Patent Grant
7040783
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to lamps, specifically to a clamp-on lamp which can swivel and pivot to a wide range of positions.
2. Prior Art
Heretofore portable clamp-on lamps were large and unwieldy and could not be adjusted to shine light in a relatively wide range of areas. E.g., existing clamp on lamps were too large to fit on mirrors for use in a shower and were not versatile, i.e., they could not be positioned so that they illuminated the mirror or the user, such as a man shaving. (One such mirror is shown in my patent U.S. Pat. No. 5,953,157 (1999).) Also existing clamp-on lamps were too heavy to clamp onto such a mirror, they were awkward to use, were not waterproof, and/or required mains electrical power, which was dangerous and unwieldy for a shower.
Accordingly, several advantages of some aspects of the invention are to provide an improved clamp-on lamp that can be adjusted to shine light in a relatively wide range of areas, that can be used with a shower mirror in a convenient and facile way to provide additional light for the user of the mirror for shaving, grooming, etc., that is small enough to fit on such mirrors, that are versatile so as to be able to swivel to useful positions where they can illuminate the mirror or the user, that are light enough to clamp onto the mirror, they are easy to use, and are waterproof. Other advantages of various aspects of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and the accompanying drawings.
In accordance with the invention, a clip-on task lamp has a spherical- or ball-shaped head that is pivotally and frictionally mounted between the cup-shaped ends of two tines of a ball-holding fork so that the ball-head can be rotated to any position. The ball-head has a front lens with two LEDs that are backed by a reflector. The ball has a flexible two-state pushbutton switch on the rear side and an internal battery. The base of the ball-holding fork comprises a single leg with a small swivel ball. The lamp has a clamp part that has, at its top end, two arms with two respective cup ends that hold the small swivel ball by friction fit. The base end of the clamp part comprises two legs, a shorter one of which is springably pivoted on an ear of the other. The end of each leg has a swivel pad and the shorter leg has a projection for facilitating spreading the legs so that they can be sandwiched around a member and clamped to it.
The bottom part of holding clamp 12 comprises a clip that has two legs, a main or generally straight leg 12M and a pivotable curved leg 12C that is pivoted on main leg 12M. The pivot of leg 12C contains a spring that urges leg 12C against leg 12M, but the legs are shown spread apart for better illustration. The end of each leg has a pivotable pad 12P. Curved leg 12C has a projecting ear, lug, or thumb spur 12L that facilitates opening the legs.
As shown in
The rear elevational view of
Further details of the lamp can be seen in the top and bottom views of
Clamp 12 is shown in
In one embodiment, ball head 10 had a diameter of about 38 mm and the overall lamp had a length of 115 mm, with parts sized proportionally. All parts were made of rigid plastic, with membrane 10S and pads 12P being made of flexible vinyl or rubber and pivot pin 12V and its spring (not shown) being made of stainless steel. Except for tens 10L, which is transparent, the ball was made of grey plastic. The fork and the clamp were made of transparent plastic and pads 12P were grey. Inside ball head 10, the switch parts, the LEDs, and the wiring were made of conventional materials.
Operation—
To operate and use the lamp, the user first clamps its main and curved legs 12M and 12C (
Next the user turns on the lamp by depressing switch cover 10S and adjusts the angle of the ball head and pivot ball 14B so that the light from the front of the lamp, emitted through lens 10L, shines on the user's face. Due to the friction grip on both of these balls, the ball head will remain in any position to which it is adjusted. If the user changes the position of the mirror, the lamp will remain in the same position with respect to the mirror, but its position can easily be readjusted if necessary. When the user is finished shaving, they will turn the lamp off by re-pressing membrane 10S. If the user desires to illuminate any other task, they can easily remove the lamp and reattach it to any mount that is close to the task. E.g., for reading a book, the lamp can be clamped to the cover of a book and made to shine on the pages, for working on an electrical or mechanical device, the lamp can be clamped to any convenient mount, such as the leg of a conventional lamp, a bookcase, a rib on the underside of a car hood, etc. Since the lamp has no wires and is small and light, it can be conveniently used safely anywhere. Since it uses LEDs, its batteries will have a very long life, yet it will provide ample light for fine visual tasks. Since its head is self-contained and waterproof, it can be used in wet environments
The ball head resembles an eye and can be used alone, without its clamp-holder, e.g., as a lit throwing and catching ball or as a very compact flashlight. It can be removed from and replaced in fork 14 by simply pulling it out or pushing it back between the tines.
FIG. 9—Ball Head Details
Switch or back part 10W has a partially spherical back that forms part (about ⅓) of the sphere or ball shape of the head. Inside the back part is a conventional two-state, push-on-push-off switch (not shown). Extending out from the back part and spaced in from the outside is a cylindrical ridge, flange, or collar 10C that has screw threads on its outside surface. A conventional contact button 10B is positioned in the center of the back part and a conventional lead or strap 10P extends up to mate with a contact in bulb part 10B as in a conventional flashlight circuit.
Front or bulb part 10F also has a partially spherical shape that forms the remaining part (about ⅔) of the sphere or ball shape of the head. Extending out from the front part is a cylindrical collar 10C′ that has screw threads on its inside surface that mate with the threads on cylinder 10C of the back part. Also extending out from the front part is an internal or inside cylindrical or circular collar 10I that is concentric with collar 10C′ and forms a cylindrical groove or moat between the two collars. The internal diameter of internal collar 10I is 20 mm, which is slightly larger than the diameter of energy cell 10E. In the center of collar 10I is a front contact button 10B′ that has a partially upstanding tang. The outside of collar 10I has a contact ring that mates with strap 10P. The contact ring also communicates with one terminal of the LEDs and the other terminal is connected to contact button 10B′.
When the two portions of the head are mated, the energy cells are placed inside ridge 10I and the two portions are brought together and aligned and rotated to mate the threads of collar 10C with those of collar 10C′. As the parts are screwed together, collar 10C extends into the moat or cylindrical space between collars 10I and 10C′ and button 10B. As the parts are screwed home, the cells are compressed slightly between buttons 10B and 10B′, so as to force down the tang of button 10B′. Cells 10E are also held within or prevented from sidewise travel by collar 10I. A conventional gasket (not shown) is used around ridge 10C to prevent water from entering the lamp.
Accordingly the reader will see that, according to the invention, I have provided an improved clamp-on lamp that can be adjusted to shine light in a relatively wide range of areas, that can be used with a shower mirror in a convenient and facile way to provide additional light for the user of the mirror for shaving, grooming, etc., that is small enough to fit on such mirrors, that is versatile so as to be able to swivel to useful positions where it can illuminate the mirror or the user, that is light enough to clamp onto the mirror, that is easy to use, is waterproof, and does not require mains power.
While the above description contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but as exemplifications of the presently preferred embodiments thereof. Many other ramifications and variations are possible within the teachings of the invention.
For example the lamp head can have a shape other than spherical, such as oval, rectangular, etc. The head may be held by a pivot pin rather than a friction mount. The shape of the head-holding fork arms can change, as can the shape of the clamp arms. Both arms can be straight or curved and of similar shape. The lug on the curved arm can be eliminated. The pads on the arms can be changed or eliminated. The ball-and-socket joint at the base of the head holding fork can be changed to a flexible arm or can be made rigid. The type of bulbs in the head can be changed to incandescent or fluorescent. The internal arrangement of the ball head can be changed. The switch can be a rotational switch, a slide switch, etc.
Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, and not by the examples given.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5388825 | Myers et al. | Feb 1995 | A |
| 6076946 | Brouillette et al. | Jun 2000 | A |
| 6155700 | Hsu | Dec 2000 | A |
| 6224230 | Roegiers | May 2001 | B1 |
| 6626554 | Rincover et al. | Sep 2003 | B1 |
| D496483 | Christianson | Sep 2004 | S |
