Abstract:
A glow stick includes a housing, a lighting assembly mounted within the housing, having at least two light sources, at least one power source, at least one switch and circuitry for controlling the at least two light sources. An elongated body is mounted to the housing and is formed from a material that is transparent or translucent to light transmission. One of the light sources is mounted within the housing to provide a flashlight that is mounted to the housing at an angle between 0 and 180 degrees and the other light source is directed into the elongated body to illuminate the elongated body so that light is visible therefrom. The light source for the flashlight is switchable between a constant on and a constant off state and the light source illuminating the body is switchable among a constant on state, a constant off state and an intermittent state. The flashlight light source and the body light source are operable independently of one another.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/472,042, filed Apr. 5, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    This disclosure pertains to a safety glow stick. More particularly, the present disclosure pertains to a safety glow stick with a flashlight portion for readily illuminating a desired area. 
         [0003]    Safety glow sticks are known. One such stick includes a longitudinally directed flashlight positioned at one end with an illuminated, colored, elongated glowing portion at an opposite end. The flashlight and glowing portions are coaxially disposed and are both illuminated by LEDs. The LEDs are contained within a module that includes the LEDs, controls and a power source. The module is located within a central housing portion. The control circuitry/system is configured such that either the flashlight or the glowing portion are illuminated, but not both simultaneously. 
         [0004]    There are drawbacks to such known devices. For example, the flashlight is directed coaxially or longitudinally out of the end of the device. While this may be appropriate for certain uses, it is not necessarily the most ergonomic configuration or desirable for other uses. In addition, the inability to illuminate (use) the flashlight while the glow portion is illuminated is also overly limiting. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, there is a need for a safety glow stick that permits easy, comfortable use, and permits the use of both the flashlight portion and the glowing portion simultaneously. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective illustration of an embodiment of a safety glow stick; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the glow stick; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective illustration of another embodiment of the glow stick; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the glow stick of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a partially broken away view showing the interior of the of glow stick; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is another embodiment of the glow stick showing a hinged portion to allow for varying the angle at which the flashlight is used; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the safety glow stick; 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is a side view of still another alternate embodiment of the glow stick having a hammer member at an end thereof; 
           [0014]      FIGS. 9A and 9B  are a side and partial cross-sectional views of still another alternate embodiment of the glow stick having a flute incorporated into the body thereof; 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  is a side view of still another alternate embodiment of the glow stick having an integral hang hook; 
           [0016]      FIG. 11  is a side view of yet another alternate embodiment of the glow stick having an integral carabiner; 
           [0017]      FIG. 12  is a side view of yet another alternate embodiment of the glow stick having a flexible neck portion with a flashlight member mounted thereto; 
           [0018]      FIG. 13  is a side view of still another alternate embodiment of the glow stick having facets or angled surfaces in the body thereof and having a flexible neck and/or light tube extending therefrom; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 14  is a side view of yet another alternate embodiment of the glow stick having a hammer member at a removable flashlight module. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    While the present glow stick is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described various embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the glow stick and is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments illustrated. 
         [0021]    Referring now to the figures and in particular to  FIGS. 1-2  and  5 , there is shown an embodiment of a safety glow stick  10 . The stick includes a housing  12  and an elongated body portion  14  formed from a transparent or translucent material. The body portion is formed so as to allow light from inside of the body to be perceived outside of the body. 
         [0022]    The housing includes a lighting assembly  16  having circuitry (as on a printed circuit board or the like  18 ), one or more power sources  20 , such as a battery or batteries, two or more light sources  22   a ,  22   b  (collectively  22 ), such as lamps, LEDs or the like, and a controller or switch  24 . In a preferred embodiment, the light sources are LEDs. It will be appreciated that LEDs draw less power than traditional (e.g., incandescent lamps) and are thus preferable in a small, hand-held device. In a preferred embodiment, a flexible membrane  26  is positioned over the switch, and a reflector  28  is positioned about one of the light sources  22   a.    
         [0023]    One or more of the LEDs, for example, LED  22   a , functions as a flashlight, to provide area or spot illumination. The other (one or more) LEDs  22   b , provides illumination into the body to provide a glow effect of the body—as provided above, the body is formed from a transparent or translucent material so that light that shines into the body will effectively illuminate the body. 
         [0024]    The body LEDs and/or the body can be colored, for example, red, to provide serves as a lighting or locating beacon or the like. The body can also include a pocket clip  30  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 6 ) to permit the device to be held in and secured to a user&#39;s pocket or shirt collar to permit hands-free use, or to permit the light to be secured to or hung from, for example, a cord or the like. 
         [0025]    As illustrated in the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-2  and  3 - 4 , the flashlight portion  32  is mounted such that the direction of illumination D is at an angle α to a longitudinal axis A 12  of the glow stick body  12 . In this manner, the glow stick can be held by a user in such a manner that the user&#39;s hand is in a more comfortable position, with the wrist in a natural position or orientation, rather than bent at an angle. This also provides a more ergonomic feel, for example, when using the flashlight  32  to search an area or for those with lesser manual dexterity. 
         [0026]    In the illustrated embodiments, the angle α flashlight direction of illumination is about 90 degrees to the longitudinal axis A 12 . However, a range of angles between but exclusive 0 of and 180 degrees is contemplated. Optionally, as seen in  FIG. 6 , the device can be provided with a flashlight portion  132  that is mounted by a hinged joint  134  to provide a variable angle relative to the longitudinal axis at which the flashlight can be used. 
         [0027]    The glow stick also permits use of the flashlight simultaneously with the glow portion. In one contemplated configuration (programming mode), the stick can be used in flashlight mode only, in glow mode (flashing or constant illumination) only, and in flashlight mode simultaneously with glow mode (flashing or constant illumination). 
         [0028]    As seen in  FIGS. 1-2 , the glow stick optionally includes a whistle  36 . One embodiment includes the whistle mounted within a cap  38  that is mounted to an end  40  of the elongated body. The cap can be removed and the whistle used independently of the glow stick. It is contemplated that the cap is joined to the body by a threaded connection  42  and that the whistle portion is joined to the cap by a second threaded connection  44 . 
         [0029]    It will be appreciated that the glow stick can take various shapes. For example, in addition to the cylindrical shape of  FIGS. 1-2 , the stick can have an angled cross-section such as the hexagonal shape of  FIGS. 3-4 . The glow stick can also be configured with a pointed or tapered end  146  to, for example, facilitate securing the stick in the ground or other surface. Such other shapes and mounting configurations, and others, are contemplated, and are within the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0030]    An alternate embodiment of the light stick  210  is illustrated in  FIG. 7  that includes two switches  224   a ,  224   b . The switches  224   a ,  224   b  are independent of one another, one of which  224   a  controls the flashlight portion  232  and the other of which  224   b  controls the body illumination LED  222   b . Each switch  224   a ,  224   b  can be provided with a flexible membrane  226  positioned over the switch  224   a ,  224   b  to provide for protection from water, dust, dirt and the like. 
         [0031]    Still another embodiment of the glow stick  310  is illustrated in  FIG. 8 . This embodiment includes a striking member  340 , such as a hammer, mounted to an end  342  of the body  314 , opposite of the flashlight portion  332 . The hammer  340  can have opposing heads  340   a ,  340   b  that are pointed (as illustrated) or flat (not shown) to, for example, facilitate breaking a window, such as a vehicle window, to gain access to the interior of the vehicle in emergency situations. The flashlight portion  332  can optionally include a cord  344  to secure the light to, for example, a belt or the like. Those skilled in the art will appreciate other tools or implements the can be incorporated into one or both ends of the glow stick  310 . 
         [0032]    Yet another embodiment of the glow stick  410  is illustrated in  FIGS. 9A and 9B . This embodiment also includes a cord  444  to, for example, hang the glow stick  410 . This embodiment of the glow stick  410  also includes an aerophone or flute  440  incorporated into the body  414  of the glow stick  410 . The illuminating element  422   b  in the glow stick body  414  can be carried in an internal chamber  450  and the flute or sound producing portion carried in an outer chamber  452  so that light can be seen as the flute is played. 
         [0033]      FIG. 10  illustrates still another embodiment of the glow stick  510  that incorporates a hang hook  546  into the head portion  532  of the glow stick  510 . The hang portion  546  can be provided by an angled housing or head  532  (angled relative to the body  514 ) and a hook portion  546  formed in the head  532 . The flashlight is incorporated into the head  532  and forms part of the hook  546 . A retaining member  548  can be formed as part of, or mounted to the head  546  so that the glow stick  510  is maintained in place once secured to an object. The retaining member  548  can be formed as a flexible member or can be mounted by a spring (not shown) to facilitate releasing the glow stick  510  from the item to which it is secured. 
         [0034]    Still another embodiment of the glow stick  610  is illustrated in  FIG. 11 . In this embodiment, the head portion  612  is formed as a carabiner  650 . The power source  620  and or switches  624  can be carried in a leg of the carabiner  650  so that the carabiner  650  is incorporated within the structure of the glow stick head  632 . A latch  652  is included to retain the glow stick  610  retained on an item to which it is secured. 
         [0035]    Yet another embodiment of the glow stick  710  is illustrated in  FIG. 12 , in which the flashlight portion  732  is mounted to the glow stick  710  by a flexible neck  754 . In this manner, the flashlight portion  732  can be positioned to illuminate other than only longitudinal relative to the body  714  of the glow stick  710 . The flexible neck  754  can include a wire or the like (not shown) so that the flashlight portion  732  will remain in a position to which the neck  754  is bent. Electrical connectors can be provided in the neck  754  so that the control (switch  724 ) for the flashlight portion  732  can be located on the body  714  of the glow stick  710 . Alternately, the switch for the flashlight portion  732  can be mounted directly in the flashlight portion  732 . 
         [0036]    Still another embodiment of the glow stick  810  is illustrated in  FIG. 13  in which the body  814  of the glow stick  810  includes facets or angled surfaces  860  to provide a novel illuminated effect. The facets  860  can be equally spaced from one another or can be formed at different, random locations and angles on the body  814 . The flashlight portion  832  can optionally include a light tube  862  extending from the body, from which light can be emitted, using, for example, fiber optics, or the flashlight portion  832  can include a flexible neck  854 , such as that illustrated in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 12 . 
         [0037]    Yet another embodiment of the glow stick  910  is illustrated in  FIG. 14  in which the flashlight portion  932  can be removably mounted to the body  914  by a removable fitting  980 , for example, a flexible barb or other fitting that permits plugging the flashlight portion  932  into the body  914 . An opening  982  in the body  914  accommodates the plug fitting  980  and allows the flashlight portion  932  to swivel within the opening  982 . The flashlight portion  932  can include power and controls (e.g., batteries  920  and a switch  924 ) independent of the body  914  glow portion so that it can be removed and used separate and apart from the body  914  glow portion. Hand hooks  984 , rings and like can be included on one of both portions (e.g., the body and the flashlight portion) to permit separate use and mounting of the body  914  glow portion and the flashlight  932 . 
         [0038]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that power can be provided to both the body glow portion as well as the flashlight by a variety of sources. For example, conventional and/or rechargeable batteries (see, e.g.,  20  in  FIG. 5 ) can be used to provide power. It is also contemplated that solar cells/collectors (for example, see  270  in  FIG. 7 ) can be used to provide power as well as to collect/store power for later use, such as through the use of rechargeable batteries. Conventional line or AC power can also be used and can be used in conjunction with batteries for power storage. 
         [0039]    It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the different features of the various embodiments can be combined with one another in the design and configuration of a glow stick, and that such combinations of different/various features are within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. 
         [0040]    From the foregoing it will be observed that numerous modifications and variations can be effectuated without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the present disclosure. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific embodiments illustrated is intended or should be inferred. The disclosure is intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.