HK1112049A - Portable and mountable light bulb and fixture - Google Patents

Description

Portable and mountable light bulb and fixture

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a lighting assembly, and more particularly to a portable and mountable lighting assembly.

Background

Movable light assemblies for use on vehicles such as motorcycles, in ovens, and as hand held lights have been described in the prior art, see for example us patents 5,820,254, 6,461,010 and 7,014,459. Unlike conventional flashlights, these devices allow the lighting assembly to be installed or disposed in a position for use and to be removed for storage, replacement or installation.

These known prior art devices have certain drawbacks, as well as light sources in closed or open environments. For example, the lighting assembly of a motorcycle cannot be separated from the vehicle as a discrete light source. Similarly, the oven illumination assembly cannot be used as a light source off the oven. In addition, while these portable electric lights are portable and practical discrete devices, typical hand held light flashlights, like flashlights, are not designed to be mounted to a surface.

The present invention addresses the deficiencies of conventional removable electric lamps by providing a discrete electric lamp that can be installed in an environment for long term use as a permanent or temporary fixture and can be conveniently removed for use as a portable light source without the use of tools.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention provides a lighting assembly that is both portable and installable. The lighting assembly can be attached to a surface not only as a stationary light source but also easily removed for use as a portable lighting device. In particular, the lighting assembly of the present invention comprises a retaining element that can not only be mounted to a surface but also releasably retain the light emitting element. The light emitting element can be attached to or detached from the holding member without using any tool, and can be used as a discrete light source when the light emitting element is detached from the holding member. The retaining element may be permanently or temporarily attached to the surface to facilitate the addition of light sources where needed or desired. The associated light emitting element is removable and portable.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a lighting assembly comprising: (1) a portable lamp unit having a light emitting device, a power supply and operating means for activating the power supply, wherein the light emitting device has at least one light source, such as incandescent light, halogen light, fluorescent light, a high intensity discharge tube, a light emitting diode and/or a laser; and (2) a base unit having a holding means for releasably holding said lamp unit and a fastening means for attaching said base unit to a surface.

In the portable light unit of the lighting assembly, the power source may be one or more batteries or an external power source. The operating means of the light unit may also comprise an actuator connected to the power supply and may be a string, a button, a slide switch and/or a sensor etc. The lamp unit may further comprise a light-transmissive cover enclosing at least a portion of the lamp unit, wherein the cover has a screw-type, snap-type or other type of connector for connecting to the lamp unit.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a holding device for a base unit of a lighting assembly that allows a lamp unit to slide in and out of the holding device without locking so that the lamp unit can be easily and conveniently removed. The retaining means may be a sleeve, hook and loop fastener, clamp, socket, cavity and/or groove. The fastening means of the lamp assembly base unit may be an adhesive, a screw, a nail, a bolt and/or a dowel.

The base unit of the light assembly may be temporarily or permanently attached to a surface such as a wall, ceiling, shelf or door.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a lighting assembly having a portable lamp unit with a light emitting means, a power source and an operating means for activating the power source, wherein the light emitting means has at least one light source, and a base unit. The base unit has retaining means for releasably retaining the light unit and fastening means for attaching the base unit to a surface. The operating means may activate the power source and the light emitting means may have at least one light source. The retaining means allows the lamp unit to slide in and out without locking and may have sleeves, hook and loop fasteners, clips, sockets, cavities and/or grooves. Also, the fastening means may be an adhesive, a screw, a nail, a bolt and/or a dowel. In addition, the base unit may be permanently or temporarily attached to a wall, ceiling, shelf, and/or door, among other surfaces.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a light-transmissive cover enclosing at least a portion of the lamp unit. The cover may have a connector to the light unit, which may be a threaded connection, a snap-on type or other type of connector.

It is another object of the present invention to use at least one battery as a light source, the power source being activated by an actuator, which may be a cord, a button, a slide switch and/or a sensor, etc. Also, the light source may be incandescent, halogen, fluorescent, high intensity discharge, light emitting diode, and/or laser.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of using a lighting assembly as described above, comprising the steps of: (a) mounting a base unit to a surface; (b) sliding the lamp unit into the base unit; and (c) activating the power source with the operating device. The method further comprises the steps of: (a) sliding the lamp unit out of the base unit; and (b) transporting the lamp unit.

Drawings

FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of a light unit of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the interior of a lamp unit according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a top perspective view of the interior of a light unit according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a bottom perspective view of a light source of a light unit according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a front perspective view of a base unit of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a rear perspective view of the base unit of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a light unit releasably retained in a base unit of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 shows a side perspective view of a lamp unit of another embodiment of the present invention with a light transmissive cover;

fig. 9 illustrates a side perspective view of a light transmissive cover of an embodiment of the present invention with a threaded connector.

Detailed Description

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a discrete lamp unit 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The lamp unit 10 includes a light emitting device 20, a housing 30 enclosing a power supply 40 (fig. 2), and an operating device 50 located outside the housing 30. The lamp unit 10 is portable, i.e. capable of operating independently. The light source 60 of the light emitting device 20 may be any light source capable of illuminating an area, such as incandescent, halogen, fluorescent, high intensity discharge, light emitting diode, laser, or any combination of these or other light sources.

In one embodiment as shown in fig. 3, the light source 60 is a halogen bulb filled with krypton for the purpose of extending the life and reducing energy consumption. The light source 60 may be mounted directly to the housing 30, but in one embodiment may be connected by a threaded connector 70 mounted to a platform 80, as shown in fig. 2 and 3. Typically, the electrical connection between the threaded connector 70 and the power source 40 is made through a switch (not shown).

The power source 40 within the housing 30 has at least one dc power source, such as one or more batteries 100 (shown in a bottom perspective view of one embodiment of the light unit in fig. 4), or an external power source connected through a jack in the housing 30. Such external power source may be an ac power source from a conventional electrical output (not shown) or a transformer of a hybrid power source. The external power source is particularly useful when the lamp unit is located in the base unit 200 (fig. 5) and the base unit is mounted close to a conventional power outlet. Fig. 4 shows a door 110 for placing a power source 40, such as one or more batteries, into the housing 30.

The operating device 50 of the lamp unit 10 has an actuator (not shown) which allows the power supply 40 to be activated. In one embodiment, the operating device 50 is a cord. However, any other switch actuators may be used, such as buttons, slide switches, sensors, and the like.

Fig. 5 illustrates a base unit 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The base unit 200 has a holding device 210. The retaining means 210 allows the light unit 10 to slide in without locking so that the light unit 20 can be detachably mounted by the base unit 200, or allows the light unit 10 to easily slide out as a separate portable device. In one embodiment, the holding means 210 is at least one sleeve adapted to receive the housing 30 of the lamp unit 10. Other retaining means such as hook and loop fasteners, clips, sockets, cavities, grooves, etc. may also be used.

The base unit 200 as shown in fig. 5 also has fastening means 220 for attaching the base unit 200 to a surface such as a wall, ceiling, shelf or door. The fastening means 220 shown in fig. 5 has holes 230 to receive one or more screws, nails, bolts, dowels, or other means of attaching the base unit 200 to a surface.

Fig. 6 illustrates a rear perspective view of one embodiment of the base unit 200. The figure shows the back of the holding means 210 and the fastening means 220. In one embodiment, the fastening means 220 may contain an adhesive, such as a double-sided adhesive pad (not shown), to temporarily or permanently attach the base unit 200 to a surface, either in place of the fastening means 220 or in addition to the fastening means 220.

Fig. 7 shows the invention in the form of a lamp unit 10 and base unit 200 assembly. The figure shows that the holding means 210 of the base unit 200 guides the light unit 10 to slide into position so that the holding means 210 releasably holds the light unit 10 by the housing 30. Fig. 7 also shows that the operating means 50 of the lamp unit 10 is a cord. The cord is connected to a conventional switch (not shown) of the power source 40, whereby pulling the cord 50 bidirectionally (reversibly) drives the power source 40 to supply or cut off power to the light emitting device 20.

Fig. 7 and 8 show a light-transmissive cover 250 enclosing at least a portion of the lamp unit 10. In one embodiment, the cover 250 is made of a transparent or translucent plastic to present the same appearance as a conventional light bulb envelope. The shroud 250 is connected to the housing 30 by a connector 260 (fig. 9), which may be a threaded type, snap-fit type, or other type of connector. In one embodiment, the connector 260 is complementary to a connector (not shown) formed in the housing 30 to provide a bi-directional connection. To replace the light source 60 of the light emitting device, it is only necessary to unscrew the cap 250, replace the light source 60 and reinstall the cap 250. Fig. 9 also shows a side perspective view of the light-transmissive cover 250 separated from the lamp unit 10 and the base unit 200.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the embodiments of the present invention without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that the invention is not to be limited by the foregoing detailed description, but only by the appended claims.

Claims (18)

1. A lighting assembly, comprising:

a portable lamp unit having a light emitting device, a power source and an operating device for activating the power source, wherein the light emitting device has at least one light source; and

a base unit having retaining means for releasably retaining the light unit and fastening means for attaching the base unit to a surface.

2. The lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein the retaining device allows the light unit to slide in and out of the retaining device without locking.

3. The lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein the retaining device is selected from the group consisting of at least one of a sleeve, a hook and loop fastener, a clip, a socket, a cavity, a groove.

4. The lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein the fastening means is selected from the group consisting of at least one of a screw, a nail, a bolt, and a dowel.

5. The lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein the base unit is attached to the surface.

6. The lighting assembly of claim 4, wherein the surface is selected from the group consisting of a wall, a ceiling, a shelf, and a door.

7. The lighting assembly of claim 1, further comprising a light transmissive cover enclosing at least a portion of the lamp unit.

8. The lighting assembly of claim 7, wherein the light-transmissive cover has a connector to connect to the lamp unit.

9. The lighting assembly of claim 8, wherein the connector is a threaded connector.

10. The lighting assembly of claim 8, wherein the connector is a snap connector.

11. The lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein the power source is at least one battery.

12. The lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein the operating device further comprises an actuator connected to the power source, the actuator being selected from the group consisting of at least one of a cord, a button, a slide switch, and a sensor.

13. The lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein the base unit is temporarily attached to the surface.

14. The lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein the base unit is permanently attached to the surface.

15. The lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein the light source is selected from the group consisting of at least one of incandescent, halogen, fluorescent, high intensity discharge, light emitting diode, and laser.

16. A lamp assembly, comprising:

a portable lamp unit having a light emitting device, a power supply, and an operating device; and

a base unit having retaining means for releasably retaining the light unit and fastening means for attaching the base unit to a surface.

17. A method of using the lighting assembly of claim 1, comprising:

mounting the base unit to a surface;

sliding the lamp unit into the base unit; and

the power supply is activated using the operating device.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

sliding the light unit out of the base unit; and

the lamp unit is transported.