Portable compressor kit with detachable lamp

• US 4,830,579 A
• Filed: 03/21/1988
• Issued: 05/16/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alltrade Tools LLC
• Original Assignee: Alltrade Tools LLC
• Inventors: Cheng, Se L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gehman, Bryon P.
• Application Number:
  US07/170,834
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 206/573, 206/223, 73/431, 73/37, 417/234, 417/411, 417/313, 417/44, 417/33, 362/154, 362/156, 362/225, 362/226, 362/258, 362/285
• US Class Current: 417/234
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/30 for compartments other than passenger or driving compartments, e.g. luggage or engine compartments
• 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: B60Q 7/00 Arrangement or adaptation of portable emergency signal devices on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 35/06 Mobile combinations

Abstract

An improved portable compressor kit for use with motor vehicles including a detachable light. The compressor kit has an electrical cord which is plugged into the cigarette lighter socket of a vehicle. The case is wired so that it supplies electricity to the compressor held by the case and also to a light held by the case. The light may be unplugged from its connection with the case as may be the conductor which leads from the cigarette lighter socket, and this conductor may then be plugged into the removable light to provide a portable light.

Claims

1. An improved portable compressor kit for use with motor vehicles, said kit being of the type having an air compressor held in a case, said air compressor being energized by the storage battery of the vehicle and which kit includes, in addition to an electrically-driven air compressor, an electrical cord including a plug adapted to be plugged into a cigarette lighter socket of a vehicle, said cord having a plug end and a case end, an air hose including a fitting attachable to the air valve of a tire, wherein the improvement comprises:

a light fixture connector held by said case, said light fixture connector being electrically connected to said electrical cord;

a portable light fixture, removably affixed to said light fixture connector held by said case, said light fixture including a bulb and reflector and said light fixture including a light connector with which said light fixture connector is removably connected;

a removable connector affixed to the case end of the electrical cord; and

a case connector adapted to receive said removable connector of said electrical cord, said removable connector affixed to the case end of the electrical cord and said light fixture connector both being connectable with the light connector of said portable light fixture to make an electrical connection whereby said portable light fixture may be operated as attached to the light fixture connector held by the case or may be detached therefrom and operated by attachment to the removable connector affixed to the case end of the electrical cord when it has been removed from the case connector.

2. The improved portable compressor kit of claim 1 wherein said light fixture connector held by said case is located on the end of a movable arm so that the light fixture may be elevated from said case and operated.

3. The improved portable compressor kit of claim 2 wherein said movable arm is a rod which is hingedly held by said case and is pivoted from a generally horizontal position to a generally vertical position.

4. The improved portable compressor kit of claim 1 wherein said light fixture connector held by said case, into which said light fixture is plugged, and said light connector are pin and socket type connectors.

5. The improved portable compressor kit of claim 1 further including a light switch held by said case and positioned between said case connector and said light fixture connector held by said case.

6. An improved portable compressor kit for use with motor vehicles, said kit being of the type having an air compressor held in a case, said air compressor being operated by the storage battery of the vehicle and which kit includes, in addition to an electrically-driven air compressor, an electrical cord including a plug adapted to be plugged into a cigarette lighter socket of a vehicle, said cord having a plug end and a case end, an air hose including a fitting attachable to the air valve of a tire, wherein the improvement comprises:

a light fixture connector held by said case and movable therefrom, said light fixture connector being electrically connected to said electrical cord;

a portable light fixture removably affixed to said light fixture connector held by said case, said light fixture including a bulb and reflector and said light fixture including a light connector with which said light fixture connector is removably connected;

a removable connector affixed to the case end of the electrical cord; and

a case connector adapted to receive said removable connector of said electrical cord, said removable connector affixed to the case end of the electrical cord and said light fixture connector both being connectable with the light connector of said portable light fixture to make an electrical connection whereby said portable light fixture may be operated as attached to the light fixture connector held by the case or may be detached therefrom and operated by attachment to the removable connector affixed to the case end of the electrical cord when it has been removed from the case connector.

7. The improved portable compressor kit of claim 6 wherein said light fixture connector is affixed to the end of a rod pivotally and frictionally attached to the case, the length of the rod being sufficiently short so that the case may be closed when the rod is pivoted down to the surface of the case.

8. The improved portable compressor kit of claim 7 wherein said pivotal connection is a ball and socket connection.

9. The improved portable compressor kit of claim 6 wherein said light fixture further includes a rechargeable battery.

10. The improved portable compressor kit of claim 6 wherein said light fixture further includes a magnet affixed thereto.