Patent Publication Number: US-8523392-B2

Title: LED mine light

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a battery operated light. More particularly, the present invention relates to an generally spherical LED light having the appearance of an antique water mine with multiplicity of magnetic tipped horns which provide a multiplicity of attachment locations points and hence a multiplicity of lighting directions. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Flashlights, drop lights and other battery operated lights are often used and are well known. The use of LED (light emitting diode) components in such battery operated lighting devices is also well known. However, it is typical of users of such lights to require them while working in tight, confined, low-light, night time, or power-out conditions and their remains room for improvement in such devices. There also remains room for improvement in the aesthetics of such devices. 
     Often users of such lights have a difficult time holding the flash light or drop light at the desired angle in order to properly illuminate the work area. It is also often difficult to fit a flash light or drop light in many very tight and cramped work areas. Thus, it would be desirable to have a light which could be used in tight and cramped work areas and which had means for facilitating its positioning or attachment to a supporting structure and further had means for facilitating its aiming in a multiplicity of directions. 
     The present invention provides a “hands free” LED light that enables its users to aim the direction of light and accurately illuminate their work areas. The appearance of the product of the present invention resembles a conventional spiked military naval military mine although the size of the product of the present invention will usually be relatively small. The light of this invention has a plurality of spikes or horns, the tips of which are well adapted for carrying a magnet. The light of this invention has a generally spherical body with the plurality of spikes extending radially outwardly therefrom, with the spikes extending in many different directions and at different angles from the spherical body which carries at least one LED light source. The user can magnetically attach the light to any ferromagnetic surface and easily aim the light at their work area using one of the many magnetic spikes. The spikes also serve as positioning legs enabling the user to position the light in various directions on flat surfaces. The spikes also keep the product from rolling even if it is placed on a non-magnetic surface and still permit the light to be aimed in different directions. 
     The LED mine light of the present inventions has many desired features which will be useful to end users in low light situations. It does not require the user to carry an additional outside power source. It creates a brightly lit work area and the ability to accurately aim the light and magnetically attach to ferromagnetic surfaces. It is also aesthetically pleasing and, to some extent, has the appearance of a novelty item. These and other advantages will be appreciated by those skilled in the art from the accompanying drawings taken in conjunction with the following specification and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a LED mine of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the mine of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the mine taken along line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of another embodiment of a LED mine light of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of yet another embodiment of a LED mine light of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An LED light device has a generally spherical body with a a plurality of projections, referred to herein as horns, radiating outwardly therefrom, each of said horns having a distal end and at least one of said horns having a magnet at its distal end. The body encloses a power source and carries at least one LED light aimed outwardly therefrom. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Now referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , an LED mine light of the present invention is shown and indicated generally by the numeral  10 . Mine light  10  broadly comprises a generally spherically shaped body  12  with a plurality of projections or horns  14  radiating outwardly therefrom. Body  12  of mine light  10  carries an LED  16  whose light output is directed outwardly therefrom, and a has a hollow interior  18  for containing an electrical battery power source  20  and an electrical switch  22  for connecting battery power source  20  to the LED  16 . 
     As is best shown in  FIG. 2 , body  12  of LED light mine  10  is generally spherical and comprises a first hemisphere  24  and a second hemisphere  26 . Each hemisphere  24  and  26  has a plurality of horns  14  projecting radially outwardly therefrom. Each horn  14  is preferably equally spaced from each other horn  14  with twelve horns  14  being illustrated in the Figures. It will, of course, be appreciated that more or less than twelve horns can be suitably used and such variations in the numbers of horns  14  are intended to be within the broad scope of this invention. Each horn  14  has a distal end  28  which has a magnet  30  glued or otherwise fastened thereto. Of course, it may be desired to have some horn  14  which do not have magnets  30  attached thereto and such modification of the light mine  10  shown in the Figures is intended to be within the broad scope of this invention. Each magnet  30  can be molded or otherwise attached to each horn  14 . As shown in the preferred embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3 , each horn  14  is generally cylindrical, i.e., circular in cross-section but, of course, other projection shapes for horns  14  will be apparent to those skilled in the art and such other shapes are intended to be within the broad scope of the present invention. Body  12  of LED light mine  10  can be made of plastic, rubber or any other suitable material. Suitable materials can be transparent, semi transparent or opaque material. The material can be molded and can be hard or soft. The mine can be made watertight for underwater applications. 
     Hemispheres  24  and  26  enclose hollow interior  18  which is intended to house or contain a suitable power source  20  for the LED  16  as well as the required electrical connectors between the power source and the LED. As illustrated in the figures a suitable power source  20  can be button batteries  32  in tubular battery holder  34 . 
     The LED  16  is turned on and off by the user manipulating power switch  22  which is electrically connected to leads  36  and  38  of LED  16  and to switch plate  40  in a conventional manner. A lanyard (not shown in the Figures) can be attached to an aperture (not shown in the Figures) if desired. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 4 , an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown and indicated generally by the numeral  200 . LED mine light  200  is similar to light  10  but has body  204  with magnets  204  substantially flush with the exterior surface of body  204 . Thus, light  200  does not have horns extending therefrom. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 5 , yet another alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown and indicated generally by the numeral  300 . LED mine light  300  has body  302  which is a generally symmetrical geometric figure but has a plurality of flat surfaces thereon. Projections or horns  304  are tipped with magnets  306 . 
     While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed and described above, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention is subject to modifications and variations and such modifications and variations are intended to be within the broad scope of the present invention. For example, conventional lamps or other light sources could be substituted for the LED components. Also, the body can be transparent, semi-transparent or opaque and can be made of various materials such as thermoplastic or thermoset polymeric materials so long as the material used is consistent with the function of the part made therefrom.