Abstract:
A magnetic headlight assembly. The magnetic headlight assembly includes a housing having a light assembly and one or more magnetic coupling mechanisms that can attach the headlight assembly to a working appliance, such as a lawnmower. The magnetic coupling mechanisms allow for the adjustment, attachment, and removal of the light assembly from a variety of working appliances without the need for tools. The light assembly includes one or more light sources that are controllable from a control box that can be selectively activated by a user for improved vision in low and no light conditions. In one embodiment, multiple magnetic headlight assemblies are electrically connected and independently controllable from each other.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/149,724 filed on Apr. 20, 2015. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to headlight assemblies. More specifically, the present invention relates to a headlight assembly comprising a housing having a base with one or more magnets for removably securing to a working appliance, such as a lawnmower. 
         [0003]    Lawn care and other outdoor tasks associated with grooming and maintaining property are commonly performed using various tools and/or machines that are configured for the performance of corresponding specific tasks. For example, walk behind lawn mowers and other walk behind yard maintenance devices are popular with many users due to their relative small size and cost. 
         [0004]    Several attempts have been made to provide headlight devices that assist with the illumination and lighting of areas in close proximity to the headlights. Headlights for such lawn equipment can be found in a variety of sizes, shapes, and dimensions. However, these conventional headlights face serious deficiencies when installing and repairing because they require screws or other more permanent fasteners to secure the headlights to the lawn equipment. This can cause damage to the lawn equipment and it does not allow for subsequent adjustment and replacement. Another deficiency is that lawn equipment is often compact and lacks large areas of accessible space for receiving headlights thereon making installation and maintenance difficult. 
         [0005]    In addition, these known aforementioned headlights, however, fail to disclose a headlight assembly comprising a housing having a base with one or more magnets for removably securing the headlight assembly to a working appliance, such as a lawnmower. Further, these attempts fail to provide a control box that is in electrical communication with the light source of the headlight assembly. Thus, it is desirable to provide a removable control box that is mountable to the working appliance. 
         [0006]    In light of the devices disclosed in the prior art, it is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the prior art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing headlight assemblies for working appliances, such as lawnmower. In this regard the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of wiping devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a headlight assembly wherein the same can be utilized for mounting headlights to various working vehicles and appliances to provide illumination to the surrounding area. 
         [0008]    The present invention relates to a headlight assembly comprising a housing having a magnetic base configured to mount to lawn maintenance equipment to provide illumination in no light or low light conditions, regardless whether the lawn maintenance equipment is powered. 
         [0009]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved headlight assembly that has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages. 
         [0010]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a headlight assembly that magnetically mounts to a flat or irregular surface. 
         [0011]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a headlight assembly having a housing comprising a headlight that is controllable via controls mounted to a working appliance, such as a lawnmower, for easy and convenient access. 
         [0012]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a headlight assembly that is independently controllable and in electronic communication with the power source of a piece of lawn maintenance equipment. 
         [0013]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a headlight assembly that is in electronic communication with a substantially similar headlight assembly to provide improved illumination, wherein the headlight assemblies are independently controllably. 
         [0014]    Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout. 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  shows a front perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  shows a front perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention affixed to a lawnmower. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  shows an overhead view of one embodiment of the present invention electrically connected to a control box. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the firearm attachment. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for helping a user to stabilize a firearm having a rail system on a flat surface. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect. 
         [0021]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a front perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention. The present invention provides a headlight assembly  10  that may be magnetically coupled to a working appliance for the purpose of illuminating the surrounding area. The headlight assembly  10  comprises a housing  11  having a base  12 , one or more sidewalls  13 , and a cover  21  defining an interior volume. A light assembly  16  is disposed within the interior volume of the housing  11 . The housing  11  further includes a first side and an opposing second side, wherein the front side includes the cover  21 . In the shown embodiment, the housing  11  has a rectangular cross section, however in alternative embodiments the housing  11  may have a circular, polygonal, or other cross section. 
         [0022]    The base  12  of the housing  11  includes a generally planar plate having one or more magnetic coupling mechanisms  15  (henceforth “magnets) configured to removably affix the housing  11  to a metallic or magnetic surface. The magnets  15  may be embedded within the base  12  or otherwise affixed thereto. In the shown embodiment, the magnets  15  are disposed within corresponding recessed areas  33  in the base  12  having a shape configured to receive the magnets  15 . In this way, the magnets  15  allow the housing  11  to magnetically couple the headlight assembly  10  to a generally flat or irregular surface. This includes any surface of a working appliance such as a lawnmower, tractor, all-terrain vehicle, leaf blower, trimmer, and the like. 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention is shown. In the shown embodiment, the housing  11  of the present invention includes a latch  22  configured to engage with a lip  23  for removably affixing the cover (not shown) to the first side  31  of the housing  11 . The light assembly  16  is disposed within the interior volume of the housing  11 . In the shown embodiment, the light assembly  16  extends from one of the sidewalls disposed on the second side  32  of the housing  11  into the interior volume towards the first side  31  and cover of the housing  11 . In addition, the light assembly  16  is generally equidistant from the adjacent sidewalls  13 . However in alternative embodiments, the light assembly  16  may extend for the other sidewalls  13  or the base  12 . The light assembly  16  may include one or more light sources, such as an incandescent light bulb, LED light, and the like. In one embodiment, the cover is transparent and configured to allow light to pass therethrough. Thus, the light from the light assembly  16  is generally unobstructed by the cover and provides illumination to the surrounding area. The second side  32  of the housing  11  includes one or more electrical wires  18 ,  19  that electrically connect the light assembly  16  to at least a control box, an electrical power source, or other substantially similar headlight assembly. 
         [0024]    The interior volume of the housing  11  further includes a reflective member  24  positioned in close proximity to and adjacent to the light assembly  16 . The reflective member  24  is positioned within the housing  11  to increase and direct the light from the light assembly  16  towards the front of the housing  11 . In the shown embodiment, the reflective member  24  is constructed from a mirror-like material. 
         [0025]    In the shown embodiment, the housing  11  has a trapezoidal cross section, and the magnets  15  are fastened to the base  12  of the housing  11  via adhesives. However, in alternative embodiments the magnets  15  may be fastened to the housing  11  via any suitable fasteners, such as screw fasteners. The magnets  15  attached to the base are positioned on opposing sides of the light assembly  16  to provide stability and support during operation thereof. In use, the magnets  15  cause the headlight assembly to magnetically couple to a working appliance, such as a lawnmower, at a selected position that provide illumination in the area generally in front of the light assembly  16 . 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a front perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention affixed to a working appliance. In the shown embodiment, a pair of substantially similar headlight assemblies  10 ,  110  are removably affixed to a working appliance, such as a lawnmower  50 . The magnets of the headlight assemblies  10 ,  110  magnetically couple the headlight assemblies  10 ,  110  to the front portion of a lower assembly  26  of the lawnmower  50 , wherein the lower assembly  26  includes a deck  37  configured to receive the headlight assemblies  10 ,  110 . In this way, light from the present invention illuminates the area generally in front of the lawnmower  50 , assisting a user with the movement thereof. The headlight assemblies  10 ,  110  are in electronic communication with a power source  17 , such as a battery. In one embodiment, the power source  17  provides electrical power to the lawnmower  50  and the headlight assemblies  10 ,  110 . In an alternative embodiment, the power source  17  provides electrical power independently of the lawnmower  50  power source. Thus, the headlight assemblies  11 ,  110  may be activated even when the working appliance is not powered. 
         [0027]    In the shown embodiment, the headlight assembly  10  is electronically coupled to a power cord  18  and to a connector cable  30 , wherein the connector cable  30  joins the headlight assemblies  10 ,  110  and provides for joint control thereof. A control cable  19  extends from the headlight assembly  110  and is in electrical communication with a control box  25 . The control box  25  is disposed on the upper assembly  27  of the lawnmower  50 , however in alternative embodiments, the control box  25  may be selectively positioned as desired. In a preferred embodiment, the control box  25  comprises fasteners configured to removably attach the control box  25  to a tubular member, such as a handle  38  of a lawnmower  50 . In this way, selective operation and control of the light assembly of the headlight assemblies  10 ,  110  can be remotely effected by a user pushing the lawnmower  50  from the upper assembly  27 . In an alternative embodiment, the control box  25  includes a wireless transceiver configured for wireless communication with the headlight assemblies  10 ,  110 . In this way, the control box  25  remotely controls the headlight assemblies  10 ,  110 . 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , there is an overhead view of one embodiment of the present invention electrically connected to a control box. The control box  25  further comprises an interface  28  having one or more actuatable buttons configured to communicate outputs for selectively controlling the headlight assembly  10 , such as controlling the settings and features of the light assembly such as activation, deactivation, dimming, and the like. The interface  28  enables a user to control the headlight assembly  10  by selectively actuating the one or more buttons. In an alternative embodiment, the housing  11  of the headlight assembly  10  includes a secondary control box  36  comprising an interface  29  having one or more actuatable buttons for controlling the settings and features of the headlight assembly  10 , such as activation, deactivation, dimming, and the like. In the shown embodiment, the secondary control box  36  is disposed atop the housing  11  for convenient actuation thereof. Further, the secondary control box  36  provides for independent control of two or more headlight assemblies  10 , wherein the two or more headlight assemblies  10  are in electronic communication. 
         [0029]    It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
         [0030]    Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.