ILLUMINATION DEVICE

• US 20150276187A1
• Filed: 06/10/2015
• Published: 10/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Case-Mate, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Glow Enterprises, LLC
• Inventors: Shoemake, Allan, Winter, William, Fernandez, Juan, McGrath, Paul, Londoo Restrepo, Juan David
• Granted Patent: US 9,464,796 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/00 Supporting, suspending, or attaching arrangements for lighting devices F21V17/00, F21V19/00 take precedence; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q, stands for supporting apparatus or articles in general F16M11/00; Hand grips
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0052 Audio or video equipment, e.g. televisions, telephones, cameras or computers; Remote control devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/048 Arrangements providing optical indication of the incoming call, e.g. flasher circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display

Abstract

The illumination device generally has a light source and an attachment assembly that connects the light source to the computing device. The light source may be a plurality of LEDs or a light panel using electroluminescent lighting. The illumination device may further comprise power source and at least one touch sensitive switch. The illumination device may also be integrally connected to the computing device and uses the power source of the computing device and being controlled by buttons or switches of the computing device. The illumination device may also provide additional signals for incoming calls or ongoing calls by displaying different light intensity, pattern, or color. In some instances, a light cover is implemented to cover the light sources and diffuse light emanating therefrom.

Claims

1. An illumination device capable of being removably coupled to a computing device, the illumination device comprising:

an attachment assembly having a recess sized to receive the computing device,

wherein the attachment assembly provides access to at least one touch sensitive surface along a top, a bottom, and/or a side of the computing device;

at least one securement mechanism that retains the computing device within the recess;

at least one light source contained within the attachment assembly,

wherein the at least one light source is covered by a light cover;

a touch sensitive button disposed on a surface of the attachment assembly,

wherein the touch sensitive button changes an intensity of the at least one light source; and

a power source operably coupled to the at least one light source.

2. The illumination device of claim 1 further comprising a charging port.

3. The illumination device of claim 2 wherein the charging port enables the power source to be recharged.

4. The illumination device of claim 1 wherein the attachment assembly encloses the computing device along each side of the computing device.

5. The illumination device of claim 1 wherein the attachment assembly permits volume adjustment of the computing device.

6. An illumination device for a computing device, the illumination device comprising:

an attachment assembly capable of being removably coupled to the computing device,

wherein the attachment assembly has a front surface, a back surface, a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least two side surfaces,

wherein the at least two side surfaces have a light rail disposed thereon that extend past the front surface;

at least one touch sensitive button disposed on either the back surface or one of the at least two side surfaces;

a charging port located on the bottom surface of the attachment assembly;

a plurality of light sources located within the light rail on each of the at least two side surfaces; and

a power source contained within the attachment assembly and operably coupled the plurality of light sources.

7. The illumination device of claim 6 further comprising at least two securement structures capable of retaining the computing device.

8. The illumination device of claim 6 wherein the light rails are at least partially comprised of a light diffusing material.

9. The illumination device of claim 6 wherein the at least one touch sensitive button brightens and/or dims the plurality of light sources.

10. The illumination device of claim 7 wherein the at least two securement structures are lateral extensions extending from the light rails.

11. The illumination device of claim 6 wherein the plurality of light sources emit white light.

12. The illumination device of claim 6 further comprising an aperture located and sized to permit use of an image capturing device therethrough.

13. The illumination device of claim 6 further comprising an ambient light sensor, wherein the ambient light sensor automatically adjusts the intensity of the plurality of light sources based on the ambient light.

14. The illumination device of claim 6 wherein the plurality of light sources generate a luminous response based on an operative state of the computing device.

15. The illumination device of claim 6 wherein the plurality of light sources along one of the at least two side surfaces are more numerous than the other of the at least two side surfaces.

16. An illumination device for a computing device, the illumination device comprising:

an attachment assembly capable of being removably coupled to the computing device,

wherein the attachment assembly has a front surface, a back surface, a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least two side surfaces,

wherein each of the at least two side surfaces have at least one light rail comprising a light cover and a plurality of light sources disposed thereon, the at least one light rail extending past the front surface, and

wherein the attachment assembly has a recess sized to receive the computing device;

at least one touch sensitive button disposed on the back surface of the attachment assembly,

wherein the at least one touch sensitive button changes an operative state of the plurality of light sources;

a rechargeable battery contained within the attachment assembly and being operably coupled to the plurality of light sources;

a charging port located on the bottom surface of the attachment assembly;

at least two securement structures capable of retaining the computing device in the attachment assembly,

wherein the at least two securement structures are lateral extensions with each of the at least two securement structures extending from a separate light rail, and

wherein the computing device is released from the at least two securement structures by flexing of the attachment assembly.

17. The illumination device of claim 16 wherein the light cover is disposed over an area above and on each side of each of the plurality of light sources.

18. The illumination device of claim 16 wherein the light cover diffuses light emanating from the plurality of light sources.

19. The illumination device of claim 16 further comprising an ambient light sensor.

20. The illumination device of claim 16 wherein there are two securement mechanisms located at opposing ends and opposing sides of the attachment assembly.