Patent Publication Number: US-6986590-B1

Title: Articulated light

Description:
Priority claimed on Ser. No. 60/407,801 filed Sep. 4, 2002. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to the field of portable illumination devices, and more particularly to a novel illuminating means having a light carried at one end and a support body member coupled to its opposite end by means of an universal joint, and which further includes a magnet, a suction cup, clip or the like on the support body for releasably securing the illuminating means to a supporting structure such as a pocket key ring, a holder cartridge, storage sleeve, wall surface, or the like. 
   2. Brief Description of the Prior Art 
   In the past, it has been the conventional practice for a person to employ a pocket light or flashlight to illuminate a specific area in order to visually observe an object or in the performance of conducting a particular procedure. Such illumination means are generally bulky and, when in use, require that the illumination means be held in one hand permitting the person to use his or her other hand in the performance of the procedure. Should two hands be required, the person generally employs a separate stand of some kind for supporting the illumination means so that both of the user&#39;s hands are free to perform the procedure or to be used in connection with observing an object. Such a stand is separate from and independent of the illumination device itself and requires either permanent fixture to a wall, post or other support structure or the stand must be stored in a storage area until time for use, which takes up space and requires additional expense. 
   These problems and difficulties are due primarily to the fact that the illumination means or device does not incorporate an integral mount for supporting the illumination means or device from any one of a variety of available structures or portable holders, such as a wall surface, post, cartridge, or the like. Also, conventional holders or supports for illumination means or devices are generally fixed in one position or require multiple components for movable mounts, which complicate not only structure construction and assembly but maintenance procedures as well. Also, a separate coupling means is required for detachably connecting the illumination means or device to a separate and independent stand in order to support the illumination means or device in a fixed position. 
   Therefore, a long-standing need has existed to provide an illumination means or device having an integral mounting construction for detachably connecting the means or device to a support structure, whereby the support structure may take the form of a portable storage holder, case or sleeve, or to a stationary structure such as a wall or post. Preferably, the illumination means is detachably mountable to the support structure by a connection, such as a magnetic coupling, so that the illumination means can readily be removed from the structure or holder and detachably re-connected to another supporting structure. As a portable holder, accessory items such as pens, small tool implements or even luggage tags may be removably carried in a storage compartment of the storage holder or sleeve. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, the above problems and difficulties are avoided by the present invention which provides an articulated illumination device which includes an elongated holding sleeve with one end threadably attached to a support body or base which includes a magnetic arrangement communicating with an interior storage compartment for insertably receiving and retaining the device. The storage compartment insertably receives one end of the illumination means having a magnet releasably engageable with an iron slug or the support body. A battery-operated light is disposed at the other end. A universal joint includes a socket formed in the support body or base for rotatably mounting a ball outwardly projecting from the illumination device. The magnet is intended to either attach to the support body or base by attraction to the iron slug when the illumination means is in the storage compartment or the magnet is employed for supporting the illumination means in a cantilevered position from a wall surface, a post or the like. The universal joint socket includes an open slot so that a shank carrying the ball permits the illumination means to rotate 90° from the longitudinal axis of the illumination means. However, a plurality of miniature accessory items may be carried in the holding sleeve when the illumination means has been withdrawn from the storage compartment. The holding sleeve may insertably receive and store such items as a pen, tool kit, luggage tag or the like. 
   It is to be understood that the support body or base may be a support member which constitutes a portion of a pocket item, such as a key ring assembly or the like, that can be releasably attached to any supportive surface by magnetic attractive force and which permits full articulation of the illumination means with respect to the support body or base. 
   Therefore, it is among the primary objects of the present invention to provide a novel articulated light source with a magnetic base so that the light can be stored in a holding sleeve by magnetic force and when withdrawn from the holding sleeve, the magnetic means can mount the illumination means to an appropriate supporting structure. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic mount for an illumination means connected by a universal joint so as to permit full articulation of the illumination means with respect to a supporting structure. 
   A further object resides in providing a portable holding sleeve for releasably and insertably storing a selected item chosen from a plurality of miniature accessory items which employs magnetic coupling of the selected item with the holding sleeve. 
   Yet another object of the invention is to provide a magnetic mounting means for releasably connecting an illumination means or device to a storage holding sleeve or, when withdrawn therefrom, permits magnetic connection with a supporting structure, such as a wall, post or the like. 
   Still a further object resides in providing a ball and socket universal joint interconnecting one end of an illumination means with a support body or base so that the illumination means may be rotated to project a light beam in a desired direction and which will accommodate rotation to permit a 90° deployment of illumination means and light beam with respect to the support body or base. 
   A further object resides in a novel storage and support means for detachably holding an illumination device in a portable storage holder and employing a magnetic engagement means for releasably retaining the illumination device in the storage holder or, when detached therefrom, for releasably retaining the illumination device on a supporting structure. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood with reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view showing the novel articulated light with magnetic base incorporating the present invention in its portable position; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded side elevational view, partly in section, of the articulated light illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged, fragmentary side elevational view showing the articulated light in a first position in broken lines and in a second position in solid lines; 
       FIG. 4  is a front perspective view illustrating the novel articulated light in its fixed cantilevered position on a supporting structure; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view, similar to the view of  FIG. 1 , illustrating the portable holding sleeve preparatory for insertably receiving a selected accessory item; 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded side elevational view, partially in section, showing the portable holding sleeve adapted to releasably store any one of a plurality of accessory items; 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view showing another version of an articulated light; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another version of a support body or base for the illumination device; and 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of still another version of an articulated illumination device. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , the novel articulated illumination means incorporating the present invention is illustrated in the general direction of arrow  10  and the illumination means is in a first position, which may be referred to as a storage and/or a carrying position. The illumination means per se includes a housing or body  11  having a light source and battery  12  disposed on one end of the body, as shown in solid lines, and a support body or member  13  carried on the other end of the housing, and identified in broken lines. The member  13  is connected to the housing  11  by means of a universal joint comprising a socket  14  into which a ball  15  is mounted. The ball  15  is carried on the end of a shaft or shank  16  which is fixed to the end of housing  11 . 
   It is to be particularly noted that the illumination means is in a carrying or storage position wherein the device is inserted into an open-ended bore formed in a sleeve holder  17 . Secured to the end of sleeve holder  17  is a base element  20  that includes an eyelet or loop  21  serving as an attachment means for an accessory, such as a key ring, identified by numeral  22 . It is to be understood that any type of accessory can be detachably secured to the base element  22 . 
   Referring now in detail to  FIG. 2 , it can be seen that the base element  20  includes external threads  23  which are threadably received by the internal threads  24  located at one end of the bore  25  in the sleeve  17 . It is important to note that the end of base element  20  includes a metal or iron slug  26  having an exposed face which is in communication with the bore  25  when the base element is threadably connected with the sleeve  17 . 
   The illumination device which includes the illumination source  12 , including a suitable source of power, carried on the end of body  11  and the support body  13  is illustrated preparatory for insertion into the open end of bore  25  so that the illumination device may be carried in a storage or transport condition. When inserted into the bore  25 , it is to be particularly noted that support body  13  includes a magnet  27  that magnetically engages with the slug  26  to provide releasable retention of the illumination device within the bore  25  of the sleeve  17 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the illumination means  12  outwardly projects from the end of holder sleeve  17  and the illumination source may be operated in this position by the user so that a beam of light outwardly projects from the illumination means while in the sleeve holder  17 . In this position, the illumination means is hand-carried and the beam of light projecting therefrom may be directed to any object, surface or area intended to be observed. 
   Referring now in detail to  FIG. 3 , it is to be noted that the illumination device has been removed from the sleeve holder  17  and the magnet  27  carried on the support body or member  13  is magnetically attached to a wall surface  30  so that the illumination means cantilevers outwardly as illustrated in broken lines. However, the support body  13  further includes a slot  28  which will accommodate rotation of the ball  15  within socket  14  so that the shank  16  will permit the illumination means to be deployed normal to a central longitudinal axis of a support member or in other terms, in a position where the longitudinal axis of the illumination means is parallel to the wall surface  30 . Therefore, it can be seen that the illumination means is fully articulated with respect to the support body or member  13  and can be deployed by the user to direct the light beam to any particular location. The hands of the user are now free to perform any particular procedure or activity with the light beam in a fixed position. The support body or member is stationary and the illumination means can be adjusted to any desired position by the user. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 4 , it can be seen that the illumination means is directed accordingly by the user and that the support body or member  13  is fixed to a supporting surface or structure  30 . The illumination means may be manually deployed into any desired direction, such as to the right, left, up, down or any combination of direction. The slot  28  in the support body or member  13  can also be arranged with respect to the surface  30  so that the light beam can be directed to any particular location desired by the user. It is to be understood that the illumination means is included in the housing  11  and/or means  12 , whereby focusing, culminating or diffusion of the light beam may be achieved by rotating the illumination source  12  with respect to the housing  11 . The illumination source is battery operated so that the device is fully portable and operable at the selection of the user. The illumination bulb, batteries and circuitry, including an on/off control, is not a part of the present invention, other than as employed with the support body or member, holder and universal connection therewith. 
   Furthermore, the support body  13  may be releasably attached to a supporting surface by other means than by magnetic attraction. For example, the support body may employ a suction cup, a resilient clip for waist belt attachment, or the like. 
   In  FIGS. 5 and 6 , it can be seen that the holder, or holding sleeve  17 , may be utilized to house or store other accessory items than the illuminating means  12 . Such items may be selected from a plurality of items as a writing pen  40 , a tool kit  41 , having implements  42 ,  43  and  44 , held in a compartment  45  or even a luggage tag  46  with light  49 . 
     FIG. 5  illustrates the pen  40 , for example, in position for insertion into bore  25  of the holding sleeve  17 . The bore is open at its terminal end, and the body of the pen may include a magnet for attraction with the metal slug  26 . However, the holding sleeve  17  may have a magnet in place of the slug  26 , whereby the metal pen body, or slug in the pen body, is attracted to the magnet for releasable retention. The kit  41  may incorporate a magnet  47  for attracting the slug  26 , or the slug may be secured in the kit with a magnet fixed in the support body or base  20 . For a luggage tag  46 , the shape of the holding sleeve must be conformed with the shape and size of the tag. Magnetic attraction for the tag with holding sleeve is the same as previously described. 
   In view of the foregoing, it can be seen that the illumination means, or a selected accessory item, may be carried in the sleeve holder  17  as part of an accessory assembly, such as a key ring, and that the holder can be carried in a purse, pocket, or may even be clipped onto a belt. In its portable condition, the illumination means, or accessory item, is inserted into the bore  25  of the sleeve holder  17 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1  or  FIG. 5 , or alternately, the illumination means, or the accessory item, can be removed from the holder and detachably connected in a fixed position onto a surface, such as wall  30 . 
   Another embodiment of the articulated light is illustrated in  FIG. 7  in the direction of arrow  50  that includes a housing or body  51  pivotally supported on a base  52  having an attachment device such as magnet  56 . The housing  51  includes a light assembly  53  operated by a push-button  54 . The housing is pivotally carried on the base  52  by a hinge mechanism  55 . The base is insertably received into a holder  57  having an open-ended cavity  60 , shown in broken lines, and is releasably retained therein by mating of a metal slug  61  with the magnet  56 . Reversing of the magnet and slug is also envisioned by the present invention. The holder  57  may include an eyelet  58  for attaching with a key chain or other accessory. When a magnet or two magnets or other securement device are employed on the holder, the holder may be releasably mounted on a metal supporting structure. 
     FIG. 8  shows an alternate holder  63  for receiving the base  52  in the direction of arrow  62 . The holder  63  includes an open cavity defined between sidewalls  65  and  66  into which the body  52  is inserted. A magnet  64  (or slug) attracts the slug (or magnet) disposed on the body  52  for releasable retention. 
   In  FIG. 9  another version is shown in the direction of arrow  70  having a base  71  with an elongated slot  74  occupied by a housing  72 . One end of the housing includes a light assembly  73  while its opposite end includes a ball  75  movably mounted in a socket  76  to provide a universal joint. A shank  77  connects the ball with the end of the housing and depressions or recesses  78  and  79  serve as finger grasping cavities for gripping the housing and moving it to a desired position. 
   While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.