Portable light

• US 6,227,677 B1
• Filed: 04/21/2000
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mary M. Willis
• Original Assignee: Mary M. Willis
• Inventors: Willis, Mary M.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, Y MY QUACH
• Application Number:
  US09/552,989
• Time in Patent Office: 382 Days
• Field of Search: 362/183, 362/190, 362/191, 362/196, 362/156, 362/200, 362/208, 362/202
• US Class Current: 362/196
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 2/00 Systems of electric lighting devices systems employing both electric and non-electric light sources or exchangeable light sources F21L27/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/00 Elongate light sources, e.g. fluorescent tubes

Abstract

A small, hand-held, battery-operated portable light which provides substantial lighting by the use of a fluorescent cold cathode lamp. The light has a flat surface so that it may be placed on a flat work surface and does not have to be held by the user. It also comprises means to hang the light, such as on a nail or around the user'"'"'s neck. The light is adapted to be attached to the inside of a purse, briefcase or other container. It is powered by standard or rechargable batteries.

Claims

1. A small, battery operated portable light comprising a housing having an elongated front cover, which connects to an elongated rear cover, each of the front cover and rear cover having a flat base at one elongated end, so that the housing can stand on the flat base of the elongated end of the front and rear cover a chassis held between the front cover and the rear cover, a mini-fluorescent cold cathode lamp held in the chassis, a lens held in the front cover covering the lamp, an inverter held in the chassis electrically connected to the lamp, an on-off switch held in the chassis electrically connected to the inverter and one battery or more batteries electrically connected to the inverter.

2. The light of claim 1 further comprising an eyelet fixedly attached to an elongated end of the housing.

3. The light of claim 1 further comprising a belt clip fixedly attached to the housing.

4. The light of claim 1 in which the battery or batteries are rechargeable.

10. The light of claims 1 or 5 in which the mini-fluorescent cold cathode lamp is about 86 millimeters long.

11. The light of claims 1 or 5 in which the light is about 4½

inches long and about 1 inch wide.

13. The light of claim 1 further comprising reflector tape affixed to the chassis under the lamp.

5. A small, battery operated portable purse light comprising a housing having an elongated front cover, which connects to an elongated rear cover, each of the front cover and the rear cover having a flat base at one elongated end, so that the housing can stand on the flat base of the elongated end of the front and rear cover a chassis held between the front cover and the rear cover, a mini-fluorescent cold cathode lamp held in the chassis, a lens held in the front cover covering the lamp, an inverter held in the chassis electrically connected to the lamp, an on-off switch held in the chassis electrically connected to the inverter, one battery or more batteries electrically connected to the inverter and means to removably attach the light to the interior of a purse.

6. The light of claim 5 in which the means to attach the purse light comprises a self-adhesive hook and loop fastener.

7. The light of claim 5 in which the means to attach the purse light comprises a plurality of elastic loops.

8. The light of claim 5 further comprising an eyelet fixedly attached to an elongated end of the housing.

9. The light of claim 5 further comprising a belt clip fixedly attached to the housing.

12. The light of claim 5 further comprising reflector tape affixed to the chassis under the lamp.

14. The light of claims 13 or 12 in which the reflector tape is aluminum foil having an adhesive backing.