Patent Application
20070236961
This invention relates, in general, to a light source and, in particular, a light source for illuminating an area, such as a portion of a room or hallway.
Various light sources are available to illuminate an area such as a room or hallway, according to the purpose being served. For example, light fixtures can be used to provide the desired illumination. Alternatively, a small AC/DC powered electrical light source can be used to provide a limited illumination, commonly referred to as a “night light”, which is often left on throughout the night.
Most night lights currently available in the market are stationary and do not permit manipulation of the light source to meet the individual need of the user, for example, to change the direction of the light, for example, to focus the light toward a certain direction or to alter the amount of illumination, or to change its brightness. Rather, the light source merely illuminates its vicinity according to its fixed brightness, and typically cannot be directed or the brightness altered. Therefore, most night lights currently available in the market do not provide users with many options on its use.
Additionally, most night lights currently available either use incandescent light bulbs, which are lit by heating filaments, or an LED (Light Emitting Diode) replacing an incandescent light bulb in a night light designed for an incandescent light bulb. More specifically, many night lights utilizing LEDs are designed for 5 or 7 watt bulbs, which have been modified to accept LEDs instead of the light bulbs. The lens optics, the design, etc. all follow the incandescent design. Therefore, the light emanating from the LED is not maximized.
In light of shortcomings described above, it is desirable to provide a light source such as a night light that can be manipulated, and preferably, a night light that is engineered and designed for utilizing LEDs.
Generally speaking, the present invention is directed toward a light source such as a night light that can be selectively manipulated. It is to be understood that the term “night light” includes any source of light that is not corded and can be plugged directly into an AC/DC outlet.
More specifically, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a light source comprises a base that can be directly connected to the power source, for example, via a power plug and a selectively pivotable housing having at least one LED mounted within, preferably covered by a clear protective lens. By providing a pivotable housing having at least one LED, the direction and the strength of the illumination can be controlled.
In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a light source having a pivotable housing is provided.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a night light that optimizes the illumination from an LED.
Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figure. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for the purpose of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should be made to the appended claims.
For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is had to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Reference is made to
Base 100 preferably comprises a plug 130 for electrically connecting light source 10 to the power source via an outlet. As shown in
Referring to
Housing 200 preferably encloses LEDs 210, 211, which preferably provide substantially focused beams of light compared to light bulbs, and mount 230 between a shell 220 and backing 221. Housing 200 can comprise a plurality of LEDs, for example, two LEDs as shown in
Additionally, referring to
As shown in FIGS. 1, 4-5, an embodiment of shell 220 comprises a greater curvature toward one end of shell 220 and a smaller curvature toward another end of shell 220. Preferably, the smaller curvature is proximate pivot 250, and the greater curvature is the end opposite pivot 250. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, shell 220 comprises a shape similar to a headlight of an automobile, more specifically, wherein the curvature of the top of shell 220 is greater than the curvature toward the bottom of shell 220. By providing a greater curvature toward the top and a smaller curvature toward the bottom, housing 200, when flushed against base 100, provides a dispersed light upward and a more concentrated light parallel to the ground and downward, thereby better lighting the floor than a light that disperses light equally.
More preferably, backing 221 comprises a material that prevents light from emanating through. Therefore, when housing 200 is pivoted outward from base 100, for example, toward the floor as shown in
Referring to
In accordance with the embodiments of the invention as shown in
The examples provided are merely exemplary, as a matter of application specific to design choice, and should not be construed to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
Thus, while there have been shown and described and pointed out novel features of the present invention as applied to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the disclosed invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, housing 200 can comprise a different shape, for example, it can be rectangular, round, etc., without deviating from the scope of the invention as a matter of application specific to design choice. Additionally, other alterations can be made, as a way of non-limiting example, increasing the number of LEDs, altering the transparency of shell 220, depending on the desired illumination, as a matter of application specific to design choice, without deviating from the scope of the invention. Alternatively, backing 221 can be translucent, to provide a glowing appearance or slight illumination of housing 200, without deviating from the scope of the invention as a matter of application specific to design choice. Furthermore, whereas sensor 20 is illustrated to provide automatic activation and termination of light source 10, a manual switch may be provided as a matter of application specific to design choice without deviating from the scope of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.
It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.
