Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
1. Technical Field
This invention relates to a portable light and, more particularly, to a portable hanging light with a magnetic holding strip.
2. Prior Art
Portable lights which can be manually moved and suspended about a work site to aid a user in obtaining the best lighting conditions are well known. It has been the practice to use incandescent light bulbs, suitably encased in light guards, for this purpose. Such lights are often referred to as trouble lamps, extension lights, work lights, inspection lights, and the like, and are commonly employed by mechanics and other workers who require a concentration of lights in a frequently changing location.
While utility lamps or so-called “trouble lights” are in widespread use, there are still some persistent problems with such lamps which have not had entirely satisfactory solutions. The great majority of utility lamps have hooks by which they may be hung while in use, but many situations occur in which there is no suitable support in the use environment for a hook of the size provided, or for supporting any hook. If the use environment does include a suitable support for hanging the utility lamp by a hook, that support is often not close enough to the work region in need of illumination. Once a utility lamp is hung by an integral hook, its orientation is more or less fixed by the orientation of its support, and that orientation may not be the best for illuminating the desired work region. These problems often occur during the maintenance or repair of automobiles and industrial equipment.
In addition to spot and floodlighting, a strobe light also is desirable for incorporation into a trouble light. In the event of emergencies or when signaling is desired, the activation of a strobe light is quite advantageous, especially at night time when visibility is poor. The strobe effect allows emergency personnel to easily locate and assist the individual(s) in need.
Accordingly, a need remains for a portable hanging light with a magnetic holding strip in order to overcome the above-noted shortcomings. The present invention satisfies such a need by providing a light that is easy and convenient to use, improves user safety through improved lighting, and is advantageously versatile in use. Such a light can be securely fastened to a multitude of surfaces by hooks and/or magnetic strip. This feature conveniently allows optimum illumination of the individual's work area. Furthermore, the trouble light can be attached to either a 12 volt direct current (DC) source or a 110 volt alternating current (AC) source advantageously allowing it to be adapted to the most readily available power source.
In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a portable hanging light with a magnetic holding strip. These and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are provided by a hand-operable apparatus for illuminating a selected work space.
The apparatus including a portable housing that has a centrally disposed longitudinal axis and a plurality of integral walls sized and shaped for defining a plurality of partitions axially formed within the housing. Such a housing further includes an adjustably positionable lens for conveniently allowing a user to selectively filter a luminescence intensity emitting outwardly from one of the partitions. The lens is preferably bifurcated and includes integrally connected surfaces diametrically offset from each other. Such a lens further includes a lever extending outwardly therefrom for conveniently allowing a user to readily position the lens along a selected arcuate path about the axis and adjust the luminescence intensity emitted from the apparatus. The one partition extends along a length of the housing substantially parallel to the axis.
A plurality of light-emitting sources are housed within the one partition and electrically coupled to an external power source. Furthermore, a plurality of control switches are spaced along the housing and operably connected to the light-emitting sources so that a user can advantageously manually toggle the apparatus between various operating modes.
A plurality of hook members are secured to selected portions of the housing and are removably engageable with a support surface for conveniently assisting to maintain the apparatus at a substantially stable position. One of the hook members is disposed along the axis and another of the hook members is resiliently connected to one of the housing walls along a rear portion thereof for providing axial and lateral support axes respectively. Such a hook member is anterior of the one partition for allowing the housing to be maintained along a selected plane obliquely offset from the axis. Another one of the hook members may be adjustably connected to the housing so that a user can advantageously swivel the housing along a radial path.
At least one power cord adapter is electrically coupled to the switches for advantageously allowing a user to electrically connect the apparatus to alternate ones of the external power sources. Such a power cord adapter preferably includes a power cord selected from the group including a 110-volt power cord, a 12-volt cigarette lighter power cord, a vehicle battery power cord adapter provided with a plurality of conductive clamps engageable with positive and negative battery terminals respectively, and any combination of the power cords.
The apparatus preferably further includes an elongated handle integral with the housing and axially extending downwardly and away therefrom for providing a surface onto which a user may conveniently grip the apparatus when transporting the housing between remote locations. Such a handle is provided with a conduit axially formed therein and in fluid communication with another of the partitions for directing at least one power cord adapter upwardly towards the light-emitting sources. The apparatus may further include a magnetic strip inconspicuously positioned within another housing wall so that a user can conveniently removably position the apparatus at an elevated position without employing the hook members.
The novel features believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiment set forth herein. Rather, this embodiment is provided so that this application will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the true scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the figures.
The apparatus of this invention is referred to generally in
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While the invention has been described with respect to a certain specific embodiment, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
In particular, with respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the present invention may include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation. The assembly and use of the present invention are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art.
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3593016 | Gerdel | Jul 1971 | A |
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4816969 | Miller | Mar 1989 | A |
D331634 | Browne | Dec 1992 | S |
5416685 | Myers | May 1995 | A |
5490050 | Clark et al. | Feb 1996 | A |
5528477 | Carmo | Jun 1996 | A |
5921658 | Kovacik et al. | Jul 1999 | A |
6663265 | Kovacik et al. | Dec 2003 | B1 |
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