Abstract:
A flashlight assembly is mountable onto a user&#39;s wrist to provide a light source which is pivotable in two planes of motion. The assembly includes a housing which is pivotably mounted on a wrist band. The housing includes a light source which is pivotably mounted thereto.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority of provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/061,956 filed Oct. 14, 1997. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to flashlights. More specifically, the invention relates to a wrist mounted flashlight. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a flashlight which is supported on the wrist or forearm of a wearer, most preferably by an adjustable band. In particular embodiments, the flashlight is pivotably supported so that its beam may be directed independently of the orientation of the user&#39;s hand. In some instances, the flashlight may pivot on one axis, while in other instances, it may pivot on two axes, to provide full adjustment. In other embodiments of the invention, further features are combined with the flashlight. For example, a laser pointing device may also be included in the wrist mounted unit as may be a signal or indicator light, and a clock or timer. 
    
    
     FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of wrist mounted flashlight structured in accord with the principles of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a flashlight  10  is mounted on to a user&#39;s hand by means of a wristband  12 . The band  12  is of the type typically employed for fastening a watch, or the like, to a user&#39;s wrist, and may be fastened by a buckle or by hook and loop material, or it may be an expansion band, or the like. In one preferred embodiment, the flashlight  10  is mounted to the band  12  so as to be pivotable thereupon as is further illustrated in FIGS. 2,  3  and  4 . In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, the flashlight  10  further includes a light bulb  14  which is supported in a reflector housing  16 ; and this reflector housing  16  is also pivotable within the body of the flashlight. This allows for further adjustment of the light beam. 
     Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a schematic, exploded, depiction of the wrist mounted flashlight assembly of FIGS. 1-4. As shown in FIG. 5, the flashlight  10  is pivotably supported upon the wrist band  12  through a rotatable support  20  providing for pivoting in a first plane as indicated by arrow A. As is further noted in FIG. 5, the reflector housing  16  of the flashlight  10  is also pivotable upon the flashlight body so as to provide for pivoting in a second plane as indicated by arrow B which is perpendicular to the first plane A. In this manner, the light from the bulb  14  may be directed, independently of the location of the arm of the person using the flashlight assembly. 
     Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown another depiction of the foregoing embodiment of the flashlight assembly, and as is shown herein, the pivotable connection  20  between the flashlight  10  and wristband  12  includes a series of detent members  22  therein. These detent members  22  provide for click stops which aid in the positioning of the flashlight body  10 . 
     It is to be understood that in accord with the present invention, a wrist mounted flashlight may include means for providing or pivoting about one or more axes, or it may comprise a fixed flashlight which is not pivotable. Also, other embodiments of the flashlight, different from that shown in these Figures may be supported upon the user&#39;s wrist. 
     Referring now to FIG. 7, there is shown yet another embodiment of a wrist mounted flashlight structured in accord with the present invention. The FIG. 7 embodiment shows a wristband  12 , as previously described, having a multi-function base  24  retained thereupon. The base includes a flashlight portion  26 ; and the flashlight portion  26  may be pivotably mounted upon the base  24 , or it may be simply mounted thereupon. The FIG. 7 embodiment further incudes a second light source  28  thereupon. This second light source  28  may comprise a light emitting diode, which may be used as a safety signal, for joggers or children. Alternatively, the secondary light source  28  may be a laser diode pointing device, and it may be oriented so that the beam therefrom will point in a direction corresponding to the user&#39;s hand. This embodiment may be employed by teachers and other public speakers. As further illustrated in FIG. 7, the base member  24  may also support a clock or timer  30  operable to tell the time of day, or to time an event, such as the length of a speech or presentation. Yet other features such as calculators, optical remote control units, sound recording devices and the like may be similarly included in combination with the wrist mounted light source. 
     It is to be understood that still other embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in view of the teaching presented herein. The foregoing drawings, discussion and description are illustrative of particular embodiments of the present invention, but are not meant to be limitations upon the practice thereof. It is the following claims, including all equivalents, which define the scope of the invention.