Abstract:
A hand-held illuminator apparatus comprising in combination, an elongated body including a hand held section, a main light source carried by the body in spaced relation to the hand held section, circuitry in the body to supply electrical current to the light source, and a miniature light source carried by said apparatus to direct auxiliary light independently of light projection by the main light source.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to use of hand-held illuminator apparatus, and more particularly to provision of multiple lights and other utilities for such apparatus. 
   There is need for enhancing the utility of illumination apparatus in work environments, as in auto repair and other workshops. In particular there is need for extending the lighting capabilities of such apparatus, and for use of such apparatus for small tool or parts storage, during lighting. No prior apparatus of which I am aware provides the highly advantageous features of construction, modes of operation and results as are now provided by the present invention. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is a major object of the invention to provide a solution for the above need. Basically, the hand-held illuminator apparatus comprises: 
   a) an elongated body including a hand held section, 
   b) a main light source carried by the body in spaced relation to the hand held section, 
   c) circuitry in said body to supply electrical current to the light source, 
   d) and a miniature light source carried by the body to be manually accessible at the body exterior. 
   As will appear, the miniature light source may be swingably attached to the body; and the body may provide a recess to protectively receive the miniature light source. 
   Another object includes providing a miniature light source in the form of a small housing sized to be captivated by the illuminator body, and having one or more LEDs carried by the small housing. 
   A further object includes provision of a magnetic pad on the body, the pad preferably carried on a hand held section of the body, that hangs at a lower elevation when the body is suspended at its upper distal end, for ease of tool or parts application to and removal from the pad. 
   Yet another object is to provide for miniature light source detachable carriage by the body, to be removed for independent use. 
   These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as the details of an illustrative embodiment, will be more fully understood from the following specification and drawings, in which: 

   
     DRAWING DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a main light and auxiliary light carried by the main light; 
       FIG. 2  is a view of the top portion of the  FIG. 1  main light, with the miniature auxiliary light tilted outwardly, as by hinging; 
       FIG. 3  is a view like  FIG. 2 , but showing removability of the auxiliary light for auxiliary use; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the opposite side of the main light of  FIG. 1 , and showing a magnetic pad associated with the light handle; 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged perspective view of the  FIG. 4  light handle opposite side showing an angled lowermost portion with an electrical terminal; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a modified main light showing an illuminating top lens cap; 
       FIG. 7  is a side elevation view of the  FIG. 6  light; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of one side of the handle portion of the  FIG. 6  light, and having a magnetic pad; 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view like  FIG. 8 , but taken to show the opposite side of the handle portion of  FIG. 8 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   In  FIGS. 1-5 , hand held illuminator apparatus  10  includes an elongated body or housing  11  defining an upper or forward illumination portion  12 , a lower or rearward grip or handle portion  13 , and an intermediate portion  14 . An elongated electrical lamp is carried within portion  12  to project light laterally through elongated lens  15 . One or two magnetic ballasts are typically carried within the housing to selectively energize the lamp or lamps, and a switch or switches are carried by the housing to control energization of the lamp, which may be fluorescent lamps. See in this regard the disclosure contained in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/438,430 incorporated herein by reference. Elongated handle portion  13  extends at an angle α that lies between 4° and 15°, and as measured between axes  13   a  and  12   a  of  13  and  12 . 
   A magnetic pad or plate  16  is attached or presented at one side of the handle portion, for retention or storage of small steel parts such as screws, washers, tools, brackets, etc. as used by a worker, when the light is suspended by hook  17  at the work site, for example vehicle engine repair. The worker can readily and easily magnetically store such parts on the pad, and remove them for use, and such parts can be shifted on the pad to positions of non-interference with the worker&#39;s fingers as he grips the handle. See also the rubber grip protrusions  19  longitudinally spaced along the opposite side of the handle and extending transversely in  FIGS. 1 and 5 , to aid in manual gripping of the handle. 
   A miniature, auxiliary light or flashlight source  20  is carried by the upper portion of the body or housing, as shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , and to be easily manually accessed at the body exterior, in spaced relation to the lens  15 . See also lens  20   b  of  20 . Structure is provided to protect preferred miniature light elongated housing  20   a  in its association with main housing upper portion  12 . One such structure comprises an elongated concave recess  59  sunk in the body  11  and extending upwardly so that the light projecting end  21  of the source  20  is directed longitudinally proximate the upper end  11   b  of the main housing  11 . When light source  20  is turned on, for example by a switch  23 , it directs light longitudinally, and thereby assists area illumination provided via main lens  15 . 
   The miniature light source typically includes an internal LED for illumination, and battery energized circuitry within housing  20   a  for energizing the LED. The direction of light projection may be varied, as when the lower end of the housing  20   a  is supported, as by hinge connection at  24 , at angle β which may be between 10° and 60° for example, to the main housing  11 . See for example the outwardly swing position of the miniature light source  20  in  FIG. 2 , as accommodated by hinge connection  24 . This of course varies the direction of light projection by source  20 , relative to light projection transversely through main lens  15 .  FIG. 3  shows provision for optional endwise disconnection of the miniature light source body  20   a  from the supporting connection  24 , to enable use of source  20  independently of the main light sources, for example as the workman requires close illumination of vehicle engine lower areas not directly illuminated by light from the lens  15 , as when the apparatus is hook supported above the engine location. 
     FIG. 5  shows an angled, transversely and upwardly angled terminal  30  of the handle portion  13  to support the lower portion of the user&#39;s hand while gripping the handle. Such angling also provides ready access to an auxiliary electrical terminal  31  usable for plug-in electrical connection of or to other electrical lights or tools. Electrical power is supplied to the apparatus as via cable  33 . 
     FIGS. 6-9  show a modified apparatus  40  with certain components bearing the same identifying numerals as applied in  FIGS. 1-5 . The housing is formed by upper cap section  41 , and lower handle section  42  separate from  41 . A strut  43  extends between sections  41  and  42 , and a tubular lens  44  extends in association with that strut. LED light sources extend within the tube, in the manner as, for example, is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/619,119, incorporated herein by reference. 
   A miniature light source is provided as at  55 , with light projected as by an LED, upwardly or forwardly through a small lens  57  carried by cap section  41 . It is manually accessible, as for example by small light switch  49  on the cap section to control ON-OFF operation of the auxiliary LED in the cap section, and independently of ON-OFF operation of the main LEDs projecting light transversely through the tubular lens  44 . 
   In  FIG. 5 , a ratcheting magnet with a screw clamp is generally shown at  61 , on section  14 . 
   In  FIGS. 1-5 , a support  70  is carried at the side of the body to project away from said-section  14 .