Abstract:
A belt buckle with an embedded power source, such as battery(s), and an attached or embedded light source, such as light emitting diodes, for illuminating an area in front of a user, such as a hiker, climber, or trail-runner. The buckle is typically a side-release plastic buckle, and is typically mounted centrally on a pack&#39;s hip-belt. The light is adjustable vertically, or has a lens to produce a tall, narrow beam of light for the purpose of illuminating a large section of trail.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/760,334, filed 2006 Jan. 20 by the present inventor. 

   FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
   Not Applicable 
   SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM 
   Not Applicable 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of Invention 
   This invention relates to lighting devices, specifically to hands-free devices used to illuminate a user&#39;s path. 
   2. Prior Art 
   Hikers, climbers, and trail-runners use artificial light to illuminate the trail at night. The introduction of the headlamp allowed hands-free operation of the lighting device, freeing their hands to operate other objects and devices, also minimizing the chance of dropping the lighting device. 
   However, headlamps have disadvantages. The light is located close to the user&#39;s eyes. The shadows cast by objects in the user&#39;s path are hidden by the objects themselves. This yields a lack of depth perception, making travel more difficult. 
   Another disadvantage of locating a light source on a user&#39;s head is apparent in cool weather. When a user exhales, the moisture from the user&#39;s breath is sharply illuminated. This momentarily blinds the user. This is also detrimental to the user&#39;s night-vision. 
   Headlamps are often bulky and cumbersome. Many people do not like objects on their heads. These users will avoid using headlamps. 
   These issues are not present with hand-held lights, however, these lights are not hands-free. A user is unable to use trekking poles or other items when using a hand-held light. Also, the natural motion of moving one&#39;s arms when walking or running must be stifled. A user is forced to hold the light, which can then be dropped. The user is also unable to put their hands in their pockets, thereby warming them. 
   One solution for this is a light with a clip. A light with a clip is hands-free, and does not have the same problems as a headlamp; however, its function is limited as well. A clip can be placed in many locations, but cannot be attached at the center of a backpack&#39;s hip-belt, as the buckle is there. If the buckle is placed off-center to accommodate a light clipped to the center of the belt, the buckle will be where padding usually is. This requires a hip-belt to have less padding, which decreases a user&#39;s comfort. 
   In addition, a light with a clip, a headlamp and a handheld light can be misplaced, and can be difficult to find when darkness is approaching. They can be buried deep in a pack, or worse, either forgotten at home, or lost on the trail. 
   Others have come to the conclusion of mounting a light on a user&#39;s waist. U.S. Pat. No. 4,849,863 (Gallegos, 1989), U.S. Pat. No. 5,045,979 (Stevens, 1991), U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,168 (Stevens, 1993), U.S. Pat. No. 5,359,501 (Stevens, 1994), and U.S. Pat. No. 6,056,412 (Atlee et al., 2000) all address this issue. All of these patents require a separate device from what a hiker would ordinarily carry, and are largely incompatible with a pack hip-belt. U.S. Pat. No. 4,283,756 (Beamon, 1981), attaches a light to a buckle, but the light flashes and is used solely for safety and not for illumination. It does not illuminate a user&#39;s path, and the batteries are in a separate housing, not even attached to the belt. U.S. Pat. No. 5,183,324 (Thomas, 1993) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,859 B2 (Petzl et al., 2002) describe a lamp with batteries built in, but it&#39;s a single housing, not a buckle of any kind. Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 6,979,098 B2 (Petzl et al., 2005) and U.S. patent application 2006/00561758 A1 (Petzl et al., filed Jan. 28, 2004) describe a swiveling optic system. These describe a binary system, it is either on or off; it is not used to direct a beam of light depending on the angle of the optics. 
   OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
   Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are:
         a) to provide a light formed into a hip-belt buckle, of which hikers and climbers ordinarily have with them.   b) to provide a light that is a significant distance from the users eyes, so shadows of objects in the trail are visible.   c) to provide a light that is a significant distance from the mouth and nose, so it will not illuminate the condensation in user&#39;s breath in cooler weather; this will prevent temporarily blinding the user.   d) to provide a hands-free light that does not have straps around or object(s) on the user&#39;s head.   e) to provide a light that is centered on the user&#39;s belt, and thus centered with a user&#39;s line of sight.   f) to provide a light which cannot get separated from the pack unintentionally, therefore making it more difficult to lose; the user will always know where the light is located.   g) to provide a light that has either a specific LED arrangement or a lens provided so a wide section of the trail or area in front of the user is illuminated.
 
Further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.
       

   SUMMARY 
   There is a need for a light source for illuminating a trail with hand free operation and providing a significant distance between a user&#39;s eyes and the light source. There is also a need for a light source that is attached to, in other words affixed to or integral with, a belt buckle on a pack. 
   These needs and others are met by embodiments of the present invention, which comprise a portable light constructed of a light housing attached, either embedded or with a hinge, to a belt buckle, such as a side-release plastic buckle, with a power source, such as a battery(s), embedded within the buckle. 
   Additional advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part by the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention. The advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the instrumentalities and combinations, particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which: 
       FIG. 1   a  shows an isometric view of a light in a stowed position. 
       FIG. 1   b  shows an isometric view of the light of  FIG. 1   a  in an “in-use” position. 
       FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of the light of  FIG. 1   a.    
       FIG. 3  shows a bottom aspect of the light of  FIG. 1   a.    
       FIG. 4  shows a side aspect of the light of  FIG. 1   a.    
       FIG. 5   a  shows a front aspect of a housing. 
       FIG. 5   b  shows a sectional view of the housing of  FIG. 5   a.    
       FIGS. 6   a - 6   d  show various aspects and exploded views of a second embodiment of a light with single, embedded, high-powered LED. 
       FIGS. 7   a  &amp;  7   b  show isometric and exploded views of a third embodiment of a light with a single, high-powered LED and a movable housing. 
       FIGS. 8   a  &amp;  8   b  show isometric and exploded views of a fourth embodiment of a light with a swivel lens. 
       FIGS. 9   a  &amp;  9   b  show isometric and exploded views of a fifth embodiment of a light embedded in a different buckle. 
       FIG. 10  shows an isometric view of the device attached centrally to a hip belt strap of a backpack. 
   

   DRAWINGS—REFERENCE NUMERALS 
   
     
       
             
             
           
         
             
                 
             
           
           
             
               10 
               Housing Assembly 
             
             
               11 
               Housing body 
             
             
               12 
               Female Side-release 
             
             
                 
               buckle 
             
             
               14 
               Bolt 
             
             
               15 
               Nut 
             
             
               16 
               Cable 
             
             
               18 
               5 mm LED 
             
             
               19 
               Hole (switch) 
             
             
               20 
               Side Panel 
             
             
               21 
               Opaque protrusion 
             
             
               22 
               Switch 
             
             
               23 
               Button 
             
             
               24 
               Circuit Board 
             
             
               26 
               Front Panel 
             
             
               27 
               Hole 
             
             
               28 
               Groove 
             
             
               29 
               Hole 
             
             
               30 
               Mounting Posts 
             
             
               31 
               Protrusion (nut) 
             
             
               32 
               Recess (button) 
             
             
               34 
               Cavity 
             
             
               36 
               AAA Battery 
             
             
               38 
               1W LED 
             
             
               40 
               Battery Cover 
             
             
               42 
               Male Buckle 
             
             
               43 
               Plain Female Buckle 
             
             
               46 
               Embedded Housing Buckle 
             
             
               48 
               Swivel Housing Buckle 
             
             
               49 
               Swivel Housing 
             
             
               50 
               Swivel Lens Buckle 
             
             
               51 
               Swivel Lens 
             
             
               52 
               Adapter Buckle 
             
             
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The present invention addresses and solves problems related to light sources, particularly where current light sources do not provide ample space between a user&#39;s eyes and the light source to allow user easily discern objects and the shadows they cast at night. The present invention also addresses and solves problems related to providing a light source which is integrated into a pack, specifically a buckle, and permits hands free operation. 
   The present invention solves the above problems by providing a light as discussed below. One of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the following discussion is illustrative and intended to describe preferred embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention to the embodiments discussed. The present invention has numerous applications where a light is needed for hands free operation. The present invention may be scaled and adapted to many applications and is defined by the claims, which set forth the metes and bounds of the present invention. 
   Referring now to the drawings, and initially to  FIGS. 1-5 , the preferred embodiment of the light of the present invention is described.  FIG. 1   a  shows the light in the stowed position, and  FIG. 1   b  shows the light in the “in-use” position. A housing assembly  10  is connected to a 2 inch female side-release buckle  12  on mounting posts  30  with a bolt  14  and a nut  15 . A cable  16  transmits power between buckle  12  and housing assembly  10 . It is fitted into a groove  28  on buckle  12 , and passes through a hole  29  in a housing body  11 . Six white, 5 mm LEDs  18  are mounted in housing assembly  10 . Semi-translucent side panels  20  are mounted to housing body  11 . 
     FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the light assembly. The housing assembly  10  consists of housing body  11  with an opaque protrusion  21 , a rubber button  23  protecting a switch  22 , a circuit board  24 , LEDs  18 , a front panel  26 , and side panels  20 . Switch  22 , cable  16 , and LEDs  18  are soldered to circuit board  24 . LEDs  18  fit through holes  27  in panel  26 . Panel  26  is mounted to housing body  11 . Button  23  is held in place between switch  22  and a hole  19  in housing body  11 . A recess  32  is cut into buckle  12  so there is no interference with button  23  when light is in stowed position. A battery  36  is mounted in the center of buckle  12 . 
   Housing body  11  and front panel  26  are made out of a durable polymer, such as polycarbonate or ABS, and may be injection molded. Rubber button  23  can be made out of natural or synthetic rubber, such as Santoprene®. Side panels  20  are made out of a semi-translucent material, such as Plexiglas® or polycarbonate. Battery  36  is a standard AAA battery, and may be either disposable or rechargeable. Buckle  12  is made from a durable polymer, such as nylon, and may be injection molded. 
     FIG. 3  shows a bottom aspect of the light assembly, showing location of hole  19  and button  23 . 
     FIG. 4  shows a side aspect of the light assembly, showing a cavity  34  in buckle  12  where battery  36  is mounted. Button  23  protrudes below the bottom of housing body  11  as shown. Nut  15  interferes with a protrusion  31  on mounting post  30  to prevent rotation. 
     FIG. 5   a  is a front view of housing assembly  10 .  FIG. 5   b  is a sectional side view of housing assembly  10 , showing arrangement of components within housing assembly  10 .  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  show orientations of LEDs  18  relative to a plane defined by the bottom of housing body  11 . 1 LED  18 . 1  is mounted at an angle of approximately 15 degrees down from the plane. 2 LEDs  18 . 2  are mounted approximately level with the plane. 3 LEDs  18 . 3  are mounted at an angle 15 degrees up from the plane. 
   OPERATION 
   A user of this device would install female buckle  12  and male counterpart onto hipbelt of pack or onto piece of webbing or other strap going around user&#39;s waist. User would keep housing assembly  10  in the stowed position ( FIG. 1 ) during the day or whenever the light was not in use. When the user needs illumination in front of him or her, the user simply moves the housing assembly  10  into the “in-use” position ( FIG. 2 ). If user finds light in the exploded position ( FIG. 3 ), user has done something wrong. 
   When the light is in the “in-use” position, the user would actuate switch  22  by pressing on button  23 , thus turning on or off the light. Recess  32  protects button  23  when housing assembly  10  is in the stowed position, preventing light from accidentally getting turned on. Before use, user would insert battery  36  into buckle  12 . When battery  36  is drained, user removes and replaces battery  36 . 
   If housing assembly is not staying in position, user tightens bolt  14 . Nut  15  cannot rotate, so only one tool is needed for this adjustment. Tightening bolt  14  moves mounting posts  30  closer together, increasing pressure on housing body  11 , preventing housing assembly  10  from falling down. 
   Semi-translucent panels  20  are mounted on the side of housing body  11  to limit the amount of light escaping the side. During normal use, user&#39;s hands move within close proximity to LEDs. Due to this close proximity, user&#39;s hands will become very bright without panels  20 , distracting use and adversely affecting user&#39;s night vision. Panels  20  will limit the brightness of the light, yet still allow for illumination to the side of the user. 
   Opaque protrusion  21  shields a user&#39;s direct view of LEDs  18 . By design, LEDs  18  have an intense bright spot at the foremost point in the lens. Without opaque protrusion  21 , user would have a direct view of this intense bright spot, significantly and adversely affecting user&#39;s night vision. Protrusion  21  blocks substantially all light from direct view by user, allowing user to develop better night vision. This allows the user to see more around him or her, and makes the light on the trail appear brighter, increasing its effective brightness. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION—ADDITIONAL EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 6   a - 6   d  show various aspects and exploded views of a second embodiment of a light with one fixed, embedded 1W LED. A 1W LED  38  is embedded in a female side-release buckle  46 . LED  38  is powered by either a single or a plurality of AAA batteries  36  which are contained in buckle  46  and enclosed by a battery cover  40 . 
     FIGS. 7   a - 7   b  show isometric and exploded views of a third embodiment of a light with one 1W LED in an adjustable housing. LED  38  is embedded in a swivel housing  49 , which is attached to a female side-release buckle  48 . Throughout the specification and claims, the term “attached” is meant to be interpreted broadly and includes affixing to as well as integral to. Housing  49  is vertically adjustable relative to buckle  48  to direct light where it is desired. Power from batteries  36  to LED  38  is transmitted either by the method described above in the preferred embodiment or as described below. 
     FIGS. 8   a - 8   b  show isometric and exploded views of a fourth embodiment of a light with one fixed, embedded 1W LED with an adjustable lens. LED  38  is embedded in a female side-release buckle  50 . A swivel lens  51  is attached in front of LED  38 , and rotates vertically to direct light. 
     FIGS. 9   a - 9   b  show isometric and exploded view of a fifth embodiment of a light with one fixed, embedded 1W LED. LED  38  is embedded in a female side-release buckle  52  with male protrusions. Buckle  52  mates with a plain female buckle  43 . 
   In  FIGS. 6-9 , LED  38  is powered by a plurality of AAA batteries  36 , which are contained in the respective buckles ( 46 ,  48 ,  50 ,  52 ) and enclosed with a battery cover  40 . The respective female buckles ( 46 ,  48 ,  50 ,  52 ) mate with male buckle  42 . 
   ADVANTAGES 
     FIG. 10  shows an isometric view of the preferred embodiment attached centrally to a hip belt strap of a backpack. Female side-release buckle  12  is mounted on a hip belt strap  54 . Male buckle  42  is mounted on a second hip belt strap  54 . Hip belt straps  54  are attached to a backpack  53 . Opaque protrusion  21  prevents light emitted by LEDs  18  from extending upward in the direction of users eyes. 
   From the description above, a number of advantages of my buckle-mounted light become evident:
         a) By mounting a light on a buckle (such as a hip-belt buckle), the light is moved away from the eyes, enabling the user to see shadows, thereby increasing depth perception at night.   b) By mounting a light on a buckle, the light is a significant distance from the user&#39;s nose and mouth, eliminating the temporary blindness from light reflecting off the condensation in a users breath described above.   c) The light is hands-free, without the consequences of a headlamp.   d) The buckle is always in the same place on the pack, so the user always knows where the light is. The possibility of forgetting or losing the light, or not being able to find it in the dark is greatly reduced, if not essentially eliminated.   e) The light will be centered on the user&#39;s waist, due to the position of the buckle.       

   CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE 
   Accordingly, the reader will see that the buckle-mounted light of this invention provides superior illumination when hiking at night. The visibility of shadows allows for depth perception that was previously unavailable with headlamps. This greatly increases the user&#39;s enjoyment and safety of the activity. Also, the difficulty in misplacing the light is a distinct advantage. 
   Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. For example:
         a) LEDs could be set to flash as a safety light.   b) Buckle could be smaller or larger.   c) Buckle could be a different size than the webbing which it is attached to.   d) Battery(s) could be mounted elsewhere in the buckle (such as proximal to where the strap is threaded).   e) Battery(s) could be mounted inside housing assembly.   f) More or fewer batteries could be used.   g) Other battery sizes, configurations, or chemistries could be used, such as AA or lithium ion.   h) More or fewer LEDs could be used.   i) LED arrangement could be different, either by changing the angles, changing the number of angles, or changing the number of LEDs directed in each angle.   j) Buckle could be mounted on sternum strap instead of hip-belt or waist-strap.   k) Cable  16  could be eliminated, instead using housing mounting posts  20  for electricity transmission. Such a mechanism could be accomplished with a cup-and-ball system.   l) Housing assembly could be detachable.   m) If housing assembly was detachable, a harnessing assembly could be made for mounting assembly on head for chores around camp.   n) If housing assembly was detachable, batteries could be mounted inside housing assembly, or in buckle using the housing mounting posts for electricity transmission.   o) Housing posts could have grooves or ridges that would interact with ridges or grooves on the housing assembly, giving discreet positions for the housing relative to the buckle.   p) Other light sources, such as, but not limited to, 3W LED(s) or incandescent bulb(s), could be used instead of the 5 mm or 1W LEDs.   q) The light could be mounted on the male member of the buckle, or the buckle could be unisex.       

   Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.