Lighting device

• US 7,524,081 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2006
• Issued: 04/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2001
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Energizer Brands, LLC (Energizer Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Eveready Battery Company Incorporated (Energizer Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kotsis, Angelo, Brown, John Robert, Dalton, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea; Sandra L
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAN, JASON
• Application Number:
  US11/338,986
• Publication Number:
  US 20060120070A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,189 Days
• Field of Search: 362/190, 362/177, 362/181, 362/188, 362/191, 362/234, 362/269, 362/287, 362/418, 362/427, 362/82, 362154-155, 362/184, 362196-199, 362/233, 362249-250, 362/285
• US Class Current: 362/199
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/04 characterised by the provision of a light source housing portion adjustably fixed to the remainder of the device
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/0885 for portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/145 for portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/00 Elongate light sources, e.g. fluorescent tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/00 Combination of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

The present invention provides a lighting device having a light housing including a light source being rotatably connected by a rotatable connection means to a lighting device body, said body having said rotatable connection means positioned so as to allow said light housing to lay adjacent said body and to define therebetween a narrow space which is accessible in a base to top direction.

The present invention also provides a light housing for a lighting device, said light housing including a light source holder at one end thereof, said light housing also including means to receive a mounting member at one end of said light housing opposite to said light source holder, said light housing being characterised by said light source holder allowing limited pivotal movement of said light source when said light source is mounted in said light source holder, said limited pivotal movement being in the range of 5° to 30°.

The present invention further provides a method of assembling a light housing as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, said method including the steps of: attaching said cover to said box; inserting said tubular lens through said aperture; engaging said spigot with one end of said tubular lens; inserting said lighting source into the second end of said tubular lens; and securing said light source to said housing.

The present invention also provides light housing for a lighting device, said light housing including a first and second face and sides there around, a first side having a mounting spigot to receive one end of a tubular lens, and a second side opposite to said first side having an aperture therethrough, through which aperture tubular lens can pass and in which is received the other end of said tubular lens, said aperture and said mounting spigot being aligned.

Claims

1. A lighting device comprising:

a lighting device body containing a battery compartment, said lighting device body having a terminal mounting edge;

a light housing having a rear face and a forward cover, said light housing enclosing a plurality of light source assemblies and said light housing rests against the lighting device body in a retracted position;

wherein each light source assembly includes at least one LED, which is disposed in a hollow tubular lens of the light source assemblies; and

wherein the light housing is rotatably attached to the terminal mounting edge so the forward face of the light housing can be selectively repositioned between 180° and

225°

relative to the retracted position.

2. The lighting device of claim 1 further comprising at least one raised projection on along the terminal mounting edge to provide a locking bias to releasably hold the light housing in the retracted positioned.

3. The lighting device of claim 2 wherein the rear face does not allow light to be transmitted therethrough.

4. The lighting device of claim 1 wherein the rear face does not allow light to be transmitted therethrough.

5. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein the forward cover is clear.

6. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein one or more interior surfaces of the rear face is coated in a reflective material.

7. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein one or more interior surfaces of the rear face includes a reflective element.

8. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein each light source assembly further includes a reflective spigot located on an end of the tubular lens.

9. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein the light housing directs light away from the rear face of the light housing.

10. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein enclosing the plurality of light source assemblies defines a light box and the tubular lens of each light source assembly extends from a first end of the light box to a second end of the light box.

11. The ligJxting device of claim 10, wherein the first end is opposite the second end.

12. The lighting device of claim 1 wherein the light housing includes a light box that includes a proximal end located nearer to the terminal mounting edge and a distal end located farther from the terminal mounting edge, a tubular lens of the light source assembly is disposed in the light box., and the tubular lens extends longitudinally from the proximal end to the distal end.

13. A lighting device comprising:

a lighting device body containing a battery compartment, said lighting device body having a terminal mounting edge;

a lighting housing having a rear face and a light transmissive forward cover, wherein the lighting housing is rotatably attached to the terminal mounting edge for movement to a first, retracted position in which the forward cover faces the lighting device body and to a second, open position in which the forward cover is located at an angle between 1800 and 2250 relative to the first position;

a first tubular, light transmissive lens disposed in the lighting housing, wherein the first lens includes first and second opposing sides respectively with openings into the lens; and

first and second LEDS respectively disposed in the openings of the first lens.

14. The lighting device of claim 13 wherein the first LED includes a domed end and the domed end is received in the first lens.

15. The lighting device of claim 13 wherein the first tubular lens includes an internal diameter that is sized to receive the first LED.

16. The lighting device of claim 13 wherein the first tubular lens is translucent and the light transmissive forward cover is clear.

17. The lighting device of claim 13 wherein the first lens includes a longitudinal axis and the lighting housing includes a light box having first and second ends, wherein the first lens extends longitudinally from the first end to the second end.

18. The lighting device of claim 13 wherein the lighting housing travels through an arc of approximately 225°

relative to the first position.

19. The lighting device of claim 13, further including a second tubular, light transmissive lens disposed in the lighting housing and a third LED disposed in the second tubular lens, wherein the lighting housing includes a proximal end located nearer to the terminal mounting end and a distal end located farther from the terminal mounting end, the first and second tubular lenses each include a longitudinal axis, the first and third LEDs are located at the proximal end of the lighting housing, the first tubular lens is located between the first LED and the distal end of the lighting housing with the longitudinal axis of the first lens intersecting the distal end of the lighting housing, and the second tubular lens is located between the third LED and the distal end of the lighting housing with the longitudinal axis of the second lens intersecting the distal end of the lighting housing.

20. A lighting device, comprising:

a body, including;

a terminal mounting edge; and

a battery compartment that receives a battery;

a light source assembly, including;

a light emitting diode (LED), which is illuminated with power supplied by the battery; and

a tubular lens, wherein the LED and the tubular lens are separate and distinct components of the light source assembly and the LED is partially disposed in the tubular lens; and

a lighting housing, including;

a rear face; and

a forward cover, wherein the lighting housing;

encloses the light source assembly;

rests against the body in a retracted position, and is pivotably attached to the terminal mounting edge so as to selectively pivot between 180° and

225°

relative to the retracted position.