Abstract:
The disclosed device provides a translucent housing containing a light source (e.g., LED) and a power source (e.g., battery) in close proximity. A button at one end of the housing permits a user to activate the LED by applying pressure to the button. The pressure forces the battery into contact with a conductive element which then contacts electrical leads of the LED thereby activating the LED. When the pressure is removed, the LED turns off. The housing is removably attached to a user&#39;s fingers or thumb by means of a flexible band, strap or multiple flexible members. In this manner, the lighting device is a one-size fits all device.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
   The embodiments of the present invention relate to a lighting device which can be intermittently activated by applying pressure. The device is well-suited for performing magic. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Magic and illusions go hand-in-hand and have been around for centuries. More particularly, magic and illusions relying on simple slight of hand have long astounded people. One common magic trick facilitated by slight of hand is that of manipulating a point of light. When practiced correctly, a magician can make the point of light appear out of thin air, move the point of light around, pass the point of light from one hand to another and then make the point of light disappear as quickly as it appeared. To enhance the effect of the trick, the point of light is usually bright red. 
   While to the uneducated the trick seems impossible, it has been made possible by a simple device which fits over a magician&#39;s thumb or finger. In other words, the device can be a housing in the shape and appearance of a thumb or finger as illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,632,548 and 4,422,131. In the &#39;548 and &#39;131 patents a light source positioned at the end of a thumb or finger housing provides a concealed means for activating the light source by applying pressure to the end of the thumb or finger housing causing a conductor means to make contact with a power supply thereby activating the light source. The pressure is typically applied by another finger pressed against the end of the housing. The appearance is that the user is holding the point of light between the thumb and finger or between two fingers. Thus, the wearer can activate the light source by applying pressure to the end of the housing and turn off the light source by releasing said pressure. 
   While the previous devices accomplish their objective, they suffer from several drawbacks. First, no single housing fits all thumb or finger sizes thereby requiring the manufacture of multiple housings of different sizes. Second, the thumb or finger housings only fit over the end of a thumb or finger thereby limiting their versatility. Thus, there is a continued need for a one-size fits all lighting device which can be intermittently and easily activated. Moreover, there is a need for a lighting device which can be attached to any part, including the back, of a thumb or finger. 
   SUMMARY 
   Accordingly, the embodiments of the present invention comprise a housing containing a light source, power source and means for intermittently activating said light source. In one embodiment, a flesh-colored latex sheath envelopes the housing to conceal the housing and contained components during use. Alternatively, a semi-translucent flexible plastic, rubber or similar material may be used to envelope the housing. The housing is removably attached to a user&#39;s thumb or finger by an elastic band or similar resilient material. In another embodiment, the housing is removably attached using a resilient metal member which encompasses a portion of the user&#39;s thumb or finger. In this manner, the housing can be attached to any position along any finger or thumb. Moreover, the resilient attachment material or member permits the fabrication of a one-size fits all lighting device. 
   Ideally, the light source is a light emitting device (LED) and the power source is a lithium battery. However, other light sources and power sources may be used. While alternative arrangements are possible, a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a LED having its two electrical leads inserted through two corresponding openings in a plate joined to a first collar. The plate encloses a first end of the first collar forming a cavity into which the electrical leads extend. A flat spring is then attached to opposite points of the collar within the cavity. The flat spring is fabricated of a conductive material (e.g., aluminum) and is positioned adjacent to the LED leads without making contact with the LED leads. A circular lithium battery rests atop the flat spring. A button having a lip on a first end rests atop the battery. A second collar, having a diameter slightly smaller than the first collar, is inserted into the cavity such that friction holds the second collar within the cavity. An interior lip on one end of the second collar retains the button and battery within the cavity. 
   In the arrangement described above, a user applies pressure to the button thereby causing the lithium battery to depress the flat spring into contact with the leads of the LED. Energy from the battery then travels from the battery through the metallic flat spring through the LED leads causing the LED to activate (i.e., produce light). To enhance its illumination, the plate may be fabricated of a reflective material or one surface adjacent the LED may be covered in a reflective materials so that the light emitted by the LED is amplified. By removing the pressure the flat spring returns to its original position out of contact with the LED leads thereby turning off the LED. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a bottom view of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an exploded view of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective, partially exploded and partially assembled, bottom view of the first embodiment of the present invention with a housing and sheath removed; 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a metallic member for facilitating a second embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5A  illustrates a second embodiment of the present invention wherein an elastic band has been replaced with flexible metallic member; and 
       FIG. 6  illustrates multiple locations for attaching the first embodiment of the present invention to a user&#39;s thumb and fingers. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Reference is now made to the figures wherein like parts are referred to by like numerals throughout.  FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a first embodiment of an intermittently activated lighting device generally designated as reference numeral  100 . The lighting device  100  includes a housing  110 , having a sheath covering  120 , and an elastic band  130  for attaching the lighting device  100  to a user&#39;s thumb or fingers. Any resilient material can be used to attach the lighting device  100  to a user&#39;s thumb or fingers. Such a resilient material provides versatility as described below and allows for easy and concealed removal of the lighting device  100  at the conclusion of the illusion. Moreover, with a resilient material the device  100  can be positioned on a front, side or rear of the thumb or finger 
   The housing  110  can take any form, including a plastic bulb, providing it protects and conceals the components of the device  100 . In an alternative embodiment, a housing is fabricated of a resin, epoxy or similar material which solidifies directly on and about at least a light source, preferably a LED, of the device  100 . Moreover, the housing  110  is translucent or includes one or more openings for allowing light from the light source to escape from the housing  110 . 
   Now referring to  FIG. 2 , a first collar  140  encapsulates a second collar  150 . A button  160  protrudes from an opening in the second collar  150 . The button  160  extends through an opening of the second collar  150  such that the user can apply pressure to the button  160  to activate, as described below, a light source contained within the housing  110 . 
     FIG. 3  illustrates an exploded view of the lighting device  100 . Ideally, the sheath covering  120  is flesh-colored latex to conceal the lighting device during its use. Also, the sheath  120  material is translucent to allow light from LED  170  to escape the housing  110  and be observed by onlookers. It is also practical to cover the housing with other materials, such as rubber or paint, as long as the material is translucent. Although any color LED is available, for performing magic, it is preferred that the LED  170  emit red light. The LED  170  can be any common LED. For example, a red 5 mm, 1.7 volt, LED sold by RadioShack® has been found to perform well. To enhance the effectiveness of the LED  170 , a reflective film  175  is adhered to a surface of the first collar  140 . In this manner, the light from the LED  170  is made more brilliant. 
   Electrical leads  180  of the LED  170  insert through corresponding openings  190  in the film  175  and first collar  140  such that the leads  180  extend into cavity  210 . The LED  170  can then be permanently attached to the first collar  140  by means of glue, epoxy or other substance. A flat spring  220  is inserted into cavity  210  and connected to opposite sides of the first collar  140  in an alignment that, when the flat spring  220  is depressed, it contacts both leads  180  of the LED  170 . The flat spring  220  may be glued to opposite sides of the first collar  140  and/or may be inserted into corresponding slots in an interior surface of the first collar  140 . A battery  230  then rests atop the flat spring  220  such that an active surface  240  (i.e., power emitting surface) of the battery is in contact with the flat spring  220 . Although any battery may be used to drive the lighting device  100 , a lithium battery provides ample power and has acceptable dimensions to power the lighting device  100 . For example, a 3.0 v lithium battery, having model number CR1216, as sold by RadioShack® has been found to work well. 
   Although a flat spring  220  has been described, any conductive flexible material can be used to transfer power from the battery  230  to the LED leads  180 . Ideally, the flexible material should return to an original position after being displaced by force thereby allowing the material to intermittently contact the LED leads  180  as desired by a user. 
   By resting atop the battery  230 , the button  160  provides a means for the user to intermittently activate the lighting device  100 . The second collar  150  includes an exterior lip  155  around one end thereof. Upon insertion of the second collar  150  into the cavity  210  of the first collar  140 , the lip  155  prevents the second collar  150  from being inserted into the cavity  210  more than a desired distance. The second collar  150  snaps in place within the first collar  140  and is held in place in the first collar  140  by friction. Alternatively or additionally, the second collar  150  can be held in place with an adhesive, such as glue. An exterior lip  165  around a first end of the button  160 , in contact with the battery  230 , functions to prevent the button  160  from exiting the confines of the cavity  210  through the opening of the second collar  150 . 
   It should be apparent that numerous different lighting device designs are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the embodiments of the present invention. For example, a second collar having the same diameter as a first collar can be joined to one another to encompass a properly positioned conductive material, battery and button to form an elongated cavity. In such an arrangement, the button may need to have a greater height for access by a user&#39;s finger or thumb. 
     FIG. 4  illustrates a partially assembled device, including the LED  170 , the first collar  140  and the flat spring  220  in a completed arrangement. Also evident in  FIG. 4  are the leads  180  of the LED  170  extending through the film  175  and corresponding surface of the first collar  140 . The battery  230 , second collar  150  and button  160  are shown in an exploded fashion. 
     FIG. 5  illustrates an alternative device for removably attaching the device  100  to a thumb or finger. A metallic member  240  includes a loop member  250  and two legs  260  extending therefrom. The legs  260  initially extend outward from said loop member  250  and then bow inward to form a partial enclosure for securing the member  240  to a thumb or finger. The legs  260  are flexible to permit a thumb or finger to be inserted between the ends of the legs  260  and into the partial enclosure with relative ease. The flexibility also permits easy thumb and finger removal from the partial enclosure. In addition, the flexible legs  260  permit the member  240  to be easily manipulated about the thumb or finger in the same manner as the elastic band  130 . For concealment, the metallic member  240  is painted with a flesh tone material.  FIG. 5A  illustrates the metallic member  240  integrated into the complete device  100 . 
     FIG. 6  illustrates the versatility of the device  100 . Multiple devices  100 - 1  through  100 - 5  show the device&#39;s versatility. Besides versatility, the elastic band  130  and flexible metallic member  240 , in combination with the unique design, of each device  100 - 1  through  100 - 5  provides for easy removal of the devices  100 - 1  through  100 - 5  when an illusion is completed. Also possible with the embodiments of the present invention is the simultaneous use of multiple devices  100 - 1  through  100 - 5  to create new and more complex illusions with multiple points of light. 
   Besides a bulb, the device  100  can take any shape or form which provides a user with ease of operation, concealment and removal. In addition, smaller light sources will provide an even more compact design thereby facilitating greater concealment. In addition, the first collar  140 , second collar  150 , button  160  are preferably fabricated of non-conductive materials, such as plastic or rubber, to prevent any electrical shock to a user. 
   Therefore, although the invention has been described in detail with reference to several embodiments, additional variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.