Universal trouble light

• US 4,258,414 A
• Filed: 08/01/1979
• Issued: 03/24/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Plymouth Products, Inc. (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Original Assignee: Plymouth Products, Inc. (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Inventors: Sokol, Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): Bentley, Stephen C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Miles, Edward F.
• Application Number:
  US06/062,583
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 362/258, 362/378, 362/398, 362/421, 248/288 A, 248/481
• US Class Current: 362/421
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 14/02 capable of hand-held use, e.g. inspection lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/02 Cages
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/02 with provision for adjustment, e.g. for focusing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/08 Devices for easy attachment to any desired place, e.g. clip, clamp, magnet
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/29 employing universal joints

Abstract

A universal trouble light includes a longitudinally extending handle and a first apertured ball and a socket therefor carried at one end of the handle. A longitudinally extending barrel member also carries a ball and socket therefor at one of its ends. The balls are rigidly connected to thereby position the handle and barrel member in spaced proximity to each other. The handle and barrel member are capable of relative rotative and angular movement. An electrical receptacle is positioned floatingly within the barrel member and electrical conductor elements connecting the receptacle with a source of electrical supply extend through the balls.

Claims

1. A universal trouble light comprising:

a longitudinally extending handle;

a first ball element having a through aperture formed therein and a socket for said ball element adapted to rotatably retain same and be carried by said handle at one end thereof;

a longitudinally extending barrel member;

a second ball element having a through aperture formed therein and a socket for said second ball element adapted to rotatably retain same and be carried by said barrel member at one end thereof;

a hollow sleeve member rigidly connecting said first and second ball elements to thereby position said one ends of said handle and barrel member in spaced proximity to each other permitting relative rotative and angular movement therebetween;

an electrical receptacle positioned floatingly within said barrel member;

and electrical conductor elements extending through the apertures in said ball elements and through said sleeve connecting said receptacle with a source of electrical supply.

2. A trouble light according to claim 1, wherein said handle and barrel member are hollow and the respective said one ends thereof are internally threaded, the said sockets associated respectively with said first and second ball elements each comprising a circularly extending collar having an axial split therein, each said collar having a spherically-configured interior portion complementary with the exterior surface of the associated ball element for rotatably retaining same and each of said collars having an external tapered threaded portion cooperable with the threads of the handle and barrel member for adjustably regulating the degree of retaining force exerted by the collars on said ball elements.

3. A trouble light according to claims 1 or 2, including a first coupling element mounted on said receptacle and a second coupling element mounted within said handle, said electrical conductors being connected at one end thereof to said first coupling element and secured at the other end thereof by said second coupling element.

4. A trouble light according to claim 3, including switch means mounted within said handle and actuable externally thereof said other end of said electrical conductor elements being connected to said switch means.

5. A trouble light according to claim 3, wherein said first and second coupling elements comprise hickeys.

6. A trouble light according to claim 1, including at least one permanent magnet carried by said handle cooperable with a paramagnetic support structure.

7. A trouble light according to claim 1, wherein said barrel member includes a cage-like housing and light-reflective section.

8. A trouble light according to claim 1, including a hook element carried by said barrel member.