The present invention relates to illumination devices generally, and more particularly to portable illumination devices for removable attachment to various objects. This invention also relates to methods for removably attaching portable illumination devices to various objects.
A variety of illumination devices have been implemented to illuminate areas which receive no or insufficient light for human utilization. Most commonly, artificial means have been used to illuminate such areas. Some of the devices that have been developed to provide such portable illumination include electric or oil lanterns, self-supporting lights, and individual lighting units powered by batteries or electrical cords.
A particular application for such illumination means is in illuminating desired areas for inspection and/or manipulation, where traditional lighting systems are not available. Relatively compact illumination devices, therefore, have become desirable for such purposes.
Flashlights, in particular, have become very popular in such situations for their relative portability and low cost. One of the most common applications for such flashlights is in typical household maintenance and construction, though a wide variety of other flashlight applications are used on a daily basis. Often times, the flashlight operator utilizes the flashlight to illuminate an area in which tools or other implements are being utilized. To effectively manipulate such tools, the operator has traditionally needed to position the flashlight such that the flashlight illuminates the work area without requiring the user to continuously hold the flashlight. However, most portable flashlights project a relatively narrow illumination beam, thereby forcing the user to repeatedly re-direct and re-position the flashlight to illuminate desired areas. Thus, a need arose for a means of directing an illumination beam from a flashlight without requiring continuous manipulation from the user""s hands.
A number of mechanisms have been introduced which are designed to grasp conventional flashlights, and to be placed in various positions to more effectively illuminate desired areas. Examples of such devices are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,214,688, 2,354,853, and 1,540,372. Such devices provide means for gripping conventional flashlights such that user manipulation is not required, thereby freeing the users hands to perform other tasks. However, such devices typically have limited uses, and may not be universally adapted to function in various applications.
Portable illumination mechanisms proposed to date have not addressed the issue of having a lightweight device that may be removably attached to various objects such that the object may still be used for their intended purpose while having such an illumination device attached thereto. Furthermore, no such device has been proposed which incorporates an attachment means in the body of the portable illumination device itself, so that a single illumination device may be easily transferred to and from several receptacle objects.
Accordingly, it is a principle object of the present invention to provide a portable illumination device having attachment means integrated therein for removable attachment of the illumination device to various objects.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a portable illumination device that may be easily secured to and removed from small objects without interfering with the intended functionality of such objects.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a compact, portable illumination device that is removably attachable to various hand tools, including tape measures.
A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a portable illumination device having universal attachment means integrated therein.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable illumination device which incorporates a plurality of distinct illumination means.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a portable illumination device which incorporates multi-directional illumination means, each of which illumination means has a distinct illuminatory purpose.
A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a portable illumination device which incorporates a plurality of illumination means each emitting designated illumination wavelengths.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a portable illumination device incorporating one or more light emitting diodes (LED).
By means of the present invention, portable illumination is enhanced by providing an illumination device having attachment means integrated therein for removable attachment of the illumination device to various objects. Furthermore, such a portable illumination device may be utilized in a manner so as to avoid interfering with intended functionality of respective objects that the device is removably attached to. Such objects include everyday tools such as tape measures, saws, drills, nail guns, screw guns, as well as other common objects such as toolboxes, clothing belts, walls, and building studs. The portable illumination device of the present invention preferably utilizes one or more types of illumination elements, including light emitting diodes, incandescent lights, fluorescent lights, or other gas-charged lighting elements. Such illumination elements are preferably positioned in the illumination device and directed to illuminate specific target areas.
One embodiment of the portable illumination device of the present invention includes an outer frame having illumination means disposed at least partially therein, and attachment means for removably attaching the illumination device to desired objects, with the attachment means being formed integral with the outer frame. The device is preferably sized and configured to receive specific securing means which are connected to the desired objects. The attachment means may include one or more slots which are sized and configured to receive securing means being made up of protrusions sized and configured accordingly. The illumination means of the device may include one or more individual light emitting diodes (LED), wherein the light emitting diodes may illuminate in one or more distinct colors. The device may be particularly sized and configured to be removably attachable to a side surface of a tape measure such that the illumination device does not interfere with the functionality of the tape measure.
The present invention also contemplates a method of illuminating a target zone. The method includes providing a portable illumination device having attachment means formed integral therewith, and a securing means that is sized and configured to receive the attachment means. The method further includes connecting the securing means to a desired object, removably attaching the illumination device to the securing means via the attachment means, and actuating the illumination means. The illumination device of the present invention may also be utilized independent of the securing means, such that the illumination device is actuatable and directable in a variety of hand-held applications.