Abstract:
A light attachment for an inspection tool having a mirror, the attachment having: a mounting bracket configured for releasable attachment to the mirror; a light member attached to the mounting bracket; and a power source for the light member.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]    The invention relates to inspection tools and, more particularly, to inspection mirrors such as those that are used by mechanics to view obscured areas of an automobile, and also those which are used by security personnel for example to inspect the underside of automobiles. 
         [0002]    Such inspection mirrors allow the user to view areas which would otherwise be difficult or impossible to view. In some instances, such areas are not only obscured from the viewer, but are also dark. In such circumstances, it has been known to position a light member shining parallel to the handle of the device, and onto the mirror to illuminate the area to be viewed. While such an approach does help view the intended area, there is room for improvement in such devices. 
         [0003]    It is therefore the primary object of the invention to provide an apparatus to allow better illumination of an area to be inspected. 
         [0004]    Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear herein. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]    According to the invention, the foregoing objects are attained. 
         [0006]    According to the invention, a light attachment is provided for attaching to an inspection tool to illuminate the area to be inspected. 
         [0007]    According to the invention, the apparatus comprises a light member attached to a mounting bracket for mounting directly to the mirror of an inspection tool so that light from the light member is directed along the focal axis of the mirror to illuminate an area or object to be viewed with the mirror. 
         [0008]    The mounting bracket is preferably shaped to coincide with the shape of the mirror, preferably round, and has two or more clips to hold the bracket to the mirror. A battery for the light member is accessibly stored within the mounting bracket. 
         [0009]    With the apparatus according to the invention, light is provided directly on the object to be illuminated, and is not reflected onto the object through the mirror as with prior devices. This provides better illumination and allows more thorough inspection of the object or area to be inspected. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0010]    A detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention follows, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates an apparatus according to the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the apparatus of the invention installed on an inspection mirror; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a rear view of the apparatus of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a side view of a portion of the apparatus of the invention showing internal wiring of the light member; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  shows an apparatus according to the invention attached to a mirror and illuminating an otherwise obscured surface; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  shows an alternate embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]      FIG. 1  shows an apparatus  10  according to the invention which comprises a mounting bracket generally indicated at  12 , and a light member  14  connected to mounting bracket  12 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , mounting bracket  12  is configured for releasable attachment to an inspection mirror tool  16 . 
         [0018]    Light member  14  can be any suitable light bulb or other light generating device, preferably sufficiently powerful that good illumination can be provided for viewing objects up to several feet from the mirror, from a distance which is also several feet from the mirror. Numerous alternatives are available for the light member as would be well known to a person skilled in this art. Light member  14  can be mounted in mounting bracket  12  in any suitable manner, preferably such that the light bulb itself can be replaced as needed. 
         [0019]    Mounting bracket  12  is preferably a structure shaped to fit around the mirror portion  18  of inspection mirror tool  16 .  FIG. 2  shows a round mirror portion  18 , and thus in this embodiment mounting bracket  12  is also substantially round in shape. As shown, mounting bracket  12  can have a body portion  20  sized to be held behind mirror portion  18 , and this portion  20  preferably has at least one and preferably at least two clips  22  for snapping past the front edge of mirror portion  18  to hold bracket  12  in place with respect to mirror portion  18 . Mounting bracket  12  can also have a forwardly extending lip  24  which is sized to fit around the outer edge of mirror portion  18 , and thereby stabilize mounting bracket  12  relative to mirror portion  18  during use. Inspection mirror tool  16  typically has a handle  26  which can be extended and used to position mirror portion  18  in a desired location to view desired areas or objects. Lip  24  preferably has a notch  28  in lip  24  sized to accept handle  26 . 
         [0020]    According to the invention, two clips  22  can preferably be positioned at opposite sides of mounting bracket  12  as shown, with light member  14  at a top area of mounting bracket  12 , and with notch  28  positioned opposite from light member  12 . In this configuration, apparatus mounting bracket  12  can be secured to mirror portion  18  as desired, and light directed along a focal axis of mirror portion  18  also as desired. 
         [0021]    Light member  14  can be powered from a battery  30 , which can be wired to light member  14 , preferably through a switch  32  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ) to allow light member  14  to be selectively powered off and on. Battery  30  can suitably be stored within a compartment inside mounting bracket  12 , and an access door  34  can be provided in mounting bracket  12  to allow battery  30  to be accessed and changed as necessary. 
         [0022]      FIG. 3  shows a rear view of apparatus  10  according to the invention, and shows switch  32  for powering the light on and off. Also, it should be appreciated that mounting bracket  12  in this embodiment is defined by a front wall and a rear wall, and that these walls define the compartment for holding battery  30 , as well as the wiring  36  which connects battery  30  and light member  14 .  FIG. 3  shows one embodiment of the rear wall of apparatus  10 , and this rear wall can have a plurality of cutouts  38  which serve to reduce the amount of material required to manufacture mounting bracket  12 , which can suitably be injection molded from plastic. 
         [0023]      FIG. 4  shows a side view and schematically illustrates battery  30 , wiring  36  and switch  32  which are used according to the invention to selectively turn light member  14  on and off.  FIGS. 2 and 4  show that light member  14  can be surrounded by a housing  40  which extends forwardly beyond mirror  18  and lip  24 . This housing  40  serves to protect the light bulb within light member  14  from being damaged by incidental contact with various objects during use of apparatus  10 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 5  shows apparatus  10  secured to an inspection mirror tool  16  and being used to illuminate and view a surface  42 . This use of apparatus  10  according to the invention can as indicated above serve to allow inspection of the underside of vehicles, or otherwise obscured areas in an engine compartment and the like. 
         [0025]      FIG. 6  shows an alternate embodiment of apparatus  10  wherein light member  14   a  is centrally located on holder  12 , and mirror portion  18  has a central opening or hole  50  through which light member  14   a  shines during use. The housing of bracket  12  can be defined by two spaced walls in similar fashion to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-5 , with battery and wiring positioned internally, the battery being changeable, and a switch being positioned for powering light member  14   a  on and off as desired. In this embodiment, while the mirror portion  18  is slightly complicated by the need for central opening  50 , the advantage gained by this extra effort is a central location of light member  14   a,  which serves to more directly and properly illuminate an area to be viewed. Bracket  12  in this embodiment snaps onto and off of mirror portion  18  in similar fashion to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-5 . 
         [0026]    It should be appreciated that this description has been provided in terms of a preferred embodiment of the invention, and that various details and aspects of the embodiment described could be modified by a person skilled in the art. The present invention is deemed to include such modifications, and the broad scope of the present invention is not limited by the specific details of this description.