BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the multifunction reading light illustrating the reading light and supporting arm in its extended position.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the supporting arm when in its retracted or closed position with the reflector housing closing off the upper end of the battery housing.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the removable reading light, with the reading light in the stored position, prior to mounting in a holder.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the removable reading light mounted in a book cover.
FIG. 5 is a side view showing the removable reading light mounted in a holder with a releasable fastening strip for utility mounting.
FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the reading light mounted in a holder integrated with a portfolio.
FIG. 7 is a view of an illustrative circuit diagram for use with the removable reading light of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is an alternative embodiment of the book cover usable with the present invention, including means for holding other devices incorporated therewith.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIG. 1, a removable reading light 1 is shown. The reading light has a casing 2, with a battery compartment (not shown), accessed via a removable panel 3. The light itself 4 is mounted at the end of an arm 5 that extends from the casing 2, the arm having telescopic sections that enable extension and retraction of the light 4 from a storage compartment located in the casing 2. The arm is fully articulatable into many different settings, for directing light to a surface for illumination, as would be well understood by one skilled in the art.
The removable reading light further has a locking device 6, which is a button, tab or detent that is displaceable inwardly, being biased in an outward position, as shown in FIG. 1.
Referring to FIG. 2, the light and arm are in the stowed position, providing a fairly compact unit. This figure better illustrates that the detent 6 is mounted on a cantilevered arm 7 that is flexible inwardly for displacing the detent inwardly with light finger pressure. Of course, other means for biasing the detent into an upper position are possible, and the invention is not limited to this particular structure. Similarly, other means for removably locking the removable reading light in position may also be used. FIG. 3 shows the reading light in a plan view, prior to incorporation with a book cover, with the light and arm in the stowed position.
Referring to FIG. 4, the removable reading light 1 is shown incorporated with a book cover 8 having a pair of end flaps 9 and 10, having inner pockets 11 and 12 for receiving the covers of a book therein, thereby mounting the book for illuminated reading.
The reading light is incorporated by sliding the reading light slid into a pocket or chamber 13 arranged along a spine of the book cover, with the detent pressed inwardly as the detent engages an upper wall of the pocket. The light continues to move into the pocket until the detent 6 is aligned with an opening 14, whereupon, the detent enters the opening 14 and locks the removable reading light in position.
In accordance with the present invention, the removable reading light can be incorporated and moved between various covers and light holders containing such pockets, the light holders being either incorporated with other items, such as folders, or having means for mounting for use in many user selected locations.
For example, in FIG. 5, the removable reading light 1 is inserted into a light holder 15 comprising a pocket that has a separable fastener 16 located on a back surface 17 thereof. This allows mounting the light holder 15 to a base 18 having a mating separable fastener 19, which can be adhesively, mechanically, magnetically, or otherwise engaged, i.e. using Velcro, a clip or double sided adhesive, for example, to various surfaces. The light holder, in essence being a sleeve-like case for the light, can then be mounted using the base on virtually any surface, such as a desk, a headboard of a bed, a music stand, a car dashboard, or on a computer monitor.
The reading light 1 is placed in the light holder pocket 15, until the locking device 6 locks into a mating receptacle 20 for holding the light in position. Then, the holder can be mated to the base 18, already mounted in the desired location, so that a single reading light can be used for many different purposes, and in other locations. For example, the base 18 can be mounted on a computer monitor, or music stand, with the light 1 removed from a book cover by pressing in the detent 6, and the light pulled from the pocket 13, and then incorporated into the light holder 15 and used, for example, to illuminate music sheets. The light can then be relocated again, either with the same light holder for placement in a different location, or removed from the light holder and put back into the same book cover, or a different cover.
Another example is shown in FIG. 6, where a light holder pocket 21 is integrally formed in a portfolio 22 that contains a writing pad 23, and pockets 24 for papers or other items. Note that the light holder need not be located along the spine, but can be incorporated on one side or the other of the portfolio. In FIG. 6, the removable and relocatable reading light is mounted in the light holder, as in the previous embodiments, with a locking device in the form of a displaceable detent 6 mated to an opening 25 such that the detent can be pressed back through the opening for releasing the light from the light holder pocket.
Referring to FIG. 7, a power circuit that may be used in the present invention is shown. This circuit has a power source 26 an on/off switch 27 for powering two lights, 28. The on/off switch would preferably be built into the light, such that extending the arm turn the light on automatically, and pushing the arm back into the storage position turns the light off. Of course, other on/off switches could be used. Optionally, the circuit may includes a timer 29, so that the light will turn off automatically after a fixed time period, such as 20, 30, or 45 minutes. This is useful for example, in case the user puts down the book and forgets to put the light away, falls asleep, etc, to preserves battery life. To turn the light on after the timer has shut it off, the user would just toggle the on/off switch, such as by pushing the arm back in and pulling it out again. This would reset the timer.
Another convenience feature that may be used with the inventive removable light involves an improvement to the book cover itself Referring to FIG. 8, a book cover 30 has on an outside surface 31 thereof, a part of a releasable fastener 32, such as part of a hook and loop separable fastener, as discussed above. As above, a mating strip 33 can be incorporated with other devices or holders, such as a holder for eyeglasses, for a portable digital audio players and MP3 players, (MP3 Player, IPOD, etc), for a cellular phone or for a personal digital assistant (PDA). Of course, other devices and items could be temporarily attached to the book cover, as multiple strips can be provided to the user for adhesively applying to the different devices or holders, one or more of which can be attached to the book cover as needed. This allows attaching the device or device holder to the book cover, so the device is readily accessible and at hand, should the device be needed while the user is using the book cover. This can also be used with the folder, discussed above.
Using the present invention, the same reading light can perform many functions, being mountable with book covers of different sizes and shapes, other types of covers and folders such as music folders, checkbook covers, portfolios, etc, including for example, photo albums, scrap books, etc, as well as with holders matable with separable fasteners to virtually any surface. It should also be understood that the articulated arm, and light can be provided in many different forms and configurations, being only limited to meeting the requirements for providing a directable light of sufficient brightness for illuminating a surface sufficiently to meet the requirements of the user. Incandescent, fluorescent and light emitting diodes may be used as the light source, and an auxiliary connection for obtaining hard wired power, rather that using the batteries, is an option that may be incorporated in the inventive device.
It should be understood that a single removable reading light of the present invention may be used with many different book covers for holding books of any type, including paperbacks or hard cover books, of any size and of any thickness.
While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made without varying from the scope of the invention. For example, various locking means other than those shown and described may be used with the present invention.
Patent Application
20080049416
