Patent Publication Number: US-6981778-B2

Title: Portable light box

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Light boxes (also sometimes referred to as light tables) are well known and often used by graphic artists, illustrators and drafters, as well as by hobbyists and even children for tracing patterns or designs. Generally, light boxes comprise a housing or frame that contains a fluorescent or incandescent lamp for illuminating or back-lighting a work surface upon which is supported both the source pattern or design desired to be traced and the overlying medium onto which the source pattern or design is to be traced. 
     Various tools and other items are used with light boxes, including different papers, pens, pencils, erasers, paints, inks, markers, crayons, brushes, stencils, embossing tools, tape, rulers, straight edges, etc. For portable light boxes, particularly those used by hobbyists and children, it is generally desirable to have the tools conveniently stored with the light box. U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,762 issued to Laverick recognizes the advantages of incorporating a tool tray into the light box, but provides no cover or other means for securing the tools to prevent them from spilling and being lost when the light box is being moved from place to place. As such, the Laverick light box is not readily portable since it must remain substantially horizontal and upright at all times to avoid spilling of the tools from the tool tray. 
     Furthermore, light boxes have heretofore failed to provide a carrying case so as to allow easy portability of the light box while at the same time protecting the work surface so as to avoid marring, soiling or otherwise damaging the work surface while the light box is being moved between work areas or is otherwise being transported or shipped or while in storage. 
     Accordingly, there remains a need for a light box that is readily portable, that includes a means for holding and organizing tools, both while in use and during transportation between work areas, and which ensures that the illuminating work surface is protected from damage by the tools during transportation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a portable light box that comprises a reflector assembly, a carrying case and divider. The reflector assembly includes a base having an upper peripheral edge defining an interior volume. Disposed within the interior volume of the base is a light source. In a preferred embodiment, the light source includes an electric lamp, such as a fluorescent or incandescent lamp, electrically connected to an AC power source and/or an alternative internal DC battery source. A cover plate is disposed over the interior volume. In a preferred embodiment the upper peripheral edge of the base supports the cover plate at an inclined slope so as to provide a more convenient working surface. 
     The carrying case includes a top portion and a bottom portion. The reflector assembly is preferably removably received within the bottom portion. The top and bottom portions are movable between a first closed position and a second open position. In a preferred embodiment, the top portion is removably hingedly secured to the bottom portion of the carrying case. 
     The divider is preferably removably received within the top portion of the carrying case and is disposed so as to provide a wall within the carrying case to separate the tools from the reflector assembly to prevent damage to the cover plate while the carrying case is in the first closed position. The divider preferably includes a plurality of recesses for receiving various tools, supplies and other items therein. 
     To the accomplishment of the above objectives, features and advantages, the present invention may be embodied in the forms illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific form illustrated and described without materially departing from the teachings herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the light box of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the light box of  FIG. 1  with the carrying case in the first closed position. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the light box of  FIG. 1  as viewed along lines  3 — 3  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a detailed view of the portion of the light box identified in  FIG. 3  by reference numeral  4 . 
         FIG. 5  is a detailed view of the portion of the light box identified in  FIG. 3  by reference numeral  5 . 
         FIG. 6  is a rear elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the light box of the present invention with the carrying case in the first closed position. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view of the light box of  FIG. 6  as viewed along lines  7 — 7 . 
         FIG. 8  is an electrical schematic showing the preferred electrical circuit for the preferred light box of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Drawing  FIGS. 1–7  illustrate a preferred embodiment of the portable light box  10  of the present invention wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. An exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the portable light box  10  of the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 1  showing the individual components comprising the preferred light box, including the preferred carrying case  12 , the preferred reflector assembly  14 , and the preferred divider  16 . 
     The reflector assembly  14  includes a base  18  having an upper peripheral edge  20  defining an interior volume  22 . The interior volume  22  of the base  18  preferably has a smooth white glossy finish to reflect the light form the light source  24  (discussed below). The base  18  is preferably formed using an injection molding process using high impact polystyrene (HIPS), although other fabrication methods and materials may be equally suitable. 
     Disposed within the interior volume  22  is a light source  24 , such as a fluorescent bulb or lamp removably receivable within sockets  26  (best viewed in  FIG. 3 ). It should be appreciated that although the preferred light source  24  is a fluorescent lamp, the light box  10  may also utilize one or more incandescent lamps, or any other suitable electric lamp as a light source  24 . The light source  24  is, of course, powered by an electrical power source  28  ( FIG. 8 ). The electrical power source  28  may be provided by either internal DC batteries or by external AC power. In the preferred embodiment, external AC power is supplied by a power cord  29  ( FIG. 6 ) for connecting to a typical AC outlet. The preferred embodiment also provides for internal nine volt DC battery power. Storage for the batteries is provided in cavity  25  ( FIG. 3 ) in the reflector assembly base  18 , accessible through a door  30  ( FIG. 1 ) in the bottom portion  42  of the carrying case  12 . An on/off switch  31  ( FIG. 6 ) is preferably provided to control power to the light source  24 . Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate the electrical circuitry required to provide the preferred dual power source for powering the light source  24 . An electrical schematic of the preferred electrical circuit is shown in  FIG. 8 . The components comprising the electrical circuitry are preferably disposed adjacent the batteries in the cavity  25  ( FIG. 3 ) located in the reflector assembly base  18  disposed in the bottom portion  42  of the carrying case  12 . 
     A cover plate  32  is disposed over the interior volume  22  of the base and is preferably supported around its exterior periphery by the upper peripheral edge  20  of the reflector assembly base  18 . In the preferred embodiment, both the upper peripheral edge  20  and the cover plate  32  supported thereby are sloped at an incline from front to rear so as to provide a convenient working surface. The cover plate  32  is preferably translucent so as to more evenly diffuse the light from the light source  24 . Additionally, the cover plate  32  is preferably rigid, smooth and sufficiently hard so as to provide a working surface that will support the force exerted by the user when using the light box in the manner previously described and which is not easily marred or scratched molded from HIPS. Other suitable material such as glass, plexiglass, or any other fairly hard, rigid and smooth material may also be used. Furthermore, although the preferred cover plate is translucent for purposes of better light diffusion, opaque or transparent materials may be equally suitable for the cover plate, depending on the needs of the project or preferences of the user. The outer periphery of the cover plate  32  preferably includes a plurality of indentations  34  which are matingly received by tabs  36  around the upper periphery  20  of the base which removably secures the cover plate  32  in place over the interior volume  22  of the base  18 . 
     The carrying case  12  is preferably fabricated from a lightweight, durable material such as polypropylene using an injection molding process. It should be appreciated that other fabrication methods and materials, including other polymers, metal, wood, etc., may be used depending on manufacturing requirements or limitations, or depending on qualities and features of the carrying case desired by a user. The preferred carrying case  12  includes a top portion  40  and a bottom portion  42 . The reflector assembly  14  is preferably removably secured within the bottom portion  42  of the carrying case, such as by screws, snap fittings, or other means recognized by those skilled in the art. 
     The top and bottom portions  40 ,  42  are preferably movable with respect to each other between a first closed position as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3  and a second open position as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 7 . As best illustrated in  FIGS. 3 ,  6  and  7 , the top portion  40  is preferably removably, hingedly attached to the bottom portion  42  at the rear of the carrying case. In the preferred embodiment, the top portion  40  includes two pliable male hinge straps  44 , each having a protruding lip  46  that is removably received by a corresponding female hinge portion  48  matingly disposed on the bottom portion  42  of the carrying case  12 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , at the front of the carrying case  12 , the top portion  40  is preferably removably secured to the bottom portion  42  by the cooperation of an elongated protruding lip  50  in the bottom portion  42  that is received into a mating elongated opening  52  in the top portion  40 . In the preferred embodiment, to open the carrying case  12 , an upward and outward force is exerted on the handle  54  which causes the elongated protruding lip  50  to be released from the elongated opening  52 . 
     The divider  16 , is preferably fabricated from HIPS using an injection molding process. It should be appreciated, however, that the divider  16  may be formed using any other fabrication method and material, including other polymers, metal, wood, etc., depending on manufacturing requirements or limitations, or depending on qualities and features of the divider desired by a user. The preferred divider  16  is preferably light weight yet sufficiently rigid to support tools, supplies and other items (collectively hereinafter “tools”) while being held by the hand of a user as hereinafter described. The divider  16  is preferably similar to a palette, with its upper surface  60  having a plurality of recesses  62  defined by rims  64 . The bottom surface  66  of the divider palette  16  is preferably a solid flat surface. The size and locations of the recesses  62  may very depending on the tools to be received therein. It should be appreciated, therefore, that the illustration of the divider palette  16  shown in  FIG. 2  is provided merely as an example for illustration purposes only. The divider  16  preferably includes a triangular opening  70  to allow a user to grasp and hold the divider  16  during use in a variety of manners depending on the preferences of the user, the size of the user&#39;s hand, and the orientation desired for the divider during use. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5 , the divider  16  is preferably removably received and supported within the top portion  40  of the carrying case  12  by a divider support  72 . In the preferred embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the divider support  72  includes a plurality of spaced recesses which form shoulders or shelves upon which the peripheral rim  74  of the divider  16  rests. Alternatively, the divider support  72  may include a peripheral groove or the like within which, or on which, the peripheral rim of the divider  16  is supported. In any event, with the divider  16  so disposed, a dividing wall is created in the top portion of the carrying case  12  as best illustrated in  FIG. 3 . This dividing wall secures the tools within the top portion  40  of the carrying case  12  and away from the reflector assembly cover plate  32  thereby preventing scratching or soiling of the cover plate  32  by the tools during movement of the light box in the closed carrying case position. 
     In addition, rather than removing and holding the divider  16  during use as previously described, it may be desirable to place the top portion  40  of the carrying case  12  face down and to snap the peripheral rim  74  of the divider  16  into the divider support  72  of the inverted top portion of the carrying case, thereby providing an inclined tool tray. Alternatively, the divider  16  can simply be removed from the top portion  40  of the carrying case  12  and placed on a table or other surface near the light box  10 . 
     Although only certain exemplary embodiments of the invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.