Abstract:
A battery powered portable illumination device especially suitable for camping use is disclosed having three modes of use. The first mode is with left and right light units positioned back to back shining in opposite directions defining a closed position. The second mode uses a hinge to allow the light units to be rotated about the hinge until the left and right light units are pointed in the same direction defining an open position. A hook is provided for suspending the lamp on a support when it is in this open position. The third mode is an auxiliary illumination assembly or flashlight that is stored in and removable from the interior of the lamp and can be used independently of the left and right light units. The light units typically are LEDs.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of Chinese Patent Application No. 201310382523.2 filed on Aug. 28, 2013 in the Peoples republic of China the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to an illumination device, and especially to a portable camping lamp suitable for outdoor lighting. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Nowadays, illumination light devices suitable for outdoor usage always have a single fixed way of being used. When a user hangs a camping lamp on a high place, the camping lamp can only illuminate somewhere around the high place, but can&#39;t illuminate the place beneath the hanging position because of its structure. Further, in order to fulfill people&#39;s usage requirements, people doing outdoor activities usually bring various kinds of illumination light devices. In this way, people will have to bring a lot of things, the burden on the user will become heavier, and it will be inconvenient to bring them. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    An object of the present invention is to provide a portable camping lamp having multiple illuminating modes. When the two illumination assemblies (as described below) are clamped together in a closed configuration, the illumination is to the side. When the two illumination assemblies are opened around a hinge, the illumination is downward. An auxiliary illumination assembly is provided inside which can be detached for independent lighting. The lamp is convenient to carry. 
         [0005]    The portable camping lamp of the present invention comprises a base assembly, an illumination assembly mounted on the base assembly, an upper cover assembly mounted on the illumination assembly, and a handle provided on the upper cover assembly. The base assembly consists of a left base unit and a right base unit; the left base unit includes a lamp switch for turning on the illumination assembly; the right base unit includes a chargeable source unit for supplying the illumination assembly and a charging connector connected to the chargeable source unit; the lamp switch is electrically connected to the chargeable source unit. The illumination assembly consists of a left illumination unit and a right illumination unit; the left illumination unit and the right illumination unit are, respectively, attached to the left base unit and the right base unit; and the left illumination unit and the right illumination unit are hinged together at the bottom. An accommodating slot is provided on the right illumination unit. An auxiliary illumination assembly is arranged inside the accommodating slot. The auxiliary illumination assembly is retained inside the accommodating slot by means of a positioning mechanism provided on the upper cover assembly. A hook rotatable matched with the right illumination unit is provided on a lower part of the right illumination unit for hanging the illumination assembly on a support. The hook may rotate into a receiving slot provided on a lower part of the right illumination unit when the hook is not used. 
         [0006]    In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the right illumination unit includes a right casing; a curved reflector panel fixed outside the right casing by a screw; a right LED light unit attached to the inner side of the reflector panel and connected to the lamp switch; and a transparent cover clamped on the right casing, the right base unit and the upper cover assembly outside the reflector panel. The accommodating slot is provided on the right casing. A protruded portion protrudes, because of the arrangement of the accommodating slot, on a sidewall of the right casing opposite the left illumination unit. The receiving slot is provided on a lower portion of the protruded portion. A locking hole is provided on an upper end of the protruded portion. A positioning hole passes through one side of an upper portion of the right casing to the accommodating slot. 
         [0007]    In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the left illumination unit, similar to the right illumination unit, includes a left casing; a curved reflector panel fixed on an outer wall of the left casing by a screw; a right LED light unit connected to the lamp switch and fixed at an inner side of the reflector panel; and a transparent cover clamped on the left casing, the left base unit and the upper cover assembly outside the reflector panel. 
         [0008]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the upper cover assembly consists of an upper left cover unit and an upper right cover unit, the upper left cover unit and the upper right cover unit are mounted on upper portions of the left illumination unit and the right illumination unit, respectively. The upper left cover unit is provided with a locking mechanism for locking the left illumination unit and the right illumination unit together. The locking mechanism is locked on the locking hole. Another locking mechanism is mounted on the right casing for clamping the auxiliary illumination assembly inside the accommodating slot. 
         [0009]    In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, a charging mechanism which is connected to the chargeable source unit is provided in the accommodating slot. The chargeable source unit can charge the auxiliary illumination assembly through the charging mechanism. 
         [0010]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the auxiliary illumination assembly includes a main casing, a rechargeable battery and an auxiliary LED light unit mounted in the main casing. The auxiliary LED light unit is electrically connected to the rechargeable battery. The main casing is also provided with an auxiliary switch for turning the auxiliary LED light on and off. A conductive wire connected with the charging source unit is provided on the bottom of the main casing; the rechargeable battery is electrically connected to the conductive wire; and, the chargeable source unit charges the rechargeable battery through the conductive wire. 
         [0011]    In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, a clamping hole matching the positioning hole is formed on the side wall of the main casing. One end of a positioning piece passes through the positioning hole and clamps on the clamping hole. 
         [0012]    In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the left illumination unit has a left inner wall; a left base outer wall; and a left LED light unit with the illumination of the LEDs directed away from the left inner surface. The right illumination has a right inner surface; a right base outer wall; and a right LED light unit with the illumination of the LEDs directed away from the right inner surface. A hinge rotatably couples the left illumination unit to the right illumination unit and has an axis in the left and right inner walls and the left and right base outer walls. The hinge holds the left illumination unit and right illumination unit in a closed configuration when the left and right inner walls abut each other; and, holds the left illumination unit and right illumination unit in an open configuration when the left and right base outer walls abut each other. 
         [0013]    In yet another embodiment of the invention, the hook is attached to the camping lamp adjacent the axis of the hinge and the open hook end is directed away from the left base and right base. 
         [0014]    In yet another embodiment of the invention, the left base unit and the right base unit, respectively, include a left base and a right base. Both of the outer walls of the left base and the right base are provided with supporting blocks and grooves opposite each other. When the left illumination unit and the right illumination unit spread, the supporting blocks on the outer walls of the left base and the right base are correspondingly embedded into the grooves of the right base and the left base. 
         [0015]    The portable camping lamp of the present invention is suitable for outdoor usage, has multiple illuminating modes, fulfills people&#39;s various usage requirements for different environments, and is provided with the auxiliary illumination assembly which can be detached for independent lighting. In this way the user can have lighting in narrow spaces. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective of the portable camping lamp of the present invention when the transparent cover is not mounted thereon; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is an internal perspective structure view of the portable camping lamp of the present invention rotated about 180 degrees relative to  FIG. 1  with portions removed to allow an interior view; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the portable camping lamp of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a perspective structure view of the charging mechanism of the auxiliary illumination assembly when it is in the portable camping lamp; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a perspective structure view of two auxiliary illumination assemblies of the portable camping lamp of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the auxiliary illumination assembly; and, 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a perspective structure view of the portable camping lamp of the present invention in the open position with each illumination unit. 
       
    
    
       [0023]    In these figures, the following numbers are used:
         1  base assembly     2  illumination assembly     3  upper cover assembly     4  handle     5  left base unit     6  right base unit     7  lamp switch     8  chargeable source unit     9  charging connector     10  left illumination unit     11  right illumination unit     12  accommodating slot     13  hook     14  receiving slot     15  right casing     16  reflector panel     17  right LED light unit     18  transparent cover     19  protruded portion     20  locking hole     21  positioning hole     22  left casing     23  top part of the upper left cover     24  bottom part of the upper left cover     25  pressing piece     26  top part of the upper right cover     27  bottom part of the upper right cover     28  positioning piece     29  outer cover     30  button     31  chassis     32  charging conductor pin     33  buffer spring     34  main casing     35  auxiliary LED light unit     36  rechargeable battery     37  conductive wire     38  clamping hole     39  left base     40  right base     41  supporting block     42  groove     43  auxiliary switch     44  auxiliary illumination assembly     45  hinge     46  hinge axis of rotation     47  left inner wall     48  right inner wall     49  left base outer wall     50  right base outer wall     51  buckle     52  direction of illumination of the left illumination unit     53  direction of illumination of the right illumination unit       
 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0077]    In the following, the portable camping lamp of the present invention is further explained in connection with the figures. 
         [0078]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the portable camping lamp of the present invention comprises a base assembly  1 , an illumination assembly  2  mounted on the base assembly  1 , an upper cover assembly  3  mounted on the illumination assembly  2  and a handle  4  provided on the upper cover assembly  3 . The handle  4  is buckled on both sides of the upper cover assembly  3  by means of buckles  51  on both side of the handle  4  connected to the upper cover assembly  3 . When the handle  4  is to be detached, it is only necessary to detach the buckles  51  from the upper cover assembly  3 . 
         [0079]    The base assembly  1  consists of a left base  39  and left base unit  5  and a right base  40  and right base unit  6 . The left base  39  and base unit  5  include a lamp switch  7  for turning on and off the illumination assembly  2 . The right base unit  40  and right base unit  6  include a chargeable power source unit  8  for supplying the illumination assembly  2  and a charging connector  9  connected to the chargeable source unit  8 . The lamp switch  7  is electrically connected to the chargeable source unit  8 . 
         [0080]    The illumination assembly  2  consists of a left illumination unit  10  and a right illumination unit  11 . The left illumination unit  10  and the right illumination unit  11  are mounted on the left base  39  and left base unit  5  and the right base  40  and right base unit  6 , respectively. The left illumination unit  10  and the right illumination unit  11  are hinged together by a hinge  45  ( FIG. 7 ) which is attached to and extends across the bottom of the left base unit  5  and the bottom of the right base unit  6  allowing hinged rotation from a closed first position shown in  FIGS. 1-3  to an open second position shown in  FIG. 7 . During one mode of use, in the first position, the left illumination unit  10  and the right illumination unit  11  are clamped together to the closed position as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . In this position the illumination from the illumination units extend in opposite aligned directions  52 ,  53 . When one place is to be illuminated, another mode is used. In that mode the left and right illumination units are respectively rotated to a second position, the open position, as shown in  FIG. 7 . The left illumination unit  10  and the right illumination unit  11  are opened by being rotated about the hinge  45  as shown in  FIG. 7 . In this way, the left illumination unit  10  and the right illumination unit  11  have the same illuminating direction, in parallel, so that centralized illumination of one spot is realized. 
         [0081]    The right illumination unit  11  is provided with an accommodating slot  12  ( FIG. 4 ) for holding an auxiliary illumination assembly  44 . The auxiliary illumination assembly  44  can be separately detached for use. The auxiliary illumination assembly  44  is held inside the accommodating slot  12  by means of a positioning mechanism provided on the upper cover assembly  3 . Specifically, the auxiliary illumination assembly  44  is retained in the accommodating slot  12  by the positioning mechanism. When the auxiliary illumination assembly  44  is to be detached for use, it is only necessary to open the positioning mechanism to take it out. 
         [0082]    A hook  13  ( FIG. 7 ) is rotatably matched with a receiving slot  14  provided on a lower part of the right illumination unit  11 . When the hook  13  is not used, it is rotated into the slot. When the left illumination unit  10  and the right illumination unit  11  are opened as show in  FIG. 7 , the hook  13  is used to hang the portable camping lamp on a support, and centralized illumination can be directed on the place to be illuminated. 
         [0083]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the right illumination unit  11  includes a right casing  15 , a curved reflector panel  16  attached outside the right casing  15  by a screw, and a right LED light unit  17  connected to the lamp switch  7  attached to the inner side of the reflector panel  16 . A transparent cover  18  is clamped on the right casing  15 , the right base  40  and base unit  6 , and the upper cover assembly  3  outside the reflector panel  16 . The accommodating slot  12  is arranged on the right casing  15 . A protruded portion  19  protrudes on a sidewall of the right casing  15  opposite the left illumination unit  10  for providing the accommodating slot  12 . The receiving slot  14  is arranged on a lower portion of the protruded portion  19 . A locking hole  20  is provided on an upper end of the protruded portion  19 . A positioning hole  21  passes through one side of an upper portion of the right casing  15  to the accommodating slot  12 . 
         [0084]    The left illumination unit  10  includes a left casing  22  matched with the right illumination unit  11 , a curved reflector panel  16  attached to an outer wall of the left casing  22  by a screw, and a left LED light unit  17  connected to the lamp switch  7  attached to the inner side of the reflector panel  16 . A transparent cover  18  is clamped on the left casing  2 , the left base  39  and left base unit  5 , and the upper cover assembly  3  outside the reflector panel  16 . 
         [0085]    The upper cover assembly  3  consists of an upper left cover unit and an upper right cover unit, the upper left cover unit and the upper right cover units are mounted on upper portions of the left illumination unit  10  and the right illumination unit  11 , respectively. The upper left cover unit is provided with a locking mechanism for locking the left illumination unit  10  and the right illumination unit  11  together. The locking mechanism clamps in the locking hole  20 . The upper left cover unit includes a top upper left cover  23  and a lower upper left cover  24 . The locking mechanism is mounted in the lower upper left cover  24 . The locking mechanism includes a pressing piece  25  and a spring (not shown in the Figures) mounted on the pressing piece  25 . The ends of the spring abut against the pressing piece  25  and the left casing  22 . The pressing piece  25  is substantially “L”-shaped, one side of which is provided with a barb. The barb is clamped in the locking hole  20 . The top upper left cover  23  is provided with a passage for the pressing piece  25  to pass through, an upper end of the pressing piece  25  passes through the passage and extends outside the passage. When the user wants to rotate the left illumination unit  10  and the right illumination unit  11  to the open second position shown in  FIG. 7 , it is only necessary to press the pressing piece  25  making the pressing piece  25  detach from the locking hole  20 . Then the left illumination unit  10  and the right illumination unit  11  can be opened about the hinge  45 . 
         [0086]    A positioning mechanism is arranged on the right casing  15 , for clamping the auxiliary illumination assembly  44  inside the accommodating slot  12 . The upper right cover unit includes a top upper right cover  26  and a lower upper right cover  27 . The positioning mechanism is mounted in the lower upper right cover  27 . The positioning mechanism includes a positioning piece  28  provided in the positioning hole  21  and movable inside the positioning hole  21 . An outer cover  29  is screwed on the right casing  15  and positioned at the positioning hole  21 . A button  30  is located in an upper portion of the outer cover  29  and slides in the bottom part of the right cover  27 . A restoring spring (not shown in the Figures) is provided between the positioning piece  28  and the outer cover  29  as well as between the button  30  and the outer cover  29 . A slope on the button  30  and a slope on the positioning piece  28  work with each other. During operation, it is only necessary for the user to press the button  30  forcing the slope on the button  30  to push on the slope on the positioning piece  28  moving the positioning piece towards the outer cover  29  releasing the clamping between the positioning piece  28  and the auxiliary illumination assembly  44 . In this way, the user can fetch out the auxiliary illumination assembly  44  from the accommodating slot  12  to use it. After it has been used, it is only necessary for the user to insert the auxiliary illumination assembly  44  into the accommodating slot  12 , and the positioning mechanism will automatically position it. 
         [0087]    As shown in  FIGS. 3-5 , a charging mechanism connected to the chargeable source unit  8  is provided in the accommodating slot  12 . The chargeable source unit  8  can charge the auxiliary illumination assembly  44  through the charging mechanism. Specifically, the auxiliary illumination assembly  44  is an illumination light device for separate use that has a rechargeable battery  36 . The rechargeable battery  36  is charged by the chargeable source unit  8 . In this way, when the user charges the chargeable source unit  8 , the rechargeable battery  36  accommodated in the auxiliary illumination assembly  44  is also charged synchronously. The charging mechanism includes a chassis  31  clamped in the accommodating slot  12 . The chassis  31  is provided with multiple charging conductor pins  32 . The charging conductor pins  32  are electrically connected to the chargeable source unit  8 . The chassis  31  is also provided with a buffer spring  33 . When the user inserts the auxiliary illumination assembly  44  back into the accommodating slot  12 , the bottom of the auxiliary illumination assembly  44  contacts the buffer spring  33  resisting the descent of the auxiliary illumination assembly  44  until it is locked in place thus protecting the auxiliary illumination assembly  44 . When the auxiliary illumination assembly  44  is released by pushing on button  30 , the buffer spring pushes it up slightly allowing it to be grasped at the top and lifted out of the camping lamp for separate use. 
         [0088]    As shown in  FIGS. 4-6 , the auxiliary illumination assembly  44  includes a main casing  34 , a rechargeable battery  36  and the auxiliary LED light unit  35  mounted in the main casing  34 . The auxiliary LED light unit  35  is electrically connected to the rechargeable battery  36 . The main casing  34  is also provided with an auxiliary switch  43  for turning the LED light unit  35  on and off. A conductive wire  37  connected with the charging mechanism is provided on the bottom of the main casing  34 . The rechargeable battery  36  is electrically connected to the conductive wire  37 . The charging mechanism charges the rechargeable battery  36  through the conductive wire  37 . In this embodiment, two auxiliary illumination assemblies  44  are arranged in the accommodating slot  12 . These two auxiliary illumination assemblies  44  are fixed back to back. When the user fetches out the auxiliary illumination assembly  44 , these two auxiliary illumination assemblies  44  can be fetched out at the same time for usage. 
         [0089]    When the auxiliary illumination assembly  44  is located in the accommodating slot  12 , the upper terminal of the charging conductor pin  32  contacts the conductive wire  37 . In this way, electrical connection between the rechargeable battery  36  and the chargeable source unit  8  is realized. When the auxiliary illumination assembly  44  is located in the accommodating slot  12  and the conductive wire  37  contacts the charging conductor pins  32 , the chargeable source unit  8  will charge the rechargeable battery  36 . 
         [0090]    As shown in  FIGS. 3-4 , a clamping hole  38  corresponding to the positioning hole  21  is formed on side wall of the main casing  34  of the auxiliary illumination assembly  44 . When the auxiliary illumination assembly is located in the accommodating slot  12 , one end of the positioning mechanism passes through the positioning hole  21  and is matched with and clamps in the clamping hole  38 . 
         [0091]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , the left base unit  5  and the right base unit  6  include a left base  39  and a right base  40 , respectively. Both of the outer walls of the left base  39  and the right base  40  are provided with supporting blocks  41  and grooves  42  opposite each other. When the left illumination unit  10  and the right illumination unit  11  are opened about the hinge  45  as shown in  FIG. 7 , the supporting blocks  41  on the outer walls of the left base  39  and the right base  40  are correspondingly embedded into the grooves  42  of the right base  40  and the left base  39 , holding them rigidly with respect to each other in conjunction with the hinge  45 . 
         [0092]    In use in the open mode, the left illumination unit  10  is rotated about hinge  45  in relation to right illumination unit  11 . In this open configuration, all of the LEDs of the left and right illumination units are pointed in one direction in parallel usually downward, when the camping light is hung from a support on hook  13 . Specifically, left illumination unit  10  has an inner wall  47  and right illumination unit  11  has an inner wall  48 . The inner walls are complementary to each other including the axis of the hinge  45  allowing the left and right illumination units to be rotated about hinge  45 . The LEDs of the left illumination unit are directed away from the left inner wall as represented by the arrow  52 . The LEDs of the right illumination unit are directed away from the right inner wall as represented by the arrow  53 . 
         [0093]    In the closed mode, the left and right illumination units are rotated until the left and right inner walls abut each other and the illumination units are clamped together as shown in  FIGS. 1-3  in a closed configuration. In the closed configuration, the LEDs of the left illumination unit are directed away from the left inner wall as represented by the arrow  52  and the LEDs of the right illumination unit are directed way from the right inner wall as represented by the arrow  53 . When the left and right illumination units are clamped together as shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , the LEDs of the left illumination unit are pointed away from the LEDs of the right illumination unit. Left illumination unit  10  has a left bottom outer wall  49  and right illumination unit  11  has a right bottom outer wall  50 . The left bottom outer wall is substantially perpendicular to the left inner wall. The right bottom outer wall is substantially perpendicular to the right inner wall. The bottom outer walls are also complementary to each other including the axis of rotation  46  of the hinge  45  allowing the left and right illumination units to be rotated about hinge  45  until the left and right bottom outer walls abut each other to the second position defining an open position as shown in  FIG. 7 . The axis of rotation  46  is orthogonal to the direction of illumination as represented by the arrows  52 ,  53  of the left and right illumination assemblies. The LEDs of the left illumination unit are then pointed in the same direction as the LEDs of the right illumination unit. The hook  13  is attached to the camping lamp adjacent the axis of the hinge and the open hook end is directed away from the left and right bases  39 ,  40  such that gravity holds the left and right illumination units  10 ,  11  open when the camping lamp is suspended on a support using the hook. The hook is offset from the axis of the hinge sufficiently to balance the weight between the left and right illumination units with the right illumination unit having the added weight of the auxiliary illumination assembly  44  and the left illumination assembly having the added weight of the charging source unit  8 . In order to stabilize the open position, the outer walls of the left base  39  and the right base  40  are provided with supporting blocks  41  and grooves  42  opposite each other. 
         [0094]    The above descriptions are only some preferred embodiments, and it should be pointed out that, as for a person skilled in the art, modifications and alternatives can be made without departing from the discipline of the invention, and such modifications and alternative also fall within the scope of the invention.