This disclosure relates generally to illumination devices, and, more particularly, to a method, a device and/or a system of a modular device with interchangeable torch-lantern functionalities.
An illumination device (e.g., a lamp) may include a light source configured to illuminate an external environment thereof. The illumination device may include components that are prone to damage. Replacement thereof in the event of damage may prove to be expensive, especially when the illumination device is constituted by expensive components integrally formed therewith. Moreover, such a configuration of the illumination device may make it difficult for a user thereof to exercise his/her preferences with regard to replacing one or more component(s) constituting illumination device. Further, the configuration of the illumination device may limit use thereof to specific settings. For example, the user may have to use one illumination device toward utilitarian ends and another illumination device with a different configuration toward aesthetic ends.
Disclosed are a method, a device and/or a system of a modular device with interchangeable torch-lantern functionalities.
In one aspect, a modular device includes a light housing configured to receive a light source thereon, and a central housing, decoratively patterned and configured to be connected to the light housing such that, in a state of the connection of the light housing with the received light source to the central housing, the light source is also received through the central housing and encompassed by the central housing with the decorative patterning thereon.
A bottom surface of the central housing farthest away from the light housing includes a patterned formation thereon configured to enable connection of each of a handle element and a base element to the central housing based on the each of the handle element and the base element having a pattern on a top surface thereof that is complementary to the patterned formation on the bottom surface of the central housing such that the modular device is capable of being used as a torch when the handle element is connected to the central housing, and the modular device is capable of being used as a lantern when the base element is connected to the central housing.
The handle element includes a stem portion configured to be held by a hand of a user of the modular device and/or received through a receptacle, and the base element is configured to enable placement of the lantern on a flat surface based on appropriate surface contact between a bottom surface of the base element and the flat surface.
In another aspect, a method of a modular device includes forming the modular device based on providing a light housing configured to receive a light source thereon, and providing a central housing, decoratively patterned and configured to be connected to the light housing such that, in a state of the connection of the light housing with the received light source to the central housing, the light source is also received through the central housing and encompassed by the central housing with the decorative patterning thereon.
The method also includes providing a capability to the formed modular device to be used both as a torch and a lantern based on providing a patterned formation on a bottom surface of the central housing farthest away from the light housing compatible with a complementary pattern on a top surface of each of a handle element and a base element. The handle element includes a stem portion configured to be held by a hand of a user of the modular device and/or received through a receptacle, and the base element is configured to enable placement of the lantern on a flat surface based on appropriate surface contact between a bottom surface of the base element and the flat surface.
Providing the capability to the formed modular device to be used both as the torch and the lantern also includes connecting the handle element to the central housing based on the complementary patterns thereon to enable the use of the modular device as the torch, and connecting the base element to the central housing based on the complementary patterns thereon to enable the use of the modular device as the lantern.
In yet another aspect, a method of a modular device includes forming the modular device based on providing a light housing configured to receive a light source thereon, and providing a central housing, decoratively patterned and configured to be connected to the light housing such that, in a state of the connection of the light housing with the received light source to the central housing, the light source is also received through the central housing and encompassed by the central housing with the decorative patterning thereon.
The method also includes providing a patterned formation on a bottom surface of the central housing of the modular device farthest away from the light housing compatible with a complementary pattern on a top surface of each of a handle element and a base element. The handle element includes a stem portion configured to be held by a hand of a user of the modular device and/or received through a receptacle, and the base element is configured to enable placement of the modular device on a flat surface based on appropriate surface contact between a bottom surface of the base element and the flat surface.
Further, the method includes connecting the handle element or the base element to the central housing based on the complementary patterns thereon to enable use of the modular device as a torch or a lantern, and replacing the handle element or the base element connected to the central housing with the corresponding base element or the handle element based on the complementary patterns thereon to enable use of the modular device as the corresponding lantern or the torch.
The methods and systems disclosed herein may be implemented in any means for achieving various aspects. Other features will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows.
The embodiments of this invention are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:
Other features of the present embodiments will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows.
Example embodiments, as described below, may be used to provide a method, a device and/or a system of a modular device with interchangeable torch-lantern functionalities. It will be appreciated that the various embodiments discussed herein need not necessarily belong to the same group of exemplary embodiments, and may be grouped into various other embodiments not explicitly disclosed herein. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various embodiments.
In one or more embodiments, light housing 102 may include patterns thereon (to be discussed below) configured to enable reception of light source 106 therein. In one or more embodiments, light source 106 may be a lamp (e.g., based on Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology) configured to provide illumination to an environment external thereto. It should be noted that light source 106 may include a number of individual light sources therein. In one or more embodiments, light source 106, like light housing 102, may be a module of modular device 100.
In one or more embodiments, modular device 100 may include a central housing 104 configured to be connected to light housing 102 with light source 106 received therein. In one or more embodiments, light housing 102 with light source 106 received therein may be seen as a unit configured to be connected to central housing 104. In one or more embodiments, in addition to the patterns (to be discussed below) on light housing 102 to receive light source 106 therein, light housing 102 may include secondary patterns (not shown in
In one or more embodiments, in a state of the connection of light housing 102 with the received light source 106 to central housing 104, light source 106 may be received through central housing 104 and encompassed thereby (i.e., central housing 104), as shown in
In one or more embodiments, the decorative patterns on central housing 104 may not be limited to one decorative pattern. As, in one or more embodiments, central housing 104 may also be a module, replaceability thereof may manifest in the form of central housing 104 of the one decorative pattern being changed into another central housing 104 of another decorative pattern. In certain embodiments, central housing 104 may be envisioned as a main frame (not shown) with even the decorative pattern capable of being replaced with another decorative pattern, along with the main frame. In this case, the main frame and a barrier (with the decorative pattern) of central housing 104 encompassing light source 106 both may be considered as distinct modules.
In one or more embodiments, central housing 104 may be made of a material (e.g., metal, wood, plastic) with the decorative patterns integrally formed therewith. In this case, portions of central housing 104 without the decorative patterns may be transparent to allow light from light source 106 encompassed by central housing 104 illuminate the external environment of modular device 100. In one or more other embodiments, the decorative pattern may be made of translucent/semi-transparent material (e.g., thin plastic, paper, semi-transparent sheet) and coupled to central housing 104 to encompass light source 106 in the state of connection of central housing 104 to light housing 102. Thus, in one or more embodiments, the external environment of modular device 100 may be illuminated by light source 106 in a controlled manner.
In one or more embodiments, central housing 104 may also be coupled to a base element 110 (e.g., also decoratively patterned) at an end thereof opposite to an end of coupling of central housing 104 to light housing 102. In other words, in one or more embodiments, a bottom surface (to be discussed below) of central housing 104 farthest away from light housing 102 may include a patterned formation (to be discussed below) thereon configured to enable connection of said base element 110 to central housing 104. In one or more embodiments, the aforementioned connection may be based on base element 110 having a pattern (to be discussed below) on a top surface (to be discussed below) thereof that is complementary to the patterned formation (to be discussed below) on the bottom surface (to be discussed below) of central housing 104.
In one or more embodiments, modular device 100 may be capable of being used as a lantern when base element 110 is connected to central housing 104, as discussed above. In one or more embodiments, base element 110 may be configured to enable placement of modular device 100 in the lantern configuration on a flat surface (to be discussed below) based on an appropriate surface contact between a bottom surface (to be discussed below) of base element 110 and the flat surface.
In one or more embodiments, modular device 100 in the lantern configuration may be portable. In one or more embodiments, modular device 100 may rendered more portable based on providing a holding means for the lantern connected to light housing 102 at an outer portion thereof. As shown in
In one or more embodiments, the provision of hook element 108 or removability thereof may enable multiple applications of the lantern configuration of modular device 100. In one example, the lantern may be carried by user 150 using hook element 108 for utilitarian purposes. In another example, the lantern may be placed in a room for decorative purposes; here, hook element 108 may be removed or not even provided. All reasonable variations are within the scope of the exemplary embodiments discussed herein.
In one or more embodiments, stem portion 204 may also be longer than the depiction thereof in
Again, in one or more embodiments, handle element 202 may be regarded as a module of modular device 200. Again, as discussed above, said modularity may enable easier replacement of components of modular device 200 than replacing/fixing components in an integrally formed torch configuration of a device. In one or more embodiments, stem portion 204 of handle element 202 may be configured to be held by hand 152 of user 150 and/or received through a receptacle (e.g., a recess in a wall, a ground surface; to be discussed below). It should be noted that, also in the torch configuration, modular device 200 may be without hook element 108. For the aforementioned purpose, in one implementation, hook element 108 may be removable.
In other words, in one or more embodiments, pattern 314 and pattern 324 may both be complementary to patterned formation 304. For example, pattern 314 and pattern 324 may both be male members of a locking mechanism and patterned formation 304 may be a female member of the locking mechanism. Here, the connection of each of handle element 202 and base element 110 to central housing 104 may be based on the reception of a corresponding male member within the female member. In another example, each of pattern 314 and pattern 324 may include threads to enable thread based coupling to patterned formation 304 (e.g., complementary threads) of central housing 104. Other forms of pattern 314, pattern 324 and patterned formation 304 are within the scope of the exemplary embodiments discussed herein.
In one or more embodiments, the changeability of light source 106 may be enabled through complementary patterns 602. For example, a red LED lamp (example light source 106) may be replaced with a green LED lamp (another example light source 106). In addition, in one or more embodiments, light housing 102 may be replaced with another light housing (not shown) analogous to light housing 102. For example, said another example light source 106 may be coupled to the another light housing.
In one or more embodiments, as shown in
In one or more embodiments, operation 804 may then involve providing a capability to the formed modular device to be used both as a torch and a lantern based on providing a patterned formation (e.g., patterned formation 304) on a bottom surface (e.g., bottom surface 302) of the central housing farthest away from the light housing compatible with a complementary pattern (e.g., pattern 314, pattern 324) on a top surface (e.g., top surface 312, top surface 322) of each of a handle element (e.g., handle element 202) and a base element (e.g., base element 110). In one or more embodiments, the handle element may include a stem portion (e.g., stem portion 204) configured to be held by a hand (e.g., hand 152) of a user (e.g., user 150) of the modular device and/or received through a receptacle (e.g., receptacle 404), and the base element may be configured to enable placement of the lantern on a flat surface (e.g., flat surface 504) based on appropriate surface contact between a bottom surface (e.g., bottom surface 502) of the base element and the flat surface.
In one or more embodiments, operation 804 may also involve providing the capability to the formed modular device to be used both as the torch and the lantern based on connecting the handle element to the central housing based on the complementary patterns thereon to enable the use of the modular device as the torch, and connecting the base element to the central housing based on the complementary patterns thereon to enable the use of the modular device as the lantern.
Again, it should be noted that stem portion 204 may be associated with an extension pole, one or more connectors and a stake (e.g., with a sharp point, screw-based), which may be regarded as part of stem portion 204/handle element 202. All of the aforementioned components including handle element 202 and stem portion 204 may be regarded as modules of modular device 200.
In one or more embodiments, operation 1004 may involve providing a patterned formation (e.g., patterned formation 304) on a bottom surface (e.g., bottom surface 302) of the central housing of the modular device farthest away from the light housing compatible with a complementary pattern (e.g., pattern 314, pattern 324) on a top surface (e.g., top surface 312, top surface 322) of each of a handle element (e.g., handle element 202) and a base element (e.g., base element 110). In one or more embodiments, the handle element may include a stem portion (e.g., stem portion 204) configured to be held by a hand (e.g., hand 152) of a user (e.g., user 150) of the modular device and/or received through a receptacle (e.g., receptacle 404), and the base element may be configured to enable placement of the modular device on a flat surface (e.g., flat surface 504) based on appropriate surface contact between a bottom surface (e.g., bottom surface 502) of the base element and the flat surface.
In one or more embodiments, operation 1006 may involve connecting the handle element or the base element to the central housing based on the complementary patterns thereon to enable use of the modular device as a torch or a lantern. In one or more embodiments, operation 1008 may then involve replacing the handle element or the base element connected to the central housing with the corresponding base element or the handle element based on the complementary patterns thereon to enable use of the modular device as the corresponding lantern or the torch.
Thus, in one or more embodiments, the modularization of components of modular device 100/200 may not only provide advantages to manufacturers who only need to produce components with appropriate patterns that are interchangeable with existing components but also to users (e.g., user 150) of modular device 100/200 who are empowered to swap components for not only utilitarian purposes but also aesthetic ones. For example, user 150 may swap out light housing 102 and/or replace a current red LED lamp as light source 106 with a green LED lamp as light source 106. In another example, user 150 may swap out the decorative patterning of central housing 104 from a current pattern of butterflies to another pattern of, say, pumpkins for Halloween. All reasonable variations are within the scope of the exemplary embodiments discussed herein.
Although the present embodiments have been described with reference to specific example embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the various embodiments. Accordingly, the Specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.
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