Abstract:
A temporary headlight assembly that serves as a temporary emergency replacement for a motor vehicle headlight bulb with a body of a tapered design having large exterior threads that allow it to be screwed into the headlight bulb socket of a motor vehicle after a non-operational headlight bulb is removed. The universal mounting arrangement coupled with the variable size of the tapered threaded opening allows it to be used on almost any type of vehicle. The apparatus is powered by internal rechargeable batteries and controlled by a power switch, and can be recharged by a cigarette lighter adapter. The apparatus uses LED lamps to produce light.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     There are currently no applications co-pending with the present application. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to vehicle headlights. More particularly, the present invention relates to headlights for temporary and emergency use. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Headlights are one of the most important pieces of safety equipment when driving at night. Not only do headlights allow drivers to see the road and obstacles ahead, but they also allow other drivers to see your vehicle. It is of the utmost importance to have properly operating headlights. 
     Unfortunately headlights sometimes fail. While a simple burnt-out lamp is the most common problem, other problems such as blown fuses, bad wiring, corroded sockets, and the like can also prevent headlights from working. Because of the importance of headlights to safety, quick repair is mandated. But repairs often require a time consuming trip to the repair shop. Should one be stopped by a law enforcement official because of a failed headlight a fine costing several times the repair costs may result. Thus a driver faces a dilemma, until his burnt-out headlight is fixed he is a danger while driving and chances receiving a ticket or he must refrain from driving until he can have his headlight fixed. 
     Accordingly, there exists a need for a temporary headlight that can function as a replacement for a non-operating motor vehicle headlight but which does not operate on the electrical system of the vehicle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The principles of the present invention provide for a rechargeable headlight having a threaded body that is downwardly tapered along its length such that the front of the threaded body is narrower than its rear. Attached to the rear of the threaded body is a cylindrical battery housing that stores at least one (1) rechargeable battery. At the front of the threaded body is a light module for emitting light. A switch selectively applies power to the light module to emit light. 
     In practice the light module includes at least one LED, and operating power can be from the rechargeable battery or from power applied to a power jack. Power applied to the power jack can be used to recharge the rechargeable battery. 
     Beneficially the threaded body includes coarse outer threads that are disposed along its length. Those coarse outer threads allow the threaded body to be screwed into the headlight housing of a motor vehicle when the non-operational headlight is removed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like elements are identified with like symbols and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of the temporary rechargeable headlight  10  according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the temporary rechargeable headlight  10  shown in  FIG. 1  being used on a motor vehicle  60 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the temporary rechargeable headlight  10  taken along line I-I of  FIG. 1 ; and, 
         FIG. 4  is an electrical schematic block diagram depicting major electrical components of the temporary rechargeable headlight  10  shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . 
       
         
           
                 
               
                 
                 
                 
               
             
                 
                     
                 
                 
                   DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
                 
                 
                     
                 
               
               
                 
                     
                 
               
            
             
                 
                     
                    10 
                   temporary rechargeable  
                 
                 
                     
                     
                   headlight for motor vehicles 
                 
                 
                     
                    15 
                   overall enclosure 
                 
                 
                     
                    20 
                   threaded body 
                 
                 
                     
                    25 
                   battery housing 
                 
                 
                     
                    30 
                   coarse threads 
                 
                 
                     
                    40 
                   ON/OFF switch 
                 
                 
                     
                    45 
                   automobile power adapter 
                 
                 
                     
                    50 
                   power plug 
                 
                 
                     
                    55 
                   power jack 
                 
                 
                     
                    57 
                   battery cable 
                 
                 
                     
                    58 
                   battery clips 
                 
                 
                     
                    60 
                   motor vehicle 
                 
                 
                     
                    65 
                   headlight lens 
                 
                 
                     
                    70 
                   rechargeable batteries 
                 
                 
                     
                    75 
                   window or door opening 
                 
                 
                     
                    80 
                   high intensity LED modules 
                 
                 
                     
                    85 
                   heat sink assembly 
                 
                 
                     
                    90 
                   light rays 
                 
                 
                     
                   105 
                   LED driver assembly 
                 
                 
                     
                   110 
                   charging regulator circuit 
                 
                 
                     
                     
                 
               
            
           
         
       
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 4 , and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     Refer now to  FIG. 1 , which is a side view of a temporary rechargeable headlight  10  according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The rechargeable headlight  10  includes an enclosure  15  having a threaded body  20  that is located at the front of the temporary rechargeable headlight  10  and a battery housing  25  that is located at the rear. The battery housing  25  is cylindrical and includes an internal volume that is sufficient to store several rechargeable batteries  70  (see  FIGS. 3 and 4 ). 
     The threaded body  20  tapers downward from the battery housing  25  and has coarse outer threads  30  disposed along its length. The threads  30  combined with the taper enable the threaded body  20  to be screwed into most motor vehicle headlight bulb sockets after the original headlight bulb is removed. When operating, the temporary rechargeable headlight  10  produces light  90  which emanates from an LED module  80  that is located at the front of the threaded body  20 . 
     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , operation of the temporary rechargeable headlight  10  is controlled by an ON/OFF switch  40  that is located toward the rear of the battery housing  25 . As the temporary rechargeable headlight  10  is rechargeable, recharge power is applied to the temporary rechargeable headlight  10  by an automobile power adapter  45  with a power plug  50  and by a power jack  55 . The power jack  55  is also located toward the rear of the battery housing  25 . While the temporary rechargeable headlight  10  is primarily intended for use as a temporary replacement headlight assembly for use on motor vehicles, it may also be used as a conventional high-intensity flashlight by grasping it in one&#39;s hand around the battery housing  25  and aiming the threaded body  20  to provide portable illumination  90 . Such versatility makes the temporary rechargeable headlight  10  ideal for carrying in almost any motor vehicle where it can safely provide the aforementioned dual functionality. 
     Refer next to  FIG. 2 , an isometric view of the temporary rechargeable headlight  10  shown in use on a motor vehicle  60 , depicted as a sport utility vehicle. It should be noted that the temporary rechargeable headlight  10  can be used with equal effectiveness on any type of motor vehicle including passenger vehicles, vans, pickup trucks, buses, tractor-trailer rigs, emergency vehicles, or the like. 
     As shown, the temporary rechargeable headlight  10  is installed in a bulb socket of an original equipment headlight lens  65  are removal of the original bulb. The threaded body  20 , (see  FIG. 1 ) is hand tightened into the bulb socket of the headlight lens  65 . This places the LED modules  80  in position to illuminate road surfaces. In  FIG. 2  the temporary rechargeable headlight  10  is shown using the automobile power adapter  45  to enable extended usage. However the temporary rechargeable headlight  10  also has internal rechargeable batteries  70  (see  FIGS. 3 and 4 ) which can provide approximately seven hours (7 hrs.) of operating time. Should longer operating times be needed, the automobile power adapter  45  can be connected via the power plug  50  and the power jack  55  to a vehicle  60  power outlet. For example, as shown the automobile power adapter  45  can be routed through a window or door opening  75  of the motor vehicle  60 . 
     Refer now to  FIG. 3 , a sectional view of the temporary rechargeable headlight  10  taken along line I-I of  FIG. 1 . The temporary rechargeable headlight  10  includes a plurality of heavy duty rechargeable batteries  70  that are housed in the battery housing  25 . The temporary rechargeable headlight  10  produces light  90  using high intensity LED modules  80  that are beneficially mounted on a heat sink  85 . The battery housing  25  also houses an LED driver assembly  105  and a charging regulator circuit  110  whose functionality is described in greater detail herein below. 
     Referring finally, to  FIG. 4 , an electrical schematic block diagram depicting the major electrical components in the temporary rechargeable headlight  10 , power is applied from the power adapter  45  via the power plug  50  to the power jack  55 . That power is applied to a charging regulator  110 . The charging regulator circuit  110  provides a regulated voltage and a controlled current to recharge the rechargeable batteries  70 . Power is also routed to the ON/OFF switch  40 , which is controlled by a user. From the ON/OFF switch  40  power is selectively applied to the LED driver assembly  105 . The LED driver assembly  105  to applies controlled power to the high intensity LED modules  80 . 
     Still referring to  FIG. 4 , the temporary rechargeable headlight  10  beneficially includes an auxiliary battery cable  57  that can be attached to a standard vehicle battery via integral battery clips  58 . The battery cable  57  provides similar electrical charging functions and connections to the power jack  55  as the previously described power adapter  45 . 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention. While only one particular configuration is shown and described that is for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. It is envisioned that the temporary rechargeable headlight  10  would be constructed in general accordance with  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 4 . It is also envisioned that the body  20  and battery housing  25  are constructed of high impact resistant plastic in an injection molding process. The LED driver assembly  105  and the charging regulator circuit  110  would be designed to produce the necessary illumination levels given the power and time operating requirements. 
     Prior to use, the temporary rechargeable headlight  10  should be adequately charged by connecting the power adapter  45  and the power plug  50  to the power jack  55  for an adequate period of time, envisioned as being several hours. Alternately, charging can be performed using the battery cable  57  by connecting the power plug  50  of the battery cable  57  into the power jack  55  and the battery clips  58  to the vehicle&#39;s battery. Following an adequate charging time, the temporary rechargeable headlight  10  is ready for use and it can be safely stored in a motor vehicle  60  for use as required. 
     Actual use of the temporary rechargeable headlight  10  is envisioned to occur in two (2) circumstances. The first would be when the user requires temporary illumination  90  of that provided by a conventional flashlight. The temporary rechargeable headlight vehicles  10  provides such functionality by holding it in one&#39;s and activating the ON/OFF switch  40  to produce a powerful beam of light  90 . This functionality is highly useful when performing roadside repairs, helping other motorists, signaling for help, or similar functions which are provided by a conventional flashlight. 
     The second circumstance when the functionality of the temporary rechargeable headlight  10  is needed is to replace a non-operating headlight of the motor vehicle  60 . The user would first remove the original headlight bulb from the headlight lens  65 . The user would next screw the threaded body  20  of the temporary rechargeable headlight  10  into the bulb socket of the headlight lens  65  such that the threaded body  20  and LED modules  80  project forwardly with regards to the motor vehicle  60 . The user would then turn the ON/OFF switch  40  to ON to produce high intensity light  90 . If the functionality of the temporary rechargeable headlight  10  is only needed for a short time, say less than seven hours (7 hrs.), the temporary rechargeable headlight  10  would operate using the electrical power provided by the rechargeable batteries  70 . Should a longer operating cycle be required, the temporary rechargeable headlight  10  would be connected to the electrical system of the motor vehicle  60  by using the power adapter  45 , power plug  50  and power jack  55  or by using the auxiliary battery cable  57 . The user would then remove the temporary rechargeable headlight  10  and repair the original headlight. The temporary rechargeable headlight  10  would then be charged and stored for future use. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.