Illumination device for a hand-held remote control unit

• US 4,893,222 A
• Filed: 04/11/1988
• Issued: 01/09/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MGR Farmer Incorporated
• Original Assignee: MGR Farmer Incorporated
• Inventors: Mintzer, Joseph H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hagarman, Sue
• Application Number:
  US07/179,744
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 362/23, 362/26, 362/27, 362/28, 362/29, 362/31, 362/109, 362/119, 362/157, 362/234, 362/253, 362/120
• US Class Current: 362/109
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0052 Audio or video equipment, e.g. televisions, telephones, cameras or computers; Remote control devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/025 Stands or organisers to facilitate location or operation

Abstract

An illumination device for use with a hand-held remote control unit comprising a base and a projection extending from the base and the projection is exposed to a space formed by the base and contains an illumination source which is directed toward the space. The space is configured to accommodate receipt of at least a portion of the hand-held remote control unit in the space so as to return the hand-held remote control unit in a position to subject a selected surface thereof to the illumination source for facilitating illumination thereof while permitting actuation and operation of the hand-held remote control unit.

Claims

1. An illumination device for use with a hand-held remote control unit having a length, width and height and a front control panel, said illumination device comprising:

a base and a projection extending from and projecting above said base and being exposed to a space formed by said base;

said projection containing illumination means directed toward said space, said illumination means being capable of producing light rays;

said space being configured to accommodate receipt of at least a portion of the length of said hand held remote control unit and the entire width and height thereof in said space so as to return the hand-held control unit in a position to subject a selected surface of said front control panel to said illumination means for facilitating illumination of said selected surface by reflecting light rays therefrom, while permitting actuation and operation of the hand-held remote control unit.

2. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein said illumination means comprises

a battery power source,

a lamp unit, and

an off-on switch,

said battery power source, lamp unit and switch being connected in a series configuration.

3. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein said projection and at least a portion of said base comprises a housing for containment of said illumination means, said housing having a surface permitting the passage of illumination from said illumination means therethrough, and wherein at least a portion of said base comprises a receiving means for receiving the hand-held remote control unit in said space.

4. The illumination device of claim 3, wherein said receiving means comprises

a substantially planar support base joined to said housing and forming a housing-support base subassembly having a distal end and a proximal end, said support base further having an end side wall orthogonally disposed at said distal end, and an inner end wall orthogonally disposed at said proximal end,

said inner wall, end side wall and support base forming said space of rectangular dimensions and into which the hand-held remote control unit can be accommodatably received and securely held.

5. The illumination device of claim 3, wherein said illumination means comprises a battery power source, a lamp unit, and an on-off switch, said battery power source, lamp unit and switch being connected in a series configuration.

6. The illumination device of claim 5, wherein said housing includes

a battery compartment for containing said battery power source, and

a lamp mounting cavity for mounting said lamp unit therein, said lamp unit being mounted behind said surface permitting the passage of said illumination therethrough.

7. An illumination device for use with a hand-held remote control unit comprising:

a base and a projection extending from said base and being exposed to a space formed by said base;

said projection containing illumination means directed toward said space;

said projection and at least a portion of said base comprising a housing for containment of said illumination means, said housing having a surface permitting the passage of illumination from said illumination means therethrough, and wherein at least a portion of said base comprises a receiving means for receiving the hand-held remote control unit in said space, said receiving means including an adjustment means for adjusting the physical dimensions of said space, so as to receive and hold one of a wide variety of hand-held remote control units having various physical dimensions,

said space being configured to accommodate receipt of at least a portion of the hand-held remote control unit in said space so as to return the hand-held control unit in a position to subject a selected surface thereof to said illumination means for facilitating illumination thereof while permitting actuation and operation of the hand-held remote control unit.

8. An illumination device for use with a hand-held remote control unit comprising:

a base and a projection extending from said base and being exposed to a space formed by said base;

said projection containing illumination means directed toward said space, said projection and at least a portion of said base comprising a housing for containment of said illumination means, said housing having a surface permitting the passage of illumination from said illumination means therethrough, and wherein at least a portion of said base comprises a receiving means for receiving the hand-held remote control unit in said space,

said receiving means including

a substantially planar support base joined to said housing and forming a housing-support subassembly having a distal end and a proximal end, said support base further having an end side wall disposed substantially orthogonally at said distal end, and a slidable inner end wall orthogonally disposed at said proximal end and being biased in the direction towards said end side wall,

said slidable biased inner wall, end side wall and support base forming said space of variable rectangular dimensions into which the hand-held remote control unit can be accommodatably received and securely held,

said space being configured to accommodate receipt of at least a portion of the hand-held remote control unit in said space so as to return the hand-held control unit in a position to subject a selected surface thereof to said illumination means for facilitating illumination thereof while permitting actuation and operation of the hand-held remote control unit.

9. The illumination device of claim 8, wherein said end side wall is made of a flexible resilient material and is disposed at a small angle less than 90°

from said supporting base as to provide a clamping action on and against the adjacent side panel of the hand-held remote control unit accommodatably received within said rectangular space.

10. An illumination device for use with a hand-held remote control unit comprising:

a base and a projection extending from said base and being exposed to a space formed by said base;

said projection containing illumination means directed toward said space;

said projection and at least a portion of said base comprising a housing for containment of said illumination means, said housing having a surface permitting the passage of illumination from said illumination means therethrough, and wherein at least a portion of said base comprises a receiving means for receiving the hand-held remote control unit in said space,

said receiving means including

a substantially planar support base joined to said housing and forming a housing-support base subassembly having a distal end and a proximal end, said support base further having an end side wall orthogonally disposed at said distal end, and an inner end wall orthogonally disposed at said proximal end,

said inner wall, end side wall and support base forming said space of rectangular dimensions and into which the hand-held remote control unit can be accommodatably received and securely held,

adjustment means formed by said support base having a first planar member joined to said inner side wall, and

a second planar member joined to said end side wall,

one of said first and second planar members slidably being received into the other, thereby providing for variable adjustment of the physical dimensions between said inner and end side walls and securely receiving the hand-held remote control unit inserted into said space,

said space being configured to accommodate receipt of at least a portion of the hand-held remote control unit in said space so as to return the hand-held control unit in a position to subject a selected surface thereof to said illumination means for facilitating illumination thereof while permitting actuation and operation of the hand-held remote control unit.

11. The illumination device of claim 10, wherein said adjustment means further includes a ratchet and pawl mechanism including a ratchet and a pawl being disposed on first and second planar members as to provide an adjustable relative interlocking of said first and second planar members.

12. The illumination device of claim 10, wherein said adjustment mechanism further includes at least one biasing means connected to said first and second planar members so that said end side wall is forced to slidably move in the direction towards said inner side wall under a biasing force.

13. The illumination device of claim 12, wherein said biasing means comprises a spring means connected to said first and second planar members so that said end side wall is forced to slidably move in the direction towards said inner side wall under a spring-loaded biasing force.

14. An illumination device for use with a hand-held remote control unit comprising:

a base and a projection extending from said base and being exposed to a space formed by said base;

said projection containing illumination means directed toward said space;

said projection and at least a portion of said base comprising a housing for containment of said illumination means, said housing having a surface providing a passage for illumination from said illumination means to pass through said passage, and wherein at least a portion of said base comprises a receiving means for receiving the hand-held remote control unit in said space,

said illumination means including a battery power source, a lamp unit, and an on-off switch, said battery power source, lamp unit and switch being connected in a series configuration,

said housing including

a battery compartment for containing said battery power source, and

a lamp mounting cavity for mounting said lamp unit therein, said lamp unit being mounted behind said surface and permitting said illumination to pass through said passage,

said passage including

a light transmissive panel installed over the opening formed by said lamp mounting cavity in said housing, the plane of said glass panel being disposed at an acute angle with respect to the plane of said supporting base as to provide a directed beam of illumination onto the front panel of the hand-held remote control unit received within said space,

said space being configured to accommodate receipt of at least a portion of the hand-held remote control unit in said space so as to return the hand-held control unit in a position to subject a selected surface thereof to said illumination means for facilitating illumination thereof while permitting actuation and operation of the hand-held remote control unit.

15. The illumination device of claim 14, wherein said light transmissive panel is made of translucent material.

16. The illumination device of claim 15, wherein said lamp unit comprises three fuse-type incandescent bulbs connected in series configuration, and

said battery power source comprises two 1.5 volt penlight battery cells.