Portable illumination device

The present disclosure teaches and describes an illumination device that may be coupled to a variety of objects to help provide lighting to an area. The illumination device has at least two sections that are connected by a hinge and rotate around that hinge. The illumination device further has adapters to increase the grip and hold of the device. The device may be lockable or use tension to hold it in a particular configuration. The illumination device has a number of light emitting diodes placed on the various surfaces of the device. The light emitting diodes provide lighting to assist individuals in performing tasks in dark or poorly lit areas. The lighting is controlled by a power switch which may also change the intensity of the light.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application is a non-provisional application and claims no priority to any patent or patent application.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention relates to an illumination device, namely a device that provides hands free illumination to an area. In particular, the field of the present invention relates to an illumination device that attaches to a secondary object illuminating a space enabling work to be performed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Light, namely visible light is responsible for facilitating human sight. Visible light is vitally important for human survival yet is only present in a narrow band of the electromagnetic spectrum, existing in wavelengths from about 380 nanometers to about 750 nanometers. The remaining electromagnetic spectrum comprises various forms of radiation (non-visible light) including gamma radiation, X-ray radiation, ultraviolet radiation, infrared radiation, terahertz radiation, microwave radiation, and radio waves.

The advent of modern technology has increased the number of mechanisms and manner in which such visible light, and various other types of light including ultraviolet and infrared, are created as well as harnessed. Many forms of artificial light are stationary in that they are tied to fixtures such as lighting in homes. The capability of having portable light, such as a flashlight, aids to illuminate areas where there is minimal lighting. This increases the visibility for the user when maneuvering in these areas and/or locating certain items where there is limited or minimal lighting.

The need to provide lighting to specific areas in a convenient fashion is a continual challenge for those in society. Often, such lighting requirements may be necessary for a particular occupation such as a plumber or electrician or may be used for recreational purposes such as hiking or spelunking.

Many lighting options are designed to provide a particular purpose (i.e. a flashlight). These items are designed with that purpose whether it be illuminating a specific area or a general area and have limited flexibility in how they are used. Thus, there is a need for a lighting, or illumination, device that has a wide range of flexibility in terms of its used with differing objects and the situations in which it can be used. Additionally, such a device should be readily portable and lightweight so that it does not interfere with the overarching task at hand.

REVIEW OF RELATED TECHNOLOGY

U.S. Patent Application 2009/0059569 pertains to a push cleaning tool comprising a light source that is designed to illuminate a floor or other flat work surface in front or behind the tool for the purpose of locating and collecting small hard to see objects. This can be for the purpose of cleaning or simply locating a small valuable object. The light source is fashioned such that it provides a very low grazing angle of illumination that it skims across a surface. Small objects or particles are visible as being brighter than the surroundings and set off by a long shadow on the side of the particle away from the light.

U.S. Patent Application 2006/0215391 pertains to a handheld implement, such as a brush, detailer, applicator, or the like, including a housing and a work element connected to the handle. The implement also includes a light, a power source connected to the light, and a switch for turning on and off the power source for illuminating the light. The work element is concealable in the housing when the implement is not in use, and can be extendable from the housing when the implement is in use. The light, via switching the light on or off, selectively illuminates a surface on which the work element of the implement is employed or operates. The work element is, for example, bristles, and the light is a low power bulb or LED.

U.S. Patent Application 2006/0215390 pertains to an implement, such as a broom or mop for cleaning, including a handle and a cleaning feature connected to the handle. The implement also includes a light connected to the implement, a power source of the implement connected to the light, and a switch of the implement for turning on and off the power source for illuminating the light. The power source is, for example, a battery. The power source, switch and light are electrically connected internally within the implement, and the switch is exposed for manual switching and the light is exposed for illuminating an area serviced by the implement. Alternately, the switch is automatically triggered by a servicing occurrence.

Korean Patent 864,187 pertains to a luminous broom including a handle rod, a radiation unit for emitting a light by a user's selection by being connected to the handle rod, and a brush of which one end receives the light emitted from the radiation unit by being fixed to be adjacent to the radiation unit, and the other end comprises plural optical fiber for emitting the light by being exposed to the outside.

Various devices are known in the art. However, their structure and means of operation are substantially different from the present disclosure. These devices are either permanently attached or have limited functionality. The other inventions fail to solve all the problems taught by the present disclosure. The present disclosure provides for an illumination device that can couple to a variety of objects and have a number of differing functions. At least one embodiment of this invention is presented in the drawings below and will be described in more detail herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure describes and teaches an illumination device having a first section with a first upper surface, a first bottom surface, and a first side surface; a second section having a second upper surface, a second bottom surface, and a second side surface, wherein the first section and the second section are rotatably coupled; a plurality of lighting mechanisms disposed along the surfaces of the first section and the second section; and at least one adapter disposed on the first side surface and the second side surface. The illumination device may further have a power source such as a battery or solar cell. The battery may be rechargeable or non-rechargeable.

The illumination device further has a power switch which may be slidable or depressible or some combination thereof. The power switch is used to change the operative state of the lighting mechanism. Further, the power switch may also be able to change the intensity of the lighting mechanism. The aforementioned lighting mechanism is preferably a plurality of light emitting diodes. The light emitting diodes may be arranged in a particular configuration to suit a particular need. Thus, the light emitting diodes may be disposed along any number or combination of the surfaces of the illumination device. Further, the illumination device may have protective measures such as a covering or ridges to protect the lighting mechanisms.

Generally, the first section and the second section are held, or coupled, together by a coupling mechanism which may be a pin, screw, nail, or the like or any combination thereof. There may be a requirement for more than one coupling mechanism. The coupling mechanism should provide for free rotation of the first section and the second section with respect to one another. The adapters are ideally located on the side surfaces and more particularly in the area which will be making contact with a secondary object. The adapters are shaped and selected from material(s) that are designed to increase grip or friction while providing maneuverability. The first and second section, when brought together, may have a locking mechanism that holds the two sections in place.

The illumination device is typically placed around generally round objects such as the handle to a broom, rake, shovel, or mop or the like. The secondary object may also not be round and the internal shape of the illumination device may reflect a particular intended usage. In some embodiments, the illumination device has a charging port that can be used to couple the illumination device to a charger that charges the power source contained therein.

In general, the present invention succeeds in conferring the following, and others not mentioned, benefits and objectives.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an illumination device that is lightweight and portable.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an illumination device that can be coupled to a variety of secondary objects.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an illumination device that provides lighting to an area with limited natural or artificial lighting.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an illumination device that is hands free.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an illumination device that provides variable intensity lighting.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an illumination device that provides for long operational duration between charging or replacement of the power source.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an illumination device that is inexpensive.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an illumination device that is durable and protects the lighting mechanism from damage.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an illumination device that provides multidirectional lighting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Identical elements in the various figures are identified, as far as possible, with the same reference numerals.

Referring toFIGS. 1A and 1B, there is a first section105of the illumination device100. The first section105has a first upper section107, a first side surface111, and a first bottom surface109. Additionally, there is a first connecting section113. The main portion of the first section105is substantially semi-circular with a protruding connecting section113. The connecting section113has an upper and lower section with a space therebetween. Through each of the upper and lower section of the connecting section113there is an aperture124extending therethrough. The aperture124in each of the upper and lower section should align with one another. Opposite the connecting section113there is a flared locking mechanism145.

The first upper surface107has at least one, and preferably at least three, lighting mechanisms125. The lighting mechanisms125may be embedded within the first upper surface107or they may be protruding from the first upper surface107. In some cases, the lighting mechanism125may be disposed on the first side surface111or the first bottom surface109either singularly or in conjunction with the first upper surface107.

The second section115is shown inFIGS. 2A and 2B. The second section115generally mirrors the first section105. The second section115has a second upper surface117, a second bottom surface119, and a second side surface121. The second connecting section123only has one protruding surface which fits in the space between the upper section and the lower section of the first connecting section113. The aperture124aligns with the apertures124in the upper and lower section of the first connecting section113. When the apertures124are properly aligned a connecting mechanism129can be positioned to extend therethrough (seeFIG. 3). The connecting mechanism129may be permanently positioned using caps, adhesives, welds, and the like or some combination thereof.

InFIG. 3, there is an assembled illumination device100. The assembled illumination device100primarily comprises a first section105, a second section115, a plurality of lighting mechanism125, a coupling mechanism129, and a locking mechanism145. On a portion of the first side surface111and the second side surface121, there is at least one adapter135disposed thereon. The adapter135is shaped to flexibly fit the interior side surface to which it is disposed. The adapters135have grooves137that assist in the illumination device100providing friction, or grip, to enable it to be positioned along or on a secondary object.

Similar to the configuration of the surfaces of the connecting sections113,123the adapters135are interspaced in much of the same fashion. Either the first section105or the second section115preferably has two adapters135, whereas the other section preferably has one adapter135. The section with the two adapters135are spaced in a way that the sole adapter135on the other section fits between the two adapters135when the sections are brought together. The adapters135may be adhered to the sections with an adhesive or may be an extension of the sections themselves.

The lighting mechanisms125shown here are light emitting diodes or LEDs. The LEDs may be spaced and oriented in a way as to provide the greatest luminance without obstructing the vision of the user. Preferably there are at least three (3) LEDs per section and the LEDs may be placed on the upper surface, side surface, or bottom surface. The LEDs are powered by a power source (seeFIG. 5). The power source is preferably a battery which may be rechargeable or non-rechargeable.

Further, the locking mechanism145may be used to temporarily or permanently adhere the illumination device100to a secondary object Each of the first section105and the second section115has a flared locking mechanism145on an end opposite the connecting section113,123. Once brought together (as close as the secondary object will permit) a band150may be placed around the locking mechanism145and the flared ends prevent the band150from slipping off during use. This band150and closed configuration is present inFIG. 4.

InFIG. 5, there is a bottom view of the illumination device100. The illumination device100has much of the same structure as does the top surface (seeFIG. 3). There are a number of lighting mechanisms125across the bottom surface. There is also the connecting mechanism129which extends through the two sections of the invention. The bottom of the illumination device100also has a battery compartment180which the power source155, preferably batteries, reside therein. The battery compartment180has a removable case. There may be more than one battery compartment180as shown. The bottom also harbors the power switch165. The power switch165changes the operative state of the lightening mechanisms125and may also function to vary the intensity of light emanating from the lighting mechanisms125. A charging port175enables the power source155to be recharged. The charging port175may be able to receive a number of different connectors including various universal serial bus connectors, plugs, and the like.

FIG. 6shows the illumination device100being used in at least one manner as intended. The illumination device100is attached to a secondary device, in this case, a broom200. More specifically, the illumination device100is attached to a broom handle210. The broom handle210passes through the aperture formed when the two sections of the illumination device100are brought together encircling the broom handle210. The illumination device100is secured by placing the band150around the flared locking mechanism145. The band150is preferably a rubber or silicone based band that has a certain degree of flex and rigidity to it. Thus, the band150can be readily stretched and fit over the locking mechanism145, but will not have so much give as to permit the illumination device100to come loose during use.

The adapters135provide the physical contact between the illumination device100and the broom handle210. The adapters135have grooves137which aids in the adapter being able to flex and grip the broom handle210. Preferably, the adapters135are a rubber or have a non slip coating that prevents undesirable movement of the adapter135and, in turn, the illumination device100when being used. Once in the “on” configuration, the lighting mechanisms125produce artificial light that can be used in limiting light situations.

Additionally, the lighting mechanism125may have variable lighting intensities that can be used as necessary in a multitude of lighting conditions. Thus, you may be able to better see behind a larger piece of furniture that would be difficult to move, which then enables you to clean behind it better. Additionally, if you are working in a dimly lit basement, the illumination device100can provide light while you use your tools, such as a screwdriver, without having to hold a light. The light emanating from the illumination device100may be able to be focused on a particular area.

Generally, the main structure of the illumination device100including the first section105, second section115comprise plastics, such as but not limited to, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), high-density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), high impact polystyrene (HIPS) and polycarbonate (PC), or any combination thereof. Further the illumination device may comprise composites, including but are not limited to, fiber reinforced plastics, metal composites, carbon fiber, and Kevlar® and the like. Metals used in the illumination device100may comprise lightweight metals such as aluminum and other pure metals as well as various alloys. The materials should be chosen for their lightweight, yet durable, properties.

The adapters135are preferably primarily comprised of a rubber such as natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), Isoprene rubber, Butadiene rubber, or (poly)chloroprene rubber or some combination thereof. The lighting mechanism125may be light emitting diodes (LEDs) or organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) or a combination thereof. Other lighting elements can be used to create a similar effect. Any color of lighting can be selected to be used in conjunction with the present invention, and in some cases the illumination device may be capable of producing multiple colors of light.