Abstract:
A work light comprised of a removable band that is configured to attach to a user&#39;s wrist and forearm. The band includes a first attachment assembly for holding a rechargeable first flashlight such that the first flashlight illuminates around a user&#39;s index finger. The first flashlight includes an internal rechargeable first battery and a first pair of external battery contacts for applying recharging energy to the first flashlight. The work light also includes a charger for applying recharging energy to the first pair of external battery contacts. The charger has a first socket for receiving the first flashlight and a first pair of charger contacts for electrically connecting to the first pair of external battery contacts. Preferably the band holds a rechargeable second flashlight so as to direct its illumination toward the little finger. Then, the charger includes a socket for charging the second flashlight.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/021,962, which was filed Jul. 8, 2014, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to work lights. More particularly it is directed to a work light assembly that is worn on the wrist and forearm of a user. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Just about everyone has had the unfortunate experience of trying to perform a complicated task with their hands while working in poor light conditions. Most times a flashlight is used to provide needed illumination. However, using a flashlight typically means that one has to balance the flashlight somehow, often under one&#39;s chin or on a nearby object to allow the use of both hand&#39;s to perform the task. Should another person be available to hold the flashlight the flashlight beam typically wanders about as the holder loses attention. 
     Accordingly, there exists a need for a temporary task lighting device that can illuminate the area immediately around a user&#39;s hands without the disadvantages described above. Ideally such a device would be easy to use and would not require the aid of another person. Preferably such a device would leave both hands of a user free to perform tasks while the illuminate adjusts to meet the user&#39;s needs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The principles of the present invention provide for an improved work light assembly that illuminates the area around a user&#39;s hands. The improved work light assembly is a wrist-mounted work light device that is easy to use, leaves both hands free to perform tasks, does not require the aid of another person, and provides illumination where needed. 
     A work light in accord with the present invention includes a removable band that is configured to attach to a user&#39;s wrist and forearm and that includes a first attachment assembly. The work light further includes a rechargeable first flashlight that is removably mounted to the band by the first attachment assembly. The first flashlight includes an internal rechargeable first battery and a first pair of external battery contacts for applying recharging energy to the first flashlight. Also included is a charger for applying recharging energy to the first pair of external battery contacts. The charger has a first socket for receiving the first flashlight and a first pair of charger contacts for electrically connecting to the first pair of external battery contacts. The first attachment assembly mounts the first flashlight such that illumination from the first flashlight can illuminate the area around a user&#39;s hand. 
     Preferably the work light also includes a rechargeable second flashlight having an internal rechargeable second battery and a second pair of external battery contacts for applying recharging energy to the second flashlight. The charger may also have a second holder for receiving the second flashlight and a second pair of charger contacts for electrically connecting to the second pair of external battery contacts. The band may include a second attachment assembly for removably mounting the second flashlight. In practice the first attachment assembly should mount the first flashlight to direct illumination toward a user&#39;s index finger while the second attachment assembly mounts the second flashlight to direct illumination toward a user&#39;s little finger. 
     Beneficially the band has an adjustable diameter and may have a substrate, a cover over the substrate; and a padding layer disposed between the substrate and the cover. Ideally the cover is a woven fabric. The first attachment assembly may include a first strap located on the cover and which is formed into a loop. The first strap may be of an elastic material. The first flashlight can then include a recess in proximity to its front for receiving the first strap. The first attachment assembly further includes a first half fastener comprised of a first part of a hook and loop fastening pair. The first flashlight may include a second part of the hook and loop fastening pair. The band may further include a knitted nylon material with embedded elastic fibers. In practice the band further includes a tongue that is configured as a strip of material. The tongue then has a first securing fastener comprised of a section of a hook-and-loop fastener, and wherein the band further includes a mating second securing fastener. 
     The charger may also include a second socket for receiving said second flashlight. The charger can further include a first lamp for signaling when charging of said first flashlight is complete and a second lamp for signaling when charging of said second flashlight is complete. Those first lamps can be light-emitting diodes (LED&#39;s). The charger can receive electrical power from an AC socket. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like elements are identified with like symbols and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a top-down view of a wrist-mounted light  10  on a user&#39;s wrist  110  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a planar view of the wrist-mounted light  10  shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an isolated view of a band  20  of the wrist-mounted light  10  shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a view of a battery charger  70  with flashlights  50  of the wrist-mounted light  10  shown in  FIG. 1 ; and, 
         FIG. 5  presents an electrical schematic of the battery charger  70  with flashlights  50  shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  wrist-mounted light 
               20  band 
               22  channel 
               24  cover 
               25  padding layer 
               26  substrate 
               31  seam 
               32  first section 
               34  second section 
               36  tongue 
               38   a  first securing fastener 
               38   b  second securing fastener 
               42  strap 
               44  first securing half 
               48  flashlight contacts 
               50  flashlight 
               51  battery 
               52  chassis 
               54  relief recess 
               56  head 
               58  switch 
               62  second securing half 
               66  illumination 
               70  battery charger 
               72  cord 
               74  plug 
               76  socket 
               78  charger switch 
               80  recharger contact 
               82  charge light indicator 
               89  power supply 
               110  wrist 
               115  forearm 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention is depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 5 . However, the invention is not limited to what is specifically illustrated and described. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention. Any such work around also falls with the scope of this invention. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one (1) of the referenced items. In addition, unless otherwise denoted all directional signals such as up, down, left, right, inside, outside are taken relative to the illustration shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     Refer now respectively to  FIGS. 1 and 2  for a top down and a planar view of a rechargeable wrist-mounted work light  10  that is in accord with the present invention and which is worn on a user&#39;s wrist  110  and forearm  115 . The wrist-mounted work light  10  provides at least one (1), but preferably 2, removable and rechargeable flashlight  50  attached to a band  20 . The band  20  is worn around the wrist  110  and forearm  115  of a user in such a way as to direct illumination  66  into the area in the vicinity of the user&#39;s hand  100 . The wrist-mounted work light  10  preferably has two (2) flashlights  50  to increase the light pattern over a larger field of view. The flashlights  50  are arranged in such a way that shadows are reduced by the light coming from different directions. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 4 , the wrist-mounted work light  10  includes a battery charger  70  that recharges the flashlights  50  from a standard 110-VAC power supply. The construction of the battery charger  70  and the flashlights  50  are such that the batteries  51  (see  FIG. 5 ) within the flashlights  50  are not removed for charging. However, they flashlights  50  are constructed such that their batteries  51  can be removed for replacement. Thus the flashlights  50  should be understood as being a one piece unit in use, including recharging. 
     Refer now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , since the sizes of the wrists  110  and forearms  115  of different users can vary widely it should be understood that different size bands  20  may be made available. In any event the band  20  is adjustable and generally cylindrical. The band  20  has in an internal channel  22  to accommodate a user&#39;s forearm  115  and wrist  110 . 
     A first section  32  of the band  20  is composed of a cover  24  over a substrate  26  that forms the internal channel  22 . The cover  24  is preferably a woven nylon fabric in any of a variety of colors and/or patterns and includes a padding layer  25  that mates with the substrate  26 . It is understood that other materials, such as other textiles, may be utilized without limiting the scope of the wrist-mounted work light  10 . The padding layer  25  may be a foamed polymer, or a batting. The cover  24  with the padding layer  23  reduces objectionable contact between the flashlights  50  and the user. The first section  32  constitutes approximately forty-five percent (45%) of the encircling band  20 . 
     Disposed along the cover  24  in proximity to a first (distal) end of the band  20  is at least one (1) strap  42  that is attached to the cover  24 . Each strap  42  is configured as a loop made from an elastic material that is capable of securing the front end of a flashlight  50  to the band  20 . The relationship of the strap and the flashlight  50  is discussed in more detail subsequently. Also disposed along the cover  24  in longitudinal alignment with the strap  42  is at least one (1) first fastener half  44 . The first half fastener  44  is preferably a square section of the hook portion of a hook-and-loop fastener. The rear of the flashlight  50  is attached to the first fastener half  44  while the front of the flashlight  50  fits into the strap  42 . Preferably at least one flashlight  50  is mounted such that it is in alignment with the index finger of a user&#39;s hand  100 . A second flashlight  50  would be attached to the band  20  approximately ninety degrees) (90° around the circumference of the band  20 . 
     Still referring to  FIG. 3 , the remainder of the band  20  is a second section  34  is composed preferably of a knitted nylon material with embedded elastic fibers that can provide the resiliency required to accommodate the insertion of the user&#39;s hand  100 , wrist  110  and forearm  115  while comfortably constricting about the wrist  110  to retain the band  20  in a desired position. 
     The band further includes a seam  31  that delineates the transition between the first section  32  and second section  34 . Disposed longitudinally along the second section  34  is a tongue  36  that is configured as a strip of material, preferably a reinforced double layer of woven nylon. A first securing fastener  38   a , being one section of a hook-and-loop fastener is located on the inside face of the tongue  36 . A mating second securing fastener  38   b  is located on the outer surface of the second section  34 . After the band  20  is placed onto a user&#39;s wrist  110  the tongue  36  may be variably attached to a selected location on the second section  34  via the securing fasteners  38   a ,  38   b . This variability enables modification of the compressive forces to improve the fit and security of the band  20 . 
     Returning now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the flashlight  50  is preferably a small, cylindrical source of illumination  66  having an internally contained rechargeable battery (not shown). The flashlight  50  is approximately three inches (3 in.) in length and three-quarters inches (¾ in.) in diameter. The flashlight  50  has a removable head  56  containing at least one (1) bulb (not shown), a parabolic, light-focusing reflector (not shown), and a protective lens (also not shown). 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the head  56  is preferably removable. To that end it includes mutually engaged threads with the body of the flashlight  50 . Removal of the head  56  facilitates replacement of the rechargeable battery (not shown). The flashlight  50  is provided with a push button ON/OFF switch  58  for turning the flashlight  50  on and off. The flashlight  50  also has a relief recess  54  between the switch  58  and the head  56 . The relief recess  54  accommodates the previously discussed strap  42 . Disposed at the other end of the flashlight  50  is an encircling second fastener half  62 . The second fastener half  62  is the loop portion of a hook-and-loop fastener. The second fastening half  62  engages with a first fastening half  44  to help secure the flashlight  50  to the band  20  with the strap  42  placed into the relief recess  54 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the battery charger  70  re-charges the flashlight  50  while it sits in a socket  76  of the battery charger  70 . The battery charger  70  preferably has sockets  76  for each flashlight  50 . The battery charger  70  includes a grounded, polarity-sensitive plug  74  on an electrical cord  72  and which can be inserted into a standard household 110-VAC receptacle. The battery charger  70  is equipped with a two-position, ON/OFF rocker-type charger switch  78  and a sufficient number of charge indicator lights  82  to correspond to the number of flashlights  50  being recharged. The charge indicator lights  82  are preferably light emitting diodes emit green light when the batteries have a full charge. The charge indicator lights  82  beneficially emit red light when the associated flashlight battery  50  is charging. The battery charger  70  includes the necessary electrical components, such as, but not limited to, a step-down transformer, power converter, a current limiter, and overload protection as may be necessary to safely and efficiently recharge the battery (within each flashlight  50 ). 
     The electrical operation of the battery charger  70  is best understood with reference to  FIG. 5 . When the plug  74  is inserted into an AC receptacle input power is applied to the charger switch  78 . When the charger switch  78  is closed electrical power is applied to a power supply  89 . Battery charging current is then applied to recharger contacts  80  located in the sockets  76 . When a flashlight  50  is inserted into a socket  76  the flashlight contacts  48  mate with the recharger contacts  80 , thereby applying a recharging current to the battery  51 . Current also flows through an associated charge indicator light  82 . 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be used by an individual in a simple and straightforward manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the wrist-mounted work light  10 , it would be installed as indicated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  on the wrist  110  of a user. Installing and using the wrist-mounted work light  10  is achieved by: acquiring a model of the wrist-mounted work light  10  having a desired size and style to suit a specific user; placing each flashlight  50  into an individual socket  76  of the battery charger  70  such that the charging contacts of the flashlight  50  are engaged into the energizing contacts of the battery charger  70 ; inserting the plug  74  into a standard 110-VAC receptacle; turning on the charger switch  78  to recharge the battery in each flashlight  50 ; inserting the head  56  of the flashlight  50  into an elasticized strap  42  so as to place the strap  42  into the relief recess  54  in the flashlight  50 ; securing the second fastener half  62  of the flashlight  50  to the first fastener half  44  of the band  20 ; repeating the attachment procedure for a second (or additional) flashlight  50 ; inserting the preferred hand  100  (right or left) into the channel  22  of the band  20 ; pulling the band  20  to a favorable location on the wrist or forearm  115  with a strap  42  and a corresponding first fastener half  44  aligned with the index finger while the remaining strap  42  and corresponding first fastener half  44  are in proximity to the little finger; altering the engagement of the tongue  36  on the securing fastener  38  so as to adjust the second section  34  to achieve a comfortable and secure fit of the band  20  on the wrist  110 ; turning on the selected number of flashlights  50  by manipulating the switches  58  and performing the desired work activity now having an increased level of illumination  66 . 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.