Patent Publication Number: US-6902289-B1

Title: Illuminated hand cover assembly

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to illumination devices and, more particularly, to illumination devices intercoupled with a hand covering. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Often a user must grasp or otherwise manipulate an object with the fingers of his or her hand. It is well known that proper illumination of the object to be manipulated is essential, especially in low light environments, so that the user may both locate and properly manipulate the object. This is especially true in “close work” situations, where the user must locate small objects and perform small, intricate movements upon the object. For instance, when healthcare professionals examine or operate upon patients, a brightly illuminated work surface is essential, especially at the fingertips of the healthcare professional&#39;s hand. This is also true in the electronic parts assembly field or for pilots when flying at night in cockpits dimmed to improve visibility of objects outside of the cockpit. In the instance of a pilot, the dimmed cockpit makes locating and operating the control switches of the airplane difficult without the use of illumination devices. 
   Several previously developed hand illumination assemblies have, to some degree, addressed this problem; however, they are not without their problems. Referring to  FIG. 1 , one such previously developed hand illumination assembly is depicted. The hand illumination assembly  10  includes a glove  12  worn upon the hand (hidden by the glove  12  in  FIG. 1 ) of a user. A light source  16  is mounted to the glove  12  at a location associated with a top surface of an index finger  18  between the second knuckle and the third knuckle  26  of the index finger  18 , i.e., upon a middle phalanx bone  20  of the index finger  18  when the glove  12  is worn. 
   Although the previously developed hand illumination assembly  10  of  FIG. 1  does provide light in the vicinity of the hand  14 , the hand illumination assembly  10  fails to provide illumination at the distal ends, or fingertips  22  of the user, especially at the palmar surface of the fingertips. More specifically, by mounting the light source  16  on the dorsal surface of the index finger  18 , the cone of illumination  24  emitted from the light source is obstructed by the index finger  18 , most notably by the third knuckle  26 , such that the fingertips of the user are disposed in a shadow. Thus, an object, such as a switch  28 , that the user wishes to grasp and/or manipulate, is not illuminated by the light source  16 , hampering the ability of the user to locate and operate the switch  28 . This shadow effect is most notable when the index finger  18  is bent, such as when the hand  14  is in an anatomic position of function, as depicted in  FIG. 1 , wherein the finger tip of the opposing thumb  30  is in contact or in proximity to the fingertip of the index finger  18 . Further, there is no light source mounted on the opposing thumb  30 , further providing to the lack of illumination at the fingertips of the user&#39;s hand  14 . 
   Thus, in operation, the user must first locate the object to be manipulated by directing an axis of illumination  32  of the light source  16  upon the object, such as the switch  28 , by placing the hand  14  in front of the switch  28 . The user then must memorize the location of the switch  28  and move the hand  14  to the memorized location and attempt to grasp the switch  28 , which is now in a shadow region, and operate the switch in darkness. This leads to errors, as the user must memorize the location of the switch  28 , which is prone to error, and also operate the switch  28  in darkness. Thus, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art, that although previously developed hand illumination assemblies are somewhat effective, they are not without their problems, since they fail to illuminate the object at the instance the fingers actually grasp the object. 
   Therefore, there exists a need for a hand illumination assembly that directs the axis of illumination of the light source at the fingertips of the user, especially the palmar surface of each fingertip, is reliable, easy to use, easy to manufacture, and meets the performance requirements of the end user. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an illuminated hand cover assembly is provided. The illuminated hand cover assembly includes a hand cover including an index finger portion, the index finger portion adapted to cover at least a portion of a user&#39;s index finger when the hand cover is donned. A first light source having a first light emission area is coupled to a lateral side of the index finger portion such that the first light emission area is disposed adjacent a lateral side of a phalanx bone of the index finger of the user when the hand cover is donned. 
   In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, an illuminated hand cover assembly is provided. The illuminated hand cover assembly includes a hand cover including a thumb portion, the thumb portion adapted to cover at least a portion of a user&#39;s thumb when the hand cover is donned. A first light source having a first light emission area is coupled to a lateral side of the thumb portion such that the first light emission area is disposed adjacent a lateral side of a phalanx bone of the thumb of the user when the hand cover is donned. 
   In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, an illuminated hand cover assembly is provided. The illuminated hand cover assembly includes a hand cover including a thumb portion, the thumb portion adapted to cover at least a portion of a user&#39;s thumb when the hand cover is donned, and an index finger portion adapted to cover at least a portion of the user&#39;s index finger when the hand cover is donned. A first light source having a first light emission area is coupled to a lateral side of the thumb portion such that the first light emission area is disposed adjacent a lateral side of a phalanx bone of the thumb of the user when the hand cover is donned. A second light source having a second light emission area is coupled to the index finger portion such that the second light emission area is disposed adjacent a lateral side of a phalanx bone of the index finger of the user when the hand cover is donned. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is an elevation view of a previously developed hand illumination assembly depicting a light source coupled to a glove and positioned over a dorsal surface of an index finger, wherein a cone of illumination of the light source is shadowed by the index finger, leaving the object to be grasped in darkness; 
       FIG. 2  is an elevation view of one embodiment of an illuminated hand cover assembly formed in accordance with the present invention, depicting a first light source coupled to an index finger portion of a hand cover and a second light source coupled to a thumb portion of the hand cover, wherein a respective axis of illumination of each light source is directed at the palmar surfaces of the fingertips of the index finger and thumb; 
       FIG. 3  is an elevation view of the index finger portion of the hand cover and attached first light source depicted in  FIG. 2 ; and 
       FIG. 4  is an elevation view of the thumb portion of the hand cover and attached second light source depicted in  FIG. 2 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIGS. 2–4  depict one embodiment of an illuminated hand cover assembly  100  formed in accordance with the present invention. The illuminated hand cover assembly  100  includes a hand cover  102  and an illumination system  104 . The hand cover  102  is formed by a glove  106  formed to receive a hand  108  of a user. The glove  106  includes a wrist aperture  110  for permitting the insertion of the hand therein. The glove  106  also includes five finger portions  112  for permitting the insertion of each of the fingers of the user&#39;s hand  108  therein. The finger portions  112  each include an aperture  130  (best seen in  FIG. 3 ) at a distal end of each finger portion  112  to permit the distal end of each finger to project therethrough. Thus, the distal end of each finger of the user&#39;s hand is uncovered to enhance the sensation of touch in the user&#39;s fingers. The glove  106  may be made from any suitable material, such as fabric, latex, etc. Preferably, the material is thin to permit a user to easily feel an object touched by the hand. 
   Although in the illustrated embodiment the hand cover  102  is in the form of a glove  106 , it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the hand cover  102  may take many suitable forms. For instance, the hand cover may be a mitt, a glove that includes portions that cover the fingertips of the fingers, or the hand cover may include solely one or more finger portions  112  which cover one or more fingers without a portion that covers the hand. 
   The illumination system  104  includes a first light source  114  and a second light source  116 . The light sources  114  and  116  may be any suitable light source, such as a light emitting diode (LED) light source, fiber optic light source, incandescent light source, halogen light source, or other light source now known or to be developed. Each light source  114  and  116  includes a light emission area  118  and  120  respectively, such as a lens, aperture, etc., wherein the light generated by the light source  114  and  116  is emitted. The light emission areas  118  and  120  may be displaced a large distance from the light sources  114  and  116 , for instance in the case where the light sources  114  and  116  are of the fiber optic type, are displaced by a smaller distance, such as where the light sources  114  and  116  are a halogen light source and the light emission areas  118  and  120  are lenses. The light is emitted from the light emission areas  118  and  120  in a cone of illumination  122  and  124 , each centered about an axis of illumination  126  and  128 , respectively. 
   The first and second light sources  114  and  116  and each of the light emission areas  118  and  120  are coupled to the hand cover  102 . The light emission areas  118  and  120  may be coupled to an outer surface of the hand cover  102  or to an inner surface of the hand cover  102  and shine through a transparent portion of the hand cover  102 , or alternately emit light through an aperture in the hand cover  102 . Alternately, the light sources  114  and  116  may be embedded within the material forming the hand cover  102 , and either shine through the material of the hand cover  102  or direct light through apertures in the hand cover  102 . 
   In the illustrated embodiment, the light sources  114  and  116  and accompanying light emission areas  118  and  120  are coupled to an outer surface of the hand cover  102 . Turning now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the light source  114  and accompanying light emission area  118  may be coupled to an index finger portion  112   a  of the hand cover  102 . The index finger portion  112   a , as the name implies, is adapted to cover the index finger  132  of the user. More specifically, the first light source  114  and accompanying light emission area  118  may be coupled to the index finger portion  112   a  of the hand cover  102  so as to be disposed adjacent a phalanx bone of the index finger  132 . 
   Preferably, the light emission area  118  is disposed on the index finger portion  112   a  such that when the hand cover  102  is donned, the light emission area  118  is disposed between the second knuckle  134  and third knuckle  136 , i.e. adjacent a middle phalanx bone  138  of the index finger  118 . Preferably, the axis of illumination  126  of the light source  114  is inclined relative to a center axis of the phalanx bone upon which the light emission area  118  is mounted, such as inclined relative to the center axis  140  of the middle phalanx bone  138 . Preferably, the axis of illumination  126  is inclined from a center axis of its respective adjacent phalanx bone, such as the center axis  140  of the middle phalanx bone  138 , by an angle  158  greater than 0 degrees and less than about 45 degrees, with a preferred value of about 15 degrees. Further, the light source  114  and/or the light emission area  118  may be coupled to a lateral side of the index finger portion  112   a.    
   With the light source  114  and emission area  118  coupled to the index finger portion  112   a  as described, the axis of illumination  126  is directed to the palmar surface of the finger tip of the index finger  132  when the hand  108  is in the anatomical position of function as depicted in  FIG. 2 . Thus, the user can both locate and grasp an object while the object is fully illuminated by the cone of illumination  122  emitted from the light emission area  118 . 
   With reference to the second light source  116 , the light source  116  and accompanying light emission area  120  are coupled to a thumb portion  112   b  of the hand cover  102 , as best shown in  FIG. 4 . The thumb portion  112   b , as the name implies, is adapted to cover the thumb  142  of the user. More specifically, the second light source  116  and accompanying light emission area  120  may be coupled to the thumb portion  112   b  of the hand cover  102  so as to be disposed adjacent a phalanx bone of the thumb  142 . 
   Preferably, the light emission area  120  is disposed on the thumb portion  112   b  such that when the hand cover is donned, the light emission area  120  is disposed between a first knuckle  144  and a second knuckle  146  of the thumb, i.e. adjacent a proximal phalanx bone  148  of the thumb  142 . Preferably, an axis of illumination  128  of the light source  116  is inclined relative to a center axis of the phalanx bone upon which the light emission area  120  is mounted, such as inclined relative to a center axis  152  of the proximal phalanx bone  148 . Preferably, the axis of illumination  128  is inclined from a center axis of one of the phalanx bones, such as the center axis  152  of the proximal phalanx bone  148 , by an angle  160  greater than 0 degrees and less than about 45 degrees, with a preferred value of about 10 degrees. Further, the light source  116  and/or the light emission area  120  are coupled to a lateral side of the thumb portion. 
   With the light source  116  and emission area  120  coupled to the thumb portion  112   b  as described, the axis of illumination  128  is directed to the palmar surface of the finger tip of the thumb  142  when the hand is in the anatomical position of function as depicted in  FIG. 2 . Thus, the user can both locate and grasp an object while the object is fully illuminated by the cone of illumination  124  emitted from the light emission area  120 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , an energy source  154  is coupled in signal communication with the light sources  114  and  116  by a cable assembly  156 . The energy source  154  includes a power source, such as batteries. The energy source  154  is in communication with the light sources  114  and  116  to provide energy to power the light sources  114  and  116 . The energy source  154  may be coupled to the hand cover  102  as depicted. Alternately, the energy source  154  may be incorporated into the light sources  114  and  116  themselves, or may be located remotely of the hand cover  102 , such as upon the body of the user. 
   Although the illuminated hand cover assembly  100  is depicted as having a light source coupled to both the index finger portion  112   a  and the thumb portion  112   b  of the hand cover  102 , it should be apparent that alternate configurations are suitable for use with and within the spirit and scope of the present invention. For instance, the illuminated hand cover assembly  100  may include a single light source coupled to solely the index finger portion  112   a , or a light source coupled to solely the thumb cover portion  112   b . Alternately, a light source may be coupled to any one of the five finger portions  112 , or all of the finger portions  112 , or any combination thereof. Preferably, the light emission areas of the light sources are coupled to a lateral side of the finger portion and inclined relative to the phalanx bone of the finger portion of the hand cover when donned by the user. 
   While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as claimed.