Abstract:
A ring light including a ring adapted to be inserted over a user&#39;s finger so that the finger extends both distally of and proximally of the ring, at least one power source carried by ring, at least one light source (preferably at least one Light Emitting Diode (“LED”)) powered by the at least one power source, and a shell covering the at least one power source and the at least one light source. A method of using the same includes providing the ring light over a user&#39;s finger so that the finger extends both distally of and proximally of the ring light, and actuating the at least one light source using a finger other than the finger used to carry the ring light. The step of providing a ring light over a user&#39;s finger may occur before or after the step of actuating the at least one light source.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention is in the field of ring lights and methods of use.  
           [0002]    BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
           [0003]    Because much activity occurs at night-time, or in inadequate lighting conditions, individuals will often carry portable flashlights and other portable lights, e.g., key ring lights, with them in their cars, purse, key chain, etc. in the event they need to illuminate something to perform an activity, e.g., insert keys in a door lock. A problem with these portable lights is that they are not worn by the individual, so they must be found before they can be used. Because these portable lights are often small, they are easy to lose or misplace. As a result, when the need arises to use one of these portable lights, they often can not be found, or are not operational.  
           [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,548 to Mayfarth describes a fake thumb light worn by magicians that emits light, e.g., red light, through the fake thumb. The fake thumb light gives the magician the appearance of being able to pluck light out of thin air by simulating a plucking action with his or her hand. A problem with this light includes that it is not practical except for magicians or the like because nobody wants to wear a fake thumb on his or her hand to take advantage of the light-emitting aspect of this device. It is not practical to wear the fake thumb and perform normal activities because the fake thumb is clumsy and interferes with normal, everyday finger/hand use.  
           [0005]    Accordingly, there is a need for a practical, inexpensive, simple lighting device that can be worn by an individual on his or her fingers that provides adequate lumination to perform an activity in otherwise inadequate lighting conditions.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The present invention is generally directed to a ring light, and method of using the same.  
           [0007]    An additional aspect of the invention involves a method of using a ring light. The method includes providing a ring light over a user&#39;s finger so that the finger extends both distally of and proximally of the ring light, the ring light including at least one light source and at least one power source; and actuating the at least one light source using a finger other than the finger used to carry the ring light. The step of providing a ring light over a user&#39;s finger may occur before or after the step of actuating the at least one light source. In a preferred implementation of the above method, the at least one light source is at least one Light Emitting Diode (“LED”).  
           [0008]    Another aspect of the invention involves a ring light including a ring adapted to be inserted over a user&#39;s finger so that the finger extends both distally of and proximally of the ring, at least one power source carried by ring, at least one light source powered by power source, and a shell covering the power source and the light source. In a preferred implementation of the ring light, the at least one light source is at least one Light Emitting Diode (“LED”).  
           [0009]    Further objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art with a review of the drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments set forth below.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    The drawings illustrate the design and utility of preferred embodiments of the present invention, in which:  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a ring light.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the ring light illustrated in FIG. 1 in use on a user&#39;s finger.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an additional embodiment of a ring light.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a ring light.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of a ring light.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a side-elevational view of the ring light illustrated in FIG. 5 on a user&#39;s finger.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the ring light illustrated in FIG. 5 in use on a user&#39;s finger.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a still further embodiment of a ring light.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 9 is a top plan view of another embodiment of ring light illustrated in use on a user&#39;s finger.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a still further embodiment of a ring light in an “off” position.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the ring light illustrated in FIG. 10 in an “on” position.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 12 is a top plan view of yet a further embodiment of a ring light.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0023]    With reference to FIG. 1, a ring light  100  constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention will now be described. The ring light  100  includes a ring  104  and a light housing  108 . The ring  104  may come in a variety of sizes to accommodate different size fingers. The light housing  108  is disposed partially within a recessed area  112  of the ring  104 .  
         [0024]    The light housing  108  includes a generally hemispherical shell or housing  116  that covers at least one light source  120 . The light source  120  is preferably a single, white LED. The LED may be a pointed LED, a square LED, a round LED, or the like. Further, the LED may be a variety of different colors other than white such as, but not by way of limitation, red, blue, green, and yellow. Other light sources, e.g., incandescent light bulbs, other angle LEDs, other color LEDs, and other numbers of LEDs, e.g., two or more, may be used.  
         [0025]    The shell  116  may be made of plastic, glass or other material, and may be clear, tinted, or colored. The shell may be a magnifier to magnify or direct light, or a diffuser to diffuse or spread light. The shell  116  includes a dome  121  and an annular flange  122 . The LED  120  is carried by a support surface  124 . The support surface  124  may be integrally formed with the shell  116  or may be a separate element that is affixed to an inner surface  128  of the shell  116 .  
         [0026]    A first annular contact  132  may be affixed to an underside  136  of the flange  122 . A second annular contact  140  may be affixed to an annular shelf  144 . A first electrical coupling  148  connects the LED  120  to the first annular contact  132 . A second electrical coupling  152  connects the first annular contact  132  to a negative terminal of at least one power source  156 . A third electrical coupling  160  connects a positive terminal of the power source  156  to the LED  120 . The aforementioned elements form an electrical circuit for powering the light source  120 . The electrical circuit may include a dimmer mechanism, e.g., variable resistor, for controlling the brightness of the light source  120 . Further, the electrical circuit may include an electronic mechanism that, once a user presses down on the shell  116  and releases it, the LED  120  is activated for a predetermined amount of time (e.g., 5 seconds) and then deactivated. The electrical circuit may include a standard on/off switch to control power to the LED  120 . Further, the electrical circuit may include an electronic mechanism that causes the LED  120  to flash repeatedly.  
         [0027]    The power source  156  is preferably a small, flat watch battery. In alternative embodiments, power sources other than batteries, e.g., miniature fuel cells, different types of batteries, e.g., rechargeable, and different numbers of batteries, e.g., two or more may be used. The ring light  100  may be disposable so that after the power source  156  is depleted of power, the ring light  100  is thrown away. Alternatively, the power source  156  may be changeable so that after the power source  156  is depleted of power, the power source  156  may be recharged, regenerated, or replaced. The battery  156  may be affixed to an electrically insulative support  164 .  
         [0028]    A spring  168  may be disposed between an upper surface  172  of the battery  156  and a lower surface  176  of the support  124  to bias the shell  116  upwards.  
         [0029]    Preferably, the light housing  108  has a water-proof seal with the ring  104 .  
         [0030]    With reference additionally to FIG. 2, the ring light  100  will now be described in use. The ring light  100  is worn on a finger  190  of a user. Although the ring light  100  is shown on the ring finger of a user&#39;s left hand, the ring light  100  may be worn on any finger, including the thumb. Further, multiple ring lights  100  may be worn on one or more fingers  190  of a user. The ring light  100  is normally in an “off” condition. To actuate the ring light  100 , a user presses down on the shell  116  of the ring light  100  using another finger  190 . If the user presses hard enough to overcome the resistance force from the spring  168 , the first annular contact  132  comes in electrical communication with the second annular contact  140 , closing an electrical circuit including the LED  120  and battery  156 . As a result, the battery  156  powers the LED  120 , and the LED  120  is illuminated. The light from the LED  120  may be used for any lighting purpose. The LED  120  is deactivated by simply releasing the finger pressure on the shell  116 . Releasing pressure on the shell  116  allows the spring  168  to urge the shell  116  upwards, preventing electrical communication between the first annular contact  132  and the second annular contact  140 .  
         [0031]    In an alternative method, the ring light  100  may include the aforementioned electronic mechanism that causes the LED  120  to be activated for a predetermined amount of time (e.g., 5 seconds) once a user presses down on the shell  116  and releases it. In this method, the user simply presses and releases the shell  116 . The user does not have to maintain pressure on the shell  116  to keep the LED  120  activated. In a further method, the ring light  100  may have a standard on/off switch. In this method, instead of pushing on the shell  116 , the user moves the on/off switch with another finger  190  to activate or deactivate the LED  120 . In a still further method, the ring light may include an electronic mechanism that causes the LED  120  to flash repeatedly. In this method, the user simply presses and releases the shell  116  to cause the LED  120  to flash. For example, if the user presses the shell  116  once, the LED  120  may be activated in continuous mode (i.e., not flashing). If the user presses the shell twice quickly, the LED  120  may be activated in flashing mode. The LED  120  may be activated for a predetermined amount of time, or may be activated by pressing the shell  116  again. Any or all of these features and/or methods may also be incorporated in the embodiments described below.  
         [0032]    With reference to FIG. 3, a ring light  200  constructed in accordance with an additional embodiment of the invention will now be described. Elements similar to those described above with respect to FIG. 1 are identified with like reference numerals, but with an “a” suffix. The ring light  200  includes a shell  116   a  that is biased upwards by multiple springs  204 . The springs  204  are located between a recess floor  208  and the underside  136   a  of the annular flange  122   a . Although two springs  204  are shown, more than two springs  204  may be used to bias the shell  116   a  upwards. An annular stop  212  retains the shell  116   a  in the recess  112   a . A contact  216  is located on the underside  136   a  of the flange  122   a . A first electrical coupling  220  connects the contact  216  to the LED  120   a  and a second electrical coupling  224  connects the LED  120   a  to a negative terminal of the battery  156   a.    
         [0033]    Use of the ring light  200  is similar to use of the ring light  100  described above with respect to FIG. 1, except when the shell  116   a  is pressed down, the contact  216  comes in direct physical and electrical communication with the positive terminal of the battery  156   a , instead of another contact that is connected to the battery.  
         [0034]    With reference to FIG. 4, a ring light  300  constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the invention will now be described. Elements similar to those described above are identified with like reference numerals, but with a “b” suffix. A disc-shaped shell or housing  304 , preferably a gem or fake gem, is retained within the recess  112   b  by an annular base  308 . Unlike the shells shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the shell  304  does not project or extend vertically beyond the base  308 . The shell  304  is retained laterally by annular support  312  and is biased upwards by the multiple springs  204   b.    
         [0035]    Use of the ring light  300  is similar to the use of the ring light  200  described above with respect to FIG. 3.  
         [0036]    With reference to FIG. 5, a ring light  400  constructed in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention will now be described. Elements similar to those described above are identified with like reference numerals, but with a “c” suffix. Unlike the movable shells  116 ,  116   a ,  304  in the ring lights  100 ,  200 ,  300  described above, the shell  116   c  of the ring light  400  is fixed within the recess  112   c  of the ring  104   c . A first electrical coupling  404  connects the LED  120   c  to a positive terminal of the battery  156   c . A second electrical coupling  408  connects a negative terminal of the battery  156   c  to a stationary electrical contact  412 . The stationary contact  412  is preferably flexible. A third electrical coupling  416  connects the LED  120   c  to a movable contact  416  of a push-button switch  418 . The movable contact  416  is connected to a push button  420  of the push-button switch  418 . A spring  424  is disposed between a sidewall  428  of the push button  420  and a sidewall  432  of the ring  104   c . In an alternative embodiment, the push-button switch  418  may be replaced with a standard electrical on/off switch.  
         [0037]    With reference additionally to FIGS. 6 and 7, the ring light  400  will now be described in use. Similar to the ring light  100  described with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2, the ring light  400  is normally in an “off” condition. To actuate the ring light  400 , a user presses the push button  420  on the side of the ring light  400  using another finger  190 . If the user presses hard enough to overcome the resistance force from the spring  424 , the movable contact  416  of the push-button switch  418  comes in electrical communication with the flexible, stationary electrical contact  412 , closing an electrical circuit including the LED  120   c  and battery  156   c , and powering the LED  120   c . The LED  120   c  is turned off by releasing the finger pressure on the push button  420 . Releasing pressure on the push button  420  allows the spring  424  to urge the push button  420  laterally outward, preventing electrical communication between the movable contact  416  and the stationary contact  412 .  
         [0038]    With reference to FIG. 8, a ring light  500  constructed in accordance with a still further embodiment of the invention is shown. Elements similar to those described above are identified with like reference numerals, but with a “d” suffix. The ring light  500  is similar to the ring light  400  described above with respect to FIG. 5, but the hemispherical shell  116   c  is replaced with a disc-shaped shell or housing  304   d  (See FIG. 4), preferably a gem or a fake gem. The disc-shaped shell  304   d  is fixed within the recess  112   d  to an annular base  308   d.    
         [0039]    Use of the ring light  500  is similar to the use of the ring light  400  described above with respect to FIGS.  5 - 7 .  
         [0040]    With reference to FIG. 9, a ring light  600  constructed in accordance with yet a further embodiment of the invention will now be described. The ring light  600  preferably has a construction similar to the ring lights  400 ,  500  illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 8, but instead of the push-button switch  420   e  being located on the side of the ring  104   e , the push-button switch  420   e  is located at a proximal end  604  of the ring  104   e . The ring light  600  may include a housing  608  with a wedge-shaped window  612 . The window  612  is used to direct light in the direction shown, away from the user. One or more mirrors may be used to direct light emitted from the light source. In an alternative embodiment, other window configurations may be used. The window  612  may include a diffusion material to diffuse light emitted from the light source or a magnifying material to magnify or direct light.  
         [0041]    In another embodiment, the housing  608  may be movable to actuate the ring light  600 , similar to the ring lights  100 ,  200 ,  300  discussed above with respect to FIGS.  1 - 4 .  
         [0042]    With reference to FIG. 10, a ring light  700  constructed in accordance with a yet further embodiment of the invention will be described. The ring light  700  includes a ring  704  and a light housing  708 . The light housing  708  is disposed partially within a recessed area  712  of the ring  704 .  
         [0043]    The light housing  708  includes a generally hemispherical shell or housing  716  that covers a light source  720 , preferably a LED. The LED  720  is carried by a translucent support surface  724 . An electrical contact  728  on an outer surface of the shell  716  may be electrically connected to the light source  720  by a first electrical coupling  732 . A second electrical coupling  736  electrically connects the light source  720  to a positive terminal of a power source  740 . A third electrical coupling  744  connects a negative terminal of the power source  740  to a second contact  748 . The light housing  708  may be rotatably received within the recess  712 . The shell  716  may be pivotally attached to the ring  704  or a rotatable base (not shown) for pivotal movement between a first or “off” position (FIG. 10) and a second or “on” position (FIG. 11). A latch mechanism  756  may be used to retain the shell  716  in the “off” position.  
         [0044]    The ring light  700  will now be described in use. The shell  716  is normally disposed in the closed or “off” position illustrated in FIG. 10. In this position, the electrical circuit is open, preventing the power source  740  from supplying power to the light source  720 . To activate the light source  720 , the shell  716  is pivoted to the second or “on” position illustrated in FIG. 11. This may be done by pulling on the latch mechanism  756  and pivoting the shell  716  upwards. The housing  708  may include a spring that normally biases the shell  716  upwards so that pulling on the latch mechanism  756  automatically causes the shell  716  to pivot upwards. In the second or “on” position, the first contact  728  contacts the second contact  748 , allowing the power source  740  to supply power to the light source  720  to activate the light source  720 . Light is transmitted through the translucent support  724  and/or shell  716  to illuminate a desired object or to provide general illumination. If the light housing  708  is rotatable relative to the recess  712 , the light housing  708  may be rotated to a desired position to provide illumination in a desired direction. The light source  720  may be deactivated by pressing downwardly on the shell  716  so that the latch mechanism  712  retains the shell  716  in the closed position.  
         [0045]    In a further embodiment, the light source  720  may reside in a base or directly above the power source  740  instead of within the shell  716 . In this embodiment, the support  724  may be a mirror that reflects and re-directs light emitted from light source  720 . With reference to FIG. 12, a ring light  800  constructed in accordance with an additional embodiment will be described. The ring light  800  is similar to the ring light embodiments described above, except a light housing  804  is rotatable relative to a ring  808  for movement between an “on” position and an “off” position. In the “on” position, an electrical circuit is closed, causing a power source to activate a light source. In the “off” position, the electrical circuit is open, preventing the power source from activating the light source. The light housing  804  may include a serrated friction surface  812  and/or a protrusion  816  to control rotation of the light housing  804 .  
         [0046]    Accordingly, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that still further changes and modifications in the actual concepts described herein can readily be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.