Abstract:
A tool light and method of using the same for illuminating a work area for a tool. The tool light includes a mounting mechanism to be mounted to a shaft of a tool, a housing carried by the mounting mechanism, at least one light source and at least one power source housed within the housing, and the at least one light source powered by the at least one power source to illuminate the work area for the tool. The method includes mounting the tool light to the shaft of the tool, and illuminating the work area with the at least one light source of the tool light. The at least one light source is preferably at least one Light Emitting Diode (“LED”).

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention is in the field of lighting devices for illuminating the work area for a tool with a shaft such as a screwdriver.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    It is often desirable to use a tool such as screwdriver inside a cabinet, attic, or other tight location where inadequate lighting exists. A flash light or drop light may be used to provide lighting in some circumstances, but in tight spots, neither of these lights will work, if an extra hand is not available, a flashlight may not work, and if an AC power source is not available, a drop light will not work.  
           [0003]    Also, use of a flashlight in one hand while operating a hand tool with another, particularly when the hand tool is normally operated with two hands, e.g., power drill, may be dangerous. Further, as is frequently done, when a flashlight is balanced on a shelf or other support surface not intended to support a flashlight and the flashlight tips over or shifts positions, the tool user&#39;s lighted view can be suddenly terminated as the flashlight moves away, creating an inherently dangerous situation where the user is now using a potentially dangerous hand or power tool in inadequate lighting conditions.  
           [0004]    U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,038,481, 5,348,359, and 5,525,842 disclose lighting devices for lighting the work area for a saber saw, a retriever tool, and an air tool, respectively. A problem with these lighting devices is that they are not readily mountable to a variety of different tools, especially tools with a shaft such as screwdrivers.  
           [0005]    Accordingly, a need exists for a simple tool light that is readily mountable to a variety of different tools including a shaft such as a screwdriver and that illuminates the working area for the tool, even in tight working conditions.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The present invention is generally directed to a tool light and method of use that may be used with a variety of different tools including a shaft.  
           [0007]    An additional aspect of the invention involves a tool light for illuminating a work area for a tool. The tool light includes a mounting mechanism to be mounted to a shaft of the tool, a housing carried by the mounting mechanism, at least one light source and at least one power source housed within the housing, and the at least one light source powered by the at least one power source to illuminate the work area for the tool. In a preferred implementation of the above, the at least one light source includes at least one Light Emitting Diode (“LED”).  
           [0008]    Another aspect of the invention involves a method of illuminating a work area for a tool. The method includes mounting the tool light to a shaft of the tool, and illuminating the work area with at least one light source of the tool light. In a preferred implementation of the above, the at least one light source includes at least one Light Emitting Diode (“LED”).  
           [0009]    Further objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a review of the drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments set forth below.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a side-elevational view of an embodiment of a tool light mounted to a shaft of a screwdriver.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is an end view of the tool light illustrated in FIG. 1.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is an end view of a tool light constructed in accordance with an additional embodiment of the invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a side-elevational view of another embodiment of a tool light mounted to a screwdriver.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is a side-elevational view of a further embodiment of a tool light mounted to a screwdriver.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is an end view of the tool light illustrated in FIG. 5.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 is a side-elevational view of a still further embodiment of a tool light that may be mounted to a screwdriver. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0017]    With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a tool light  100  constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention will now be described. The tool light  100  includes a light housing  102  carried by a mounting mechanism  104 . The mounting mechanism  104  is used to mount the tool light  100  to a shaft  108  of a tool such as a screwdriver  112 . Although the shaft  108  is shown as an elongated, circular shaft, the shaft  108  may have other lengths and configurations. For example, but not by way of limitation, the shaft  108  may have a square cross-section.  
         [0018]    The screwdriver  112  includes a handle  116  at one end  118  of the shaft  108  and a head  120  at an operative or working end  122  of the shaft  108 . In the embodiment shown, the screwdriver  112  is a cross-headed tip (e.g., Phillips) screwdriver. The screw driver  112  may be used to screw a screw  126  into a surface  130 . Although the illustrated tool is a cross-headed tip screwdriver  112 , the tool light  100  may be applied to shafts of tools other than the cross-headed tip screwdriver such as, but not by way of limitation, a flat-tip screwdriver, a square-headed tip screwdriver, other types of screwdrivers, a power drill, a chisel, a caulking gun, a soldering torch, a soldering gun, a cutting torch, a welding torch, and a voltage tester.  
         [0019]    The light housing  102  is preferably cylindrical and houses a light source  134  and a power source  138 . The light source  134  is preferably one or more wide-angle (i.e., 40 degrees or greater), white LEDs; however other light sources, e.g., incandescent light bulbs, other angle LEDs, other types of LEDs, e.g., flat, pointed, and other color LEDs may be used. In the embodiment shown, the power source  138  is preferably a single AA, AA, or AAAA battery. In alternative embodiments, power sources other than batteries, e.g., miniature fuel cells, different types of batteries, e.g., rechargeable batteries, flat watch batteries such as alkaline  625  cells and NiCd batteries, and different numbers of batteries, e.g., two or more may be used.  
         [0020]    A contact spring  142  may be located in a proximal portion  146  of the housing  102  for contacting the negative terminal of the battery  138 . A first electrical coupling  150  may connect the contact spring  142  to the LED  134 . A second electrical coupling  154  may connect a positive terminal contact  158  to an electrical on/off switch  162 . A third electrical coupling  166  may connect the switch  162  to the LED  134 . In an alternative embodiment, the electrical circuitry may include a motion sensor mechanism to activate the LED  134  when motion is detected and deactivate the LED  134  when no motion occurs for a prolonged period of time. The electrical circuitry may also include a dimmer mechanism, e.g., variable resistor, for controlling the intensity of the emitted light from the LED  134 .  
         [0021]    The mounting mechanism  104  may include a dual-collar member  170 . The member  170  may include a first collar  174  that carries the light housing  102  at a predetermined or adjustable angle. The light housing  102  may be connected within the first collar  174  by a pair of spot welds  178  or by another connecting means. A second collar  182  receives the shaft  108  of the screwdriver  112 . The second collar  182  may come in a variety of different sizes for accommodating different-sized shafts, tools. The second collar  182  includes an open end  186 . The dual-collar member  170  includes an intermediate section  190 . The intermediate section  190  may include a tightening mechanism  194  for increasing the holding force of the second collar  182  on the shaft  108  in the direction of the arrows shown in FIG. 2. The tightening mechanism  194  may include a threaded fastener  198  that is threadingly engaged within holes in the intermediate section  190 .  
         [0022]    The tool light  100  will now be described in use. The tool light  100  is mounted or applied to the shaft  108  of the screwdriver  112  by inserting the head  120  of the screwdriver  112  through the second collar  182  and sliding the tool light  100  forward or rearward on the shaft  108  to a position where the working end  122  of the screwdriver  112  and/or the working area is optimally lit by the light source  134 , i.e., the light is optimally focused. Alternatively, the second collar  182  may be clamped onto the shaft  108  by snapping the collar  182  onto the shaft  108  through the open end  186  of the second collar  182 . The light source  134  is activated by moving the switch  162  to an “on” position and deactivated by moving the switch  162  to an “off” position. The tool light  100  may be slid forward or rearward on the shaft  108  to a position where the working end  122  of the screwdriver  112  and/or the working area is optimally lit by the light source  134 . When the tool light  100  is located in a desired position, the tightening mechanism  194  may be actuated to secure the tool light  100  to the shaft  108  by rotating and tightening the threaded fastener  198  in a clockwise direction. The tool light  100  may be removed from the shaft  108  of the screwdriver  112  by rotating and loosening the threaded fastener  198  in a counterclockwise direction. The tool light  100  may then be mounted to a different tool in the same manner as that described above or stored for later use.  
         [0023]    With reference to FIG. 3, a tool light  300  constructed in accordance with an additional embodiment of the invention will now be described. Elements similar to those described above with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2 are identified with like reference numerals, but with an “a” suffix. The tool light  300  is similar to the tool light  100  described above with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2, except the light housing  102   a  is rotatably attached to the mounting mechanism  104   a . The first collar  174   a  may include a support  304  that rotatably receives a rotating pin  308 . The rotating pin  308  supports the light housing  102   a  for general rotation of the light housing  102   a  with the pin  308  in a horizontal plane H.  
         [0024]    Use of the tool light  300  is similar to that described above for the tool light  100 , except the light housing  102   a  may be additionally rotated in a horizontal plane for adjusting the orientation of the light source  134   a  to an optimal condition for lighting the work area.  
         [0025]    With reference to FIG. 4, a tool light  400  constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the invention will now be described. Elements similar to those described above with respect to FIGS.  1 - 3  are identified with like reference numerals, but with a “b” suffix. The tool light  400  is similar to the tool light  300  described above with respect to FIG. 3, except a rotating support  404  is rotatably mounted to the mounting mechanism  104   b  by rotating pin  308   b  for general rotation of the light housing  102   b  in horizontal plane H. The light housing  102   b  is pivotally mounted to the support  404  through a pin  408  for pivotal movement of the light housing  102   b  in a vertical plane in the direction shown by the arrows.  
         [0026]    Use of the tool light  400  is similar to that described above for the tool light  300 , except the light housing  102   b  may be additionally rotated in a vertical plane in the direction of the arrows for adjusting the orientation of the light source  134   b . In this embodiment (and the embodiment described with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2), the mounting mechanism  104   b  may be attached to the shaft  108  so that the light housing  102   b  is below the screwdriver  112 . The mounting mechanism  104   b  may be loosely attached to the shaft  108  so that the tool light  400  hangs from the shaft  108 , but does not rotate therewith during rotation of the screwdriver  112 . The collar  182   b  may include bearings or a similar mechanism that allow the tool light  400  to hang from the screwdriver  112  to illuminate the working end  120  and/or working area while the shaft  108  freely rotates within the collar  182   b , without the tool light  400  rotating with rotation of the shaft  108 .  
         [0027]    With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, a tool light  500  constructed in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention will be described. The tool light  500  includes a ring-shaped light housing  504  that houses one or more light sources  508  and one or more power sources  512 . In the embodiment shown, the one or more light sources  508  include a pair of LEDs oriented 180 degrees apart from each other and the one or more power sources  512  include a pair of watch batteries oriented 180 degrees apart from each other. The power sources  512  are offset 90 degrees from the light sources  508 . The LEDs  508  may be angled inwardly, towards the center of the tool light  500 . Electrical circuitry (not shown) connects the power sources  512  to the light sources  508  for powering the light sources  508 . The electrical circuitry may include an on/off switch  514  for turning the light sources  508  on or off. In an alternative embodiment, the electrical circuitry of the tool light  500  may include a motion sensor mechanism to activate the light sources  508  when motion is detected and deactivate the light sources  508  when no motion occurs for a prolonged period of time. The electrical circuitry may also include a dimmer mechanism, e.g., variable resistor, for controlling the intensity of the emitted light from the light source(s)  508 . A mounting mechanism  516  is located in a central portion of the tool light  500 . In the embodiment shown, the mounting mechanism  516  is a flexible rubber grommet  518 .  
         [0028]    The tool light  500  will now be described in use. The shaft  108  of the screwdriver  112  is slidably inserted through the rubber grommet  518  of the tool light  500  until the tool light  500  a located at a desired longitudinal position on the shaft  108 . If the LEDs  508  are angled inwardly, adjusting the longitudinal position of the tool light  500  changes the light focus on the working area. As a result, the tool light  500  may be used on a variety of different length tool shafts simply by adjusting the longitudinal position of the tool light  500  on the shaft for optimal light focusing. The rubber grommet  518  is flexible enough to accommodate different diameter and/or shaped shafts  108 , while providing sufficient frictional resistance to hold the tool light  500  to the shaft  108 . In alternative embodiments, replaceable rubber grommets  518  or different tool lights  500  having different inner diameters may accommodate different diameter and/or shaped shafts  108 . The tool light  500  is activated and deactivated through the on/off switch  514  and/or through the motion detection mechanism. The tool light  500  preferably rotates with rotation of the shaft  108 . In an alternative embodiment, an annular bearing mechanism may be located between the rubber grommet  108  and the inner central surface of the annular housing  504  so that the rubber grommet  108 , but not the tool light  108 , rotates with rotation of the shaft  108 .  
         [0029]    With reference to FIG. 7, a tool light  600  constructed in accordance with a still further embodiment of the invention will be described. The tool light  600  includes a cylindrical plastic or rubber sleeve  604 . The sleeve  604  includes a proximal end  608 , a distal end  612 , and an elongated, ring-shaped wall  616 . The wall  616  include an inner surface  620 . The proximal end  608  may house one or more power sources  624  such as, but not limited to, one or more watch batteries. The distal end  612  may carry one or more retractable light sources  628 , e.g. LED(s), in recessed areas  630 . Each retractable light source  628  may be pivotally connected to the wall for pivotal movement between an outwardly pivoted or “on” position and a retracted or “off” position. Electrical circuitry (not shown) connects the power source  624  to the light sources  628  for powering the light sources  628 . The electrical circuitry may include an on/off switch  632  for turning the light sources  628  on or off. In an alternative embodiment, the electrical circuitry of the tool light  600  may include a motion sensor mechanism to activate the light sources  628  when motion is detected and deactivate the light sources  628  when no motion occurs for a prolonged period of time. The electrical circuitry may also include a dimmer mechanism, e.g., variable resistor, for controlling the intensity of the emitted light from the light source(s)  628 . Further, pivoting the light sources  628  to the outward position may automatically activate the light sources  628  and retracting the light sources  628  may automatically deactivate the light sources  628 .  
         [0030]    In use, the cylindrical sleeve  604  of the tool light  600  is slid over the handle  116  of the screwdriver  112 , and the light sources  628  are actuated by pivoting them to the outward position, switching the on/off switch  632 , and/or by automatic motion detection. When the light sources  628  are not in use, they may pivoted to a retracted or “off” position so that the light sources  628  are flush with the wall  604 . During use, the tool light  600  rotates with rotation of the screwdriver  112 .  
         [0031]    In further embodiments, the features described above with respect to FIG. 7 may be incorporated into the handle  116  of the screwdriver or the light sources  628  may be fixed relative to the sleeve  604  or handle  116  (if incorporated into the handle  116 ).  
         [0032]    It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that still further changes and modifications in the actual concepts described herein can readily be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.