Abstract:
An auxiliary light source has battery operated LEDs and uses embedded magnets to attach the light source to another object. The light beams from the LEDs shine along axes that are parallel to the central axes of the magnets. This makes the auxiliary light especially adapted for magnetic attachment to an inspection mirror because the projected light beams will shine on objects the user of the mirror intends to have illuminated.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to light sources that use magnets to hold them in place. Prior magnetic lights often were bulky and difficult to use in cramped spaces by technicians, such as HVAC servicemen needing to read serial numbers or other information on the outside of unmovable machines. Many prior magnetic light sources were single or limited purpose lights designed to be attachable to only a small number of objects of preselected shapes or contours. 
   OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide improved magnetic light sources. 
   Another object is to provide light emitting diode (LED) light sources that are attachable to metal surfaces. 
   An additional object is to provide a compact magnetic light that can be used in the tight spaces between immovable objects. 
   Another object is to provide a magnetic light and inspection mirror that are usable as a unit to examine different types of machines and objects. 
   Another object is to provide a LED light source that can be magnetically attached to differently shaped tools and other objects. 
   A further object is to provide a magnetic LED light source that can shine its beam along an axis that is essentially perpendicular to a surface to which its magnet is attracted. 
   Another object is to provide an auxiliary light that is especially suited to being magnetically attached to an inspection mirror. 
   A further object is to provide the combination of an inspection mirror and a magnetically attached LED light source that are usable in cramped spaces. 
   A further object is to provide magnetic lights that are compact, durable, economical, easy to use and adjust, and which do not possess defects found in similar prior art light sources. 
   Other objects and advantages of the magnetic lights and the inspection mirrors combinations in accord with this invention will be found in the specification and claims and the scope of the invention will be set forth in the claims. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of an inspection mirror and magnetic light in accord with this invention. 
       FIG. 2  is perspective view showing top surfaces of the magnetic light in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is perspective view showing bottom surfaces of the magnetic light in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged bottom plan view of the magnetic light in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged top plan view of the magnetic light in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 6  a cross sectional view taken along the line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view taken along the line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view showing the major components of the magnetic light in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 9  is a circuit diagram of the magnetic light in  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The drawing shows auxiliary light  10 , in accord with this invention, magnetically attached to a conventional inspection device  11  having a handle  12  connected to a mirror  13  with a first surface  14  for reflecting an image of an object being inspected and a second opposite surface  15  that may be metal, or otherwise may be made magnetically attractable as by attaching a metal strip thereto. 
   The parts of light  10  are contained in a plastic housing  16  having a lower body portion  17 , an upper body portion  18  having an integral battery receptacle  19  that is closed by a removable cap  20 . Body portions  17  and  18  are held together by screws  21  in holes  22 . Cap  20  may be held on body portion  18  by a pair of diametrically opposed nibs  23  that engage slots  24  through opposed surfaces of the cap, with the cap being removable when it is pushed down and rotated so as to align the nibs  23  with perpendicular release slots  25  in the inside surface of the cap. 
   Lower body portion  17  has a flat outer surface  26  perforated by a first pair of circular holes  27  and  28  having their diameters aligned along a first axis  31  of diametrical alignment, and a second pair of circular holes  29  and  30  having their diameters aligned along a second axis  32  of diametrical alignment at an end  33 . The respective axes  31  and  32  of diametrical alignment are perpendicular to each other. Magnets  34  and  35  are imbedded in and visible through the first pair of holes  27  and  28 . Magnets  34  and  35  may each comprise a pair of identical, axially-aligned cylindrical magnets as illustrated, or magnets  34  and  35  may each be only a single magnet. The magnets  34  and  35  have flat outer surfaces  36  and  37  that are flush, or in the same plane, with surface  26 , and the central axes  38  and  39  of the magnets are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the surface  26 . Magnet  34  is larger than magnet  35  and its surface, exposed through hole  27 , may be about three times the area of magnet  35  exposed through hole  28 , making magnet  34  stronger than magnet  35 . Magnets  34  and  35  are high strength with pull forces of several pounds, and the magnets may be rare earth or ceramic. 
   A pair of LED lights  40  and  41  are aligned with the second pair of holes  29  and  30  at one end. LED lights  40  and  41  emit their beams  43  through holes  29  and  30  along parallel axes  42  that are also parallel to the central axes  38  and  39  of the magnets  34  and  35 . The LEDs may be 3 mm High Brightness White lights operable on a voltage of 5 to 6 volts. 
   A pair of identical batteries  45  and  46  are housed in a receptacle  19 . A compression spring  47  in receptacle  19  contacts the negative surface of battery  45  and urges the positive surface of battery  45  into contact with the negative surface of battery  46 . Spring  47  is the anode terminal in the electric circuit  48  of auxiliary light  10 . A coil spring  49  is located in a slot  50  in the outer edge of receptacle  10 . Spring  49  contacts the positive surface of battery  46  at the battery outer edge, and the spring  49  is the cathode terminal of circuit  48 . Cap  20  pushes batteries  45  and  46  against compressing spring  47 , and cap  20  hold battery  46  in a position in which the outer edge of battery  46  pushes against and deforms spring  49  into the slot  50 . A push button switch  51  in circuit  48  is operable from the outside of auxiliary light  10  to turn the LED lights off and on. Batteries  45  and  46  may be CR 2032 computer batteries providing 3 volts each configured in series for a 6.0 volt bias to the LEDs. 
   The use of two differently sized rare earth magnets  34  and  35  that are separated from each other along axis  32  permits attachment of the light  10  to a wide variety of differently sized and differently shaped objects. This versatility is enhanced by locating the larger magnet  34  closer to end  33  and the axis  32  of alignment of the LED lights  40  and  41 . The compact size of magnetic light  10  (approximately 4×3×2 cm) enables the LED lights  40  and  41  to bring strong light beams into cramped spaces between unmovable objects and other difficult to reach spaces. 
   The beams  43  of light emitted by LED lights  40  and  41  project along axes  42  that are parallel to the central axes  38  and  39  of magnets  34  and  35 . This causes the light beams  43  to project at essentially right angles to the surface, such as  15 , of an object to which the light  10  has been magnetically attached. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a portion of the surface  26  of housing  16  and the LED lights  40  and  41  at end  33  extend beyond inspection mirror  11  so the light beams shine along axes  42  at angles essentially perpendicular to the back  15  of mirror  13 . This enables the light  10  to illuminate objects that the mirror  13  is intended to show to its user. 
   While the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is not intended to illustrate or describe all of the equivalent forms or ramifications thereof. Also, the words used are words of description rather than limitation, and various changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the appended claims cover all such changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.