Abstract:
A light assembly for an inspection tool having a mirror, the assembly comprising a housing attached to the mirror; a light member movably attached to the housing; and a power source for the light member.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/263,519 filed Nov. 3, 2008, which was a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/174,704 filed Jul. 17, 2008, which claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 60/954,515 filed Aug. 7, 2007. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to inspection tools and, more particularly, to inspection mirrors such as those that are used by mechanics to view obscured areas of an automobile, and also those which are used by security personnel for example to inspect the underside of automobiles. 
         [0003]    Such inspection mirrors allow the user to view areas which would otherwise be difficult or impossible to view. In some instances, such areas are not only obscured from the viewer, but are also dark. In such circumstances, it has been known to position a light member shining parallel to the handle of the device, and onto the mirror to illuminate the area to be viewed. While such an approach does help view the intended area, there is room for improvement in such devices. 
         [0004]    It is therefore the primary object of the invention to provide an apparatus to allow better illumination of an area to be inspected. 
         [0005]    Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear herein. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    According to the invention, the foregoing objects are attained. 
         [0007]    According to the invention, a light attachment is provided for attaching to an inspection tool to illuminate the area to be inspected. 
         [0008]    A light assembly for an inspection tool having a mirror, the assembly comprising a housing attached to the mirror; a light member movably attached to the housing; and a power source for the light member. 
         [0009]    The mounting bracket is preferably shaped to coincide with the shape of the mirror, preferably round or some other relatively simple shape, and can have two or more clips to hold the bracket to the mirror. A battery for the light member is accessibly stored within the mounting bracket. 
         [0010]    With the apparatus according to the invention, light is provided directly on the object to be illuminated, and is not reflected onto the object through the mirror as with prior devices. This provides better illumination and allows more thorough inspection of the object or area to be inspected. 
         [0011]    In its broadest sense, the mounting bracket can be attached to the mirror using any method, including glues and adhesives. In addition, the mounting bracket can have a rim which traverses the circumference or edge of the mounting bracket, and a notch through which the handle of the mirror extends when the mounting bracket and mirror are assembled. Further, the rim may have a plurality of radially spaced notches to allow the mirror to be mounted to the mounting bracket in a plurality of different positions. Rotation of the light member relative to the housing provides additional versatility as well. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    A detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention follows, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates an apparatus according to the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the apparatus of the invention installed on an inspection mirror; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a rear view of the apparatus of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a side view of a portion of the apparatus of the invention showing internal wiring of the light member; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  shows an apparatus according to the invention attached to a mirror and illuminating an otherwise obscured surface; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  shows an alternate embodiment of the invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  shows an alternate embodiment of the invention, wherein the mounting bracket has a plurality of notches for accommodating the handle of the mirror in different positions; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  shows a simplified embodiment of the present invention wherein the mounting bracket is attached to the mirror, for example using glue or some other type of adhesive, without clips; 
           [0021]      FIGS. 9 and 10  show a further embodiment of the invention including a rotatable light fixture. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]      FIG. 1  shows an apparatus  10  according to the invention which comprises a mounting bracket generally indicated at  12 , and a light member  14  connected to mounting bracket  12 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , mounting bracket  12  is preferably configured for releasable attachment to an inspection mirror tool  16 . 
         [0023]    Light member  14  can be any suitable light bulb or other light generating device, preferably sufficiently powerful that good illumination can be provided for viewing objects up to several feet from the mirror, from a distance which is also several feet from the mirror. Numerous alternatives are available for the light member as would be well known to a person skilled in this art. Light member  14  can be mounted in mounting bracket  12  in any suitable manner, preferably such that the light bulb itself can be replaced as needed. 
         [0024]    Mounting bracket  12  is preferably a structure shaped to fit around the mirror portion  18  of inspection mirror tool  16 .  FIG. 2  shows a round mirror portion  18 , and thus in this embodiment mounting bracket  12  is also substantially round in shape. As shown, mounting bracket  12  can have a body portion  20  sized to be held behind mirror portion  18 , and this portion  20  preferably has at least one and preferably at least two clips  22  for snapping past the front edge of mirror portion  18  to hold bracket  12  in place with respect to mirror portion  18 . Mounting bracket  12  can also have a forwardly extending lip or rim  24  which is sized to fit around the outer edge or circumference of mirror portion  18 , and thereby stabilize mounting bracket  12  relative to mirror portion  18  during use. Inspection mirror tool  16  typically has a handle  26  which can be extended and used to position mirror portion  18  in a desired location to view desired areas or objects. Lip  24  preferably has a notch  28  in lip  24  sized to accept handle  26 . 
         [0025]    According to the invention, two clips  22  can preferably be positioned at opposite sides of mounting bracket  12  as shown, with light member  14  at a top area of mounting bracket  12 , and with notch  28  positioned opposite from light member  12 . In this configuration, apparatus mounting bracket  12  can be secured to mirror portion  18  as desired, and light directed along a focal axis of mirror portion  18  also as desired. 
         [0026]    Light member  14  can be powered from a battery  30 , which can be wired to light member  14 , preferably through a switch  32  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ) to allow light member  14  to be selectively powered off and on. Battery  30  can suitably be stored within a compartment inside mounting bracket  12 , and an access door  34  can be provided in mounting bracket  12  to allow battery  30  to be accessed and changed as necessary. 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  shows a rear view of apparatus  10  according to the invention, and shows switch  32  for powering the light on and off. Also, it should be appreciated that mounting bracket  12  in this embodiment is defined by a front wall and a rear wall, and that these walls define the compartment for holding battery  30 , as well as the wiring  36  which connects battery  30  and light member  14 .  FIG. 3  shows one embodiment of the rear wall of apparatus  10 , and this rear wall can have a plurality of cutouts  38  which serve to reduce the amount of material required to manufacture mounting bracket  12 , which can suitably be injection molded from plastic. 
         [0028]      FIG. 4  shows a side view and schematically illustrates battery  30 , wiring  36  and switch  32  which are used according to the invention to selectively turn light member  14  on and off.  FIGS. 2 and 4  show that light member  14  can be surrounded by a housing  40  which extends forwardly beyond mirror  18  and lip  24 . This housing  40  serves to protect the light bulb within light member  14  from being damaged by incidental contact with various objects during use of apparatus  10 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 5  shows apparatus  10  secured to an inspection mirror tool  16  and being used to illuminate and view a surface  42 . This use of apparatus  10  according to the invention can as indicated above serve to allow inspection of the underside of vehicles, or otherwise obscured areas in an engine compartment and the like. 
         [0030]      FIG. 6  shows an alternate embodiment of apparatus  10  wherein light member  14   a  is centrally located on holder  12 , and mirror portion  18  has a central opening or hole  50  through which light member  14   a  shines during use. The housing of bracket  12  can be defined by two spaced walls in similar fashion to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-5 , with battery and wiring positioned internally, the battery being changeable, and a switch being positioned for powering light member  14   a  on and off as desired. In this embodiment, while the mirror portion  18  is slightly complicated by the need for central opening  50 , the advantage gained by this extra effort is a central location of light member  14   a , which serves to more directly and properly illuminate an area to be viewed. Bracket  12  in this embodiment snaps onto and off of mirror portion  18  in similar fashion to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-5 . 
         [0031]    Turning to  FIG. 7 , a further embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein mounting bracket  10  has a plurality of spaced notches  28 , in this instance based around circumferential rim  24 , to accommodate handle  26  in a plurality of different positions between the mirror and the mounting bracket. In this manner, light member  14  can be positioned in different locations with respect to the handle of the device. It is noted that  FIG. 2  shows this embodiment with a round mirror and with notches  28  positioned radically spaced along a portion of the lip accommodating the round mirror. It should be appreciated that this plurality of notches could be utilized in other-shaped mirrors and mounting brackets, well within the broad scope of the present invention. 
         [0032]      FIG. 8  shows a further alternate embodiment of the present invention wherein mounting bracket  10  is not releasably connected to the mirror. That is, mounting bracket  10  is configured for other types of attachments to mirror  18 , for example involving glue or adhesives for securing mounting bracket  24  to mirror  18 . In this embodiment, as well, the mounting bracket and mirror preferably match each other in shape, and could be round, square, triangular, rectangular or the like. It should be appreciated that the simplified structure, while removing the mounting brackets mentioned in earlier embodiments, results in a more permanent structure, but also in potentially reduced costs for the molding of the mounting bracket part, which can now be held in place through either a permanent press fit with the mirror, or with adhesives, or combinations thereof. 
         [0033]      FIG. 9  shows a further embodiment of a lighted inspection device in accordance with the present invention. As shown, lighted inspection device  100  has a handle  102  and inspection mirror  104 , with inspection mirror  104  being connected to handle  102  through a pivot device which is well known to persons skilled in the art. The pivot device allows adjustment of mirror  104  relative to handle  102 . Handle  102  can have a telescoping shaft incorporated therein such that mirror  104  can be extended a distance from the hand-held portion of handle  102 . 
         [0034]    In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, mounted around mirror  104  is a housing  110  to which a light member  112  is movably attached. Housing  110 , as with the embodiments discussed above, contains a compartment for batteries and a switch and wiring connecting the battery to the light so that the light can be selectively turned on and off as appropriate. These features are as described and illustrated in other embodiments above. 
         [0035]    In this embodiment, light member  112  is mounted to housing  110  in a rotatable fashion such that light member  112  can be rotated or angled to direct light along a path which is movable with respect to the plane of the mirror of the device. This provides additional flexibility in illuminating specific areas to be inspected. 
         [0036]    In this embodiment, light member  112  can have a light housing  114  containing one or more lights  116 , and light housing  114  is advantageously rotatably mounted relative to housing  110 , for example a pair of pivots or axles which define pivot points  120 . In this regard, the wiring for operating lights  116  within light housing  114  can advantageously pass through the pivot points  120  between the light housing  114  and the housing  110 . 
         [0037]    As shown also in  FIG. 10 , the rotatable light member  112  is mounted at an edge of the mirror which is opposite to the handle  102 , and the light member is preferably mounted for rotation about an axis which, when the mirror is in a straight position with respect to the handle, is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the handle. This axis may also and/or alternatively be substantially parallel to a plane of mirror  104 . While any degree of motion of the light with respect to the mirror would be desirable, this positioning of the axis of rotation of the light member with respect to the mirror is particularly desirable as providing for maximum usage of the different possible angles of the light member. 
         [0038]    The movement of light housing  114  relative to housing  110  is shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10  by the arrows A illustrating rotation. This allows light to be directed in a desired direction with respect to the plane of mirror  104 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 10  also shows a small ridge  122  on light housing  114  which can advantageously extend radially outward from light housing  114  and can be used to gain traction on light housing while attempting to rotate light housing  114  to a desired position. 
         [0040]      FIG. 10  further schematically illustrates wiring  124  passing from a housing mounted switch and battery (as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 ) through hollow pivot connections  120  to light bulbs  116 . In this way rotation of light housing  114  relative to housing  110  does not interfere with powering of light bulbs  116 . 
         [0041]    It should be appreciated that this description has been provided in terms of a preferred embodiment of the invention, and that various details and aspects of the embodiment described could be modified by a person skilled in the art. The present invention is deemed to include such modifications, and the broad scope of the present invention is not limited by the specific details of this description.