Picture light apparatus and method

• US 20050047130A1
• Filed: 08/29/2003
• Published: 03/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael A. Waters
• Original Assignee: Michael A. Waters
• Inventors: Waters, Michael A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,066,619 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/231
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/033 the surface being a wall or like vertical structure, e.g. building facade
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/02 the power supply being a battery or accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/22 telescopic
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/29 employing universal joints
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/005 with an elongated shape to cooperate with linear light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/304 for pictures
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/02 Switches operated by change of position, inclination or orientation of the switch itself in relation to gravitational field tilting mercury container H01H29/20; change of position due to change of liquid level H01H35/18

Abstract

A picture light including a housing and one or more light-emitting diodes (LED'"'"'s) coupled to the housing. The housing is positionable adjacent to a picture in order to illuminate the picture. In some embodiments, the LED'"'"'s can illuminate the picture without emitting substantial amounts of heat and without emitting substantial amounts of ultraviolet radiation. The LED'"'"'s can, in some embodiments, illuminate the picture for at least approximately 35 hours and up to approximately 72 hours before the light emitted by the LED'"'"'s becomes diminished due to a battery becoming depleted. The picture light can include white and yellow LED'"'"'s. The picture light can include a level sensor.

Claims

1. A picture light comprising:

a housing positionable adjacent to a picture in order to illuminate the picture; and

at least one light-emitting diode coupled to the housing, the at least one light-emitting diode illuminating the picture without emitting substantial amounts of heat and without emitting substantial amounts of ultraviolet radiation.

2. The picture light of claim 1 wherein the housing is capable of storing at least one battery, and wherein the at least one light-emitting diode illuminates the picture for up to approximately 72 hours before light emitted by the at least one light-emitting diode becomes diminished due to the at least one battery becoming depleted.

3. The picture light of claim 1 wherein the housing is capable of storing up to eight standard C-sized batteries.

4. The picture light of claim 1 wherein the housing is capable of storing at least one battery, and wherein the housing is cylindrical-shaped and has a first diameter greater than a second diameter of the at least one battery.

5. The picture light of claim 1 and further comprising a bracket coupled to the housing, the bracket being attachable to at least one of a wall adjacent to the picture and a picture frame positioned around the picture.

6. The picture light of claim 1 wherein the at least one light-emitting diode has a lifespan of at least approximately 10,000 hours.

7. The picture light of claim 1 wherein the at least one light-emitting diode is coupled to a circuit board positioned within the housing.

8. The picture light of claim 1 wherein the housing is capable of storing at least one battery, and wherein the housing includes an end cap removably positioned on one end of a cylindrical-shaped housing in order to allow a user to replace the at least one battery.

9. The picture light of claim 8 wherein the end cap is removable without the use of a tool.

10. The picture light of claim 9 wherein the housing includes a first light-directing plate and a second light-directing plate, and wherein a user can move the first light-directing plate closer to the second light-directing plate in order to release the end cap from the cylindrical-shaped housing.

11. The picture light of claim 1 wherein the housing is capable of storing at least one battery, and further comprising a tube positioned between the housing and the at least one battery.

12. The picture light of claim 11 wherein at least a portion of an exterior surface of the tube is white.

13. The picture light of claim 11 wherein the tube is constructed of a material suitable for cushioning the at least one battery with respect to the housing.

14. The picture light of claim 11 wherein the tube is constructed of a material suitable for substantially preventing battery acid from leaking onto the picture.

15. The picture light of claim 1 wherein the housing is at least partially constructed of brass-plated steel.

16. A picture light comprising:

a housing positionable adjacent to a picture in order to illuminate the picture, the housing capable of storing at least one battery; and

at least one light-emitting diode coupled to the housing, the at least one light-emitting diode illuminating the picture for at least approximately 35 hours before substantially depleting the at least one battery.

17. The picture light of claim 16 wherein the at least one light-emitting diode illuminates the picture for up to approximately 72 hours before light emitted by the at least one light-emitting diode becomes diminished due to the at least one battery becoming depleted.

18. The picture light of claim 16 wherein the housing is capable of storing up to eight standard C-sized batteries.

19. The picture light of claim 16 wherein the housing is cylindrical-shaped and has a first diameter greater than a second diameter of the at least one battery.

20. The picture light of claim 16 and further comprising a bracket coupled to the housing, the bracket being attachable to at least one of a wall adjacent to the picture and a picture frame positioned around a perimeter of the picture.

21. The picture light of claim 16 wherein the at least one light-emitting diode has a lifespan of at least approximately 10,000 hours.

22. The picture light of claim 16 wherein the at least one light-emitting diode is coupled to a circuit board positioned within the housing.

23. The picture light of claim 16 wherein the housing includes an end cap removably positioned on one end of a cylindrical-shaped housing in order to allow a user to replace the at least one battery.

24. The picture light of claim 23 wherein the end cap is removable without the use of a tool.

25. The picture light of claim 24 wherein the housing includes a first light-directing plate and a second light-directing plate, and wherein a user can move the first light-directing plate closer to the second light-directing plate in order to release the end cap from the cylindrical-shaped housing.

26. The picture light of claim 16 and further comprising a tube positioned between the housing and the at least one battery.

27. The picture light of claim 26 wherein at least a portion of an exterior surface of the tube is white.

28. The picture light of claim 26 wherein the tube is constructed of a material suitable for cushioning the at least one battery with respect to the housing.

29. The picture light of claim 26 wherein the tube is constructed of a material suitable for substantially preventing battery acid from leaking onto the picture.

30. The picture light of claim 16 wherein the housing is at least partially constructed of brass-plated steel.

31. A picture light comprising:

a housing positionable adjacent to a picture in order to illuminate the picture; and

a plurality of light-emitting diodes coupled to the housing, the plurality of light-emitting diodes including at least one white light-emitting diode and at least one yellow light-emitting diode.

32. The picture light of claim 31 and further comprising a lens at least partially covering the plurality of light-emitting diodes in order to blend light emitted by each one of the plurality of light-emitting diodes.

33. The picture light of claim 32 wherein the lens is constructed of a substantially translucent material.

34. The picture light of claim 32 wherein the lens is constructed of polystyrene.

35. The picture light of claim 31 wherein the housing is capable of storing at least one battery, and wherein the plurality of light-emitting diodes illuminate the picture for up to approximately 72 hours before light emitted by the plurality of light-emitting diodes becomes diminished due to the at least one battery becoming diminished.

36. The picture light of claim 31 wherein the housing is capable of storing up to eight standard C-sized batteries.

37. The picture light of claim 31 wherein the housing is capable of storing at least one battery, and wherein the housing is cylindrical-shaped and has a first diameter greater than a second diameter of the at least one battery.

38. The picture light of claim 31 and further comprising a bracket coupled to the housing, the bracket being attachable to at least one of a wall adjacent to the picture and a picture frame positioned around the picture.

39. The picture light of claim 31 wherein the at least one light-emitting diode has a lifespan of at least approximately 10,000 hours.

40. The picture light of claim 31 wherein the at least one light-emitting diode is coupled to a circuit board positioned within the housing.

41. The picture light of claim 31 wherein the housing is capable of storing at least one battery, and wherein the housing includes an end cap removably positioned on one end of a cylindrical-shaped housing in order to allow a user to replace the at least one battery.

42. The picture light of claim 41 wherein the end cap is removable without the use of a tool.

43. The picture light of claim 42 wherein the housing includes a first light-directing plate and a second light-directing plate, and wherein a user can move the first light-directing plate closer to the second light-directing plate in order to release the end cap from the cylindrical-shaped housing.

44. The picture light of claim 31 wherein the housing is capable of storing at least one battery, and further comprising a tube positioned between the housing and the at least one battery.

45. The picture light of claim 44 wherein at least a portion of an exterior surface of the tube is white.

46. The picture light of claim 44 wherein the tube is constructed of a material suitable for cushioning the at least one battery with respect to the housing.

47. The picture light of claim 44 wherein the tube is constructed of a material suitable for substantially preventing battery acid from leaking onto the picture.

48. The picture light of claim 31 wherein the housing is at least partially constructed of brass-plated steel.

49. A picture light comprising:

a housing positionable adjacent to a picture in order to illuminate the picture;

a bracket coupled to the housing, the bracket being attachable to at least one of a wall adjacent to the picture and a picture frame positioned around a perimeter of the picture; and

a level sensor coupled to at least one of the housing and the bracket, the level sensor capable of generating a signal when the picture is not level.

50. The picture light of claim 49 wherein the level sensor includes:

a metallic ball contact positioned on an anode rail;

a first cathode contact positioned at a first end of the anode rail; and

a second cathode contact positioned at a second end of the anode rail.

51. The picture light of claim 50 wherein the metallic ball contact is capable of moving between a first level position located between the first cathode contact and the second cathode contact and a second non-level position adjacent to one of the first cathode contact and the second cathode contact.

52. The picture light of claim 51 wherein the metallic ball contact connects the anode rail to one of the first cathode contact and the second cathode contact in order to generate a signal when the picture is not level.

53. The picture light of claim 52 wherein the signal controls an indicator light-emitting diode coupled to one of the housing and the bracket.

54. The picture light of claim 53 wherein the indicator light-emitting diode blinks until the metallic ball contact returns to the first level position.

55. The picture light of claim 53 wherein the indicator light-emitting diode is positioned to shine against a wall upon which the picture is mounted.

56. The picture light of claim 50 wherein the first cathode contact and the second cathode contact each include a spring.

57. The picture light of claim 50 wherein the metallic ball contact is at least partially constructed of at least one of steel, copper, and brass.

58. The picture light of claim 50 wherein the anode rail is at least partially constructed of gold.

59. A method of illuminating a picture, the method comprising:

positioning a picture light adjacent to the picture;

directing light toward the picture from at least one light-emitting diode included in the picture light; and

illuminating the picture for at least approximately 35 hours and up to approximately 72 hours before light emitted by the at least one light-emitting diode becomes diminished due to at least one battery in the picture light becoming depleted.

60. The method of claim 59 and further comprising illuminating the picture without emitting substantial amounts of heat and without emitting substantial amounts of ultraviolet radiation.

61. The method of claim 59 and further comprising illuminating the picture with light from at least one white light-emitting diode and at least one yellow light-emitting diode.

62. The method of claim 61 and further comprising blending the light from the at least one white light-emitting diode and the at least one yellow light-emitting diode.

63. The method of claim 59 and further comprising generating a signal that controls an indicator when the picture is not level.