Portable light device for vehicles

• US 6,422,724 B1
• Filed: 05/12/2000
• Issued: 07/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert A. Monteiro
• Original Assignee: Robert A. Monteiro
• Inventors: Monteiro, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hobden, David V.
• Application Number:
  US09/569,631
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 362/486, 362/487, 362/493, 362/496, 362/506, 362/523, 362/528, 362/191, 362/198, 362/199, 362/207, 362/310, 362/311, 362/398, 362/419, 362/421, 362/422, 362/427, 362/430, 362/455, 362/457, 248/206.5
• US Class Current: 362/486
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/096 Magnetic devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/32 Flexible tubes

Abstract

A portable light device for vehicles for providing useful and needed light when working with or about a vehicle. The portable light device for vehicles includes includes a magnetic base member; and also includes an elongate contortable member having a first end and a second end with the first end being securely fastened to the magnetic base member; and further includes a support member being securely and pivotally attached to the second end of the elongate contortable member and having a first portion and a second portion which is rotatably mounted upon the first portion with the second portion also including a top wall and a recessed portion in the top wall; and also includes light-emitting assembly.

Claims

1. A portable light device for vehicles comprising:

a magnetic base member including a cloth cover disposed about said magnetic base member;

an elongate contortable member having a first end and a second end, said first end being fastened to said magnetic base member;

a means for emitting a beam of light; and

a support member pivotally connecting said second end of said elongate contortable member to said means for emitting a beam of light for permitting pivoting of said means with respect to said elongate contortable member about a first axis, said support member having a first portion and a second portion which is rotatably mounted upon said first portion to permit rotation of said means with respect to said elongate contortable member about a second axis, said second axis being oriented substantially perpendicular to said first axis, said second portion also including a top wall and a recessed portion in said top wall;

wherein said means for emitting a beam of light includes;

a housing having an open front and a closed rear;

a boss member disposed upon an exterior of said bottom wall and being removably received in said recessed portion of said support member;

a light-emitting member disposed in said housing;

a switch disposed upon said housing and being connected to said light-emitting member; and

a transparent cover disposed at said open front;

a means for energizing said light-emitting member; and

wherein said housing includes a perimeter wall extending between said open front and said closed rear, said housing having a longitudinal axis extending between said closed rear and said open front, a forward edge of said perimeter wall defining said open front, said forward edge defining an elongated oval shape, transverse cross sections of said perimeter wall along said longitudinal axis each having an elongated oval shape, said perimeter wall converging toward said closed rear and diverging toward said open front for facilitating insertion ands holding said closed rear of said housing in a mouth of a user for directing said beam of light from said open front.

2. A portable light device as described in claim 1, wherein said boss member includes side walls and said sides walls are slanted outwardly from said bottom wall of said housing to said bottom of said boss-like member.

3. A portable light device as described in claim 2, wherein said recessed portion of said support member includes side walls which are slanted inwardly from a bottom of said recessed portion to a top of said recessed portion, said recessed portion removably receiving said boss member.

4. A portable light device as described in claim 1, wherein said support member includes bracket members extending from said first portion thereof and being fastenable to said elongate contortable member.

5. A portable light device as described in claim 1, wherein said elongate contortable member includes a plurality of spine-like articulating members connected end-to-end.

6. A portable light device as described in claim 1, wherein said means for energizing said light-emitting member includes a battery compartment disposed in said housing, and a battery removably disposed in said battery compartment through said bottom wall thereof and being connected to said switch.

7. A portable light device as described in claim 1, wherein said means for energizing said light-emitting member includes a power cord jack disposed in a top wall of said housing and being connected to said light-emitting member, and also includes a power cord having a cigarette lighter adapter plug securely attached at one end thereof and also having a jack adapter plug securely attached at another end thereof for being removably received in said power cord jack.

8. A portable light device for vehicles comprising:

a magnetic base member including a cloth cover disposed about said magnetic base member, said magnetic base member being essentially disc-shaped and having a diameter of approximately 5 inches and a width of approximately ¾

inches;

an elongate contortable member having a first end and a second end, said first end being securely fastened to said magnetic base member, said elongate contortable member including a plurality of spine-like articulating members connected end-to-end;

a support member being securely and pivotally attached to said second end of said elongate contortable member and having a first portion and a second portion which is rotatably mounted upon said first portion, said second portion also including a top wall and a recessed portion in said top wall, said support member including bracket members extending from said first portion thereof and being fastenable to said elongate contortable member; and

a means for emitting a beam of light including a housing including a housing having an open front, a closed rear, and a perimeter wall extending between said open front and said closed rear, said housing having a longitudinal axis extending between said closed rear and said open front, a forward edge of said perimeter wall defining said open front, said forward edge defining an elongated oval shape, transverse cross sections of said perimeter wall along said longitudinal axis each having an elongated oval shape, said perimeter wall converging toward said closed rear and diverging toward said open front for facilitating insertion ands holding said closed rear of said housing in a mouth of a user for directing said beam of light from said open front, said perimeter wall of said housing including a bottom wall, said housing having a storage compartment for storing spare light-emitting members; and

also includes a boss-like member securely disposed upon an exterior of said bottom wall and being removably and securely received in said recessed portion of said support member; and

further includes a light-emitting member securely disposed in said housing; and

also includes a switch securely disposed upon said housing and being connected to said light-emitting member; and

also includes a transparent cover securely disposed at said open front; and

further includes a means for energizing said light-emitting member, said boss-like member including side walls being slanted outwardly from said bottom wall of said housing to said bottom of said boss-like member, said recessed portion of said support member including side walls which are slanted inwardly from a bottom of said recessed portion to a top of said recessed portion, said recessed portion removably receiving said boss-like member.

9. A portable light device as described in claim 8, wherein said means for energizing said light-emitting member includes a battery compartment disposed in said housing, and a battery removably disposed in said battery compartment through said bottom wall thereof and being connected to said switch.

10. A portable light device as described in claim 8, wherein said means for energizing said light-emitting member includes a power cord jack disposed in a top wall of said housing and being connected to said light-emitting member, and also includes a power cord having a cigarette lighter adapter plug securely attached at one end thereof and also having a jack adapter plug securely attached at another end thereof for being removably received in said power cord jack.