Illumination device

• US 20030193795A1
• Filed: 04/12/2002
• Published: 10/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dahvid N. Brown
• Original Assignee: Dahvid N. Brown
• Inventors: Brown, Dahvid N.
• Granted Patent: US 6,666,563 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/84
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 5/007 with light emitting devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/56 Lighting devices mounted on elongate supports, e.g. on flexible arms
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/59 Lighting devices mounted in the vehicle interior and adapted for portability
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/88 Means for plugging to the electrical power supply of the vehicle, e.g. by using cigarette lighter sockets
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/00 Lighting devices intended for fixed installation F21S9/00, F21S10/00 take precedence; using a string or strip of light sources F21S4/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/0885 for portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/0925 for portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/0965 for portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/22 telescopic
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/32 Flexible tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0004 Personal or domestic articles
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0048 Office articles, e.g. bookmarks, desk lamps with drawers, stands for books or music scores
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/3005 for books, i.e. reading lights attachable to books
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/00 Planar light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/20 Electroluminescent [EL] light sources

Abstract

An illumination device has a base portion, a neck portion attached to the base portion, a power source and an illumination panel. The illumination panel has an electroluminescent light source or a light guide that produces a diffuse light. The illumination panel may have roughly the thickness of a credit card and may be positioned via the flexible neck portion. The illumination device is particularly suited for use as a book light or task light due to its uniform, diffuse light, and compact size.

Claims

1. An illumination device, comprising:

a base portion;

a neck portion attached to the base portion;

a power source; and

an illumination panel affixed to the neck portion and electrically connected to the power source, wherein said illumination panel has an electroluminescent light source that produces a diffuse light.

2. The illumination device of claim 1, further comprising a clip for attaching the illumination device to at least one of a book, a shirt pocket, a computer and a holder.

3. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the base portion includes an adjustable clamp for attaching the illumination device to a surface.

4. The illuminating device of claim 1, further comprising an electrical connector that allows power to be drawn from an external source.

5. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the neck portion is flexible to allow the illumination panel to be placed in various positions relative to the base portion.

6. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the neck portion is rigid.

7. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the neck portion has at least one hinge to allow the illumination panel to be rotated about at least one axis.

8. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the neck portion further comprises at least one telescoping member.

9. An illumination device, comprising:

a base portion;

a neck portion attached to the base portion;

a power source; and

an illumination panel affixed to the neck portion and optically connected to a light source, wherein said illumination panel has a light guide that produces a diffuse light.

10. The illumination device of claim 9, wherein the light guide is a fiber optic panel.

11. The illumination device of claim 10, wherein the light guide is formed from at least one polymer panel having at least one reflective surface.

12. The illumination device of claim 9, further comprising a clip for attaching the illumination device to at least one of a book, a shirt pocket, a computer and a holder.

13. The illumination device of claim 9, further comprising an adjustable clamp for attaching the illumination device to a surface.

14. The illuminating device of claim 9, further comprising an electrical connector that allows power to be drawn from an external source.

15. The illumination device of claim 9, wherein the neck portion is flexible to allow the illumination panel to be placed in various positions relative to the base portion.

16. The illumination device of claim 9, wherein the neck portion is rigid.

17. The illumination device of claim 9, wherein the neck portion has at least one hinge that allows the illumination panel to be rotated about at least one axis.

18. The illumination device of claim 9, wherein the neck portion further comprises at least one telescoping member.

19. An illumination device, comprising:

a base portion;

a neck portion attached to the base portion;

a power source; and

an illumination panel affixed to the neck portion, wherein said illumination panel is a thin member containing a diffuse light source.

20. The illumination device of claim 19, wherein the illumination panel is quadralateral in shape.

21. The illumination device of claim 19, further comprising a clip for attaching the illumination device to at least one of a book, a shirt pocket, a computer and a holder.

22. The illumination device of claim 19, further comprising an adjustable clamp for attaching the illumination device to a surface.

23. The illuminating device of claim 19, further comprising an electrical connector that allows power to be drawn from an external source.

24. The illumination device of claim 19, wherein the neck portion is flexible to allow the illumination panel to be placed in various positions.

25. The illumination device of claim 19, wherein the neck portion is rigid.

26. The illumination device of claim 19, wherein the neck portion has at least one hinge to allow the illumination panel to be rotated about at least one axis.

27. The illumination device of claim 19, wherein the neck portion has at least one hinge that allows the illumination panel to be rotated about at least one axis.

28. The illumination device of claim 19, wherein the light source includes at least one of an electroluminescent light, an organic light emitting diode and a light guide that provide a diffuse light.

29. The illumination device of claim 19, wherein the thin member has a thickness of between about 1 millimeter and about 10 millimeters.

30. The illumination device of claim 19, wherein the neck portion further comprises at least one telescoping member.