Abstract:
A finger light provides local illumination adjacent to a user&#39;s finger during a writing activity. Using a housing having a switchable light source and a finger-engaging framework removably coupled to the housing, a finger light is provided that enables local illumination for the user in a discreet or focused manner. In an alternative embodiment, a magnifying lens chassis is operatively coupled to a finger light housing.

Description:
COPYRIGHT AUTHORIZATION  
       [0001]     Portions of the disclosure of this patent document may contain material which is subject to copyright and/or mask work protection. The copyright and/or mask work owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright and/or mask work rights whatsoever.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to illumination devices and more particularly to a finger light that provides illumination adjacent to a finger to which it is attached, particularly for writing and illuminating such writing.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Without proper illumination during a writing activity, many individuals find it difficult to operate in such environment. Various portable lighting sources are known in the art and include flashlights, lamps, and other lighting structures which are generally operated electrically and controlled by a switch.  
         [0006]     There are times when only a small amount of light is necessary as when it is important to diminish any disturbance to others, operate with discretion and possible secrecy, and otherwise. To this end, a variety of finger lights have been developed as well as other manually operated and manually attached portable lighting devices. None of these devices are adapted for easy conversion to a portable magnifying light source that can be used for local illumination.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention provides a finger light configuration that can be used for illuminating writing among other things.  
         [0008]     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new finger light which has many of the advantages of the finger lights known heretofore and many novel features that result in a finger light which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, taught, or even implied by any of the prior art finger lights, either alone or in any combination thereof.  
         [0009]     The housing provides an enclosure for a light source and a replaceable power source. The light source may be a LED (Light Emitting Diode). The replaceable power source may be button cell batteries. The circuit between the batteries and the LED may be controlled by a switch, all of which may be contained in the housing. The switch may protrude from the housing for operation. A finger-engaging section may be removed or re-coupled to the switchable light source with its housing. A finger-engaging portion provides means by which removable engagement with the finger may occur with respect to the switchable light source.  
         [0010]     By optional removal of the finger-engaging framework, a magnifying section may also be removably attached to the top of the housing and the switchable light source. The removable magnifying section may include an extension that spaces a lens or other magnifying device away from the front of the switchable light source to thereby enable illumination of an area generally beneath the lens.  
         [0011]     The magnifying extension and the finger-engaging framework may be used separately or together. Optional detents may provide for adjustment of the finger-engaging portion with respect to its disposition relative to the housing of the switchable light source. The same or similar adjustment means may be present with respect to the magnifying extension.  
         [0012]     In one embodiment, a finger light for local illumination adjacent a finger has a switchable light source sized for easy carrying by a finger between the first and second knuckle of the finger. The switchable light source transmits light downwardly relative to a main axis of the switchable light source at a forward end thereof. A removable finger-engaging section is removably coupled to the switchable light source and is adapted for engaging the finger between the first and second knuckle. In this way, the finger light is easily engageable by the finger and the finger light generally does not interfere with manual activities including the holding of a writing instrument and writing with the writing instrument.  
         [0013]     In another embodiment, a magnifying light for local illumination of relatively small objects or relatively small portions of objects has a switchable light source generally sized for easy carrying by a finger between the first and second knuckle of the finger. The switchable light source transmits light downwardly relative to a main axis of the switchable light source at a forward end thereof. A removable magnification section is removably coupled to the switchable light source and is adapted for magnifying an area illuminated by the switchable light source. In this way, an area or object may be illuminated and magnified for better visual inspection.  
         [0014]     In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a finger light comprises at least one LED (Light Emitting Diode) adapted for local illumination, at least one button cell adapted for use as a power source for the LED, wherein the button cell is operatively coupled between the LED and an electrical switch, and a housing adapted to operatively accommodate the LED, button cell and electrical switch. The finger light also comprises a framework adapted to engage at least one finger of a user&#39;s hand. The framework includes at least one channel configured to receive at least a portion of the housing. The LED within the received housing casts a light beam proximate to the tip of a writing instrument being used during a writing activity.  
         [0015]     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a magnifying light for local illumination comprises at least one LED adapted for use as a finger light source, at least one button cell adapted for use as a power source for the LED, wherein the button cell is operatively coupled between the LED and an electrical switch, and a finger light housing adapted to operatively accommodate the LED, button cell and electrical switch. The magnifying light also comprises at least one magnifying lens being disposed in operative proximity to the LED, and a lens chassis adapted to accommodate the magnifying lens such that the focus area of the magnifying lens substantially corresponds with the local area being illuminated by the LED. The lens chassis includes a channel section configured to receive at least one portion of the finger light housing. The channel section is adapted to allow slidable positional adjustment of the received finger light housing.  
         [0016]     These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent from a review of the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the invention.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]     The present invention is generally shown by way of reference to the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of a person&#39;s hand with a writing implement and a finger light being used in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the finger light of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of the finger light of  FIG. 2  in assembled form;  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is a bottom perspective view of a magnifying light adapted for local illumination in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the magnifying light of  FIG. 4 ; and  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of the magnifying light of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0024]     The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of exemplary embodiments and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the exemplary embodiments may be constructed and/or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the exemplary embodiments in connection with the illustrated embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
         [0025]     Some embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to a finger light, as generally shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . Other embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to a magnifying light adapted for local illumination, as generally shown in  FIGS. 4-6 . Additional embodiments, features and/or advantages of the invention may become apparent from the ensuing description or may be learned by practicing the invention. In the figures, the drawings are not to scale with like numerals referring to like features throughout both the drawings and the description.  
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of a user&#39;s hand  10  with a writing implement  12  and a finger light  14  being used in accordance with the present invention. Finger light  14  is removably attached to a forefinger  16  so that a light beam  18  may be cast in proximity to the tip of writing implement  12  to provide local illumination for the user during a writing activity. Writing implement  12  is being held in place by a thumb  20 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of finger light  14 . Specifically, finger light  14  includes a housing  22  which has a right side  24  and a left side  26  that are adapted to mate together and provide internal structure or chassis for a light source  28  and associated power supply  30  and electrical conductor  32 . In one embodiment, light source  28  may be a LED suitable for local illumination in conjunction with writing activity. In another embodiment, power supply  30  may be implemented as four button cells operatively connected in series between LED  28  and associated electrical switch  34 . Other suitable implementations may be utilized, as needed.  
         [0028]     Finger light  14  further includes a finger-engaging framework  36  adapted to removably couple housing  22  to forefinger  16  ( FIG. 1 ). Finger-engaging framework  36  includes a center panel  38  disposed between a right side retaining panel  40  and a left side retaining panel  42 . Right and left side retaining panels  40 ,  42  generally span the entire length of center panel  38  and are adapted to frictionally engage the bottom portion of housing  22 , as generally depicted in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0029]     Descending from center panel  38  are two oppositely disposed (right and left) wings  44 ,  46  configured to frictionally engage and capture forefinger  16  ( FIG. 1 ) as it is slid into a channel  48  being generally defined between wings  44 ,  46 . With forefinger  16  captured within channel  48 , finger light  14  may be worn thereon like a ring between the first and second knuckles of forefinger  16 . Switch  34  may then be engaged to close the circuit between LED  28  and button cells  30  and allow for illumination of a local area during writing or reading activity. Other fingers of user&#39;s hand  10  may be utilized, as needed. Each wing ( 44 ,  46 ) and each retaining panel ( 40 ,  42 ) are configured with a certain degree of flexibility to allow engagement and release of corresponding structure.  
         [0030]      FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of finger light  14  in assembled form. A person skilled in the art would appreciate that detents may be used optionally to provide a degree of adjustment between finger-engaging framework  36  and the bottom portion of housing  22 . Other devices may be used to provide some slidable adjustment between finger-engaging framework  36  and housing  22  as housing  22  slides within channel  50  ( FIG. 2 ) that is generally defined between center panel  38  and housing retaining panels  40 ,  42  during engagement thereto.  
         [0031]      FIG. 4  is a bottom perspective view of a portable magnifying light  60  adapted for local illumination in accordance with the present invention. Portable magnifying light  60  includes a finger light housing  62  operatively coupled to a lens chassis or magnification section  64 . Lens chassis  64  is adapted to accommodate a magnifying lens  66  at a distal end thereof, as generally depicted in  FIG. 5 . Finger light housing  62  includes a suitable light source  68  at a front end thereof ( FIG. 4 ). Magnifying lens  66  projects generally away from the front end of finger light housing  62  so that the focus area of lens  66  generally corresponds with the local area being illuminated by light source  68 . Light source  68  may be a LED or the like, as needed. Light source  68  may be turned on/off via an integral electrical switch  70  ( FIGS. 5-6 ).  
         [0032]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of magnifying light  60 . Finger light housing  62  is constructed generally in the same manner as housing  22  of finger light  14  of  FIG. 2 . Specifically, finger light housing  62  is adapted to accommodate four button cells  72  which are operatively coupled between LED  68  and integral light switch  70  ( FIGS. 5-6 ). Button cells  72  provide power to LED  68 . Lens chassis  64  includes an aperture  76  at a distal end thereof that is adapted to provide a seat for magnifying lens  66 . Lens  66  is held frictionally therein via a generally ring-shaped lens frame  78 . A person skilled in the art would appreciate that lens  66  may also be held via snap action, adhesion or the like.  
         [0033]     Portable magnifying light  60  may be easily constructed by removing finger-engaging framework  36  from housing  22  of finger light  14  and attaching the stand-alone finger light housing to a raised bottom channel section  80  of lens chassis  64 . Bottom channel section  80  is defined between two ribs  82 ,  84  ( FIG. 4 ) which project generally away from the bottom surface of lens chassis  64 . Bottom channel section  80  may be configured to allow slidable positional adjustment of finger light housing  62  therein, as needed by the user. Lens chassis  64  is adapted to accommodate light switch  70 , as generally illustrated in  FIG. 6 . Magnification of object(s) illuminated by LED  68  occurs when observation is made through lens  66 .  
         [0034]     The finger light of the present invention may be adapted for attachment to a writing instrument, such as a pen, pencil and the like. Other suitable design configurations may be utilized as needed. The exemplary embodiments described hereinabove are merely illustrative of the general principles of the present invention. Various design modifications may be employed that would reside within the scope of the invention. Thus, by way of example, but not of limitation, alternative configurations may be utilized in accordance with the teachings herein. Accordingly, the drawings and description are illustrative and not meant to be a limitation thereof.  
         [0035]     Moreover, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Thus, it is intended that the invention cover all embodiments and variations thereof as long as such embodiments and variations come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.