The present invention relates to a portable light. More particularly, the invention relates to a portable neck light.
Portable lights are known for use in various situations, including working on an automobile, working in the home and recreational uses. In such instances, there may not be an adequate amount of light; the user may require hands free lighting; the user may need to focus the light on the specific area being worked on; or similar issues.
Various types of portable lights are known in the art. While these devices may provide one or more of the desired attributes, including as set forth above, these devices have various shortcomings and may not meet the needs of a user of a portable light. These and other shortcomings of the known portable lights are addressed by the present invention.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a portable light which may be worn on a user's neck.
Another primary object of the invention is to provide a portable light which is wearable and provides hands free lighting for work, recreation or other activities.
Another primary object of the invention is to provide a portable light which may fit around a user's neck, resting comfortably against the user's neck.
Another primary object of the invention is to provide a portable neck light having two light sources, one on each side of the neck.
Another primary object of the invention is to provide a portable neck light having a LED light source on each side of the user's neck and providing up to 300 lumens per light source.
Another primary object of the invention is to provide a portable light wearable around a user's neck with a light source on each side which may be independently adjustable on an up and down axis to direct illumination of light as required by the user.
Another primary object of the invention is to provide a portable light wearable around a user's neck with a light source on each side which light sources may be removeable from the portable light and function as a hand held light.
Another primary object of the invention is to provide a portable light powered by alkaline batteries.
Another primary object of the invention is to provide a portable light powered by rechargeable batteries.
Another primary object of the invention is to provide a portable light wearable around a user's neck made of a semirigid plastic such as ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) plastic. The neck member of the portable light may be flexible allowing the portable neck light to be pulled outward when placing the light around a user's neck and may contract once on a user's neck to rest snuggly and comfortably on the user's neck.
Another primary object of the invention is to provide a portable neck light having a USB port and a battery charge indicator.
The portable light of the invention comprises a neck member adapted to fit around a user's neck, body members on each side of the neck member having a light source, a movable member between each end of the neck member and each body member allowing for the adjustment of each light source independently of the other, a power source and an on/off switch.
These primary and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention and from the accompanying drawings.
The following detailed description of the specific non-limiting embodiments of the present invention can be best understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structures are indicated by like reference numbers.
Referring to the drawings:
The present invention is directed to a portable light. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a portable light which may be wearable around a user's neck and includes on each side thereof a light source to provide the necessary illumination to an area of interest such as in an automotive garage or a work area in the home or for recreational purposes such as camping or reading. The portable light of the present invention includes a neck member adapted to fit around a user's neck, body members on each side of the neck member having a light source, a movable member between the neck member and each body member allowing for the adjustment of each light source independently of the other, a power source and an on/off switch.
Referring to
Referring to
The various components of the portable light 20 will now be discussed in further detail. Neck member 22 fits around a user's neck and may rest on the shirt collar of the user or fit comfortably around the neck of the user. The neck member of the portable light may be flexible, made of ABS plastic, allowing the portable neck light to be pulled outward when placing the light around a user's neck and may contract once on a user's neck to rest snuggly and comfortably on the user's neck. Each body member 24 may include an on/off switch 30 and the lighting components to independently turn off each light source. The body 24 is a molded ABS plastic and includes a body top 50, a body bottom 54 and body end (left tail) 46 providing for an integral body 24. The top and bottom pieces 50 and 54 of body 24 may include ribs 55 for gripping and preferably made of a resilient material. Body 24 includes a body end piece 46 upon which the main portions 50 and 54 of the body 24 may rotate by a tongue and groove locking member to access the battery 52. Inside body 24 are a power source, e.g. an alkaline battery 52, and operating component 56, e.g. a printed circuit board (PCB). Body 24 further includes the lighting components including an LED PCB light source 64, lens cap 60, lens 62, reflector 58, spacer 66, conductor plate 68 and spring 70. The switch 30 and operating components may provide for two or more operating modes, e.g. on/off; or with high and low illumination and off; or on with multiple degrees of illumination and off.
Referring, for example, to
The ratchet member 26 includes a gear assembly which allows the light body 24 to be adjusted up and down in relation to neck piece 22, preferably to an angle of about 70 degrees, although the invention is not limited thereto. Preferably, the ratchet member 26 comprises a ratchet body 40, a ratchet screw gear 42, a ratchet screw cover 44, a screw 45 and body end 46. The ratchet body 40 includes a cylindrical portion 40A and body end 46 includes a cylindrical portion 46A, each of which mates to form the cylindrical shape of the ratchet member 26. There are detents 47 on the inner cylindrical wall of body end 46 which interact with screw gear members 42A of screw gear 42. Screw gear 42 fits on shaft 41 of ratchet body 40, as shown, for example, in
In use, a user places the portable light 20 around the user's neck and turns on the light source at each side of the user's neck by switches 30. The user may adjust each of the body members 24 with the light sources 28 up and down by ratchet member 26. Preferably, the ratchet member 26 is constructed and arranged to provide for about a 70 degree angle of rotation and five different fixed positions. It is understood, however, that ratchet members 26 may not include gear member 42A and detents 47 and allow for smooth movement of body member 24 without any fixed position.
Referring to
Referring to
The various components of the portable light 120 will now be discussed in further detail. Similar to portable light 20, neck member 122 fits around a user's neck and may rest on the shirt collar of the user or fit comfortably around the neck of the user. The neck member of the portable light may be flexible, made of ABS plastic, allowing the portable neck light to be pulled outward when placing the light around a user's neck and may contract once on a user's neck to rest snuggly and comfortably on the user's neck. One of body members 124 includes an on/off switch 130. Body members 124 include the lighting components. The body 124 is a molded ABS plastic and includes a body 180, body end 164 attached to body 180 by connector 174, lens body 194 and lens cap 198 providing for an integral body 124. Body 124 includes the lighting components including an LED PCB light source 190, lens 196, reflector 192, heat sink 188 and ring 182 (colored red for aesthetics). The switch 130 operating the light components in body members 124 may provide for two or more operating modes, e.g. on/off; or with high and low illumination and off; or on with multiple degrees of illumination and off. The lighting components in body 124 are connected to the power assembly 132 by a wire (not shown) running from the power assembly (through wire anchors 148 and 150) through the inside of outer neck piece 162 and covered by inner neck piece 200.
As seen in
Referring, for example, to
The ratchet member 126 includes a gear assembly which allows the light body 124 to be adjusted up and down in relation to neck piece 122, preferably to an angle of about 70 degrees, although the invention is not limited thereto. Preferably, the ratchet member 126 comprises body end 164, ratchet body 168 with detents 169, gear cap cover 170 and detent stop 172, as shown, for example, in
In use, a user places the portable light 120 around the user's neck and turns on the light sources at each side of the user's neck by switch 130. The user may adjust each of the light sources up and down by ratchet member 126. Preferably, the ratchet member 126 is constructed and arranged to provide for about a 70 degree angle of rotation.
Referring to
Referring to
The various components of the portable light 220 will now be discussed in further detail. Like portable lights 20 and 120, neck member 222 fits around a user's neck and may rest on the shirt collar of the user or fit comfortably around the neck of the user. The neck member of the portable light may be flexible, made of ABS plastic, allowing the portable neck light to be pulled outward when placing the light around a user's neck and may contract once on a user's neck to rest snuggly and comfortably on the user's neck. The body member 224 includes an on/off switch 230 and the lighting components. The body 224 is a molded ABS plastic and includes a main housing 254, a front body 282 with overmold and button 284 and body end 246 providing for an integral body 224. Like portable light 20, the top and bottom of main housing 254 may include ribs 255. Body 224 includes a body end piece 246 upon which the main housing portion 254 of the body 224 may rotate by a tongue and groove locking member to access the battery 258. Inside body 224 are power source, e.g. an alkaline battery 258, operating components and a printed circuit board (PCB) 266. Body 224 further includes the lighting components including an LED PCB light source 268, LED bezel 270, lens cover 278, reflector 276, battery spring 256, contact A and contact spring 260, battery bus bar 262, contact housing 264, contact B 274 and gasket B 280. The switch 230 and operating components may provide for two or more operating modes, e.g. on/off; or with high and low illumination and off; or on with multiple degrees of illumination and off.
Referring, for example, to
The ball joint member 226 includes a ball joint assembly which allows the light body 224 to be adjusted up and down, preferably to an angle of about 70 degrees, although the invention is not limited thereto. Preferably, the ball joint member 226 comprises a ball member 240 and which is part of light body member 246. The ball member 240 includes a detent stop 241. Neck band 222 includes a socket member 242 for receiving ball member 240. Socket member 242 includes multiple detents 243 for engaging detent stop 241. The ball and socket member will allow movement of body member 224 up and down to focus the light from light source 228 and provide for a number of fixed positions. It is understood that ball joint 226 may not include detent stop 241 and detents 243 and allow for smooth movement of body member 224 without any fixed positions.
An additional feature of portable light 220 is that a portion of body member 224 may be removable from the portable light 220 to function as a separate hand held portable light. Specifically, main body housing 254 includes a magnet 252. Magnet 252 engages steel plug 250 in the base of body end 246 and holds main housing member 254 in place on portable light 220. A user may remove main housing 254 from body end 246 by gripping the housing member 254 and pulling it from body end 246, the degree of force necessary to remove the light is dependent on the strength of magnet.
Referring to
Referring to
Like portable lights 20, 120, 220 and 320, neck member 422 fits around a user's neck and may rest on the shirt collar of the user or fit comfortably around the neck of the user. The neck member of the portable light may be flexible, made of ABS plastic, allowing the portable neck light to be pulled outward when placing the light around a user's neck and may contract once on a user's neck to rest snuggly and comfortably on the user's neck. The body member 424 includes an on/off switch 430 and the lighting components. The body member 424 is substantially similar to the body member of, for example, the portable light of
Referring, for example, to
An additional feature of portable light 420 is like light 320, namely, that a portion of body member 424 may be removable from the portable light 420 to function as a separate hand held portable light. Specifically, main body housing includes a magnet 460. The magnet engages steel plug 462 in the base of body end and holds main housing member in place on portable light 420. A user may remove main housing from body end by gripping the housing member and pulling it from body end, the degree of force necessary to remove the light is dependent on the strength of magnet.
In use, a user places the portable light 420 around the user's neck and turns on the light source at each side of the user's neck by switches 430. The user may adjust each of the light sources up and down by movable member 426.
The exemplary embodiments herein disclosed are not intended to be exhaustive or to unnecessarily limit the scope of the invention. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the present invention so that others skilled in the art may practice the invention. As will be apparent to one skilled in the art, various modifications can be made within the scope of the aforesaid description. Such modifications being within the ability of one skilled in the art form a part of the present invention and are embraced by the appended claims.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/860,590, filed Apr. 28, 2020, entitled “Portable Light,” which latter application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/426,382, filed May 30, 2019, entitled “Portable Light,” now U.S. Pat. No. 10,667,431, which latter application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/743,327, filed Oct. 9, 2018, entitled “Portable Light,” and U.S. application Ser. No. 16/426,382 is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. Nos. 29/665,892 and 29/665,881, both filed Oct. 8, 2018, both entitled “Portable Light,” now U.S. Pat. Nos. D871,636 and D871,257, respectively, which applications and patents are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20200408390 A1 | Dec 2020 | US |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 16426382 | May 2019 | US |
Child | 16860590 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 16860590 | Apr 2020 | US |
Child | 17018565 | US | |
Parent | 29665892 | Oct 2018 | US |
Child | 16426382 | US | |
Parent | 29665881 | Oct 2018 | US |
Child | 29665892 | US |