Remote control illuminator

An apparatus for illuminating the printed markings on a remote control device is disclosed. The apparatus may be configured in a kit form which includes a plate, a light-positioning wing, and a battery compartment integrally formed together into a unit. A remote control device is releasably fastened to an upper surface of the plate. The light-positioning wing extends outward and upward from an edge of the plate to a point above an upper surface of the remote control, then curves back toward the remote control. The light-positioning wing extends a substantial distance along the side of the remote control. Light bulbs are distributed along the concave surface of the light-positioning wing, and a switch is located on the outer or upper surface of the light-positioning wing. When the switch is pressed, light from the light bulbs shines predominantly sideways and slightly downward to illuminate the upper surface of the remote control and the markings printed thereon.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to lighting devices More 
specifically, the present invention relates to a lighting apparatus which 
is specifically adapted to illuminate a remote control device. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Remote control devices, hereinafter referred to as remote controls, have 
achieved widespread use in recent years. Generally speaking, a remote 
control is a hand-held electronic device that includes the various 
switches, push buttons, and the like, which are needed to operate or 
control another item of equipment. Typically, this controlled equipment is 
remotely located from the remote control. Modern televisions, video 
cassette recorders (VCRs), stereos, garage door openers, automobile 
alarms, toys, and the like, are all commonly operated through remote 
controls While a few remote controls transmit electrical control signals 
to the controlled equipment via an electrical cable, most modern remote 
controls transmit electrical control signals to the controlled equipment 
via an electromagnetic signal. Often this electromagnetic signal is 
broadcast at a frequency in the infrared portion of the electromagnetic 
spectrum. 
Another feature of modern remote controls is that they give a user the 
ability to control a vast number of operating parameters of the controlled 
equipment. This is particularly true of television, VCR, and stereo remote 
controls. In order to control many parameters, the remote controls include 
many push buttons. While the inclusion of many push buttons gives a remote 
control user great flexibility in controlling the controlled equipment, it 
likewise causes the user to face the problem of selecting the push buttons 
that are appropriate for achieving a desired result. 
In order to help the user select desired push buttons, most remote controls 
include printed markings, such as phrases, words, abbreviations, acronyms, 
symbols, and graphical images, located on or near the push buttons. Thus, 
a user may visually scan the printed markings to identify a desired 
control function, then press the push button located near the selected 
marking to implement the function. While this is a generally effective 
method for selecting a desired push button, it fails when the markings 
cannot be seen by the user. In some instances, a user may become 
sufficiently familiar with the physical locations of push buttons so that 
he or she does not need to see the markings. However, when remote controls 
include small, closely located push buttons and when a user is not 
extremely familiar with the physical locations of the push buttons, an 
inability to see the markings renders the remote control nearly useless. 
Moreover, an inability to clearly see markings occurs often in the use of 
remote controls. Users often operate remote controls for entertainment 
equipment, such as televisions, VCRs, and stereos, in dim light or 
darkness because such ambient lighting conditions are often deemed 
desirable for experiencing the entertainment provided by entertainment 
equipment. In addition, such entertainment equipment is often used at 
night when a remote control user's eyes are more likely to be tired and to 
experience difficulty in focusing. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, it is an advantage of the present invention that an improved 
lighting apparatus, which is adapted for illuminating a remote control, is 
provided. 
Another advantage of the present invention is that a remote control 
illuminator which is universally adaptable to a wide variety of remote 
controls is provided. 
Yet another advantage is that the present invention may, but need not, be 
provided in a kit form which is easily adapted to existing remote controls 
and which includes its own energy source. 
Another advantage is that the present invention evenly illuminates remote 
control markings while shielding a remote control user's eyes from bright 
lights. 
Still another advantage is that the present invention does not 
significantly impede the normal utilization of a remote control. 
Another advantage is that the present invention is inexpensive to 
manufacture and purchase. 
The above and other advantages of the present invention are carried out in 
one form by an illumination apparatus for illuminating the push button 
markings on a remote control. The remote control has a plurality of push 
buttons, each of which is located near its own corresponding marking. The 
push buttons are located substantially on an upper surface of the remote 
control. The apparatus includes a light-positioning wing which physically 
couples to the remote control so that it extends upward and outward with 
respect to the remote control. A light-generating component physically 
couples to the wing at a location that is upward and outward from the 
remote control. The light-generating component is oriented to shine at 
least some of its light toward the upper surface of the remote control. An 
energizing component and a switching component electrically couple to the 
light-generating component to selectably energize and de-energize the 
light-generating component.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
FIG. 1 shows a first preferred embodiment of the present invention in the 
form of a kit 10, which is installed on a remote control 12. Remote 
control 12 includes a multiplicity of push buttons 14, which are located 
on an upper surface 16 of remote control 12. Those skilled in the art will 
appreciate that upper surface 16 need not be the uppermost surface on 
remote control 12. Rather, the surface upon which push buttons 14 reside 
generally indicates an upward direction for remote control 12. In 
addition, remote control 12 includes a multiplicity of individual markings 
18. Each of markings 18 corresponds to its own one of push buttons 14 and 
identifies the function performed in response to activating or pressing 
its corresponding push button 14. 
Kit 10 includes a plate 20, a battery compartment 22, a light-positioning 
wing 24, a light-generating source 26, and a switch 28. When a user (not 
shown) of remote control 12 activates or presses switch 28, source 26 
generates light 30. Light 30 propagates toward upper surface 16 of remote 
control 12 and illuminates markings 18. The user may then easily see 
markings 18 and activate a push button 14 corresponding to a selected 
marking 18. 
Remote control 12 represents any one of a multiplicity of conventional 
remote controls. Such conventional remote controls are commonly used to 
control a vast assortment of video and audio equipment and are made by a 
wide assortment of manufacturers. Moreover, remote controls come in a vast 
assortment of sizes and shapes. Accordingly, while FIG. 1 depicts kit 10 
installed on a specific remote control 12, kit 10 is universally adaptable 
and may alternatively be installed on many different types and styles of 
remote controls 12. 
Although great diversity may be found in the various types and styles of 
remote controls 12, remote controls 12 also have many features in common. 
For example, remote controls 12 are typically hand-held devices. Thus, 
they tend to be relatively thin, and their overall size is limited so that 
they can be conveniently held by the vast majority of persons who tend to 
use them. In addition, push buttons 14 and their corresponding markings 18 
are generally confined to a single surface of remote control 12, which is 
designated as being surface 16 herein. Often, push buttons 14 extend above 
upper surface 16 for a short distance. Remote controls 12 typically 
transmit or broadcast a signal in a target direction 32 from a target 
surface 34 of the remote control 12. Target direction 32 and target 
surface 34 are present even when remote control 12 transmits signals to 
its controlled equipment (not shown) via electrical cables (not shown). If 
upper surface 16 is oriented to a roughly horizontal position, then target 
surface 34 usually represents a generally vertical or at least upright 
surface of the remote control 12. Usually, remote controls are elongated 
in the direction of target direction 32. In addition, markings 18 are 
usually spaced a short distance apart from their corresponding push 
buttons 14, substantially in target direction 32 or the opposite 
direction. 
FIG. 2 shows kit 10 apart from remote control 12 (see FIG. 1). Kit 10 may 
be visualized by thinking of a six-sided, frameless rectangular box which 
has dimensions slightly larger than those of remote control 12. On this 
six-sided box, at least two, and preferably three, of the six sides are 
open to permit easy, unobstructed access to remote control 12 and to 
insure against interference with the normal operation of remote control 
12. As shown in FIG. 2, the sides which correspond to upper surface 16 and 
to target surface 34 of remote control 12 are open. In addition, the 
preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 2 leaves a 
side which opposes light-positioning wing 24 open. 
Plate 20 closes one side of the six-sided box. Plate 20 provides a 
substantially flat, upper surface 36 to which two or three fasteners 38 
are affixed. In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, each 
of fasteners 38 is an adhesive backed, hook-and-loop fastener, such as the 
product commonly sold under the tradename Velcro. A first member of each 
hook-and-loop fastener 38 permanently attaches to upper surface 36, and a 
second member of each hook-and-loop fastener 38 permanently attaches (not 
shown) to a back side 40 (see FIG. 1) of remote control 12. As shown in 
FIG. 1, back side 40 opposes upper surface 16 of remote control 12. 
Accordingly, kit 10 releasably attaches to remote control 12. The 
releasable attachment permits kit 10 to be removed from remote control 12 
for installation of batteries in either kit 10 or remote control 12, for 
replacement of light source 26, for discarding kit 10, or for any other 
purpose. Fasteners 38 may advantageously be positioned and installed by a 
user on one or both of kit 10 and remote control 12 at locations which 
desirably mate a specific remote control 12 with kit 10. In other words, 
fasteners 38 may be located so that each remote control 12 is positioned 
at an optimum location on plate 20. 
In the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 2, battery 
compartment 22 closes another side of the six-sided box. Battery 
compartment 22 is dimensioned to confine at least one battery 42 and to 
provide electrical contacts (not shown) to terminals of batteries 42. As 
shown in FIG. 1, battery compartment 22 resides adjacent to an upright 
surface 44 of remote control 12, and surface 44 resides on the opposite 
side of remote control 12 from target surface 34. Preferably, battery 
compartment 22 remains as low in height as possible so that it does not 
extend above remote control 12 any more than necessary. Those skilled in 
the art will realize that batteries generally come in a wide variety of 
types, voltages, and sizes. With appreciation of the battery compartment 
size consideration, battery compartment 22 may otherwise be dimensioned to 
accommodate any specific battery or batteries 42. 
The inclusion of batteries 42 in kit 10 allows the batteries for 
light-generating source 26 to be independent from the batteries (not 
shown) for remote control 12. Hence, excessive operation of light source 
26 will not run down the batteries in remote control 12. Remote control 12 
continues to function as if kit 10 were not installed even when batteries 
42 run down. 
Light-positioning wing 24 is preferably integrally formed with battery 
compartment 22 and plate 20 into a single unit. Wing 24 closes a third 
side of the above-discussed six-sided box. In the preferred embodiment 
shown in FIGS. 1-2, wing 24 extends lengthwise, or substantially in target 
direction 32, for the entire length of kit 10. 
FIG. 3 shows a cross sectional view of kit 10 and remote control 12, taken 
at line 3--3 of FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 3, wing 24 exhibits an arcuate or 
bow-like shape with a concave side 52 facing remote control 12 and a 
convex side facing away from remote control 12. Specifically, wing 24 
extends upward from plate 20 and outward. In other words, wing 24 extends 
away from an edge of plate 20 at an obtuse angle to plate 20. Wing 24 
extends in this direction until it reaches a point 46 that is slightly 
above upper surface 16 of remote control 12. 
Point 46 is preferably located a vertical distance in the range of 0.75 to 
1.50 inches above plate 20. This distance is greater than the thickness of 
most remote controls 12. In addition, due to the above-discussed obtuse 
angle, point 46 is spaced a horizontal distance, preferably in the range 
of 0.25 to 1.0 inches, away from the edge of plate 20 and the base of wing 
24. From point 46, wing 24 extends in a generally horizontal direction 
back toward remote control 12. Preferably, wing 24 terminates at a point 
48 that does not overlie any portion of plate 20. Consequently, when kit 
10 is installed on remote control 12 as shown in FIG. 3, no portion of 
wing 24 overlies remote control 12. This allows the open area above remote 
control 12 to remain as unobstructed as possible. 
In the preferred embodiments, light-generating source 26 represents a 
plurality of small incandescent light bulbs 50a, 50b, and 50c, distributed 
along the length of wing 24. Light bulbs 50 are mounted on concave side 52 
of wing 24 at a point of maximum height above plate 20. In addition, the 
portion of concave side 52 which resides near light bulbs 50 is formed or 
coated to provided a mirror-like, light-reflecting surface 54. 
As shown in FIG. 3, the portion of wing 24 which extends between points 46 
and 48 operates as a shield that blocks direct light produced by bulbs 50 
from reaching the eyes of a user of remote control 12. In other words, 
wing 24 blocks any direct line of sight between bulbs 50 and a users eyes 
during normal usage of remote control 12. This prevents the user's eyes 
from being naturally distracted toward bright individual light sources as 
opposed to upper surface 16 of remote control 12. In addition, 
light-reflecting surface 54 is preferably configured to reflect 
substantially all light 30 impinging thereon. Preferably, concave side 52 
in cross section forms a parabolic shape with bulbs 50 residing at the 
focus point of the parabola and the axis of the parabola aimed in the 
central region of upper surface 16 of remote control 12. Hence, most of 
light 30 generated thereby is reflected and directed toward upper surface 
16. 
Referring briefly back to FIG. 1, the use of a plurality of bulbs 50 
distributed along the length of wing 24 causes light 30 to be evenly 
distributed over upper surface 16 and markings 18. Moreover, since light 
bulbs 50 are spaced only a small distance above push buttons 14 in the 
preferred embodiments, significant shadows from light 30 may be formed by 
those push buttons 14 that extend above upper surface 16. As discussed 
above, markings 18 are usually spaced apart from their corresponding push 
buttons in substantially target direction 32, or a direction opposite to 
target direction 32. Since light bulbs 50 are positioned to shine from the 
side of remote control 12, such shadows tend not to cover markings 18, and 
markings 18 are satisfactorily illuminated by light 30. 
FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram which defines the electrical connections 
used by the preferred embodiments of the present invention. Specifically, 
light bulbs 50 are coupled in parallel so that if one bulb 50 burns out, 
the remaining bulbs 50 will continue to work. The parallel-coupled bulbs 
50 couple to a first terminal of battery 42, and through switch 28 to a 
second terminal of battery 42. Thus, when a user of remote control 12 
operates switch 28, bulbs 50 become energized and generate light. 
Switch 28 is preferably a momentary switch. Thus, switch 28 closes only 
when a user of remote control 12 is actively pushing or otherwise 
manipulating switch 28. This prevents switch 28 from being inadvertently 
left on and battery 42 from unnecessarily running down. 
FIGS. 1-3 depict switch 28 as being located on a forward and upper surface 
of wing 24. Thus, switch 28 may be easily manipulated by one of a user's 
hands while simultaneously holding kit 10 (including remote control 12) in 
that same hand. The user's other hand is free to operate push buttons 14. 
The lack of obstructions above and to the opposing side of remote control 
12 from wing 24 makes the operation of push buttons 14 exceptionally easy. 
FIGS. 1-3 further show wing 24 as being located at a left side of plate 20 
and remote control 12. While not preventing left-handed users from 
operating the present invention, this configuration suits to right-handed 
users. Such users may hold kit 10 (including remote control 12) with the 
left hand and operate push buttons 14 with the right hand. Of course, 
those skilled in the art will recognize that wing 24 may alternatively be 
placed to the right of remote control 12 and plate 20 to optimize kit 10 
for left-handed users. 
FIGS. 5-7 show alternate preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
The embodiment shown in FIG. 5 includes two differences from the 
embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1-3. First, this embodiment includes wings 24 
on both the left and right sides of kit 10. While this embodiment is less 
preferred than the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3, it achieves a benefit in 
that light shines on upper surface 16 of remote control 12 (see FIG. 1) 
from two opposing directions. Thus, the light distribution over upper 
surface 16 is slightly more even. Second, this embodiment modifies switch 
28 from its configuration as shown in FIGS. 1-3. As shown in FIG. 5, 
switch 28 may advantageously be located on the outward side of wing 24. 
Moreover, switch 28 may advantageously be activated by a large bar-like 
surface. These modifications to switch 28 make kit 10 more universally 
adaptable to the existing habits of a multiplicity of users in grasping 
remote controls. 
FIG. 6 illustrates another preferred embodiment of kit 10, in which battery 
compartment 22 resides underneath upper surface 36 of plate 20. The FIG. 6 
embodiment has advantages in adapting to remote controls 12 which have 
push buttons 14 that are located near surface 44 (see FIG. 1) on upper 
surface 16 of remote control 12. The FIG. 6 embodiment provides fewer 
obstructions near surface 40. Hence, markings 18 (see FIG. 1) near such 
push buttons 14 are easier to observe, and such push buttons 14 are easier 
to physically access. In addition, this embodiment is easily adaptable to 
a wide variance in lengths of remote controls 12. Specifically, the FIG. 6 
embodiment of kit 10 may be installed on a relatively long remote control 
12 so that either, or both of surfaces 34 or 44 (see FIG. 1) extend beyond 
the end of plate 20 and wing 24. The precise relative position between kit 
10 and remote control 12 may be chosen so that push buttons 14 (see FIG. 
1) are best illuminated by light-generating source 26. 
The kit forms of the present invention are preferably formed primarily from 
molded plastics. Accordingly, the present invention is inexpensive to 
manufacture and purchase. 
As shown in FIG. 7, the present invention need not be configured as a kit 
which is installed to an existing remote control 12. Rather, an apparatus 
may be configured to integrally incorporate both remote control 12 and the 
present invention as a single unit. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 the 
housing for remote control 12 is shaped to provide wing 24. Moreover, the 
same batteries (not shown) which operate the normal functions of remote 
control 12 may also operate light bulbs 50 of the present invention. In 
addition, FIG. 7 illustrates a light-positioning wing 24 that does not 
extend the entire length of remote control 12. Rather, wing 24 is 
positioned parallel to remote control 12 only in the vicinity of push 
buttons 14. This selective positioning of wing 24 relative to push buttons 
14 further clears the area around upper surface 16 of remote control 12 
from obstructions. 
In summary, the present invention provides an improved apparatus for 
illuminating a remote control. The present invention may be configured as 
a kit which adapts to a wide variety of remote controls. The kit includes 
its own battery which allows lighting energization to be independent from 
remote control energization. The operation of lighting does not run remote 
control batteries down. The present invention shields a user's eyes from 
bright light sources and directs the majority of light produced by such 
light sources toward markings on a remote control. Accordingly, a user's 
eyes are naturally drawn precisely to the markings the user wishes to 
view. Moreover, the present invention adapts to a remote so that the 
remote control's normal operation is not impeded. The present invention is 
a simple structure which is inexpensive to manufacture and purchase. 
The present invention has been described above with reference to preferred 
embodiments. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes 
and modifications may be made in these preferred embodiments without 
departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, those 
skilled in the art will appreciate that the directional terms used herein, 
such as upward, horizontal, vertical, upright, left, right, and the like, 
apply to the orientations depicted in the FIGURES. Of course, the present 
invention is not limited to any single orientation but may be angled at 
all sorts of directions relative to the forces exerted by gravity. In 
addition, the specific materials and dimensions mentioned herein may be 
altered to meet specific application criteria, and ornamental design 
features illustrated in the FIGURES may be substantially altered as 
desired. These and other changes and modifications which ar obvious to 
those skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of 
the present invention.