battery pack and slidably engaged within mounting clips on the battery pack, and a stored position wherein the battery pack is received substantially co-linear with the light assembly within a storage pocket in the light assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The invention is broadly concerned with portable computers of the type 
commonly referred to as laptop computers wherein the keyboard is 
selectively closed by an upwardly pivoting cover, the inner face of which 
comprises the screen or monitor. The cover, when closed, provides a slim 
profile with all of the operating components fully protected within the 
attache-type structure. 
Such computers, because of their intended use away from an office 
environment, for example, in airplanes, trains, cars, buses, hotels, 
worksites, and the like, are, under such circumstances, usually run by 
battery powerpacks which, as a matter of convenience, are normally 
multiple interchangeable packs. 
However, one particular difficulty noted with regard to such computers is 
the lack of an appropriate light source. This can be a particular hardship 
in such locations wherein auxiliary lamps or the like are not normally 
available. 
Laptop computer manufacturers have conventionally made no provision for 
incorporating a light source in that the laptop computers virtually need 
all of the power available for operating the computer itself as well as 
the energy draining laptop viewing screen. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a portable light 
source for a laptop computer (laptop) and the like which releasably mounts 
to the computer and incorporates its own power source. 
The portable or travel light, upon an opening of the computer and an 
upright positioning of the viewing screen, is adapted to mount to the 
upper or outer edge thereof in an adjustable manner which conforms to any 
currently known laptop. 
The portable light is convertible between a mounting or use position 
wherein the light conforms to the configuration of the computer lid and is 
retained thereon by a combination of a frictional clamping action and a 
counterweight arrangement, and a stored position wherein the portable or 
travel light is flat, with the components thereof engaged and receivable 
within a flat pouch, much in the manner of an oversized eyeglass case or 
the like. When so stored, the portable light is easily carried in one's 
pocket, a computer accessory case, or the like. 
Basically, the portable light includes a light assembly and a separate 
battery pack. The light assembly includes a forwardly positioned 
downwardly directed reflector which internally mounts a lamp or light 
bulb. A housing immediately behind the reflector mounts the electrical 
circuitry, bulb socket and the like. A combined storage and mounting 
pocket is provided rearwardly of the circuitry housing and rearwardly 
directed. This pocket is defined by an elongate top mounting panel, which 
can be unitarily formed with the top of the circuitry housing and 
reflector, and a lower parallel substantially shorter latching panel. 
The battery pack includes an internal battery chamber with a storage 
compartment therebelow for extra light bulbs and the like, and an 
overlying circuitry compartment toward the opposite end of the battery 
chamber from the storage compartment. A slidably mounted side portion of a 
wall of the battery pack is in the nature of a closure or door to 
selectively open the battery chamber and storage compartment. 
The circuitry compartment of the battery pack, which defines one end 
thereof, includes a pair of opposed mounting clips which form opposed 
inwardly directed slots to slidably receive the opposed longitudinal edges 
of the mounting panel of the light assembly upon an orientation of the 
battery pack at right angles to the light assembly. Electrical contact 
between the battery pack and light assembly can be made through engaging 
contacts on the undersurface of the mounting panel and the end of the 
battery pack between the clips, or, alternatively, by a separate wire and 
jack assembly. 
With the battery pack and light assembly joined as described above, the 
battery pack will lie against the back or outer face of the cover of the 
laptop computer with the light assembly overlying the screen and 
rearwardly slid to engage the latching panel with an appropriate portion 
of the computer cover, either a peripheral lip thereon, a projecting 
latch, or similar structure whereby the battery pack acts in a manner of a 
counterweight for the forwardly projecting light assembly, and the edge 
portion of the computer cover is clamped appropriately between the battery 
pack and latching panel. 
When the light is to be stored, the battery pack is removed from the 
mounting panel, aligned with the light assembly, and slid into the storage 
pocket to parallel and underlie the mounting panel. 
Additional features and advantages will become apparent from a more 
detailed description of the invention following hereinafter.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the portable or travel 
light 10 comprises two basic interacting components, a battery pack 12 and 
a light assembly 14. Noting FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the two components are 
assembled in a use position wherein the portable light 10 is particularly 
adapted for mounting on the outer flanged edge portion 16 of the combined 
cover and view screen 18 of a laptop computers, commonly referred to as a 
laptop. 
In a second position, the battery pack and the light assembly, as 
illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, are releasably compacted in a flat storage 
or stored position, capable of being itself stored within a protective 
pouch or the like. 
The battery pack 12 comprises a relatively flat rectangular body having 
opposed planar front and rear face walls 22 and 24, substantially flat 
bottom and top end walls 26 and 28, and opposed substantially flat side 
walls 30 and 32. The walls define a lower rather shallow storage 
compartment 34 which extends the full width of the battery pack, a 
substantially taller battery chamber 36 thereabove, and a wiring 
compartment 38 including the appropriate wires, contacts, etc. thereabove. 
For compactness, it is contemplated that the depth of the battery pack, 
between the front and rear wall 22 and 24, be only such as to accommodate 
the depth of a single 1.2 volt AA battery 40, with the width of the 
battery chamber 36, and hence the battery pack 12, being such as to 
preferably accommodate four such batteries 40. The lower storage chamber 
34 can accommodate spare bulbs, an auxiliary power transfer cable, or the 
like. 
The front wall 22, noting FIG. 2, includes a sliding closure panel 42 which 
is downwardly retracted to selectively open the battery chamber 36 and 
storage compartment 34, with side guides 44 or the like being provided. 
The closure panel will be retained in its closed position in any 
conventional manner such as by friction developed by the side guides 44 or 
an appropriate releasable snaplock. 
As desired, the interior of the wiring compartment 38 can be accessed by an 
appropriate sliding panel or, as illustrated, screw-mounted removable end 
panels 46. This compartment 38 will include, projecting through the top 
wall 28, a pair of electrical contacts or contact buttons 48, one of which 
is illustrated in FIG. 3. One or more power jack sockets 50 will be 
provided, preferably through one or both of the end panels 46 and, as it 
is contemplated the battery pack be rechargeable as a unit, an appropriate 
LED charging light 52 will be exposed through that portion of the rear 
wall 24 covering the wiring compartment. 
In order to mount the light assembly 14 to the battery pack 12 in the use 
position, the battery pack includes a pair of opposed mounting clips 54 
defined at the opposed ends of the top wall 28 by a pair of laterally 
inwardly directed flanges 56 which are preferably integral with and extend 
inwardly from the upper ends of the opposed end wall panel portions 46 to 
partially overlie the top wall 28 and define a pair of opposed inwardly 
directed retaining slots 58. 
The light assembly 14 includes a forward reflector 60 having a rear wall 
62, through which an appropriate bulb or lamp 64 mounts, opposed end walls 
66 and an outer or top wall 68 which curves forwardly and downwardly to 
define a corresponding front wall 70 terminating in a common plane with 
the lower edges of the end walls 66 and rear wall 62. The reflector walls 
define a downwardly directed open face 72 and preferably have the inner 
surfaces of appropriate reflective construction to maximize illumination 
from the lamp 64. 
The outer wall 68, rearward of the arcuate forward wall portion 70 thereof, 
is preferably integrally formed with an equal width rearwardly extending 
planar mounting panel 74 having opposed straight side edges 76 and being 
of a width for snug slidable reception within the opposed facing slots 58 
of the mounting clips 54. The mounting panel 74 has a viewing port 78 
therein alignable with the charging light 52 in the stored position as 
best seen in FIG. 4. 
A closed housing 80 is formed immediately rearward of the rear wall 62 of 
the reflector 60 and receives the requisite internal wiring, circuitry, 
bulb socket and the like. Access to this housing 80, which has a closed 
rear wall 82, is provided by an appropriate slidable top access panel 84 
in the overlying mounting panel 74, and/or a screw mounted end panel 86, 
preferably having a jack socket 88 therein. 
The bottom of the circuitry housing 80 is closed by a planar latch panel 90 
which extends rearwardly from the rear wall 62 of the reflector to a point 
substantially beyond the rear wall 82 of the housing 80 but well short of 
the rear edge of the parallel overlying mounting panel 74. So positioned, 
the mounting panel 74 and latching panel 90 define a rearwardly directed 
storage pocket 92. The pocket 92 is of a height between the latch panel 90 
and mounting panel 74 as to snugly although slidably receive the upper 
portion of the battery pack 12 as illustrated in FIG. 4. In addition, the 
depth of the pocket 92, forward from the rear edge 94 of the latch panel 
90 is such as to receive a sufficient portion of the battery pack 12 to 
provide for a positive retention of the battery pack 12 substantially 
co-linear with the light assembly 14. That is, there will be no tendency 
for the light assembly 14 and battery pack 12 to readily disengage from 
the stored position of FIGS. 4 and 5 without a physical or manual 
separation thereof. A slight inherent flexibility in the materials of the 
latch panel and mounting panel in particular may be of assistance in 
effecting the desired engagement. 
An appropriate off-on slide switch 96 is accessible through the top of the 
mounting panel 74 over the housing 80, although the location of the switch 
can vary. 
In order to provide for electrical continuity or communication between the 
battery pack 12 and the lamp assembly circuitry, a pair of elongate 
contact strips 98 are mounted extending longitudinally along the 
undersurface of the mounting panel 74 and so aligned as to engage with the 
contacts 48 projecting from the top wall 28 of the battery pack when the 
battery pack is assembled to the lighting assembly as in FIGS. 1 and 3. 
The use of elongate contact strips 98 will, in an obvious manner, allow 
for relative adjustment between the two main components to accommodate 
different thickness laptop covers, viewing screens and the like. As an 
alternative or auxiliary means to provide for power transfer, a connecting 
wire 100 with jacks mounted on the opposed ends thereof, can be provided 
for engagement within the jack sockets 50 and 88. Assuming the battery 
pack is rechargeable as a unit, an appropriate recharging device can be 
engaged within the battery pack socket 50, or another appropriately 
provided socket to the battery pack circuitry. It is also contemplated 
that the portable light, in the use position, be operative directly by 
line current using the recharging device or an appropriate adapter. 
Turning now again to FIG. 1, it will be recognized that in use, the light 
assembly will be positioned with the reflector forward of the front face 
or screen of the cover, and the battery pack 12 will be positioned against 
the rear or upper face of the combined cover and viewing screen. The 
engaged light assembly 14 will then be slid rearwardly to both clamp the 
laptop cover 18 between the battery pack and rear or outer edge 94 of the 
latch panel 90, and to also engage the latch panel under the cover flange 
16 or, depending upon the model of laptop, a projecting latch tab 102 
normally provided on this flange to lock the cover in its closed position 
over the keyboard. Thus, multiple features tend to stabilize the portable 
light in operative position, including the counterweight action of the 
battery pack, the frictional clamping between the battery pack and the 
rear edge of the latch flange 90, and the engagement of the latch flange 
beneath any forwardly projecting portion aligned therewith on the laptop 
cover 18. 
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that a highly effective light 
source has been provided for laptop computers, the light source being 
usable under all circumstances and, being independently powered, 
presenting no demands on the computer power supply itself. Further, the 
compact nature of the portable light in its stored position makes it 
easily carried, for example in a small pouch or case, which in turn allows 
the user to actually avail himself of multiple interchangeable battery 
packs, thus allowing continued use of the computer should one battery pack 
run down. 
The foregoing is considered illustrative of the principles of the 
invention. As variations and related embodiments may occur to those 
skilled in the art, it is to be appreciated the invention, and all 
suitable modifications and equivalents, are only to be limited by the 
scope of the claims following hereinafter.