Portable, automated illumination device

• US 7,204,614 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2004
• Issued: 04/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Beacons, LLC
• Original Assignee: Beacons, LLC
• Inventors: Happ, Lawrence R., Hanis, Kerri E., Hanis, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea; Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Neils; Peggy A.
• Application Number:
  US10/963,253
• Publication Number:
  US 20050078481A1
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• Field of Search: 362/276, 362/802, 362/190, 362/154, 362/155, 362/253, 362/267, 206/5, 206/6
• US Class Current: 362/276
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 23/0309 Illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors

Abstract

A portable, automated illumination device is provided that is capable of illuminating an item stored on or near the device, such items may include eyeglasses, drinking cups, or other household articles. In one embodiment, the device includes a top section platform that has a sloped, nearly vertical edge to retain items and a sensor that instantly illuminates a light in response to motion adjacent to the device. In certain embodiments, the light provides illumination of the surrounding area to allow a user to find an item stored in or near the device, or to locate a more significant light source. Preferably, the light is illuminated for a certain period of time, after which the device resets to be triggered by subsequent motion, heat, or other stimuli detectable by the sensor.

Claims

1. A portable illumination device capable of receiving a portable item, the device comprising:

a sensor capable of detecting the presence of an object exterior the device; and

a light source contained in a light receptacle causing the light to reflect off a wall of the light receptacle when illuminated upon said sensor detecting the presence of the object, wherein the light source illuminates the portable item;

a seal adjacent an upper surface of the device that prevents liquid passage to an interior portion of the device;

the light source being connected to the sensor and being capable of illuminating upon detection of the object by the sensor; and

the light source switches off after the sensor fails to detect the presence of the object.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is capable of detecting stimuli produced by said object including heat, motion, or a combination thereof.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said object is a person.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said light source produces passive light upon detecting the presence of the object.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the light source is illuminated for a set period of time and automatically switched off after the period of time has lapsed.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the light source is triggered only after a delay time period passes once the set period of time lapses.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the light source can be triggered immediately after the set period of time lapses.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is disposed on the top side of the device.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is disposed in a side of the device.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor lens cover, wherein said cover comprises an array of enhancing surfaces to augment the sensing capabilities of the sensor.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising a light chamber and light chamber cover.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the light chamber cover is tinted blue.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the light chamber has a diffuser lens.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the light chamber has a floor, wherein the diffuser lens receives light reflected off the floor and diffuses the light to the light chamber cover.

15. The device of claim 1, further comprising raised walls capable of retaining the portable item.

16. The device of claim 1, further comprising a photo-cell that detects ambient lighting conditions.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the light source is disabled if the photo-cell detects a minimum level of ambient light.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a PIR sensor.

38. The device of claim 1 wherein the seal includes a channel to direct liquid away from the interior portion.

19. A portable illumination device capable of receiving a portable item, the device comprising:

a light source in a light receptacle;

the light source controlled by a sensor that is capable of detecting the presence of an object that is exterior the device and of illuminating a surrounding area upon detection of the object;

a seal adjacent an upper surface of the device that prevents liquid passage to an interior portion of the device;

while the portable item remains in contact with the device, the light source switching off after the sensor fails to detect the presence of the object;

the object being in the proximity of the device, but not being in direct contact with the device; and

an internal power source.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the sensor is capable of detecting stimuli produced by said object including heat, motion, or a combination thereof.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein said object is a person.

22. The device of claim 19, wherein said light source produces passive light upon detecting the presence of the object.

23. The device of claim 19, further comprising raised walls capable of retaining a portable item.

39. The device of claim 19 wherein the seal includes a channel to direct liquid away from the interior portion.

24. A portable illumination device capable of receiving a portable item, the device comprising:

a sensor capable of detecting the presence of an object exterior the device, wherein the sensor is capable of detecting motion, heat, or a combination thereof;

a sensor lens cover, wherein said cover comprises an array of enhancing surfaces to augment the sensing capabilities of the sensor;

a light chamber, which comprises a floor capable of reflecting light to a diffuser lens within said chamber, wherein said diffuser lens is capable of diffusing light to a light chamber cover;

a photo-cell capable of detecting ambient lighting conditions;

a light source which illuminates upon said sensor detecting the presence of an object, wherein the light source illuminates the portable item and the surrounding area of said device;

wherein while the portable item remains in contact with the device, the light source switches off after the sensor fails to detect the presence of the object; and

an internal power source.

25. An illumination device capable of providing passive lighting comprising:

an upper surface including raised walls capable of receiving and retaining a portable item thereon;

a sensor capable of determining motion exterior the device to trigger a light source; and

a photo-cell that detects ambient lighting conditions to disable triggering of the light source;

wherein the light source illuminates the item and surrounding area when triggered.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the light source is illuminated for a set period of time and automatically switched off after the period of time has lapsed.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the light source is triggered only after a delay time period passes once the set period of time lapses.

28. The device of claim 26, wherein the light source can be triggered immediately after the set period of time lapses.

29. The device of claim 25, further comprising a sensor lens cover comprising an array of enhancing surfaces to augment the sensing capabilities of the sensor.

30. The device of claim 25, further comprising a light chamber covered by a light chamber cover.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein the light chamber cover is tinted blue.

32. The device of claim 30, wherein the light chamber has a diffuser lens.

33. The device of claim 32, wherein the light chamber has a floor and wherein the diffuser lens receives light reflected off the floor and diffuses the light to the light chamber cover.

34. The device of claim 25, wherein triggering of the light source is disabled when the photo-cell detects a minimum level of ambient light.

35. The device of claim 25, wherein the sensor is a PIR sensor.

36. The device of claim 25, wherein the raised walls have a geometry that interacts with the item for retention of the item on the upper surface.

40. The device of claim 25 further including a seal adjacent the upper surface that prevents liquid passage from the upper surface to an interior portion of the device.

41. The device of claim 40, wherein the seal includes a channel to direct liquid away from the interior portion.

37. A method of illuminating a portable item by a device capable of providing passive light, the device including an area capable of receiving the item, a seal that prevents liquid passage to an interior portion of the device, and a sensor capable of sensing motion to trigger a light source, wherein the device houses a light chamber covered by a light chamber cover, wherein the light chamber has a floor, wherein a diffuser lens is disposed in the light chamber, the method comprising:

sensing motion exterior the device and triggering the light source;

reflecting the light off the floor of the light chamber;

diffusing the light with the diffuser to the light chamber cover; and

switching off the light source after the sensor fails to detect the presence of an object but while the portable item remains in contact with the device.