Patent Publication Number: US-2011058360-A1

Title: Portable and waterproof illumination device

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an illumination device, and more particularly, to a compact, portable and waterproof illumination device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There is a need for people taking outdoor activities such as biking, climbing, diving, fishing or even emergency rescue to have a portable illumination device which has to be light, easily carry and operation and water proof. 
     The portable illumination devices can be used to illuminate or warn, for the purpose of illumination, the illumination device needs to be bright enough to illuminate things, and for the purpose of warning, it requires attraction to people&#39;s attention, such as the tail light of bicycles. 
     The portable illumination device known to everyone is flashlight which includes a tubular casing with batteries received therein and a bulb is connected to an end of the flashlight and powered by the batteries. A headlight is cooperated with a band which connects the light on a helmet so that the user&#39;s hands are free. 
     A bicycle head light known to applicant includes a casing, a connection member and a fixing frame, wherein the casing has a bulb located therein and two lugs extend from the casing so as to be connected to the connection member. The connection member includes an engaging portion which is connected to the fixing frame which is connected to the bicycle frame. The casing further includes batteries received therein and a terminal extends from the casing so that another power supply can also be connected to the head light device. The bicycle head light is stationary and fixed on the bicycle frame and cannot be removed from the bicycle frame. 
     Another illumination device includes a box having an opening, a flat battery is located at an inner bottom of the box, a circuit board with an LED bulb is located in the box, and a button is located on the box so that when the user presses the button, the LED bulb lights up. A cap is mounted to the opening where the LED bulb is located and the circuit board is connected to an extension portion of the cap. A cover made of waterproof material is mounted to the box and the cap. The illumination device is portable and can be cooperated with a band to be tied to other objects. 
     The bicycle head light is not waterproof and can only be used as the bicycle head light. Applicant intends to provide an improved portable illumination device. 
     The present invention intends to provide a portable and waterproof illumination device which is covered by a rubber made casing and includes side portions which can tie the illumination device to an object. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an illumination device which comprises a frame composed of a first part and a second part, and the first part has at least one light portion. An operation device is located in the frame and includes a power unit and a control unit which is electrically connected to the power unit. A button is connected to the control unit and a part of the button is exposed on the frame. A light unit is connected with the control unit and located corresponding to the at least one light portion. The light unit is controlled by the control unit. A rubber-made casing is mounted to the frame and the at least one light portion is exposed from the casing. The casing includes a flexible bridge portion which is located corresponding to the first part and has a pressing spot protruding from the bridge portion. The pressing spot is located corresponding to the button. The illumination device is water-proof and portable can be powered by batteries. 
     The primary object of the present invention is to provide a compact and portable illumination device which is covered by a rubber-made casing which is water proof. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a compact and portable illumination device wherein the rubber-made casing includes a flexible bridge portion and the button is located at the flexible bridge portion. The light unit is positioned by the casing. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a compact and portable illumination device which provides multiple light sources to provide sufficient illuminating function. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a compact and portable illumination device which can be tied to objects by its side portions. 
     The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view to show the illumination device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view to show the illumination device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view to show the illumination device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a top cross sectional view of the illumination device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a side cross sectional view of the illumination device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is another top cross sectional view to show the connection of the first and second connection members of the illumination device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  shows that the light unit lights on when the pressing spot is pressed; 
         FIG. 8  shows the illumination device is tied on a post and one of the inclined surfaces contacts the post to adjust the light beam downwardly; 
         FIG. 9  shows the illumination device is tied on a post and the other one of the inclined surfaces contacts the post to adjust the light beam upwardly, and 
         FIG. 10  shows a fastening member is used to connect the two side portions of the casing of the illumination device of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 6 , the illumination device of the present invention comprises a frame  10  having a first part  11  and a second part  12  which is connected to the first part  11  by a connection device  14  located between the first and second parts  11 ,  12 . The connection device  14  includes first connection members  141  on the first part  11  and second connection members  142  on the second part  12 , the first connection members  141  are engaged with the second connection members  142  to connect the first and second parts  11 ,  12 . The first part  11  has two light portions  111  which are integrally formed with the first part  11  and a body  112 . The two light portions  111  are made by transparent material and the body  112  can be made by non-transparent material. The two light portions  111  are parallel to each other and located at the front side of the first part  11 . 
     An operation device  20  is located in the frame  10  and includes a power unit  21  and a control unit  22  which is electrically connected to the power unit  21 . A button  23  connected to the control unit  22  and a part of the button  23  exposed on the frame  10 . The control unit  22  includes a circuit board  24  connected to the first part  11  and a spring switch  25  is connected on the circuit board  24 . Two conductive plates  26  are connected between the power unit  21  and the circuit board  24 . The power unit  21  can be No. 3 or No. 4 batteries. A gasket  13  is located between the first and second parts  11 ,  12  so as to position the power unit  21 . 
     A light unit  30  is connected with the control unit  22  and located corresponding to the two light portions  111 . The light unit  30  is connected to the circuit board  24  and includes six LED bulbs which are controlled by the control unit  22 . Three LED bulbs are located corresponding to each of the light portions  111  of the first part  11 . 
     A casing  40  is mounted to the frame  10  and made by flexible and water-proof material such as rubber. The light portions  111  are exposed from the casing  40 . The casing  40  includes a flexible bridge portion  41  which is located corresponding to the first part  11  and has a pressing spot  411  protruding from the bridge portion  41 . The pressing spot  411  is located corresponding to the button  23 . A contact surface  42  is defined on the rear end of the casing  40  and includes two inclined surfaces  421  with opposite slopes. Two side portions  43  integrally extend from two sides of the contact surface  42  and each side portion  43  includes a hole  431 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , when the user presses the pressing spot  411  on the casing  40 , the button  23  is pressed to activate the spring switch  25  so that the LED bulbs light on. When the user presses the pressing spot  411  again, the button  23  is pressed and the spring switch  25  is pushed again and bounces back to turn the LED bulbs off. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8 to 10 , a fastening member  50  is used to connect the two side portions to tie the illumination device on a post, wherein the fastening member  50  is an S-shaped member which extends through the two holes  431  of the two side portions  43  so as to fasten the illumination device on the post. Either one of the inclined surfaces  421  contacts the post as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . Because the two inclined surfaces  421  have opposite slopes, the light beams can be adjusted toward downwardly as shown in  FIG. 8  or upwardly as shown in  FIG. 9  by the inclined surfaces  421 . 
     The casing  40  is made of waterproof material such that the illumination device can be used in wet circumstances to prevent water from entering the device to protect the control device  20  and the power unit  21 . Furthermore, the rubber of the casing  40  has flexibility so that the illumination device can be easily connected to objects by the side portions  43  and the use of the fastening member  50 . Therefore, the two hands of the users are not restricted to hold the illumination device. 
     While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.