Light apparatus

• US 20020012246A1
• Filed: 04/10/2001
• Published: 01/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aaron Nathan Rincover, Jonathan Richard Coles, Simon Christopher Maidment
• Original Assignee: Aaron Nathan Rincover, Jonathan Richard Coles, Simon Christopher Maidment
• Inventors: Rincover, Aaron Nathan, Maidment, Simon Christopher, Coles, Jonathan Richard
• Granted Patent: US 6,626,554 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/186
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/00 Electric lighting devices with self-contained electric batteries or cells
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/01 Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts F21V15/02 takes precedence housings forming signs or letters G09F13/04
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/012 Housings with variable shape or dimensions, e.g. by means of elastically deformable materials or by movement of parts forming telescopic extensions of the housing body
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

The invention provides a lighting apparatus comprising a hollow elastomeric body in which are encased a means for receiving electrical power such as battery terminals, and at least one light-emitting means such as an LED. One or more parts of the hollow elastomeric body are translucent, and light from the light-emitting means is transmitted through the translucent parts of the body in use to produce an attractive diffuse lighting effect. The light emitting means are actuable by means of a latch switch embedded within the hollow elastomeric body. In use a user squeezes the exterior surface to latch the switch to cause the apparatus to light, and may then safely handle the apparatus.

Claims

1. A light apparatus comprising:

means for receiving electrical power;

at least one light-emitting means electrically coupled to the means for receiving electrical power, and a hollow elastomeric body at least a part of which is substantially translucent;

wherein the means for receiving electrical power and the light-emitting means are substantially disposed within the hollow elastomeric body so as to be at least partially encased thereby, the light emitting means being further arranged with respect to the hollow elastomeric body such flat in use light is transmitted through at least one of those parts of the body which are substantially translucent.

2. A light apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hollow elastomeric body is resiliently deformable.

3. A light apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hollow elastomeric body is substantially spherical in shape.

4. A light apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hollow elastomeric body is formed from silicone.

5. A light apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hollow elastomeric body is formed from a material having a Shore Hardness rating A of between about 2 to 15, and preferably of about 7.

6. A light apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hollow elastomeric body is formed from a material having an elongation factor of between about 200 to 400%, and preferably of about 400%.

7. A light apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hollow elastomeric body is formed from a material comprising about 1 to 5% by weight of a diffusing agent, and preferably of about 3% by weight of said agent.

8. A light apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for receiving electrical power further comprises a battery compartment arranged to receive at least one battery.

9. A light apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a rechargeable battery is provided within the battery compartment, and the light apparatus is further provided with an electrical input terminal electrically coupled to the battery, the electrical input terminal being further arranged for receiving an electrical connector for supplying electrical current to the battery.

10. A light apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for receiving electrical power further comprises a power cable extending out of the hollow elastomeric body.

11. A light apparatus according to claim 1, and further comprising at least one light activation means, electrically coupled to the or each light emitting means and the means for receiving electrical power;

the light activation means being further arranged to activate the light emitting means as required by a user.

12. A light apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the or each light activation means is disposed within the hollow elastomeric body, and is or are further arranged to be actuable in response to pressure exerted on an exterior surface of the hollow elastomeric body.

13. A light apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the or each light activation means is an electrical latch switch.

14. A light apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said hollow elastomeric body is further provided with means defining cavities therein.

15. A light apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said means defining cavities comprise a plurality of inwardly extending protrusions provided on the inner surface of said body.

16. A light apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said protrusions are integrally formed with said body.

17. A light apparatus according to claim 1, and further comprising an inner pod means disposed within the hollow elastomeric body so as to be substantially encased thereby, said means for receiving electrical power and said light-emitting means being disposed within the inner pod means.

18. A light apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said hollow elastomeric body is further provided with means at least partially defining one or more cavities, said means being arranged to contact with said inner pod means to provide one or more substantially enclosed cavities within the hollow elastomeric body.

19. A light apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said means at least partially defining cavities comprise a plurality of inwardly extending protrusions provided on the inner surface of said body, the distal ends of the protrusions being arranged to contact an outer surface of the inner pod means to provide the one or more substantially enclosed cavities.

20. A light apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the inner pod means is formed from substantially rigid material.

21. A light apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the or each light-emitting means comprises a light-emitting diode (LED).

22. A light apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the or each light-emitting means is firer arranged to emit light of different colours.

23. A light apparatus according to claim 1, and fiber comprising a control means for controlling the or each light emitting means to emit light.

24. A light apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the control means controls the or each light-emitting means using pulse width modulation (PWM).