Patent Publication Number: US-2007109803-A1

Title: Multi-purpose illumination set

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
      1. Field of Invention  
      The present invention relates to a multi-purpose illumination set and, more particularly, to an illumination set that can be used as a flashlight (or “electric torch”) and a headlight of a bicycle.  
      2. Related Prior Art  
      Taiwanese Patent M263287 discloses a lighting device 1 that can be used as flashlight (FIGS. 1 through 3) and a headlight of a bicycle (FIGS. 4 and 5). The lighting device 1 includes a main cylinder 10 for containing at least one battery, a secondary cylinder 11 connected to the main cylinder 10, a movable cylinder 12 inserted in the main cylinder 10, another movable cylinder 12 inserted in the secondary cylinder 10, a light 30 pivotally connected to the main cylinder 10 and a sleeve 13 movably put on the main cylinder 10. The secondary cylinder 11 is used to keep the battery in the main cylinder 10 and increase the entire length of the lighting device 1. A warning light 20 and a turn signal 21 are installed on each of the movable cylinders 12. When the light 30 is put axially on the main cylinder 10, the lighting device 1 is for use as a flashlight. When the light 30 is put transversely on the main cylinder 10, the lighting device 1 is for use as a headlight of the bicycle. The sleeve 13 can be moved between a first position for keeping the light 30 axially on the main cylinder 10 and a second position for allowing the pivotal of the light 30 on the main cylinder 10. A problem with the lighting device 1 is its small capacity of power. This problem is grave since the warning lights 20, the turn signals 21 and the light 30 together require a large power. The lighting device 1 will soon run out of power.  
      Therefore, the present invention is intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.  
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
      According to the present invention, an illumination set includes a lighting device, a spare power pack, a cable and two mounting devices. The lighting device includes a light source and at least one battery for energizing the light source. The spare power pack includes at least one battery for energizing the light source. The cable electrically connects the spare power pack to the lighting device. The mounting devices mount the spare power pack and the lighting device to a bicycle.  
      The primary advantage of the illumination set of the present invention is its large capacity of power.  
      Other advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description referring to the drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
      The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment referring to the drawings.  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an illumination set according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the illumination set in another position than shown in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the illumination set shown in  FIG. 2 .  
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the illumination set taken along a line A-A in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a bicycle equipped with the illumination set shown in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged partial view of the bicycle equipped with the illumination set shown in  FIG. 5 .  
       FIG. 7  is a side view of a hand holding a lighting device of the illumination set shown in  FIG. 1  for use as a flashlight. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown an illumination set  1  according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The illumination set  1  includes a lighting device  10 , a spare power pack  30  and a cable  40  for electrically connecting the spare power pack  30  to the lighting device  10 .  
      The illumination set  1  further includes two mounting devices  20 , one for mounting the lighting device  10  on a handle bar  51  of a bicycle  50  ( FIGS. 5 and 6 ) and the other for mounting the spare power pack  30  on a horizontal tube  52  extending between the handle bar  51  and the stem  53  of the bicycle  50 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the lighting device  10  includes a lamp  143 , a battery  15  for energizing the lamp  143  and a cylinder  11  defining a space  132  for containing the lamp  143  and the battery  15 . The lamp  143  may be replaced with a light-emitting diode.  
      The cylinder  11  includes a first end  12 , a second end  13  and a middle section  14 . A texture  121  is formed on or made in the exterior of the cylinder  11  near the first end  12 . A texture  131  is formed on or made in the exterior of the cylinder  11  near the second end  13 . The textures  121  and  131  facilitate the gripping of the cylinder  11 .  
      The cylinder  11  is provided with a socket  141  for receiving a plug  41  formed at an end of the cable  40 . Pivotally connected to the cylinder  11  is a cover  142  for covering the socket  141  in order to keep miscellaneous objects away.  
      The cylinder  11  further includes a thread  133  formed on the interior near the second end  13 . A cap  16  is formed with a thread  161  for engagement with thread  133  of the cylinder  11  so that the cap  16  retains the battery  15  in the cylinder  11 . A switch  162  is provided on the cap  16 . By operating the switch  162 , a user can turn on and off the lamp  143 .  
      The spare power pack  30  includes two batteries  32  and a case for containing the batteries  32 . The case consists of a lower shell  31 , an upper shell  34  for engagement with the lower shell  31  and two lateral covers  33  for connecting the upper shell  34  to the lower shell  31 . The lower shell  31  defines a space  311  for receiving the batteries  32 . The lower shell  31  includes two walls  312  each defining two recesses  313 . The upper shell  34  is provided with a switch  341 . At least one of the lateral shells  33  is provided with a socket  332  for receiving a plug  41  formed at another end of the cable  40  and a cover  333  connected thereto for closing the socket  332 , thus keeping miscellaneous objects away. Each of the lateral shells  33  is formed with a locking block  331  for fitting in one of the recesses  313  of one of the walls  312 .  
      Each of the mounting devices  20  includes a saddle  21  and a brace  22  pivotally connected to the saddle  21  by means of a pin or screw  211 . The saddle  21  includes a top for contact with the cylinder  11  and a bottom for contact with the handle bar  51 . Although not shown, a dovetail and a corresponding groove may be arranged between the cylinder  11  or the lower shell  31  and the top of the saddle  21 . The top of the saddle  21  is concave in compliance with the handle bar  51 . A fastener  23  can be driven in the brace  22  and the saddle  21  so that the mounting device  20  firmly clamps the handle bar  51  or the horizontal tube  52 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the illumination set  1  is used as a headlight of the bicycle  50 . In this use, the lamp  143  of the lighting device  10  is energized by means of the batteries  32  of the spare power pack  30 . The case can be made with a desired size in order to contain a desired number of batteries  32 . As carried on the bicycle  50 , the size of the spare power pack  30  is not a problem for the user.  
      Referring to  FIG. 7 , the lighting device  10  is disconnected from the spare power pack  30  and used as a flashlight. In this use, the lamp  143  of the lighting device  10  is energized by means of the battery  15  of the lighting device  10 . The lighting device  10  alone is small in size and light in weight and is therefore mobile.  
      Generally, the user rides faster than walks. Hence, the illumination set  1  would better provide a larger range of illumination used as the headlight of the bicycle  50  than used as the flashlight. This is why the lamp  143  is energized by means of the batteries  32  when the illumination set  1  is used as the headlight of the bicycle  50  and is energized by means of the battery  15  when the illumination set  1  is used as the flashlight.  
      The batteries  15  and  32  may be rechargeable batteries.  
      The illumination set  1  provides several advantages.  
      Firstly, it provides a large range of illumination when used as the headlight of the bicycle  50 . Hence, the user can see far and clearly while riding. The user&#39;s safety is served.  
      Secondly, it provides mobility when used as the flashlight. Hence, the user can easily carry it. The user&#39;s convenience is served.  
      Thirdly, it can be on duty for a long period of time for including a large amount of batteries.  
      The present invention has been described through the illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.