Bookmark light

• US 5,280,416 A
• Filed: 11/27/1992
• Issued: 01/18/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eye Designs LLC
• Original Assignee: Eye Designs LLC
• Inventors: Hartley, John B., Copp, Belton A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, Y MY QUACH
• Application Number:
  US07/982,469
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• Field of Search: 362/98, 362/99, 362/155, 362/191, 362/427, 362/251, 362/287, 362/288, 362/190
• US Class Current: 362/98
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 9/001 Devices for indicating a page in a book, e.g. bookmarkers B42D9/02 takes precedence; attached to book covers B42D3/145
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/22 telescopic
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/32 Flexible tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0048 Office articles, e.g. bookmarks, desk lamps with drawers, stands for books or music scores
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/3005 for books, i.e. reading lights attachable to books

Abstract

A lighting device is operative for use as a bookmark and as a reading light. The body of the lighting device is constructed in a substantially flat configuration wherein it can easily be placed between the pages of a book to mark a position therein. The device further includes a slide arm having a light source mounted at the end thereof. The slide arm is slidably movable outwardly of the body wherein the lamps are automatically turned on and positioned over the body. For use as a reading light, the body of the device is placed between pages of the book, or between one of the covers and the adjacent pages of the book, wherein the lights thereof are positioned substantially over the open pages of the book that are being read.

Claims

1. A combination bookmark and lighting device comprising:

a substantially flat, elongated body portion;

a substantially flat, elongated arm portion mounted on said body portion and movable between a first position wherein said body portion and said arm portion define a substantially flat assembly, and a second position wherein one end of said arm portion is located substantially over said body portion, said flat assembly having a thickness which is suitable for placement between pages of a book for marking a position therein;

light means mounted at said one end of said arm portion so as to illuminate the pages of said book when said arm portion is in said second position; and

power means for energizing said light means.

2. In the combination bookmark and lighting device of claim 1, means responsive to movement of said arm portion from said first position to said second position for automatically energizing said light means and for automatically de-energizing said light means when said arm portion is moved from said second position to said first position.

3. In the combination bookmark and lighting device of claim 1, said arm portion being slidably mounted in said body portion.

4. In the combination bookmark and lighting device of claim 3, said arm portion comprising an elongated resilient strip which is normally biased to a reversely bent configuration, said resilient strip being retained n a flattened configuration when in said first position, and automatically assuming said reversely bent configuration when slidably moved to said second position.

5. The combination bookmark and lighting device of claim 4, further comprising means responsive to movement of said arm portion from said first position to said second position for automatically energizing said light means and for automatically de-energizing said light means when said arm portion is moved from said second position to said first position.

6. A lighting device comprising:

a substantially flat, elongated body portion including a slotted trackway;

a substantially flat, elongated arm portion slidably mounted in said body portion and slidably movable between a first position wherein said arm portion is slidably withdrawn into said body portion and a second position wherein one end of said arm portion is substantially positioned over said body portion, said body portion and said arm portion defiling a substantially flat assembly when said arm portion is in said first position, said arm portion comprising a resilient strip of plastic which is normally biased to a reversely bent configuration, said resilient strip being slidably mounted in said slotted trackway, said resilient strip being retained in a flattened configuration in said slotted trackway when in said first position and automatically assuming said reversely bent configuration when slidably extended outwardly of said slotted trackway to said second position;

light means mounted at said one end of said arm portion;

power means for energizing said light means;

circuit means electrically interconnecting said power means and said light means; and

switch means responsive to movement of said arm portion from said first position to said second position for automatically energizing said light means and for automatically de-energizing said light means when said arm portion is moved from said second position to said first position.

7. In the lighting device of claim 6, said body portion further comprising an enlarged compartment at one end thereof, said compartment receiving said power means therein.

8. In the lighting device of claim 6, said circuit means comprising a pair of metal contacts mounted on opposite sides of said slotted trackway and metal strips mounted on said arm portion, said metal strips making sliding electrical contact with said metal contacts when said arm portion is slidably mounted in said slotted trackway.

9. A lighting device comprising:

a generally flat, elongated body portion including a slotted trackway;

a generally flat, elongated arm portion slidably mounted in said body portion and slidably movable between a first position wherein said arm portion is slidably withdrawn into said body portion and a second position wherein one end of said arm portion is substantially positioned over said body portion, said arm portion comprising a resilient strip of plastic which is normally biased to a curved configuration, said resilient strip being slidably mounted in said slotted trackway, said resilient strip being retained in a flattened configuration in said slotted trackway when in said first position and automatically assuming said curved configuration when slidably extended outwardly of said slotted trackway to said second position;

light means mounted at said one end of said arm portion;

power means for energizing said light means;

circuit means electrically interconnecting said power means and said light means, said circuit means comprising a pair of metal contacts mounted on opposite sides of said trackway and metal strips mounted on said arm portion, said metal strips making sliding electrical contact with said metal contacts when said arm portion is slidably mounted in said slotted trackway; and

switch means responsive to movement of said arm portion between said first position and said second position, said switch means comprising a stationary contact and a spring loaded contact mounted in said trackway, said spring loaded contact being normally biased to contact said stationary contact so that when said arm portions moved from said second position to said first position, said arm portion slides over said stationary contact and engages said spring loaded contact to move said spring loaded contact out of engagement with said stationary contact and de-energize said light means, and when said arm portion is moved from said first position to said second position, said spring loaded contact automatically moves back into contact with said stationary contact to energize said light means.