Abstract:
A combination headlamp and lantern adapted to allow multiple uses of the same equipment in a variety of ways. In some aspects, the system performs as a lantern, such as a small lantern which may be used when camping, and which may be used suspended in a tent. In some aspects, the system performs as a headlamp, which may be used worn on the head when walking at night, for example. In some aspects, the lantern is mounted on a tripod.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/350,915 to Hale, filed Jun. 2, 2010, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entireity. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to lighting systems, and more specifically to a headlamp and lantern combination system. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    A combination headlamp and lantern adapted to allow multiple uses of the same equipment in a variety of ways. In some aspects, the system performs as a lantern, such as a small lantern which may be used when camping, and which may be used suspended in a tent. In some aspects, the system performs as a headlamp, which may be used when walking at night, for example. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of headlamp worn by a user according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is an illustration lantern on a tripod according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a lantern in a closed configuration to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a lantern in an open configuration according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a lantern in an closed position according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of a headlamp and lantern system according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 7  is a side view of a headlamp and lantern system according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of a headlamp and lantern system according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 9  is a side perspective view of an LED engine according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 10  is a top perspective view of an LED engine according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 11  is a bottom perspective view of an LED engine according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 12  is a top perspective view of a battery housing according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 13  is a bottom perspective view of a battery housing according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 14  is a top view of a battery housing according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 15  is a side view of a battery housing according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 16  is a bottom view of a battery housing according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 17  is a raised perspective view of a lantern with the diffuser extended according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 18  is a lower perspective view of a lantern with the diffuser extended according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 19  is a front view of a lantern with the diffuser extended according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 20  is a side view of a lantern with the diffuser extended according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 21  is a rear view of a lantern with the diffuser extended according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 22  is a bottom view of the lantern. 
           [0026]      FIG. 23  is a side view of a lantern with a tripod. 
           [0027]      FIG. 24  is a front view of a lantern with a tripod. 
           [0028]      FIG. 25  is a front view of a headlamp according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 26  is a side view of a headlamp according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 27  is a rear view of a headlamp according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 28  is an end view of a headlamp according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 29  is a perspective view of a headlamp according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 30  is an front perspective view of a headlamp according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 31  is a rear view of a headlamp according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0035]      FIG. 32  is a side view of a headlamp according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0036]      FIG. 33  is a front view of a user wearing a headlamp according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0037]      FIG. 34  is a side view of a user wearing a headlamp according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0038]      FIG. 35  is a front view of a tripod. 
           [0039]      FIG. 36  is a rear view of a tripod. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0040]    In some embodiments of the present invention, as seen in  FIG. 1 , the headlamp  200  of the headlamp and lantern system  10  in seen worn by a user. The headlamp LED engine  202  is positioned on the forehead of the user with a strap  203  around the user&#39;s head. The battery housing  201  resides at the rear of the user&#39;s head, on the strap  203 . The headlamp and lantern system  10  is adapted to provide a variety of use options to the user in a compact multi-use design. As seen in  FIG. 2 , the headlamp and lantern system can also be used as a lantern  100 , and may also be mounted to a tripod  300 . The same lighting and power components are used in both the headlamp of  FIG. 1  and the lantern of  FIG. 2 . 
         [0041]    In some embodiments of the present invention, as seen in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  5 , a lantern assembly  100  is adapted to go from a stowed, more compact, position, as seen in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , to a deployed position wherein the diffuser  102  is exposed, as seen in  FIG. 4 . The main lantern housing  101 , the diffuser  102 , and the lantern top  103  are a part of the system which allows a headlamp to be used to provide the power and light element for a lantern.  FIGS. 3 and 5  illustrate the lantern  100  in a stowed position. The diffuser  102  and lantern top  103  have been pushed down into the main housing  101 , allowing for compact and more impact resistant storage. The lantern top  103  resides along the top of the main housing  101  in the stowed position.  FIG. 4  illustrates the system in an extended position, wherein the system may be used as a lantern. The diffuser  102  and lantern top  103  have been extended up away from the main housing. A deployable hook  104  may deploy from the lantern top  103  to allow for support from above, such as from a hook or a sting. 
         [0042]      FIG. 6  illustrates portions of the system in exploded view. The removable lantern portion  106  is adapted to receive the headlamp portion  200  to be used a functioning lantern. The removable lantern portion  106  may have an outer housing  101  and an inner housing  105  which is affixed to the outer housing. The outer housing  101  and the inner housing  105  may define a space in between in which the diffuser  102  resides when in the stowed position. The stowing of the diffuser may allow for protection of the diffuser when the assembly is not in use as a lantern, and also allow for a more compact storage of the assembly. The diffuser  102  is adapted to be able to deploy to an extended position and then have mechanical stops that limit further travel. The top of the inner housing may have a reflector  111  adapted to reflect light within the diffuser to be reflected away. Clips  108  may be present to gently capture the headlamp LED engine  202  when inserted into the inner housing  105 . The clips  108  may capture the edge of the LED engine  202  along a bottom edge. When in use as a lantern, the LED engine  202  may be inserted into the inner housing  105  and captured with the clips  108 . The strap  103  may then be inserted into the inner housing  105  below the LED engine  202 , and the battery housing  201  may the clip into the bottom of the lantern portion  106 . With the deployable portion of the lantern portion  106  stowed, and the headlamp  200  inserted into and clipped into the lantern portion  106 , a compact unit is created for storage of this multi-function apparatus. 
         [0043]    In some embodiments of the present invention, as seen in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the lantern assembly is seen with the LED engine  202  clipped into the inner housing  105  using clips  108 . An upper reflector  110  is adapted to reflect light outward towards the diffuser  102 . The upper reflector  110  may be electroplated polycarbonate in some embodiments. The plating may be aluminum or indium tin oxide in some embodiments. 
         [0044]    When the diffuser and lantern top are moved to the extended position, the head lamp which resides in the upper portion of the inner housing provides light up into the diffuser. Within the top of the diffuser is a reflector, which is adapted to reflect light back down within the diffuser. Above the head lamp is a secondary reflector, also adapted to deflect light. The lights of the headlamp lamp, which may be LEDs in some embodiments, are adapted to shine through holes in the secondary reflector and up into the diffuser area. At the top of the diffuser resides the main reflector. 
         [0045]      FIGS. 9-11  illustrate the LED engine  202  according to some embodiments of the present invention. The center light  220  may be a 130 lumen white LED. The side lights  221 ,  222  may each have a red LED and a white LED in some embodiments. The center light may be used for spot lighting, and the side lights for flood lighting in some embodiments. Power for the LED engine is routed from the battery housing with a wire along the strap. The is adapted to stretch along with the strap when worn by a user. The base  223  of the LED engine  202  may have slots  224  adapted to receive the strap. The LED engine may be adapted to rotate in that the direction of the lights may be adjusted relative to the base  223 . This may allow for directional adjustment of the light beam when worn as a headlamp. 
         [0046]      FIGS. 12-16  illustrate the battery housing  201 . The strap of the headlamp is adapted to utilize junctions  231 ,  232  for connection to the battery housing. A slot  233  is used to route the wire out of the battery housing  201  and to the LED engine. On the bottom of the battery housing, a clip  230  may be present which is adapted to clip into a support structure such as a tripod. A slot  237  is adapted for use with tabs in the lantern housing which facilitate the retention of the battery housing in the lantern housing. Switches  234 ,  235 ,  236  are adapted to operate the LEDs. 
         [0047]      FIGS. 17-22  illustrate the lantern portion  106  according to some embodiments of the present invention. A lip  238  may be present on each end and may be adapted to capture the battery housing along its slots  237 . Tabs  239  are present and adapted to capture the bottom of the battery housing. The operational buttons of the battery housing are adapted to be accessible when the battery housing is in the lantern portion. 
         [0048]      FIGS. 23 and 24  illustrate a use of the lantern with a flexible tripod as a headlamp and lantern system  10 . In some embodiments the bottom of the battery housing may have an integral clip feature adapted to clip into a support structure such as a flexible tripod. In some embodiments, the tripod may be magnets at the ends of its flexible legs. 
         [0049]      FIGS. 25-29  illustrate the headlamp portion with the battery housing not fully incorporated for example only.  FIGS. 30-32  illustrate the headlamp as it would be worn by a user. A wire or set of wires  204  routes power from the battery housing  201  to the LED engine  202  along the strap  203 . Use of the headlamp on a head of a user is illustrated in  FIGS. 33 and 34 . The battery housing will reside at the rear of the user&#39;s head in some embodiments. The electrical power for the headlamp portion will travel through conductors from the battery housing. In some embodiments, the conductors will reside within the elastic band and be adapted to allow for extension of the elastic band. 
         [0050]      FIGS. 35 and 36  illustrate a tripod which may be used as a support structure in some embodiments of the present invention. The tripod  300  may have a clip receiver  301  adapted to receive the clip  230  on the bottom of the battery housing  201  to complete a headlamp and lantern system  10 . The tripod  300  may have flexible legs with frictional gripping portions on their exterior adapted to wrap around items such as bars and poles in some embodiments. 
         [0051]    The present invention has been particularly shown and described with respect to certain preferred embodiments and specific features thereof. However, it should be noted that the above-described embodiments are intended to describe the principles of the invention, not limit its scope. Therefore, as is readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, various changes and modifications in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. Other embodiments and variations to the depicted embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. Also, reference in the claims to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly stated, but rather, “one or more”. Furthermore, the embodiments illustratively disclosed herein can be practiced without any element which is not specifically disclosed herein.