Rechargeable LED utility light

• US 7,325,944 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2005
• Issued: 02/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alert Safety Lite Products Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Alert Safety Lite Products Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Kovacik, James D., Blanch, Paul S., Smith, Joseph J.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea; Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee; Gunyoung T.
• Application Number:
  US11/200,568
• Publication Number:
  US 20060034078A1
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• Field of Search: 362/251, 362/183, 362/184, 362/186, 362/205, 362/236, 362/237, 362/240, 362/241, 362/295, 362/396, 362/800, 362/190, 362/191, 362/200, 362/206, 362/376, 362/362
• US Class Current: 362/249.12
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/08 characterised by means for in situ recharging of the batteries or cells
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/01 Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts F21V15/02 takes precedence housings forming signs or letters G09F13/04
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/0885 for portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/0965 for portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/406 for portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0414 specially adapted to be used with portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A portable rechargeable LED utility light is releasably retained in a charging base for recharging an internal battery. Light is provided by an array of LEDs, typically rows and columns, that can be connected to the battery in groups by a switch having at least two “on” positions. The light has at least one hook member stored in a recess in the back of the housing and a pair of handle cushions.

Claims

1. A portable utility light comprising:

an elongated vertically and horizontally split hollow light housing comprising an upper rear housing portion, a lower rear housing portion and a front portion extending the length of the upper and lower rear housing portions and having an upper light portion connected to a lower handle portion, said light portion having a lens opening formed therein, wherein said housing extends longitudinally along said vertical split and is oriented for use along said vertical split and having a lens opening and a switch aperture formed therein;

a plurality of LEDs mounted in said housing adjacent said lens opening; and

a switch mounted in said switch aperture and connected to said LEDs for selectively applying electrical power to said LEDs, whereby when said switch is connected to a source of electrical power, said switch has a first “

on”

position connecting the source of electrical power to a first group of said LEDs being less than a plurality of said LEDs and a second “

on”

position connecting the source of electrical power to a second group of said LEDs.

2. The light according to claim 1 wherein said LEDs are mounted in rows and columns.

3. The light according to claim 2 wherein said first group of said LEDs includes at least one of said columns.

4. The light according to claim 1 wherein said second group of said LEDs includes all of said LEDs.

5. The light according to claim 1 wherein said second group of said LEDs includes all of said LEDs not included in said first group.

6. The light according to claim 1 wherein said housing includes a front housing portion having said lens opening formed therein, an upper rear housing portion attached to said front housing portion and having said switch aperture formed therein and a lower rear housing portion attached to said front housing portion.

7. The light according to claim 1 including at least one handle cushion mounted on said housing.

8. The light according to claim 1 wherein said housing has a hook recess formed therein and including a hook member attached to said housing for movement between a stored position in said hook recess and a use position out of said hook recess.

9. The light according to claim 1 wherein said housing has a hook recess formed therein adjacent each of upper and lower ends of said housing and including a pair of hook members each attached to said housing for movement between a stored position in an associated one of said hook recesses and a use position out of said associated hook recess.

10. The light according to claim 1 including a rechargeable battery mounted in said housing and being connected to said switch for providing electrical power to said LED;

at least one electrical contact mounted on said housing and connected to said battery and a charging base for releasably retaining said housing and providing electrical power through said at least one electrical contact to recharge said battery.

11. A portable rechargeable utility light comprising:

a vertically and horizontally split hollow housing comprising an upper rear housing portion, a lower rear housing portion and a front portion extending the length of the upper and lower rear housing portions and having an upper light portion connected to a lower handle portion, said light portion having a lens opening formed therein, wherein said housing extends longitudinally along said vertical split and is oriented for use along said vertical split;

said front portion comprising an elongated front housing portion having a lens opening formed therein;

said upper rear housing portion having a hook recess and a switch aperture formed therein;

said lower rear housing portion and said upper rear housing portion being attached to said front housing portion to form a hollow light housing;

a rechargeable battery mounted in said light housing adjacent said lower rear housing portion;

a plurality of LEDs mounted in said light housing adjacent said lens opening;

a switch mounted in said switch aperture and connected between said battery and said LEDs for selectively applying electrical power to said LEDs;

a hook member attached to said light housing for movement between a stored position in said hook recess and a use position out of said hook recess; and

a transparent lens member mounted in said lens opening permitting light generated by said LEDs to exit said light housing.

12. The light according to claim 11 wherein said switch has a first “

on”

position for connecting a first group of said LEDs to said battery, said first group being less than all of said LEDs.

13. The light according to claim 12 wherein said switch has at least a second “

on”

position for connecting a second group of said LEDs to said battery, said second group including all of said LEDs.

14. The light according to claim 12 wherein said switch has at least a second “

on”

position for connecting a second group of said LEDs to said battery, said second group including all of said LEDs not included in said first group.

15. A portable rechargeable utility light comprising:

a vertically and horizontally split hollow housing comprising an upper rear housing portion, a lower rear housing portion and a front portion extending the length of the upper and lower rear housing portions and having an upper light portion connected to a lower handle portion, said light portion having a lens opening formed therein, wherein said housing extends longitudinally along said vertical split and is oriented for use along said vertical split;

said front portion comprising an elongated front housing portion having a lens opening formed therein; and

wherein one of said upper or lower rear housing portions includes a hook recess and a switch aperture formed therein, said rear housing portion being attached to said front housing portion to form a hollow light housing;

at least one handle cushion attached to said light housing;

a rechargeable battery mounted in said light housing;

a plurality of LEDs mounted in said light housing adjacent said lens opening;

a switch mounted in said switch aperture and connected between said battery and said LEDs for selectively applying electrical power to said LEDs;

a hook member attached to said light housing for movement between a stored position in said hook recess and a use position our of said hook recess;

a reflector member mounted in said light housing and having a plurality of apertures formed therein, each of said apertures receiving an associated one of said LEDs; and

a transparent lens member mounted in said lens opening permitting light generated by said LEDs to exit said light housing.

16. The light according to claim 15 including a pair of electrical contacts mounted on said light housing and connected to said battery and a charging base for releasably retaining said light housing and providing electrical power through said electrical contacts to recharge said battery.

17. The light according to claim 15 including a low battery detector connected to said battery, an indicator aperture formed in said front housing portion and a low battery indicator mounted in said indicator aperture and being connected to said low battery detector for visually indicating a low battery condition of said battery.

18. The light according to claim 15 wherein said light housing is generally arcuate in profile.

19. The light according to claim 15 wherein said LEDs are mounted on a circuit board in rows and columns.

20. The light according to claim 15 wherein said switch has a first “

on”

position for connecting a first group of said LEDs to said battery, said first group being less than all of said LEDs, and at least a second “

on”

position for connecting a second group of said LEDs to said battery, said second group including at least all of said LEDs not included in said first group.