Abstract:
A novel light wherein the source of illumination is an array of light emitting diodes mounted on a printed circuit board. The board is contained within an impact resistant housing. Several different embodiments are disclosed for the housing, including injection molded and extruded variants.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to the field of lighting. More specifically, the invention comprises a work light employing a plurality of light emitting diodes arrayed on a printed circuit board.  
         DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART  
         [0002]    “Work lights” or “trouble lights” are typically used in repair settings, such as work on automobiles, tractors, or industrial equipment. Such lights are typically equipped with a hanging hook to allow hands-free operation. They typically include a common incandescent bulb protected by a wire or plastic cage. Electrical power is supplied by batteries or AC line voltage.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
         [0003]    The present invention comprises a novel light wherein the source of illumination is an array of light emitting diodes mounted on a printed circuit board. The board is contained within an impact resistant housing. Several different embodiments are disclosed for the housing, including injection molded and extruded variants. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]    [0004]FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view, showing the components of the present invention.  
         [0005]    [0005]FIG. 1B is an exploded isometric view, showing the components of the present invention.  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 2 is an isometric view, showing the printed circuit board in detail.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 3 is an isometric view, showing the invention in its assembled state.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 4 is an exploded isometric view, showing an injection molded variant of the present  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 5 is an isometric view, showing the injection molded variant in its assembled state.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 6 is an exploded isometric view, showing a second injection molded variant of the present invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 7 is an isometric view, showing the second injection molded variant in its assembled state.  
                                                 REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS                                2   LED   4   current limiting device       5   circuit board   6   enclosure tube       7   power means   20   strain relief       22   seating flange   24   electrical connection       26   spacer ring   28   grip       30   cap   32   hook       34   lower enclosure tube   36   upper enclosure tube       38   light opening   40   clear window       42   left enclosure tube   44   right enclosure tube       46   alignment pin   48   gasket                  
 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the proposed invention. Circuit board  5  is electrically connected to power means  7 . A preferably elastic grip  28  is placed over the cord of power means  7 . Enclosure tube  6  has a first open end, a second open end, and a hollow interior. It is preferably made as a transparent hollow cylinder. Enclosure tube  6  is sized to slide over circuit board  5 , so that circuit board  5  resides within its hollow interior.  
         [0013]    Grip  28  covers the first open end of enclosure tube  6 . Cap  30 , a hollow shell structure with one open end and one closed end, covers the second open end of enclosure tube  6 . It is equipped with hook  32  (snapped into place or otherwise conventionally connected), which can be used to hang the completed assembly in order to allow the user to employ the device in a hands-free fashion. FIG. 1B shows the same assembly from another perspective. The reader will observe that grip  28  is likewise a hollow shell structure with one open end and one closed end.  
         [0014]    Enclosure tube  6  is preferably a tough clear plastic extrusion. Grip  28  and cap  30  are preferably made of pliable material, such as synthetic rubber. They are ideally capable of stretching to expand somewhat in diameter.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 shows the device in its assembled state. Using FIGS. 1, 1B, and  3 , the assembly of the device can be readily understood: Enclosure tube  6  slides over circuit board  5  so that circuit board  5  rests within its hollow interior. Cap  30  (with optional hook  32 ) then slides over the second open end of enclosure tube  6 . The diameter of the hollow interior within cap  30  is preferably made smaller than the external diameter of enclosure tube  6 , so that it frictionally engages and remains fixed in position on enclosure tube  6 .  
         [0016]    Grip  28  then slides over the opposite end of enclosure tube  6 . The diameter of the hollow interior of grip  28  is also sized to frictionally engage enclosure tube  6 . The two open ends of enclosure tube  6  are thereby scaled. It may be desirable to add adhesive or sealant between the grip, cap, and enclosure tube, in order to create a water-tight seal. However, by carefully selecting the materials and sizing the parts, it is possible to make an effective seal without the use of adhesives or sealants.  
         [0017]    The electrical cord of power means  7  passes through a hole in grip  28 . Thus, grip  28  can be installed by sliding it along the power cord until it slips over enclosure tube  6  and reaches the position shown in FIG. 3. A sealing flange is provided around the strain relief on the power cord in order to seal the hole in grip  28  once it is in its assembled position. An adhesive can be used to increase the integrity of this seal.  
         [0018]    Strain relief  20  is provided to allow grip  28  to slide along the power cord while still maintaining a water tight or water resistant seal as to the hole through grip  28 . Thus, in the state shown in FIG. 3, the unit is water resistant. With the addition of adhesives or sealants, the unit can be made water-tight.  
         [0019]    Those skilled in the art will realize that material selection can be employed to eliminate the use of adhesives. If, as an example, enclosure tube  6  is extruded from clear acrylic, it will be quite rigid and tough. If cap  30  and grip  28  are then made of an elastic material (such as various synthetic rubbers), the assembly of these elements onto enclosure tube  6  can form a good seal even without adhesives (while also allowing subsequent disassembly). The reader will therefore appreciate that the assembly process shown in FIGS. 1, 1B, and  3  allows the assembly of this embodiment&#39;s components without using separate fasteners.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 shows circuit board  5  in more detail. It is preferably made as a conventional printed circuit board used in modem electronic devices. Power is provided via electrical connections  24  to power means  7 . A plurality of light emitting diodes (“LED&#39;s”)  2  are mounted on circuit board  5  by conventional means, such as using the surface mount or dual in-line (DIP) placement approaches. Parallel circuits of LED clusters, with each cluster comprising a group of LED&#39;s connected in series, may be formed. Current limiting devices  4  are preferably added to prevent excess current flowing through any portion of the electrical circuit. These typically assume the form of chip resistors.  
         [0021]    Circuit board  5  preferably distributes the electrical power through the use of printed traces, masks, conductive through-holes, and solder connections - all of which are familiar to those in the electronics industry. However, the term “circuit board” should not be limited to mean only a conventional printed circuit board. It is more generally understood to be a structural element used to mount the LED&#39;s. For instance, one could use a ceramic substrate to mount the LED&#39;s while making the necessary electrical connections through conventional wiring.  
         [0022]    Strain relief  20  is provided to connect the power cord to grip  28 . Seating flange  22  snaps into the hollow interior of grip  28 , while the balance of strain relief  20  remains on the outside. Once grip  28  is in place over enclosure tube  6 , strain relief  20  tends to transmit forces placed on the power cord to enclosure tube  6  rather than to circuit board  5 .  
         [0023]    Although enclosure tube  6  does not have to be entirely transparent, the portion lying over the LED&#39;s must be in order to allow the light to escape the assembly. Those skilled in the art will realize that enclosure tube  6  can assume many forms. The version shown in FIGS. 1, 1B, and  3  is advantageous, since the thick-walled cylinder of enclosure tube  6  is quite tough. However, this version does not lend itself to certain mass production techniques - such as injection molding.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4 shows an alternate embodiment for the enclosure tube, in which it is split into upper enclosure tube  36  and lower enclosure tube  34  (essentially two halves). Those skilled in the art will know that the shapes shown lend themselves to injection molding using thermoplastics. When the two halves are joined a hollow interior is formed, into which circuit board  5  is placed. Features are molded into the two halves to hold circuit board  5 , capture strain relief  20 , and capture hook  32 . Alignment pins  46  mate with corresponding holes on the other half. Adhesives, ultrasonic welding, or fasteners can then be used to join the two halves. Alternatively, conventional plastic snapping features can be used.  
         [0025]    A water-tight seal can be created by using selected adhesives to join the two halves. However, if the two halves are joined using plastic snapping features, then it may be necessary to add a sealing member such as gasket  48  between the two halves.  
         [0026]    It is possible to mold the two halves from optically clear material. A portion can then be masked and painted to render it opaque - leaving a clear window over the LED&#39;s on circuit board  5 . Alternatively, the two halves can be molded of opaque materials. A light opening  38  is then added over the LED&#39;s. Clear window  40  covers this opening. It is held in place by snaps, adhesives, or mechanical capturing between the two halves of the enclosure tube. FIG. 5 shows this embodiment in its assembled state, with window  40  in place. Conventional prior art seals - such as rubber gaskets or adhesives—must be employed to make window  40  watertight.  
         [0027]    Those familiar with the design of injection molded parts will realize that endless variations are possible. FIG. 6 shows one such variation in which the enclosure tube is split in a different plane. Left enclosure tube  42  and right enclosure tube  44  are joined to form a seam which is perpendicular to the plane of circuit board  5 . Joining in this plane can allow the convenient fixation of circuit board  5  in the assembly, using features molded into the two halves. The two halves can be joined by a variety of means, as explained previously. FIG. 7 shows the completed assembly.  
         [0028]    An embodiment is also possible where the enclosure tube is split into two halves which join near the middle of the length of circuit board  5  (the joint would be in a plane which is parallel to the plane of seating flange  22 ).  
         [0029]    Although the preceding description contains significant detail, it should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but rather as providing illustrations of the preferred embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be construed according to the following claims and not by the examples given.